Chapter 7, Playing the Xiao

Chen Caozhi did not want to harbor hatred at such a young age towards anyone, and said: "One cannot entirely blame the people of Dingfu; ultimately, who should be blamed? This is something you will only understand when you grow up"

Chen Cao's Way: "Grandmother is getting old, her hearing is not good. By the way, you two little ones, do not tell grandmother that I can play the recorder, do you understand?"

Chen Cao gently stroked his nephew's head and said in a soothing voice: "Zongzhi, Run'er, both your grandmother and uncle love you very much, and your mother loves you too. It is not her fault that she cannot be with you; she misses you dearly and wishes to return."

The morning air is exceptionally fresh, the mountains and forests are lush, and the flowers and leaves exude a fragrant aroma. With each breath, one can seemingly sense a subtle green essence being inhaled and exhaled.

This is truly a case of trying to hide something and only drawing attention to it. Chen's mother, Li, asked: "Did your ugly uncle go up the mountain to play the flute?" The two well-behaved children nodded in unison and replied: "Yes"

Run'er looked at him with admiration and sweetly said, "Uncle Chou, you play so well, Run'er wants to hear more."

The way of the ancestors: "I do not wish to go; Mother no longer wants us."

Chen Caozhi looked at his mother, who was smiling at him, and felt like laughing as well. He said, "Mother, I am learning to play the vertical flute, and at least I can produce some sound now"

The Wei-Jin style is not merely an empty and useless discourse; it possesses a powerful artistic charm. Therefore, Chen Cao must be proficient in one or two musical instruments. Other instruments are too difficult to learn. He has a foundation in the bamboo flute, and his long fingers as a youth are naturally suited for covering the flute holes.

Seventh Sister gazed at Chen Cao's elegant figure, reminiscent of a jade tree and fragrant orchid, and with a hint of pride, said to the young girl beside her, "Wanqing, did you see? My cousin is exceptionally handsome, known as the 'Jiangzuo Wei and Tushu Jie.' In just a month of not seeing him, I find he has become even more poised and charming"

Like calligraphy, the people of Jin also had a passion for music, leaving behind timeless legends. The renowned figure Liu Kun defended Bingzhou with a solitary force against an encirclement of 50,000 Xiongnu troops, who besieged the city to the point where not a drop of water could escape. On that night of the full moon, the illustrious general and scholar Liu Kun, dressed in white as pure as snow, ascended the high city tower alone. He first raised his voice to the heavens in sorrowful wails, then softly recited verses, and subsequently played the Hu Jia (some say it was the Dongxiao). The sound of the flute was mournful and poignant, like weeping and lamenting. Outside the city, tens of thousands of Xiongnu soldiers stood silent, their weapons lowered, as the power of music moved these bloodthirsty Hu people to tears, longing for their homeland. A miracle occurred: the tens of thousands of Hu soldiers unexpectedly withdrew from the siege overnight.

Chen Cao's words: "Then, Uncle Chou guarantees you that this year or next, he will definitely find a way to bring your mother back to our Chen family residence, so that she can be happily together with Zongzhi and Run'er."

Zong actually used the term "superb" as a compliment, which left Chen Caizhi feeling both amused and perplexed. He thought to himself, "Am I not low-key enough? Calligraphy certainly requires practice. These two little ones are quite observant and attentive, but it doesn't matter; they are all family. I have no extraordinary talents to conceal; my only advantage is my willingness to learn."

Run'er eagerly agreed

Chen Cao raised his eyebrows and asked, "Zongzhi, why do you say that?"

The girl named Wanqing suddenly felt her bright eyes dim. Chen Caozhi's earlier fleeting glance and faint smile inexplicably made her feel ashamed and inferior, as if this young man was very far from her, someone she could never approach. Instantly, her mood turned desolate, and she softly said: "Sister-in-law, let’s go back. I... I have a bit of a headache"

Because Run'er walked slowly, by the time the four of them reached the mountain top, a round red sun had already risen above the eastern mountain. Looking out towards West Lake, a mist hung over the water, and the peaks along the lake appeared faintly. This was the first time both Zongzhi and Run'er had climbed to such heights and looked far into the distance, and they were extremely happy, chattering and laughing like mountain sparrows.

The bamboo flute rests by the pillow, Chen Cao falls into a deep sleep, dreaming of playing the flute until dawn. It is only upon hearing the knocking at the door from Zongzhi and Run'er that he awakens, glancing outside to see the faint light of dawn.

Run'er and Zongzhi knelt on either side of a guzheng, one on the left and the other on the right. This guzheng, shaped like a dragon and a phoenix, adorned with golden colors and emerald algae, was clearly a precious item. Upon seeing Chen Cao enter, Run'er fluttered her long eyelashes and shyly asked, "Did we disturb the ugly uncle?"

Seventh Sister merely greeted Chen Cao, gently touched Run'er’s little face, and did not say much more, nor did she introduce the unfamiliar young girl beside her

Chen Caozhi paid his respects to Sister Seven, exchanged pleasantries, and then, with a hint of a smile in his eyes, glanced at the unfamiliar young girl. He nodded slightly in acknowledgment and then led Zongzhi and Run'er upstairs

Accompanied by little Run'er, Chen Caozhi slowly ascended the mountain, picking wildflowers along the way to create a colorful bouquet for Run'er to play with. Zongzhi and Run'er had never been to the summit of Jiuyao Mountain, so the entire journey was quite fresh and exciting for them. They walked on their own, with Chen Caozhi and Laide assisting them in the more treacherous areas, and neither of the two little ones felt tired.

In front of the gate of the dock fortress, Chen Caozhi encountered the daughter of his fourth uncle who had married into Shangyu County, the very Seventh Sister that Chen's mother, Li, mentioned yesterday. Beside Seventh Sister was a girl of about thirteen or fourteen, whose bright eyes were fixed on Chen Caozhi.

"Who is to blame for that?" Zongzhi and Run'er asked in unison. Zongzhi added, "It must be the people from the Ding residence, right?"

Chen Cao shook his head and smiled, advising not to make promises to children lightly, as they will hold you to it relentlessly

At night, Chen Caozhi tried playing the purple bamboo flute. The flute from the Wei and Jin dynasties was not much different from the one Chen Caozhi was familiar with in later times, featuring six holes, with five in the front and one in the back. He quickly got the hang of it and played a short tune, feeling quite pleased.

Chen's Instruction: "The children of the Chen family in the West Tower must learn music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Some I can teach you, while others will be taught by your mother when she returns. As for the vertical flute—I prefer to call it the dongxiao—you are too young, and your breath is not steady; you will need a few more years before you can learn it."

Under the gentle admonitions of his mother, Chen Caozhi led Zongzhi and Run'er out of the Wubao gate, and naturally, De followed them.

Chen Cao smiled and said, "It's nothing, I just came to see if Run'er can still play the kheng."

The first thing Run'er said was: "Grandmother, Uncle Chou did not play the vertical flute, oh, he did not play the bamboo flute either."

"How big does it grow?" Run'er asked with her big eyes: "Is it as big as the ugly uncle?"

Chen Cao's right index finger caressed the smooth and warm bamboo flute, and he said to the two clever little ones: "I can play a little; I'll take it back to the bedroom to practice properly."

Madam Chen, née Li, said: "This vertical flute was given to your elder brother by your sister-in-law. Your brother originally did not know how to play the vertical flute; he learned it from Youwei. Since you like the vertical flute, when you return to the Ding residence, make sure to seek guidance from your sister-in-law."

Chen Cao smiled slightly: "Well, more or less. By the time you reach Uncle Chou's age, you will understand. Let me ask you, do you believe what Uncle Chou says?"

On the way down the mountain, when Run'er could no longer walk, she had to let Laide carry her. Run'er remembered that she had said yesterday that she would never allow anyone to carry her, and felt a bit embarrassed. She tilted her head and did not dare to look at her brother, thinking to herself: "Run'er is not untrustworthy; Run'er truly cannot walk any longer"

Zong always refers to himself as "I," unlike Run'er, who affectionately calls herself "Run'er." He is also somewhat taciturn, indicating that this eight-year-old boy has indeed suffered significant emotional trauma due to the early death of his father and the distance from his mother

Uncle Chou, it hasn't rained today; let's go hiking.

Zong hesitated for a moment and finally said: "The sixth great-uncle and several cousins all said this, and they even mocked me for not having parents"

Thus, Chen Caozhi played several tunes in succession, continuing until his mouth was dry, his tongue parched, and his head dizzy before he finally stopped. On that morning, the three of them, including the uncle and nephew, were in very good spirits.

Chen Cao entrusted De Zhao to take good care of Zong Zhi and Run Er. He sat on a rock, took out his purple bamboo flute, tested the sound by pursing his lips, and then played a short piece titled "The Stream Flowing Through the Emerald Gorge"

Chen Caozhi then carefully examined the furnishings in the study. The few tables and mats were simple yet elegant. Aside from the zither, he did not see any other musical instruments. As he looked around, he noticed a slender cloth pouch hanging on the north wall. He went to take it down and opened the drawstring. To his delight, he pulled out a purple bamboo xiao. In his previous life, the xiao had been a faithful companion on his journeys. He only knew how to play two instruments—the xiao and the flute. Since he learned to play the xiao, he had lost interest in the flute. He appreciated the tranquility and elegance of the xiao, as its melodies were often lonely and somewhat melancholic.

The peaks stand silent, the distant lake is still, a strand of flute music rises with the wind, the soft and elegant melody flows gently, occasionally interrupted by a brief swirl, as if the mountain stream encounters stones, winding and meandering, before continuing to cascade forth.

Run'er shook her head and said: "Run'er cannot, but Run'er's mother can play the zither— in a few days, I will go to see my mother, Run'er is truly happy"

Run'er saw the long, narrow cloth pouch in Chen Cao's hand and asked, "Uncle Chou, did you bring the vertical flute as well? Are you going to play it on the mountain?"

Zong's Way: "Chou Shu, Ru'er and I heard you playing the flute at night, but grandmother said she didn't hear anything."

Run'er also shouted that she wanted to learn

"Alright, alright!" The two small faces flushed with excitement, vibrant like blooming hibiscus flowers

"Uncle Chou, can you play this vertical flute?" Run'er asked. In the Jin Dynasty, it was not yet known as the dongxiao, but was simply referred to as the vertical flute.

As the music came to an end, the young couple remained immersed in the beautiful melodies. After a while, Zong Zhi Cai said, "Uncle Chou, I also want to learn to play the vertical flute"

Chen Cao did not know that Seventh Sister had brought her sister-in-law specifically to see him. He was not concerned about it. After washing his hands and cleansing his face, he took Zongzhi and Run'er upstairs. Chen's mother, Li, was just coming out of "He Ming Hall," kindly greeting her pair of grandchildren.

As for Zong, he merely smiled at Chen Cao, who was holding his hand, and did not point out Run'er’s shortcomings, displaying a commendable magnanimity befitting an elder brother

Zong has become more active. Uncle Dai replied, "Uncle Chou will definitely do it. I think Uncle Chou has been quite remarkable lately. He skillfully uses chopsticks with his right hand, can write in different styles with both hands, climbs mountains every day, and he must have learned to play the recorder as well"

"Dear!" exclaimed the lovable niece and nephew in unison

Although Zong Zhi and Run Er are young, they find the sound of the flute truly pleasant. Sitting on either side of Chen Chao Zhi, they rest their chins on one hand, tilting their heads as they watch Chen Chao Zhi play the flute, remaining quiet and still.