Chapter 5
The rain in Jinling only lasted until midnight, and the crowds dispersed earlier than usual. The dampness spread across the city ground, and by the morning, it was evaporated by the sunlight. Li Rong was awakened by a knock on the door. Last night had been his deepest sleep in recent days. He figured Su Si was preparing to brew medicine. He got up from bed, washed his face, and finally opened the door after getting dressed in front of the mirror.
Su Si came downstairs, no one knew where he had been that morning. The chill outside had caught him, and his clothes were dotted with mud. As usual, Li Rong took the medicine and drank it before he had time to ask Su Si about it.
Su Si replied with a smile, "Since it rained last night, I woke up early this morning to go to the river outside the city to watch others fishing. I hope I didn't miss your time, young master?" Li Rong chuckled as usual and followed Su Si. "Remember to prepare two paper umbrellas. We will stay in Jinling for three to five days before continuing north."
Su Si responded and went about his business, attending to Li Rong's instructions and other chores. Li Rong pushed open the window, his fingertips dabbing at the remaining water stains. The distant sunlight was a bit hazy. He calculated the time he had in the past few days. He could mail the bamboo scroll later, but today he had to go out and find his shop and write a letter to his mother to give her some peace of mind at the end of the year. After that, when he went north again, sending letters home would not be so easy.
He spread out the silk cloth, dipped it in ink and wrote small characters. Due to the size of the brush, he paused frequently and only picked out important news to report.
"Don't worry, mother. Errong and Su Si have crossed the river to Jinling today, and everything is fine. The day before yesterday, I picked out teacups and storybooks for you and me in Gusu. I calculated the time and gifts and sent them back when the letters arrived. I am unfilial and have not been able to serve you in the front yard this year. I wonder if you and your father are in good health. Luzhou has been rainy since autumn, so please take care. From Jiangdu, I crossed to Gusu, and then to Jinling. Jiangnan is indeed full of wealthy merchants, and there are many beautiful sights of clouds under the pines and dew dripping among the flowers. If you are interested, you will be happy to go out in the spring. Limited by the square foot of silk cloth, I can only say a few words. I hope you will not be offended. Errong writes in the autumn of Jinling."
Li Rong folded the silk cloth and stuffed it into his arms. He paused for a moment, intending to send it back along with the folding fan he always kept with him, to comfort his mother a little. As for what Su Si had sent, it was best left to him to handle it. It was absurd to delegate courtship to someone else. He would go out and find a shop himself, then carefully inform the servant of its location.
The thick ink on the inkstone was not yet dry, so he put down his brush, stood up, and went downstairs to follow the crowd of people who were looking for him, and also to catch a glimpse of Jinling in the daytime.
A midnight rain faded the city's lingering scent of cosmetics, leaving paper umbrellas drying under the eaves, almost water-colored. Li Rong looked up at the singing pavilion across from the inn. The chirping of birds had finally subsided, leaving only the winding mahogany railings. Compared to Gusu, Jinling's vendors lined both sides of the long street. Despite the throng, carriages and other vehicles were rarely seen.
The family's shop stood at the end of a long street. It seemed busy yet, and the shop assistants hadn't gathered yet. Only the steward was sorting out the accounts for the day. He sealed a folding fan and a piece of silk cloth in a wooden box, carefully folded a seal with his own hands, and handed it to the shopkeeper. The steward said he would have to wait a few days before taking the boat to Luzhou with the goods.
He softly responded, only now realizing the feeling of being away from home. The cool autumn breeze lifted the hem of his skirt, tangling the tassels of the jade pendant tied around his waist. Jinling was at least ten days away from Luzhou. By the time A Niang got the letter from home, whether he was in Qilu or Chang'an was unpredictable.
Li Rong turned around and walked around the long street to explore the remaining half of Jinling. The sun was half hidden in clouds, and the morning light seemed to illuminate only half of the city. The city was bustling with sounds, and the trees were green at dawn. He climbed the Jinling tower to see the river at high tide that Su Si had mentioned. Fishermen were catching two or three small silver fish in their nets, and in the distance, there were few cargo ferries. He looked out as far as the eye could see, the city supported by redwood trees, and the county buildings were covered with brocade screens.
He also had some understanding of the elegant ways of Jinling. Regardless of wealth, as long as the people lived in harmony, they were not violating Heaven's will. Merchants were entering the city in increasing numbers, and the aroma of wine drifted from the alleys, seemingly merging with the river flowing through Jinling. However, there were still many unanswered questions. Although he often discussed official studies and Confucianism with his father, he still felt unfamiliar with the affairs of governing.
The peace and tranquility of Jiangnan did not seem to be in the way of a gentleman. The people's prosperity all came from the land of fish and rice, and it was also like the way of governing by inaction, which was a gift from heaven and earth. It was not to promote the upright and punish the crooked[1], nor was it possible to promote the crooked and punish the upright. He was somewhat confused, not understanding that the ruler should be a ruler and the minister should be a minister. If a gentleman met Jiangnan, the peace and tranquility would naturally flow like water, but if a villain met Jiangnan, even the high towers and pavilions would not be destroyed in a short time.
Li Rong now understood why his father had insisted that he travel north to study before he could regret it. Whether it was Jinling or Gusu, even Jiangdu or Luzhou, they were all too far from Chang'an. Based on what he had learned, it would be difficult for him to find his own path in Jiangnan, and even more difficult to judge whether he was on the path of a gentleman.
Even if he memorized the few sentences in the book, "The four ways of a gentleman are: he is respectful in his conduct, he is respectful in his service to his superiors, he is benevolent in his care for the people, and he is righteous in his use of the people," with his current state of mind, he would only be overwhelmed by the tranquility of Jiangnan, just like the rivers and lakes that continuously flow through the city walls, with the tides rising and falling, and the rain stopping and coming. Following this natural flow of heaven and earth, he would slowly forget the many unsolved scriptures he had memorized while reading by candlelight at night, slowly forget the key points of being an official, and slowly be contaminated by the lingering smell of cosmetics and the lingering aroma of wine from the alleys in the tranquility and romance.
He walked down the tower, feeling melancholy and a surge of confidence. He thought, "Traveling and seeking a teacher, one will always find someone who can answer your questions, and in a year or two, one will always gain a great deal of understanding." Perhaps when he crossed south again next year, he would be able to discern the path he should follow from the peace that surrounded him, and find the path of a gentleman, impartial and unbiased.
Li Rong had walked through the entire city of Jinling in one day. The shops were numerous and varied, much like those in Gusu. Perhaps due to the dampness, he felt his cold symptoms had taken a turn for the worse, and he felt short of breath while walking. So he returned to the inn, planning to rest on his couch for the next few days.
Su Si, however, delighted in his travels around the city, bringing back different news for Li Rong every day. Sometimes it was about fresh snacks that had long lines around the city, sometimes it was about anecdotes he'd heard from teahouses and wine shops, and sometimes it was about price fluctuations and the shop's profits and losses. Li Rong would drink his potion on time, explain the location, and entrust Su Si with sending his bookcase and other inconvenient items back to Luzhou, and also provide some extra silver to pack in their bags.
As for winter clothing for the northern region, that was better left to the locals. Aside from a midnight rain the moment they first arrived, Jinling had been just as usual these past few days: the clouds had dispersed, the rain had cleared, the wind was gentle, and the geese had just begun to arrive. Clusters of chrysanthemums were blooming all over Jinling, blending with the crimson of the wooden railings in a vibrant, vibrant glow. The daytime warmth was unlike anything seen in early autumn.
Li Rong lay in bed for three or four days, until his illness had completely dissipated before he prepared to set off for Xuzhou. This time, they planned to depart after sunset, traveling much lighter than before, as traveling at night would be much faster than during the day. The coachman had already left the city walls and waited, and Li Rong, with Su Si leading the way, crossed half of Jinling and headed west.
The setting sun dipped halfway down the city walls, and the egrets by the lake took to the water and swam away as the crowds gradually gathered. Jinling repeated its daily tranquility, just as they had when they entered the city a few days ago. The graceful music of the sheng left an intoxicating scent, and the aroma of wine and love filled the alleys, making it a well-known place for entertainment.
They boarded the car and looked back at Jinling for the last time through the raised curtain. They saw the crowds of people walking in the opposite direction of them, crowding into the city, heading towards this overly peaceful and prosperous city.
Li Rong had Su Si close the carriage curtains. A red candle was lit on a small table inside the carriage. With little wind blowing in, the candle flames shot up, illuminating the surrounding area. The bustle of Jinling was a thing of the past, no longer relevant to his current study tour. The nighttime journey, free from the hustle and bustle of the crowds, calmed Su Si, who leaned against the carriage and closed his eyes to rest.
Li Rong then closed his eyes as well. Outside the curtains, only the clatter of horses' hooves signaled their continued progress. The road was inevitably bumpy, and he didn't sleep soundly. He simply closed his eyes to rest, mentally plotting his next destination.
According to the map, he could cross Lu from Xuzhou via Linyi. Going from Handan to Jincheng to Chang'an would naturally take longer. Going directly through Yingchuan and Luoyang would even traverse the Central Plains, but he hesitated, unsure of the terrain and course of the northern region. He would wait a few days before making a decision. He was determined to explore Lu in its entirety. There were many great scholars there, and if he could explore a few of them, it would be a rewarding experience.
Li Rong felt that he would be confined to the tranquility of Jiangnan at this moment, and he was unsure how much of a coherent understanding of the classics he would gain after traveling through Lu and Chang'an. He held this doubt in his mind, and it often occurred to him during his journey.
Perhaps these matters would only be determined after he had seen the mountains and rivers of the north and the people of the Central Plains. But he still sensed a strange feeling within his hidden anticipation, perhaps a mixture of homesickness and his own shallow knowledge, which indeed made him feel even more anxious.
As the saying goes, "It's not about not having a position, it's about what you stand for." He still hadn't figured out how to establish the Four Principles of a Gentleman, but had memorized every word on the bamboo slips. Those states with thousands of chariots, the five principles of the world, and the role of the gentleman in the world all seemed strange to him at this moment.
Li Rong noted the growing doubts in the night, along with this anxious thought. He felt that his journey was too slow, and that his study tour was too hasty and uncertain. Fortunately, he still had a long journey of study to go on. Unlike his father's expectations, cultivating himself and managing his family did not mean he could rule the country and bring peace to the world. If he could teach the people and support his hometown, it would be enough for him to settle down.
The driver stopped at the tea shed to drink water. The horses, having ridden all night, munched on the hay in the stable. He and Su Si dismounted. In a dozen miles, they would reach Xuzhou. Roosters crowed a few times, and the sun began to rise. Li Rong sorted out his doubts one by one, intending to spend the remaining days slowly trying to resolve them. If he couldn't find the answer in one day, he could push it to a month. If he couldn't find the answer in a month, he could push it to a year. If he couldn't find the answer in a year, he could admit his lack of talent, apologize to his father, and continue the family business. He must not disrupt the people or deprive the land of its resources.
[1] It comes from the word “weizheng” (police), which means to manage and rule. “zhi” and “wang” are both nouns.
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