Chapter 78 Chapter 78 The donkey pulls the mill.
That day, after having fun for two quarters of an hour, the boys and girls, with rosy faces, entered the lecture hall and knelt in front of their desks. They had endless things to say to each other until Master Yang came in with a scroll in his hand. The hall then fell silent.
"A few days ago we learned about the five internal organs. Today we will learn the line from the Jijiupian: 'The buttocks, hips, spine, waist and back are the pillars, while the thighs, feet, knees, and shins are the pillars.'
Stretch out your hands and circle your back. Is there a spine in the middle? The end of this spine is the "尻" (rump), and the two hips belong to the rump..."
It was a warm spring day and the children, who had been playing outside and had no time to rest, now dozed off with their chins in their hands as they listened to Teacher Yang's leisurely voice.
Ji Feng's head heaved like a chicken pecking at rice until his chin slipped out of his hand and he came to his senses. He pinched his thigh.
She was not tired, because she was in elementary school and her sister never allowed her to get up to light the fire and make tofu, wanting her to get enough sleep and keep her spirits up. She was worried that her sister would be exhausted from being alone and refused to agree. Her sister said she could only make do for a few days and soon bought the donkey back, and she felt much more relaxed.
Even so, my sister often asked them if they were tired from studying and brought them food in different ways. She said:
"Riding an oxcart to and from the lecture hall is just sitting there for half a day. It doesn't require any effort, but how can one get tired? It actually feels like a blissful experience."
Ji Feng was telling the truth. Back in the day, she'd been collecting grass for pigs, carrying firewood, and searching the mountains for wild vegetables. Going hungry and cold was exhausting. But even then, she'd never dozed off. She'd always been quick and efficient at her work, so how could she have dozed off after listening to a few lines of ancient Chinese prose from Master Yang? Then, she pinched her thigh, wincing in pain, and woke up considerably.
Seeing that many people were sleeping downstairs, Book Master Yang hit the table with a wooden stick, which made a deafening sound. The children were frightened and quickly straightened up, holding the scroll in their hands, shaking their heads, and reading a few sentences in a daze, making a chaotic noise.
This made Master Yang angry, but he noticed that a little girl in the front row, named Ji Zhu, was energetic from beginning to end, and read all the characters correctly in her crisp voice. The characters "尻", "嘻", "脊", "偻", "腰", "背", "吕"... which she practiced on the wooden staff were all straight and correct.
Finally, he felt a little relieved, so he nodded:
"You lead the recitation, starting with 'Intestines, Stomach, Abdomen, Liver, Lungs, and Heart,' and continuing with what we learned today. First, read the individual words once, then read them three times as a sentence."
Jizhu originally practiced calligraphy according to what Master Yang had said. However, because everyone's voices in the hall were mixed together and it was very noisy, she was not shy and started to shake her head while reciting the two new sentences.
As soon as her name was called, the surroundings suddenly fell silent, waiting for her to take the lead. Ji Zhu's heart was pounding, and even the hands holding the scroll were shaking a little. Fortunately, she started by reading single words with short syllables and did not show any fear.
But when it came to reciting the complete sentences, I couldn't hold on any longer.
"Stomach, stomach, abdomen..."
After hearing this, Ji Feng realized that her sister's stuttering was caused by anxiety.
This problem would not occur in front of acquaintances, but in some situations, he would not speak clearly. Last time, because his sister was angry, he recited Mencius' words fluently to Fat Zhang Guang. Ji Feng thought that the stuttering was just a matter of studying, but he still stuttered, and he was very anxious for a while.
Hearing this stumbling, everyone burst into laughter.
Ji Zhu was increasingly stuck on the word "belly".
Everyone started laughing again, and some even dared to imitate him, but Master Yang slammed the table and shouted, "Silence!"
"A sage said: 'When three people walk together, there must be one who can be my teacher. Choose the best and follow him.' I asked Jizhu to recite first because I wanted you to emulate his strengths and be humble. Why are you sneering at me?"
"Xiaozhu, radish and cabbage!"
Ji Feng was so anxious that she was running around in circles. If Master Yang had not been there, she would have scolded those people who were laughing with their rotten tongues. Because Ji Zhu was feeling wronged and was looking back for her gaze, she was able to speak with her lips.
This is what my sister taught me at home. If I have to speak and feel panicky, I should just pretend that I am facing the radishes and cabbages growing in the field.
"Think about it, Xiaozhu. Those radishes and cabbages in the vegetable patch can't talk. When Xiaozhu helps them catch insects and water them every day, muttering a few words to them, don't you feel comfortable?"
Thinking of her sister's words, all the students in the classroom turned into heads of green cabbage and white radish in Ji Zhu's eyes. Even Teacher Yang became the largest cabbage. Only close people like Ji Feng and the newly met Princess Gan were left in the lecture hall.
Ji Zhu's reading voice suddenly became fluent.
"The intestines, stomach, abdomen, liver, lungs, and heart are in charge, while the spleen, kidneys, and scrotum are in charge."
The whole class followed suit, and she led the recitation in a youthful voice:
"The hips, spine, waist, and back are all bent; the thighs, feet, knees, and shins are all pillars."
Amid the sound of reading, Master Yang twirled his beard and nodded in satisfaction.
After the wooden hammer struck the bell and school was over, many young girls gathered around her and asked how Jizhu knew those words, begging her to tell them.
"If I can't write it down tomorrow, Master Yang will spank my hands with a stick. It's going to hurt. Look at my hands, the bruises from last time are still there."
"Little Pearl, please be so kind as to tell us."
"Yes, tell us what you want, just tell me and I'll buy it for you."
Ji Zhu was stumped by the question. He scratched his head and thought hard. He leaned over to Ji Feng who had come over. Only then did he calm down and whispered, "I don't know either. I can remember what the calligrapher taught me. I like those characters."
"You are trying to fool us, but you are definitely not willing to tell us a good solution."
"That's right. You only like people and toys, but you also like words? Maybe you like writing brushes? I have a wolf-hair brush. If you tell me how to use it, I'll give it to you."
The chattering crowd made Ji Zhu even more confused. She didn't know what wolf hair was and couldn't answer. She tugged at Ji Feng's sleeve and begged, "Second sister, please help Xiao Zhu."
Ji Feng waved her hand and said, "My sister can read and recognize words. That's a gift! Not everyone has it. When I listen to those 'Jijiupian' and the sages' sayings, I feel sleepy. I can recite them today and forget them the next day. But she can remember them forever. That's talent!"
When talking about her sister, Ji Feng's face lit up and looked radiant.
"Xiaozhu, recite those Guan Guan Zhi Zhi to them again, ladylike or not."
Ji Feng smiled and said that he had heard this when he passed by a library while going up the mountain to collect firewood and wild vegetables. Later, Ji Zhu had never forgotten it and could recite it.
"Second sister, it's 'The orioles are singing on the river island, the beautiful lady is the ideal match for the gentleman.'" Ji Zhu said, pulling her sleeve.
Everyone laughed at once, and Ji Feng herself laughed out loud.
The crowd finally dispersed, but Princess Gan, who was sitting at the back, hadn't left yet. She interrupted and asked, "Ji Feng, Ji Zhu, where are you going?"
"We should have gone home. My sister is going to the market to buy a donkey today. She will take us with her. I believe she is waiting outside." Ji Feng had already packed her own bookcase. She said as she tidied Ji Zhu's.
"Buy a donkey? Just leave this matter to the servants." said Princess Gan.
"Our family is not as wealthy as yours and we don't have any slaves. Besides, my hands are born to do housework. If I really had slaves to help me do this and that, I would feel uneasy." Ji Feng said.
The daughter of the King of Gan thought for a moment and said, "I have never heard such talk, nor have I seen anything like buying a donkey. Anai, push me with them, and I will go and see for myself."
Anai knew that Princess Gan had been unwilling to leave the palace because she was reluctant to do so. This was the first time in her life that she had a playmate, and she was always curious about everything about other people and was reluctant to go home early.
He immediately agreed and sent another boy back to Gan's house to inform Mrs. Bai.
Ji Xu was familiar with An Nai, and after hearing what An Nai had said, he readily agreed. He hadn't seen Princess Gan in the wheelchair behind him for a while, so he asked, "Are you all right?"
The daughter of the King of Gan turned away, her cheeks slightly hot, and urged, "Anai, don't worry about grinding your teeth. If you feel better, leave quickly."
"Sister, have you seen it? This is the daughter of Prince Gan who we play with. She also wanted to see the excitement of buying donkeys. She also tried the pickled vegetable and pork jerky noodles you made. She ate it all and said it was delicious." Ji Feng had already climbed onto the ox cart and was lying on it, licking her mouth.
Because Ji Xu had been the one who had urged her to come to the library, the daughter of the King of Gan had always been uncomfortable with her. When she heard this, she felt a pang of shame all the way to her neck.
"Who said that?"
Ji Feng said quickly, "I asked you a question, and you nodded. Does that mean you don't want to admit what you said?"
"I won't argue with you."
"You can't argue with me."
"You are such a jerk, Ji Erfeng!" Princess Gan turned the wheel herself anxiously, and hit her twice beside the car, and the two of them started to quarrel.
Anai and Ji Xu looked at them amused. Seeing how much fun they were having, Ji Xu asked, "Princess, would you like to sit on it?"
Later, Princess Gan was taken off her wheelchair and lifted onto a cart by Ji Xu and Anai. The three girls lay side by side on the cart, sandwiching Princess Gan in the middle, pointing along the road and chattering non-stop.
"I have never ridden in a car like this. Being able to lie down and look at the sky is more interesting than a carriage." said Princess Gan.
Later, I saw Ji Xu bargaining for a donkey, and I watched him for a moment, only to see Ji Xu finally buy a black donkey for 3,500 coins. This money was saved from selling pickled vegetables, meat jerky and noodles, and the donkey at the tofu shop.
After all, donkey carts are not used for long-distance transportation and are relatively rare even in cities. They mostly roam around the countryside, carrying crops and pulling mills. Unlike ox carts, they do not need to be registered. However, when counting the people, they will be recorded in the household registration as household property and livestock, and the corresponding tax must be paid.
There is no need to go to the county government to register, and it is convenient to pay for the goods. I can just tie it to the shaft of the cart and walk back.
The frame was made by Chen Da. Four wooden stakes were driven into the ground of the firewood shed, with two crossbeams with mortise and tenon joints crossing in the middle. The stone mill, which was originally in the corner of the kitchen, was lifted up onto the frame by Old Man Chen. Then he could harness the donkey and pull the reins to move the millstone, which was a hundred times easier than turning it by human power.
Late the next night, Ji Xu was leading his donkey to the millstone. Seeing Ji Feng still up, he said, "Look, this is a great bargain. Go back to sleep. My sister can handle this."
Ji Feng was used to getting up at this time and didn't fall asleep. She said, "I can't let go of my sister. She's busy every day, how could she possibly be sleep deprived? The library is a place of leisure, and not having to do any work makes me feel uncomfortable. Sister, please let me help you. I'm not sleepy. They all take a nap at noon, and I still have the energy to play ji rang."
He carried half a bucket of pulp to the kitchen to filter it, and then helped to light the fire.
She talked to Ji Xu about what they had learned and played during the day, and about Ji Zhu being called upon by Teacher Yang to lead the recitation. However, she did not mention her doze-off, for fear that her elder sister would send her to bed. She only said that she could not remember words and always forgot them.
Ji Xu stirred the slurry in the cauldron, and his heart warmed when he heard it. He advised her not to rush and take her time. Knowing that she was better at arithmetic related to counting money, he asked:
"Is it possible to memorize Sister Feng's Nine Nine Techniques?"
When talking about this, Ji Feng was quite lively. She had never dozed off when Master Yang was teaching her the Nine Nine Technique.
"Yes! Two and a half equals one, one and two equals two, two and two equals four... thirty-eight equals twenty-four, forty-eight equals thirty-two, five and eight equals forty... nine and nine equals eighty-one!"
The big black donkey tied to the woodshed hummed twice, and a warm mist filled the kitchen, where people were talking and laughing.
At the hour of Chen, Ji Xu opened the tofu shop. Now that he had also bought a donkey for his family, he planned to save the money for future use.
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