Chapter 24, My Lord, I'm going to the prefectural school.
As dawn broke, Mencius' mother was awakened by the loud crowing of a rooster. The rooster's crowing seemed to be coming from her own house, but her rooster had already been slaughtered, leaving only the hen.
"Whose rooster flew into our house? That loud voice is really annoying." Meng's father also woke up.
It was hot, and the bedroom door was left open when we went to bed at night. Both doors were wide open. Mencius' mother glanced outside and said, "It's time to get up. I'll cook some thin porridge. Go wait by the river. A boat selling zongzi will pass by. Buy a dozen or twenty of them."
Meng's father agreed, but remained lying down without moving.
Mencius' mother got up and went out, urging him as she left, "Get up now, don't fall asleep again."
She walked through the dark blue night mist and arrived at the front yard just as a rooster crowed. She followed the sound to the chicken coop and found that there were several more chickens inside. The fishing net covering the coop was intact, so it couldn't have been the neighbor's chickens that flew over the wall and then into the coop.
Clearly, the chickens were locked up by people, and Mencius' mother knew it.
"Son-in-law, what are you doing up so early?" Meng's father yawned as he came out, bumping into Du Li, who was also coming out of the house.
“It’s getting late. I would have already been working in the fields by now.” Du Li lowered his voice and reminded, “Dad, keep your voice down. Qingniang and the child are still sleeping.”
“No wonder you’re so thin, you’re not getting enough sleep. You’re at that age where you can never get enough sleep, you need to sleep more. Your brother Chun sleeps until dawn every day, he only gets up when you call him after the meal is ready.” Father Meng muttered in a low voice, “Go back to your room and sleep for a while longer.”
"I've had enough sleep." Du Li was already used to it. He went to get the carrying pole. Last night, five adults and one child took a bath, and the tub of water was empty. He went to fetch a few more buckets.
Mencius' mother came over and asked, "Son-in-law, why are there five extra chickens in the coop? Did you catch them from home?"
Du Li nodded, "Dad, Mom, I'll go fetch water and take Da Mao out for a walk while I'm at it."
When Mencius's parents saw him carrying a load on a shoulder pole and leading a donkey out the door, they looked at each other in bewilderment.
"We should really give Meng Chun to Du Laoding as his son, so he can see how rare it is to have a son who is hardworking, sensible, and never complains or makes a sound." Meng's father sighed. "This is how my son-in-law is. He's already used to it. His parents will only be more used to it. They won't feel sorry for him anymore. They'll just think it's what he should do."
Mencius' mother pushed him and said somewhat unhappily, "Our Mengchun is very good too. Don't be so critical. Besides, Mengchun is only sixteen years old."
Meng's father was just saying it casually; in truth, he still loved his son the most. "I'm going to wash my face. Give me some money; I'll go buy some zongzi later."
Mencius' mother ignored him, saying, "Go get it yourself. Why bother me with something as simple as money? Don't you know where it is?"
Amidst the bickering, bluish-white smoke slowly rose into the air.
The bluish-gray sky gradually faded, and the dazzling red glow slowly spread out; dawn had broken.
"Excuse me, brother, please move the boat to the west so I can pass."
"Hey girl selling colored ropes, wait a minute, I want to buy some colored ropes."
"Selling bamboo leaves for making zongzi, one coin a stack, cheap!"
"..."
On the clear river, small cargo boats glide slowly by, their calls mingling with the splashing of oars – a unique and lively scene in the early morning in this water town.
The people standing on the riverbank and bridge, eagerly waiting, were residents of various neighborhoods nearby. The market and neighborhoods were separate; the main market was in the Leqiao area, in the center of Wu County. Residents living near the city walls thought the main market was too far away, so every morning they would wait on the riverbank to stop the boats of vegetable vendors, boatwomen, and butchers coming from outside the city.
Meng's father came running quickly with a wooden basin in his hand. He heard someone shouting that they were selling zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), so he hurriedly squeezed through the crowd to listen.
"What flavors of zongzi do you have?" Meng's father asked, peeking out of his mouth.
"Zongzi with jujube filling, jujube filling, and red bean paste filling. Zongzi with jujube filling is two coins, and the latter two are three coins," the boatwoman wrapped in a gray headscarf replied.
"Ten zongzi, five with jujube filling and five with red bean paste filling." Father Meng handed over the basin. "Here, you pick them up for me, I'll count the money."
"Mr. Meng, why are you buying so many zongzi? Your wife has gotten married, and there are only three people left in your family this year. Can you finish eating twenty zongzi?" A woman with slanted eyes asked loudly by the bridge pier.
Meng's father glanced over and saw that this was his neighbor across the street. His family was in the business of making funerary objects, and sometimes they would transport the funerary objects they made at home to the paper offering shop. When going out or coming in, it was inevitable that they would encounter the opposite door with it open. The other party felt it was bad luck and not only came to make trouble, but also asked the neighborhood committee to drive his family out of Jiayufang. The two families had become enemies.
Mr. Meng didn't want to pay her any attention, after all, it would be unseemly for a man to argue with a woman in public, but ignoring her would make others think he was keeping quiet because he felt ashamed that Meng Qing was staying at her parents' house. After thinking for a moment, he decided to yell back: "How long has it been since you washed your face? Are your eyes crusted with sleep? Didn't you see my daughter and son-in-law coming and going in Jiayufang?"
The woman with slanted eyes frowned and said sarcastically, "I saw your little shrew. She's a married woman, and she's gone back to her parents' house with a child to stay for a long time. Anyone who didn't know better would think she'd been divorced."
“It’s good that my daughter can come back to live with her parents. Her mother and I are happy that she’s back, and her in-laws don’t mind either.” Mr. Meng carried a basin onto the arched bridge. He saw people watching the commotion on the riverbank and explained, “My paper craft shop is doing well, and we don’t have enough manpower, so I had to call Meng Qing back to help. Her in-laws don’t have any objections. They often have my son-in-law come to visit her, bringing her eggs and chickens.”
“I even ran into your son-in-law’s third brother once, who brought gifts to visit his sister-in-law and nephew. The Du family is quite nice; they’re a kind and amiable family,” said the neighbor next door to the Meng family.
"Yes, that's right. They didn't look down on us just because we're merchants." Meng's father lied through his teeth. "You guys are busy. I'm going back now. My family is waiting for us to eat zongzi."
After crossing the bridge, Mencius' father put the argument by the river out of his mind and never mentioned it again after returning home.
Meng Qing and Meng Chun both got up, but the two siblings looked like they hadn't woken up yet, squatting under the eaves in a daze, chewing on willow twigs.
"The zongzi are back, still warm, no need to steam them again," Meng's father said as he entered the kitchen.
"I can eat after I mix another bowl of pickled vegetables."
Du Li also returned with the last load of water. Upon hearing this, he went to bring Da Mao back.
Mencius' mother cooked a pot of porridge, steamed duck eggs and garlic, and also had some zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) that Mencius' father had bought. It was a hearty breakfast. What wasn't finished, she packed in an earthenware pot and took away, instructing, "We won't be back for lunch, so you don't need to bring us food. Just cook whatever you want to eat. Tonight, slaughter a rooster; it's strong and has a loud voice, and its crowing is noisy."
Meng Qing nodded.
After Meng's parents and Meng Chun left, she got busy. While Du Li was still around, she handed the child over to him and hurriedly split bamboo strips to make the skeleton of the paper ox.
Seeing that the Meng family was so busy they didn't even have time to eat, Du Li stayed an extra day, finally leaving on the seventh day of the fifth lunar month. As he was leaving, he happened to encounter the Chen family's funeral procession. Ten large boats were carrying coffins, funerary objects, and funeral attendees out of Wumen back to the Chen family's ancestral home. Two paper horses made by the Meng siblings occupied one of the boats, their jade-like paper surfaces drawing much discussion from the onlookers.
"Brother, sister-in-law, these are paper offerings made by my cousin's wife's family. The craftsmanship is impeccable. These will definitely be presentable for worship." Yun's sister-in-law said to her elder brother and sister-in-law in the crowd.
"It's not just about saving face, it's about making a name for yourself." The man's gaze was fixed on the paper horses, unable to look away. He thought to himself that if he could have a pair of such paper horses when he died, that would be quite a glorious thing.
"Eldest sister, take us to the paper horse shop. If the price is right, we'll finalize the funeral items." Sister-in-law Yun was certain that if she bought these items, she would be the first among the four sisters to receive the most at her mother's funeral, and she would be proud to mention it for decades to come. Thinking this way, she didn't care about the money anymore. At worst, she could raise more silkworms and weave more silk to sell next year or the year after.
Sister-in-law Yun didn't know where the Meng family's paper horse shop was, but she knew where the Meng family lived. She had even accompanied Du Li to the wedding procession. She took her brother and sister-in-law to Jiayufang. The Meng family's gate was open, and Meng Qing and Meng Chun were pasting paper oxen in the front yard.
"Sister-in-law, I'm here," Sister Yun called out.
Meng Qing looked over and went out to greet them: "Sister-in-law Yun, is this your elder brother and sister-in-law? Elder brother and sister-in-law, please come in."
"Are you making funerary objects at home? What is this? A paper ox?" the man asked.
“Yes, it’s a paper ox. Little brother, this is your brother-in-law’s cousin’s wife, and her older brother and sister-in-law. Go get a stool and a few bowls of water.” Meng Qing instructed, then explained, “The paper horse shop is small. It’s okay to make some wreaths and paper figures, but we can’t move around much when making these big things. We can only make them at home.”
The man looked at the things scattered on the ground: the paper was packed in baskets, and a sticky, unidentifiable substance was simmering on the stove. The smell of ink was so strong it was pungent. The parts of the beef leg that weren't covered with paper were made of silk. None of these things were cheap.
"How much does this paper cow cost?" he asked.
"Eight strings of cash. If the inner silk cloth is replaced with hemp cloth, it will be five hundred cash less." Meng Qing said, "You were brought here by my cousin-in-law. We are relatives by some means. I can ask for two hundred cash less. Consider it as my way of paying respects."
"Can't you lower the price a bit more? Please lower it a bit more. We've bought a lot of things, and we'd like to buy two more wreaths and two more paper figures," the woman bargained.
“Sister-in-law, there’s no bargaining on funerary objects; that’s the rule in the trade,” he added as Meng Chun brought water.
"What kind of industry practice is this? These prices weren't all set by you yourselves." The woman glanced at her sister-in-law, signaling her to speak.
“Every profession has its rules. When you come to buy something from someone, you should abide by their rules and not ask too many questions.” Sister-in-law Yun was straightforward and said what she meant. She told her elder brother, “My sister-in-law immediately said she would ask for two hundred coins less. That’s already giving me face. Don’t make things difficult for her. Let me do the math for you. A paper ox, two wreaths, and two paper figures add up to more than ten strings of cash. Even if she asks for another one or two hundred coins less, it’s nothing compared to ten strings of cash.”
"I'll treat you to tea at a tea house later, but the price can't be too low," Meng Qing said.
"Alright then," the man relented. "One paper cow, two wreaths, and two paper figures. You calculate how much that will cost."
"Should the paper ox be made of silk or linen?" Meng Qing asked. "Should the paper figures be young boys and girls, or servants and slaves?"
“Even commoners can’t be buried in silk, can they? They need hemp cloth. The paper figures should be servants and slaves, burned to serve my mother-in-law, so she can enjoy some happiness.”
The silk cloth was hidden under the paper. As long as he didn't say anything, no one else would know. Yu Dong's mother was a merchant. When Yu Dong's eldest sister came to order paper oxen, Meng's father asked whether she wanted silk or hemp cloth. The other party immediately understood and tactfully said she wanted the more expensive one.
However, since Sister-in-law Yun's brother and sister-in-law were unaware of this, Meng Qing didn't mention it. "The paper ox costs 7 strings and 300 coins, the two wreaths cost 1 string, and the two paper figures cost 400 coins, for a total of 8 strings and 700 coins."
"There are still six bundles of paper money left," the woman said.
"This is free. When you come to collect the funerary objects, just take six bundles with you," Meng Qing said.
"Now you're not talking about professional ethics anymore?" the woman retorted, having already gained an advantage.
"Industry rules are industry rules, and business is business. At this time, we can talk about personal relationships to do business. If there is a suitable opportunity in the future, I hope you can help promote the Meng family's paper horse shop." Meng Qing was not angry. She continued, "The deposit is five strings of cash. If you are not satisfied when you pick up the goods, or if you can't use them, you can refuse the funerary object, but you will only get back two strings of cash."
"How can I not take it?" The man took out five strings of cash from his bundle and handed it over.
"Young master, collect the money," Meng Qing called out.
When Meng Chunlai took the money, he nodded and said, "The funerary objects won't rot or break. We can sell them to others, so we don't need them."
He took the money, turned around, and went back inside to write a receipt.
Meng Qing invited the three of them to drink some water, saying, "It's hot and humid today, drink some mung bean water to cool down."
"When will this paper ox be finished? You need to hurry up and make the paper ox we ordered. We need to come and pick it up as soon as my mother passes away," the woman said.
Meng Qing nodded to indicate that she understood.
Meng Chun wrote out the receipt and handed it over. The man took it and said politely, "You're busy, we won't keep you from doing your work. We're going back now."
Meng Qing and Meng Chun saw them off, then turned and went back inside to continue with their work.
"Sister, we're a bit overwhelmed. Should we hire two people to split bamboo strips and dye paper?" Meng Chun asked.
"Wait a couple more days. At the latest, after the Yu family's funeral, people will probably come to ask to become your apprentices," Meng Qing said.
That evening, when Mencius' parents returned home, they brought news that someone had come to their door wanting to become their disciple.
“This man wants to give us twenty strings of cash, and we want to teach him everything without reservation. He can learn it and then leave, without staying as a long-term apprentice,” Meng’s father said. “Qingniang, do you think we should accept him?”
“No, this year is the peak year for Paper Horse Shop, and the next two or three years will be the most profitable time. This person is paying so much tuition because he sees this opportunity and wants to get a share of the pie. We can take on apprentices, but they must be apprentices at our Paper Horse Shop for three years before they can open their own shops,” Meng Qing said. “Dad, don’t worry, we don’t charge tuition and even provide food and lodging. Many people will be willing to become our apprentices.”
"Alright, I'll listen to you, Father." Meng's father habitually followed Meng Qing's ideas in business matters.
“If you provide food and lodging, we don’t have anywhere to stay,” said Meng’s mother. “Why don’t we pay them their wages and let them go back to live there?”
“I think it would be better to rent a more spacious house. The paper horse shop and our house are both a bit small. It gets cramped when there are more people, and there’s no extra space to store the goods. We got another order today: two wreaths, two paper figures, and a paper ox. But the owner of these funerary objects is still alive. If she doesn’t pass away for another half a month or a month, these funerary objects will have to stay at our house indefinitely. If we get a few more orders like this, where will we find enough space to store them?” Meng Qing said.
Mencius's parents both nodded.
“This place can’t be too far from our home. I’m afraid some scoundrel might set fire to it at night and burn down all the goods inside. We’ll lose everything.” Meng Chun pointed angrily at the person living across the hall.
Meng Qing thought of the Paper Horse Shop, which was the site of Ruiguang Temple, where petty thieves dared not act recklessly. She suggested, "Father, go to my eldest uncle and see if he can allocate another row of land behind the Paper Horse Shop for us. We can demolish the attic in the backyard and build two rows of large houses."
Meng's father gasped, "Your uncle is not easy to talk to these days, I'm embarrassed to bother him again."
"Go and try it. If he refuses, we'll think of other ways," Mencius' mother urged.
“…Alright then.” Father Meng was also tempted, but he was also hesitant, so he made an excuse to delay, saying, “I’ll finish up the two business deals I have on hand first, and then I’ll go find him.”
However, before Meng's father could go to find Master Konghui, he met him at the paper horse shop. Master Konghui had come with Master Chen, and Du Min and Master Xie were also with him.
"Can your paper horse shop make paper houses? I'm thinking of burning a paper house for my late father, decorated with pavilions and towers, with three courtyards," Master Chen asked Meng's father.
Meng's father had only ever made simple paper houses. He frankly said, "I probably can't do it. I'll go and call my daughter over and see if she dares to take over."
"I'll go and call them," Du Min said, seizing the opportunity. "Sir, Master Meng is my second brother's father-in-law, and my second sister-in-law is a daughter of the Meng family. The two paper horses at your father's funeral were made by her."
Master Chen nodded.
Du Min jogged all the way to Jiayufang. When he arrived, he ran into Meng Qing and Meng Chun arguing with their neighbors across the street. There was a donkey-drawn wooden cart with a fat paper cow on it.
"Second sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, Master Chen wants to see you, come with me quickly!" Du Min rushed in and shouted loudly.
“Master Chen? Master Chen from Renfeng Lane?” Meng Qing asked.
“How many Master Chens are there in Wu County? It’s him. Come with me quickly, Master Chen is waiting for you at the Paper Horse Shop.” Du Min said, then looked at the slanted-eyed man opposite him with his hands on his hips and asked, “What’s going on? What are you arguing about?”
"She wanted to be a road bully and wouldn't let us leave the house. We drove a donkey cart to transport paper oxen, but she kept pestering us, saying that these things had offended her family, and she wouldn't let us leave, demanding money from us to resolve the issue." Seeing that she could use this as leverage, Meng Qing rattled off a string of words.
"Is this robbery or extortion? Ask Master Chen when you see him later," Du Min threatened.
Upon hearing this, the woman with the slanted eyes immediately panicked and shouted, "Nonsense! I didn't ask you for money!"
"So many people are listening." Meng Qing pointed to the crowd of onlookers nearby.
"Anyway, I didn't ask for any money. If you dare to frame me, I'll just kill myself by crashing my head into your house." With those words, she slung her slanted eyes over her shoulder and darted into the house like a mouse. The two wooden doors slammed shut with a thud, and even the Bagua mirror hanging on the lintel shook from the impact.
"Let's go." Meng Qing called to Meng Chun, and she explained to Du Min, "This family has been causing trouble for us for several years. A few years ago, we brought back a Bagua mirror from the temple and hung it on their front door, and they quieted down for two years. This time, they probably see that our business is doing well and want to extort some money from us."
Du Min wasn't interested in the quarrels and lawsuits among his neighbors. He stared at the paper ox on the donkey cart. The paper ox was larger than the paper horse, with a broad back, short and powerful limbs, and its head was lowered, as if it were about to attack. It had the imposing presence of a tomb guardian beast.
"Second Sister-in-law, did you decide on the shape of this paper ox yourself, or was it requested by the guests?" Du Min asked.
"I designed it myself, isn't it impressive?" Meng Qing asked proudly.
Du Min nodded in complete agreement, having to admit that Meng Qing was a master in the art of paper crafting.
"Do you know how to make paper houses? Master Chen wants to make a paper house for his father, based on the layout and structure of a house in the human world, with pavilions and towers." Du Min told her about Master Chen's idea.
Meng Qing glanced at Du Min and asked tactfully, "If I could make it, would it be of any help to you?"
Du Min's heart tightened. He didn't believe she could guess his plans, nor did he want to be indebted to her. Everything he had schemed for was his own doing.
“Yes, if you do this business well, all the offerings for Mr. Chen’s memorial service on the anniversary of his death will be ordered from Meng’s Paper Horse Shop, and I will get a bigger share of the money.” He squinted.
Meng Qing smiled and said, "I will do my best."
Upon arriving at the paper horse shop, Master Chen was also captivated by the paper oxen. He circled the donkey cart twice, planning to burn two paper oxen for his mother during the Ghost Festival.
“Master Chen, my third brother said you want to commission a paper house for your father? Besides pavilions and towers, what other requirements do you have?” Meng Qing asked.
"It needs to be a three-courtyard house. The first courtyard should have a stable and servants' quarters. The second courtyard should be a private school, since he loves teaching. The third courtyard should be the master's courtyard, with pavilions, terraces, and a garden, where he likes to grow flowers," Master Chen said. "Can you do that?"
“I can give it a try, but I’ve never seen the pavilions and towers in the mansion. You should arrange for a servant to take me to see them, or you can draw the design yourself and send it to me.” Meng Qing also wanted to push his own boundaries. With this trend rising, many new paper horse shops would be added to Wu County within three to five years. If the Meng family’s paper horse shop wanted to stand firm and even become the leader in the paper-making industry, it would have to have outstanding skills and unique expertise that others couldn’t learn.
"My lord, may I say a word?" Du Min asked.
"you say."
“My second sister-in-law has a strong ability to create. For example, the paper horses and paper oxen are all designs she made herself. I suggest you arrange for someone to take her to see the styles of pavilions and towers, and then let her figure it out herself. When the finished product comes out, it may very well exceed your expectations.” Du Min spoke up to help Master Chen solve his dilemma.
Meng Qing glanced at Du Min and said, "There are still forty days until the end of Ramadan. There is plenty of time. If the paper house I made does not meet your standards, I can make some changes."
“Alright, we’ll do as you say.” Master Chen had no more hesitation. “I’ll arrange for someone to pick you up later.”
Meng Qing agreed.
When Master Chen was about to leave, he specifically asked Du Min to follow, and told the others to stay behind.
Mencius' mother secretly pinched Mencius' father, who endured the pain and caught up with the monk who was almost gone.
Master Xie watched as Master Chen led Du Min away into the distance, then sighed and left in another direction.
"Du Min, which year do you plan to take the provincial examination?" Master Chen asked, his hands behind his back.
Du Min clenched his fists tightly. He said carefully, "I feel that my knowledge is still lacking. Perhaps I will not dare to take the exam for another two or three years."
Master Chen nodded. "Are you eighteen years old this year?"
"Yes, I will turn eighteen in October."
“I will return to the capital after three years of mourning. If you can pass the prefectural examination within three years, I can take you with me on my return journey,” Master Chen promised. He stopped and turned around, looking Du Min up and down. “As a fellow Jiangling native, I know how difficult it is for a poor scholar to rise in a society dominated by powerful families. I value talent, and seeing your abilities, I will give you a chance. There is still a vacancy in the prefectural academy; you can fill it.”
"Thank you, Your Excellency." Du Min bowed deeply in excitement, his heart pounding, the joy of his successful scheme almost overwhelming him.
“There’s something I need to make clear to you. Students at the prefectural school have to drop out when they turn twenty. And if you want to enter the prefectural school, you have to drop out of Chongwen Academy first. This means that if you don’t pass the prefectural exam within three years, you will have no school to attend, and Chongwen Academy will no longer accept you.” Master Chen reached out to help him up and said, “Go back and discuss it with your family. Once you’ve decided, go directly to the prefectural school to find Dr. Xu. He is my father’s student, and I’ve already spoken to him.”
"My lord, I will go to the prefectural school tomorrow. I don't need to discuss it with my family. I can make the decision myself." Du Min made a desperate decision.
Master Chen patted him on the shoulder. This was a proud and calculating wild horse. Whether he had the strength to be tempered, whether he would self-destruct or become a thoroughbred, he would wait and see.
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