The sunlight after the snow is like flowing water, elegant and restrained.
Under the banyan tree in the center of Xiahe Village, Zhu Ping'an and others poured tea and ground ink. They picked up their pens, spread out rice paper, dipped the pens in ink and wrote with great speed.
The best couplet to encourage learning is Pu Songling's couplet. I also used this couplet to comfort a failed scholar during the Tongsheng exam last time. Because this couplet is so classic, the whole couplet is magnificent and inspiring. Once it came out, it became a famous sentence through the ages and encouraged countless people. I believe that engraving this couplet on this monument will definitely encourage future generations to forge ahead, and it will be a contribution to Xiahe Village and even the entire Ming Dynasty.
"Where there is a will there is a way. After burning their boats and crossing the Qin Pass, the 120 Qin Passes finally belonged to Chu.
Heaven will not fail those who work hard, and if you work hard, you can conquer Wu with only 3,000 soldiers. "
After writing this couplet, Zhu Pingan thought for a moment and then wrote another couplet:
"If a man does not show his lofty ambition, his eight-foot body will be wasted."
This sentence has a great influence on later generations and has inspired countless people. Its meaning is very clear and inspiring, that is, it wants to tell people to work hard in their lifetime and not be mediocre. Theoretically speaking, this sentence will not be said by Feng Menglong in "Warning to the World" until decades later, but writing it down today should have a greater effect.
After writing these two sentences, Zhu Ping'an put away his brush. The village chief and the village elders on one side held the brush with a completely casual attitude and did not write a few words. On the other side, Mr. Zhang wrote with great enthusiasm and had already written a couplet. He put away his brush and did not plan to write the second one. He held the tea collected by the village elders, blew away the tea leaves slightly, and savored it carefully.
Well
Uncle Zhu Shouren next to him was very impressive, with a kind smile, elegant posture, sharp eyebrows and flowing beard. Of course, he also had a green scarf on his head and a confident look in his eyes. He had also finished writing a couplet. He was writing the second one, very confident and fast. After about three minutes, Uncle Zhu Shouren's second couplet was ready.
"Shame on me. Shame on me..." Uncle Zhu Shouren said modestly after finishing his pen.
When the village elder and the village chief saw that the couplets were all written, they put down their pens, put the rice paper with a few words on it aside without blushing or breathing heavily, and said self-deprecatingly that one regrets not having enough knowledge when one needs it. They had not planned to write in the first place. They were very aware of being the supporting role.
So now the only things left in front of everyone were the two couplets written by Zhu Ping'an, the one couplet written by Zhang Juren, and the two couplets that his uncle Zhu Shouren had planned with confidence.
The couplet written by Mr. Zhang is: "My heart is higher than the sky, and I will never give up until my ambition is fulfilled; if I am determined to become a talent, everyone can become Yao or Shun."
In fact, in terms of level, the couplet written by Mr. Zhang is very good, but it is slightly inferior to the two couplets written by Zhu Ping'an, especially the first one.
The two couplets that my uncle Zhu Shouren had planned with confidence were also placed on the table, together with those by Zhu Ping'an and Zhang Juren.
"Study hard day and night; set sail to complete your studies."
"The dark plum blossoms bloom alone in the cold weather, and the snow this year indicates a good harvest; the students have lofty ambitions and will bring good news in the golden autumn next year."
Well, how should I put it? The couplets written by my uncle are quite smooth. But that's all, and it feels a bit vulgar. I didn't feel much after reading it. But my uncle was very confident about these two couplets, and after writing them, he felt a sense of accomplishment.
After the uncle placed the couplet on the table, he first took a look at the couplet written by Mr. Zhang. Well, Mr. Zhang is indeed Mr. Zhang. This couplet is indeed better than his own. The uncle, who was originally very confident and well-prepared, slightly restrained his excitement, but he was still optimistic about the couplet he wrote. After all, he had been thinking about it for several days.
Then, the uncle stroked his beard and read Zhu Ping'an's two couplets again. But when he saw the first couplet, "Where there is a will, there is a way. Burn your boats and cross the river. The 120 Qin passes will eventually belong to Chu. Heaven will not let down those who work hard. Sleep on firewood to repay your courage. Three thousand Yue soldiers can swallow Wu.", the uncle's breathing became so rapid that he couldn't stand it anymore. His hand shook and he pulled down a small tuft of his beard. His face was as red as a cooked shrimp.
After reading the two couplets written by Zhu Ping'an, uncle Zhu Shouren looked at the two couplets he wrote. He really wished that time could go back so that he would not have to write them.
When placed together, the contrast is too great.
After reading the two couplets written by Zhu Ping'an, Mr. Zhang was amazed and praised them highly:
"Although you are young, you have a solid foundation. You use allusions flexibly and innovatively. The upper and lower couplets echo each other naturally and flow smoothly. The upper couplet uses the story of Xiang Yu who broke his cauldrons and burned his boats and defeated the Qin army, and exhorts the younger generation to have Xiang Yu's determination to fight to the end and never look back. The lower couplet uses the story of Goujian, King of Yue, who slept on firewood and tasted gall to destroy Wu to avenge his humiliation, and encourages the younger generation to learn from Goujian, King of Yue, who was hardworking, self-motivated, and worked hard to become stronger. If you have determination and perseverance in doing anything, how can you not succeed? The whole couplet is magnificent, inspiring, and breathtaking."
"Brother Zhu's second couplet is short and concise, 'A man who does not show his lofty ambitions will waste his eight-foot body.' Life is so long. If you don't have a fighting spirit and work hard, how can you experience the glory of success? People should work hard in their lifetime and not be mediocre."
"It's indescribable. These two sentences made my blood boil."
Mr. Zhang praised the two couplets written by Zhu Ping'an and was filled with admiration. However, when he saw the couplet written by his uncle Zhu Shouren, he did not express any opinion after reading it.
This action made the uncle who was already feeling inferior to him, even more embarrassed.
"Brother Zhang, you are too kind. 'With a heart higher than the sky, one will never give up until one's ambition is fulfilled; with a determination to become a talent, everyone can be a Yao or Shun.' Brother Zhang's couplet is even more inspiring and will surely serve as a driving force to encourage students in Xiahe Village to study hard and make progress." Zhu Ping'an said with a bow, "Uncle's two couplets, well, are also excellent."
It is also excellent
After hearing what Zhu Ping'an said, Uncle Zhu Shouren's face turned even redder...
Zhu Ping'an and Zhang Juren were always humble and flattering each other. Finally, Muramasahi came to the rescue and wanted to carve down the couplets of Zhu Ping'an and Zhang Juren to inspire the young people in the village. Of course, in Muramasahi's mind, Zhu Ping'an's first couplet should be engraved on the stone tablet, and the other couplets could be engraved elsewhere. Well, Muramasahi and the village elders all said that they should put away the couplet of uncle Zhu Shouren and use it when needed.
Muramasa's words made everyone happy, and the matter of erecting the monument came to an end.
"To encourage younger generations to study, the spirit is valuable, and material things are also indispensable. I can study until now, thanks to the care of the whole village. Since I am encouraging younger generations to study, I will also borrow flowers to offer to Buddha. I will give the 50 taels of gift from Mr. Zhang to the village to buy grain as "school grain" so that the children in the village can study with peace of mind. The village will provide several dan of "school grain" to the students every year. Ping An is young and inexperienced, so I will ask the village chief and the village elders to take care of this matter."
As Zhu Ping'an spoke, he handed the 50 taels of congratulatory money given to him by Mr. Zhang to Muramasa, and asked Muramasa and the village elders to take charge of the affairs of "Xuegu".
"For the sake of the village, I hope Muramasa will take more care of it."
Muramasa wanted to refuse, but Zhu Ping'an insisted on putting the 50 taels of gift in Muramasa's hands. After a few refusals, Muramasa finally accepted it.
The village elders and onlookers in the village were full of praise for Zhu Ping'an's behavior, and many onlookers in the village cheered loudly.
"Brother Zhu is a man of high moral character and integrity. He is truly a role model for our generation."
Originally, Mr. Zhang was already impressed by Zhu Ping'an's literary talent and knowledge. At this moment, Zhu Ping'an's behavior made Mr. Zhang even more impressed with Zhu Ping'an's character.
Of course, not everyone thinks this way. For example, when his mother Chen saw Zhu Ping'an handing over 50 taels of silver to the village to buy "school grain", she pinched one of Zhu's father's arms until it turned blue...
Zhu Ping'an's reputation also spread further and further with the two couplets and the village's "learning valley". Everyone in Shanghe Village, Kaoshan Town and even the surrounding areas gave Zhu Ping'an a thumbs up when they heard his name. (To be continued.)