He really didn’t have that intention!
Just as Zhao He was scratching his head in anxiety within his heart while still maintaining a calm face on the surface and trying to think up a solution, Lin Shiheng was suddenly enlightened.
“What Brother Zhao said is reasonable.”
“The weather outside today is pretty good. Why don’t we go to the deck to enjoy the breeze? Maybe we can even look at the good view of the water and come up with a nice poem.”
Having said this, the green-clothed Juren stood up slowly, smiling freely and gestured with a sense of elegance.
He waved his sleeves slightly, with a gentle smile on his face, and lightly said, “Brother Zhao, please.”
Zhao He again felt moved.
He didn’t expect Brother Lin to have such a good temper. He didn’t blame him for saying the wrong thing but still invited him to go out and write poetry!
Such a good man… They must remain brothers for a lifetime!
***
The two people went out together with two book boys following behind them to wait on them. They originally thought that after enjoying the breeze they could write some poems, but they didn’t expect to find a few robed scholars standing there already.
Zhao He’s face sank as soon as he saw their faces clearly.
Truly, enemies are bound to meet on a narrow road, those three Jurens were precisely his classmates.
As he looked over, the three of them also glanced over to their side and obviously saw him as well. Leaving now, he would surely be mocked. But if he goes over and gets ridiculed in front of Brother Lin, it doesn’t matter if he loses face, but if Brother Lin believed their words… What if Brother Lin really thought he was extravagant and lascivious?!
Zhao He was in a dilemma. As he hesitated, Lin Shiheng had already stepped onto the deck, and he turned slightly to look at him with some doubts, “Brother Zhao?”
“My leg was caught on these steps.”
Zhao He reluctantly made an excuse and with a reluctant smile, he managed to pick up his feet to step onto the deck as well.
Lin Shiheng didn’t go to greet the three people, just by looking he knew that they were also entering the capital to take the exam. Instead, he went straight to the other side of the deck and looked out at the scenery over the water.
When Zhao He arrived, he just happened to hear his sigh, “It really is beautiful scenery.”
He looked up and glanced over… Except for water, it was still only water.
Where is the ‘beautiful scenery’?
Oh! It must be because Brother Lin hasn’t been out for a long time because he was sick, so he thought it looked good even when he could only see a patch of water.
Zhao He expressed his understanding, and to show that he shared the same taste with his friend, he also praised, “Indeed, beautiful scenery.”
Lin Shiheng’s eyes fell on the small fishes that swam along with the boat they were sitting on that jumped out of the water from time to time.
“These fishes are really lively and lovely.”
Zhao He looked at these schools of fish. Although he didn’t understand how a few fishes jumping around could be considered lovely, he also praised, “Yes, they are really beautiful.”
“Brother Zhao, take a look. When that fish’s scales are illuminated by the sun, it’s like it’s glowing, and its head also seems to be the biggest among these fishes.”
Zhao He, who only meant to echo his brother’s words, was also lifted up by this, leaned down to look and saw a large fat fish tumbling about, looking very energetic.
“Indeed, its head is very big.”
Lin Shiheng stared at the fish and warmly said, “It’s so energetic, it should taste good.”
Zhao He followed and nodded, “Looking at it, should be tasty.”
En… Wait…Tasty??
Weren’t you just appreciating the fish? How did you switch to pondering about the taste?
His reaction hasn’t quite caught up yet and had even thought he heard wrong, but when he raised his eyes to meet Lin Shiheng’s gaze, he saw a bashful smile from the green-clothed man in front of him, who also said, “I haven’t eaten steamed fish from Zhi county for a long time. When I saw this fish today, I really miss it.”
With that said, the deliciousness of the steamed fish also spontaneously appeared in Zhao He’s mind. Since the time he said to make medicated food, the extremely conscientious book boy only made medicated food every day and never made the delicious steamed fish again.
Thinking of that delicious steamed fish, Zhao He’s eyes were very strange when he looked down at the fatty fish below.
Unable to resist, he suggested, “We can fish on this ship. How about we fish one up and eat steamed fish today?”
As soon as he finished, Zhao He began to regret it again.
Most scholars found fishing to be cruel.
“Brother Zhao, that’s a good idea! I’ll go find a sailor and ask if there are any fishing tools.”
“Where would we need to bother Brother Lin, just let one of my men go.”
Seeing that Lin Shiheng not only didn’t find fishing cruel but also agreed with him, Zhao He was slightly surprised yet at the same time felt that the two of them really got along well.
Look at that, even fishing was much better than those sourpusses.
When both of them took up the fishing rods and started fishing, the sour scholar trio also noticed their movements.
If anyone else had done this, they wouldn’t have done anything, but since they caught a glimpse of Zhao He over there, the three of them exchanged a glance, gracefully flung their sleeves, and handsomely walked over.
“Brother Zhao, such a coincidence. The three of us were discussing poetry. I wonder what Brother Zhao is doing?”
Zhao He felt his tooth ache just from hearing this voice.
Obviously these three people had already seen him just as he came up to the deck. Yet now, they’re pretending that they just noticed him? And still, asked him what he was doing? Don’t you recognize the fishing rods in our hands?
But no matter how much he cursed in his heart, he still stood up and smirked, “So, it’s Brother Hu’s group. When I came up, I saw that with such strong winds, there were still people standing there holding and swaying folding fans, I already thought it was strange. But now that I know it was you guys, then it isn’t so strange anymore.”
The Juren that was the leader tightened his grip on the fan and the smile on his face slightly sunk.
“Brother Zhao is fishing?”
Zhao He gave another fake smile and picked up the fishing rod in his hand to show them, “It must have been a while since Brother Hu came out, you don’t even recognize a fishing rod anymore?”
The entire academy knew that they weren’t on good terms, so Zhao He didn’t bother to follow these people’s fake examples. In the past, he still thought about arguing, but after such a long time, he saw past it already. So why bother with those who weren’t as good as him? The effort towards talking back to them was enough for him to read a book.
If it had been before, he would have long angered the three away, but today, the three were still standing there and didn’t move, instead, they leaned over slightly to look down.
It was still Brother Hu who spoke first and as soon as he opened his mouth he sighed with compassion, “The fishes were happily swimming in the water, alive and well, why is Brother Zhao so cruel that he just had to fish them out of the water?”
Zhao He gave them a strange look.
“Naturally to eat.”
All three of them looked at him with a sudden condemnation as if they were looking at a sinner.
“Brother Zhao, your family’s wealth is immense and you have had servants to take care of you since you were a child. You’ve tried delicious food from around the world, wear luxurious clothes, travel in fancy carriages, and not lack any food and drink. Why would you still want to put hooks in the mouth of live fish for fun?”
Zhao He: “Aren’t all fishing like this?”
“When a fish’s mouth is hooked, it is naturally painful. We are scholars, so we should have compassionate hearts. In addition, we still have the position of a Juren, even if we can’t succeed in the exam, we will still be able to be chosen as officials, and in the future will be the blue sky for many of the common people. If the blue sky still doesn’t care when it sees a hook in the mouth of the people, what will the people of the world think?”
Zhao He became confused and disoriented by what he said.
He had always been the type to do well on exams but would not argue with others in reality. Right now, being told this, he always felt that what they were saying was wrong, but what exactly was wrong, he couldn’t figure it out.
But he still understood this person’s main idea.
He was definitely scolding him again.
Then he must scold back.
As Zhao He racked his brain to think of how to scold back, the green-clothed scholar on the side, who was directly ignored because he hasn’t uttered a single word, slowly put down his fishing rod, stood up slowly and deliberately, then gently patted the dust on his sleeve, before saluting the three of them with a proper salute of equanimity.
“I am Lin Qinzhi of Ming County, greetings to the three of you.”
Only then did the three of them realize that another person was sitting over here. Strangely enough, it was obvious that Lin Shiheng was dressed in green, which should have been quite conspicuous by all rights, but they hadn’t even noticed there was such a person when they were coming over.
Don’t look at them and assume that they always showed contempt towards Zhao He, that was only when they were alone and no one else was present. When other people are around, the three people are very affectionate towards this Brother Zhao.
This was also the reason why Zhao He was so aggrieved. Think about it, three people, who always used all kinds of messy words to belittle you in private, are very enthusiastic towards you in the eyes of many people, but if you don’t respect them for half a minute, you will be talked about. You can only grit your teeth and swallow it, then squeeze out a smile for them in discomfort. It would be unbearable no matter who experienced it.
But he still had to endure. After all, he was still embarking on this road called the imperial examination. Among the literati, the most important thing was reputation. If the reputation was ruined, even if he did well in the examination, his status would not be able to rise much when he entered the court in the future.
It was precisely because of this concern that every time Zhao He faced these three people, he had to fall into a disadvantage. Otherwise, as such a people person, he wouldn’t have held himself back in his room every day after he boarded the ship and discovered that he was traveling with these three.
After Lin Shiheng made his greeting, Zhao He also found that he had completely forgotten his existence just now, and immediately felt ashamed. According to etiquette, he should have introduced Brother Lin to these three Jurens just now, even though he had enmity with them.
But Zhao He’s shame immediately changed into energy when he saw the uncomfortable faces of the three.
It was rare for these three thick-skinned Jurens to be actually embarrassed.
It just so happens that at this time, another few scholars came up, from looking at them, they should also be Jurens going to the capital for the examination. And they also came over when they saw the commotion from afar.
Zhao He immediately smiled and said, “I haven’t had the chance to introduce him yet. This is my good friend, Lin Shiheng of Ming County, Lin Qinzhi. Brother Lin, these three are my fellow students, Hu Chuan, Cai Helin, and Zhao Kuang.”
The shallow smile on Lin Shiheng’s face was still hanging on his face and he saluted the three again, “Greetings to the three.”
The three of them hurriedly followed suit with a salute, “Greetings.”
Only when they all raised their heads again after the salute, did the three of them realize that Lin Shiheng’s appearance was actually very handsome. Coupled with the warm smile at the corner of his lips and the gentle and courteous manner in which he carried himself, it made people have a very good impression about him.
But this good impression immediately dropped to a negative number after realizing that Lin Shiheng was actually Zhao He’s good friend.
He looks like a nice educated man too, how could he hang around with a merchant’s son like Zhao He, really a disgrace to the educated class.
They haven’t even opened their mouths yet when Lin Shiheng leaned down slightly to salute again. “I had heard what these three brothers had just said to Brother Zhao, and I felt there was something wrong with it in my heart. Is it possible to discuss it with the three?”