Sixteenth: Heaven, Earth, Parents, and Teachers, Part Three
A year after Mu Ning arrived at Kongyun Mountain, his elder brother, having achieved considerable political success in his post, was transferred back to the capital. This gave Mu Ning easier access to see his brother. However, his elder brother maintained contact with Xu Bingjun while serving as an official, and the two remained very close. The brothers were about to reunite, and Mu Ning sensed his brother's longing for their mentor. Therefore, he decided to deliver a message between them. Mu Ning's elder brother knew that his younger brother had chosen a different path, but since he was unaware of the details, he didn't want to interfere. Considering the long and arduous journey ahead, he simply wished Mu Ning good health.
Xu Bingjun, alone far from home, was overwhelmed with emotion upon seeing his former student, and the two had a rare long conversation. Xu Bingjun was now in office in the southwest, where he had achieved some success. Only his youngest son and wife had accompanied him; they were settling into a stable life. Before leaving, Xu Bingjun handed his reply to Mu Ning and asked her to deliver another letter to his family in the capital.
Mu Ning concealed her tracks and did not accept the Xu family's invitation to tea. After delivering the message, she returned.
He wasn't wearing the white robes of a monk that day. As he walked along the streets from the mansion to the small courtyard, a sudden hunger pang struck him, so he went to a small shop across the street and ordered a bowl of hot soup. The shop owner invited him to sit down first.
Mu Ning held a pair of chopsticks flat in both hands, watching the boss cook. She noticed a couple of old acquaintances walking over and, after exchanging greetings, talking about a lady whose actions were astonishing.
The minor official who rented a room just across the street from my house had two thin, half-dead trees in front of his door. Early the other morning, instead of going to his post, he went to the yamen alone, his wife who rarely went out, saying she was resigning on his behalf. The officials on duty were so surprised to see her that they didn't know what to say. Hearing that she was there to resign, they assumed she was there to cause trouble and chased her away. The wife chose a less traveled route, but there were still many people at the yamen, and she was remembered, so word got around. I heard that the minor official really didn't go to his post for the past two days. This morning, when officials came to his house to question him, it was his wife who opened the door, said she had resigned and wouldn't be going, and chased them away.”
“I know that family surnamed Du,” another person said. “They’ve been doing dirty and hard work at the yamen for years, barely making ends meet, and they can only afford to rent a house. The couple had a son and a daughter, who both fell ill. Because they didn’t have money to take medicine, the older one lived to be seven and the younger one to be four before they both died.”
“Oh dear, what a life,” the first man lamented. “Now that he’s even resigned from his official post, how is he going to survive?”
"That's right. They all serve as officials in the imperial court, but some rise to the top and some fall to the bottom. I took the exam several times back then, and when I passed, my whole family was overjoyed. Now my parents are gone, and my children have passed away. My heart is truly broken."
"Don't any of his colleagues say a word for him?" the stall owner chimed in.
"His position hasn't changed in all these years. Even if he has colleagues, they are all low-ranking officials. How could they possibly speak up for him? Besides, if he could speak up, wouldn't he have done so long ago? Why did things turn out like this today?"
"What a pity," the shop owner sighed as well. "I have to go and take a look after I close up shop today. In the past, Mr. Du would write peach wood charms for our family every New Year and teach my child to recognize a few characters."
“I went there yesterday with his neighbor, an old lady,” the first person said. “The couple helped the old lady write and read letters. But they both looked rather unwell yesterday, so we left after a short while.”
After finishing his noodle soup, Mu Ning paid the bill, wandered around the nearby streets for a while, and then left. He stayed at a small inn for a day, inquired about the situation in the neighborhood, and the next day, after packing his things, he went back to the same shop and ate another bowl of noodle soup.
How was yesterday?
“Mr. Du is ill,” said the same two people who spoke yesterday, now back again. “When I went there yesterday evening, he was still sitting on the bed wearing a coat. I brought some food for his wife.”
"Sick? What kind of illness?" the man said in surprise. "Their family is really having a run of bad luck; they seem to be plagued by illnesses."
After paying, it was still early, so Mu Ning followed the route from yesterday and found the Du family.
The tree by the door looks like it's dying. It's late spring, and while the city is quite dry, the soil is still moist.
Mu Ning heard the sound of sweeping the yard from outside the door.
He knocked on the door.
The sweeping paused, but there was no immediate sound of footsteps. After a few moments, Mu Ning heard footsteps again. The broom was placed against the wall, the footsteps grew closer, and then the door latch was pulled open. But seeing through a crack in the door that the visitor was none other than the unfamiliar Mu Ning, the woman of the house stopped opening the door and asked, "Who are you?"
"My surname is Mu. I have come here today on the behalf of an old friend who asked me to invite Mr. Du to take up a new position."
“My husband,” the hostess’s voice was a little hoarse, and she said casually, “has resigned and will not be going back. Thank you for your kindness, Lord Mu.”
"I am not from the government," Mu Ning said hastily to prevent the lady of the house from closing the door. "My old friend has an academy nearby and is looking for a lecturer. He also needs a learned person to help proofread ancient books. There is room and three meals a day available for the lecturer and his wife. Please consider it."
Upon hearing this, the lady of the house in the courtyard slightly opened the door to get a clearer view of Mu Ning, and Mu Ning also saw the lady's slightly reddened eyes through the crack in the door.
"Please wait a moment."
Then the courtyard gate was closed, and Mu Ning stepped back down a few steps from the gate. She heard the sound of the gate opening in the courtyard, which meant that they had probably gone into the inner room.
Mu Ning remembered Pei Xuanzhen's entrustment.
Elder Chen Duan had been in her position for thirty years, and she alone had to manage the academy and oversee the research of magical artifacts on the mountain. Recently, while hunting ghosts, they discovered some notes left behind by previous cultivators, which added the task of collating ancient texts to their workload. Gradually, they couldn't handle the burden, so they wanted to find disciples outside. However, they needed disciples with considerable knowledge, which was extremely difficult. So even Mu Ning, who was wandering around, was summoned by Chen Duan to ask if he had any friends willing to come.
Mu Ning felt quite helpless, thinking that there were probably very few people like herself. Now, she had unexpectedly encountered another successful candidate on the street. After inquiring a little, she felt that his character was acceptable and he would not cause any great trouble. He was exactly the kind of disciple that Master Chen was looking for, so she absolutely could not let him go.
Thinking this, the latch was pulled open, and a large door opened: "Please come in."
"Sorry to bother you."
After Mu Ning entered, Rong Shao closed the door behind her.
The courtyard was small and rather empty, filled with a cold, gray atmosphere. The doors of the two side rooms of the three houses were tightly closed, while one door in the front room was open, through which Mu Ning could see a man wearing a robe standing next to a stool.
“My name is Dugwen. Thank you, Mr. Mu, for coming.”
Mu Ning quickly walked into the room and sat down next to Du Gewen at his request. Du Gewen didn't look very old, just over thirty, but he had an air of old age and weariness that dragged down his appearance. He had a few strands of beard and his hair was neatly tied up, but because he was feeling unwell, a few strands of hair were hanging over his shoulders.
Rong Shao brought in two glasses of water: "I have no good tea to offer you, Mr. Mu, please forgive my poor service."
“Madam, you needn’t be so polite,” Mu Ning said quickly. “I didn’t know Mr. Du was unwell when I came, so I came empty-handed. I’m sorry you two had to laugh at me.”
“It’s nothing,” Du Gewen picked up his teacup and took a sip of water. “I was just feeling tired, but after resting for two days I’m much better. I’m just worried about not having a way to make a living. Now that Mr. Mu has come from afar, it’s a real lifesaver for my wife and me. I would like to ask Mr. Mu to say a few more words about the storyteller.”
Hearing this, Mu Ning felt much relieved and explained why Chen Duan was looking for disciples: "However, whether you become a lecturer or a collator of ancient texts depends entirely on Master Chen's decision. The academy is located in the mountains, a secluded and remote place, so Master Chen will provide accommodations. You two need not worry about this. You can also discuss the matter of salary with Master Chen. We are not bad people; we are genuinely seeking talented individuals."
"That would be very good. I appreciate your kind offer."
“If you and your wife have any concerns, I understand. You can discuss it further. The journey ahead will be by water. I will return in ten days. If you are willing, you can travel with me then.”
At this point, Mu Ning mentioned leaving, since it was his own decision and he hadn't consulted Chen Duan's opinion yet. So, after saying goodbye to Du Gewen and Rong Shao, he immediately returned to Kongyun Mountain and found Chen Duan to discuss it in detail.
“I never expected things to progress so quickly,” Chen Duan, who was sitting at the table, looked up at Mu Ning. “It’s really not easy to find scholars of this caliber. It would be best if the two of them were willing to come; everything else is a matter for later. To be honest, it’s truly heartbreaking that we have a former scholar like you, yet Lu Ying snatched you away to Wuzong.”
In the Du family courtyard, after Mu Ning left, the couple were filled with anxiety about her request. If it was true, their current impoverished situation would be alleviated, and they would have someone to rely on in the future. However, this was only the best-case scenario. If Mu Ning's people were just a group of thugs who were actually after money and wanted to kill, they would be left all alone and wouldn't even know how they died.
"Zongzheng, what are you thinking?" Rong Shao sat next to him, feeling very anxious, but he tried his best to remain calm.
"If what you say is true, that would be good, but I'm always worried about unexpected things."
Du Gewen had been in officialdom for nearly ten years. He had originally harbored great ambitions, believing he could save the world, but in reality, he had remained stuck in a lowly position for a decade, worn out and exhausted, with no one to confide in. He and Rong Shao had known each other since childhood, and their families were also familiar with each other. However, during these ten years, all four elders had passed away one after another, and Du Gewen had remained a minor figure, with no future in sight. Their children, son Du Geng and daughter Du Heng, were born in abject poverty. After growing up, they fell seriously ill and died helplessly, amidst the echoes of their sorrowful cries, leaving only the couple with nothing but despair in the courtyard.
A few days ago, Du Gewen worked at the court until late at night before returning home. After returning, he fell asleep after only taking a sip of water. Rong Shao thought he was just too tired, but when she got up to prepare dinner the next day, she found that Du Gewen had a high fever on his forehead. After taking medicine, his symptoms were slightly relieved, but he couldn't open his eyes all day and lay listlessly in bed under the covers.
Rong Shao sat alone in the courtyard. Although the weather had milded by the turn of spring and summer, her clothes were still thin, and she felt as if her hands and feet were about to freeze off; her whole body was stiff and cold. After a night's sleep, her mind was clear. She felt she couldn't go on any longer, so after washing up, she left the house with her trembling limbs. Still afraid, she chose to walk along the less crowded side of the road, hurrying to the place where Du Gewen worked.
Women are rarely seen here on ordinary days, and the two people standing at the door tensed up as soon as Rong Shao appeared from afar. Seeing Rong Shao approaching, they realized that if she were to beat the drum to appeal for justice, she would have come to the wrong place.
“Madam, you can’t just come here,” someone said, blocking Rong Shao’s way with a stick.
“I, I am…” Rong Shao was already terrified when he walked over, and he was a little unsteady when he stepped onto the steps. “I came on behalf of Du Gewen. He is a minor official here.”
“It seems so,” the second man said. “Yesterday, it seems that because a guy surnamed Du didn’t come all day, that old man inside was cursing all day. Where is he? What use is your coming?”
"Please convey to me that Du Gewen will not be taking office again," Rong Shao said, her voice trembling. As she spoke more, her words became more fluent. Then she took out the resignation letter she had written herself. "I am just a woman and do not wish to defile this place. Please pass this on to that old gentleman. My departure may cause a lot of trouble. Please bear with me."
After handing the letter to the second person, Rong Shao ran away.
At home, after Du Gewen woke up, he found no one home and assumed Rong Shao had simply gone out to buy something. Because he was thirsty, he got up to boil some water. He had just taken a sip when the rattling front door startled him, spilling water all over the table. He quickly grabbed something to wipe the table. Hearing Rong Shao hurriedly bolt the door, he rushed inside, sat down, and poured himself a glass of water as well.
Upon seeing this, Du Gewen knew something serious had happened, so he quickly asked, "Feng Qing, what happened?"
Rong Shao was somewhat disoriented, his lips trembling as he spoke, recounting what he had done that morning.
Du Gewen was stunned upon hearing this, his mind going blank for a moment. But when he came to his senses, he moved a chair and sat in the yard, watching the clouds in the sky, and heard Rong Shao lighting a fire to cook rice.
The ten-year period of his life came to an end, and he felt somewhat lost and helpless. However, the thought that he no longer had to take up his post made him feel much better.
It seems I'm not sick.
During the meal, Du Gewen spoke up, which put Rong Shao at ease.
The past is history; now we need to think about what to do next.
After finishing his meal, Duger swept the yard.
While washing the dishes, Rong Shao cried for a while by the well.
The neighbors quickly found out about their family's troubles. Several of their close friends came over to check on them. The wives of the two men who had met Rong Shao at the door also asked for directions and came over to see what was going on. They told Du Gewen how angry his boss was and what had happened. After hearing this, Du Gewen thought that it was no longer his concern, and his illness healed even faster.
The elderly neighbor and the landlord came one after the other. Watching the landlord leave, the old lady said worriedly, "What will become of you two in the future?"
The two men laughed bitterly, probably because they were going back to Dugwen's old home, where the house was not only bare but also drafty. They still had a small plot of land, so they might not starve to death.
Rong Shao often thought about what he had done at night and secretly shed tears.
One day, she woke up early, sprinkled some water on the two saplings by the door, and then swept up the leaves that had flown out from outside.
Mu Ning then knocked on the door.
"Feng Qing, do you still want to go to the academy?" Du Gewen asked.
“It would be good to go, of course. Although we still have some land at home, it has been uncultivated for many years. How can the two of us guarantee a harvest? It’s just a change of scenery to worry about.” Rong Shao pondered with worry, “Let’s go and take a look. This is no longer the time to follow the rules.”
“The road ahead is truly bleak,” Dugwen affirmed. “From the beginning until now, we’ve always thought we could just hold on a little longer, but we’ve finally reached the point where we can’t go on anymore. Since the road ahead is blocked, let’s take a gamble and see how other people live their lives.”
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