Chapter 4, Rabbit Pavilion

Zhang Yuan went up to the second floor. The weather was hot, and it was uncomfortable to stay in the room. The young girl Yi Ting moved two bamboo chairs to the corridor for Lu Shi and Zhang Yuan to sit on

Through the gaps in the railing, Lü Shi saw Wu Ling below by the courtyard, grinning widely and laughing heartily. He then asked, "Yuan Er, what are you playing under the stone bridge that has Wu Ling laughing so much?"

Lü's mother saw her son shaking his head and assumed that he was unwilling to attend the community school. She hurriedly said: "Your father is unaware of your current situation. Matters of studying and advancing in education can certainly wait until your eyes are better. It does not matter if you do not love studying; as long as my son has good eyesight, whether or not you study is secondary."

Zhang Yuan asked: "Mother, who is this Granny Ma?"

"The child has gone to the back to cool off under the arch bridge. What instructions do you have, Mother?" Zhang Yuan asked, looking up.

Entering through the back door, passing through a small garden, and via a narrow corridor, one will come upon a rectangular large courtyard. On the edges of the courtyard are two potted yellow hawthorn trees, their yellow and pink flowers having already withered. To the southwest of the courtyard are two connected two-story wooden buildings; Zhang Yuan's mother, Mrs. Lü, resides in the southern building, while Zhang Yuan lives in the western building. On the other side of the corridor, there is a row of earthen wall tile houses, which serve as the kitchen, storage, and quarters for the servants.

The Zhang family has 120 mu of land on the east bank of Jian Lake, and they are required to pay two types of taxes each year. The summer tax is levied on wheat, while the autumn tax is levied on rice. In the early years of the Wanli era, Zhang Juzheng reformed the tax system and implemented the "Single Whip Law," which abolished the collection of physical goods for summer and autumn taxes, requiring all to be converted into silver for payment. While this certainly had its conveniences and aimed to benefit the common people, it posed difficulties for households engaged in male farming and female weaving who had no source of silver. They had to exchange rice and wheat for silver, and during tax months, the prices of rice and wheat were severely depressed, making it impossible to sell at fair prices, resulting in significant losses. The Zhang family's over 100 mu of land incurs a considerable amount of tax silver each year, in addition to the silver required for corvée labor, daily expenses, servants, and hired labor, all of which must also be paid in silver. Although there are conveniences and benefits for the common people, it remains troublesome for those who are self-sufficient without a source of silver. The need to exchange rice and wheat for silver, coupled with the depressed prices during tax months, leads to substantial losses. The Zhang family's annual tax silver is not a small sum, and with the silver sent back by Zhang Ruiyang, their financial situation becomes more comfortable. Zhang Ruiyang earns an annual salary of 30 taels of silver, yet he sends back 60 taels each year, indicating that there is indeed some profit in working at the Zhou Wangfu.

In the Jiangnan official families, the servants refer to the master as "Lao Ye" and the mistress as "Nai Nai," while some also call the mistress "Tai Tai." The Zhang family has only two maidservants, one of whom is this Tu Ting. Zhang Yuan is also unclear why this maidservant has such a peculiar name; it must have been given by his father, Zhang Ruiyang, when he purchased her.

The old woman Ma spoke very directly, like scissors cutting through the air with a "chop chop chop chop" sound. After exchanging pleasantries with Zhang's mother and Lu, she mentioned that there was an important matter to discuss, and Zhang's mother and Lu led her into the room for a private conversation

Lü Shi Dao: "Your father entrusted a letter to your cousin from the Xi family, and your mother read the letter to you."

Zhang Yuandao: "The child won a game of chess against Zhang E."

Madam Zhang, the Lu family, said: "It was during the last visit to the Dashan Temple that I encountered Ma Popo, who is very warm-hearted. Upon hearing that you have eye troubles, Ma Popo mentioned that the Guanyin of Putuo Mountain and the Bodhisattva of Literature can relieve suffering and difficulties. She suggested that visiting Putuo Mountain to offer incense would help dispel disasters and resolve karmic debts—this time, you must be asking me whether I should take you to Putuo Mountain to offer incense on February 19 next year."

The little girl at the rabbit pavilion poked her head out from behind the railing and stretched her neck to call out: "Young Master, Madam is looking for you"

Due to the long distance, Zhang Ruiyang only returns to Shaoxing once every two or three years, and after staying for less than two months, he leaves again. Zhang Yuan has a relatively indifferent relationship with his father. This time, Zhang Yuan suffered from a serious eye disease. The Lü family originally intended to send a letter to Zhang Ruiyang to report the urgency, but later, after receiving treatment from Lu Yungu, they decided to wait until Zhang Yuan's eye condition improved before writing to him

Madam Zhang, née Lü, said: "Please invite Granny Ma in." She instructed Yiting to go and welcome Granny Ma.

The young girl, Rabbit Pavilion, came downstairs with a "thump, thump, thump" and said, "Young Master, let me assist you upstairs." She extended her hand into Zhang Yuan's palm.

"Good child, good child." Mother Zhang, with her hair grayed at the temples, smiled with her brows raised and eyes sparkling. After this illness, Yuan'er not only became more sensible and polite, but also much more composed. She only hopes that Yuan'er's eye ailment will be cured soon.

Although the souls of two lifetimes have merged, Zhang Yuan's feelings for his mother, Lu, remain unaffected. The maternal love is deeply ingrained and profound. Due to Zhang Yuan's eye ailment, Lu sought medical help everywhere, turning her hair white with worry. Fortunately, the renowned physician from Shaoxing, Lu Yungu, clearly stated that he could cure Zhang Yuan's eye condition, which brought her some relief. For the past few days, every night before going to bed, Lu would sit by her son Hetushu's bedside, using a fan made of palm leaves to cool him down, repeatedly reciting the "White Robed Bodhisattva Mantra," praying to Guanyin Bodhisattva of the South Sea for her child's recovery from his eye ailment. Zhang Yuan would fall into a deep sleep amidst his mother's chanting, feeling particularly at ease.

Zhang Yuandao: "Not yet picked, the child is playing blindfold chess."

Zhang Yuan smiled and said, "The child's eyes will definitely get better, and he must continue to read. Mother, rest assured."

Lü Shi exclaimed, "You have removed the eye mask!"

In the same courtyard, how could Zhang's mother, Lu, be unaware of her son's studies? Although Lu was pleased, she harbored concerns. Like the young servant from Wuling, she felt that this omen was not very favorable. Her son seemed to be striving to adapt to a life of blindness, yet she did not realize that he was now calm and wise; as long as he had listened to a book once, he could generally recite it. With such a talent, not studying or taking the imperial examination would be a waste.

Zhang Yuan's father, Zhang Ruiyang, aspired to achieve success through the imperial examination in his early years. However, by the age of thirty, he had not even managed to become a student, wasting his youth as an idle scholar. He had no choice but to seek another path and entrusted his clan uncle, Zhang Rusen from the West Zhang family, to secure a position as a clerk in the Zhou Wangfu in Kaifeng. This was a minor official position, not ranked among the higher grades. Zhang Ruiyang worked in the Zhou Wangfu for over ten years, being cautious and diligent. Eventually, he was promoted to the position of chief clerk, rising from the ninth rank, with an annual salary of sixty shi of rice and thirty taels of silver, which was equivalent to the cost of five small goldfish for Zhang E. However, for Zhang Yuan's family, this silver was of great significance.

Zhang Yuan's recent eye ailment has truly frightened Mr. Lü. If his son’s eyes do not recover, it will be difficult for him even to marry. Therefore, she only wishes for her son to be free from illness and disaster, and does not think of anything else.

Therefore, Zhang Ruiyang was unaware of his son's eye ailment. The letter stated that Zhang Yuan was already fifteen years old and should not spend all his time playing. He ought to enroll in a community school, and after three to four years of diligent study, he could participate in the county examination. The county examination is held once a year, and as long as there is improvement in his ranking each time, it would be satisfactory. Before the age of thirty, he should strive to pass the examination and become a scholar, which would allow him to receive stipends and be exempt from labor duties.

The young girl Yiting, observant and perceptive, noticed that Lu was in a good mood, and thus playfully remarked: "Young Master has already been studying; doesn't Madam know? Zhang Cai has read aloud to Young Master so much that her voice has gone hoarse."

Lü observed his son for a moment and thought to himself that his son, having suffered from eye ailments, was indeed quite different from before. He nodded and said, "Then in a few years, when you grow up, you can go to Putuo to pay your respects and fulfill your vows"

Zhang Yuan was just about to speak and tell his mother not to worry, when he heard Zhang Cai downstairs reporting: "Madam, Granny Ma from Zhi Shui Alley wishes to see you"

Zhang Yuan held the little girl's hand. Tu Ting is only ten years old this year, her hand is very small and soft. Zhang Yuan has not been able to open his eyes for more than two months, and he can hardly remember what Tu Ting looks like. In his impression, she has two hair buns and two big eyes that are both curious and timid, looking around. She somewhat resembles a little rabbit. Is this the origin of Tu Ting's name?

Lü Shi does not know how to play chess, is unaware of the difficulty of blindfold chess, and does not pay much attention to it. He simply reminds his son to follow the advice of He-Tu-Shu Lu Yungu, which states that for a hundred days, one should not let their eyes see the light, and then he reads a letter to his son.

Mother Lu has appeared at the edge of the balcony on the second floor, asking: "Where have you been, my child? It's such a hot day, oh, wearing an eye mask."

Zhang Yuan hurriedly said: "Mother, my son's eyes are not seriously injured, and they will heal after some time. Putuo Mountain is overseas, and the winds and waves are unpredictable. Mother, do not go there. The Bodhisattva can be found in every temple; sincerity brings blessings. If the family has extra money, it is best to help the needy and do some good deeds."

Zhang Yuan sat on a bamboo chair in the corridor, gently waving a folding fan. His hearing was exceptionally sharp now; he could clearly hear his mother and that Granny Ma whispering in the room. To his surprise, Granny Ma was not inviting his mother, Madam Lü, to Mount Putuo for a pilgrimage, but was actually there to arrange a marriage for him

Zhang Yuan couldn't help but shake his head: "Is the requirement to pass the examination for a xiucai before the age of thirty too high or too low?"

The mother and child were conversing when Granny Ma came upstairs. She appeared to be in her sixties and did not need any support from Yiting; her movements were quite nimble. Before she spoke, she smiled and said: "Grandma Zhang, I hope I am not disturbing you. This must be the young master of the house, indeed handsome, with a well-rounded forehead and clear brows and eyes—has his eyesight improved? May the Bodhisattva bless him; surely his eye ailment will get better..."

Lü only thought that his son wanted to listen to books out of boredom, and said: "Zhang Cai and Wuling, the two young servants, do not know many characters and cannot read well. It would be better to spend some money to hire two students to read books for you. It would cost about one tael of silver a day, and my Zhang family can afford it"