[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-simultaneously-transmigrated-my-cheat-skill-is-m":3,"chapter-simultaneously-transmigrated-my-cheat-skill-is-m-simultaneously-transmigrated-my-cheat-skill-is-m-chapter-53":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Simultaneously Transmigrated: My Cheat Skill Is Myself",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2315308,4528,"Chapter 53: Banquet","simultaneously-transmigrated-my-cheat-skill-is-m-chapter-53",53,"\u003Cp>Zhang Jie, whose hearing far surpassed that of ordinary people, caught every word spoken by the two juren.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled silently at the two juren’s thoughts:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was certainly not the illegitimate son of any minister of the Great Song court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was absolutely certain he was the late-life son of his adoptive father, Zhang Dahu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old steward, who had been like a brother to Zhang Dahu, had watched him be born and grow up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chief examiner of the provincial examination favored him because Zhang Jie’s essay struck straight at his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He believed Zhang Jie was truly a kindred spirit, sharing his deepest interests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jie could write an essay that struck the chief examiner’s heart because he knew the examiner’s life story well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chief examiner’s surname was Li, his given name Gefei, one of Su Dongpo’s disciples who had recommended Gao Qiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood alongside Liao Zhengyi, Li Xi, and Dong Rong, known collectively as the “Four Later Disciples of Su.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before his transmigration, Zhang Jie had never cared much for the “Four Disciples of Su.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew Su Shi, Su Dongpo, only through his poetry and Dongpo pork.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jie knew Li GeFei’s life story because Li had a famously illustrious daughter—a daughter hailed as the “greatest female talent of all time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, Li GeFei’s daughter was the one who wrote: “Live to be a hero, die to be a ghostly champion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now I think of Xiang Yu—he refused to cross the river eastward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jie had once been deeply interested in this poem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had searched online for information on Li Qingzhao and, incidentally, read up on Li GeFei’s biography.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to his steadily increasing mental acuity and memory,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jie had now recalled every detail he had once skimmed over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he knew that according to 21st-century historical records, Li GeFei should already have been demoted\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and should not have been sent to Shandong to preside over the provincial exam, Zhang Jie could only accept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he had already crossed into the world of Water Margin—an impossible thing—so a minor alteration in Li GeFei’s path was trivial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing Li GeFei was deeply concerned about the realm’s dangers, Zhang Jie subtly referenced in his essay\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the profligate lifestyle of a certain Prince Duan, thereby winning Li GeFei’s favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Zhang Jie, ever the man who sings the song suited to his mountain, never voiced his desire to overthrow the Great Song.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He merely followed convention and offered gentle counsel to Emperor Huizong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In essence, echoing Hai Rui’s “First Memorial to the Empire”: “If Your Majesty would only rouse yourself,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>then our Great Ming (Great Song) shall flourish again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, besides Li GeFei, who had arrived early, the deputy examiners and the highest civil official of Shandong also arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like leaders in the 21st century, after a dull, empty speech, the Lu Ming Banquet officially began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The banquet must begin with the playing of the “Lu Ming” melody,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>followed by everyone reciting the “Lu Ming” song to enliven the atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lu Ming” originally came from the “Xiao Ya” section of the Book of Songs, consisting of three stanzas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first line of each stanza was: “The deer calls softly, feeding on the wild ping.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The deer calls softly, feeding on the wild song.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The deer calls softly, feeding on the wild qin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its meaning: the fawn, finding good food, does not forget its companions, calling out “yōu yōu” to invite them to eat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since ancient times, people have regarded this as a virtue, so rulers emulated it: the Son of Heaven feasted his ministers,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>local officials feasted their colleagues, provincial juren, and local magnates,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>using this ritual to win hearts and demonstrate their reverence for talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Li, please.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Wang, you as well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joyful, the newly minted juren gradually grew unrestrained, clinking cups and pouring wine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jie, however, ate slowly and deliberately at the low table before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He truly had no desire for these unnecessary social formalities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an age of poor transportation and difficult travel,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>after parting from these juren here, he doubted he would ever see them again in this life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After years of development, the dishes of the Lu Ming Banquet had become standardized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Main dishes included venison (symbolizing good fortune and talent),\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenshi tofu (symbolizing quick-wittedness), Zhuangyuan Jidi porridge (symbolizing early success in the imperial exams),\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hanlin chicken (blessing a smooth official career), and Four Joy Meatballs (representing “Fortune, Rank, Longevity, Joy”).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the deer had a soul, it would surely protest:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You claim moral superiority! You think yourselves noble!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You praise my virtue while feasting on my flesh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the deer were alive in the afterlife, it would surely protest:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Zhang Jie ate the clearly mass-produced, standardized dishes, his thoughts drifted far away:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, these dishes probably won’t please Maomao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Maomao has always loved only one flavor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Maomao grew up and tasted a dish from Xibei, he exclaimed happily:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes! This is the taste of my childhood!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The server replied: “Of course! This is exactly the same batch you ate as a child!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After growing up, Maomao took a bite of Xibei’s dish and exclaimed happily:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jie continued tasting dishes and pastries with sour, sweet, spicy, and salty flavors,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>while channeling the spirit of the Supreme Grand Luo Purple Pole Yin-Yang Merit and Demerit Master, the Flying Yuan True Lord, the Ten Thousand Years Emperor:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This meal—neither good nor bad—eat when it’s good, discard when it’s bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never take lightly any meal made by another; only when you can cook for yourself is it truly good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Salt nourished the populations of northern provinces; sweetness nourished the populations of southern frontiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could one favor only what tastes good, nor neglect what tastes bad?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown is but illusion; I allocated only one million.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The banquet ended. Zhang Jie and Chen Wenyun, slightly drunk, left the yamen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Imperial Lord of Loyalty and Filial Piety, the Flying Yuan True Lord, and the Ten Thousand Longevity Imperial Lord, possessing the Supreme Great Luo Purple Ultimate Palm of Yin-Yang:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Chen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Zhang Jie and Chen Wenyun stepped out the yamen gate, Pan Jinlian and Wu Song stepped forward to meet them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jie, knowing they had waited specifically for him, felt touched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having lived in the Water Margin world for over a decade, he had, without realizing it,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>formed many attachments he could not and would not let go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They boarded the carriage; Wu Song drove them back to Hao Ke Lai Inn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jieyuan Gong, Master Chen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the inn, Wang Lao, who had been waiting a long time, greeted them with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Zhang Jie and the other exited the yamen gate, Pan Jinlian and Wu Song stepped forward to meet them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jie nodded in response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wang Lao, you’re too formal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Chen Wenyun’s drunkenness lessened somewhat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jieyuan Gong, Master Chen, I’ve prepared a special banquet just for you two—please don’t refuse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Lao said, his smile unwavering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon reaching the inn, the long-waiting Boss Wang greeted them with a smiling face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jie considered it and realized he could not refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had stayed here for over half a month; though Wang Lao was greedy and worldly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>his character and conduct were quite good—he had helped them with many small favors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also had no objection to Wang Lao calling himself “this old man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Song was an ancient world; even without natural disasters or war,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>without antibiotics or medicine, a simple cold or flu could bring down a strong man in mere days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary people, limited by medical standards and hygiene,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jie pondered for a moment and realized he couldn’t refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having stayed here for over half a month, Master Wang, though greedy and worldly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>was still quite decent in his dealings and had helped them with many small favors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also had no particular thoughts about Master Wang’s habit of calling himself “this old man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Da Cong is an ancient world; apart from natural disasters and human misfortunes, just the lack of antibiotics and other medicines\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>means a common cold or flu can bring down a strong, ox-like man within just a few days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary people, limited by medical standards and hygiene conditions,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to war and other factors, average life expectancy was only about 30 to 35 years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Wang, over forty, could rightly call himself an old man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Zhang Jie’s knowledge, Master Wang was already a grandfather with two grandsons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here it must be mentioned that doctors skilled in using antibiotics,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>hormones, and vitamins—the “three-element doctors”—were widely criticized in the 21st century,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>for instance for breeding super-resistant bacteria, but in Da Song,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>they were unquestionably peerless divine physicians, surpassing Bian Que and Hua Tuo.\u003C\u002Fp>",1476,"2026-06-20T14:22:35.989Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e31e1c60eec76943d3edee35c583b265cf7b8726fcb1c53575b9a05ee11ff48b","simultaneously-transmigrated-my-cheat-skill-is-m-chapter-54","simultaneously-transmigrated-my-cheat-skill-is-m-chapter-52",601,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsimultaneously-transmigrated-my-cheat-skill-is-m-cover.jpg"]