Chapter 003: The Simple and Honest Customs of Chuanqing Village

Wang Yuan, following the flattery from the other party, replied cheerfully, "Really? I think so too"

Were you just telling a joke

Master Shen began to boast: "In the past, I served as an advisor to the governor and casually offered some guidance on the governor's son's eight-legged essay. Do you know how he fared in the examination? He ranked forty-seventh among the second-degree scholars!"

I can do it too

Shen Fuceng observed the situation along the way to determine the escape route for the future. He found that the area was densely forested, with cultivated farmland only near the mountain village, where drought-resistant and poor-soil-tolerant sorghum was predominantly grown.

Master Shen's eyes darted around as he spoke in a flattering tone: "Little brother, I haven't had meat for a few days. How about I pick up that old crow, take it back, and roast it to eat? The meat of the old crow is quite substantial, and it shouldn't go to waste. Don't you think that's reasonable?"

Why is that? Wang Yuan is just like a curious little baby

Such a deplorable custom, Wang Yuan is temporarily unable to change it

Isn't that just nonsense

Shen Fuceng had served as a clerk for many years, following the county magistrate and rising through the ranks to become a prefect. After a brief moment of confusion, he realized that there was no danger to his life, and he quickly calmed his thoughts.

Hahaha

However, several members of the Qingzhai tribe were seen joyfully returning to the village, carrying a young girl. The girl was struggling continuously, clearly unwilling, and most likely had been abducted to the mountain.

After inquiring about the situation, the寨主阿远 warned沈复璁: "Mr. Shen, as a mere petty criminal, even if you escape down the mountain to report to the authorities, it would be of no use. It is very likely that the local chieftain would capture you and make you a slave. It would be better to stay in the寨 and be a teacher for Wang Er and enjoy yourself! Do not engage in any activities that would damage the寨, or I will catch you and chop you up to feed the dogs!"

Wang Yuan exclaimed, "You are truly remarkable, sir"

On the journey ahead, an old man and a young boy engaged in cheerful conversation, their teacher-student bond moving and touching the heavens.

Master Shen did not lie this time; he indeed likes this peacock feather fan

This fan is extremely beautiful, truly magnificent

"That is, that is." Master Shen repeatedly smiled apologetically, lacking any scholarly demeanor

Wang Jiang's craftsmanship is exquisite, and it is styled by Wang Yuanding. Not only does it feature brilliantly colored feathers, but it is also adorned with a wolf's tooth as a tassel. It would surely fetch a good price in the Central Plains or Jiangnan.

Wang Yuanmei said with great satisfaction: "Sir, when I become a high official, if I buy three cows, I will give you one; if I buy ten cows, I will give you three"

There are no high fences or walls in the village, and the houses are built along the mountain slopes, unevenly arranged and lacking regularity

Master Shen revealed a genuinely disdainful smile: "In the wilds of Guizhou, how many scholars can there be? There isn't even a proper educational official, and they don't even hold their own provincial examinations, having to go to Yunnan to use someone else's examination venue. As long as you study diligently with me, you will surely stand out among the local people."

Master Shen was afraid that the scholar would encounter soldiers, as reason could not be clearly articulated. Upon seeing that Wang Yuan was actually taken in by this, he quickly expressed his joy: "These few words are from the Doctrine of the Mean. The meaning is that only those of utmost sincerity, relying on benevolence, intelligence, virtue, and good deeds, can establish laws, set foundations, and grasp the principles of the creation of all things in heaven and earth. Young brother, you are clearly a person of utmost sincerity. At such a young age, you are determined to pursue learning, and with such intelligence, you will surely become a talent capable of managing the affairs of heaven and earth when you grow up!" The meaning is that only those of utmost sincerity, relying on benevolence, intelligence, virtue, and good deeds, can establish laws, set foundations, and grasp the principles of the creation of all things in heaven and earth. Young brother, you are clearly a person of utmost sincerity. At such a young age, you are determined to pursue learning, and with such intelligence, you will surely become a talent capable of managing the affairs of heaven and earth when you grow up!

Master Shen calculated with his fingers: "Why has it decreased again?"

Master Shen was quite the smooth talker, telling Wang Yuan: "Young brother, with your talent and intelligence, combined with my careful guidance, passing the imperial examination and becoming a high official will be as easy as reaching into a bag. Once you become a high official, what do you wish to do?"

During the reign of Emperor Chengzong of the Yuan Dynasty, there was the "Eight Hundred Wives Uprising" in Yunnan. In order to quell the rebellion, the Mongol court imposed heavy taxes and corvée labor in Guizhou. In no time, local chieftains rose up in arms, turning the entire province of Guizhou into chaos. The ancestors of the Fang family fled to the Heishan Ridge and settled there during that time

Wang Jiang hurriedly set down her work and came out to greet, saying: "Please come in, sir. I will pour you a bowl of water to drink"

Master Shen sought an excuse to relieve himself, yet he felt that such a ploy was too crude, and the other party would certainly not be easily deceived. He began to walk while trying to establish rapport: "My surname is Shen, my given name is Fuzhong, courtesy name Weitang. May I ask your esteemed surname and full name, young brother?"

Master Shen, filled with sarcasm and disdain, continued to deceive, saying: "Rest assured, there will be opportunities, and I will definitely ensure you top the list. Once you pass, you will become a high-ranking official, able to eat meat every day, and buy as many cattle as you wish."

No matter how gifted you are, no matter how exceptional your archery skills may be, you are still just a child from a remote borderland. Your vision is too shallow, and in this lifetime, your aspirations are limited to just that.

Master Shen made no attempt to flee, lest he be shot dead by Wang Yuan with an arrow in case of failure. Since he was already here, he decided to make himself comfortable, first by cheering up the little child, and then by establishing a good relationship with the parents, knowing that there would be plenty of opportunities to escape calmly in the future

Wang Yuan shook his head: "Sir, please follow me, I will take you to meet the village chief"

Mr. Shen originally intended to continue with some flattering remarks, but upon catching sight of a short knife slanted at the waist of Lady Wang Jiang, he couldn't help but inwardly exclaim "This is troublesome." In this barbaric land, even women are not to be trifled with

Thank you, elder sister! Master Shen clasped his fists and said

Alas, the heavens are blind, how have I come to this point!

Wang Yuan shouted at the door: "Mother, I have invited the teacher back!"

Wang Yuan had an innocent expression on his face, tilting his head and asking: "Sir, does passing the examination to become a xiucai mean one can become a high official?"

After traveling for more than half a day, the two finally returned to the mountain stronghold

Thank you, " Wang Yuan collected the arrows back into the quiver, and respectfully said, " Sir, please set off. "

Wang Jiang said with a smile: "This is boiled cool water, and Yuan Ge'er said that drinking it will not make one sick"

Due to the fact that the Chuanqing people are not accepted by the Han and indigenous people, they are very united internally. Moreover, they are eager to absorb fresh blood, as strength in numbers can help them avoid being bullied by surrounding forces. As for land, it is abundant in the mountains, and newcomers can simply go and cultivate it themselves.

The Qiang ethnic group is generally quite insular, and consanguineous marriages are extremely common

Master Shen listened to the sound of the bowstring outside, glanced at the simple furnishings within the room, recalled the experiences of his earlier life, and contemplated the prospects of his later years. He felt as if his heart were dead ash, and could not help but be overwhelmed by sorrow, striking his hands and stamping his feet, shedding tears and letting out a long sigh

Wang Yuan further stated: "Sir, do not be in a hurry to flee; the mountains are filled with wild beasts. It is possible that halfway through your journey, you may encounter wolves, tigers, or leopards, and it is not uncommon to end up in a situation where there is nothing left of you!"

A good name, Shen Shiye praised while exercising his skill in flattery, "Your father has given you the character 'Yuan', which truly conveys great expectations. Only with utmost sincerity can one manage the great principles of the world, establish the fundamental basis of the world, and understand the nurturing of heaven and earth. What then can one rely upon? With profound benevolence, deep as the abyss, vast as the heavens.

Master Shen was thoroughly frightened, and after a long while, he managed to let out two dry laughs, speaking in a sarcastic tone: "Hehe, indeed, the folk customs are simple and honest, which has truly opened my eyes."

Wang Yuan scratched his head and said: "Not much at all. When I go down the mountain to buy large meat pies, they are three for one wen, or ten for three wen, which is quite economical"

Wang Yuan also did not expose the other party's tricks, pretending to be foolish: "When I become a high-ranking official, I will build a big house for my parents. I will also buy a few cows for plowing the fields, and we will have plenty of fish and meat every day, with lots of salt in the meat, because without salt, it really has no flavor"

It is not only the Qiang people who do this; the Yi tribe in the west and the Dong tribe in the east also commonly engage in the practice of descending the mountain to seize brides. It is not just women that are taken; sometimes men are also abducted—therefore, boys must learn to protect themselves when they venture out.

Only forty-seven places, huh? Wang Yuan seems somewhat disappointed

As soon as the words fell, a cheer suddenly erupted from behind.

Wang Yuan had indeed never heard these few lines of classical literature, and curiously asked, "What does this mean? Please enlighten me, sir, on this matter."

Master Shen is displeased: "What about the forty-seven? That is a second-degree scholar!"

Master Shen did not seem to perceive the threat in the words, quickly shifting from anger to laughter, and said with a chuckle: "Young brother, you are truly overthinking it. I observe that the local customs are simple and honest, akin to a paradise beyond the world. If one could leisurely wander through the mountains and forests all day, singing to the moon, how delightful that would be! Why would one even think of escaping?"

Master Shen immediately jogged over and, while picking up the crow, quietly turned his head to assess the situation. He saw Wang Yuan, who had somehow followed him, smiling at him. Startled, he instantly abandoned the thought of fleeing and, holding the arrow that had shot the crow, said: "Little brother, I have also helped you retrieve the arrow."

Master Shen laughed heartily, feeling increasingly disdainful in his heart, and praised, "Young brother, you are truly ambitious!"

Wang Yuan retorted, "Isn't that also the case with you, sir?"

Thank you, elder sister! Master Shen said politely.

The leader is named Fang Ayuan, and his ancestors were among the founders of the stronghold

It is not a kidnapping, but rather a bride snatching. Judging by her attire, she should be a woman from the local community. Wang Yuan also felt very helpless, as his mother was also taken up the mountain in a similar manner

Wang Yuan patted his chest and said, "If I were to take the exam, I would definitely be among the top ranks"

Wang Jiang warmly greeted and then led Master Shen to the next room, pointing to two thatched cottages and saying: "This is the house prepared for you, sir. You do not need to cook for yourself; you can eat with us. You must be exhausted after your long journey. Please go in and rest for a while, and I will come to call you when it is time for dinner."

Master Shen shook his head and said, "That won't do. After passing the examination for the xiucai, you still need to take the examination for the juren. Once you pass the juren examination, you can become an official. Rest assured, I may not have confidence in other places, but in Guizhou, I can definitely ensure that you will pass the juren examination!"

Upon entering the mountain stronghold, Wang Yuan suddenly stopped, clasped his fists, and said solemnly: "Sir, we have shared jokes along the way, which serves to strengthen the bond between teacher and student. I hope that you will treat me with sincerity in the future and generously offer your guidance. One day, I will surely repay your kindness as a teacher!"

However, this village is somewhat different, primarily because the proportion of Han people is very high, and at most, only marriages between cousins are permitted. Whenever a bachelor is unable to find a wife, he gathers his friends and descends the mountain to raid, directly carrying back any solitary young girl they encounter.

Wang Yuanfu led Master Shen back home, where only Mother was working with younger sister, as Father and elder brother were out and had not yet returned

Wang Jiang went off to busy herself with household chores, while Wang Yuan stood in front of the thatched cottage, happily practicing his archery. If anyone dared to sneak away, he would be unable to resist shooting an arrow off target, and even if he shot someone dead, it would be hard to say for certain.

The body of the village chief Fang Ayuan flows with the blood of various ethnic groups, including Han, Miao, Liao, Tujia, and Zhuang, making him a person of complex genetic heritage.

Master Shen quickly gained the approval of the village chief and officially became a member of Chuanqing Village

The daily language spoken in Chuanqingzhai is Guizhou Mandarin, which Master Shen can fully understand. Upon seeing the warm and courteous demeanor of Wang Jiang, he immediately felt a desire to ingratiate himself, hoping to use this woman as a means to escape from the bandit lair in the future

Master Shen's smile instantly froze, feeling that his intelligence had been insulted, he indignantly said: "So, from Zazuo Station to here, you have been teasing me all the way?"

Wang Yuan." Wang Yuan replied.

"Certainly," Wang Yuanshun replied readily

Master Shen was instantly rendered speechless

Hehe, you, a mere rustic from the mountains, probably do not even qualify for the county examination, yet you still dare to aspire to be the top scholar.

Wang Jiangshi returned to the inner room and took out a colorful feather fan: "Sir, I have heard that scholars of the Han family enjoy fans, so I made one myself using peacock feathers. There is truly nothing valuable in my home, so I hope you will accept this fan as a token of respect from Yuan Ge'er for your mentorship, and I hope you do not find it too shabby"

Master Shen exclaimed: "Are you still kidnapping women and children?"