"Sorry everyone. The young shopkeeper is training storytellers today. The tea house is closed. Please understand..." Uncle Fu cupped his hands and apologized at the door. And when the storytellers from various places came in, they would leave their names and the places where they told stories.
Before long, thirty or fifty people came in.
At the appointed time, Jiang Ming checked the list. There were about seventy people. About half of the restaurants and tea houses in Dongdu City had come.
As for those who didn't come and what they were thinking, Jiang Ming didn't bother to care. It had already reached his expectation.
Immediately, he came out and said, "Everyone, I am Jiang Ming. Today, I invite all gentlemen here to discuss this storytelling matter."
Then someone asked, "The young shopkeeper is generous. But I wonder if the young shopkeeper's action can be regarded as taking in disciples?"
In all walks of life, either it is passed down from father to son or taught by master and apprentice. Most of these seventy or eighty people are middle-aged people who are frustrated. Otherwise, if they could read and write, they wouldn't do this kind of job to support their families.
It was really a bit embarrassing for them to worship a teenager as a teacher. If it weren't for their bosses, they probably wouldn't come at all.
But soon Jiang Ming dispelled everyone's concerns. He wasn't taking in disciples. It was just training.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Jiang Ming's time was precious. He didn't beat around the bush and started teaching directly.
He didn't understand storytelling, but he had listened to it. And he also understood dubbing. Various emotions, tones, what tone should be used in different situations, and what sounds should be matched... These things opened the eyes of these people.
After a day, all the storytellers felt that they had gained a lot. Storytelling could actually be done like this?
Of course, Taihe Tea House didn't lose out either. After all, there were seventy or eighty people. They gave you free training and it was full of useful things. You couldn't not order a pot of tea, could you?
Everyone went back and reported to their respective shopkeepers. They all said that they had learned something.
"Shopkeeper, what exactly does Taihe Tea House mean? They are actually willing to spread such skills?"
The fat shopkeeper was lying on a chair, rubbing walnuts with one hand and said with a smile, "These things will be seen through by us sooner or later. It's better to take them out early and earn a good reputation. They are smart people."
"It's not a three-day training. Send two more people tomorrow."
"Yes."
...
Three days later, the storytellers in Dongdu resumed their work.
The guests immediately felt the difference. The characters in the mouths of these storytellers seemed to come alive. Although it still didn't have the immersive feeling of Taihe Tea House, it was finally passable.
For a while, the bosses of restaurants and tea houses were happy. The guests were happy. The storytellers were also happy because they got more rewards.
Jiang Ming, who unconsciously became the leader of all storytellers, was also happy.
But today was the day he became a disciple. Early in the morning, he prepared a gift for becoming a disciple. It wasn't very expensive, but it wasn't cheap either. Ink, brush, paper, and inkstone were the most basic.
Jiang Shi and Jiang Ming came to Ji's mansion by carriage driven by Uncle Fu.
Ji Nian and several servants welcomed the two into the mansion.
"Mr. Ji, I really trouble you this time." Jiang Shi said with a full smile.
Ji Nian was still that stern look. He shook his head. "You are being polite. This was agreed upon long ago. Jiang Ming is also a good boy."
There were also two middle-aged men beside him. They were invited by Ji Nian to witness.
At this time, Jiang Ming stepped forward and offered a cup of tea.
Ji Nian took it and took a sip. Then it was done.
Becoming a disciple was not like worshiping gods and heaven and earth. Nor was it like entering any sect or gang. It wasn't so complicated. The main thing was mutual recognition.
Ji Nian put down the tea and stroked his beard and said, "Jiang Ming, since you have officially become my disciple today, then as your teacher, I will give you a courtesy name."
Jiang Ming cupped his hands. "Please give me a name, teacher."
"The character ' 明 ' means illuminated by the sun and moon. One walks on the grand and right path and does things openly and aboveboard. But if it is too dazzling, it is difficult to see the dust on the state of mind. 'Bodhi originally has no tree. The bright mirror is also not a stand.' So take the courtesy name... Wu Chen."
Jiang Ming, Jiang Wu Chen!
"Thank you, teacher, for giving me the name."
Ji Nian nodded. Then he took out several books. They were all books of sages. There were ways to govern the country and help the world. He gave them to Jiang Ming.
The father and son thanked Ji Nian together. At noon, they had lunch together at Ji's mansion before leaving. Only Jiang Ming stayed behind to listen to his teacher's teachings.
Ji Nian and Jiang Ming sat in the garden and drank tea together.
"Wu Chen, do you want to understand this world?"
Suddenly, Ji Nian asked such a question.
Jiang Ming immediately nodded.
Ji Nian seemed to have expected it. He continued, "Then this is my first lesson for you. The place we are in is Dongdu of the Great Jin. And the Great Jin has five capitals. Do you know why?"
"The territory is too large."
"This is only one of the reasons. And the most important reason is to guard against various crises in this world!"
Among the five capitals of the Great Jin, except for Zhongdu, the other four capitals are all small courts. And doing this is to be able to quickly respond to the dangers from all directions of the Great Jin.
In the east, there are towering waves. Overseas, there are various islands and countries. There are also terrifying sea monsters. The dragon clan causes trouble.
In the west, there is an endless desert. The depths of the desert are a forbidden zone for life. It is mysterious.
In the north, there are millions of years of frozen soil. Tribes that seem human but not human, as if left over from ancient times, live here.
And in the south is the greatest enemy of the Great Jin. The country of ten thousand demons. Countless terrifying great demons live here. Every year, they will attack the border of the Great Jin. There are countless casualties.
After hearing this, Jiang Ming was shocked. The Great Jin was like a piece of fat on the table. There were fierce beasts crawling all around.
These things were not secret. But not everyone could come into contact with them. Most common people haven't even walked out of a single county in their entire lives.
"But don't underestimate the human race of the Great Jin. We have been able to stand here for countless years and occupy this vast territory. It's not because they gave it to us." Ji Nian said with a hint of pride.
Then Ji Nian told Jiang Ming some major events of the founding of the Great Jin. Most of them were stories of human sages fighting bloody battles to kill demons and protect the human race. They went through hardships and opened up a pure land.
Ji Nian was a firm patriot.
The master and apprentice chatted for a while. Jiang Ming also learned many secrets he had never heard before.
"This time I will recommend you. But what position you are given is determined by the court. As a teacher, I can't do anything."
Jiang Ming cupped his hands and said, "No matter what position it is, it is to serve the people of the Great Jin. Please rest assured, teacher. The disciple will definitely do his duty and live up to the teacher's teachings."
Ji Nian nodded in satisfaction. Then he took out a thick booklet and gave it to Jiang Ming.
"This is some of the teacher's experiences when he passed the provincial examination. You can take it and read it in your spare time. Don't neglect your pursuit of fame."
Jiang Ming happily thanked him. Now that he was on the path of a civil official, then fame was very important. A scholar could only be a seventh-rank official at most. And a successful candidate in the provincial examination could be a fifth-rank official at most. A successful candidate in the highest imperial examination could be a third-rank official at most. Only a grand scholar could be a first-rank official.
Of course, traitors and favored officials were not counted. After all, this was an era of supreme imperial power. If the emperor of the Jin admired someone and as long as it wasn't too excessive, it was still possible to promote them. But such people would be despised by all civil officials.
Having gained a lot from his teacher, Jiang Ming was full of joy and returned home. But he saw that his father and Uncle Fu were both solemn. Immediately, he knew that something big had happened.
"Dad, what happened?"
Jiang Shi said in a deep voice, "Xiao Si didn't come today. Uncle Fu sent someone to check. He has been killed at home. His internal organs have been eaten clean by demons."
What?
Jiang Ming's heart skipped a beat. Immediately, he naturally thought of that long-necked demon he met three days ago. He had a hunch that it was this thing that did it.
Otherwise, for no reason, how could Xiao Si, an ordinary person, have provoked demons? This was too coincidental!
"Yinsheng Gambling House!"
"I have notified the Demon-hunting Department. Now it is not suitable to show any extra flaws. Xiao Si doesn't know anything and won't leak anything. Don't be impulsive." Jiang's father pressed his son's shoulder and reminded.
Jiang Ming nodded. But there was still a rage in his heart. This must be revenge. Otherwise, that guy wouldn't attack a clerk. Because it was impossible to ask anything from him.