Chapter Thirty: Discussing Hardships Amid the Bamboo Grove

The golden glow of the setting sun cast a radiant layer over the entire verdant bamboo grove, and the heat of the day gradually faded away. A gentle breeze brushed the treetops, countless bamboo leaves swaying lightly, producing a soft rustling sound that brought a fresh and cooling sensation to those wandering through the woods. At this moment, Du Shiyi stood there, his expression and mood both delightfully content, for beside him was a true legend.

"Why are you smiling, young master Du?"

"I'm simply happy," Du Shiyi replied, his lips curling nonchalantly. He stopped in his tracks, then spoke earnestly to Lady Gongsun, "I have a small request. Although others call me 'young master Du,' could you, Lady Gongsun, leave out the 'young'?"

"Oh?" Surprised that Du Shiyi would make such a solemn request, Lady Gongsun was momentarily taken aback, then could not help but smile. Her rare smile, appearing on her usually icy and distant face, made her look all the more dazzling. She seemed unaware of her own brilliance as she saw Du Shiyi gazing at her intently, and with a half-smile, half-serious expression, she said, "Du Lang, today you faced the arrogant retainers, first stirring public sentiment with a superb half-poem, then suggesting we stay overnight at Songyang Temple. For this, I am deeply grateful."

Du Shiyi had asked Lady Gongsun to omit the 'young,' but she went further and dropped the 'master' as well. That lingering call of 'Du Lang' could stir endless hopes in one's heart. Yet, recalling her sword dance earlier, where the cold blade seemed almost to strike his face, any fleeting fancy vanished instantly, though he would not easily show weakness.

"A man would risk all for a beauty, anyone would do the same."

"No, even if the Duke of Zhao you mentioned were present, he would only avoid confrontation, not directly face Imperial Censor Liu." Lady Gongsun set aside her jest, turned slowly, walked to an old bamboo by the path, and spoke, not turning her head, "Du Lang, you may not know the situation outside, being in Dengfeng. Since Imperial Censor Liu received his orders and set out from Chang'an, he has traveled swiftly, stirring chaos in Shan Prefecture, Xin'an, Gong County—one prefecture and two counties ahead of Dengfeng. The people there, fearful of divine wrath, refused to catch locusts, so he issued death orders to the county magistrates. The county bailiffs drove people into the fields with whips, forbidding them to return home until all locusts were caught."

She paused, then suddenly turned to face him, speaking slowly and distinctly, "And because news of his arrival spread quickly, Yan City, where I planned to go, originally resisted catching locusts. The Catcher of Locusts urged them repeatedly, but the county staff continued to resist, delaying the matter. When he arrived, the Catcher became extremely forceful, ordering the county to conscript the people and even setting strict deadlines, so the county had no choice but to offer rewards. For the few coins paid for a bushel of locusts, local ruffians deliberately trampled crops, extorting money from the villagers to buy themselves peace. On one hand, they had to obey the government’s orders, on the other, deal with these troublemakers—even travelers on the roads were harassed. That is why I returned to Dengfeng."

To Du Shiyi, Lady Gongsun's words were a tremendous shock. The threat of locust plagues was obvious, but he never imagined that the seemingly beneficial campaign to catch locusts could become so disastrous. He had thought Liu Zhao merely arrogant and domineering, but if things were as Lady Gongsun described, the people's resentment must be immense.

"The people may be led, but they cannot be made to understand—the same as ever throughout history. I heard that when you, Du Lang, organized the locust-catching in Songqu, you set up large pots to cook the flying locusts, offering them as delicacies, and the crowds gathered enthusiastically. By personally leading ducks to eat locusts, and with the benefits of consuming them shown, the villagers gradually came to trust you. If these Catchers of Locusts were as considerate, instead of resorting only to force, the plague would surely be quelled and the people's hearts settled. But they clearly only seek quick results, and..." Lady Gongsun paused, then stepped forward swiftly, stopping just one or two paces from Du Shiyi, "Du Lang, did you know that last year, despite the locust plague in Shandong, the annual rent was not reduced?"

"Is that true?"

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Seeing Du Shiyi's incredulous face, Lady Gongsun spoke coolly, "I have performed in the northern regions for over a year—what I saw and heard is true. If rents are reduced, it means the locust plague has devastated the people, and catching locusts is of no help. If not, it means that as long as catching is effective, the disaster can be controlled, and taxes can be paid as usual. Thus, reduction or not means life or death for the people, but for those ministers in the court, it is merely a matter of political achievement. Although Chancellor Yao has governed well for years, vigorously organizing locust-catching in the afflicted areas, he made the wrong choice of people, and his selfishness was too great!"

Faced with such sharp critique, Du Shiyi was uncertain whether to smile wryly or show another emotion. He felt that Lady Gongsun, wandering the land with her sword, was not merely a master of sword and dance. Discussing such matters of livelihood and suffering among the bamboo, it seemed neither the place for a performer like Lady Gongsun nor a commoner like himself. Yet, at this moment, he could not help but gaze again at her face, which, under the flecks of golden sunlight, appeared especially radiant.

"Ahem... ahem!"

A sudden, ill-timed cough broke the silence between them. Du Shiyi turned in surprise to see Du Shisanniang standing at the end of the path, shaded by bamboo, her face showing both annoyance and delight. When he looked her way, she scrunched her nose in irritation. He was stunned; he had not expected Du Shisanniang and her servant Zhuying to remain at Songyang Temple instead of returning to the cottage. Forgetting Lady Gongsun for the moment, he hurried to meet Du Shisanniang. The girl remained silent, so he smiled and called her name; to his surprise, she threw herself into his arms the next moment.

"Brother, from now on, you must not drive me away when something happens. I never want to be left in a safe place, worrying about you!"

He felt a warm, damp sensation on his chest, as if Du Shisanniang was crying. Seeing Zhuying behind her turn away, clearly wiping tears, he gently patted the girl's back and said with a smile, "There was nothing wrong, really nothing happened. You, at your age, worry too much! See, your brother is perfectly fine—not a scratch..."

Before he finished, someone pushed hard against his chest. Looking down, he saw Du Shisanniang's face flushed red with anger. He realized his attempt at humor had backfired, so he sighed and said, "It's not that I wanted to leave you behind, but sometimes I act impulsively. I meddle in others' affairs, but I can't let you be involved..."

"But I wanted to step forward and stand up for justice, and you clearly stopped me!"

"Stand up for justice? Shisanniang, those people are not county officials but Imperial Censor Liu Zhao's close associates. What right do you have to confront them? What if something happened to you?" Du Shiyi's expression suddenly turned stern; seeing her stunned and pale, he spoke in a low, deliberate voice, "Shisanniang, don't think that because Magistrate Cui respects us, we are anything special. Status means little to someone like Liu Zhao, who speaks with imperial authority. Magistrate Cui cares more about my initiative in catching locusts, which won him time and achievement, but more truly, he is concerned about Cui Shiyi Lang!"

"Brother..."

"You came to Songyang Temple seeking support, but Daoist Sun is not Master Sima—his intentions are unpredictable. Moreover, because of your previous actions, Master Song punished several people. If those people bear a grudge and seize this chance to harm you, what then?"

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"Fine, it's all my fault! I'll admit it!" Tears welled up in Du Shisanniang's eyes, and she finally spoke with a sob, "Brother says I shouldn't stand up for justice, says I shouldn't have come to Songyang Temple—but you not only helped Lady Gongsun, you brought her here too!"

Seeing Du Shisanniang sobbing as she turned to run, Zhuying was first stunned, then deeply anxious. Without chasing after Du Shisanniang, she stepped forward and said urgently, "Sir, my lady has waited day and night for your return. She was overjoyed to enter the city with you today! Even while staying at Dengfeng County, Magistrate Cui and his wife offered to adopt her as their goddaughter, giving her clothes and jewelry; she refused repeatedly, choosing only the simplest items, never accepting, nor ever feeling pride. It was for you that she rushed to Songyang Temple, and before Daoist Sun she only mentioned Lady Gongsun's arrival in Dengfeng, nothing else! She worries for you, her brother, and has no time for any other thoughts!"

After finishing, Zhuying bowed slightly, then turned and hurried after Du Shisanniang.

The two soon vanished from sight, leaving Du Shiyi feeling utterly unsettled. At that moment, he heard Lady Gongsun's voice behind him: "Though young, Lady Du treats people with genuine sincerity; even if she made mistakes, you shouldn't have spoken to her so harshly—especially not for the sake of an outsider like me."

"It's not a matter of outsider or not," Du Shiyi replied without turning, sighing softly. "I was too anxious and forgot how young Shisanniang is. Talking with you, Lady Gongsun, has taught me much. Now I must go and explain things to her properly. Please excuse me."

"A man would risk all for a beauty..."

As the white-robed figure disappeared, Lady Gongsun murmured the phrase Du Shiyi had casually spoken earlier, recalling the unfinished half-poem. That night they had shared a room, which left little impression upon her. Though he seemed to fall into a deep sleep after seeing her face, unaware when she and her disciple left at dawn, and though she had heard of the famed Du Shiyi of Du Ling eating locusts publicly and leading villagers to drive ducks to consume them, inspiring widespread duck and pig husbandry, with some even daring to eat locusts themselves, her journey had passed countless such travelers. Yet today, his righteous intervention was inevitably etched deep in her heart, especially the moment when the crowd burst into cheers.

"Today there is a beauty, Lady Gongsun; her sword dance stirs the world. The audience stands like a mountain, awed and subdued. Heaven and earth bow and rise again. Swift as Yi shooting down the sun, bold as dragons soaring with the gods. She comes like thunder gathering its wrath, ends like rivers and seas shining clear... I wonder, will there be more verses to follow..."

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