Chapter 4: The Butterfly Spreading Its Wings

The setting sun was about to dip below the horizon, and while eating half a wheat cake by the stream, I pondered the need to find a suitable background for myself; as I was about to leave the mountains, these preparations could not be taken lightly

Mr. Bai Yue need not say much; after all, Bai Dong has assaulted the scholar You, and he must go out to evade disaster, otherwise it will implicate the entire village

This unadorned bronze sword was left behind by Chu Dong, along with half a pouch of bamboo slips; during each rest along the way, Bai Dong would attempt to read these texts, not with the aim of memorization, but to uncover the patterns of change between the characters of this era and the simplified characters of later generations

With a sigh, the elder did not wish to recall the sorrowful past. Although they were merely a branch of the Bai family, they had shed blood for the great Qin. Unfortunately, in the battle of Hexi, only one out of twenty young men survived, and the state provided no compensation. The clan lost its able-bodied youth and could no longer defend against bandits. In helplessness and anger, they decided to relocate as a whole family into the deep mountains, cultivating land for self-sufficiency, and even stopped paying taxes. Years have passed, and not to mention the authorities, even bandits find it difficult to locate the path into the village. The Chudong had stumbled in by sheer accident, only to be promptly beaten and driven out by Bai Dong.

Old Bai Long only knew that the scholar's status was noble, but his understanding of the scholar class was far inferior to that of Bai Dong. He was still worried that that Chu Tong would report to the authorities. In his youth, he had served as a ten-man captain in the Qin army, which gave him some insight into how to exploit loopholes in the law. At this time, that ruthless official Wei Yang was still facing setbacks in the State of Wei; the laws of the Qin state were not yet the man-eating tiger they would become, so it was still possible to play around the edges.

Two thousand years ago, the world was clean, and people's hearts were relatively pure. Early the next morning, the villagers surged into the courtyard of the Bai family, led by the old clan leader. His grandson, Sang Wazi, carried a large wine jar, waddling in like a duck with his feet turned outward. Upon seeing Bai Dong, he pouted and said: "Ping An Lang, you are truly something. Clearly, you did something wrong, yet my grandfather still wants to invite you for a drink? Next time I see any outsiders, I will definitely hold them down and give them a good beating. My grandfather will surely reward me with a chicken to eat."

Well, with a sword at my side and a face full of beard, no one can tell my actual age. What kind of school should I seek? Confucianism, Legalism, or Mohism? It's difficult; each has its own lineage, and some even engage in terrorist activities. I must be cautious in my choices, or it could lead to significant trouble

The large bowl, wider than his head by a circle, was filled to the brim with three bowls' worth of liquor. Bai Dongqiang held back the tears and snot that were about to spill from his eyes, respectfully placed the wine bowl down, and walked in front of his mother. He bowed deeply eight times. His mother embraced him, gently stroking his back, while Cao'er rushed over to hug his shoulders, crying out loudly: "Brother, Cao'er doesn't want you to leave."

This is the reason; in order to capture this little rascal from https://m.hetushu.com, I was even kicked by him, and I still cannot straighten my back. A member of the tribe supported his waist and groaned, indicating his great pain

Bai Dong is feeling somewhat troubled

Beneath his feet lay the final mountain ridge. Bai Dong, disheveled and resembling a beggar, stood atop the ridge gazing northward, where a vast plain stretched for thousands of miles before him. The Guanzhong Plain of this era was beautiful, with vast expanses of undeveloped land teeming with various plants, and one could even see wolf packs traversing the woods. Gripping the sword at his waist, Bai Dong found a semblance of security.

What followed was the desperate cries for help from the grass, the furious roars of Bai Dong, and the sight of Chu Dong fleeing in a disheveled manner while clutching his groin. Sang Wazi had the clearest view; the handsome and elegant scholar did not even straighten his back as he fled, seemingly not even having the time to take his satchel. How ruthless is Ping An Lang? Is his audacity not excessive? Does he not realize that striking a scholar would lead to trouble? During the Warring States period, social classes were distinctly defined, and people like them from the countryside were referred to as 'wild men.' Yet, even wild men understand this principle. Is his audacity not excessive? Does he not realize that striking a scholar would lead to trouble? During the Warring States period, social classes were distinctly defined, and people like them from the countryside were referred to as 'wild men.' Yet, even wild men understand this principle.

How big can the small Yishi Village be? The arrival of foreign scholars at the Bai family's residence has made the villagers envious. This envy leads to excessive attention, prompting some mischievous youths to eavesdrop on the happenings. What kind of sounds will the delicate young girl Caocao make when she encounters the charming scholar? ... I truly look forward to it ...

For Bai Dong, Liyang offers abundant opportunities, much like the later Yanqing and Haicheng. Old Bai Long was not surprised; during the early Warring States period, the human population was not necessarily greater than that of wild beasts. Even if one had to venture out to avoid disaster, it was essential to go to densely populated areas, which provided both safety and the advantage of concealment. Liyang was the best choice.

It is time to leave, not because of Chu Tong, but for the sake of my mother, Cao Er, and these dear and respected clansmen, for the sake of the divine lamp that Cao Er eagerly anticipates

Fortunately, these writings are in large seal script. Relying on some accumulations from a past life and a mix of guessing, Bai Dong gradually overcame the literacy barrier. Although his writing is not very neat, he has surprisingly become a literate scholar who can express himself. He also has a letter from the clan elder, Bai Long, addressed to an old friend in Lantian, but Bai Dong does not intend to use it. Since he has left the village, he must grow into a strong individual capable of protecting his mother, younger sister, and clan members. He aims to present himself as a cultured scholar, surpassing the arrangements made by Grandpa Bai Long.

When Bai Dong left, he could see the very bright North Star. Traveling during the day was not possible, as the grass would go wild; he could only set out at night. Without a map or a navigation device, he relied solely on the memories of the old chief. He followed a secret path out of the village, needing to cross over more than ten mountain ridges to reach a place called Lantian. From Lantian, he would continue north to arrive at the most prosperous city of the Qin state, Liyang.

Before he could finish speaking, he received a heavy kick on his backside. The old clan leader, Bai Long, glared at his grandson and said: "Enough, why haven't you poured wine for Bai Dong yet? Bai Dong, this is the aged wine brewed by our clan, which was hidden away the year your father and the clan's young men went to battle, originally intended for their triumphant return... Today, let it serve as your farewell wine..."

Indeed, we have not been idle in our pursuit. However, that fellow Bai Dong is too swift; even if we wish to apprehend him, it proves impossible. If the authorities come to inquire, it cannot be blamed on the villagers, can it

How sour is this? Is it vinegar or wine? After taking a sip, Bai Dong frowned, wanting to put down the bowl, but was firmly held back by the old clan leader, who personally grabbed the wine jar and filled his cup again.

He washed his face in the stream, loosened the pair of hair knots on his head, and fashioned them into a bun secured with a wooden hairpin carved from a branch, thus performing a self-initiated coronation ceremony. In this era, young men are crowned at the age of nineteen, but Bai Dong was still a year short. However, it was essential to venture out and present oneself, for who has ever seen a scholar still in the age of hair knots? Unfortunately, without a proper crown, he could only temporarily wrap a piece of burlap around his head. Fortunately, although most scholars in this era were of noble birth, there were occasionally commoners who entered the school. Did Confucius not say that education should be available to all, naturally including commoners and the unrefined?

Uncle Old Dragon

The old clan leader stood upright, his gaze piercing as he looked at everyone: "According to the laws of the Qin state, if someone in the clan commits a crime, the entire clan must apprehend them; otherwise, all will share the blame. Bai Dong is a good-for-nothing who has committed a grave offense by assaulting a scholar. However, he escaped too quickly, and we have been unable to capture him, but that does not mean we are not trying to apprehend him, right?" For eighteen years, Bai Dong's behavior has been considered normal compared to the books; even when he is not in pain, he is still muddled, so naturally, no one discusses ancient stories with him. The old clan leader is a person of insight, yet it is still the first time he has spoken about the laws of the state in front of them. Therefore, Bai Dong, instead, listened to Chu Tong's narration and came to understand the trends of the world.

The little girl is indeed not easy to comfort. Seeing that her brother is truly about to leave, no matter how beautiful the story is, it cannot erase the scars in Cao'er’s heart. When she sees the villagers gathering dry pancakes, aged Chen liquor, and the incredibly precious salt, Cao'er cries even harder. The more of these things there are, the further it indicates that her brother will go and the later he will return. Only after exhausting her last bit of strength does she finally fall asleep in Bai Dong's embrace, still tightly clutching her brother's clothing in her dreams, occasionally calling out: "Brother, Cao'er won't allow you to leave; Cao'er wants to hear you tell stories."

Kneeling before the elders and fellow villagers, Bai Dong deeply bowed his head. ... Farewell, dear mother, Cao'er, my fellow villagers, you must wait for my return ...

Bai Dong's eyes felt sore, and he was on the verge of tears. In truth, Chu Tong would never report to the authorities, yet the villagers risked being pursued by the government to take responsibility for him. This sentiment is something that future generations would find nearly impossible to seek. Remembering the era when even helping an elderly woman cross the street was considered 'dangerous,' he felt that he had made the right choice.

The Legalist school is the most convenient, as I have previously worked in the legal field and possess the most understanding. Unfortunately, as the last of the hundred schools of thought to emerge, Legalism is still in a developmental stage, and its transmission is orderly. Among the hundred schools, it is the clearest and most straightforward, making it easy for others to expose its flaws