Chapter 351: 444 chapters, these people in a flourishing bouquet

444 chapters, these people in a flourishing bouquet

444 chapters, these people in a flourishing bouquet

――――A red apricot branch sticking out of the wall (Seventeen)

In Dream of the Red Chamber, that girl Xiangling one day suddenly realized: I also want to learn poetry. I hope to create something for the world, such as poetry.

What is poetry? Poetry is a very refined thing, it is the refined and elegant arts; how could a vulgar person have such a thought? Go serve people!

Xiangling shouted: No! I not only want to serve people, I also want to learn poetry!

This girl, what a twisted temper!

Daiyu heard that Xiangling, that little girl, also wanted to learn poetry, and she laughed, saying: 'If you want to learn poetry, that's good. Writing poetry is a refined hobby. Since you want to learn poetry, become my disciple.' Daiyu then humbly said: 'Although I am not very knowledgeable about poetry, I still know a little.'

Actually, Daiyu does have a special talent for poetry.

Let's change the topic; let me say a few more sentences about Daiyu. Because these topics are related to the theme I'm writing about. Also related to why Xiangling wants to learn poetry, also related to my friend who studies punctuation, also related to you, my friend. Since it concerns everyone, let me say a bit, relax――――――

In Dream of the Red Chamber's Daguanyuan, a boys and girls self‑founded poetry society――――the Hai Tang Poetry Society.

The Hai Tang Poetry Society in Daguanyuan of Dream of the Red Chamber is like the literature societies in today's middle schools. It is a mass organization of literature lovers. It is an excellent place for young people to cultivate their sentiments. Think back, how many literary talents did the literary societies founded by Mr. Lu Xun in university campuses nurture?

It cannot be ruled out that Lu Xun himself was also shaped by those literary societies.

Literary societies are an absolutely good cradle for literary youth. This, this has existed since ancient times—for example, the Hai Tang Poetry Society in Daguanyuan of Dream of the Red Chamber, although it is not a university campus but a grand official garden. Yet it is a paradise for young people. In literary society gatherings, many like‑minded youths can come together to discuss ideals, life, creation, point out the country's direction, and invigorate the text. That truly is one of life's great joys.

It's a pity I long ago lost that opportunity, alas! My friend Weiyun, who studies punctuation, is just as unfortunate as I am. As they say, I still studied a few days longer than him; he only finished junior high, then dropped out due to family poverty. Speaking of the school literary society, my friend and I both feel regret, which will never… but, my friend, you would never imagine that a 170,000‑character research result on 'Chinese punctuation studies' did not come from researching in that literary society setting, nor from having like‑minded friends; only after his research results appeared did he gain like‑minded friends. He actually managed to open a new chapter in punctuation!

What I say is fact, not exaggeration or fiction. Because this is not about writing poetry.

The topic must not wander; let's first talk about Daiyu and poetry. When Daiyu is mentioned, everyone tells one or two little stories about her: she is the 'miss' of a wealthy family in Jinling, orphaned of her mother and living with her uncle's family. She is intelligent and capable, sentimental and sensitive, her speech is a bit unyielding when she is right, but she pays attention to propriety; she likes to play cute, sometimes shows a little temper, and is willful. Why do I say these? Or rather, let's first talk about the Hai Tang Poetry Society and her writing poetry and teaching Xiangling to learn poetry. Otherwise, too much talk will muddle the thinking.

In Dream of the Red Chamber, the initiator of the Hai Tang Poetry Society was Tan Chun; the cause was that Tan Chun, seeing: the moonlight like washing, regretting that fine scenery is hard to come by, youth will not return, felt moved, and suddenly thought of preserving the beautiful scene before her eyes. She then felt poetic, wanting to use verse to keep the lovely scenery and colors.

Tan Chun herself was originally a passionate and righteous person, also skilled in poetry and painting, good at managing finances, and thus had great prestige among the youths. Therefore, her single proposal to establish a literary society in Daguanyuan immediately received a response from the boys and girls there. These young people—this is a good time to undertake endeavors, everyone's hearts are in sync…….

Facing the beautiful crabapple before them, the boys and girls in Daguanyuan each recited lovely verses. Among them, the naturally intelligent and sensitive Daiyu stood out the most. Here I might as well copy Daiyu's poems for friends to appreciate and recall. Friend, you are surely busy and rarely have time to read Dream of the Red Chamber; in fact, I am busier than you, I have to struggle for a living all day, and the bits I write for friends to read are squeezed out of my sleep time. Let's cut the small talk—look at Daiyu's chant of the crabapple poem, it is very beautiful; after seeing it you will certainly not regret it――――

"Half‑covered xiang curtain, half‑covered door; grinding ice to make soil, jade to make a basin."

This Daiyu is always shy and bashful; you see her poems are also written in a shy, bashful beauty, a restrained beauty――――

"Stealing three parts of pear blossom whiteness, borrowing a wisp of plum blossom soul."

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

Everyone who saw Daiyu's poems could not help but applaud, all saying in unison: 'These people in a flourishing bouquet are indeed higher than others by one level, and yet share the same heart.'

Doing things requires creativity, it is a matter of heart, different from others. Live out your own style. For example, everyone is writing novels, which are fantastical. You are making things up randomly, I am pulling nonsense. If you pull it differently, with suspense and interest, then more people will click on your work; if you write like I do, then you might make readers…………

From Daiyu's chant of the crabapple poem, you can see that Daiyu writes differently.

Here I am not intentionally praising Daiyu; I mean to say: Daiyu is fit to be Xiangling's teacher! To be a role model for others, one must have one's own special talent, something different from others. Do not merely echo others. Chew on the leftover crusts others have eaten…….

Therefore, Xiangling being able to take Daiyu as her teacher is also a great fortune for Xiangling across three lifetimes.

In fact, Daiyu also wrote a chrysanthemum chant very excellently and even won an award. I won't copy more. One, I fear friends will be annoyed by me; two, I fear straying too far from the topic. Let's still talk about Xiangling learning poetry…………….

(Exciting to be continued in the next installment…………)

(Heart with the disaster area, emotion with the disaster area: may peace, courage, confidence, and strength be with the people of the disaster area, accompany them!)