The Book of All Things: Born for Joy

80. The pear blossoms bloom with eternal regret

As soon as the four entered the entrance of Qianzhen Pavilion, they were greeted by Zhang Xiaochuan, who had just returned and was greeting guests.

The person who could be personally greeted by the shop owner must be someone important. The group didn't inquire further; those who ate here were all wealthy and influential, and even a simple meal here would cost one or two thousand.

Zhang Xiaochuan was also surprised to see these three come together, and quickly went up to them, saying, "Oh, what brings you four here together? It's truly an honor to our humble establishment."

Xu Qiunian said with a smile, "Hehe, Uncle Zhang is joking. I just happened to be there for the fun. These three are the real guests."

After she finished speaking, she glanced at the two people next to her, but her gaze finally settled on Li Zichun.

Xu Chengfeng coughed at the opportune moment: "Don't let your eyes wander. What's not yours will never be yours."

Seeing Xu Qiunian's embarrassed and flustered state, Dai Rong found it amusing and stepped forward, saying, "We're here to eat, just take us to the main hall, no need for special arrangements."

Zhang Xiaochuan naturally understood what he meant, and nodded with a smile, saying, "Okay, then I'll take you there."

After saying that, he walked over to Li Zichun and led the way, whispering, "The Eight Entertainments are eating here. Don't say anything rash when you come out later."

Li Zichun said with a smile, "I haven't had any contact with them for a long time, so there's no question of cooperation."

Zhang Xiaochuan, still unwilling to give up, said, "You really don't plan to develop your career in Beijing? With your talent, wouldn't you be a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry?"

Li Zichun laughed and said, "Hehe, that's really funny. The person who can command the wind and rain is sitting in the private room having a meal."

Zhang Xiaochuan muttered under his breath, "They're all seasoned veterans. Why are you picking on them? There's nothing a meal can't solve."

Li Zichun: "Hehe."

His laughter choked Zhang Xiaochuan's words of advice, and after thinking for a moment, he still smiled and said, "It's not that I'm against them, but people are grouped by their kind. Living with good people is like entering a room full of orchids; after a while, you no longer smell the fragrance, but you have become like them. Living with bad people is like entering a fish market; after a while, you no longer smell the stench, but you have become like them."

Hearing this, Dai Rong nodded repeatedly: "Yes, very good. Now I believe you really know Xu Chengfeng."

Xu Chengfeng silently pondered the words, and seeing the gazes directed at him, he smiled and said, "Therefore, one who is near vermilion gets stained red, and one who is near ink gets stained black."

Li Zichun said with a smile, "Absolutely, absolutely."

The main hall wasn't far away; it was just a short walk. Zhang Xiaochuan led the four people to the main hall and then left, but in his heart, he was thinking that Li Zichun was really capable.

One is a literary giant, another is a seasoned veteran with connections in Beijing's literary circles, and yet another is a rising star who has already made a name for himself at a young age. Add to that this newly emerging but infinitely promising "Moon Queen" and "Flower Ancestor," and it would be a miracle if nothing happened.

The four of them went to the main dining room. The main dining room was just a normal restaurant setting, but it was a small, separate space enclosed by a wooden frame and flower bed. If you spoke loudly, the people at the next table could still hear you.

This was originally prepared for important people like them who came without an appointment. The dishes were naturally home-style, but they were better than home-style dishes.

Xu Chengfeng smiled and said to Li Zichun, "You really have to thank Boss Dai. You can't get into Qianzhen Pavilion without being led in by a big shot. This old fellow hasn't tasted the cooking of the old imperial chefs in a long time."

Dai Rong laughed and said, "Heh, you old codger, you always know how to make fun of people. You think you need me to guide you? Just stand at the door and people won't even have time to welcome you. If all else fails, just lie down on the ground and let out a couple of howls, and the imperial chef will probably have to come out and help you up himself."

Xu Chengfeng hummed and said, "Hmm?...Hmm, that makes sense. Next time I'll try it and say that you, Boss Dai, taught me to do it."

Li Zichun watched the two of them playfully attacking each other, finding it both novel and interesting. He figured that only long-time acquaintances would dare to joke around so unrestrainedly.

Xu Qiunian smiled and whispered to him, "My grandpa loves to joke with Uncle Dai. The two of them can chat about such trivial things all night long."

Li Zichun smiled slightly upon hearing this: "This is nothing. The dinner is just for show. The real feast hasn't even started yet."

Xu Qiunian was taken aback. What was going on? It was just a meal, and they hadn't gotten to the main business yet? Did these two old men have something else to say? Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel indignant. She pouted and put her hands on her hips, saying, "Hmph, just say it. What do you want to say? Say it now, or it will ruin the mood for the rest of the meal."

Li Zichun didn't expect Xu Qiunian to be so bold, just blurting it out.

Upon hearing this, Xu Chengfeng and Dai Rong exchanged a glance and dropped the pretense, instantly creating an awkward silence.

Xu Qiunian persisted, saying, "If you don't tell me now, you'll miss your chance. Brother Zichun said he has things to do this afternoon and doesn't have time to waste with you guys."

Dai Rong took a sip of tea and said with a smile, "I do have something to do. I thought you would sing 'Ode to the Pear Blossom' in Kowloon today, but I didn't expect you to know so much about it. You didn't take that song seriously at all. So I had to continue the meal and ask if you could let us sing that song?"

Li Zichun said with a smile, "I thought it was something important. I was originally planning to just find someone to hand over that piece of music, but since you asked about it today, I'll just give it to you when I get back. However, you'll have to find someone to handle the personnel arrangements and many other details yourself; I don't have the time for that."

Dai Rong was pleasantly surprised and said with a smile, "Okay, it's settled then. Name your price."

Li Zichun said with a smile, "Talking about money is too hurtful. I just want to borrow your bar again to hold a concert. Consider this notebook as rent."

Dai Rong shook his head and said, "I can't accept your too much face. Let's talk about money and get down to business."

Li Zichun tapped the table lightly and said, "Actually, I didn't mean anything by it. I just felt a pang of emotion seeing your opera troupe so empty. In this day and age, I, Li Zichun, am the first to admire those who still insist on supporting a bunch of loss-making opera troupes."

Dai Rong was taken aback by this, then smiled and said, "It was just something I did on a whim, I don't deserve your admiration."

Li Zichun smiled and said, "No, you deserve it. It is a great deed to keep a performing art alive. In this day and age, it is remarkable that you can still find ways to attract more than a hundred people to buy tickets and sit down to listen to a play."

Dai Rong was quite embarrassed by his praise, and Xu Qiunian chimed in, "Uncle Dai is truly remarkable."

Xu Chengfeng seized the opportunity and said, "What this kid said really resonated with me. You're quite remarkable. Using a bar to support a theater, everyone says you're greedy for money, but I, Old Xu, am the first to disagree."

Li Zichun said with a smile, "Consider this script a small token of my appreciation for Peking Opera. Please make do with it."

Dai Rong picked up his teacup and said, "Then I'll use tea instead of wine to thank you on behalf of the remaining actors. I've decided to be your brother."

Li Zichun shook his head: "Just talk, don't keep calling us brothers. People who don't know us might think we're gangsters. Don't you agree, Boss Xu?"

Xu Chengfeng, suddenly called out, laughed and said, "Indeed, let's skip the formalities. But since you've already helped Dai Heizi, we can't be biased. You know, these past few years, the sinologists from Japan, South Korea, and the United States have been suppressing us, practically wanting to punch us in the face."

Before he could finish speaking, he pointed at Xu Qiunian beside him and said, "These young brats are not skilled enough, they lack experience, and they can't write anything decent. We old folks are also powerless to do anything. We've wasted our energy on those mindless TV dramas and movie scripts. Those who specialize in poetry can't produce any representative new works either, so we can only come here to try our luck."

Li Zichun smiled and said, "Is it that literary awards ceremony this afternoon? I'm an outsider, so it's not appropriate for me to get involved, but my teacher, Senluo, does have a poem he can give you. Do you have paper and pen?"

“I have a pen.” Xu Qiunian smiled and took a fountain pen out of the lining of her clothes. “As a future great writer, how could I not carry a pen with me?”

Li Zichun smiled and took the pen, saying, "Hmm, did the great writer bring paper?"

Xu Qiunian shook her head awkwardly, then her gaze fell on the napkins on the table, looking at him with an inquiring look.

Li Zichun shook his head, then looked her over and said, "Never mind, you should go back and write it yourself."

Xu Qiunian felt a little embarrassed by his stare, but seeing that he didn't make any move in the end, she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

Xu Qiunian seemed to understand something and said with a smile, "I'll take it off, I'll take it off, okay?"

Xu Chengfeng and Dai Rong exchanged a glance. What kind of move is this? Are they being so proactive?

Xu Qiunian was wearing a white jacket and T-shirt today. She smiled and took off her white jacket, saying shyly, "Do you want more?"

Li Zichun coughed and said, "That's enough."

After saying that, he took the clothes she was wearing, which smelled of a woman's fragrance, and began to write. As he wrote, he said, "Boss Dai, this poem is one of the annotations for that song. I'll give you the rest of the details after I finish eating."

After saying that, he first tested the feel of the pen on a tissue, then deftly and quickly wrote the poem "Song of Everlasting Regret" on his clothes: "Song of Everlasting Regret"

The emperor of the Han lays stress on the country, and Yuyu has not been able to ask for it for many years.A young girl from the Yang family grew up and was raised in a deep boudoir who didn't know her.

Her natural beauty was irresistible; one day she was chosen to serve the king. A single glance, a smile, and all the beauties of the harem paled in comparison.

......

The spring night is fleeting, and the sun rises high; from then on, the emperor no longer holds morning court. He is constantly occupied with serving the emperor and attending banquets; spring outings are his daily routine, and nights are his exclusive indulgence. Of the three thousand beauties in the harem, all the emperor's favor rests solely on one person.

......

The wind blows, her fairy sleeves flutter, like a dance of rainbow-colored feathers. Her jade-like face is lonely, tears streaming down her cheeks, like a pear blossom in spring rain.

With tender gaze, she bid farewell to the emperor, their voices and forms now lost to each other. The love and affection within the Zhaoyang Palace are severed, while the days and nights stretch endlessly in the Penglai Palace.

......

Before parting, he earnestly sent me another poem, in which we shared a vow known only to our two hearts. On the seventh day of the seventh month, in the Hall of Eternal Life, at midnight when no one was around, we whispered our vows.

"In heaven, we wish to be birds flying wing to wing; on earth, we wish to be trees with intertwined branches. Heaven and earth may pass away, but this sorrow will last forever."

Although the long narrative poem "Song of Everlasting Regret" tells the love story between Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and Yang Guifei, it is actually an artistic summary of the poet's unfortunate love that lasted for more than ten years.

Because of societal class distinctions, Bai Juyi ultimately failed to marry Xiangling, the girl next door who was described as "more beautiful than a celestial being at fifteen, a moon goddess in broad daylight, a lotus on dry land." His mother ruthlessly rejected his repeated attempts to marry, until he was forced to marry someone else at the age of 37 by her threat of suicide. One day, Bai Juyi and his wife encountered the wandering Xiangling and her father. Xiangling was already forty years old, still keeping her vow of celibacy...

According to historical records such as "Xuanzong's Last Records", Yang Guifei was killed and then woke up once before being killed again... Perhaps it was because of their years together that Gao Lishi couldn't bring himself to kill her, or perhaps Yang Guifei possessed extraordinary abilities and had a strong vitality. Nevertheless, she could not escape the fate of being mercilessly executed by the one she loved.

Every time Li Zichun read this poem, he wondered what kind of legendary woman could have driven this talented man to such extreme infatuation, to such innocent despair. And what kind of panic, helplessness, and resentment could have driven an emperor to kill the woman he loved most twice with his own hands!

As he finished writing and drifted off into his own thoughts, the three people beside him were already speechless with amazement at his poetic talent, only able to gasp and sigh in admiration.

The waitress, carrying dishes, watched the three people sitting around the man, each staring at his clothes. She couldn't help but frown, thinking that they might be some strange guests with weird quirks again. There had always been some strange noises coming from the private room before, and she hadn't dared to inquire too much.

Li Zichun snapped out of his daze and, seeing her embarrassed expression, coughed twice. He grabbed the clothes and tossed them to Xu Qiunian, who tensed up at the sight. She carefully held the clothes in her arms and said reproachfully, "How could you treat a masterpiece so casually! You'll be punished."

Xu Chengfeng said with a displeased look, "My dear granddaughter, this piece is..."

Xu Qiunian said loudly, "These are my clothes, Grandpa, you can't pull them off my head."

"Okay, remember to take a few photos for me later." Xu Chengfeng said, then paused, surprised himself. "Right, why do I have to write it by hand?"

Li Zichun said with a smile, "We just got carried away with the conversation! Besides, she's already taken her clothes off, so it would be impolite of me not to do something in return..."

Dai Rong laughed out loud and changed the subject, saying, "Your handwriting is excellent. Have you practiced it specially? The strokes are nimble and quick, slender and vigorous, quite unique. Is there any secret to it?"

Li Zichun said with a smile, "It was just something I practiced casually to pass the time. Plus, I don't like the things done by others, so I just practiced it myself."

Xu Chengfeng exclaimed in surprise, "This is no ordinary work! These characters are written with unrestrained and vigorous strokes, revealing their sharpness and possessing an unyielding spirit. They are like cutting through gold and jade, with a unique charm. They would not be inferior to those old-fashioned calligraphers."

Dai Rong and Xu Qiunian were also taken aback by his sudden praise. They both knew that this old man rarely praised people, so the good words that came out of his mouth were truly remarkable.

Li Zichun interrupted their boasting at the right moment, coughed twice and said, "Alright, if you keep bragging like this, the waiter will roll his eyes to the heavens. The food is here, it'll get cold if we don't eat it soon."