25. Praise Me as the Foremost Gentleman of Jiangzuo

Li Rang entered the house, skipping with joy, and Zhang Xun noticed Xu Daoming strolling in behind him. The Daoist priest seemed quite cultured; at the very least, he and Wen Tianxiang had been engaged in a lively conversation earlier.

Wonderful, Zhang Xun thought, rolling his eyes inwardly. One by one, they were all gathering at his home as if it were some literary salon.

Outwardly, however, Zhang Xun smiled and welcomed them in. After all, according to his mother, when they had purchased a "body double" for him years ago, it was Xu Daoming who had chanted the major scriptures over him. Without those chants, Zhang Xun might not have survived to this day.

*Heh.*

Xie La, who had been following Xu Daoming, secured their small boat. Upon seeing Zhang Xun, he neither bowed nor offered a traditional salute. He reminded Zhang Xun of the carefree protagonists in modern Japanese television dramas, merely lifting a hand and offering a casual "Yo" as a greeting.

This man was truly interesting. Zhang Xun had the distinct impression that Xie La did not really take the people of this mundane world seriously. Apart from the pure, natural human emotion he displayed while eating, he seemed like an outsider, merely observing the various states of the teeming masses.

It was a subtle, mystical feeling, but despite this being only their second meeting, that was exactly how Zhang Xun felt.

Everyone else addressed Zhang Xun as "Young Master" or "Erlang," but Xie La simply said "Yo." That alone set him apart. After all, in all of Changzhou, who didn't know that Zhang Xun hailed from the estate of Grand Tutor Wei Wenjing, the most prestigious family in the Three Wu region, which had enjoyed wealth and status for five or six generations? Even if people didn't come to flatter him, they generally treated him with ritual courtesy.

*Interesting...*

Indeed, a literary gathering was in full swing. Incense burned, cooling shades were propped up, and the group sat in the water pavilion, surrounded by fruit wines and fine delicacies. The terrazzo floor was covered with cool mats, topped with brocade-covered cushions stuffed with buckwheat. With servants and maids waving fans, it was a display of true leisure.

Upon asking, Zhang Xun learned that Prefect Shi had moved his entire setup here just to sit and chat with Wen Tianxiang.

Sometimes, he thought, you intellectuals really know how to enjoy yourselves.

Unfortunately, Zhang Xun knew very little about classical scriptures or poetry. He asked his cousin, Li Rang, to play host while he went to prepare the evening banquet.

Since they were already here, they would certainly stay for dinner. The guests were deep in conversation and didn't bother Zhang Xun, letting him go about his business. Xie La, who had been standing outside the pavilion feeling bored, heard mention of dinner and immediately stood up. He told his senior brother that he was going to help Zhang Xun.

Chopping wood, fetching water, tending the stove, and steaming food—he could handle it all.

How could he let a guest help with chores? Zhang Xun was about to refuse, but Xu Daoming said to let Xie La be. Xie La was different from him; some cultivated their speech, some cultivated their hearts, but Xie La cultivated "Clear Insight."

Xu Daoming still needed to go out to diagnose patients and distribute medicine to the common people to accumulate merit. Xie La was different—the more he experienced, the more complete he became. He needed to see and touch everything, and helping out along the way was part of that process.

*Huh? There's such a thing?*

And it was true. Xie La was genuinely thrilled to hear about cooking, and he could easily do the work of eight men. For instance, the bamboo steamer baskets—usually, a husband and wife in a small shop would carry seven or eight of them to the stove together. Some strong male owners might manage it alone.

Not Xie La. For him, it was as light as lifting a feather. While others carried firewood in bundles, he tucked them under both arms and carried more in his hands. If he could have balanced another bundle on his head, he surely would have.

These tasks, which required great physical strength, seemed like child's play to him. As for fetching water, he moved with such agility that he finished the task in a few quick trips.

"Heaven have mercy, how much work has he had to do in his life?" Zhang Xun’s mother appeared in the kitchen, her eyes filled with immense pity and maternal affection as she looked at Xie La.

Needless to say, Zhang Xun was certain his mother had mistaken Xie La for his original "body double."

"I sent twenty bolts of silk to the temple today, Mother," Zhang Xun said, guessing his mother's intentions—she would surely want to make a donation.

"You, come here, come here..." His mother ignored him entirely and beckoned to Xie La instead.

Xie La, who had just taken a break, pointed at his face and looked around. Realizing he was indeed the one being called, he stood up and walked over, grinning as he asked the matriarch what other work needed to be done.

What work? The old maid beside Zhang Xun’s mother pulled out a measuring tape and began measuring Xie La. The Tianqing Temple wasn't exactly destitute, but seeing Xie La dressed so shabbily, Zhang Xun's mother clearly intended to make him a few new sets of clothes.

In reality, Xie La was the same height as Zhang Xun, just much thinner, though his feet were broader and larger—there were indeed differences.

Xie La realized what she was doing and immediately insisted it wasn't necessary, claiming he worked every day and wouldn't wear a new Daoist robe anyway. That was precisely why Wen Tianxiang had mistaken him for a boatman at first glance—he wore short, utilitarian clothing to help his senior brother steer the boat.

"Then just come to our house to eat often," Zhang Xun suggested, seeing his mother hesitate.

"Exactly, exactly! Look how thin he is," his mother agreed.

If he didn't need clothes, surely he needed food.

"Truly?" At the mention of food, Xie La’s expression changed.

Some of his senior brothers in the temple would not eat after noon, which was torture for him. He had no way to earn money and was always busy with temple chores; he went hungry three hundred days a year.

"Come whenever you like. My household isn't short of a few extra meals," Zhang Xun thought to himself that this man was easy to manage—he was just a glutton for good food.

"Yes!" Xie La clapped his hands excitedly, as if he had just secured a lifelong meal ticket.

Zhang Xun and his mother exchanged a smile. He sent a maid to inform the guests in the water pavilion to wash up, tidy themselves, and prepare for the banquet.

The gathering had largely run its course, and the guests stood up, moving toward the floral hall to take their seats. Zhang Xun found a moment to ask Li Rang what they had been talking about. Li Rang blinked and scrutinized Zhang Xun with a very serious expression.

Then he asked, "Since when are you and Wen Tianxiang so close? He was just praising you to the heavens at the meeting, calling you the most handsome talent in the Jiangzuo region."

Prefect Shi, who had hoped for such praise, felt quite bitter. He had hosted the banquet, yet Wen Tianxiang had ended up singing Zhang Xun's praises. Of course, he had said a few kind words about Prefect Shi as well, acknowledging his contributions to education through the compilation of the *Piling Annals*.

*That can't be right?* Zhang Xun thought. *I didn't do anything to curry favor with Wen Tianxiang.* He had simply hosted him in a normal, polite way. *Calling me the most handsome talent in Jiangzuo? That's far too much.*

Li Rang, usually quite irreverent, stared at Zhang Xun for a long time. Seeing that Zhang Xun’s confusion was genuine, he could only shrug and chuckle to himself, leaving Zhang Xun standing there in bewilderment.