Chapter 26: Finding Joy in What Is Within

The next day, the sky lightened slightly at dawn.

A hazy light appeared on his eyelids; Lu Beigu struggled a bit and opened his eyes.

The morning chill squeezed through the door cracks into the study dormitory; the hemp blanket held a rare warmth, and his groggy mind felt quite reluctant to leave it.

But the next second, Lu Beigu flung the newly made hemp blanket of this year right off; using too much force, the willow catkins and worn cotton inside squeezed out through the gaps.

Watching the white fluff float out, a thought actually rose in Lu Beigu's heart: "Should I switch to a warmer cotton quilt?"

The moment this thought arose, he fiercely cast it aside.

Although cotton had already appeared and was used to make quilts at this time, only wealthy families used it for enjoyment; besides, the story of "In the past, King Zhou used ivory chopsticks, and Jizi was terrified" was not without reason—would switching to a cotton quilt mean switching to a bigger bed? And then what?

It was best not to have this thought in the first place.

After these days, Lu Beigu already clearly knew what kind of path he was walking.

Perhaps he could not yet achieve Fan Zhongyan's "Worry before the world worries, and enjoy after the world enjoys," but at the very least, he must make himself and those around him live better; without betraying his original heart, using his pen as a blade, to voice his own sound in this era!

And whether he wanted to live with dignity and character, or to establish merit, establish words, he needed to rely on his own efforts to realize it step by step!

Lu Beigu folded the blanket neatly, got up, and went outside the well to brush his teeth.

Unlike many predecessor time-travelers who still had to bitterly tear willow branches and dip them in coarse salt, the Northern Song already had mature toothbrushes—namely, toothbrushes with wooden handles and horsehair bristles, available at general stores, generally costing 5-6 copper coins, not expensive.

If you wanted to save money, you could make one yourself, but drilling holes and plucking hairs for this thing was quite taxing on the eyeballs.

Toothpaste did not exist, because it was hard to keep in liquid form, but there was tooth powder.

Its main method was to boil willow branches, locust branches, and mulberry branches into a paste, cool them, crush them, add ginger juice and asarum, mix well; generally sold by portion, one portion contained four packets, selling for a total of 1 copper coin.

Lu Beigu took a wooden tooth cup resembling a pen holder, drew some cool water from the well, put the toothbrush in and stirred, then opened a tooth powder packet, dipped it, put it in his mouth, and started brushing.

In an era where tooth extraction could kill a person, brushing teeth was undoubtedly a very important daily ritual.

"Brother Lu, up so early?"

A scholar carrying a book satchel walked into the study dormitory's courtyard.

Lu Beigu looked closely; it was one of the two who had called for help for him by the riverside that day, Zhang Sheng, a local from Hejiang.

"Brother Zhang." Lu Beigu quickly rinsed his mouth, "I thought of getting up early to read aloud in the morning light; in a few days the ten-day test is coming, need to review the 'Text Exegesis' more."

"Morning reading?"

Although he didn't catch on immediately, Zhang Sheng understood by guessing the literal meaning.

"Brother Lu is indeed diligent; may you take me along?"

"I would be delighted."

Lu Beigu put the toothbrushing tools back in the study dormitory, took out the "Analects" issued by the county school.

Focusing solely on the 'moyi' was not enough; after all, the exam also tested 'Text Exegesis' and poetry/rhyme, especially the ten-day test in a few days, which tested exactly 'Text Exegesis' and 'moyi'.

And compared to the 'Spring and Autumn Annals' and 'Book of Rites', which required understanding, had long evolutionary histories, and featured complex interpretations by various schools, the 'Analects' tested in 'Text Exegesis' really just required rote memorization.

However, he was not going to memorize it blindly.

On one hand, Lu Beigu had his own memory method to quickly memorize the content; on the other hand, the essence of the 'Analects' is a collection of sayings, so one cannot be a mute; one must read it aloud, not silently recite it in the heart.

And this was also the reason he chose the method of morning reading.

Lu Beigu and Zhang Sheng stood outside the study dormitory courtyard, each holding the 'Analects' and reciting; the morning dew wet the hems of their clothes, but the two were completely unaware.

"The Master said: Who says Weisheng Gao is upright? Someone asked him for vinegar; he asked his neighbor for it and gave it."

Lu Beigu recited in a low voice, his fingers sliding lightly over the book pages made of bamboo paper, most common in Sichuan.

"Wangsun Jia asked: 'Rather than flatter the hearth, better to flatter the stove,' what does this mean? The Master said: No; if one offends Heaven, there is nowhere to pray."

Time passed unknowingly; a streak of purple dawn on the horizon quietly turned red, and the rising sun was held up by the sea of clouds.

When his legs and feet felt somewhat numb and sweat appeared on his forehead, Lu Beigu finally broke out of his focused morning reading state.

And at this time, he saw Zhang Sheng sitting on a stone bench nearby, looking at him.

"Why does Brother Zhang look at me like that?" Lu Beigu was somewhat puzzled.

"Does reading these not bore you, Brother Lu?" Zhang Sheng was also quite puzzled; "I read ten or so pages and felt my brain filled up; I couldn't remember anything new."

"That's not the case." Lu Beigu said honestly, "I just feel there isn't enough time."

"By the way, Brother Zhang, have you had breakfast?"

"Not yet."

"Then let's go eat something together; I'll treat."

Zhang Sheng nodded; he was four years older than Lu Beigu, a local of Hejiang County, his family operated a small pharmacy; though not wealthy, compared to a poor scholar like Lu Beigu, his conditions were already considered affluent.

However, since Lu Beigu intended to treat him to a meal, there was no reason for him to refuse.

The county school had a dining hall; inside there were many types of breakfast, but the staple foods were mostly cakes, such as baked cakes, steamed cakes, and the like.

Hmm, steamed cakes were actually mantou, the kind Wu Dalang sold.

Lu Beigu spent 4 copper coins to buy two baked cakes as the staple, then spent 1 copper coin to buy himself a bowl of 'jiangshui', and spent 2 copper coins to buy Zhang Sheng a bowl of 'yangmei keshui'.

The method for making baked cakes differed from modern times, but not much; biting into the sesame-topped crispy skin was pure satisfaction, while 'jiangshui' was something similar to rice water, but with a tiny bit of honey and flower juice added for flavor, tasting slightly sweet.

As for the 'yangmei keshui' Zhang Sheng drank, it was somewhat like the semi-finished drink of honey pomelo tea that needs hot water to mix nowadays; it belonged to pre-mixed fruit jam sweet paste, and because the cost was high, it sold more expensively than rice water.

Because there were no mobile phones, Lu Beigu, accustomed to playing videos as 'electronic pickled vegetables', simply placed the 'Analects' on the dining table, reading while eating; to be honest, some of the dialogue and little stories inside were quite appetizing.

And just then, He Cong walked over with several people.

On his tray, he held a bowl of 'Jin Yu Sun Dai Geng', and deliberately sat next to Lu Beigu.

This was one of the most expensive breakfasts, usually stewed with fresh chestnuts, yams, spring bamboo shoots, and seasonings; the taste was very fresh and enjoyed by many; in the Great Song, the price of fresh seasonal produce was usually significantly higher than ordinary vegetables.

Seeing Lu Beigu ignore him, He Cong felt aggrieved; he deliberately adjusted his brand-new lake silk straight robe, patted the sheep-fat jade pendant hanging at his waist, and said loudly to the companion beside him: "Today the weather is cold; later I'll treat, let's go to Chengnan's 'Drunken Immortal Tower' to eat a bowl of mutton 'xuan zha', and warm a pot of 'Yu Zhuo' wine to warm the body."

Having said that, he glanced at Lu Beigu again: "Some people probably haven't even tasted the flavor of mutton, right?"

His companions chimed in with laughter, their gazes sweeping over Lu Beigu's washed-out, patched hemp long gown, implying something.

Lu Beigu merely lowered his head and turned a page of the 'Analects', not even lifting an eyelid.

He Cong, having been made to lose face, gave a cold snort and, after finishing his meal, led his people away with a flourish.

Zhang Sheng watched their retreating backs, then leaned over and whispered, "Brother Lu, do you truly feel no envy?"

Lu Beigu closed his book, raised his gaze to the rising morning sun outside the dining hall; the dawn light reflected in his brow, making him appear exceptionally handsome.

He smiled faintly and said lightly, "I feel no envy."

Zhang Sheng was stunned: "Why?"

Lu Beigu gently patted the copy of The Analects in his hand: "Because there is joy within that suffices, one does not notice that one's food and clothing are not as good as others'."

Zhang Sheng was struck silent, savoring the words carefully, and only after a long while sighed, "Brother Lu's state of mind is beyond my reach."

Lu Beigu smiled and said no more.

His time at the county school was running short, so he cherished it all the more.

If his expectations were not mistaken, the magistrate would soon be taking him to Chengdu Prefecture.

(End of this chapter)