Chapter 10: The Banquet

The two quickly returned the greeting and exchanged names.


Xu Xian secretly marveled at how precocious people were in ancient times. This Pan Yu looked only sixteen or seventeen, still a clueless high schooler in the modern world, but from his speech and bearing, he already had the air of a true gentleman. Even after just a brief interaction, there was a sense of being bathed in a spring breeze. Coupled with his flawless, handsome appearance, it was hard not to think of the phrase “a gentleman as warm as jade.”



Pan Yu conversed with ease. Although his main interest was Xu Xian, he never made Wang An feel left out. He also quietly observed Xu Xian: in terms of looks, he was just average, but his eyes were clear and bright, carrying a frankness rarely seen among these scholars.



Moreover, Pan Yu always felt there was something different about Xu Xian’s manner, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. What he didn’t know was that a modern soul naturally brought modern habits, an involuntary shrug in awkward moments, a different way of phrasing things, even a touch of Western humor. All of this made Xu Xian stand out.



So-called “temperament” is the sum of these little things that shape a person’s overall impression. If someone is dressed in rags and sits motionless by the roadside, yet people still claim to see something extraordinary in his “deep eyes,” that’s the biggest joke in the world.



“From now on, we’re classmates. Today, I’ll be the host and would like to invite everyone to a gathering. Would you two do me the honor?” Pan Yu’s gaze finally settled on Xu Xian.



“Thank you, Brother Pan. I’ve been hungry for a while,” Xu Xian grinned. Now he was getting that old school feeling, group meals were perfectly normal.



Pan Yu was taken aback. At times like this, people usually say something polite, but he hadn’t expected Xu Xian to be so direct. He laughed, “Brother Xu, you’re straightforward. I’ll go invite the others. To be honest, I’m hungry too.”



Wang An blushed beside him. After Pan Yu left, he started to complain again.



Xu Xian replied bluntly, “If there’s food, eat. Why so many words?”



Wang An sighed repeatedly, but there was nothing he could do about Xu Xian. His earlier worries about the exam were now completely forgotten.



Jintian Academy wasn’t far from West Lake. At Wangyue Tower by the lake, everyone took their seats. The banquet had been arranged in advance, and soon the table was filled with dishes.



Xu Xian’s stomach couldn’t hold back its cravings. There were other poor students here, but Xu Xian, being a modern person, was used to eating out and having meat now and then. Since transmigrating, with only his sister supporting the household, just having enough to eat was already good, complaining would be inhuman. So not only did he eat, he ate happily. But these days were truly hard. Looking back, Xu Xian turned his sorrow into appetite, grabbed a chicken leg, and ate heartily, vowing that when he was rich, he’d eat chicken legs every meal.



Others discussed grand prospects and national affairs. Xu Xian, meanwhile, battled his chicken leg, making a great vow to study hard so he could eat chicken legs every day. Luckily, with so many people, everyone was busy sharing their own opinions and didn’t pay much attention to others.



Only Pan Yu occasionally glanced over, finding it amusing. He’d seen plenty of wild scholars who didn’t care about appearances, but never one quite like this. After a while, even he wondered if the chicken leg was really that delicious, so he tried one himself, only to find it tasted the same as always.



With so many people, it wasn’t possible to just eat in silence, and scholars couldn’t play drinking games like commoners. Someone suggested composing poems for drinks, and everyone agreed.



As the host, Pan Yu went first. He stood up confidently, already stunningly handsome, now with a flush from the wine, he looked like a figure from a painting. Even before he recited his poem, everyone was captivated by his presence. After he finished, the hall erupted in applause. Even Xu Xian paused his eating to shout his approval.



When it was Xu Xian’s turn, he simply smiled, put down his chopsticks, and without a second thought,while others assumed he was fully prepared, he picked up his wine cup, poured himself three drinks, and downed them all. Then he turned to Wang An and said, “Your turn.”



Everyone was floored. At times like this, people usually make excuses about lacking inspiration, but Xu Xian was completely unreserved, and went right back to eating.



And so the drinking went on. Whenever wine came, Xu Xian drank it down. Whether it was composing poetry or doing anything else, he didn’t get involved, he just ate and drank.



In ancient times, due to limited brewing techniques, the wine was weak, and the cups were small, so Xu Xian didn’t mind. But sometimes, weak wine in small cups could get you drunk even faster. By the end of the banquet, he was already half-drunk, half-awake.



Everyone staggered back to Jintian Academy, where rooms had already been arranged. Regardless of wealth, all students had the same accommodations. Two to a room, Pan Yu and Xu Xian were assigned together.



Originally, Xu Xian should have shared a room with his fellow townsman Wang An, but now it was Pan Yu. This was the elders’ arrangement, hoping the two would become friends and support each other in their future careers.



The room was tastefully furnished, with a small incense burner, a carved bed, and a screen.



Pan Yu and Xu Xian supported each other into the room. Xu Xian flopped onto the bed with a groan.



Pan Yu’s hazy eyes immediately cleared. He took a crimson jade leaf from his mouth, poured a cup of tea, and placed the jade leaf in the tea. Soon, the leaf changed color, and the tea gave off a strong aroma of wine. Pan Yu took out the now-white jade leaf and put it away.



“Brother Pan, what’s that?” The question startled Pan Yu, and he nearly dropped the jade leaf. Xu Xian, who should have been passed out on the bed, was watching him as if nothing was wrong, his eyes bright and clear, there was no sign of drunkenness. Pan Yu’s heart skipped a beat. Had he misjudged Xu Xian? Was he actually a deeply scheming person?



But Xu Xian had no such schemes. The Daoist heart method he practiced always left a spark of clarity, so he sobered up quickly no matter how drunk he got.



Xu Xian stretched and said, “Ah, I’m so thirsty!” He walked over, picked up the cup of tea, and gulped it down. Pan Yu didn’t have time to stop him and could only sigh. Xu Xian’s eyes, which had just cleared, immediately grew hazy again.



That jade leaf was a spiritual item carved from Drunken Jade. Drunken Jade was a priceless treasure among wine masters, if you put the jade in wine, it would turn red as if drunk, and the wine would become as bland as water. After soaking several jars of cheap wine, the jade would be thoroughly red. Then, if you soaked it in clear water until it turned white again, the water would become top-quality wine.



Pan Yu had a jade leaf carved from this precious stone. With it in his mouth, he could drink endlessly without getting drunk. If wine lovers knew such a treasure was being used for something so mundane, they’d be heartbroken!



That little cup of water, after being soaked with Drunken Jade, was as strong as the strongest liquor. Xu Xian downed it in one gulp, no Daoist method could help now. He swayed a couple of times, then collapsed onto the bed, mumbling, “Good wine, good wine.”



Pan Yu looked at the unconscious Xu Xian, unsure what to think, was he completely guileless, or deeply cunning? He could only smile wryly.



Seeing Xu Xian out cold, Pan Yu sighed, “Being carefree and open is a good thing, but getting drunk like this isn’t the way of the sages.”



In his daze, Xu Xian heard Pan Yu’s comment and thought it was a college roommate’s joke. He couldn’t help but recite:



“If Heaven didn’t love wine, the Wine Star wouldn’t be in the sky.

If Earth didn’t love wine, there’d be no Wine Spring on earth.

Since Heaven and Earth love wine, loving wine is no shame.

I’ve heard the pure are like saints, the muddy like the wise.

If sages and worthies have drunk, why seek immortality?

Three cups open the Way, a jug unites with Nature.

Just find joy in wine, don’t tell it to the sober.”



This poem, “Drinking Alone Under the Moon” by Li Bai, was one Xu Xian often quoted in his previous life to laugh off his drunkenness. Even now, though drunk, he recited it fluently.



Pan Yu was stunned. He’d thought Xu Xian wasn’t much of a poet, but hadn’t expected such a good poem to come out of his mouth while drunk. The simple, clear lines could be understood by anyone, but the bold, carefree spirit was something he could never express.



Pan Yu thought to himself: With such poetic talent, no wonder Wang Xuezheng took notice. He recited the poem a few more times, admiring it even more, then saw that Xu Xian was already snoring softly.



“Just find joy in wine, don’t tell it to the sober. I dare not get drunk, nor can I…”



In that small room, it was unclear whose sigh it was, so full of melancholy.