181 Eating Rice but Flowing Eggs ou (2/2)

For ordinary calligraphers, if they treated bigwigs of Tang in this way, they would be immediately desolated and forgotten by others, even if they are the second Master of Calligraphers. However, this calligrapher was deeply favored by his Majesty and he was a student of the Second floor of the Academy. Thus, these bigwigs didn't dare to suppress or threaten him and just unwillingly left him alone.

As time passed, these bigwigs found that the man treated all people with the same attitude and never accepted anyone's invitation. They though the man, a cultivator, might be more interested in other hobbies, so they gradually forgot it. They kept purchasing his expensive works without hesitation, but stopped showing enthusiasm to the person. Today, however, no one had expected that...this man would appear at the banquet of Old Chancellor!

These government officials of Tang were all very clever, so, after few seconds, they figured out why the calligrapher broke his regular behavior. With a sneer, Wang Shichen looked at Old Chancellor and ironically said, ”Congratulation on you having a good granddaughter.”

In fact, there were some vicious meaning hidden behind the word. However, as how Grand Secretary Wang replied Old Chancellor with normal words before, this time Old Chancellor acted like a victor. He just smilingly and sarcastically said, ”It is a pity that your granddaughter failed to pass the examination of Academy.”

This sentence directly stabbed the biggest pain of Grand Secretary Wang these three years. With his facial expression slightly changing and fingers trembling, Grand Secretary Wang pointed to Old Chancellor's face with his finger and angrily rebuked, ”You the old man, don't be so complacent!”

Old Chancellor said with emotion, ”As the first old man who succeeded in inviting Mister Ning to a banquet, it is difficult to be not complacent.”

Looking back to Ning Que outside the courtyard, Grand Secretary Wang irritatedly said, ”Is it necessary to watch the old chicken when enjoying chicken soup?”

Old Chancellor laughed and sighed with his head shaking, ”Discomposure. You are too discomposed!”

...

...

In a summer storm the day before yesterday, Ning Que said that sentence to Sangsang as he finished an ink Fu in white paper, and then they began accepting others' invitations. After sorting out the invitation cards, they surprisingly found that they had saved dozens of invitations within two months.

They clearly knew that these bigwigs in Chang'an treated him so politely and warmly because of the face of his Majesty. Previously, he wasn't afraid of refusing them, for he was backed by the Academy. However, if he started accepting the invitations, it was of necessity to pay attention to the sequential order, because the Academy would be also embarrassed to speak for him if he offended a high official in etiquette.

Yesterday by the river bank of Academy, Ning Que carefully consulted to Situ Yilan about the issue. Finally, he decided to put Old Chancellor's invitation in the first place. The reasons were very simple. First, as Old Chancellor was a noble and literary official, it was reasonable for Ning Que to visit him as a calligrapher student. More importantly, Jin Wucai, the granddaughter of Old Chancellor, was his classmate. This kind of relation wouldn't be criticized in any situations anywhere.

The dishes in the Old Chancellor's mansion were, of course, much better than those in the imperial court, but also too light. Besides, the talk at the banquet was really lack of fun. Remembering an everlasting truth that you have to politely show your enough respect if a big wig favored you, Ning Que modestly and earnestly answered their words and behaved very well.

After the meal, Old Chancellor naturally ordered his servants to get ready for calligraphy stationery and invited Ning Que to show handwriting talent.

After completing the writing, Ning Que, accompanied by Jin Wucai and Situ Yilan, walked out of the mansion. Through a short chatting, Ning Que knew that Xie Chengyun had already returned back to South Jin Kingdom during these days when Ning Que was busy learning Talisman Taoism. He noticed that when Situ Yilan mentioned Xie Chengyun, Jin Wucai's facial expression was still peaceful, but some sadness could be unavoidably seen from her eyes.

Since Ning Que had attended a banquet, there was no chance for him to refuse others. According to the schedule made by Situ Yilan, he should have visited the minister of the Ministry of Rites the second day. However, he had to change the original plan to visit Grand Secretary Wang first, for he had met Grand Secretary Wang at the banquet of Old Chancellor last night. Before agreeing the request of Grand Secretary Wang at the banquet last night, Ning Que had clearly felt that if he refused the invitation of the white-hair Grand Secretary Wang, this guy would perhaps send some people to smash his shop in Lin 47th Street.

The dinner at Grand Secretary Wang's mansion was more extravagant than that of Old Chancellor. Obviously, this old lord didn't serve him as an old hen that could be treated well just with some rice. Instead, he invited a lot of high officials from six ministries and three councils. If carefully counted, about half of the officials who were qualified to attend imperial court meeting were possibly standing in this courtyard!

Looking at these high officials who wore all kinds of government robes in the courtyard, Ning Que was speechless out of shock. He thought how he would be worth such a grand face as he was just a young calligrapher?

However, Grand Secretary Wang thought Ning Que was worth it. Standing in front of the step and joining Ning Que's hand, he made a grand introduction of Ning Que to everyone present.

For Academy and Headmaster of Academy, for imperial palace and his Majesty, for South Gate Office and Yan Se, Grand Secretary Wang didn't mind giving enough face. Of course, he implicitly wanted to show off. On one hand, he would like to, by these officials' mouth, tell the whole country that Ning Que had attended his banquet. On the other hand, he wanted to let Ning Que know that he was more careful and attentive than Old Chancellor in entertaining him. In this way, Grand Secretary Wang implied that Ning Que should first let him appreciate handwriting works in the future, and should tell him what his Majesty thought...

All people didn't leave after dinner. Grand Secretary Wang showed that precious Chicken Soup Calligraphy for others' appreciation. Later, the old lord requested Ning Que to stamp his private seal on the memo paper which was still wrinkled after repairing.

With Ning Que's fingers slightly raising, the seal was separated from the surface of Chicken Soup Calligraphy, leaving a lump of eye-dazzling redness. A great rejoicing suddenly filled the whole mansion. Other officials were cheering by praising and clapping hands, the chamberlain of the mansion was moved due to happiness, and all servants were muttering with each other. The old servant, who followed the family from hometown and had served Grand Secretary for nearly seventy years, was crying out of excitement. Holding his walking stick, he looked at the brightly-lit courtyard and tremblingly said, ”My lord, young master defeated that Jin old man. The hatred of 'robbing wife' was finally revenged a little...”

After stamping the seal, Ning Que breathed a sigh of relief and thought maybe the assignment was finished. However, to his surprise, Grand Secretary Wang didn't want to let him leave. Instead, like Old Chancellor yesterday, he ordered his servants to get ready for calligraphy stationery. From the speed of placing the calligraphy stationery by stewards, no one present believed that they weren't overtime trained on it before.

Blankly looking at the super-large Huangzhou art paper in front of him, Ning Que felt like weeping but no tears. He thought last night Old Chancellor just took a piece of ordinary paper, but Grand Secretary Wang...wanted me to write a central scroll? Was it too cruel?

After leaving the mansion of Grand Secretary, Ning Que sadly said to Sangsang, ”We won't attend such banquet in the future.”

Sangsang asked in confusion, ”Young master, several days ago you said we can't depend on only one skill if we want to achieve something ambitious, so we had to build a good relationship with those bigwigs in mortal world while paying most attention to cultivation. But why now you say we won't attend such banquet in the future?”

”When it comes to having meals, chatting, praising bigwigs and bootlicking, I am actually very good at it, because I am unblushing after all.”

Ning Que shook his head and said with emotion, ”But I have to leave a piece of handwriting after having a meal. Yesterday I was requested to write on an ordinary volume, but today the host asked for a central scroll. Tomorrow if the prime minister invites me, what should I write? Fill the newly-painted white wall with characters?”

”These bigwigs aren't inviting me to their banquets; instead, they are totally robbing my money!”