Chapter 91: The Offspring of the Zhang Family

After Zhang Youzhi's lecture, he met Zhang Yue in the study beside Zhujin Hall. Seeing him in a full-length robe, he could not help but smile and say, “Previously, we always met at my private residence. You never wore a full-length robe before. Why did you put one on when you came to Nanhfeng Academy?”

Zhang Yue had long known that Zhang Youzhi would ask this question, so he answered with a face full of shame: “All of it is hidden from the gentleman’s sharp eyes. This little careful thought of mine has made the gentleman laugh.”

Sometimes, exposing some small flaws in front of a teacher can make the other party feel that this student is lovable.

Indeed, Zhang Youzhi shook his head and said in a tone that seemed not to mind but actually did not mind: “You, you, I do not know how to say it, but you are the one. Did you bring the manuscript?”

Zhang Yue hurriedly took out a few volumes of manuscripts from his satchel and presented them.

Zhang Youzhi looked at them, picked up his brush, and marked a few places in the manuscripts, then said, “Your seal script is still a bit too deliberate.”

Zhang Yue saluted and said, “I do not understand.”

Zhang Youzhi said, “Do you intentionally regulate your breathing every day?”

Zhang Yue was startled, then said, “I understand. Regulating breathing is unintentional. When the student writes characters, he first has the intention to write the character well, so the intention is within the character, and unknowingly it becomes crooked.”

Zhang Youzhi said, “Exactly so. What is true? The characters without the intention embedded in them are true. But your seal script has reached today’s level, which is not easy. Otherwise, I would not regard you as my successor. The method I taught you for harmonizing breathing, have you practiced it daily?”

Zhang Yue said, “I practice it every day. When practicing characters, one can first calm the mind, then deeply exhale and shallowly inhale, so that the brush does not shake.”

Zhang Youzhi nodded and said, “When the seal method reaches its depth, no deviation can be tolerated. The slightest breath and inhale will cause some offset in your characters. Ordinary people cannot see it, but connoisseurs can recognize it.”

Zhang Yue realized that these were all full of details, so he respectfully said, “The breath is connected, the brush moves on its own, I have received your teachings.”

Zhang Youzhi then looked at Zhang Yue’s calligraphy again, continuing to hold the brush and annotate.

Indeed, the places he marked with the brush were all where Zhang Yue’s characters were written too deliberately.

Zhang Yue could not help but ask, “Master, practicing characters is intentional, but writing out good characters is unintentional like breathing. How does one go from intentional to unintentional?”

Zhang Youzhi did not even look and said, “Nothing else, just practice more, so the hand gets familiar.”

Zhang Yue thought to himself, it is Ou Yangxiu’s words again. But Zhang Yue also knows that Ou Yangxiu has an extremely good friendship with Zhang Youzhi.

Ou Yangxiu once praised Li Ji’s Yuanzhou Academy Record, Liu Qi’s calligraphy from Hedong, and Zhang Youzhi’s seal script from Jingzhao, as the three greatest under heaven.

Mi Fu, one of the Song Four Masters in later generations, also had such words.

Zhang Youzhi’s calligraphy is like a palace maid inserting flowers, or a lady-in-waiting before a mirror, with its own attitude. Who continues it? Mi Fu from Xiangyang.

Therefore, Zhang Yue’s hand-in-hand guidance from Zhang Youzhi can be considered a fortunate event.

After the guidance, Zhang Yue took out a few things from his pouch and smiled, “Master, this is what I asked someone to bring from Fuzhou. Do you like it?”

Zhang Youzhi nodded upon seeing it, “Good stone.”

Zhang Yue showed a happy expression. This was the Shoushan stone he had specially asked the academy head Peng Jingyi to bring from Fuzhou.

Zhang Youzhi is proficient in seal script and also likes making seals.

In the Song Dynasty, making seals was mostly done with jade and copper, but both are very valuable.

But unfortunately, Zhang Youzhi likes it every day. He likes to carve idle seals.

Idle seals are seals not named after surnames, family names, or book collections, etc. Especially during the prosperous times of Tang and Song poetry, many literati liked to carve a couplet of poems into idle seals.

For example, something like “Half a pond in the autumn mountains, one house mountain.”

And such as Emperor Huizong of Song, who was fond of playing, had an idle seal saying “All things are possible, but not for the ruler.” He had forty-one idle seals, one of which is a double dragon small seal.

Some idle seals are a single sentence, while Qi Baishi’s idle seal is “The old man of White Stone has real interest.”

Zhang Youzhi carved many idle seals. He was proficient in seal script and carved them whenever he liked a sentence of poetry or prose.

But jade and copper are too expensive. He was not like Hu Xuezheng, who accepts everyone. Therefore, Zhang Yue took the trouble to collect Shoushan stones for Zhang Youzhi to make seals.

Shoushan stone in the Song Dynasty was just for stone carvers to use in carving. Some presented it to the palace for officials and nobles to enjoy, or some scholars took it as a hobby, but no one had used it for making seals yet. It was not until the Ming and Qing dynasties that it began to be used for making seals.

Zhang Youzhi saw that carving these Shoushan stones into seals had such benefits and was not as expensive as jade and stone. So he used the Shoushan stones sent by Zhang Yue to carve “idle seals.”

Who knew that Zhang Yue had sent the Shoushan stones to Zhang Youzhi to express gratitude for his teachings. Who knew that Zhang Youzhi would teach him how to carve seals.

Thus, in addition to seal script, Zhang Yue also learned another craft.

From discussing yin carving and yang carving, Zhang Yue finally brought up the topic: “Master, does this year’s clan school accept clan disciples?”

Zhang Youzhi, who was holding the Shoushan stones that Zhang Yue had given him before and playing with them, smiled upon hearing this: “Why, do you want to enter the clan school again? Now that I am here, there is no problem. I am afraid the Hu Xuezheng over at the county school will not let you go!”

Zhang Yue hurriedly said, “Master, you are joking.”

Zhang Youzhi said, “Previously it was because of your second brother. Now your second brother has already become a recommended talent… a talent. I believe the clan will not use the matter of eloping again as an excuse. Otherwise, it would be offending your uncle, and your second brother is now the nominal father of the advisor Chen (Zhang Yu).”

Zhang Yue said, “Master, I am not asking for myself, but for my nephew…”

“Oh?”

After hearing Zhang Yue’s words, Zhang Youzhi stroked his beard and smiled slightly: “In the past, there were eight dragons of the Xun clan. Now our Zhang family should also flourish.”

“Tomorrow, bring your nephew to my residence. I will inquire personally.”

Zhang Yue was overjoyed: “Thank you, master.”

Zhang Youzhi slowly said, “Alas, since the founding of the dynasty, fathers, sons, brothers, uncles, and nephews who are prominent in reputation have recommended each other to officials and gentry, and there are many who are praised in their time. Brothers like the two Lüs (Lü Duan and Lü Yujing), fathers and sons like the two Sungs (Song Xiang and Song Qi), and recently the Three Sus in the capital known for their literary talent are all like this.”

“I have no intention of holding office, but when I help my nephews and younger generations, I should do my best! Besides, how far are your second and third brothers and their nephews going to fall short?”

Zhang Yue bowed and thanked him, but in his heart he muttered “perhaps not.” Finally, Zhang Yue calculated that time was insufficient, so he could only ask about the policy questions next time.

The next day, Zhang Yue and Zhang Qiu brought gifts to Zhang Youzhi’s residence for a visit.

Zhang Youzhi chatted with Zhang Qiu. Seeing that the other replied fluently, he immediately became very happy.

Zhang Yue then asked Zhang Youzhi for tips on policy questions. Zhang Youzhi carefully taught him, instructing Zhang Yue not to just talk empty talk but to have words that benefit the world and stabilize the country, practical words.

Although it was about asking for advice on policy questions, the most important thing was still the word “sincerity.”

As for Zhang Yue’s impatience, Zhang Youzhi taught him a few words: think carefully, study in detail, plan the strategies, review and repeat. Zhang Youzhi gave Zhang Yue a few topics, asking him to read the historical books carefully, and after becoming familiar with them, to write the essays, and then bring them for review.

Zhang Yue looked at the topics and thought they were fine. He had been soaking in forums like Tieba and Qidian all day, and he had read quite a bit of the research of this expert and that expert. His historical foundation was still not bad, and citing classics and evidence was also decent.

Zhang Yue and Zhang Qiu returned home, and from afar, they saw Zhang Shi standing at the door waiting, poking his head out.

At this moment, several neighbors were chatting with Zhang Shi.

“Third Brother is a sensible person. I think he can take a liking to the girl from the Lu family.”

“Third Brother is not young anymore.”

“She is just a Taixue student, how can she like the girl from the Lu family? I think she needs to be at least…”

Just as they were speaking, Zhang Yue and Zhang Qiu arrived.

Zhang Yue smiled and said, “Everyone on the street is talking about my life again!”

There was laughter from the sides, and one person said, “That is not it, Third Brother is such a talented person, and he is already a Taixue student…”

“Stop, stop, I am not a Taixue student yet.”

“Ah? It is just a matter of time, isn’t it? After becoming a Taixue student, you can become an official.”

Zhang Yue smiled, “Then I have to take your auspicious words. Uncle Chen, can your teeth grow back after falling out?”

“Ah? How can teeth grow back at this age.”

Zhang Yue said, “Exactly, Uncle Chen also knows that teeth fall out and do not grow back at this age. It is not like that. We cannot say it is possible, can we?”

The street folks burst into laughter.

“Third Brother really has a clever mouth.”

“Will be able to coax a wife in the future.”

Zhang Yue immediately took Zhang Qiu into the house and said to Zhang Shi, “Brother, you are really something. Previously, when your second brother was at the county school, you blew him up so much, saying that passing the jinshi was as easy as flipping one’s hand, and the zhuangyuan was just at hand. Now it is my turn, right!”

Zhang Shi said unhappily, “My brother has succeeded, and you will not let your brother say a few nice words for you.”

Zhang Yue said, “Brother, this is not praising, this is flattering and will make me hated by others. The second brother I was thinking about has been sending letters to the family. I think it is all because of you forcing him.”

Zhang Shi’s face changed upon hearing: “What are you saying? In the end, is it not because you did not study hard before…”

At this time, Aunt Yu came over with tea and handed it to Zhang Yue: “You two brothers, each say one less thing, okay. Uncle, how is Xi’er’s studying going?”

Zhang Yue took a sip of the tea and laughed, “Auntie still makes good tea.”

“From now on, if Uncle likes it, I will make it for you every day.”

Zhang Yue smiled, “To inform Auntie, the master looked at Xi’er’s age as a bit young, but he excels in his talent and is willing to accept him. After the spring snow melts next year, he can enter Nanhfeng Academy to study.”

“Really?” Aunt Yu was overjoyed, “This time there will not be any mistakes, right? I really do not know how to thank Uncle.”

Zhang Yue waved his hand and smiled, “Auntie does not need to be like that. The master is also looking at Xi’er’s cleverness, and he said that all the children in our family are seeds of learning.”

Aunt Yu was even happier, sitting on the chair with tears streaming down.

Zhang Shi said calmly, “That is not it? Xi’er is the eldest grandson of the Zhang family.”

Zhang Yue secretly sneered.

Zhang Qiu looked at Zhang Yue and said, “Third Uncle, did the master really praise me as a seed of learning before? What does ‘seed of learning’ mean?”

Zhang Yue smiled, “It means material for studying, like beautiful jade, but even the most beautiful jade needs to be polished.”

“Hmm, this is the principle of ‘If jade is not carved, it cannot be made into a tool.’ ” Zhang Qiu nodded repeatedly.

Zhang Yue smiled, “Exactly, so you have to study harder and not disappoint.”

“Third Uncle, I understand. In the future, I will be like you and Second Uncle.”

Zhang Qiu said this with childish but firm tone.

While the family was talking, a carriage from Suzhou had already stopped far away at the gate of the Zhang family home.