"Master, what are these things?"
Guo Dian stood next to Li Nian, curious about the things that the guards brought into the six Ying Palace.
These things are exactly the tables, chairs, and stools that Li Nian had ordered from the craftsmen of the Minor Palace.
To people in the later generations who saw such things every day, they may seem commonplace. However, for Guo Dian and his contemporaries, these were rare novelties.
Li Nian introduced to Guo Dian, "This is called 'chair', this is called 'stool', this is called 'table', this is called 'sofa'. Sofa, chair, stool are all used for 'sitting' items, just like this."
Pulling over a chair, Li Nian demonstrated for Guo Dian.
"The heavens, earth, and conscience, after being in the Qin Dynasty for over a month, he finally sat on a chair again."
It's indeed more comfortable to sit like this!
"As for the stool, you just sit on it directly. Why don't you try it?"
Li Nian pointed to a chair and indicated that Guo Dian should also try it.
Guo Dian hurriedly said: "How can the things used by Master Li be used by Guo? It is not proper!"
Li Nian said, "In my hometown, tables, chairs, and stools are almost in every household, and they are everyday items used in daily life. There's nothing special about them. I'm asking you to sit so that you can experience the difference between sitting like this and sitting on your knees. After you're done, discuss your feelings."
"And you all, find chairs, sofas, and stools and sit on them for a while. Afterwards, tell me each of your feelings." Li Nian pointed to several guards and maids.
Seeing these people wanted to refuse, Li Nian directly said, "This is an order. Do you want to defy the order?"
Guo Dian, along with the guards and maids, feeling helpless, had to sit on the stools, sofas, and chairs as Li Nian instructed.
Li Nian pointed to the table and said, "This is 'table', which can be used for writing, office work, dining, and leisure in later generations. Compared to the current few-level desks, it is higher and suitable for high chairs. Therefore, it cannot be kneeling."
Guo Dian looked at the table and said: "Master, can one table match several chairs?"
Li Nian smiled and said, "Yes, in my hometown, we don't practice the system of separate meals. A family sits around the table on stools or chairs to eat together, chatting as they eat. From a hygiene perspective, the system of separate meals is better. However, sitting around the table with family can help strengthen family bonds."
"The table is used for writing and should be visually appealing, but the table can also be used for entertainment. When leisure time comes, I will teach you a game called 'ma-hong' in my home. This game is very simple and I guarantee that anyone who takes the time to learn it will master it!"
As a person from Shu, how can one not play Mahjong?
Of course, we must promote this national treasure to the Qin!
Life in Qin was too boring without smartphones, TVs, radios, network novels, or video games. Li Nian naturally wanted to find some entertainment for himself, and mahjong was the first thing that came to his mind.
Upon hearing Li Nian's words, Guo Dian and the others quickly rose and bowed, "Thank you, Master!"
Li Nian waved his hand: "Sit down, continue to feel. This sofa cannot actually be called a sofa, it's more like a long wooden chair with extended legs. In my hometown, a sofa is a multi-seat chair with soft cushions that is more comfortable than the wooden chairs you are currently sitting on."
"The chair can be made of wood, as well as other materials like woven vines. There are many styles of chairs, including the ones we have today and ones that can be lain on and swung on..."
As Li Nian recounted, Guo Dian and the others were all curious about the appearance of the chair made of vines and the rocking chair that Master was describing.
A maid dared to ask, "Master, won't that chair tip over when rocked?"
Li Nian smiled and said, "Once I have someone make them, you'll see for yourself. By the way, how does it feel to sit on chairs, stools, and sofas? How does it compare to kneeling in your usual posture?"
Li Nian wanted to have tables, chairs, stools, and other things made not only to make his own life more comfortable but also to promote their use throughout the Qin Dynasty. After all, it's a convenient thing to do.
Guo Dian said: "Master, the feeling of sitting in this chair is more comfortable and convenient than kneeling. When kneeling, you need to sit with your knees on the ground, your calfs touching the ground, your buttocks sitting on your calfs and feet. If the posture is not correct, your legs will numb. However, when sitting in this chair, you just need to sit up straight and it will be comfortable. Sitting down and standing up are also very convenient."
The palace maid who had just asked if one could fall from a rocking chair nodded: "The maid remembers learning to kneel, she didn't know how to sit properly and her legs were sore and painful every day."
Kneeling for a long time without mastering the technique would certainly cause soreness and pain. Even if you squat on the toilet for a long time, you might feel like your legs aren't your own when you stand up, let alone kneeling.
The palace maid said: "Not only is this chair comfortable, but it doesn't require learning how to sit. Does everyone in Master's hometown sit like this?"
Li Nian said: "In my hometown, very few people kneel to sit, most people usually sit on stools and chairs. As I grew up without learning how to kneel to sit, I was very uncomfortable, so I had the craftsman from the Lesser Palace make tables and chairs."
At this moment, a guard entered and reported to Li Nian, "Master, Doctor Su Xu has arrived!"
Upon hearing that Li Nian's daily lesson time had arrived, Guo Dian and the other palace maidens and guards quickly stood up and waited for Doctor Su Xu to come in.
Li Nian could speak the refined language of Qin, but there was a difference between being able to say it and saying it very smoothly.
Therefore, he was still studying with Su Xu, but since that day, Su Xu no longer guided him towards Confucianism; instead, he simply taught the lessons straightforwardly.
As soon as Su Xu entered, Li Nian bowed and said, "I have seen the teacher!"
Su Xu returned the salute: "I have seen the master!"
Seeing the tables, chairs, stools, and sofas in the hall, Su Xu curiously asked, "Master, what are these?"
Li Nian said: "These are some things from my hometown. Today, why not use these things to teach?"
Su Xu looked at the tables, chairs, stools, and sofa again. He had lived for many years and had never seen these things before. However, this person claimed that they were from his hometown.
Where exactly does this person come from? Is he from the barbarians, or isn't he? How can such things be used for teaching?
Soon, Su Xu understood what Li Nian meant. These things were not used for teaching, but rather for him to sit on the so-called "chair" and sit next to the "table" while receiving lessons.
Just sitting at the table in the chair, Su Xu already felt the benefits of the table and chair. The chair can be comfortable to sit in, and the table can hold more things. The person he is teaching is sitting next to him, and they are in the same table together, which is perfect for teaching.
The combination of the table and chair is more conducive to writing, and it also makes it easier to get up and do other things. If you sit in a kneeling position, not to mention sitting down, getting up is definitely not as convenient as sitting in a chair. However, compared to kneeling, sitting on a chair may seem slightly ungraceful.
The fact that such items exist in his hometown surprised him, and he realized that it was not what he had imagined as a land of barbarians.
This only added to Su Xu's confusion about Li Nian's origins. He did not resemble the people of Qin, nor did he resemble the people of the six states, nor was he a barbarian. So where did he come from?
After a day's lesson ended, Li Nian asked Su Xu, "What do you think of these tables and chairs?"
After some thought, Su Xu honestly replied, "Compared to the few-level desks and kneeling, it is more convenient and comfortable. I also want to prepare a set at home."
Li Nian smiled and said: "Master Su, you teach me, but I have nothing to repay you with. It's better for me to give you a set."
Su Xu thought for a moment and did not refuse. "Since that's the case, Master Su is grateful to Master Li!"
Li Nian had Su Xu and others sit on tables, chairs, and stools and asked them about their feelings, in order to pique the interest of the First Emperor.
How can he promote these things in Qin? Is there anything better than the official channel represented by the First Emperor?
In the Changtai Palace, after hearing the eunuch's report, Ying Zheng glanced at the set of tables and chairs placed in the hall and said, "He wants to use the feelings of these people to tell me that these 'tables, chairs, and stools' are useful, so that I will promote them. He's quite cunning!"
He has already tried the tables and chairs, and indeed, they are better than kneeling on a desk. So he added, "Although this is a small matter, it is indeed more convenient. Order the Office of Ministry to make ten sets of tables and chairs and send them to the palace. I will use them."
He was preparing to have the ministers also experience the use of tables and chairs at the imperial conference, promoting the use of tables and chairs in the palace and among the ministers of Qin, and with the palace and ministers leading, the folk would naturally follow suit.
Li Nian brought the first large-scale and formal change to Qin, starting from tables, chairs, and stools!
