After Laba, the atmosphere of the New Year instantly became stronger, and the people of the city were full of joy, looking too safe and healthy.

Meng Hao has been back in the house since he was beaten, and the problems in prison before have gradually improved. There is no longer insomnia, the six senses are slowly returning to normal, and everything is moving towards a better place.

It's just that this winter of the Year of the Pig is very strange. It is already cold winter, but there has been no snow.

On this day, Meng Hao was reading a book in the study for recreation, and Meng Ran went to visit and greet him.

Meng Ran arrived at the study, first saluted, and then respectfully greeted: "Father is well." ”

Meng Hao casually put down the book in his hand, "Ran'er is here, sit down." ”

Meng Ran found a stool by himself and sat there quietly.

Meng Hao looked at his son with his hands on his lap and not squinting, and Wen Yan asked, "Ran'er, how are you studying lately?"

Meng Ran thought for a moment, and then replied: "Back to my father, everything is fine." At present, he has completed the study of "The Mean", while the qin, chess, calligraphy and painting are somewhat backward. ”

After Meng Hao heard this, he was quite happy in his heart, but he said quietly: "Well, the learning progress of Confucian classics and righteousness is good, but we can't lag too far behind in other aspects." Qin, chess, calligraphy and painting should also be stepped up, don't become a nerd who can only read. ”

"Yes, father. ”

"Do you know why people like us who are studying want to learn piano, chess, calligraphy and painting?" Meng Hao seemed to be studying his son.

Meng Ran scratched his head, "Hmm... Mr. Zhao didn't say this, but just taught me some specific skills. ”

"Oh, then, listen to the Father. Meng Hao stroked his beard under his chin, cleared his voice, and said: "Qin, chess, calligraphy and painting refer to the four kinds of piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting, which are collectively known as the four good talents of Yaren, and they are also the basic skills and cultivation of our scholars. ”

"As early as the Western Zhou Dynasty, there were 'six arts' in the study of the academy, and music was one of them. Music was also one of the basic skills of officials at that time, and music included playing the qin. The qin, also known as the yaoqin and the jade qin, is said to have been created by Fuxi. "The Book of Songs: Guan Ju" has "My Fair Lady, Qin Se Friend", and "The Book of Songs: Xiaoya" also has: "Qin Se drumming, with Yutian Zu" and other records. Ran'er, do you know these records?"

Facing his father's question, Meng Ran was a little ashamed, his face turned slightly red, and he said in a low voice: "Father, I have only learned the "Three Character Classic", "Thousand Character Text", "Hundred Family Names", "Analects", "Mencius", "University", "The Mean", and the "Book of Songs" has not yet begun to study. ”

Meng Hao patted his head and smiled embarrassedly, "Oh, I forgot to forget, it's okay, just listen to my father." ”

"Confucius's Family Sayings" records that Confucius once 'learned the piano from Shixiang', and it is said that Shixiang was a famous musician in the Spring and Autumn Period of Lu, and Confucius once learned to play the piano from him. The piano is Yale, 'the length of the music, the respect of the great and elegant'. Confucian scriptures pay attention to ethical education, respect the beauty of neutrality, stable moderation, subtlety and elegance, and reject the charm and noisy indulgence and lewd music. ”

Meng Ran listened quietly, very attentive.

"Chess is playing chess, specifically referring to Go, and playing chess is also a way of self-cultivation. There is a record of playing chess in the Analects, do you know this?"

Meng Ran stood up and said softly, "This kid knows. Confucius once said, "It is difficult to eat all day long without doing anything! ’”

Meng Hao laughed heartily, "Yes, yes, then do you know the meaning of this sentence?"

Meng Ran nodded: "Master taught me, this sentence means that if you eat all day long, if you don't have a little thought, it will be difficult for this kind of person to become a talent! Isn't there still a game of chess? Doing this is better than not doing nothing!"

Meng Hao looked at his son with appreciation, "Yes, it's very good." However, in addition to the Analects, there is also a record of chess in Mencius, do you know?"

Meng Ran thought about it seriously, shook his head and said, "Well, I don't remember much, please ask my father to teach me." ”

"Mencius, Confession of the Son", the present husband is the number, the decimal is also, if you are not concentrated, you can't. Yi Qiu, the good player of the whole country. So that Yi Qiu taught two people to play, one of them concentrated, but Yi Qiu listened. Although one person listens to it, he thinks that there is a great bird coming, and he thinks of the bow and shoots it, although he learns from it, he will do it. For the sake of his wisdom, he said: "Not so."

This means that, for example, playing chess as a skill is only a small skill, but if you don't concentrate on learning, you can't learn it. Yi Qiu is a well-known chess player in the country, if Yi Qiu teaches two people to play chess at the same time, one of them is attentive and only listens to Yi Qiu's words, and although the other is also listening, he always thinks that a swan is about to fly, and he is bent on how to shoot it with a bow and arrow. This person, though he studies with the one who is attentive, is not as good as that person. Is it because he is not as intellectually as good as that person? The answer is clear: Of course not. ”

Meng Ran nodded, "Father, after I go back, I will study Mencius seriously again." ”

After Meng Hao heard this, he praised his son: "Ran'er, you can know that after you go back, you will re-learn the things you have forgotten, which is already very rare, and I am very pleased to be a father." ”

Meng Ran grinned.

Subsequently, Meng Hao continued: "Someone in the previous dynasty said that the way of chess is to be silent, and the trade-off is urgent. Benevolence can be complete, righteousness can be kept, etiquette can change, wisdom can be both, and faith can be restrained. The gentleman knows the five, and he can talk about chess. Therefore, playing chess can not only cultivate one's self-cultivation, but also embody the five virtues of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and faith advocated by Confucianism. ”

"As for calligraphy, it is also one of the 'six arts'. In a narrow sense, calligraphy refers to the method and rules of writing words with a brush. Including pen holding, pen movement, dot painting, structure, layout (distribution, line order, chapter) and so on. For example, the pen refers to the real palm and the five fingers work together; the center of the pen is paved; the dot painting means that the pen follows, and the runaway is the same; the structure is in the shape of the word, and the harmony echoes; the distribution is intricate, the density is appropriate, the virtual and the real are born together, and the whole chapter runs through the qi; the ancient and modern characters are literate, the words are large and small, and the high is rather than low. Broadly speaking, calligraphy refers to the rules of writing linguistic symbols. In other words, calligraphy refers to writing in accordance with the characteristics of the text and its meaning, with its style, structure and chapter, so as to make it an aesthetically pleasing work of art.

Nowadays, the imperial examination is prevalent in the world, and the quality of calligraphy can determine a person's final examination ranking. People in the world often say that 'words are like their people', and from a person's words, you can see the person's inner cultivation. As a scholar, if your calligraphy is difficult to be elegant, it will naturally be despised by others. When practicing calligraphy, it is necessary to eliminate distractions, concentrate on it, and achieve a state of concentration in order to write well. Ouyang Xun, a calligrapher in the previous dynasty, once said that when practicing calligraphy, we must 'clear our minds and be upright', so practicing calligraphy can adjust our minds and cultivate our minds. ”

"Painting is painting, and it is also called 'Danqing'. The paintings of Shenzhou Da Lu have a long history, and in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, various painting techniques have been quite mature. Confucius once used the phrase 'painting the aftermath' to illustrate the relationship between propriety and righteousness. Prima refers to a white background, and painting is based on a white background. In Confucius's view, the external etiquette is unified with the inner mood of the person, just like the painting, without the white background as the basis, the beautiful pattern cannot be painted, and the beautiful painting cannot be formed. The predecessors believed that a good painting could make people distracted and cleanse their hearts. Therefore, painting is also a way of self-cultivation. ”

After finishing the qin, chess, calligraphy and painting, Meng Hao was already dry and irritable, picked up the teacup on the table, and drank a large sip of cold tea.

Meng Hao rested for a while, and then asked, "Ran'er, what are you going to do during the recess?"

Meng Ran thought for a while and replied: "I want to review all the content I have learned before, and if I have enough time, I will read some idle books." ”

"Oh, what kind of idle book, did Mr. Zhang designate it, or did you want to read it yourself?" Meng Hao was very curious.

Meng Ran shook his head, "It's not Mr. Zhang's explanation, it's the book that Mr. assigned to me before, I read half of it, and I'm going to read the rest within three years." ”

Needless to say, this gentleman naturally refers to Mr. Qi.

Meng Hao stood up from his seat, paced in front of Meng Ran, leaned over and asked, "Ran'er, do you still miss Mr. Qi?"

"Yes. Meng Ran replied without thinking.

Although it is only one word, it contains a thousand emotions, and although it is only one word, there are many words that have not been spoken.

Mr.'s surname is Qi, Qi Xiuguo. It is the gentleman of Meng Ran's life, and the only gentleman who Meng Ran can't say his name.

In the quiet study, one grows and one young, relatively silent. Each is immersed in their own emotions and cannot extricate themselves.

After a while, Meng Hao first broke the silence, "Ran'er, if you have free time in the future, you will come to the study to accompany me to read and practice calligraphy, and talk." ”

Meng Ran nodded yes.

......

This night, Meng Ran had a long dream, from the time of his son to the time of Yin. In his dreams, he seemed to see his whole life. The person in the dream, from a screaming baby to a childish teenager, from an impetuous teenager to a calm middle-aged man, finally became a dying old man.

Meng Ran woke up in a trance, wanting to reach out and grab everything in the dream, but only caught the cold air. The dreams that had been clearly imprinted in my mind suddenly became blurred, as if draped in a veil. The more I want to remember those contents, the more I can't remember them. In the end, the few remaining images were gone, and they were all gone.

Meng Ran sat up lightly and touched his forehead, wanting to confirm whether he was dreaming or not, but the fine beads of sweat on his forehead told him that what happened just now was real, but it didn't leave any residue.

Meng Ran sat dumbfounded.

The cold surrounded him little by little like a cage, and he could only obediently cover the quilt and lie quietly. The wind outside the window was howling, whimpering and sweeping through everything that stood in its way, and the sound sounded strange and terrifying.