Chapter Seventeen: Driving Ducks to Devour the Locusts

Faced with the dense clouds of locusts before him, Cui Jianxuan no longer felt the tingling sensation on his scalp. Nearby, a large cart was piled high with cages of all kinds—he had commanded his men to sweep up nearly every duck available for purchase in the Dengfeng market and neighboring villages, even including a good number of ducklings. Lacking sufficient hands, he had unceremoniously borrowed more than ten servants from his cousin Cui Weizhi, the magistrate of Dengfeng, to help with the task.

Now, as he watched the duck herders open the cages and drive out batch after batch of plump, waddling ducks—who flapped their wings and eagerly scattered among the lush green fields, gobbling up the locusts—the scene seemed almost absurd. He couldn’t help but grin, for while the villagers were busy catching locusts by hand, the ducks marched forth, leaving hardly a single insect untouched. The locusts vanished in an instant, and the efficiency was more than doubled. What had started as a mere experiment—hoping only for Du Shiyi to make a fool of himself—now had Cui Jianxuan arching his brow in surprise.

That so-called child prodigy he’d once looked down on truly had a knack for ingenious schemes!

“Quack… quack… quack…”

The ducks’ cries rang out shrill and piercing across the fields. Even those villagers who had once revered the locusts as divine beings and dared not touch them were swayed after witnessing the scene, persuaded by Du Shiyi’s loud exhortations. If this was truly a disaster sent by the heavens, how could mere ducks so easily devour them? Observing Cui Jianxuan’s search for ducks far and wide, the constables who had heard Du Shiyi suggest feeding locusts to pigs—and knowing that with the inevitable drop in crop yields this autumn, meat would become more valuable—set about gathering piglets from Dengfeng and the surrounding villages within a day or two.

Just over ten days later, the piglets they had purchased were being raised in farmhouses, and fed with endless carts of locusts. They had grown fatter by the day, and would soon be ready for market. The profits from this exchange had the men grinning from ear to ear, making them the most enthusiastic participants. If Cui Jianxuan hadn’t had so much money and bought up even the ducklings, the others would have gladly joined in as well. Now, Wu Jiu, sweating profusely, returned from the ridge and approached Cui Jianxuan with a broad smile. “Master Cui, the sun is fierce today. Perhaps you should rest in the shade?”

“Do I look like someone who can’t stand the sun?” Cui Jianxuan retorted coldly, then glanced toward the distant flickering flames, knowing Du Shiyi was leading villagers to burn locusts.

Amidst the firelight, Du Shiyi watched as countless locusts turned to ash, feeling a pang of regret, yet knowing there was no better way. After all these days, despite the news that locusts could be eaten spreading through Dengfeng and its villages, only a few dared to try them, and even fewer dried them for winter provisions. Those with chickens, ducks, or pigs at home were tempted, but their numbers were limited. He himself had hired a few men to dry and store nearly twenty dan of locusts, and raised chickens and ducks in his bamboo grove hut. The rest, however, could only be burned, for burial risked leaving eggs behind, and dumping them in water was impractical. He was willing to sell crispy fried locusts, but few dared to taste them—bold Cui Eleven had tried, yet Cui Weizhi, the magistrate, wouldn’t even touch them.

After more than ten days in the fields, leading villagers in drowning and burning locusts, Du Shiyi’s face, which had regained its color after illness, was now tanned, and his throat hoarse from constant activity. Only a few days before, in a battle at a village, the chief and his villagers, in the midst of worshipping the so-called locust god, had attacked him indiscriminately, leaving bruises on his arms. Yet in the end, he persuaded them to join the eradication effort. Now, throughout Dengfeng, villagers were energized, pursuing the locusts far more actively than before, even if the blight was not yet resolved.

“Brother, have some water!”

Hearing the voice beside him, Du Shiyi turned as he wiped the sweat from his brow. Though he had initially concealed the truth from Du Thirteen, the clever girl soon coaxed the facts from Tian Mo, who was a poor liar, and insisted on accompanying him. Dressed as a boy, she stayed close every day, never complaining of hardship. These days, Du Shiyi had grown darker in the sun, and so had she. Taking the water she handed him, he drank deeply, then smiled at her.

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“It’s getting hotter, and now most villagers are joining the fight against the locusts. You needn’t follow me every day.”

“If you’re not afraid of the heat, why should I be?” she replied, her cheeks flushed beneath her soft cap. Seeing his sigh, she handed him a handkerchief as he took the bamboo flask, then wiped her face with a smile before exclaiming, “Brother, if Dengfeng succeeds in eradicating the locusts, won’t you be greatly honored?”

Du Shiyi couldn’t help but pat the head of the girl half a head shorter than himself. “In times of disaster, we must do what we can. If we don’t eradicate the locusts, there’ll be no grain, and we’ll have to leave Mount Song and return home. This is a matter of self-preservation. As for honors, when I volunteered at the county office, it wasn’t for accolades.”

Du Thirteen nodded, her face showing deep admiration. “Brother, you truly have a compassionate heart.”

“It’s you who’s suffered, following me every day. Go rest for a while.”

“If you’re not tired, neither am I!”

Seeing her stubborn refusal to rest in the shade, Du Shiyi could only let her be. When Village Chief Song Eighteen arrived with several young men, Du Shiyi turned his attention to instructing them in the details of burying locusts, reminding them, “Eradicating locusts ensures this year’s harvest, but to prevent their return next year, we must prepare. First, keep the grass by rivers and ponds trimmed, as locusts lay eggs there. Second, when eggs hatch, locusts can only jump on the ground, so report patches of loose soil to the authorities for extermination. Third, when locusts swarm and devour the crops, use cloth nets to catch them. Of course, if you can, raise more ducks in your fields—then even if locusts return, they’ll meet their nemesis!”

If, ten days ago, Song Eighteen had been skeptical of the eradication effort, now he was at least sixty or seventy percent convinced. The duck-driven method amazed him most; with so many seedlings in the field, human labor alone would trample much of the crop and still not kill all the locusts. Songqu, thanks to its early response, suffered far less than neighboring villages.

Thus, whatever Du Shiyi said, Song Eighteen nodded earnestly, finally declaring, “If we rid ourselves of the locusts this year, you’ll be Songqu’s greatest benefactor. I don’t know how to thank you!”

Du Shiyi laughed cheerfully. “When harvest comes, send me a cart of fresh grain and vegetables—that will be thanks enough!”

Song Eighteen readily agreed. “Alright, we’ll pick the first batch and send it to you!”

“By the way, Master Du—how did you make those crispy fried locusts last time? We’ve dried plenty, but none of us dare try them as you did!”

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Hearing talk of eating locusts, Du Thirteen’s face went pale. Yet as she watched her brother calmly explaining to the villagers the methods of pickling, cooking, and seasoning—as if it were a mundane task—her fear gave way to greater admiration.

After another busy day, Song Eighteen and the villagers insisted on inviting Du Shiyi to their home for dinner. Unable to refuse, Du Thirteen followed him to Songqu, where they encountered Cui Jianxuan and his companions at the village entrance.

Unlike their last visit, when they were met with cold stares and opposition, this time Du Shiyi’s party was treated with courtesy by all the villagers. That evening, Song Eighteen’s wife, Madam Liu, personally slaughtered two chickens in the backyard. Neighboring families brought eggs, melons, vegetables, and homebrewed rice wine. Though the wine was cloudy and the dishes simple and rustic, the warmth of their smiles and repeated toasts had Du Shiyi drinking several bowls. By the end, his head was spinning, and he saw Cui Jianxuan sprawled unconscious, utterly drunk. With night deepening and concern for the roads, Wu Jiu, the constables, and Cui Jianxuan’s two attendants decided to leave Cui Eleven, whose tolerance was lowest, in Songqu.

Du Shiyi and Du Thirteen also stayed the night at the Song household. Song Eighteen cleaned two north-facing rooms, giving one to Cui Jianxuan and the other to Du Shiyi and Du Thirteen as “master and servant,” with a paper screen borrowed from a neighbor between them. After closing the door, the thunderous snoring from Cui Jianxuan’s room could be heard. Seeing Du Thirteen, who had kept silent all day, finally let out a deep sigh and sit, hugging her knees on the bamboo mat, Du Shiyi sat down beside her.

“I didn’t expect we’d have to stay out tonight. The last few days, even if we came home late, we could still return. Though someone will send word to our cottage, Zhuying must be worried sick. I should have brought Tian Mo and left you at home.”

“Tian Mo can farm and tend the vegetables, and Zhuying can manage the house and shopping. Even if I stayed, I wouldn’t be much help. I feel safer following you, brother,” she said softly, hugging his arm. “Otherwise, I fear each time I open my eyes, you won’t be your lively self.”

“You!” Du Shiyi gently pinched her nose, full of affection. He was about to urge her to rest when, suddenly, a knocking sounded from the yard. Soon, someone answered, and though he listened intently, the quiet voices were hard to make out in the still night—save for a startled cry. Not long after, a low voice called from outside their door.

“Master Du, are you still awake?”

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