CH 11

The next morning when the rooster crowed loudly, the day had already turned bright. Reddish rays of sunlight shimmered past the translucent paper pasted onto the windows and onto the bed, landing onto Cui Xie’s eyelids.

He opened his eyes, fixedly staring at a black hole on the ceiling for a long while before finally kicking off the quilts and sitting up. From today on, he had to study hard, and once he finished reviewing the knowledge the original body had mastered, it would be time to attend school.

In his previous life, he had attended school for 16 years. Those 16 years were even older than this current body, but in this life, he would have to start learning from the very beginning.

Cui Xie deeply sighed and crawled out of bed. He changed into yesterday evening’s robes that had been freshly fumigated by the smoker cage*, the clothes a set of jade-colored straight robes*. He scooped out some cold water from the water jar to wash up. In the Ming dynasty, there were also soap pellets, and toothbrushes made of hog bristles. The toothbrush’s toothpaste was made from a blend of different spices and medicinal ingredients, but it did not foam up much and did not feel as good as the clean feeling that came with modern foaming toothpaste. But, Cui Xie was not a person who was sensitive to such minute details, and as such, he had already fully adapted after a few days.

*The smoker cage is a peculiar ancient incense device that is a cage-shaped appliance in which an incense burner is placed on the inside. One would then put clothes, bedding, and handkerchiefs on it to keep them warm but it also functions to infuse the clothes with scent. It was a very common practice among females and it was not until the Han Dynasty that this practice became more common among the men, when they started to pay more attention to grooming their appearance.

Jade-colored robe

Diagram of a straight robe

zhishen:A zhishen is an important dress worn by scholars of the Ming Dynasty, it has a straight, round collar, big overlapping robes that were tied on the right side and secured with tie wraps. It does not have a hem and the sleeves are narrower than previous dynasties’ traditional wears and are more suitable for formal occasions. Note, only pay attention to the robes in these pictures, NOT the hat. That style of dress is not what our main character wears. If you are curious as to what the headscarf looks like, I will direct you to Chapter 2 where I have included such pictures.

Washing up gently, he poured the spoiled water into the weeds by the courtyard and used the reflection of the water in the water tank to tie up his hair. He covered it neatly with a black-netted headscarf, and he immediately became the picture of a standard-looking Ming scholar. 

He felt around his hair bun, walking towards his trunk with satisfaction. He first took out the original owner’s copy of the 《Four Books》to read it over again, scanning it into a PDF file and then saving it onto the hard disk. Afterward, he set up the Four Treasures of the Study on the kang bed’s bedside table. Kneeling at the table, he wrote each character stroke by stroke, imitating the PDF file projected in front of him.

The Four Books and Five Classics is by Confucious, a set of core curriculum Ming students have to learn for imperial exams.

Four Treasures of the Study: namely a set of tools including the brush, paper, ink, and inkstone; the essentials of calligraphy and scholarship

As he wrote, suddenly the sound of crisp and melodious bell chiming echoed outside, and quick footsteps quickly sounded out in one of the side rooms. It was Cui Yuan who ran out, wearing short robes, and he said a few words at the main gate. He invited a water cart in, and two workers loudly poured the trickling water in the middle of the courtyard, filling the big water tank in the kitchen. 

In modern times, there were water delivery workers who carried water jugs up flights of stairs, and there were also people in the Ming Dynasty who drove carts to deliver water to people’s residences. Ancient life was not as nearly as troublesome as he imagined.

After the water cart left, a din grew in volume outside the courtyard, the various sounds of the street coming alive. There were people selling hot soy milk and soft bean curd, others were selling pastries with fruit fillings, minced meat pastries, and they list went on: steamed dumplings, shaomai, round flat cakes, meat buns,  noodle soups, offal soup, and even sweet-scented osmanthus porridge…

I tried my best not to drool when translating..here are some food pics!

Soy milk and soft bean curd:

Pastries with fruit and meat fillings:

Steamed dumplings

and shaomai (chinese dimsum dish)

Flatcakes

meat buns

Noodle soups

offal soup

osmanthus porridge

Cui Yuan conveniently bought several varieties of each delicacy from outside. Although they were not nearly as exquisite compared to the Cui family’s meals, there were many varieties and each vendor had their own secret recipe, the mouth-watering fragrances assailing one’s nostrils. Once he entered the main room, seeing that Cui Xie was kneeling by the bed and writing, Cui Yuan called Pengyan to get out of bed and carry in the food onto the breakfast table so Cui Xie could eat while the dishes were still hot.

In the Cui household, it was customary for the Masters to eat first, and then the servants would eat the leftovers. Cui Xie could not change their ingrained habits, so he picked up a few shaomai,  a few crab meat buns and filled a bowl with sweet osmanthus porridge to eat. He left the other dishes untouched, tidy, and neat. When he finished eating, Cui Yuan withdrew and went to the kitchen with his son to eat their breakfast.

After a while, the craftsmen hired for dredging the well knocked on the residence’s main gates, the workers set up a wooden-beamed support structure against the edge of the well, preparing to get to work. Cui Yuan warmed up the leftovers from breakfast earlier and shared the food with them, and then poured them a few bowls of wine to warm up their bodies, so they would not freeze when going down the shaft of the well.

Dredging one’s well was a major event for a household. The neighbors were aware that the jinshi’s young son had moved to the ancestral home and with the help of Landlord Zhao’s family, the news of the household dredging the well had been thoroughly circulated. Naturally, the neighbors would come and take a look.

Jinshi: highest rank a scholar can get and is attained after passing the imperial exam, when scholars attain this rank they usually become court officials. It should be noted that the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) had a very large number of jinshi graduates reaching up to around 24, 536 in total.

Landlord Zhao’s residence was geographically the closest in proximity and was also the first ones who had gotten to know the newcomers, and naturally had the closest relationship. Naturally, they wanted to help their neighbors out. Landlord Zhao personally brought two manservants over, instructing them to carry ropes and wooden poles to help, while he himself grabbed onto Cui Xie. He invited Cui Xie to his residence as a guest on the grounds that it was too chaotic, messy and that this matter would affect his studies.

On the side, Cui Yuan also coaxed: “The residence is dirty and messy. Later, when the mud comes out from the bottom of the well, the entire courtyard will be full of odors and it is not good for the body. Young Master can first accompany Landlord Zhao and rest over there, and give us a shout if you need us to serve you while we are working.”

Landlord Zhao’s wrinkled face was full of smiles: “A Cui* can rest assured, us two elders will properly take care of your young master. Bring the books he wants to read and when my grandsons come home from school, they can also discuss the Sage’s teachings.”

An ‘A’ is attached to the surname and it implies intimacy. It is NOT a typo.

Cui Yuan was so excited that he thanked Landlord Zhao profusely, wishing he could immediately fling the Young Master over the wall and invite Scholar Zhao Gaolin, who was currently studying, to come back and explain to Cui Xie the Sage’s scriptures.

Neighbors and their families who had come to help also reassured: “Young Master can go over with peace of mind, no need to worry about the work going on here. With so many people overseeing it, cleaning up a well will be quick work.”

Pengyan reentered the main room to tidy up Cui Xie’s books and the Four Treasures of the Study. Cui Xie cursed that he could not just bring all the trunks with books in it to Landlord Zhao’s house as well. But, Cui Xie was still quite rational and knew that he could not let other people catch sight of his handwriting. He did not want to write over there if he could help it. As such, he instructed Pengyang to take two copies of 《Four Books, Chapters and Annotations》with him so he could also take advantage of this time to look at it and compare the original to the copied version.

Upon arriving at the Zhao residence, Pengyan was led away by servants to drink tea with gatekeepers. Cui Xie was taken into one of the northern courtyards by Landlord Zhao. Old Zhao furen brought along a daughter-in-law with her and waited for him in the interior of the room—as soon as he entered the door, she asked a servant to serve a flower-shaped pastry that had been pieced together using four different pieces of brightly colored dough and also served him an unassuming, plain-looking hot cup of water. 

夫人(fū ren): the mistress/wife, also a general term to refer to an official’s wife/madam.

He thought it was that jasmine beverage from last time and took a sip, but discovered that the fragrance was different compared to last time. This time, the fragrance was cold and sweet, the taste reminiscent of mint tea. However, the aroma was more special and strong.

Old Zhao furen proudly informed: “This is the Unclouded Soup personally concocted by my daughter-in-law. Now that Little Xie-ge has arrived in Qian’an and ingested this Unclouded Soup, just treat it as sort of welcoming and washing off the dust from one’s journey.”

无尘汤 or Unclouded Soup is a medicinal recipe mostly containing ground cane sugar, and it comes from ‘The Tibetan Prescriptions of the Yang Family’ which has 20 volumes published in 1178 during the Song Dynasty. It contains 49 categories of prescriptions for common illnesses like cold, typhoid fever, heatstroke, rheumatism, athlete’s foot, and a variety of others including treatments for internal and external usage for all genders and ages.

Cui Xie could not help but exclaim: “I have never tasted such a fragrant and refreshing soup, Auntie is really intelligent. It is no wonder that those two shixiong can study and go to school at such a young age, it must be inherited…after meeting these elders, one can tell that shixiongs’ future will be boundless.

Shixiong: means fellow brothers and this term is a name used for peers in the same generation who are acquaintances because of close familial/friend relations

Landlord Zhao was quite pleased with this statement, smiling and waved his hand: “My eldest grandson, Ying’er is somewhat clever, but Lin’er is unsuccessful and still insists on going into town to study. One does not know if he will have many prospects in the future.”

Zhao furen (NOT to be confused with Old Zhao furen, this is the mother of Ying’er and Lin’er) also modestly added: “I just want them to be safe and dare not to think so far ahead. If Little Xie-ge likes the taste of the soup, then please drink some more. When your household hosts the banquet, our family’s mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law will all make our specialty dishes and deliver them over.”

Old Zhao furen nodded and continued: “My son went to Dongguan street’s Dejiu Restaurant,  Dongjie streets’ Jiuheshun Restaurant, and Jingwei Restaurant to find a good cook. These restaurants are quite good at making dishes commonly found in the capital, and there should be news within a day or two. Little Xie-ge should plan accordingly.”

Cui Xie cracked an affable smile and responded: “Then it is better to do it sooner rather than later. Wait until we finish dredging the wall over there, and using water becomes more convenient, then all the distinguished neighbors will be invited as guests at the residence. However, I am still young and am lacking in many matters. Must one write an invitation card when inviting guests? And as to what content should be written on these cards?”

If he truly had to write, he could only feign that he was lacking strength due to his serious injuries for two more days and let Cui Yuan and his son be his ghostwriter.

Landlord Zhao tapped the table a few times, and acted on behalf of his grandson: “Let Lin’ er write it! As to what kind of invitation card, all these scholars’ families recognize our residence, just let him yell about it to others at school and they will most definitely come.”

Zhao furen basked in the glory and further boasted about her son’s popularity at the academy and how Teacher Lin liked him as well. She boasted and boasted until the conversation suddenly turned to talk about how her son was getting older and should be married by now. She talked about the different marriage customs in the capital….after skirting around seven corners and eight corners, the conversation shifted to Cui Xie, and he was asked whether his family had arranged an engagement for him yet and what type of girl he liked.

‘seven corners and eight corners’: a phrase describing how a person goes off on a tangent before somehow arriving, although convolutedly, to the main point

He liked people who went to university, a modern person. Could you really relate to this?

Cui Xie lowered his eyes and pretended to bashfully respond: “This kind of thing will be arranged by my parents. Besides, I do not have any scholarly merit to my name yet, what is the use of thinking of this.”

Zhao furen showed a regretful and unwilling expression. Old Zhao furen caught a glimpse and lightly patted her daughter-in-law’s hand to explain: “Little Xie–ge came over to our residence to quietly study, but we have troubled him for so long about the matters the women deal with in the inner courtyard. Enough. Little Chunxiang, take Young Master Cui to the Eastern Study.”

Zhao furen gave Cui Xie a smile and said., “Little Xie-ge do not blame me, I am getting old and like to chatter and delayed your studies right? There is a quiet study in the eastern courtyard of the residence, please go there to study, don’t let the noise from the workers disturb you.”

Zhao furen had no choice but to rise and see him off. Landlord Zhao said: “You womenfolk do not need to bother sending us off, I will take Young Master to the Ying’er’s study.”

Cui Xie was astounded and asked, “Is this the study of that shixiong studying in Fucheng? How can I borrow his study? The sound of the well craftsmen is not loud, I have not heard anything since I entered the courtyard. Grandpa Zhao can arrange a guest room for me instead, I can bring the books over myself.”

Landlord Zhao continuously persuaded: “What kind of hospitality is that? Little Xie-ge, just follow me, distant relatives are not as good as neighbors. It is only his study and room, even sleeping over for two days is no big deal!”

‘distant relatives are not as good as neighbors’: idiom; a far-off relative is not as helpful as a close neighbor

After spouting off those words, Landlord Zhao suddenly felt that the idea was quite good, and he laughed: “Let’s do it this way then. Ying’er usually studies in Fucheng and he will return for two days during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Your residence has not been renovated yet, so why don’t you make do for now and stay here for two days…call your A Cui to come over and sleep at night. My family’s residence is slightly bigger and spacious, you all can go back after the renovations are finished.”

Disregarding whether Cui Xie agreed or not, he chuckled and pulled Cui Xie into the Eastern Study laterally housed in the Eastern courtyard. Pointing to the bookshelves and trunks below them, he elaborated: “These are the books your shixiong used in the past, you may read them as you like. I will ask your family’s Little Pengyan to come and serve you. Just treat it as your own home, no need to feel so restrained.”

Afraid of disturbing Cui Xie’s studies, he quickly headed out with few words and asked someone to find Pengyan and tell him to wait upon Cui Xie. The maidservant Little Chunxiang, who was ordered to wait upon the Cui Family, brought more of those four-colored flower-shaped pastries before, but this time, the beverage was replaced with a cold, yet sweet-scented osmanthus syrup drink. It was said that if one was tired of reading, having a drink could relieve one’s irritability and that their family’s Young Masters all loved drinking it.

Thanks to the host’s enthusiasm, Cui Xie gradually got used to the neighborhood ambience of the Ming Dynasty. The guest casually sat down at the desk in the guest room and began to read. However, he hadn’t touched Young Master Zhao’s bookcase. Instead, he flipped open the 《Four Books, Chapters and Annotations》he brought with him, diligently scanning the pages and converting them into PDF files to save onto the hard disk.

There were only two thin volumes on the Four Books, and it wouldn’t take a whole morning to read it, even if one were detailed. After he finished reading it, he gifted the book to Pengyan to let him relieve some of his boredom. He then promptly closed his eyes and recited the entire PDF file word-by-word in a low voice.

《Chapters on the Great Learning》.  In former times, 大 [da]was read like 泰 [tai]…..

These commentaries were too long and inserted frequently, making the whole text appear fragmented and often made him forget what the previous sentence was when he moved to the next. Once he returned back to the residence, he would still have to copy the original text and compare it with the translations on the side. He had to at least straighten out the original text first, otherwise, the efficiency would be too low if each sentence was fragmented.

While he was trying to get acquainted with the book, someone rapidly knocked on the door of the study and Little Chunxiang anxiously yelled from outside: “Young Master Cui, your family…something happened in your family. Someone from the capital started bickering with your household’s Cui Yuan.”

The book in Pengyan’s hand fell to the ground with a ‘bang’, the boy’s face paling. He said: “Is it the Master…”

“If it was the Master, your Father wouldn’t have started quarreling with them. If the Master is not here…” Cui Xie stretched out his hands and smoothed out his sleeves, standing up calmly: “Don’t worry, I am here.”

TN: Early release today! Today was quite a laidback chapter but it was very nice and descriptive :). Stay safe everyone and enjoy! <33

Update (3/19/21): I completely forgot to open up the comment section! Sorry about that, thank you Auralie for pointing that out!