Jing Xingzhi’s Daily Life in Ancient Times

Fang Qichen felt very pleased when he took Jing Xingzhi’s painting.

The painting had been prepared in advance, and the little disciple didn’t know he would be angry, which meant that Jing Xingzhi had made the painting for him long ago, showing his thoughtfulness.

Fang Qichen opened the painting happily, but he didn’t expect that it depicted the Shu River from the night before. The scenery was beautiful, with the starry sky and river lights shining so brilliantly that one dared not breathe too heavily.

But what was the meaning of giving this painting to an old man like him?

Fang Qichen frowned and felt like hitting someone.

Jing Xingzhi quickly pointed to a corner of the painting. “Here, teacher, look here!”

There was a line of small words written in the corner of the painting, which Fang Qichen didn’t notice at first.

Fang Qichen followed the direction Jing Xingzhi pointed and looked at the line of words, which read:

[On the night of the Lantern Festival, I leave this to my little son. When you grow up, you can enjoy this scenery together. Left in the year of so-and-so.]

[…….]

It meant that on the night of the Lantern Festival this year, his father and mother had a lot of fun playing outside. They thought the scenery was very beautiful, so they drew it for him.

When he grew up, he could also see that his parents were in love.

A wave of affection, forced onto a child who was not even born yet. Was Jing Xingzhi really such a person?

Jing Xingzhi felt that he was not. He simply discussed it with Liu Fang and asked the teacher to name the baby using this painting as excuse.

When it came to naming, the teacher, being a well-known scholar, of course, had a lot of knowledge and wisdom, so Jing Xingzhi happily made the painting and waited for his teacher’s help.

When Fang Qichen saw the blank space for the name, all his depression was swept away, and he secretly rejoiced.

This was the first time his little disciple had asked him to name something!

“What does this mean?” Fang Qichen asked knowingly, maintaining a very reserved demeanour.

Jing Xingzhi cooperated very well. “The only elder that Liu Fang and I are close to is the teacher, and the teacher is also very knowledgeable, so I want the teacher to help me choose a good name so that the child can receive the teacher’s blessing.”

Hearing this, Fang Qichen couldn’t help but think of the troublesome couple and made a mental note of Ning Haibo. Then, he asked his little disciple in a gentle voice, “Have you thought of a nickname?”

“Liu Fang thought of a name—A Deng (燈: lamp). I suggested one, but he didn’t like it.” Jing Xingzhi smiled and shook his head.

Fang Qichen asked curiously, “What did you name it?”

“Zhuangzhuang (壯壯: Strong)!”

Fang Qichen fell silent and pretended he hadn’t asked.

Fang Qichen began to seriously consider the name. “Lamp, a bright thing. But a lamp is also the fire of darkness, so it’s best used for deep emotions or thoughts. The name should be cheerful and happy.”

Jing Xingzhi, having been told by Liu Fang last night that his name choice was useless, was not convinced.

Jing Xingzhi said, “How about calling it Xile (喜樂: Happiness)?”

Fang Qichen stared at him seriously and, seeing that Jing Xingzhi didn’t look mischievous, shook his head.

‘Why Xile? Why not call it Huanle (歡樂: another word for happiness)?!’

Unexpectedly, just as Fang Qichen finished his inner rant, Jing Xingzhi’s eyes lit up. “How about Joy?”

Fang Qichen continued to shake his head, frowning slightly.

“What about Huanxi (快樂: joy)?

“Joy?”

“Hmm… this doesn’t seem right,” Jing Xingzhi muttered, denying his own suggestions.

Fang Qichen raised his hand to stop him. “Shut up and don’t disturb my thoughts.”

Jing Xingzhi looked at his teacher eagerly, hoping for another chance.

Fang Qichen advised him, “I know you mean well, but your names… they’re at the same level as your poetry.”

“What’s wrong with my poetry?” Jing Xingzhi thought about his serious poems and, after racking his brains, still felt they were okay.

Fang Qichen chanted, “One day, two days, three days, four days, five days, six days…”

“Okay.” Jing Xingzhi gave in. It turned out to be that poem.

But how did the teacher know this poem? Only Brother Zhuang had heard of it!

‘Do you guys’ gossip about me in private? I have so many heroic deeds, but you all focus on my poems to spread around!’

‘Oh! Men are such big pig hooves!’

Jing Xingzhi sat down and waited for Fang Qichen to come up with a good name.

But he couldn’t help thinking—’what’s wrong with my name not being nice? Zhuangzhuang is so cute!’

‘You people, look at the dog’s body. I tell you, it’s impossible for the child not to be strong in the future!’

Jing Xingzhi thought to himself that if the child grew up strong, he would call him Zhuangzhuang.

‘Let you see my foresight.’

Fang Qichen didn’t know that the little disciple had so many thoughts in his mind. He pondered for a while, thought again and again, and then picked up the pen to write down two words:

——Let the child named Leshan (樂山)

Jing Xingzhi pondered for a moment, immediately forgot what he had just done, and began to praise Fang Qichen. “Teacher is really far-sighted and knowledgeable; this name is amazing!”

The two words Leshan seemed ordinary, but they also represented Fang Qichen’s good wishes for the child.

And the place where Jing Xingzhi and others were was called Huanshui. Leshan, which came from Huanshui, was interesting to think about!

Jing Xingzhi didn’t think about the famous quotes in ancient books. What he thought about was that if the child grew up in Huanshui and learned to read, would he hold his legs and ask, “Dad, what does the mountain look like? Is it like the mountain behind our academy?”

Just thinking about it made him feel super cute, and Jing Xingzhi was very satisfied.

Fang Qichen was also quite satisfied. He weighed “乐” and other considerations, thought about it again and again, before settling on this name.

Leshan, derived from “the benevolent enjoy the mountain,” the character “仁” was enough to show his wish and expectation.

After getting the name for his son, Jing Xingzhi was still happy even as he brought a lot of books down the mountain.

Then Jing Xingzhi was very loyal and handed the homework he had just finished to Wu Mingrui.

There was no time to copy it, so Jing Xingzhi wrote his own notes and thoughts on a clean white paper. The test paper was clean and could be used again.

In addition, Wu Mingrui was not as fast as Jing Xingzhi. He could understand it but still had to let the teacher in the academy mark it and give some pointers, and then looking back at Jing Xingzhi’s notes.

Of course, if he still didn’t understand, he could ask the chief.

But Wu Mingrui was afraid of his father-in-law since he got engaged, and he thought that he hadn’t yet obtained the title of Jinshi. He feared losing face for his father-in-law, like the thief who stole the carefully planted cabbages from the vegetable garden, and he didn’t dare to come to the door.

.

Time passed with Jing Xingzhi’s busy studying, and it was time to leave again.

Jing Xingzhi had to rush to the capital to participate in the imperial examination.

This was nothing, but Jing Xingzhi ran to Fang Qichen and said that he wanted to take Liu Fang away, so the old man really hit his little disciple.

Fang Qichen took out his ruler, looked at the little disciple in front of him, and said coldly, “Stretch out your hand.”

Jing Xingzhi hesitated for a moment and obediently stretched out his right hand.

Fang Qichen said fiercely, “Change to the other one.”

So, Jing Xingzhi stretched out his left hand again.

“Snap!”

The old man hit him hard with the ruler, and Jing Xingzhi grimaced in pain.

Fang Qichen snorted coldly: “Now tell me what’s wrong with you?”