A good annual meeting had taken a turn for the worse.
The people who came to attend the gathering upstairs and downstairs all stared at each other, watching the situation in the backyard change.
As Chen Mo's teacher, Master Wei could only stand up and say to Wu Zeqing, "President Wu, I'm sorry. Your disciple doesn't know any better. Please don't hold it against a junior."
Wu Zeqing smiled, "It's fine. Little Mo's calligraphy is not bad."
Master Wei sighed and said, "His calligraphy is fine, but his temperament is far from it."
Master Zhou said from the side, "He still needs to hone himself. It's still too early for him to graduate." He gently shook his head.
As for the other calligraphers around him, they did not say anything. As he was Master Wei's disciple, it was not convenient for them to lecture him. Using a long folk song poem to imply that women should stay at home and not show their faces in public? This Chen Mo's calligraphy was not bad, and his literary talent was outstanding, but his character was lacking. What status did President Wu have? She was a heroine among women. Even calligraphers like them did not dare to act rashly in front of her, so what right did a junior like Chen Mo have? Thankfully, President Wu did not hold it against him. This was her magnanimity. If this had happened to someone else, they would have slammed the table and glared at you. One had to know that in the field of culture and education, Wu Zeqing's influence was much greater than all of them combined!
They were just marginal figures.
Wu Zeqing was the real person in the system!
If he did not even understand this, then his future achievements would not be high. Everyone had their own judgment of Chen Mo. Sigh, but he was still a young man. There were times when he was impulsive and made mistakes. He had to be given a chance to grow and change.
Master Zhou looked at Chen Mo, "Aren't you going to apologize to President Wu?"
Chen Mo pondered for a moment before looking at Wu Zeqing, "President Wu, if I have offended you in any way, I apologize. However, this folk song poem of mine really did not have any other meaning. I just wanted to let my teacher test the results of my learning." He still did not admit his mistakes.
Everyone frowned.
Master Wei's eyes also turned cold.
Chen Mo was also in a difficult position. His pride was playing tricks on him. Since things had already come to this, he could only stand there with his neck held high. He did not know that Wu Zeqing had already given Master Zhou's calligraphy to his teacher. Now, he just wanted to stand up for his teacher. He did not care about the consequences. What was done was done and written. It could not be taken back.
Su Na said angrily, "You don't know what's good for you! President Wu is ignoring you, yet you're still acting up! "
Papa Su reprimanded, "Sit down. Why are you so agitated?"
Su Na said, "He's already belittling us women, so why can't I reprimand him!"
A female calligrapher harrumphed, "What era is this? Why are they still engaging in such feudal discrimination! Old Master Wei, today is the anniversary of the founding of the Calligraphy Association, as well as your birthday. We are here to celebrate your birthday, not to be bullied. This is a new society, so how can we still have these old and decayed ideas of the ancients? If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it. What's wrong with women? "
"Yeah!"
"Why are we so useless?"
"A person who can write such a folk song poem can't be any better!"
"Still not admitting your mistake? Still not repenting? You dare to do it but don't dare to admit it! "
"Master Wei, we respect you, but this disciple of yours … is really nothing much!"
A group of female family members and female calligraphers were still scolding Chen Mo. President Wu had ignored him because of her status, but they were not so particular about it. Moreover, they were women, so spitting on him was already considered a light punishment. Chen Mo's calligraphy was truly hateful!
Teacher Wang said to his wife, "Old Qu, what are you doing?"
The woman frowned and said, "What's the matter? I can't even speak! "
Teacher Wang smacked his lips and said, "Speak less. Can't the rice stop your mouth? Let's eat. " He did not want the matter to carry on. After all, it was Master Wei's birthday celebration. If he said too much, it would not look good on Master Wei.
Another calligrapher said to his daughter, "Little Jiang, don't make a fuss. Eat properly!"
The girl who was sitting at the same table as Su Na threw down her chopsticks heavily, "How can I still eat!? Dad, that Chen guy must have nothing better to do! I didn't offend or offend anyone, but he's eating my food. He even dares to hit us women? It would be fine if your essay had some other topic, but what about him? The folk song poem seems to say that a man must hold on to his dreams and not listen to the nonsense of others, but most of the words are describing how immoral women are and how they cause trouble! They look down on us women from the bottom of their hearts! If such an essay were to be published and spread, what would people think of the Calligraphy Association? Hmph, they would think that this is a gathering place for a bunch of old fogies! "
The father was infuriated, "What are you saying!? Eat your food! "
Little Jiang said, "If you don't give me an explanation, I won't eat!"
A woman beside her hugged Little Jiang and shouted, "Old Sun, don't shout at the child. You allowed him to write that, but you still don't want us to say anything, right?"
"Big Sis Yu, Little Mo probably didn't do it on purpose." The father smiled bitterly.
Big Sis Yu said, "He still has to apologize to all of us women!"
All the women present did not agree. The men were having a headache.
"Senior Bro."
"Senior Bro."
"This …"
Master Wei's other disciples were in a difficult position.
Chen Mo could only say, "Ladies and Aunties, I really didn't have any other intentions. I just wanted to imitate some of the ideas of the ancients and the format of a folk song poem. I wanted to show off the results of my studies on Teacher's birthday, so I wrote it for a month to give Teacher a surprise!"
Still not admitting it?
Still trying to quibble!
At this moment, even the men could not stand it any longer!
Suddenly, someone spoke up. Zhang Ye casually ate a mouthful of food and swallowed it. He calmly glanced at Chen Mo, "You spent a month of research and came up with this lousy thing? Your studies aren't that great either! "
Chen Mo sneered, "Lousy thing?"
Zhang Ye's mouth was so venomous. "Saying that it's lousy, I was just giving Master Wei face by saying it casually. If you ask me, this folk song poem of yours is complete bullshit. Do you even know what a folk song poem is? Do you know how to write a folk song poem? You dare call it a folk song poem with this level of lousy writing? Don't joke around. In the future, you can just write this kind of thing secretly at home. Don't embarrass yourself in public. If you really let people who know about literature and poetry see it, won't they laugh their heads off?
Su Na cheered, "Well said!"
As for how well said? Su Na did not know either!
The rest of the people present were about the same. Speaking of which, they really did not understand the form of a folk song poem. There were no restrictions on words or tonal requirements, but the language standards were very high. There was a need to explain the characters and even dialogue, so it was very difficult to write — everyone's understanding stopped there. After all, they were all calligraphy people and knew about folk song poems, but it was impossible for them to study it so thoroughly.
A youth could not take it anymore, "You're saying that my senior bro wrote nonsense?"
"Is it my senior bro who doesn't understand or you who doesn't understand!" Another disciple of Master Wei retorted.
Zhang Ye was amused, "I don't understand?"
When Su Na heard that, she could not help but laugh!
Seeing Zhang Ye spouting such nonsense, Chen Mo also spoke up. The other aunties and sisters were all his elders, so he could not refute them, but who did Zhang Ye think he was? Chen Mo said bluntly, "Alright, you said it quite well, but don't just talk and no action, right? I did not write a folk song poem, so how do you think a folk song poem should be written! "
Zhang Ye smiled and said, "It's President Wu's birthday today. I'm happy, so I'll teach you. I won't charge you any tuition fees." Saying that, he turned to Wu Zeqing and said, "President Wu, I didn't bring any gifts today, so I feel a little awkward coming here empty-handed. So I'll write something as a birthday gift."
Wu Zeqing chuckled and said, "Sure."
Master Zhou was taken aback, "What do you want to write?"
Zhang Ye casually said, "As I said, it's naturally going to be a folk song poem. Just now, when I said that I wanted to give those poems to President Wu, she wasn't too happy about it. She said that the allusions in my poems were not clear enough. Alright, a folk song poem should be more suitable. I also want to tell everyone a story."
Wu Zeqing looked at him gently, "Alright, I'll be waiting for your folk song poem. If it's not good, I won't accept it." She was joking, but did not question Zhang Ye at all.
Many people gasped. Holy sh * t, you're really going to write a folk song poem? This style of poetry was different from other five or seven-word poems. Folk music poems were usually about telling a story. It required the portrayal of characters, a storyline, a main plot, and an ultimate question at the end. It had to have literary ideas, and most importantly, it had to be worded carefully. Everyone had witnessed Zhang Ye's ability to compose poems, but that was only a few dozen words. Every one of them was a short poem that was easy to conceive and write. But a folk music poem was completely different. Without a few months of preparation, how could he possibly compose a long poem of hundreds or even thousands of words? It was impossible to compose something like that! Everyone knew that this youth in sunglasses had obviously said it in a hurry. He definitely did not compose something like this beforehand, but now he wanted to write it after just a few sentences? And he wanted to compose it on the spot?
This was a folk song poem!
Could something like this even be done on the spot?
No one had any concept of it. They had never even heard of it before. Could someone really do it? It was impossible!
But Su Na was full of confidence, "All the best, Teacher Zhang! Let them experience it! These frogs in the well dare to talk about literature and poetic structure with you? What a joke! "She really wanted to laugh.
Zhang Ye said to the other side, "Then could I trouble you to prepare a longer piece of Xuan paper for me? It might have a lot more words."
"What ratio do you want?" Master Zhou asked.
Zhang Ye did not know either, "Uh, anything will do."
Master Zhou was speechless for a moment, then asked again, "How many words?"
Zhang Ye said, "I'm not sure either. Let's try writing it out first."
Indeed, since he was composing on the spot, how would he know how many words he could write? Master Zhou instructed his disciples to set it up and it was soon ready.
A lot of people stopped eating and came over to watch the commotion.
"Let's go downstairs!"
"There's another commotion to watch!"
"Wait for me, I'll go too, I'll go too!"
Many family members and attendees came down from upstairs.
This time, it was not a competition, but it was even more interesting than the previous ones. It was even more thrilling. Su Na squeezed into the crowd. The others also squeezed to the nearest spot.
Chen Mo was waiting to see a joke. His fellow disciples were the same. A person who did not prepare anything at all wanted to compose a folk song poem? He didn't even need a few hundred to a thousand words? Wasn't this the biggest joke in the world!? And what kind of story did he want to write? The stories of ancient times had already been written so many times that there was nothing new about them!
Master Zhou stood in the innermost circle.
Master Wei and Wu Zeqing were also sitting and looking over.
Everyone's eyes were focused on Zhang Ye.
Zhang Ye let the brush lick the ink and looked up at Chen Mo, "Watch carefully, what a folk song poem is!" Saying that, he picked up the brush and started writing. He even described, "In ancient times, there was a woman named Hua Mulan."
Woman?
Hua Mulan?
Wasn't the style of ancient literature written about men? You want to write about a woman as the main character?
When Chen Mo and his fellow disciples heard this, they sneered a few times. When the others heard this, they were also stunned. Their faces were filled with puzzlement and confusion. They thought to themselves, you're really something. Not only did you write a folk song poem with a brush, you even want to use a woman as the main plot? Helping one's husband and children till the fields? What's there to write about?
"Chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp, Mulan is a household weaver. There is no sound of machinery, only women's sighs. "
The first line was written. Su Na was on point. She walked behind Zhang Ye and read every sentence that he wrote, so that the people in the periphery who could not see clearly could hear.
"Eh?"
"It's really to weave clothes and till the fields?"
"What's there to write about?"
"Lower your voice, don't disturb him. Let's wait and see."
The women and girls at the back were pointing and talking among themselves.
Zhang Ye did not even think and wrote word after word very quickly. His strokes were firm and there was no sign that he was thinking or planning. "Ask a woman what she thinks, ask a woman what she remembers. A woman also has no thoughts, a woman also has no memories. Last night, I saw the military invitations. The Khan has conscripted 12 military scrolls, each with my name. Grandpa does not have a son, Mulan does not have an elder brother. I'm willing to be a saddle horse for the city, to fight for Grandpa from now on. "
Chen Mo was stunned!
What?
Join the army for her father?
A woman disguised as a man to join the army?
The others also fell silent. No one said a word!
Zhang Ye wrote faster and faster. "Buy a fine horse in the East City, a saddle horse in the West City, a bridle in the South City, a whip in the North City. I bid farewell to my parents in the morning, and sleep by the Yellow River at dusk. I don't hear my parents calling for me, but I hear the splashing of the Yellow River. I bid farewell to the Yellow River at dusk, and reach the top of the black mountain at dusk. I don't hear my parents calling for me, but I hear the hooves of the Swallow Mountain. "
A slightly plump middle-aged woman's eyes reddened.
When the other women heard this, they were also very touched!
What a pitiful woman! What a filial woman! What a brave woman!
Writing up to this point, Zhang Ye's strokes suddenly sharpened. It was as if the characters in the folk song poem had jumped out with the changes in his strokes. The atmosphere became intense. "Ten thousand li to the battlefield, crossing mountains like flying. The northern wind passes through the golden robe, the cold light shines on the iron cloak. The general dies in a hundred battles, the hero returns after ten years. Returning to see the Son of Heaven, the Son of Heaven sits in the hall. Twelve Revolutions of Strategist Merit, rewarded to the strong. The Khan asks for me, Mulan does not need to be a minister. I'm willing to travel a thousand li, to send my son back to his hometown. "
Everyone was stunned again!
So many people had died, but Mulan had survived?
It was a reward from the Son of Heaven, but why did she not want to be an official?
Zhang Ye wrote, "When my parents hear of my daughter's arrival, they go out to support the general. When my elder sister hears of my younger sister's arrival, she goes to the house to tidy up her makeup. When my younger brother hears of my elder sister's arrival, he sharpens his knife to slaughter the pigs and sheep."
Scenes seemed to appear before everyone's eyes!
It was a scene of an excited and jubilant family! Their loved ones had escaped from death and returned home with military exploits!
As Su Na read, her voice choked with emotion. It was as if the softest part of her heart had been hit and she could not read it anymore!
Zhang Ye took over Su Na's work and read as he wrote, "Open my east room door, sit on my west room bed, take off my war robe, wear my old clothes. Comb my cloudy hair by the window, apply yellow flowers to the mirror. Go out to look at the fire companions, and they are all shocked, "After 12 years together, I didn't know Mulan … was a girl!"
Little Jiang suddenly felt her blood boiling!
A woman beside her was crying as she watched.
The scene depicted in the folk song poem made many people unable to hold it in!
Finally, Zhang Ye chuckled. As he wrote, it was as if he was asking all the hostages, "The male rabbit's feet flutter, the female rabbit's eyes blur; two rabbits walk side by side …" The last few words were each more powerful than the last, "Can you tell if I'm a male or female!?"
He finished writing!
Everyone was silent!
Zhang Ye held "Ode of Mulan" in his hand and put down the brush!
When Chen Mo finished reading it, his face turned purple! His fellow disciples were all speechless!
Master Wei slammed his armchair and laughed, "What a good 'Can you tell if I'm a male or female'! Good! Good! Good! "
Master Zhou's feelings at this moment could no longer be described with words. He looked at Zhang Ye in shock. He was also shocked by this earth-shattering "Ode of Mulan"!
Yes!
He was really shocked!
Wu Zeqing's eyes flashed!
The women present all exclaimed in surprise!
"Hua Mulan? This is the role model for us women! "
"Right! This is what a woman should be! Who says that women are inferior to men! "
"What men can do, what men can achieve, we women can do it too!"
The women were all a little excited. This "Ode of Mulan" had been written right into their hearts!
That's right! You people always have to look at things differently, holding a rabbit by its ear and hanging it in midair to see if it's a male or female. The male rabbit's feet are always moving, the female rabbit's eyes are always squinting, so of course it's easy to tell, but when the male and female rabbits are running side by side, who can tell who's the male and who's the female! It's the same for everyone!
"Wonderful!" Master Zhou applauded in admiration!
Immediately, clap clap clap, the venue was filled with applause. "That's amazing! I've really learned something today! So there's always someone better than you out there! "
"Ode of Mulan" was too excellent!
It was so excellent that it was shocking!
Just a moment ago, everyone thought that Chen Mo was very impressive. How could he compose a folk song poem that only had a few hundred to a thousand words? But now, when compared to this youth in shades' poem, Chen Mo's essay was like a pile of shit! Chen Mo was writing about men, praising men and their dreams. Yet, he had used a woman as a foil to describe the opposite. The article itself was too petty, and there wasn't much to show off in terms of thinking. Even now, it seemed like Chen Mo's words were like the words of a child playing house. It couldn't be considered elegant! But what was the folk song poem that youth gave to Wu Zeqing written? He wrote about a woman, but did not belittle anyone. You wrote about a man who wanted to be an official? He wrote about a woman who did not want to be an official. She did not want credit or rewards. She just wanted to go home and reunite with her family! You wrote about a man who felt sorry for himself every day? Cursing a woman for not being good or not being good? You wrote about a woman who risked being beheaded to disguise as a man to enlist in the army for her father! For her father and family, she used her body as a woman to fight against the enemy. She fought with knives and swords. Every day, her head was tied to her belt. A general died in battle, but a "hero" returned after ten years!
Ten years!
A weak woman!
She had done something that no man could do!
Comparing the two, the difference between Chen Mo and the youth in shades was too great. The youth's "Ode of Mulan" was clearly written to target Chen Mo. Every sentence was a direct hit on Chen Mo's essay! Every sentence was a smack to the face! Every sentence was a rebuttal to Chen Mo's essay!
Chen Mo's expression was very ugly. He did not expect that the other party could write such a poem!
Zhang Ye looked at Chen Mo and said bluntly, "I can tell you again right now that what you wrote is nothing. It's not a folk song poem, and it doesn't have any literary value or appreciation value either." Saying that, he pointed to his Xuan paper and said, "This is a folk song poem, not the kind you wrote."
Chen Mo said coldly, "What qualifications do you have to comment on my poem?"
Suddenly, Master Zhou's eyes moved. After thinking for a while, for some reason, he suddenly laughed out loud, "Little Chen, this person in front of you really has the qualifications to comment on your poem. If he says that it's not a proper folk song poem, then it definitely isn't. If he doesn't have the qualifications, then there aren't many people in the country who do. In the field of literature, even if all of us here were to team up, we still wouldn't be his match!" Then he looked at Zhang Ye and laughed, "Young man, I know who you are!"
Chen Mo was stunned. What was Master Zhou saying?
He had the qualifications? What qualifications did he have!
Even if all of them were to team up, they still wouldn't be his match? How could that be possible!
"Ah?"
"Who is it?"
"Elder Zhou knows?"
Everyone was very curious. Who on earth was this youth!?
Master Wei and the other calligraphers also looked over. Some of them were deep in thought!
Master Zhou laughed heartily, "Actually, I should have thought of this. In our country, to be able to write an ancient poem like this, to be able to write an ancient phrase like this, to be proficient in couplets, and to be able to create such an amazing piece like 'Ode of Mulan' on the spot without any thought or drafting! There's only one person in the country who can do that! "
Finally, a smart person gradually guessed it!
Proficient in poetry and couplets, no one in the country could compare to him, and he was even invited by President Wu? And he even knew a Peking University teacher like Su Na?
"Holy sh * t!"
"I know who he is!"
"Heavens! It's Zhang Ye! "
"You're Teacher Zhang Ye!!!"
Everyone was stupefied. This was something that no one had expected!
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