Chapter 10, A Day of Inversion between Black and White

The old donkey, as if it had become a spirit, did not need any urging and simply pulled the cart away. Jiao and Zhou were not surprised at all, but Zhao Ran was quite astonished. He stepped forward and gently stroked the old donkey's ear. The old donkey turned its head slightly to glance at him and let out a snort, seemingly dissatisfied

Zhou Chuan'tou handed the donkey cart to the three men, yawning as he turned and walked away

Zhao Ran was taken aback and quickly asked, "Can a fire worker also receive a degree certificate?"

Zhao Ran was taken aback, yet he heard Zhou Huai suddenly say: "It is not only for oneself, but truly for the entire clan. If one cannot even see this point clearly, then there is no need to waste time at home; it is better to let oneself live or die as one pleases"

He finally understood why these two wealthy young men were so unkempt; after finishing this job, matters such as washing up before bed were trivial, completely unnecessary compared to the act of cleaning the latrine

Zhao Ran further inquired, among the fire workers who can enter the Dao Academy, most come from affluent families, yet why do they live in such poverty

The old donkey returned to the stable, and the three men also went back to the west room. The sky had already begun to show signs of dawn, yet Jiao Tan and Zhou Huai lay on the bed, deeply asleep, and soon the sound of their snoring filled the air

Zhao Ran quickly got up, unwrapped the package he received yesterday, and began to put on the robe. However, he was stopped by Jiao Tan: "Don't wear that outfit while working, put it away. Just wear your old one and throw on a short jacket over it... Do you think you're going to a ceremony?"

Zhao Ran continued to inquire whether the next batch of newly initiated lay practitioners would enter the mountain, allowing himself and others to leave the meditation room

Jiao Tandao: "Why must we go to the courtyard to manage this? My cousin was crippled after returning home, and from now on, it will be difficult for him to walk."

It is unclear how long Zhao Ran had been asleep when he was abruptly awakened by someone. Upon opening his eyes, he noticed that the oil lamp on the wooden table in the corner was already lit, and Jiao Tan and Zhou Huai were putting on their short coats.

The dung basket filled with horse manure was placed back on the cart, and Zhao Ran let out a long sigh of frustration. Jiao Tan and Zhou Huai chuckled softly, saying little more, as they returned the fork to the large cart

Following behind the old donkey, the three began to clean the latrines. There are three latrines in Wujiyuan, one located in the front yard outside the Sanqing Hall, specifically for the convenience of worshippers, and another in the southwest side of the guest hall, designated for the use of resident practitioners and transient Daoists. These two latrines are not frequently used, and they are kept quite tidy. The three of them finished the cleaning in less than half an hour.

Zhao Ran was also exhausted and soon dozed off in a daze. This time he understood that this job truly turned black and white upside down, as he himself had now joined the ranks of those who sleep with their heads covered in broad daylight

Zhao Ran felt as if his heart was boiling, anxiously pondering how to obtain this certificate, so that he could become a distinguished Taoist priest. After thinking for a moment, he felt disheartened again, realizing that he had no substantial family background or support. The prospect of advancing further truly seemed bleak.

Jiao Tan explained, it is still the same saying, unless one ascends to a high position, one should honestly live according to the rules of the Daoist academy. The fire workers only have one day off every ten days, and on the day off, they are allowed to descend the mountain. Once at the foot of the mountain, they can enjoy themselves as they please, but on the mountain, even if one has money, there is no place to spend it. All expenses for food, clothing, and daily needs must adhere to the rules of the Daoist sect, and all forms of luxury and indulgence are strictly prohibited from being brought into the mountain gate

Upon hearing the reasoning, Zhao Ran immediately put on the same tattered clothes he had been wearing, took out a short jacket from his package, and followed the two out the door

At the entrance of each small courtyard, these high-level Taoist urns are placed. Three individuals take away the refuse from the urns and clean them with clear water, only then is the task considered complete

Zhao Ran was taken aback: "Escape back? Is there no one in the courtyard to manage this?"

Zhao Ran fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked: "Brother Jiao, Brother Zhou, you both come from wealth and privilege, yet you endure such suffering. Is it worth it?"

Jiao Tan took an empty bamboo basket from the car and had Zhao Ran carry it. He and Zhou Huai each took a wooden fork and walked towards the back of the horse pen. While Jiao Tan and Zhou Huai were forking horse manure, they tossed it into the bamboo basket that Zhao Ran was carrying. Zhao Ran held his breath and followed behind, and before long, the basket was filled with nearly half a basket of horse manure

The smell dissipated for a while, and the three individuals picked up the long-handled dung shovels from the cart, beginning to stir the contents of the dung barrels. They filled three large barrels to the brim before finally reaching the bottom.

For individuals like us, who possess no aptitude for cultivation, it is certainly unwise to harbor excessive expectations; however, opportunities are not entirely absent. Every few years, various sects, palaces, and academies within the Daoist community issue a batch of certificates to those with exceptional talent. Yet, how few are the individuals in this world capable of cultivating the Dao? If we strictly adhere to this practice, it is likely that there would be very few practitioners left in the Daoist community. Therefore, there will always be some opportunities reserved for ordinary people, whether they come from prominent families or are exceptionally intelligent and talented... For instance, in the Wujiyuan, among the forty to fifty Daoists who received certificates, nearly all fit this description; those capable of cultivation have all gone to the pavilions.

At the foot of the back mountain lies a depression, interspersed with deep pools each about half an acre in size. The three men emptied the dung barrels from the cart here, and then took them to the nearby mountain spring to wash them clean. Jiao and Zhou helped Zhao Ran take off his short coat, rinsed it with the spring water, and then washed their hands and faces, which alleviated Zhao Ran's urge to vomit somewhat

Jiao Tan and Zhou Huai were already snoring loudly, Zhao Ran climbed onto the bed in the dark, covering his ears with the bedding, and in a hazy state, he also fell into a muddled sleep

Jiao Tan pointed towards the invisible distance in the night and said to Zhao Ran: "This area at the foot of the mountain is all farmland under the name of the Daoist temple, and the tenants usually obtain their fertilizers and water from here"

The old donkey pulled the cart down the small path to the back mountain, the cart creaking softly on the mountain trail, resembling a cheerful little tune, yet Zhao Ran had no interest in experiencing the romance of walking the mountain path at night; he had almost vomited while cleaning the basin just moments ago

Due to the minor conflicts that had arisen at the dining table, Zhao Ran found it difficult to take the initiative to greet his fellow disciples, as that would make him appear too timid. Therefore, he seized the opportunity while they were laughing and joking to quicken his pace and retreat to the west room

Jiao Tan nodded: "Indeed, as long as we get through this phase, when new people arrive at the courtyard, we can extricate ourselves. At that time, regardless of which hall we transfer to, it will be somewhat better. After serving a full ten years, we can return home in glory. For us, the illegitimate offspring and collateral branches, this is the best shortcut to securing a future and livelihood. If fortune smiles upon us, and we get the opportunity to receive the degree certificate, then all the hardships endured over the years will not have been in vain"

The three storage rooms have been cleaned, and the old donkey is pulling the cart back to the backyard. The dormitory is the residence of the disciples of the Wujiyuan, but the high-ranking Taoists do not live here. The abbot, the supervisor, the three heads (head of administration, head of lectures, head of kitchen), and the eight major stewards of the Wujiyuan are all concentrated in the backyard, either living alone in a courtyard or sharing a courtyard with two or three people, leading a noticeably more comfortable life.

The old donkey knows the way, and does not need anyone to lead it. It pulls the cart forward by itself, stopping behind the feed trough, where the horse pen is located. About ten horses raised in the Wujiyuan are all kept here.

Zhou Huai added, saying, "Brother Zhao, you have never seen how those people from the Clean Room spend their days in the Daoist temple, have you? They secretly play cards, and the stakes they bet are truly substantial.

Brother Zhao, wake up quickly, it's time to get to work. If you're late, there will be penalties. " As he spoke, Jiao Tan had already put on his outer coat, urging Zhao Ran to get up.

The three individuals fetched water to clean the pit, and then proceeded to wash the floor; the details of this process need not be elaborated, as it would detract from the overall presentation. After tidying up the latrine, they moved to the back of the house. Jiao Tan lifted the wooden cover over the latrine's cesspool, and a strong stench of excrement rushed at them, causing the three to instinctively step back. In addition to the foul odor, the cesspool also emitted a pungent smell. Zhao Ran was aware that this substance could be used as an energy source, but at that moment, he had no interest in discussing it.

Jiao Tan smiled and said: "Whether willing or not, since we have come here, we must endure it. My family has put in great effort to secure this opportunity... The chance to study at Wuji Academy was not originally mine, but my elder brother could not bear this hardship and fled back after just two months, thus it fell to me."

The moon hung high in the sky, and from time to time, the croaking of frogs could be heard from near and far. Three individuals, guided by the moonlight, descended along the mountain path, winding past several small courtyards, and arrived at the trough house. At the entrance of the trough house, the caretaker Zhou Zhixiu was already waiting, with a donkey cart behind him. The old donkey pulling the cart seemed to be still half-asleep, its four hooves swaying from side to side.

Upon thinking of this, he temporarily set aside the notion and engaged in casual conversation with Jiao Tan and Zhou Huai while following the old donkey back to the mountain gate. During this time, Zhao Ran inquired why Jiao Tan and Zhou Huai, both scions of wealthy families, did not hire some temporary workers to handle the menial task of cleaning. Jiao Tan replied that the academy places great importance on practical experience; unless one ascends to a higher level, it is best to work diligently and honestly, as any form of deceit or trickery is absolutely not permitted.

Jiao Tan said, "This is indeed true. According to the order of precedence, Zhou Huai goes first, and then it is I, Jiao. . . ." He patted Zhao Ran on the shoulder and chuckled, "Brother Zhao, please be patient."

The most frequently used place is undoubtedly the latrine outside the dormitory of the disciples of the Wujiyuan. More than one hundred Taoists and fire workers spend their entire day eating, drinking, and relieving themselves here, and the situation can be imagined.