Chapter 6: Seeds of Reading

Grandfather, I also want to invite a shadow puppet troupe. However, the young people in the village are disappointing. They are skilled at hunting in the mountains, but when it comes to reading and writing, they all turn into fools. The capable young men who can kill a tiger tremble when they pick up a pen, and it takes them a long time to draw a simple circle. It drives me to despair.

Moreover, the old patriarch clearly could not understand what he was reading aloud, yet he deliberately displayed an expression of intoxication as if savoring a fine wine, nodding his head in agreement.

Having been entangled by the old clan leader for quite some time, and seeing the sun climbing towards the mountain peak, Yun Zheng could no longer sit still. He clasped his hands towards the old clan leader and said: "It is getting late, and I still need to go into the mountains to chop firewood. As you know, there is no food left at home, and if I do not chop firewood, I will go hungry. In this vast world, nothing is more important than eating. I must take my leave now."

Unexpectedly, the old patriarch jumped up, pointing at the mountain to the north and speaking a long passage in the local dialect, his expression extremely agitated. As a skilled observer of subtle cues, Yun Zheng sensed a kind of anger from the obvious oppressive atmosphere; the old man was cursing! As for whom he was cursing, Yun Ye did not care, as it was certainly not directed at him.

Yun Zheng's eyes began to show signs of fatigue, and no matter how he pondered over the illustrations and texts, he could not comprehend how not following the almanac could be related to having a son or a daughter.

The old patriarch scolded for quite a while before calming down, panting heavily. Yun Zheng poured a cup of water from a nearby ceramic jar and brought it to the old patriarch, urging him to drink and cool off.

You are the seed of knowledge, and your younger brother is also a clever child. You two brothers should study diligently; even if it means selling everything in the village, we will ensure that you receive an education. From now on, you are the children of the village, and you must always say this to everyone.

"Can you read?" The old chief felt surprised for the first time, his mouth wide open. He snatched the hatchet from Yun Zheng's hand, casually tossed it into the bamboo basket, and dragged Yun Zheng up to his own bamboo house.

Yun Zheng could not believe it. As a distinguished graduate in the humanities, the process of taking exams back then was no easier than it is now. He was also a formidable scholar who emerged victorious from a sea of competitors. Surely, taking an exam equivalent to that of a junior high school student should not be too difficult.

The old patriarch, rummaging through boxes and cabinets, burst into hearty laughter upon hearing Yun Zheng's words. He approached Yun Ye while holding a large bundle, carefully unwrapping it. It was unclear what was inside, as it was wrapped in several layers of blue cloth adorned with prints and illustrations.

Grandfather Patriarch, the young man has no issues with studying. I estimate that passing the examination for a child scholar will not be a problem. If he is given a year and a half, I guarantee he will return with a child scholar title from the county. If he has access to more books to read, obtaining a scholar title in three years should not be a difficult task

Yun Zheng said this sentence as a joke to the old clan leader, as he himself never believed in such things

Child, you will stay in the village from now on, reading to everyone every day. As for the food for you and your brother, if each household in the village eats a little less, there will be enough for you both. You are a scholar, so take these books and study them well. If you can pass the imperial examination, our entire village will share in the glory. The village of Guangling in Nanshan has produced a student, and that old man surnamed Zhou actually performed shadow puppetry in the village for three days, what a spectacle.

The village chief has turned cold-hearted; today, the old man is marrying off his daughter-in-law. Naturally, he will choose an auspicious day suitable for feasting, blessings, and weddings. For us, it is a significant day of financial loss. Indeed, as the books say, we should heed their wisdom in all our future endeavors. If anyone in the village dares to act recklessly, I will break their dog's legs. After all these years, the village has only raised girls, all due to their reckless way of living.

Yun Zheng came again to borrow a machete. The old clan leader seemed to see through Yun Zheng's intentions and smiled as he lent him his machete. He also patted him on the shoulder and said, "Young people have plenty of strength. As long as you are willing to work, you will not starve. Today, I happen to be going to the village head's place for a banquet, and I will help you with your household registration. This way, you will have a small piece of land to cultivate. If you are diligent, you will soon be able to establish a family and a career."

Yun Zheng was afraid that others would question his origins. Now, it is settled; the old clan leader has issued this gag order, and it is likely that no one would dare to defy it. The Song Dynasty is still a clan-based society, and the old clan leader possesses absolute authority within the clan. His word is more effective than severe punishments and harsh laws. He stated that the Yun Zheng brothers are children of the village, thus making them, in every sense, part of Dou Sha Village. Those who dare to raise questions are generally thrown into a pig cage and cast into the water by the old clan leader. It sounds cruel, but this power has persisted until the end of the feudal dynasty. His word is more effective than severe punishments and harsh laws. He stated that the Yun Zheng brothers are children of the village, thus making them, in every sense, part of Dou Sha Village. Those who dare to raise questions are generally thrown into a pig cage and cast into the water by the old clan leader. It sounds cruel, but this power has persisted until the end of the feudal dynasty.

Yun Zheng's words brought tears to the old man's eyes, and he grasped Yun Zheng's hand, saying: "Good child, good child, Grandpa doesn't want you to stay in the village for your whole life. As long as you can write your place of origin on the paper as Dou Sha County, Dou Sha Village, Grandpa will be satisfied. In the future, when I pass away and meet my ancestors, I will have something to say."

Yun Zheng is familiar with the Analects, a common text, but he is puzzled as to why the old clan leader insists on shaking his head and nodding while reading this tattered thread-bound book

Confucius said: "Among people, those who are filial and respectful to their elders, yet enjoy offending their superiors, are rare; those who do not enjoy offending their superiors but are inclined to create chaos have never existed. A gentleman focuses on the fundamentals; when the fundamentals are established, the way will emerge. Filial piety and respect for elders are the foundation of benevolence!"

The old patriarch intends to completely erase the past shadows of the Yun Zheng brothers. In the old patriarch's view, they are merely children. As long as everyone continuously tells them that they are children of Dou Sha Village, over time, they will become part of Dou Sha Village.

The Master said: Is it not a joy to learn and to practice what you have learned at the right time? Is it not a pleasure to have friends come from afar? Is it not the mark of a gentleman to remain unperturbed when others do not recognize your worth?

When the last layer of blue cloth was removed, Yun Zheng gasped in surprise. There were no treasures in the bundle, only a few thread-bound books with curled edges, and on top of them was a book of illustrations, which was also the worst one—a book titled "Tong Shu." The so-called Tong Shu refers to the Huang Li, an almanac that ancient people relied on to determine matters such as farming, hunting, long journeys, marriage, and funerals. Yun Zheng picked it up and casually flipped through a couple of pages, finding the corresponding date for the recent days. He smiled and said to the old clan leader: "Today is an auspicious day, suitable for feasting, marriage, and prayer. The only downside is that there may be financial losses, so please be cautious."

Yun Zheng expressed his gratitude to the old clan leader, reporting both his name and that of Yun Jianqiang to him. Observing the old clan leader repeatedly murmuring their names to memorize them, Yun Zheng found a small piece of wood and some charcoal, wrote the names of the two brothers on it, and presented it to the old clan leader

The old man cried uncontrollably, yet his final words were spoken with such severity that they allowed no room for any defiance from Yun Zheng. This perhaps exemplifies the authority of a patriarch.

Yun Zheng's shoulders were being patted by the old man, making a thumping sound. What more is there to say? In just one day, he had transformed from a young man into a boy, and then from a boy into a child. The old man had practically become a grandfather. How could a grandson have anything else to say, especially when this grandson was still worrying about what to eat tomorrow? In this state, it was certain that the old man was indeed a grandfather.