089 – Why Is There No Martial Arts Competition
Huo Sirui came over with two middle-aged men.
“Boss Qin.”
The middle-aged man walking at the front was dressed up as a scholar. He looked half alike Huo Sirui with a big belly, a kind face, and a smile like Maitreya Buddha. The other middle-aged man was older, dressed in a grey scholar robe and a black turban. He looked thin and cultured, with wisdom in his eyes.
Huo Sirui said to the man who looked like Maitreya Buddha, “Father, this is one of the owners of Double Xiang House, Boss Qin. Boss Qin, this is my father. Respectful name is Yongcheng.”Dean Huo that Qin Mian imagined was completely different. He didn’t cover up the astonishment in his eyes properly but quickly adjusted his expression and went forward to greet him, “This junior greets Dean Huo.”
If Huo Yongcheng could become the dean of an academy, he must have a reputation. However, Huo Sirui didn’t introduce him as such. It was probably the meaning of Huo Yongcheng not wanting to oppress others with his fame.
Dean Huo saw the surprise in Qin Mian’s eyes, but he gave a modest smile and didn’t take it to heart. “Boss Qin doesn’t need to be polite. It is also beneficial for students to participate in such talent competitions. My contribution is only a matter of lifting a finger.”
Huo Sirui also introduced the other man, “This is Teacher Liu of our academy. Respectful name is Jingxian.”
“Greetings, Teacher Liu,” Qin Mian said as he bowed with hands folded in front.
Teacher Liu said, “I come here without an invitation, Boss Qin doesn’t need to mind me.”
Qin Mian said quickly, “I dare not. My humble wine house is honored by Dean Huo and Teacher Liu’s presence. Gentlemen, please come in!”He accompanied Dean Huo and Teacher Liu to Binzhi Building.
In the lobby on the first floor, Dean Huo and Teacher Liu saw that the hall was almost full. Some students crowded in front of a wall, praising and commenting on something. The two approached curiously. When their eyes fell on the poems on the wall, they could not help but take a close look.
“Spring. Up to your crown, O’willow, dressed in the green of jades; myriads of twigs so verdant, droop like your silken braids. Who knows who the tailor is, who’s cut your leaves so fine? It’s the vernal winds past February, sharp as the scissors’ blades1. Good poem!”
After Teacher Liu finished reciting, some people excitedly praised.
Dean Huo didn’t expect to see such quatrains in the wine house. He nodded with approval and amazement in his eyes.
The two didn’t communicate with each other. They looked at the other three poems.
“Summer. Summer day lengthens under the shady green trees, the pond reflects pavilions and terraces. Crystal-bead curtains flicker with the rise of a breeze, full arches of climbing roses fill the garden with fragrance2.”
“Autumn. Over green hills a limpid brook flows, sky mirrored in the water of autumn hue. Away from the distant earthly world, maple leaves and velvet clouds leisurely float3.”
“Winter. Not a bird in a thousand hills, not a soul on ten thousand trails. An old man on a raft in straw quilts, fishes alone with snowy chills4.”
After reading, Huo Sirui eagerly asked, “Boss Qin, who are these four poems from? None of these four poems are continuous. Those who can make these poems must have great talents!”
These words were also what Dean Huo and Teacher Liu wanted to say, but Huo Sirui took the lead. Both of them looked at Qin Mian with bright eyes.
Qin Mian laughed and said, “It was when A-Tie went out that he overheard what people said. He thought it was pretty good, so he wrote it down.”
“Oh?”
The three of them were disappointed with this answer. However, there was nothing they could do.
“Dean Huo, Teacher Liu, and Huo-gongzi, please come here.” Qin Mian took them to a square table for four people.
Soon, the waiter offered them excellent tea, a dish of cherry jam dessert, a glass bottle of cherry juice that looked more attractive through the translucent glass, and four glass cups matched with the glass bottle. There was also a delicate fruit basket made of thin bamboo branches with the content of fresh cherries embellished with water beads, gleaming, and appealing.
“Please enjoy it slowly,” The waiter bowed down respectfully and retreated.
Huo Sirui sat with Dean Huo and Teacher Liu for a while and ate some snacks and fruits. Then he sat with his schoolmates.
As soon as the time of the competition arrived, the guests in the wine house were all quiet. The reason why they came here today besides dining was to watch the talent competitions.
Qin Mian and Lei Tie stood beside Dean Huo. Qin Mian cupped his hand in front of the other and said, “Everyone, I’m Qin Mian and this is Lei Tie. We are the owners of Double Xiang House. Welcome everyone to Double Xiang House. I hope everyone has a good time eating and staying. The talent competition will begin soon. Before that, I’ll introduce two distinguished guests, Dean Huo and Teacher Liu of Qingyun Academy.”
Dean Huo and Teacher Liu cupped their hands in obeisance to the crowd.
Qin Mian continued, “These two are the judges of the talent competition. Therefore, all contestants need not worry about any unfairness in the competition.”
Everyone nodded. People from Zhaoyang County knew that Dean Huo was not only the Dean of Qingyun Academy but even a Jinshi5 who had been filial for 20 years. His character, talent, and reputation were trustworthy.
Qin Mian nodded as a signal to Manager Sun.
Manager Sun walked to the middle of the hall. He said with a smile on his face: “I’m Sun Maosheng, the manager of Double Xiang House. Many thanks to everyone for your support. The talent competition will start—”
“Wait!” A tall and strong scholar suddenly stood up. Based on his white student robe, he was also a student of Qingyun Academy.
There was a sudden silence in the hall as everyone’s eyes fell on him.
When Qin Mian noticed that there was no red flower in his hands or body, his eyes sunk. Did someone want to kick a fuss even before it begins?
Lei Tie pressed his shoulder and the calm look in Lei Tie’s eyes soon calmed him down. Right, even if this person wants to make trouble, A-Tie is here. What is there to be afraid of?
Dean Huo asked Huo Sirui in a low voice, “Is he also a student of our academy? Do you know him?”
Huo Sirui nodded with an odd expression, “I know. He… He is probably the student with the biggest appetite in our academy.” Up to now, he still remembered that time when he went to the dining hall to eat, he saw five empty bowls piled on the table in front of Bao Xu, who even had an empty bowl in his hand.
“Oh? Hehe.” Dean Huo stroked his beard as he laughed strangely.
Lei Xiangzhi recognized the scholar and hurriedly walked over to him. He said mildly, “Junior Bao if you have any questions, it would be well to wait until the competition is over.”
“No,” Bao Xu urgently said, “it’d be too late to talk about it after the competition. I want to say, the competition is all about literary art. Why is there no martial art? I also have talent. I know kung fu!”
It turned out to be the same thing. Qin Mian said, “This matter is indeed our negligence.”
His calmness was well received by the guests present.
Bao Xu had slightly chubby cheeks that when he smiled, he looked very simple and honest. He asked happily, “Can I take part in the competition?”
Qin Mian raised his hand to hint at him not to be impatient. He raised his voice and asked, “Do any other students want to take part in the martial arts competition?”
Two more scholars stood up.
Bu Qingyun was overjoyed and spoke to Wang Shangwen, “This is good. Even if those three aren’t good at kung fu, they can be ranked one, two, or three.”
Beside him, Wang Shangwen was dumbfounded and said, “Lower your voice.”
Qin Mian said to himself, this is easy to deal with. He said with a smile, “Because there are too few people taking part in the martial arts competition, the three of you will compete with me after the literary art competition. If all three of you win against me, you can continue the competition to determine the number one, two, and three. If defeated, you are unqualified to participate in the ranking. What do the three of you think?”
“Ah?” Qu Zongwen asked Lei Xiangzhi in surprise, “Does your sister-in-law know kung fu?”
Lei Xiangzhi was also surprised, “I don’t know. Must be taught by my eldest brother.”
The guests were all excited. They didn’t expect to have a meal and see a wonderful competition. Great Xia Dynasty had always put mental training above physical training6. Thus, few people knew martial arts.
Bao Xu agreed without hesitation and naively said, “Boss Qin, look at your small body… The cherry jam here is delicious—I’m not going to be merciful.”
The corner of Qin Mian’s mouth twitched, but his face remained calm and his lips were smiling. With an enigmatic posture of an expert from beyond the mundane world, Qin Mian said leisurely, “Let’s talk about it when you beat me.”
This expression subdued Bao Xu. His expression became serious as he clenched his fists.
Li Shan and Zhou Hai, two other scholars, also came.
Manager Sun then went on with his previous remarks, “The first competition is to compose poems with the theme of “eating” or all kinds of food. Any food material, dish, wine, or fruit can be used. The brush, ink, paper, and inkstone are ready. Please write down your poems. Time given is a lit incense stick7.”
Dean Huo looked thoughtfully at Qin Mian and Lei Tie. To promote the wine house, the two owners truly spared no effort.
Lei Xiangzhi briefly pondered before wielding the brush to write.
Qin Mian and Lei Tie stood in an inconspicuous corner and seamlessly looked at all the people in the hall. They were not surprised to see a few familiar faces—the people who had bought the recipe. Their purpose was obvious.
“Wife, are you going to compete with them?” Lei Tie asked.
With a smile, Qin Mian said in a low voice, “You want to compete with them? Isn’t it as easy as flipping a hand for you to win against them?”
Lei Tie’s face was expressionless, but a little smile appeared in his eyes.
Qin Mian could see it clearly and stifled a laugh. Does this guy also like to hear praises?
A whisper came out Lei Tie’s mouth, “I only like to listen to your praises.”
Qin Mian’s eyes were full of laughter as he continued to say formally, “Anyway, there are only three of them. Even if the rank is arranged, it is only a matter of a few silver taels. It’s all for fun.”
Nie Heng, Qu Zongwen, Huo Sirui, and the others all looked at the two people who whispered to each other. It could be seen that their feelings were extremely good.
“Nie Heng has reserved the honored guest room. The young man and the manservant who followed him have respectively reserved the luxury room and the ordinary room,” Lei Tie said.
Qin Mian uncaringly said, “No mishap [will happen]. There’s nothing shady about Double Xiang House, so just let them see. The uniqueness of our wine house lies in the soul, not in these external forms.”
His wife’s proud appearance was so dazzling. Lei Tie held his hand quietly.
Note:
Footnotes
- An Ode to The Willow by He Zhizhang (Tang poet) translated by Andrew W.F. Wong
- A Summer Day at a Pavillion in the Mountains by Gao Pian (Tang Poet) translated by Crystal Tai.
- Autumn Moon by Cheng Hao translated by Xiao-zhen
- Snow on the River by Liu Zhongyuan (Tang Poet) translated by Ying Sun
- lit. “advanced scholar”, a graduate who passed the triennial court exam.
- emphasize civil administration at the expense of national defense.
- Depends on the length, between 15 to 30 minutes
