Chapter 72: Encountering a Noble Person in Bianzhou
The boat passed Chuzhou and headed towards Bianzhou. It then turned into the Tongji Canal via the Hangou Canal, which is the core section of the canal. Boats from all directions converged here, and thousands of boats raced on the river. Large ships carrying grain and taxes covered the river surface, their sails rustling. The sounds of people were almost inaudible amidst the wind and the swaying of the sails.
With many boats and large waves, the river was filled with splashing water, and the rushing current created a sound like cracking bamboo whips, which never stopped day and night. Not only could Meng Qing and his group not stay in the cabin, but the Chen family also couldn't sit still. They changed into winter clothes, put on windproof hats, and went up to the deck to distract themselves by watching the boats.
Du Min went to inquire after him, but the wind and waves were too strong, and his voice was drowned out by the sound of the waves. Master Chen was also not in good spirits, so he directly told Steward Chen to tell him not to bother him again.
Two households occupied the bow and stern of the boat, each enduring their own hardships.
Ten days later, the ship arrived in Bianzhou, and for the first time, Master Chen ordered the ship to stop and rest for two days.
When the boat docked, Master Chen, along with his family and servants, went to the official post station. Du Min benefited from his connections and was assigned a room in the post station that was reserved for officials of the ninth rank.
“How can we stay here? Why don’t you stay here, and your second sister-in-law and I will take Wangzhou to an inn?” Du Li said.
"Is it safe?" Du Min asked, worried about safety. "We haven't had a good night's sleep in ages. If we fall asleep now, we probably won't even wake up if a thief breaks in. Besides, you have a child with you, and you have accents from out of town. That'll attract attention."
"Can you sleep in the same bed as Wang Zhou?" Meng Qing asked.
Du Min was astonished. "You're not going to leave Wang Zhou to me and have the two of you go out and stay at an inn? No way, I can't handle him if he starts making a fuss at night."
“Your second brother will also live with you. You two can share a room with Wangzhou. I’ll go find Steward Chen and see if we can squeeze in with the women in his family,” Meng Qing said.
Du Li frowned. "They're probably sleeping in a shared dormitory, and their whole family is there. You're an outsider, aren't you going to be left out?"
“It’s alright, we’ll have to deal with them sooner or later. I’m taking this opportunity to get acquainted with them and see what they’re like. If I feel neglected now, I might not even be able to see them when I go to Chang’an and try to find them, even if I offer them money,” Meng Qing said.
Du Min was impressed. He had spent nearly two months on the ship, especially the section from Chuzhou to Bianzhou, which had worn him down to the bone. He was in a daze the whole way, and the words on his books were all in a blur. Even someone as cunning as him had no time for anything else, yet she still had the energy to deal with the servants of the Chen family.
Meng Qing picked up her bundle. Wang Zhou had been asleep with his eyes closed since the moment he disembarked, so she didn't need to say goodbye to him and could leave directly now.
"Take good care of Wangzhou, and keep an eye on him at night," she told Du Li, then picked up her bag and left.
Du Li placed Wang Zhou on the bed and instructed Du Min to keep watch in the room, "I'm going to check on your second sister-in-law. I'll come back when she finds a place to stay."
He returned in less than half an incense stick's time. Seeing Du Min's surprise, he smiled and said, "When I caught up with her, your second sister-in-law had already met Steward Chen's wife and found a place to sleep."
Du Min felt relieved. He kicked off his shoes, lay down on the bed, pulled the blanket over himself, and fell asleep as soon as he closed his eyes.
Du Li couldn't hold on any longer. He lay down at Du Min's feet, turned to his side, held Wang Zhou in his arms, and let himself fall asleep.
Du Li and Du Min were awakened by a knock on the door when they slept from sunset until the sun was high in the sky the next day.
"It's almost noon, get up and eat." Meng Qing called from outside the door.
Du Li responded and looked at Wang Zhou. Wang Zhou had his eyes open. Although he looked listless, he was clear-headed and hadn't just woken up.
"How long have you been awake?" Du Li asked.
"Just woke up." Du Min yawned. "I haven't slept enough. I'm so tired, even more tired than when I took the exam for three days in the examination hall."
"I didn't ask you." Du Li sat up, holding Wang Zhou in his lap, touching his crotch with one hand and his head with the other. "No bedwetting, no fever. Come on, let's get up and eat."
Du Min: "..."
"I don't want to get up." Wang Zhou shrank back into bed, saying listlessly, "I still want to sleep."
"Eat something before you sleep. Aren't you hungry?" Du Li got out of bed first to open the door. As soon as the door opened, a dry, cold wind blew in, making him shiver.
"Fine, if he doesn't want to get up, he doesn't want to get up." Du Li immediately changed his mind. He said to Meng Qing, "Wang Zhou looks a bit listless. He still wants to sleep and doesn't want to get up. I'll bring the food over and let him eat in bed."
"Are you alright?" Meng Qing peeked into the room. "Where's the third brother? Is he still in bed too?"
Du Min grunted in response.
Meng Qing cursed him as a lazybones. He was still in bed, so it wasn't convenient for her to go in. She could only speak loudly to Wang Zhou to judge his mental state by his voice.
"I guess he's just tired from sleeping too much and has no energy. He's not sick," Du Li said.
Meng Qing handed in the hot water she had brought, saying, "You three wash up first. I'll go to the main kitchen to get the food. I asked Aunt Li to buy two chickens from outside and have the cook make a pot of chicken soup so we can all have some nourishment."
Du Li went in and pulled the blanket off Du Min. "Get up quickly."
Du Min let out a lazy "Ouch," and said, "I really don't want to get up, and I don't want to eat either."
"Your second sister-in-law is coming soon. If you have no shame, just keep lying there." Du Li picked up Wang Zhou and wiped his face.
Du Min sat up and looked at it, saying, "Wang Zhou has lost a lot of weight."
Du Li hummed in agreement. "Don't mention this to your second sister-in-law. She feels a bit guilty for bringing Wangzhou out. When Wangzhou couldn't sleep well and cried on the boat, she also shed tears."
Du Min remained silent. He couldn't quite imagine Meng Qing crying; she actually had moments of tears.
After washing Wangzhou, Du Li carried him out to pee, and when they came back in, Du Min had already made the bed.
"Do you still want to lie in bed? Can you lean on me?" Du Li asked Wang Zhou, looking down at him.
Wang Zhou nodded.
"Little Wangzhou, cheer up, we're going out to play later." Du Min wiped his face and reached out to hug Wangzhou. "Come on, let your third uncle hug you. Let your father go wash his face."
"The chicken soup is here, everyone make way, don't bump into each other." Meng Qing brought over a fragrant earthenware pot.
Du Li handed the child over, and he took the pottery jar and placed it on the wooden box. Meng Qing shook her hand and looked at Wang Zhou to make sure he wasn't sick. Then she turned around and went out to the main kitchen to get rice.
By the time the family sat down to eat, the sun was high in the sky. Meng Qing picked up a large chicken leg, put it in a bowl, blew on it to cool it down, and handed it to Wang Zhou, saying, "Take this and eat it, big bites."
"How did you sleep last night? Why are you up so early?" Du Li ladled soup for her and also put a big chicken leg on her plate.
“I slept with Aunt Li, her two daughters-in-law, and her granddaughter. The three of them were responsible for the meals of Master Chen’s family. They would get up before dawn, and I would sleep until it was fully light.” Meng Qing smiled. “Breakfast was brought to me by her second daughter-in-law. I benefited from the young lady’s kindness. After we ate our fill, we slept for more than an hour before getting up.”
“They’re actually quite nice people,” Du Li said.
Meng Qing nodded, "Like Steward Chen, they are both kind people. Wang Zhou, have some soup, the chicken soup isn't too hot anymore."
Wang Zhou leaned over and took a few sips, while he himself held a chicken leg, gnawed it clean, and said, "I'm full, I want to go out and play."
"Okay, let's go out and play later." Seeing that he was in good spirits, Meng Qing became happy. "You can wander around the entrance first, but don't go too far. We'll go out with you after we finish eating."
Du Li wiped Wang Zhou's mouth and hands clean, "Just sit at the door and bask in the sun, don't go far."
Du Min watched silently as Wang Zhou left, and Meng Qing and Du Li followed him out. He couldn't help but sigh again, "Wang Zhou is so lucky to be your child. You should raise him like a treasure."
Meng Qing glanced at him, "Envious again?"
Du Min laughed, neither admitting nor refuting.
The three of them shared the remaining chicken and chicken soup. Meng Qing went to the main kitchen to deliver bowls and jars, and Du Li and Du Min followed with Wang Zhou. They went to the main kitchen and then walked out together. Just as they were about to leave, they met Master Chen, who was talking to two men in red official robes.
Du Min's eyes lit up instantly. He was pondering what reason to use to pay his respects when, in the next instant, Master Chen saw him.
"Du Min, come here." Master Chen beckoned.
Du Min hurried over and said, "Min greets Your Excellency. Are you also going out to admire the scenery of Bianzhou?"
Master Chen nodded and introduced, "This is Chief Clerk Yin of the Guangzhou Central Military Governor's Office of Lingnan Circuit, and this is Sima Du under the command of the Prefect of Suzhou. Hurry up and pay your respects."
“Du Min, a student from Wu County, Suzhou, greets Magistrate Yin; I, a student, greet Sima Du.” Du Min bowed respectfully.
Du Sima reached out to help him up. He looked at Chen Yuanwai and continued what he had been saying: "I remember now, aren't the paper effigies of funerary objects from Daxing in Wu County the same ones on the ferry boats?"
Master Chen nodded, “You have a good memory, that’s right. The paper-made funerary objects of Wu County are related to Du Min. He wrote a poem about funerary objects and promoted them throughout Wu County, making them very popular and showing a tendency to overshadow pottery funerary objects.”
"I've only heard of it, I've never seen it." Du Sima turned to Yin Changli and asked, "Changli, would you like to go to the ferry together to take a look?"
"Please," said Chief Yin, taking the first step.
"Follow me," Master Chen instructed Du Min.
Du Min lagged a few steps behind and instructed Du Li, "Second brother, go back to the house, open my book box, take my stack of policy essays, and deliver them to the ferry—give them to me."
Du Li nodded, "Hurry up and catch up."
"I'll go back inside to get it. You and Wangzhou wait here," Meng Qing said. Du Li was illiterate, and she was worried he might take the wrong thing.
After a cup of tea, Meng Qing brought Du Min's new poems and essays. She and Du Li, along with Wang Zhou, hurried to the ferry, where Du Li boarded the boat and handed the items to Du Min.
Half an hour later, Master Chen instructed the boatmen to carry down a brass paper horse. He then personally took a torch, lit it from the horse's mouth, and the flames shot from the horse's tongue into its belly. The flames grew larger and larger, and the horse's skin turned from dark amber to golden yellow.
Because the inner layer of alum paper insulates against the flames, the outer layer of horsehide melts within twenty breaths without being destroyed. Through the horsehide, one can see the melting of the ox glue inside, like molten copper falling into lava, or like a heavenly horse burning its bones and flesh.
With a "whoosh," flames scorched through the horse's hide. One after another, flames burst forth from the brass horse's entire body. The tung oil paper intensified the fire, and the flames shot up more than ten feet high, startling the onlookers who instinctively leaned back and took two steps back.
Ten breaths later, the entire brass paper horse was burned to ashes. Magistrate Yin clapped his hands, walked over to Master Chen, took the policy essay from Du Min's hand and read it carefully. When he saw the argument supported by Buddhism, he said, "Guangzhou has many Indians. Indians believe in cremation after death. If paper funerary objects are brought to Guangzhou, they will surely sell very well."
Du Min was secretly pleased, but before he could speak, Master Chen shook his head and said, "Indians believe in Buddhism. Buddhism emphasizes reciting scriptures, making donations, and performing rituals for the deceased, but does not value offerings after death."
"Everyone has desires, and not everyone can become a high monk. I think he can still be educated." Yin Changli disagreed, but he saw through Chen Yuanwai's intentions. This student named Du Min was someone Chen Yuanwai had recruited, and it seemed that the other party was unwilling to let go.
"Never mind, a gentleman does not take what others cherish." He left with those words.
Du Sima smiled faintly and revealed, "I heard that Dugu Qingyun, the son of the Duke of Liyang, died in the Protectorate of Kucha after his old wounds flared up again. The body will probably be transported back to Chang'an in late autumn or early winter."
Master Chen had a sudden thought: if they were lucky, they might be able to return to Chang'an just in time for the Dugu family's funeral.
Seeing that he understood, Du Sima smiled and left.
"My lord, Lord Sima has left," Du Min reminded him.
Master Chen snapped out of his daze, chased after him to express his gratitude, and then turned back to Du Min, saying, “Dugu Qingyun’s father was a meritorious official of the Lingyan Pavilion, enfeoffed as the Duke of Liyang, and married Princess Ankang, daughter of Emperor Gaozu. His family background is illustrious. He himself was also the Governor of Lingzhou. At his funeral, paper effigies and funerary objects will further enhance his fame. Don’t be short-sighted. Guangzhou is far away in Lingnan. It takes half a year to return to the capital. Haven’t you seen that the Governor of Guangzhou doesn’t even return to the capital to report on his duties, but sends a junior official back instead? If you go there, you’ll be stuck there for the rest of your life.”
Du Min, having his thoughts exposed, said with shame, "It was my shortsightedness. Thank you for making the decision for me, sir. I will listen to you from now on."
Master Chen nodded. "Focus your attention on the provincial examination for now. Do whatever I tell you to do."
"yes."
"Don't wander around outside anymore. Go back and rest early. We'll set off tomorrow afternoon and travel non-stop until we reach Chang'an as soon as possible," Master Chen instructed.
Du Min followed Master Chen back to the official post station. When he returned to his room, he found that Meng Qing and Du Li had already returned and were sitting outside the door washing clothes.
"You're back so soon?" Meng Qing asked in surprise. "Your second brother and I thought you had a social engagement tonight."
“We’re setting off tomorrow afternoon, and Master Chen told me to come back early to rest.” Du Min excitedly leaned over. “Dugu Qingyun, the son of the Duke of Liyang, died in Kucha, and his body needs to be transported back to Chang’an. Master Chen is in a hurry to return to Chang’an to make a name for himself through his funeral.”
Meng Qing choked, "Does that mean we should clap and cheer every time we hear that a high-ranking official or noble has died?"
Du Min laughed and said, "What's the big deal? We don't even know him. It's hypocritical to be sad and in pain. After all, we make money and fame from funerals. We should be happy if we have money and fame."
“Immoral.” Meng Qing shook her head.
"Let's not talk about that. Why are you all back? I thought you were just wandering around outside," Du Min changed the subject.
"Wangzhou was going to sleep, so we came back." Du Li picked up the basin of dirty water, poured it out, and continued washing the clothes.
"What rank are those two officials in red robes?" Meng Qing asked.
Du Min shook his head. "One is a senior official under the Governor of Guangzhou, and the other is a military officer under the Prefect of Suzhou. I don't know their exact ranks, but I do know that those wearing red official robes are fourth and fifth-rank officials."
"The Prefect of Suzhou? The prefect who boarded our pleasure boat on New Year's Eve the year before last?" Meng Qing asked.
Du Min nodded, "This Sima shares the same surname as us, Du."
Meng Qing pouted, "Just because we share the same surname doesn't make you proud."
"No, it's just that I feel a sense of closeness. There are successful people among us surnamed Du." Du Min took a deep breath and looked into the distance, saying, "I wonder if I'll ever become the Commander Du."
"Yes, I guarantee you'll become the governor," Meng Qing said casually.
Du Min immediately helped Meng Qing up, and he bowed deeply, saying, "Du Min pays respects to the God of Prosperity, and prays that the God of Prosperity will bless me with a prosperous official career."
Meng Qing grinned from ear to ear, "Where are the tributes?"
Du Min pointed to Du Li, "I choose human tribute. This is my second brother. He is my tribute."
Du Li looked the two of them over and nodded solemnly, "I volunteer to be a sacrifice."
Upon hearing this, Meng Qing and Du Min burst into laughter, and Du Li also lowered his head and chuckled.
With a creak, Wang Zhou, barefoot and with a tense little face, opened the door and glared angrily at the person outside.
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