“Listening and hearing”——The Origin of Qingteng Bookstore

The Origin of Qingteng Bookstore 

Qingteng Bookstore, located at No.10 Dachen Lane, Qianguan Alley, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, was a traditional Chinese residential building with gardens. It was also the former residence of Xu Wei, an outstanding literary master in Ming Dynasty. According to New Records of Shanyin County, Qingteng Bookstore was the former residence of Xu Wei in Ming Dynasty. Qingteng Bookstore and Tomb of Xu Wei, ancient buildings of Ming Dynasty, were approved by the State Council to be included in the sixth batch of national key cultural relics protection units in May, 2006. 

According to legend, Xu Wei was brilliant when he was young. One day, two immortals passed by the city of Shaoxing. When they heard Xu Wei’s reputation, they didn't believe it. They turned into a monk and a herb doctor separately, and took Xu Wei to a small wine shop near Dayun Bridge. They called the shopkeeper to serve them wine, but without snacks. They told Xu Wei there should still be something to go with wine. Xu Wei was confused, but he didn't refuse. 

The doctor took a big drink from the bowl, and then extended his right hand, bit hard on the long little nail, swallowed a small piece, and said, Bite a nail to go with wine. When the monk saw this, he also took a few gulps from the bowl, rolled up his long sleeves, reluctantly picked a mole on his left forearm, threw it into his mouth, and said, Pick a mole to go with wine. The two immortals looked at Xu Wei and waited for his reaction. Xu Wei took a few mouthfuls of wine in no hurry, raised his right hand, pulled out two eyebrows, put them in his mouth, and said, Pluck eyebrows to go with wine. Two immortals were surprised at Xu Wei’s intelligence. During the dinner, Xu Wei set some questions, but the two immortals struggled to cope with. 

When they finished drinking, it went dark. Two immortals left, with a small vine as a souvenir to Xu Wei. As soon as Xu Wei took over the green vine, the two men disappeared. Knowing that he had met immortals, he rushed home with green vine in his hand and planted it at the foot of the wall on the right side of a square pond. Therefore, the story of pluck eyebrows to go with wine  has been spread widely among the local people.