Chapter 536: Governing the World and Providing for the People |
[Translation note: Skipped website advertisement message]
August 8th.
Inside Wenyuan Bookstore, Yuan Wang was pacing back and forth in the backyard.
Yang Zhong sitting behind the desk raised his head: "Brother Yuan, can you not walk back and forth. Where is your fixed power (composure) and quiet air (calmness)?"
Yuan Wang paused his footsteps, returning behind his own desk: "Brother Cui, how come Third Miss Qi didn't come today?"
Cui Qinghe carried his teacup lightly sipping a mouthful: "The Qi Family's August 15th Mid-Autumn night banquet... she said the jewelry inside the home now has universally been worn and draped before people. She needs to go to Heavenly Treasure Pavilion to add on some new jewelry."
Yuan Wang became increasingly more bewildered: "Brother Cui has gone to meet Lord Qi Xianshu right... Does he have the plan to Break the Engagement? We and our peers all know of Brother Cui's thoughts and intentions. But the Qi Family may not necessarily be willing to tear open face (fall out) with Right Prefecture Street's Chen Family for the sake of Third Miss Qi. This is not a scramble of air (petty dispute), but instead is the benefits of forming a marriage alliance. Even if Third Miss Qi is Elder Qi's pearl in the palm (beloved daughter), it also won't do."
Cui Qinghe lowered his head blowing on the tea water in his cup, saying slowly and methodically: "Slowly."
At this time, outside the doors rang out the crying out selling voices of Plum Blossom Ferry's Stick Bearers: "Selling newspapers! The Kingdom of Annam's envoys escorting the King of Siam have already arrived at Luo City. In a few days they will board boats heading north, desiring to rush and present congratulatory gifts to our dynasty during the excellent Mid-Autumn festival!"
Yuan Wang cast a glance at him. Slanting his body over he said to Yang Zhong at the neighboring table in a small voice: "The Qi Family is precise the literary heart of the world's literati scholars. The Chen Family is precisely the literary gall of the world's literati scholars. The foundations of both families are universally established upon this. As long as we let this Adopted Heir Chen Ji's reputation sweep the floor (be ruined)... the Qi Family naturally will have to Cut the Robe and Sever Ties with him. A while ago the voices within the workshops and markets cursing Zhang Zhuo grew small, but the voices cursing Chen Ji instead became exceedingly clamorous rising upwards. Within this is precisely the Cui Family pushing waves and adding to the billows."
Yang Zhong Suddenly Realized: "The Cui Family has forcefully expended bitter effort ah."
Yuan Wang mysteriously smiled: "As long as they can climb onto the Qi Family. Those troublesome matters of his Cui Family that cannot go on the table (are unpresentable), will naturally meet the blade and dissolve (be easily solved). In this Capital City, lacking the shelter and protection of the Xu, Chen, Qi, or Hu families, ultimately you are the fish and meat on other people's chopping boards. You and I merely lack the opportunity. If we had the opportunity we would be exactly the same as him... After the Liu Family was搬倒 pulled down, your Yang Family took the opportunity to swallow up quite a few of the Liu Family's properties right. It's said you even took down two copper mountains, privately casting—"
Yang Zhong's complexion changed, deadly firmly gripping Yuan Wang's wrist: "Brother Yuan be careful of your words!"
Yuan Wang heihei laughed: "Under the heavens how could there be walls that don't let wind through. Brother Yang had best make plans early on."
Yang Zhong pondered for a moment: "Inviting Brother Yuan to point out a clear road."
"I don't know where your path of departure is," Yuan Wang said in a low voice: "In any case I feel Second Miss Zhang is actually pretty good."
Yang Zhong wrinkled his brows saying: "You hit upon the idea of Second Miss Zhang... be careful if the Baron of Wuxiang County hears it he will make you beg for life unattainable and beg for death impossible."
Yuan Wang's body leaned backwards slightly: "The Baron of Wuxiang County and Third Miss Qi have a marriage contract upon their bodies. He and Second Miss Zhang already possess affinity but lack fate. Lord Zhang desires to push and practice the new administration. My Yuan Family can assist him with a single arm's strength; I am his best selection. The Cui Family wishes to dismantle the marriage matters of the Chen and Qi families. But I actually hope the Cui Family suffers defeat in the Baron of Wuxiang County's hands, otherwise what do I do?"
During the speech, Cui Qinghe came back holding the Morning Newspaper.
Yuan Wang raised his head asking: "How is it today?"
Cui Qinghe with an indifferent and apathetic complexion handed the newspaper to him: "Look for yourself."
Yuan Wang bewilderedly took over the newspaper looking at it. The Morning Newspaper today not only had the third page published and printed with those fresh playthings of the Baron of Wuxiang County. Even the fourth page was swapped into the identical page format.
The third page's heading place altered the name of the page. Named "People's Livelihood". And the fourth page actually altered its name into "Economy".
Yang Zhong was deep in thought: "Governing the World and Providing for the People? The Baron of Wuxiang County has quite a large tone of breath (arrogance)."
Yuan Wang read in a low voice: "'Shocking, these ten methods can improve the fertility of farmland, making grains full and plump seed by seed'... What is all this and what?"
Today's Morning Newspaper third page's essay voluminously sprinkling thousands of words spoke of how to self-produce earth chemical fertilizers. And spoke of how to turn over the soil, and chase-fertilize. Making the entire crowd of literati scholars look until they were inside the clouds and inside the mists (completely bewildered).
The essay wrote in the final sentence: "Wishing for the commoners of the world, that inside their cooking pots there is millet, and inside their bowls there is rice."
Cui Qinghe didn't speak for a long time. Yuan Wang also stopped reciting, closing the newspaper together: "During ordinary days what is universally packed inside the Baron of Wuxiang County's brain? How could he simply dig out so many new things? Furthermore he took the names of the pages and altered them all... clearly there is still even more things. This is all universally silver. He took all these things making them public to the masses, could it be he wants to act as a Saint? A Saint is also merely like this."
Cui Qinghe listening to him sighing with emotion, said expressionlessly: "Deceptive and Frivolous Skills and that's all."
Yang Zhong by the side took over the newspaper, continuing to look at the fourth page: "'Churn drill method for excavating wells. Relaxedly and easily drill and excavate thousand-foot deep wells. Can break through rock layers to no longer drink brine water'... Striking such deep wells to do what?"
Xu Bin explained by the side: "Various people during ordinary days universally drink mountain spring water transported back from the capital's suburbs. That is why you do not know in Capital City for so many years... the commoners within the city eating, drinking, shitting, and pissing is entirely here. The filth seeps into the underground. As time passes the water wells of the city's east and south have completely become salty. Commoners drinking brine water day by day endlessly cry out bitterly."
Cui Qinghe silently looked at the newspaper. Again recalling the four words 'Governing the World and Providing for the People' Yang Zhong just spoke. For a time didn't know what should be said.
Xu Bin grimaced (bitter-faced): "Various Masters think of a way. Today Plum Blossom Ferry's newspaper sales volume I'm afraid has already far surpassed my Wenyuan Bookstore. If it continues to compete down like this—"
Yuan Wang suddenly said: "Brother Xu. Other people seem to also lack the intention to compete with us ah."
Xu Bin stared blankly on his original spot.
Yuan Wang looked toward Cui Qinghe: "Brother Cui, how about you still simply lay it down. The Baron of Wuxiang County has never once placed us and our peers within his eyes. You also forever in your lifetime cannot become Li Changge."
Inside Cui Qinghe's palms he clenched until blood surfaced.
August 9th. The Capital Morning Post published out the returning-smoke heated brick bed. It could increase efficiency by four fractions (40%) compared to ordinary heated brick beds.
August 10th. Ten methods to defend against pest disasters.
August 11th. Manufacturing soap—
Arriving at August 13th. Within the marketplace there was never again anyone arguing the matters of the two newspapers' arena match. Unknowingly and unawares it was tossed to the back of people's brains, scattering like smoke and dispersing like clouds.
Up on Plum Blossom Pavilion, Zhang Xia stood leaning on the railing. From afar she watched the Stick Bearers stepping out the doors in the early morning. The newspapers they carried, in a short half shichen (1 hour), were scrambled and fought over until entirely empty.
Brother Pao stood should-to-shoulder with her. Smoking his Tobacco Pipe he sighed with emotion: "Second Miss Zhang. These things that the Proprietor let out... no matter which one falls into other people's hands, they would have to clutch it in the palms of their hands never letting go even unto death. Seeing him simply gifting it to the people of the world just like this... I actually deeply ache in my heart over it. But if he truly grasped it entirely in his hands, Chen Ji wouldn't be Chen Ji anymore. And I wouldn't sell my life for him."
Zhang Xia hummed an acknowledgement: "The Little Monk said he has already cleanly severed greed and anger (Buddhist poisons). Looking at it now, the spoken words are not false."
Brother Pao continued saying: "However that group of old brats inside Wenyuan Bookstore, ought to have learned to shut their mouths. Viewpoints and patterns are not the same, the worlds they see are also not the same. They still fall far short."
Zhang Xia turned her head back looking towards the interior of the building. Chen Ji and the Little Monk bent over the desk sleeping.
She said in a light voice: "These past few days he hasn't slept, hasn't rested. Entirely in order to compile that book 'The Enlightenment of Myriad Things', to be used by the Morning Newspaper for future publication in later days. How could he have possibly placed these scrambles over air upon his heart. He now fundamentally does not care about those poetry-lyrics and literati scholars. Nor does he care if the newspaper sells well or not. He only wishes to break that solid wall."
Brother Pao was bewildered: "Wall?"
Zhang Xia looked at the pavilions, terraces, and towers, and the white walls and grey tiles in the distance: "Break that solid wall between two worlds. He misses home too much. So even if he became a Practitioner he still must sleep a while more every day. Speaking inexactly, perhaps on some day he could repeatedly dream of the appearance of his native homeland. But he knows he himself cannot go back anymore. He can only earnestly strive taking this place and altering it to become the same as his native homeland. Even if within ten fractions there is only one fraction similar, it is still good."
Brother Pao looked at the figure of Chen Ji bent over the desk sleeping, suddenly saying: "Second Miss Zhang what you spoke is correct. But I distinctly feel he is about to leave. Wishing to leave something behind for the people of this place right before departing. Him writing that book 'The Enlightenment of Myriad Things', is also merely in order that after leaving the newspaper still as before has things that can be published."
Zhang Xia's complexion sank down quietly: "I know."
Brother Pao instigated and encouraged: "Not urging him to stay?"
Zhang Xia did not speak words.
At this time, a sudden gust of wind blew the sheets of paper inside the building making hualala rattling sounds. She wished to go close the doors and windows in order to avoid the sounds startling and disturbing Chen Ji. But it was already late.
Chen Ji lifted his head up, wiping his eyes: "What 'point' is it? (What time is it? using modern slang)"
Zhang Xia was bewildered: "What 'point'?"
Brother Pao laughed 'haha': "He is asking the shichen... Proprietor, it's the Mao hour (5-7 AM).
"Mao hour already?" Chen Ji looked toward the desk. He and the Little Monk lacking days and lacking nights brewed for a few days. Only then taking the things within his brain and forcefully sorting them out. Military weapons he never even touched a single one. Universally it was everything used for the People's Livelihood.
He meticulously instructed Zhang Xia: "These things already written out and completed on the desk... the Morning Newspaper simply send them out slowly."
Zhang Xia complied.
He rose his body patting the Little Monk's shoulders: "Let's go. Return home to catch up on sleep."
(End of this chapter)