Chapter 17: Chen Ping’s Drunkenness

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Ye Chongwen, quick-eyed and swift-handed, immediately hid the book he was holding behind his back. Seeing Chen Ping greeting Elder Ye, he asked how he was while inching toward the exit, taking advantage of their conversation to slip away unnoticed.

While Chen Ping and Elder Ye were talking, it became clear that there was a private room upstairs in this bookshop. Elder Ye was heading up to dine with old friends and, upon this chance meeting, invited Chen Ping to join them.

Chen Ping repeatedly declined but could not resist Elder Ye’s warm insistence and eventually followed him into the private room.

As soon as the door opened, a familiar voice came from within, “Elder Ye, why are you still not here? You must have gotten lost in your reading and lost track of time.”

“I knew you were talking behind my back,” Elder Ye said as he sat down and, without hesitation, picked up a wine glass, waiting for Li Feng to pour.

“I wouldn’t dare!” Li Feng laughed as he poured the wine, inviting Chen Ping to sit as well. “But you were coaxed here halfway, weren’t you?”

Before Chen Ping could answer, Elder Ye interrupted, “What do you mean by coaxed?”

“Yes, yes, you caught him halfway,” a refined older man in a gray robe corrected the phrase, “That sounds about right, doesn’t it?”

Elder Ye took a sip of wine, shook his head, and sighed, “So you’re all ganging up on an old man.”

He looked over and gestured for Chen Ping to sit beside him. “This is the child I mentioned to you earlier.”

Chen Ping quickly stood and bowed. “Greetings, gentlemen.”

Li Feng winked playfully at Chen Ping and teased Elder Ye, “Since we’re so familiar, there’s no need for these formalities.”

“Familiar?” Elder Ye put down his wine glass. “When did we become familiar?”

“Well, thanks to you, Elder Ye. You always said you wouldn’t take on disciples, but here he is now,” Li Feng said.

“Qi Zhi! Did you hear what your student just said?” Li Yang, whose courtesy name was Qi Zhi and was Li Feng’s teacher, saw Elder Ye’s temper flare and instead of calming him, added fuel to the fire, “Isn’t this just what you wanted?”

“Nonsense! Is this what I wanted?” Elder Ye felt outnumbered facing the two masters. He turned to Chen Ping, “What do you think?”

Having listened to all three since entering, Chen Ping saw three pairs of eyes waiting for his response. To him, it all seemed to mean the same thing. He honestly admitted his confusion, “Aren’t you all teachers?”

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“Ha ha ha, interesting, truly interesting,” Li Yang laughed at Chen Ping’s words. “You’re right, we’re all teachers.”

Li Feng smiled helplessly. “But they’re not the same.”

Elder Ye chuckled, “You’re putting your cleverness to other uses.”

After Li Feng’s explanation, Chen Ping’s face burned with embarrassment. He couldn’t believe he’d forgotten the concept of an inner disciple.

In the past, masters personally took on disciples who lived with them, supported and taught by the master as family—these were the inner disciples. It was said, “Once a teacher, always a father,” reflecting that disciples should honor their masters like parents.

Strictly speaking, inner disciples were different from ordinary students; they were the master’s closest, personally taught pupils, often accepted through a formal and rigorous ceremony.

Fortunately, Chen Ping was only seven years old, so it wasn’t a big deal… he reassured himself. Yet the amused expressions on the three faces before him made him lower his head and stare at the cup on the table like an ostrich burying its head.

“Though it’s a bit forward, I have to ask—are you planning to take on disciples?” Elder Ye’s earlier reaction made Li Feng wonder.

“Of course, but I intend to take on a closed-door disciple,” Elder Ye replied to Li Feng, though his gaze was fixed on Chen Ping.

A closed-door disciple was even more significant; Li Feng raised his cup upon hearing this.

“Well, here’s to Elder Ye’s wish coming true soon.”

Chen Ping listened closely, lifting his eyes to meet Elder Ye’s gaze. Their eyes locked. The conversation echoed in his ears, but he couldn’t be sure if they were indeed talking about him.

A cup of wine was placed before him.

“Here, take it.”

Chen Ping hesitated but took the cup, his eyes full of confusion. Why was he being given wine?

“You wanted it, didn’t you?” Li Yang said as he noticed Chen Ping staring at the cup for a long time.

Just as Li Yang was about to intervene, Elder Ye seemed to have anticipated this. “Just sip a little to taste it.”

Li Feng and Li Yang figured the boy was just curious about the wine. Chen Ping lifted the cup to his lips, genuinely curious about the flavor of this ancient brew. He pursed his lips, swallowing the wine’s taste that clung to them, only to make a strange face at the sharpness.

Whether it was his sensitive palate or simply unfamiliarity, the wine’s sharpness was followed by bitterness that lingered in his throat.

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Though it was unpleasant, it brought smiles to the three men’s faces. Chen Ping tapped his palate and feigned seriousness. “I suppose this counts as entertaining one’s elders with colorful clothes.”

The laughter in the room grew louder. Li Feng nearly fell from his chair. Elder Ye’s raised cup spilled wine on the table, and though Li Yang was more reserved, he could not hide the amusement in his smile.

The dishes they had ordered earlier arrived, and with no strict dining etiquette, they discussed the provincial exams over the food and wine.

Li Yang tried to persuade Li Feng to give it another shot, but Li Feng had lost confidence. “Teacher, no need to encourage me. I’m fine as I am now…”

He seemed to think of something, picked up the wine pot, and poured himself several cups.

Elder Ye noticed his gloom and, fearing Li Yang would continue to urge him, declared they would have a poetry game called the “Flying Flower Order” today.

“But don’t you usually dislike such things?” Li Yang pointed out but, understanding his student’s frustration, softened his tone, “Playing today might not be so bad.”

Li Feng could only go along. He casually pointed to the folding screen. “Usually the theme is flowers; today let’s use the moon. Is that agreeable?”

The others naturally agreed to change the topic.

Chen Ping had drifted off at some point. He wanted not to join, but Elder Ye would not let him off and insisted he start.

Elder Ye didn’t think he was making things difficult. “It’s just for fun. Just say whatever comes to mind.”

Chen Ping was at a loss but had no choice but to brave it.

The Flying Flower Order tested a scholar’s impromptu wit and vast reading; somehow, after several rounds, Chen Ping felt increasingly exhausted.

Perhaps because of his youth and the wine, his eyelids grew heavy, nearly closing, and he occasionally felt dizzy.

With his remaining consciousness, he managed to recite, “The bright moon falls as frost touches the water...”

Suddenly, with a loud thud, Chen Ping’s head slammed onto the table, and his body slid down.

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