Chapter 81 The Opportunity Has Arrived
"Come on, move the brass paper horse out," Meng Qing called out. "With the brass paper horse as a doorplate, we won't have to worry about people not being able to find the place."
Du Li and Du Min both put down what they were doing to help. The three of them carried the brass paper horse, complete with horse tack, out of the yard and placed it neatly at the entrance.
When a neighbor passed by, Meng Qing worried that he would find the paper effigies unlucky, so she apologized and said, "Uncle, please forgive me. In a couple of days, I will go to the Great Ci'en Temple to get a few consecrated Dharma treasures for you. You can put them in your home to ward off evil spirits, and they won't be affected by us."
The neighbor waved his hand, "I don't care about funerary objects. Someone of my status wouldn't even be eligible to have funerary objects buried with me after I die."
Meng Qing immediately understood; the other party was probably of servant origin.
“Pottery funerary objects can’t be used, but paper funerary objects can’t be used? This is a new thing, the law doesn’t prohibit it, anyone can use it,” Du Min said, patting the rump of the paper horse.
The other person smiled, paused to examine the brass paper horse, and said, "I'm just afraid that people won't receive this after they die."
Du Min shook his head. "Both the Book of Documents and the Book of Rites record the practice of burning firewood to worship the heavens. In ancient times, our ancestors began to worship the gods by burning firewood and offerings. This is because the smoke produced when burning offerings could reach the heavens directly, and only through the flames could the 'essence' of the offerings be enjoyed by the gods. Go to Buddhist temples and Taoist temples and see; aren't there incense offerings on the altars for Buddha and deity statues? The burning of incense is the same thing. If gods and Buddhas do this, how can the soul of a dead person be an exception?"
As he spoke, Du Min tugged at his clothes and patted his body. "When I was alive, I used this body to walk in the world. The body needs clothes and shoes to cover its body and its shame. It needs carriages and ships to travel. It needs to eat to live. But once I die, this body will turn into bones. What use will I have for these clothes and shoes? I am a ghost, a light and floating soul. I can't touch anything. Clothes, shoes, houses, and carriages are all useless things to me. Don't you agree?"
The neighbors all came out, and more and more people gathered at the door. After hearing Du Min's words, most of them nodded in agreement.
"What about the pottery funerary objects passed down from our ancestors? Are they no longer useful?" someone asked.
Du Min dared not say such a thing. If he did, he would please the common people but offend the powerful and influential.
"What was the earliest type of funerary object to appear among pottery funerary objects? Human figurines, which replaced living people buried alive." Du Min made a gesture that seemed to suggest he couldn't say for sure.
The onlookers immediately realized that this was how it was; the initial burial objects were living people.
"The popularity of pottery funerary objects is a result of the development of Confucianism. The feudal lords, influenced by Confucianism, practiced benevolent governance, which led to the replacement of human sacrifice with pottery funerary objects. Furthermore, paper only appeared in the Han Dynasty, and only with paper could paper money be offered as a sacrificial offering." Du Min waved his long arm and said, "I have written several policy essays, all related to funerary objects. According to my research of ancient books, funerary objects have been constantly changing from ancient times to the present. I, Du Min, hereby assert that in the future, paper-made funerary objects will replace pottery funerary objects and become the most popular sacrificial offering in the funeral industry. Gentlemen, the opportunity to get rich is here. Whether you can seize this opportunity to make money in the next few decades depends on whether you are willing to take this step. You can achieve this by becoming an apprentice at our Qingniao Paper Crafting Academy."
"With such a good business, why are you teaching apprentices the trade for free?" Some people with a strong sense of suspicion still had doubts.
“I came from Wu County. It’s a long way and expensive. I didn’t bring any apprentices with me. I have no help in Chang’an, so I have to start taking on apprentices again,” Meng Qing replied. “Although I don’t charge tuition for my apprentices, there are requirements. You have to sign a contract to become an apprentice and stay under my tutelage for three years before you can graduate. Moreover, there is no pay for the three years of apprenticeship. Two meals a day are provided, but no accommodation is provided.”
“I’ll be the first apprentice.” A thin man stepped out from the crowd. “My name is Liu Laosan, and I live in Anyifang. I can sign the contract on the spot.”
"You accept female apprentices too, right?" a woman asked. Seeing Meng Qing nod, she stepped forward and said, "I'll also be an apprentice. I live in Chang Le Fang, and your place is very close to my home."
One after another, seven more people came out. Meng Qing led them in to sign contracts and agreed to bring their household registration documents to her for review the next day.
"Third Uncle." Wang Zhou walked to Du Min's side, took his hand, and asked, "Could you come with me to take the geese to play in the water?"
"Take your goose friends and go out with your third uncle first. We'll take the geese to the ferry to play in the water this evening." Du Min picked him up, and the uncle and nephew went back to his study together. Du Min asked Wang Zhou to grind ink for him, and he laid out paper and picked up his brush to write down the conversation outside the door. He wrote one page after another and let them dry until the floor of the study was covered and the stack of paper on the desk was empty. Only then did he pour water to wash his brush.
"Where's Wangzhou?" Meng Qing asked, starting to look for the child after finishing her work.
“It’s with me.” Du Min replied subconsciously, then turned his head to look at the boy who was lying on the table dipping his hand in ink and pressing his fingerprint on it. “I asked you to grind the ink for me, and you’ve used up half of it.”
Wang Zhou chuckled, picked up the paper covered in handprints, and asked, "Third Uncle, look, what does this look like?"
Du Min glanced at it. He couldn't tell what it looked like, but he could tell that it wasn't a random print. The paper wasn't covered in a black blob of ink; instead, there were gaps between the handprints. He looked at it a few more times, then took a step back. Huh, it made his eyes dizzy.
"What do you want to print?" he asked.
Wang Zhou didn't know either, but he said, "I won't tell you."
“I don’t want to know either.” Du Min went to pick up the paper that had been drying ink.
Wang Zhou ran out to find his mother. Meng Qing glanced at the paper covered with handprints and discovered that he actually had a three-dimensional consciousness; the fingerprints on the paper had a multi-dimensional effect.
“It looks like a little horse here,” Meng Qing said, pointing to the center of the paper.
Wang Zhou nodded in delight, "Yes, I originally wanted to print out a pony."
"That's really impressive," Meng Qing praised.
Wang Zhou was a little shy, "Mother is the best."
"Wangzhou, let's go." Du Min brought out a bowl of porridge, with a vegetable basket slung over his arm.
"What are you trying to do?" Meng Qing asked.
"Qingniang, someone's here again," Du Li called from the front yard.
Meng Qing didn't have time to ask any more questions. She told Du Min not to lose the Wangzhou boat, and then went to the front yard.
Du Min asked Wang Zhou to call his goose friends, "I'll wait for you in the front yard."
He went to the front yard and posted a question-and-answer post on the wall outside the gate and on the gate itself. Then, he left Chang Le Fang with Wang Zhou and four quacking geese and went to Xuan Yang Fang, Chong Ren Fang, and Sheng Ye Fang, where the nobles and dignitaries lived, to post the question-and-answer posts on the walls, doors, trees, and pillars.
For five consecutive days, Du Min, along with Wangzhou and Geese, roamed the neighborhoods. When the neighborhood officials chased him away, he would use his title as a member of the Ministry of Rites to intimidate them. When no one was chasing him away, he would use his title as Du Min, the scholar who passed the imperial examination for making funerary objects, to explain paper-made funerary objects to the residents.
Du Min's name spread throughout the streets and alleys, and even the Vice Minister of Rites had heard of his deeds. On this day of his ten-day break, he took his servants out of the mansion, intending to visit the free school in Chang Le Fang. When he reached the entrance of the neighborhood, he heard the term "paper effigies of funerary objects." He pulled back the carriage curtain, glanced at it, and said, "Stop."
After the carriage stopped, the Vice Minister of Rites got out and let the coachman drive the carriage away first.
“…Paper only appeared in the Han Dynasty. By today, it has completely replaced the tortoise shells of ancient times, as well as the sheepskin and bamboo slips used in the Spring and Autumn Period, the Warring States Period, and the Qin and Han Dynasties. The writing process has undergone earth-shattering changes, which shows the status of paper. If tortoise shells, sheepskin, and bamboo slips can be replaced, why can't pottery funerary objects be replaced by funerary objects made of paper?” Du Min asked rhetorically from the crowd.
“Paper effigies are destroyed in a single fire, while pottery can last for hundreds of years,” said an elderly man dressed in fine clothes.
“Even bones can’t last for a hundred years, so what good are pottery if they’re still there? They’re useless to the deceased. I’m not going to talk to you anymore. We don’t even know if paper funerary objects will replace pottery funerary objects as the main items in the funeral industry a thousand years from now.” Du Min pulled Wang Zhou away. “I stick to my point of view, and you stick to yours. I can’t convince you, and you can’t change my mind either.”
The neighborhood official followed behind Du Min and reminded him, "You cannot post your funerary artifact notices in the neighborhood."
"I know," Du Min replied evasively.
“Your Vice Minister of Rites also lives in Yongxing Ward. If you secretly graffiti and post random things in the ward behind my back, I will go to him and report you.”
"Du Min, come with me." The Vice Minister of Rites called out, and he nodded to the Ward Chief and led Du Min away from Yongxing Ward.
Du Min cheered inwardly. He led Wang Zhou, carrying a basket, and quickly followed, successfully boarding the Vice Minister's carriage.
"My lord, where are you going?" Du Min asked.
"Go and see the free school you're running." The Vice Minister of Rites took a piece of paper from the basket he was carrying, glanced at it, and then looked up to ask, "What are you doing?"
"I am of low rank and have no influence over the nobles and officials of Chang'an. I cannot spread the fame of paper-made funerary objects to them, so I have no choice but to resort to this desperate measure," Du Min said with a look of shame.
The Vice Minister of Rites glanced at him a few times. This man's methods were a bit wild, but he was someone who could get things done by swallowing his pride. His methods were indeed effective. Not only did he make paper funerary objects, but Du Min and the Ministry of Rites became famous together.
"Let Master Chen organize a literary gathering or poetry gathering, and invite some colleagues and well-known literati to exchange ideas. Wouldn't that be a good way to introduce paper-made funerary objects to the world?" The Vice Minister of Rites suggested to him.
Du Min looked troubled and said awkwardly, "The master is busy with official duties, so there's no need to bother him with such a small matter. I can find a way to solve it myself."
The Vice Minister of Rites immediately understood that Chen Mingzhang had once again shirked his responsibilities and was probably planning to wait and reap the benefits.
“Tell me about the situation at the free school,” said the Vice Minister of Rites.
“Paper-made funerary objects are more readily accepted by the public. After I went door-to-door to promote them, many people have expressed a tendency to commission paper-made funerary objects, and quite a few have come to learn the craft. Currently, I have forty apprentices. My second sister-in-law has limited energy and can only take on forty apprentices. We have already achieved our goal of taking on apprentices,” Du Min said.
The Vice Minister of Rites nodded. "The common people can accept using paper offerings for sacrifices, but the high officials cannot?"
“There is a lack of opportunity to establish the status of paper-made funerary objects. It may be necessary to wait until paper-made offerings appear in royal sacrifices before paper-made funerary objects can be used in the funerals of high-ranking officials. Only if the sage can personally affirm the status of paper-made funerary objects in the matter of simple burials will high-ranking officials adopt paper-made funerary objects for funerals,” Du Min said.
“This approach is correct.” The Vice Minister of Rites found that Du Min was quite thorough in his work. The channels among the common people had been opened, and the path to the upper echelons had been paved. There was almost nothing for him to worry about.
When the carriage arrived at Chang Le Fang, Du Min got off the carriage carrying his sleeping nephew and led the Vice Minister of Rites into the school.
"Second Brother." Du Min handed Wang Zhou to Du Li. "Wang Zhou is asleep. Put him back on the bed."
The Vice Minister of Rites stood on the steps and surveyed the scene. In the front yard, there were thirty or forty people divided into three groups: one group was splitting bamboo, another group seemed to be dyeing paper, and the third group was drying paper.
"Second sister-in-law, this is the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. Your Excellency, this is my second sister-in-law, her name is Meng Qing." Du Min brought Meng Qing over to introduce her.
"This humble woman greets Your Excellency, Vice Minister," Meng Qing bowed.
The Vice Minister of Rites nodded in satisfaction, "You've acted quite quickly; the free school is already taking shape."
“Not only is the basic structure complete, but business is also coming in,” Meng Qing said. “Sir, let’s talk in the backyard.”
"OK."
Meng Qing handed the account book to the Vice Minister of Rites and said, "From the time we started accepting students at the free school until today, we have received twelve business offers in eight days. However, since we run a free school and only teach people skills, we have refused them all."
Vice Minister of Rites: "..."
He silently flipped through the account book, which was filled with expenses: the purchase of bamboo, paper, paint, brushes, ink sticks, tung oil, alum, ox glue, raw lacquer, and daily food expenses, which totaled a staggering 150 strings of cash.
"Such high expenses?" he asked.
“There is little bamboo in Chang’an, and it is expensive. Moreover, the bamboo is too thin, and many of them are unusable. We can only find a boat to buy bamboo from Luoyang. To make things easier, we buy a whole boatload. The deposit for just one boatload of bamboo is seventy strings of cash,” Meng Qing said.
The Vice Minister of Rites was in a bad mood. He handed the account book to Du Min and said, "The cost of the free school is too high. The Ministry of Rites cannot afford it."
“That’s what I thought too, which is why I’ve been going from street to street promoting paper effigies to increase their fame,” Du Min said. “We plan to follow the example of temples that donate money for incense oil and sell paper effigies through donations. But we can’t damage the reputation of the Ministry of Rites, so we need a proper reason. I think we need someone to take the lead and start this process.”
The Vice Minister of Rites thought for a moment and said, "Is it possible that not many people know that this free school belongs to the Ministry of Rites? I have only heard of the reputation of Du Min, a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) during the Ming Dynasty, but I have not heard any rumors about this."
“Yes, if word gets out that the free school belongs to the Ministry of Rites, many people will probably come to become apprentices there. But my second sister-in-law is an ordinary peasant woman. She has a skill but no powerful connections. She may not be able to control apprentices with ulterior motives, which could make the free school's development difficult and even cause you trouble,” Du Min explained.
The Vice Minister of Rites nodded in satisfaction again. "Now that we've recruited enough apprentices, we don't need to keep this free school a secret anymore. I'll take the lead and introduce it to the outside world. What's the price of these paper-made funerary objects in Wu County? Give me a price, and I'll prepare a batch of them. I'll ask someone to come and buy them through donations."
Meng Qing was secretly delighted. The Vice Minister of Rites brought many officials to cut the ribbon, what a grand occasion! Moreover, he personally introduced the Qingniao Paper Craft Academy, so it was a done deal that it would belong to the Ministry of Rites.
Du Min was secretly delighted. He could finally get to know other officials by bypassing Chen Yuanwai. This time, the Vice Minister of Rites was establishing the status of the school, and he, a Mingqi Jinshi, could also make his official debut.
“My lord, once my second sister-in-law has finished making all the paper effigies, I will send you the pricing. You can then set a date for the opening, and I will make the preparations,” Du Min said.
The Vice Minister of Rites nodded, figuring that there was nothing else to do, and got up to leave.
Meng Qing and Du Min saw him off, watching the carriage disappear into the distance before turning back. Back in the courtyard, Meng Qing asked, "The Vice Minister of Rites has already been brought here. Are you still going to go door-to-door posting notices for funerary objects?"
"I'm not going anymore. My shoes are worn thin, I'm exhausted." Du Min took a sip of tea. "This propaganda campaign is temporarily suspended. We'll see how things go in three to five months. The task of educating the common people is complete; all that's left is the fermentation process. As for the nobles and powerful, I can't do much. Let's wait for the right opportunity."
"Everything is ready, except for the east wind," Meng Qing said.
For the next two weeks, Meng Qing began making paper funerary objects in a flurry of activity. Since the brass paper horse hadn't sold, she only needed to make paper houses, paper sedan chairs, and brass paper oxen. She even made a paper pig and a paper sheep.
Du Min resumed his duties at the Ministry of Rites, and when he wasn't on duty, he stayed home to continue learning how to make paper horses.
Du Li was responsible for leading the apprentices to split bamboo, dye paper, and dry paper. Later, through an apprentice's introduction, he found a carpenter to make two plaques. One plaque was engraved with the name of the free school, and the other plaque was blank.
*
On the second day of the seventh lunar month, a batch of paper-made funerary objects were completed. When Du Min went to his post, he reported the news to the Vice Minister of Rites. Upon learning of this, the Vice Minister of Rites set the date for the eighth day of the seventh lunar month.
After receiving the letter, Du Min immediately spread the news. Those who received the news went to the Ministry of Rites to inquire about its authenticity. The Vice Minister of Rites took the opportunity to invite these people to attend the ceremony.
When the news spread, a large number of people flocked to Chang Le Fang, requesting to become apprentices at the charity school. Meng Qing refused them all, using the name of the Vice Minister of Rites to block them all, stating that the Vice Minister of Rites had said that forty apprentices were enough for the charity school and that no more apprentices would be recruited this year.
Someone sought help from Master Chen through connections. Master Chen directly instructed Zhao Xingwu to send the person to Du Min. Zhao Xingwu led the person to the free school and said, "Scholar Du, these two are family members of your friend. They want to come to the free school to study under you. Please make arrangements for them."
How could Du Min possibly accept it? He used his position as Vice Minister of Rites to refuse. When Master Chen found out, he summoned Du Min and asked, "Have you met with the Vice Minister in private? You're still incorrigible, trying to play both sides again?"
“It was the Vice Minister who went to the charity school last month,” Du Min said. “Even if I didn’t meet with the Vice Minister privately, it would be my duty to report to him. I am an official from the Ministry of Rites, and he is the Vice Minister of Rites. He is my superior, and it is my responsibility to report to him. How can this be considered playing both sides?”
"Stop talking nonsense to me. You are my official, and you should be reporting to me. Why didn't you tell me about the Vice Minister's visit to the free school?" Master Chen questioned.
"I didn't know this matter required reporting," Du Min feigned ignorance. "I know now, and I'll definitely report it to you next time."
Master Chen was so angry at Chen's apparent indifference that he gritted his teeth.
“The free school will open on the eighth day of the seventh lunar month. Don’t forget to come,” Du Min said again. “I’ve informed you this time.”
"Get out!" Master Chen slammed his fist on the table in anger.
Du Min quickly rolled away.
*
On the eighth day of the seventh lunar month, the alley where the school was located was packed with onlookers early in the morning. The students in the school stood guard at the entrance and end of the alley, ready to clear the way at any time.
At the beginning of Chen Shi (7-9 AM), the Vice Minister of Rites arrived with eleven officials from the Ministry of Rites in a horse-drawn carriage and an oxcart. Then, Lu, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, arrived with two officials. Representatives from the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Works were also present, making it a complete gathering of the six ministries.
At the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), the Vice Minister of Rites saw that all the people he had invited had arrived. He stood up and said, "Everyone has heard of the reputation of Du Min, the scholar who studied paper-crafts, right? Last month, he put a lot of effort and ink into promoting paper-crafts and this free school."
Suppressing his excitement, Du Min walked to the side of the Vice Minister of Rites, bowed, and said, "Du Min greets all the officials."
Master Chen watched coldly; Du Min's hypocritical demeanor was all too familiar to him.
"If you used the name of your Ministry of Rites, would you still need to go door-to-door posting notices? It would ruin your reputation," an official from the Ministry of Personnel joked.
“The Ministry of Rites certainly has a prestigious reputation, and I know that by displaying this signboard, the free school will have no trouble finding students. However, as a type of sacrificial offering, paper effigies need to be accepted by the living before they can appear at the funerals of the deceased.” Du Min seized this opportunity to showcase himself. “Our Qingniao Paper Effigy Free School can fulfill its mission of teaching apprentices with funding from the Ministry of Rites. But if we don’t open up sales channels, the forty apprentices will go out to open shops after they graduate. Without business, the shops will inevitably go bankrupt. This is harmful to people, and it is not the purpose of our free school, nor is it the purpose of the Ministry of Rites’ support in establishing the free school.”
The Vice Minister of Rites nodded in satisfaction. He continued Du Min's words, "The purpose of the Ministry of Rites in supporting the establishment of free schools is to follow the teachings of the sages, to crack down on the trend of extravagant funerals, to suppress the practice of squandering family wealth on funerals, and to provide an alternative for families who cannot afford a decent funeral."
After saying that, he glanced at Du Min.
Du Min took out an account book and handed it to the official who was closest to him.
The Vice Minister of Rites smiled and said, “The free schools are educational institutions without commercial interests. However, purchasing tools for apprentices to practice with is a considerable expense. The Ministry of Rites is not a wealthy department either. The six ministries of Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Justice, and Works are one family. You have to help the Ministry of Rites and share the burden. If you need our help in the future, we will not hesitate to ask.”
“We should support it, but our Ministry of Revenue is also facing difficulties. I will donate fifteen strings of cash on behalf of the Ministry of Revenue,” said an official from the Ministry of Revenue who had already been informed by the Vice Minister of Rites.
The other four organizations also successively offered donations.
The charity school receives donations and then returns them with paper effigies of funerary objects. However, these return gifts are not taken away but stored at the charity school. During the Ghost Festival, the charity school will organize the burning of these objects to appease wandering ghosts.
Finally, the Vice Minister of Rites pulled down the red cloth on the door plaque, and the Qingniao Paper Craft School officially opened.
After the Vice Minister of Rites and his men left, the carpenter Du Li had hired began his work. The blank plaque came in handy, displaying the names of the five ministries of Personnel, Revenue, War, Justice, and Works, along with the amount of money donated and the types of paper offerings given back by the charity school.
Thus, the play came to a complete end, and Qingniao Paper Craft Academy, the scholar Du Min who created funerary objects, and paper-crafted funerary objects made a name for themselves in Chang'an.
After that, Meng Qing and Du Min calmed down, one diligently teaching his apprentice and the other diligently practicing.
But this peaceful period didn't last long. Du Min brought back news from the Ministry of Rites that made him tremble with excitement—the Emperor had decreed that Mount Tai would be used for the Fengshan ceremony, and all departments of the court were to prepare. The Vice Minister of Rites personally informed him that paper offerings of the three sacrificial animals would appear at the Fengshan ceremony.
The opportunity for paper-made funerary objects to become orthodox funerary objects has arrived, and so has the opportunity for Du Min to turn his life around.
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