Tang Dynasty Splendor: The Fragrance and Schemes of Fine Clothes

The writing is exquisite and has a strong sense of atmosphere, the characters are realistic, and the opening concept is precise, perfectly establishing the core tone of "low-level livelihood + foreshadowing of the Tang Dynasty's machinations". 1. The atmosphere of the era is excellent, and the fireworks at the bottom of the Tang Dynasty are really coming to life The author accurately captures the contradictory feeling of "the bottom class of Chang'an in the early Kaiyuan Dynasty": the prosperous background of Chang'an in its heyday is in extreme contrast with the muddy survival of the poor people in Pingkangfang. Empty descriptions of the times are replaced by detailed daily life details such as the residual ice in Chang'an in February, the biting river water, the calculation of a penny, the money for rent, medicine, firewood and rice. It does not pile up the gorgeous rhetoric of "the prosperous Tang Dynasty", but cuts it from the perspective of small people who do laundry, beg for wages, and scavenge to make ends meet. It perfectly interprets the title sentence "Chang'an rice is expensive, living in a big country is not easy", making the fictional background of the Tang Dynasty real and tangible, with a strong ancient atmosphere. 2. The hostess creates a three-dimensional and vivid character, getting rid of the routine of silly, sweet and bitter virgins Shen Hengzhi's character creation is the biggest highlight of this chapter. She is gentle and tough, sober and transparent, and has a bottom line for tolerance. Shen Hengzhi completely fits the character of a girl from a poor family at the bottom: - In the face of difficult customers, do not argue impulsively, understand the rules of survival for the poor, be patient and protect your livelihood, this is not a brainless weakness; - He is responsible for the family at a young age, bears hardships and stands hard work, but does not complain about others and has a calm and restrained personality; - He has a keen mind and notices an abnormality when he first meets the male protagonist. He is not greedy for the wealth that comes from heaven, but retains the caution and sobriety of a low-level person. Different from the floating character of the heroine who is forced to be sad and stubborn at the beginning of most ancient novels, Shen Hengzhi's suffering is grounded, her transparency is forced by life, and she has strong empathy, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent character change of "Yixiang enters the game and grows in power". 3. The primary and secondary characters are well matched, and the supporting characters effectively highlight the protagonist. The portrayal of the female supporting role Jin Zhu is just right, warm and straightforward, kind and enthusiastic, and carefree, which perfectly complements the heroine's calmness and forbearance. Jin Zhu's complaints, fight against injustice, and silent help not only enliven the depressing atmosphere of the whole story, but also highlight Shen Hengzhi's forbearance and kindness. At the same time, the heroine's family background and daily encounters are complemented from the perspective of a neighborhood, eliminating the need for a long boring narration, and the narrative technique is very clever. 4. When the male and female protagonists meet for the first time, they feel full of fate, and the foreshadowing is advanced. The design of the first encounter between the male and female protagonists with contrasting classes, temperaments, and behaviors is very brilliant: On one side is a girl from a poor family by a muddy river, with scarred hands, struggling for a few pennies; on the other side is a mysterious nobleman in rich clothes, cold and dignified, with an impeccable temperament. The male protagonist does not engage in cliché alms or pity-like pretense. Instead, he approaches the female protagonist with restrained tenderness and gentleness, such as hiring a laundry worker at a high price, providing anonymous help, donating money for sore medicine, and silently giving more money. His quiet kindness perfectly fits the "quiet gentleness" line at the end of the chapter. At the same time, key foreshadowings are laid: the male protagonist's expensive robes are stained with knife wounds and blood stains, his identity is mysterious, and he deliberately approaches the female protagonist at the bottom of the family. This directly refers to the word "strategy" in the title of the book "The Fragrance of Clothes", implying that the male protagonist is involved in power and conspiracy, and the female protagonist's livelihood of laundry will eventually be involved in court disputes. The main plot is full of suspense. 5. The writing style is delicate and heart-warming, and the golden sentences sublimate the theme. The language in the full text is smooth and elegant, fitting the style of ancient Chinese. The description of scenery and psychology is delicate and restrained, without excessive rhetoric. At the end, the two final lines of the chapter accurately hit the core. They not only summarize the survival hardships of the little characters in this chapter, but also point out the fateful tenderness of the male and female protagonists. They elevate the intention of the opening chapter and leave a long aftertaste.