northernbook Chapter 51 Medicinal Diet
Chapter 51 Medicinal Diet
Yan Canglan took a deep breath and then spoke slowly:
"In the book "A New Account of Tales of the World", it is said: 'The Master said: Is it not a pleasure to learn and to practise it from time to time? Is it not a pleasure to have friends coming from afar?' This is Confucius' teaching, telling us that the way to learn is to persevere, and the way to interact with others is to be sincere."
Master Qu nodded slightly, his eyes showing satisfaction. Seeing this, Yan Canglan became more confident and continued to recite:
"'Zeng Zi said: I examine myself three times a day - am I disloyal when I work for others? Am I trustworthy when I interact with friends? Do I practice what I have learned?' Zeng Zi's three reflections remind us to always reflect on ourselves and be loyal, honest and diligent."
The atmosphere in the classroom gradually became solemn, and the other students also listened attentively to Yan Canglan's recitation. Yan Canglan recited with more and more emotion, and his voice gradually became louder:
"'Yan Hui said: I have only a bowl of rice and a gourd of water, living in a humble alley. People cannot bear the worry, but Hui does not change his joy. How virtuous Hui is!' Yan Hui's words tell us that only by being content with poverty and enjoying the truth, and not being burdened by the world, can we achieve great things."
A trace of relief flashed in Master Qu's eyes. He stood up, walked to Yan Canglan, and said with a smile: "Yan Canglan, your recitation is indeed satisfactory. However, reciting classics is not easy. Can you understand the reason behind it?"
Yan Canglan replied respectfully: "Master, although I am young, I know that the way of classics is not a one-day job. I recite classics to increase my knowledge, to cultivate myself, and to repay my parents for their kindness in raising me."
Master Qu nodded and said with emotion: "Good, good, good! Young man, you have this heart, and my teachings have not been in vain. However, reciting the classics is only the beginning. If you want to truly understand the principles, you still need to work hard."
Yan Canglan humbly asked: "Old Master, I would like to hear the details."
Master Qu smiled and said, "The way to study is nothing more than diligence, thinking, and practice. You must study diligently, be good at thinking, and be brave in practice. Only in this way can you truly understand the way of classics and become a master of your generation."
In the morning class, Master Qu did nothing but test Yan Canglan. All the students followed him and studied silently, not daring to make a sound, with only the sound of the pen tip scratching on the paper.
Yan Canglan lowered his head and answered each of Master Qu's questions with a focused expression. He was wearing a long green gown, the hem of which brushed the ground lightly, and his hair was tied up high, which made him look gentle and refined. Although he was young, he already had a mature and steady temperament.
Master Qu looked at Yan Canglan's performance and nodded secretly in his heart. This student was smart and studious, with strong comprehension, and was a talented person with great potential. However, he did not intend to let Yan Canglan go easily. After all, learning is endless, and only after thousands of trials and tribulations can one become a real talent.
"Yan Canglan, can you tell me what Confucius's 'benevolence' means?" asked Master Qu.
Yan Canglan pondered for a moment, then replied: "The 'benevolence' Confucius talked about means loving and caring for others, and treating others with a sincere heart. A benevolent person is like water, gentle and non-competitive, and he educates people with virtue and politeness."
Master Qu smiled and asked, "Then what is 'ritual'?"
Yan Canglan replied: "'Ritual' is the code of conduct between people and the cornerstone of social order. Confucius said: 'The purpose of ritual is harmony.' This means that the application of ritual should be based on harmony. Following the ritual system can make society orderly and the country stable."
Master Qu nodded and praised: "Not bad, you can understand these, which means you have entered the door. But, how much do you understand about the relationship between 'benevolence' and 'propriety'?"
Yan Canglan pondered for a moment, then said: "'Benevolence' and 'propriety' complement each other and are the inside and outside of each other. 'Benevolence' is the inner moral quality, and 'propriety' is the external behavioral norm. Only with the heart of 'Benevolence' can one follow the norms of 'propriety'; and the norms of 'propriety' can guide people to pursue the realm of 'Benevolence'. The two complement each other and together constitute the core of Confucianism."
After hearing this, Master Qu nodded with satisfaction. He looked at Yan Canglan and couldn't help but think of himself when he was young. At that time, he also had the same passion and talent, and was eager to keep moving forward on the road of learning.
The students in the classroom were envious and admired Yan Canglan's performance. Yan Canglan would be the first one to stand out among them. And they themselves were also working hard silently in this strong academic atmosphere.
The sun was setting, and the students in the classroom were still concentrating on their studies. Master Qu announced the end of the get out of class, and everyone stood up and saluted, then dispersed. Yan Canglan stayed behind, walked up to Master Qu, and bowed deeply.
"Thank you for your teachings, Master. I will definitely keep them in mind and work hard to move forward." Yan Canglan said sincerely.
Master Qu smiled and patted Yan Canglan on the shoulder: "Okay, okay, I am relieved that you have this intention. Remember, learning is endless, and only diligence can achieve success."
Yan Canglan nodded, bowed again, and turned to leave. He walked in the afterglow of the setting sun, casting a long shadow on the bluestone road.
At this moment, his heart was full of faith and expectation, and he believed that he would be able to carve out a glorious path of his own in the field of learning.
……
At this time, Lu Yundi was sitting in the study, grinding ink by hand, and the tip of the pen gently moved across the rice paper, leaving lines of beautiful small characters. The maid Hongying walked in quietly and placed the purchased ingredients and herbs on the table.
"Madam, all the ingredients and herbs are ready. Should we prepare the medicinal food now?" Hongying asked.
Lu Yundi nodded gently, put down the pen in his hand, and said, "Go, be careful, don't let Yan Canglan and Yan Shuqin wait too long."
Hongying responded and withdrew, while Lu Yundi stood in front of the window, looking at the distant mountains outside the mansion, silently praying in his heart that the two children would recover soon.
Soon, Hongying came in with bowls of fragrant medicinal food. Lu Yundi personally served a bowl to Yan Canglan and Yan Shuqin, handed it to them, and said softly: "Eat more, it will replenish your body."
Yan Canglan and Yan Shuqin's eyes flashed with gratitude, and they took the medicinal food and tasted it carefully. The medicinal food tasted delicious and nutritious, and it was indeed prepared by the lady herself.
After breakfast, Yan Canglan and Yan Shuqin returned to their rooms to continue handling affairs in the mansion. Lu Yundi sat in the study, flipping through an ancient book, thinking about how to help the two children recover faster.
"The eldest lady of the Lu family is here. Please come in. Our lady is waiting for you inside." Xiang Zhu greeted her warmly.
Lu Wanqing came back to her senses and nodded modestly, and actually saw Lu Yundi cooking in the kitchen.
Lu Wanqing was shocked. She had never seen Lu Yundi cook by herself. In her eyes, this was undoubtedly a violation of the rules of the Marquis' Mansion.