Great Qin encompassed vast territories, almost enough to call it the whole world.
Different regions had their unique customs and ways of life. The End of Year Festival was held only in Wangxian County, on the second and sixteenth day of each month known as 'doing teeth' and the final ceremony on the sixteenth of December called 'Tail Tooth', where towns held grand celebrations.
Then, businesses closed as workers received their salaries and returned home to celebrate the New Year properly.
It was from Wangxian County that Qin Fei had sent Wang Anfeng an invitation to participate in the 'End of Year Festival', which appeared plain, except for auspicious clouds arising above the yin and yang at the bottom right corner.
Just as the End of Year Festival approached, Wang Anfeng's eyes blazed intensely, reaching their zenith. Even the usual ointments lost their effect. However, after one night's sleep, everything calmed down completely. He was so normal that it felt somewhat uncomfortable for Anfeng.
He returned to Shaolin Temple to consult Master Ying, but the scholar merely glanced at him casually and said indifferently:
"Your ocular power has reached the twenty-eighth level; you are just beginning to enter the door."
"Today you are to go to the End of Year Festival. After returning, continue your cultivation. Now go..."
Wang Anfeng sighed with relief, bowed and left Shaolin. Wu Changqing stroked his beard and chuckled:
"A balanced view, neither biased nor obstructed, like dewdrops containing the mystique of heavenly secrets, edge sheathed within the scabbard, with no sight hindered."
"Indeed, the master's methods are formidable."
The scholar stood with his hands behind, scoffing disdainfully:
"It's only the beginning; it's practically useless."
His voice paused, seemingly reluctant to admit that long practice yielded little effect. He frowned and added:
"At most... during a confrontation, a burst of ocular power can intimidate people."
The elder chuckled stroking his beard, then looked toward the mist and said:
"I wonder if we can get some good medicinal herbs at this End of Year Festival..."
"As the medicines previously used have been exhausted due to matching properties, it's not good to mention this to Anfeng."
After Wang Anfeng returned to Great Liang Village, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Since it was already daylight, he began to prepare for his appointment and first asked his close friends Libo, Uncle Wang, and Mr. Jiang whether they needed any New Year goods to bring back.
After calling several times at the entrance, Libo just poked his head out, his white hair more disheveled as if he hadn't been managed for this entire period. After listening to his request, Libo only chuckled, dropped a line saying 'You cheeky kid, handle it as you see fit,' and ducked back in, ignoring him further.
Feeling helpless, Wang Anfeng was ready to leave when his gaze suddenly froze upon the window.
The window, which he had plastered, had been built stoutly to avoid rainwater damage using a lot of pulp. Yet now, he could vaguely see a silhouette hunched over the desk, seemingly engaged in frantic writing, occasionally stopping to gesture wildly, much like a playful child.
The youth barely suppressed a laugh, then raised his hand to touch his eyes, feeling more profoundly the unfathomable nature of Master Ying.
Next, he visited Innkeeper Wang's home, where the innkeeper merely encouraged him to enjoy himself. However, when Mr. Jiang Shouyi learned of his plans to attend the End of Year Festival, he first paused slightly, then immediately invited him inside.
The scholar caressed the invitation, pausing for a few seconds over the auspicious cloud design in the lower right corner, then looked at the young man in front of him.
With a serene and pure look, the youth wore somewhat old cotton clothing, yet it was clean. His hair, tied with a simple rope for convenience during work, bore the appearance of a typical mountain villager without following any formal style.
Jiang Shouyi placed the invitation on the table and said:
"You're going to such an End of Year Festival dressed , which is somewhat unfitting to the occasion."
"I have something to give you anyway, which I was planning to give during the New Year celebrations. As it happens now, the timing couldn't be better."
"Please wait a moment."
Saying this, he stood up and walked into the backhall. Shortly after, he returned carrying a piece of clothing for Wang Anfeng to change into in the guest room. The youth, holding the clothes, paused, then slowly nodded as he watched the smiling scholar, and proceeded to the side room to change.
This was a solemn robe of the Confucian Sect, with an elongated back collar forming a triangle, which wrapped around from the back to the front. It was then tied at the waist with a wide belt that could cover the tail of the triangular garment. Perhaps considering that he was a martial artist, the hem was loose and did not restrict movement.
The fabric was thick, with overlapping front panels called a triple-layered garment, and the cuffs were bordered, adorned with a pattern of dragons and sparrows. The whole was in dark blue, with subtle patterns, elegantly simple yet dignified. An Eight-Sided Wooden Sword, sheathed, hung at his waist.
Scholars of the Confucian School maintain integrity, holding the Eight-Sided Sword, and respect the four directions of Heaven and Earth.
Jiang Shouyi looked at the young man in new clothes, satisfied and nodded, saying,
"This looks just right."
As he spoke, he casually loosened the young man's hair, tied with a well-knotted hemp rope, which unraveled straightaway. With the black hair now loose, Jiang Shouyi took out a hairpin. Like an elder of the Confucian Sect, he tied up the youngster's hair, smiling and saying,
"You are of an age to 'dance with the elephant,' and though not yet old enough to wear the crown, a hairpin is still appropriate."
"Not only should one's conduct be proper, but one's attire should also be mindful of decorum, not extravagant, yet not so unrefined as to be wild and unconstrained."
Softly speaking, he retied the young man's black hair and secured it with a jade hairpin.
The scholar took a step back, looked at the neatly attired young man in front of him, and chuckled lightly,
The young man pursed his lips and bowed his hands, saying,
"Thank you, teacher... thank you, Mistress."
His words were not yet complete when the scholar lightly tapped on the young man's forehead, teasingly laughing and saying,
"Stop with the 'I, I, I'. If you don't go now, you might be too late."
"That State City is still far from here, do you not have a good horse? Ride it, and following the official road straight, it's less than an hour away..."
The young man nodded, speaking softly,
Jiang Shouyi watched as the young man left the house. The smile on his lips only slightly faded when a voice came from behind, saying,
"If elder brother sees you still clinging to the conventional rituals of dress, he might lecture you again…"
The scholar's lips curled up, casually saying,
"The rituals of dress are external; cultivating one's mind is what's internal."
"Elder brother always seeks to return to simplicity, but he is only ever austere, how can it truly be considered a return? In my view, he is the one who is mistaken."
The woman chuckled and stepped out, standing beside her husband and looking at the scenery outside, leisurely saying,
"It's already December..."
Jiang Shouyi understood her implication, his smile slightly dimming as he said,
"Indeed... the hundred days have passed, and we will not be staying much longer."
"Then why are you starting him on the importance of formal attire now? There's no need for such in Great Liang Village."
"You want him to leave this place."
Although it was a rhetorical question, her tone was filled with certainty. Jiang Shouyi couldn't help but laugh openly, candidly saying,
"You and I will leave, and he still needs to study diligently, but he should also go out, step beyond this Great Liang Village, even beyond Wangxian County, open his eyes to see the world... see the young talents, observe the changing fortunes under heaven."
"A gentleman is cautious when alone; this world is full of uncut jade vying for brilliance, presenting a spectacle too splendid to miss."
"And to miss out on Hetian jade among them would indeed be most regrettable."