Chapter 065
Author: Feast of Masks
Raws: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3185016
Translated by Gumihou
The incident caused a sensation at Qingyuan Academy. Some students even chased after the yamen runners to press for answers, and, from the snippets of information they managed to extract, they learned that Hu Lianshen’s arrest was connected to Sun He (river)’s death.
It was at that moment that the ‘spy’ who had once only existed as a whispered rumour from the start of that rumour finally came to light.
That spy was Hu Lianshen!
In fact, some had already suspected Hu Lianshen. His luck had been just a little too good to drop out of such a critical, life-changing literary battle thanks to a convenient stomach trouble. It was one thing to be lucky, but too much luck can rouse suspicion.
Later, as students continued to discuss the incident, more details relating to Sun He’s death came up, and the thread surrounding his death began to untangle.
A student laid out the summary of events as a way to explain how things may have unfolded.
Because Sun He (river)’s name sounded similar to Sun He (crane)’s name, the farmer’s son immediately drew the displeasure of the wealthy merchant’s son from the moment he entered the academy. However, because one’s name was given to them by one’s parents, it was not like one could simply change it just because someone else disliked it. Poverty exacerbated his already precarious position in the academy, and Sun He (river) became little more than a toy to be kicked around by the others. Sun He (crane) was the ringleader of wealthy boys in search of entertainment within the academy. Who would have thought that during one of their little ‘games’, Sun He (river) would actually die?
Now that a death has occurred, it is no longer a small case of bullying. When Sun He (crane) informed his parents about the death, the wealthy Sun family went straight to Gao Youzhi to find a way to minimise the situation. Gao Youzhi, in a sudden fit of inspiration, seized the opportunity to devise an elaborate scheme to shift the blame to Qingyuan Academy.
Naturally, this scheme was not something that could be done without help from the inside. A literary duel between two schools could only be arranged when there was communication between them.
According to some students who knew of the duel beforehand, it was indeed initiated by Hu Lianshen; as for what other things he may have done behind the scenes, nobody knew.
No one knew how the yamen had dealt with Gao Youzhi, Sun He (crane) or the others; it was not information that students could have found out anyway. Lin Miao could have made inquiries, but after returning to the Academy, he no longer concerned himself with matters outside of the school. It was as though the fates of those people had nothing to do with him.
While others could not guess what Lin Miao was thinking, Xue Thingxiang believed he had a good guess. After everything that had happened, this stingy teacher of his had learned a lesson or two about life.
The first was: Do not ask questions that should not be asked, nor dig into matters that should remain buried.
In truth, Xue Tingxiang did not particularly care about the final outcome of the case. The reason he told the story the way he did was because Shen Fu was a man of principle who would pursue justice for the dead youth.
The moment Shen Fu asked how Sun He had truly died, Xue Tingxiang knew that the man would not let the matter rest. Xia County was Shen territory, after all. So, how could they allow such rot to percolate in their backyard? Not to mention, with the Shen family’s power and influence, all it took to rectify the situation was a single sentence.
Sure enough, not long after the incident, Magistrate Hu left Xia County.
No one knew what happened to him, but a new magistrate with the surname Xu took office soon after. Magistrate Xu’s first act was to visit Qingyuan Academy, where he offered encouragement to Lin Miao and the teachers, then transferred the once-sealed Qinghe Academy grounds to Qingyuan so they could expand their facilities. The aim was to alleviate the academy’s limited space to accommodate more students.
He also sent for Xue Tingxiang. When they met, he did not show any particular favouritism but left these departing words:
“Heroes rise from youth. Study well and strive to pass the Imperial Examinations as soon as possible.”
Though the words looked like empty encouragement, in truth, they were practically promising Xue Tingxiang a seat in the next county exam. At the very least, a Tong Sheng title was already within his grasp.
Naturally, Xue Tingxiang understood the depth of this promise, but accepted it at face value.
Days passed, and the matter of Sun He’s death faded from the general public’s memories. A few curious people would privately inquire how Sun He had really died, but Xue Tingxiang remained tight-lipped till the end.
With time, the questions petered out as well.
000
One day, Lin Miao summoned him to the study.
The headmaster’s expression was not good; he appeared gloomier than usual.
From his bowed position, Xue Tingxiang stole a few glances from under her lashes and confirmed that the man was… angry. Was he irritated due to the influx of work lately?
While Xue Tingxiang was lost in thought, Lin Miao stared straight at him before letting out an exasperated chuckle.
“What are you looking at?”
“I am looking at my Teacher, who seems to have gotten a bit younger these days. He appears exceptionally spirited lately.” Clearly, he had been hanging out with Mao Badou too much and picked up that boy’s glib tongue; the past Xue Tingxiong would never have dared utter such nonsense.
Lin Miao cleared his throat. “You call me ‘teacher,’ yet you haven’t performed the formal rites. Just what sort of teacher do you see me as?!”
Xue Tingxiang was taken aback. Was this a hint for him to hurry up and perform the formal rites?
Elated, he snickered cheerfully and said, “Teacher, I shall do it right away.”
With that, he ran off.
Watching his retreating figure, Lin Miao could only shake his head helplessly.
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The formal rites could either be complex or simple, depending on the people involved.
Lin Miao was not a man who cared for wealth. After asking Boss Chen, Xue learned that his teacher had few preferences. After some thought, Xue decided to keep things modest. The form matters little; the meaning carries more weight.
In addition to the six traditional offerings that should not be omitted: dried meat, celery, dried longan, lotus seeds, red dates, and red beans, Xue Tingxiang added two jars of good wine, which he bought on a whim to make an auspicious number.
Zhao’er eyed the plain-looking offerings with unease, thinking it was too casual as a formal rites gift for such an important person. However, when asked what else they could add, she could not offer a single thing and could only follow Xue Tingxiang’s lead.
With the items prepared, Xue went to pay respects at the Lin residence.
Calling it the Lin residence was generous. It was a small house northwest of the academy. One door opened toward the street, and the back door connected directly to the academy grounds. Xue had long known that his teacher lived simply, with only a wife and daughter at home.
Headmaster Lin’s wife, Tao’shi, was a gentle and reserved woman who looked to be in her twenties. Their only child, a daughter called Lin Yanran, would be seventeen this year. She resembled Tao’shi in looks and temperament, quiet, graceful and soft-spoken.
When Xue Tingxiang arrived, the Lin household had just finished breakfast.
Tao’shi tidied the table and then led her daughter away. She returned alone a short while later, bearing a tray of tea. After setting the tray down, she withdrew again. The Lin family could hardly be called well-off, and they kept no servants; household chores were usually handled by Tao’shi together with her daughter.
“There’s no need to rush. Let us wait a little longer.”
At first, Xue Tingxiang had no idea what was going on, but soon after, Mao Badou arrived with a pile of offerings similar to his own. At that point, he had a rough idea what they were waiting for.
However, even when Mao Badou had given his greetings, Lin Miao remained his unhurried self, sipping his tea and showing no signs of moving. The two unfortunate brothers-in-arms could only stand there foolishly with their arms laden with various packages.
It was only after Li Datian arrived, and Chen Jian after that, that Lin Miao finally set down his teacup.
“I have observed the four of you,” Lin Miao said slowly. “Though your temperaments differ, your character is upright. Taking you as disciples today accords with the times, the circumstances, and my own wishes. I hope that from this day forth, you will be diligent and steadfast, apply yourselves daily, and not disappoint my expectations. As for the Way of learning, the pursuit of official rank is but secondary. One must instead learn from the ancient sages the path of self-cultivation.
When things are investigated, knowledge is attained; when knowledge is attained, intentions become sincere; when intentions are sincere, the heart is set right; when the heart is set right, the self is cultivated; when the self is cultivated, the family is ordered; when the family is ordered, the state is governed; when the state is governed, the world is brought to peace.”
Lin Miao spoke at length, though his words could be boiled down to: cultivate the self, regulate the family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world.
In truth, such words were still a little early for the four of them. Lin Miao merely wished to impress upon them that, in all matters, rectifying the heart and cultivating oneself must come first.
Xue Tingxiang sensed that the recent events had left a mark on Lin Miao; otherwise, he would not have spoken with such gravity and earnestness.
Setting that aside, after the formal rites of apprenticeship were completed, the four did not leave immediately, but stayed at the Lin residence to receive Lin Miao’s instruction.
As noon approached, Tao’shi invited the four to stay for the meal. Mao Badou, ever the familiar sort, eagerly volunteered to help in the kitchen.
The Lin household consisted of only three rooms—the main hall, a study, and a bedroom—with an additional rear room where Lin Yanran lived. The space was small enough that voices from outside could be faintly heard within. Xue Tingxiang, Li Datian, and Chen Jian sat there in awkward silence, listening as Mao Badou cheerfully struck up a conversation with Tao’shi.
With his honeyed tongue, he called her “Shiniang” this and “Shiniang” that, insisting on helping with everything from washing vegetables to slaughtering chickens. He claimed he did such work all the time at home, said his elder sister loved ordering him about, and even remarked that Lin Yanran resembled his sister—pretty, generous, and well-mannered.
He coaxed both mother and daughter into such good spirits that their laughter drifted clearly into the room.
Xue Tingxiang could not help but note that since entering the Lin household, while Tao’shi had smiled often enough, he had not once seen Lin Yanran smile. The Lin family maintained strict propriety; the moment a man entered the house, Lin Yanran, as an unmarried young woman, had promptly withdrawn.
Lunch was taken separately. The men ate together in one place, while Tao’shi dined inside with her daughter.
After the meal, Xue Tingxiang and the others took their leave.
Once outside the Lin residence, the four of them stopped. For a moment, they just stared at each other in silence.
“All of you hid this well,” Xue Tingxiang said with a laugh, half-scolding.
“Tsk. I was just worried you’d feel bad about it,” Mao Badou replied shamelessly. “After all, with talent as outstanding as mine, the headmaster would naturally want to take me as a disciple. If he’d taken only me and you found out, wouldn’t you feel ashamed? That’s why I didn’t say anything.”
Li Datian chuckled but said nothing.
Chen Jian, ever the honest one, admitted, “I hesitated for a long time. I hadn’t planned on coming at first.” After thinking it over, he had still come in the end—at worst, he could always plead with the teacher later to take in the other three as well.
Xue Tingxiang asked curiously, “What exactly did Teacher say to you when he decided to take you as a disciple?” Having spent so much time with Lin Miao, he had come to realise that Lin Miao was actually quite thin-skinned; his usual stern reserve was likely a way to mask that.
“I’ll act it out for you,” Mao Badou said.
With that, he clasped his hands behind his back, puffed out his belly, and took a few steps forward. Turning around, he fixed the others with a profoundly inscrutable gaze, stroked an imaginary beard, and declared, “Will you take me as your master?”
The others burst into laughter, nearly doubling over.
Not far behind them, Lin Miao stood with a darkened expression, watching the little rascals.
According to custom, after accepting disciples, a teacher was meant to give them a meeting gift. Lin Miao had already instructed Tao’shi to prepare these, but he had forgotten in the moment—and Tao’shi, distracted by Mao Badou’s antics, had forgotten as well. Only after the students left did she remember and mention it. Thinking they could not have gone far, Lin Miao had hurried after them.
Who could have guessed he would witness such a scene?
Lin Miao stuffed whatever he had been holding into his sleeve, turned on his heel, and walked away.
Unfilial little wretches who showed no respect for their teacher—what meeting gifts could they possibly deserve?
[Gumihou: Oh, Mao Badou, never change!]
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