Chapter Ten: The Banquet

  The two of them hastily returned the courtesy and exchanged names.

  Xu Xian secretly admired the maturity of the ancients. This Pan Yu looked like he was only sixteen or seventeen years old, still a naive high school student in modern times. However, looking at Pan Yu's words and deeds, he already had a dignified demeanor, and being with him for just a moment gave one a refreshing feeling. Moreover, his handsome appearance made people involuntarily think of the four characters "Junzi Ruyu" (a gentleman is like jade).

  Pan Yutu talked and laughed as usual, although the target was Xu Xian, but he would never let Wang An feel a bit cold. He also secretly measured Xu Xian again, if only his appearance was ordinary, only his eyes were clear and bright, with a hint of openness, which was rare among these scholars.

  Moreover, he always felt that Xu Xian's demeanor carried a unique temperament that was different from others, but couldn't quite put his finger on it. Pan Yu didn't know that the souls of modern people naturally came with modern habits, such as shrugging their shoulders when helpless, and using Western-style humor in their words and phrases, which made him seem somewhat exceptional.

  What is called temperament is the accumulation of these little things that give people a comprehensive feeling. If someone wears tattered clothes, sits still on the side of the road, and someone can see something extraordinary in his "profound eyes", that's the biggest joke under heaven.

  "From now on, we'll be fellow students. Today, I'm the host, and I'd like to invite everyone to gather together. Would you two be willing to grant me this favor?" Pan Yu's eyes fluttered, finally landing on Xu Xian's face.

  "Thanks a lot, Brother Pan. I'm starving," said Xu Xian with a smile. Now he felt like he was back in his school days, when gatherings and meals were a normal thing.

  Pan Yu was taken aback, but then smiled and said: "Brother Xu is indeed a straightforward person. I'll go invite others to see who else will come. To be honest, I'm also a bit hungry."

  Wang An's face turned slightly red beside him, and after Pan Yu left, there was another wave of resentment.

  Xu Xian bluntly said: "If there's food, just eat it, no need for so many words!"

  Wang An sighed repeatedly, but had no choice with Xu Xian. The mistakes he made in the exam earlier were now completely forgotten.

  The Xitian Academy is not far from West Lake, and on the Wangyuelou building by the lake, everyone took their seats. The banquet had been arranged long ago, and in a short while, the tables were filled with dishes.

  Xu Xian's stomach was growling with hunger, although there were also poor people here, but Xu Xian was originally a modern person, and even though his family was ordinary, going to a restaurant and eating some meat dishes was nothing out of the ordinary. Since crossing over, it had been just this one sister supporting the household, and being able to eat a meal was already pretty good, if he were to say anything about being picky, Xu Xian himself would think it wasn't something a human should do, so not only did he want to eat, but also wanted to eat very happily. It's just that this kind of life was really hard to bear. Xu Xian looked back on the past, turning sorrow into appetite, and fiercely grabbed a chicken leg, eating big mouthfuls, vowing that in the future when he became rich, every meal would have chicken legs.

  Everyone was discussing the country's future and people's livelihood. Xu Xian, however, was fighting with a chicken leg and made a great vow to study hard in order to eat chicken legs every day. Fortunately, there were many people around, and everyone was busy expressing their own opinions, not paying much attention to others.

  Only Pan Yu occasionally cast a glance over, feeling amused. He had seen such an unbridled person before, but this was the first time he had seen someone so unrestrained. Before long, even he secretly doubted whether the chicken leg was really that delicious, and he also picked one up to taste it, only to find that it still tasted the same as before.

  With so many people, it was impossible to just sit and eat, and scholars couldn't make guesses like commoners, so someone suggested reciting poetry and drinking games, and everyone responded enthusiastically.

  Pan Yu took the lead, and he didn't hold back. He stood up with a big smile on his face, which was already stunningly handsome. After drinking, his face flushed like a white jade stained with sunset clouds, just like a person in a painting. Before he even recited the poem, everyone was moved by his elegant demeanor. After he finished reciting, it triggered thunderous applause from the whole room. Even Xu Xian couldn't help but stop what he was doing and shout "Good!"

  It was Xuxian's turn to compose a poem, but he smiled and put down the chopsticks in his hand. Without thinking, others thought he had a plan, but unexpectedly, Xuxian picked up his wine cup and drank three cups by himself. Then he said to Wang An beside him: "Your turn."

  Everyone was shocked, and at this time they had to say something like "Today's writing is not smooth" and other polite phrases. But he didn't mince words and picked up his chopsticks again.

  So he drank like this, Xu Xian's wine came and was immediately dried up. Whether it was filling words or doing things, he didn't mix in, but only ate and drank a lot.

  In ancient times, the brewing technology was limited, and the wine tasted very light. Moreover, it was a small cup, so Xu Xian didn't take it seriously, but sometimes the light wine in small cups could make people drunk more easily. When the banquet dispersed, he was already half-drunk and half-awake.

  Everyone returned to the Jin Tian Academy, where accommodations had already been arranged. Regardless of whether students were rich or poor, they all lived in the same quarters. Two people shared a room, and Pan Yu and Xu Xian happened to be roommates.

  It should have been Wang An and Xu Xian sharing the same hometown, but now it has become two people sharing a bed. This is the arrangement of the elders. I only hope that the two can become good friends and support each other in their future careers.

  Incense burner and small table, carved screen and bed, the room is decorated but also elegant.

  Pan Yuxu and Xu Xian supported each other as they walked into the room. Xu Xian fell onto the bed with a low hum.

  Pan Yu's originally dim eyes suddenly became clear, and he took out a crimson-colored jade leaf from his mouth. He poured a cup of tea and put the jade leaf into the tea water. Before long, the leaf changed color, and the tea water emitted a strong wine aroma. Pan Yu took out the now-white jade leaf and put it back in his bosom.

  "Brother Pan, what is this?" A sudden question made Pan Yu jump in surprise, and the jade leaf in his hand almost fell to the ground. Originally, he should have been lying on the bed, sleeping soundly, but Xu Xian was looking at him as if nothing was wrong, with piercing eyes that didn't show a hint of intoxication. Pan Yu's heart skipped a beat, thinking to himself that he must have misjudged this person, and Xu Xian turned out to be someone with such deep cunning?

  Xu Xian didn't have any city walls to speak of, but the Taoist mental techniques he practiced meant that no matter how drunk he got, there was always a spark of clarity left, and he would sober up especially quickly.

  Xu Xian stretched and said, "Ah, I'm so thirsty!" He walked over and picked up the cup of tea on the table, gulping it down. Pan Yu didn't have time to stop him and could only sigh, seeing Xu Xian's eyes glaze over again as he was originally recovering his clarity.

  That piece of jade leaf is a spiritual object carved from drunken jade. Drunken jade is a divine jade that is hard to find in the world of wine, but as long as you put the jade stone in the wine, it will turn red in no time, just like getting drunk. The original wine lees become light and tasteless like water. After soaking several jars of inferior wine, the jade stone has turned reddish-brown like drunkenness. At this time, soak the jade in clear water again, wait for the jade to turn white, and the clear water will become top-grade fine wine.

  Pan Yu carved this beautiful jade into a leaf shape and put it in his mouth, so he wouldn't get drunk no matter how much he drank. If those wine lovers knew that such a divine object was being used for such an unrefined thing, they would be beside themselves with grief!

  That small cup of water was brewed by Drunken Jade, and it was almost indistinguishable from the strongest wine. Xu Xian gulped it down in one go, and even if he had practiced some kind of Taoist magic, it wouldn't have been effective. He staggered around for a while, then fell back onto the bed, muttering to himself: "Good wine, good wine."

  Pan Yu looked at Xu Xian on the bed and didn't know how to evaluate, was it innocent or deep-hearted? All he could do was sigh.

  Pan Yu looked at Xu Xian, who was unconscious and unaware of his surroundings, and sighed softly: "A carefree and open-minded person is a good thing, but getting drunk to the point of losing consciousness ultimately goes against the teachings of the saints."

  Xu Xian vaguely heard Pan Yu's discussion, but thought it was a joke from his university roommate, and couldn't help but hum:

  If heaven didn't love wine, there wouldn't be a Wine Star in heaven.

  If the earth did not love wine, there would be no wine springs on earth.

  Heaven and earth love wine, loving wine is no shame to heaven.

  It is heard that clear water is comparable to a sage, while muddy water is like a virtuous person.

  Since the virtuous and wise have already drunk, why must one seek immortals?

  Three cups open up the great way, one peck unites with nature.

  "Get pleasure from wine, but don't let it be known to those who are sober."

  This poem of Li Bai's "Drinking Alone under the Moon" was often on his lips in his past life, specially used to dispel drunken jests. Today, although he is drunk, reciting it still comes out smoothly.

  Pan Yu was stunned, he had thought that Xu Xian was not good at reciting poetry and writing essays, but unexpectedly, after getting drunk, he casually recited such a great poem. The simple and clear poem phrases could be understood even by illiterate people, but the kind of heroic and carefree flavor in it was something that Pan Yu couldn't recite no matter what.

  Pan Yu thought to herself: With such poetic talent, it's no wonder that Wang Xuezheng has taken a liking to him. She recited the poem several more times, and couldn't help but admire it even more. When she looked over at Xu Xian again, he had already started snoring softly.

  But got fun in wine, don't wake up for others. I dare not get drunk, nor can I get drunk!

  Between the fighting rooms, I don't know whose sigh it is, and I'm so worried.

  ;