Chapter Forty-Seven: The Lasting Sentiments of the Younger Generation

After the twelfth lunar month passed, it was the leap month; most of the students who had been attending lectures in the annex bid farewell to Lu Hong, packed their belongings, and went home to celebrate the New Year. The likes of Liu Ximing, who had come seeking knowledge with letters of recommendation, also mostly returned home to reunite with their families. Among Lu Hong’s personal disciples, Song Shen, Wang Wei, and Cui Jianxuan all received letters from home as well.

Cui Jianxuan was actually reluctant to go back, but his grandmother and mother pressed him urgently. After Du Shiyi, with a half-smile, reminded him of his promise to copy the “Book of Han,” he had no choice but to leave behind the pair of bronze weights, albeit with much reluctance. He weighed them, marked their size, and vowed to cast an identical pair when he returned home. He repeatedly urged Du Shiyi that if he ever went to Shaolin Temple again, he must remember every word said, so that Cui could hear them on his return. With his head drooping, he finally mounted his horse and left for home. Song Shen and Wang Wei, as in previous years, also returned home for the New Year, but unlike Cui, they did not dawdle; after saying their goodbyes to their teacher, they quickly set out.

Thus, the once-bustling Lu family cottage was left with just a handful of students. Seeing such a rare opportunity, Du Shiyi persuaded Lu Hong to allow Du Shisanniang and a few others to come over. Lu Wangzhi, without a word, gave up his own room and moved in with Lu Hong.

Though Du Shisanniang had seen her brother copying books before, actually moving into the cottage and facing the neatly stacked volumes of stitched-bound books still moved her deeply. Each day, she saw her brother either copying texts or seeking private instruction from Lu Hong, and on returning, he would not forget to practice the pipa or ponder over the bronze weights. She felt a mixture of heartache and pride, so she decided not to disturb him; whenever she had time, she devoted herself to her needlework, or carefully pored over the account books sent by Wu Jiu.

She had always trusted her brother. Watching the daily earnings of their small tavern in Dengfeng County rise from thirty or fifty coins, to a hundred or two, and then, in just a few days, leap to five or six hundred, then a thousand or two, she was overjoyed beyond measure, even though she knew that after deducting costs, the profits were not extraordinary.

It was already the twenty-seventh day of the month. She was working on her needlework when a commotion outside caught her attention. She quickly instructed Zhuying to go and see what was happening. Although there were few students left at the cottage, there were still a few young men, so she preferred to stay inside whenever possible. Soon, Zhuying returned.

“My lady, some of the students who stayed behind at the cottage caught some fresh fish in the deep pools of the mountain stream. They said that as it’s hard to get fresh food in winter, the fish are for making soup for Master Lu on New Year’s Eve.”

“So that’s their thoughtful gesture. In this cold weather, it’s not easy for them to go to such trouble.” Du Shisanniang blinked. As she completed the last stitches on the robe, she stood up with delight and examined it from every angle before asking Zhuying, “What do you think of this robe?”

“If it’s made by you, it must be wonderful. The young master will be overjoyed.”

“Who said it’s for my brother?” Du Shisanniang’s laughter revealed the little dimple on her right cheek. “Master Lu is my brother’s teacher and lets me stay here temporarily, just like a father. With the New Year approaching, and since the students here have gone to such lengths to catch fresh fish, I must also show my gratitude. Zhuying, wrap it up—we’ll go and see Master Lu.”

At the front of the cottage, Du Shiyi was tallying the recent profits from the tavern in Dengfeng, and calculating when Pei Ning, Cui Jianxuan, and the others would return. For a moment, he was lost in thought.

“Little brother?”

A hand patted his shoulder—not too hard, not too soft—startling him out of his reverie. He turned to find it was Lu Wangzhi. “Eldest brother?”

“Eleventh Brother has only just left, and you miss him already?”

Du Shiyi stared in disbelief, then hurriedly explained, “What are you saying, eldest brother? I was just wondering when Third Brother would be back, and whether he’ll scold me again for my rusty pipa playing!”

“No need to explain—the more you explain, the worse it sounds. I’ve heard you practice the pipa recently; for a beginner, it’s more than just good—it’s remarkable progress. It’s Cui the Eleventh who hasn’t put his heart into it. When Third Brother returns, he’ll scold him, not you. Don’t worry, Eleventh Brother may be careless with his studies, but he is never half-hearted. He will surely come back!”

However one listened, there seemed to be a hidden meaning in his words. Seeing Lu Wangzhi’s knowing smile, Du Shiyi gave up trying to explain and asked straightforwardly, “Is there something you need, eldest brother?”

“Something? Oh, yes, I almost forgot!” Lu Wangzhi clapped his hands and smiled. “The New Year is upon us. With only a few students left at the cottage, I wanted to ask how we should celebrate New Year’s Eve together.”

With a carefree gesture, Lu Wangzhi suddenly looked in another direction. “Ah, look, here comes Shisanniang!”

“Brother!”

Seeing Du Shisanniang hurrying over with Zhuying, Du Shiyi set aside his thoughts of New Year’s Eve and greeted her with a smile. Noticing the bundle in Zhuying’s hands, he asked curiously, “What’s inside?”

“The New Year is nearly here, so I sewed a robe for Master Lu myself. I didn’t take his measurements, so I’m not sure if it will fit. I’m bringing it today for him to try on, so I can make any adjustments if needed.” Noticing the delight on her brother’s face, she quickly added, “I’m making yours too, but it will take a few more days.”

“Wonderful! Then I’ll wait for the new clothes you make for me!” Du Shiyi cheerfully took the bundle from Zhuying. “Master Lu is free now, let’s go together. Truly, you’re more thoughtful than I am as a disciple.”

Lu Hong was quite surprised to learn that Du Shisanniang had sewn a robe for him herself. Yet as he looked at the youthful girl with her hair in childish braids, earnestly offering up the blue robe, he received it with his own hands, caressing the thick fabric and fine stitches. A warm smile appeared on his face. “This is the best New Year’s gift I’ve received this year. No wonder Nineteen is always praising you—your thoughtfulness is a delight. Wangzhi, help me put it on.”

Lu Wangzhi quickly stepped forward to help Lu Hong out of his old robe and into the new one. As soon as he put it on, he laughed, “Truly skillful hands! The size and length are just perfect. Master Lu, now that you’re wearing it, you shouldn’t take it off—it fits so well.”

Seeing his sister’s face flush with pleasure at these compliments, Du Shiyi joined in the fun. “Since Shisanniang made Master Lu a new robe, I’ll cook the New Year’s Eve dinner myself.”

At once, Du Shisanniang protested, “Brother, a gentleman stays away from the kitchen. If someone must cook, let it be me!”

Du Shiyi couldn’t help but laugh. “Where did you hear that?”

Without hesitation, she replied, “I heard it when you were reading Mencius, and our third great uncle has often said it too.”

“A gentleman staying away from the kitchen doesn’t mean what you think.” Du Shiyi gently patted his sister’s head, smiling. “When Mencius said that, he was advising King Xuan of Qi. A gentleman avoids the kitchen not because it’s shameful to cook, but because he cannot bear to witness the act of killing for food—thus he avoids the kitchen, so as not to hear the cries or see the blood. Yet even so, the meat he eats still comes from killing. So in the end, this saying is not a noble principle at all—just self-deception.”

“Excellent!” Lu Hong laughed heartily and then nodded approvingly. “One must never take words out of context. Nineteen, your interpretation is brilliant! So be it—we await your New Year’s Eve feast!”