CH 40

In the last few days leading up to and after New Year’s Day, Qian’an experienced heavy snowfall and bad weather conditions. After Young Master Wang came back from his trip of giving festival gifts, he finally came to the Cui Residence for a spell, cupping a warm teacup, sighing, “The weather was extremely bad this year. It snowed when I went to the capital and when I came back to Qian’an, it also started snowing. Your gege nearly froze to death on the road. Fortunately,  the matter of gift-giving went smoothly this year, and it is all thanks to Cui xiongdi’s good fortune.”

Xiongdi: variant of brother (xiong also means brother)

Cui Xie jokingly played along, “Why, could it be that my family’s paper prints were all gifted out and all of those elderly da-ren took a liking to it?”

Not only did they take a liking to it, but numerous people had asked Young Master Wang if a beauty surnamed Cui had truly popped up in Qian’an. But this kind of occurrence was not easy to describe in front of the originator of the rumors, so Young Master Wang simply chuckled at him as he looked at Cui Xie and changed the topic, “I also went to meet Colonel Xie. He was really such an amiable person, even for a willful guest whom he has no friendly relations with or an invitation card to notify my visit, he still received and entertained me. He even chatted with me for ages and asked about the daily changes in my everyday life. Naturally, I know I did not have the face to receive such respect, and most of it is attributed to Cui xiongdi’s fortune.”

Cui Xie politely declined, “That is because Colonel Xie has a good temperament and it must be because you two are kindred spirits and hit it off, what face can I have? With Brother Wang’s kind of lofty and mountainous manly aura, who is unwilling to establish a relationship with a rugged man like you?”

Wang Xiangzhen slowly shook his head back and forth: “Cui xiongdi is looking down on himself too much.  Let gege make a bet with you–either before the New Year, or after the New Year, Colonel Xie will send someone to give something in return for that little box you gave him. Do you dare to bet?”

When he had left the Xie Residence, a return, courtesy gift had been prepared for and shelved away in the carriage by the Xie family, but there was not a single thing for Cui Xie. Then how could this be? He did not think that Colonel Xie was the kind of person to look upon simple gifts with disdain and treat them as nothing. That phrase, ‘It was I who requested the Imperial commendation on  his behalf’ really had a lot of meaning!

Wang Xiangzhen’s eyebrows twitched up and he gave Cui Xie a deep gaze. Cui Xie did not pay attention to the meaningful shift in the other’s gaze and happily exclaimed, “Good. If Colonel Xie really intends to return my greetings with a gift, it is only because Wang xiong personally made this trip on my behalf. If there is anything in it, I will split it with Wang xiong.”

“I’m afraid that when the time comes, Cui xiongdi will be reluctant to part with it.” Young Master Wang’s lips curved up with a meaningful implication and he arose from his seat to leave.

His premonition had indeed been accurate. The fifth day after Lunar New Year’s Day, an ordinary black-tarp covered carriage galloped in front of the constructed ‘public merit’ archway. Ordinary people could not ride a carriage through the memorial archway and as such, the person driving the carriage jumped down. They then knocked on the door where the Imperial decree was inscribed on the gate’s plaque and handed over a crimson-red card.

On the outer cover of the card, a simple sentence was written on it, ‘Colonel Xie of the Jinyiwei’. The entirety of the Cui Fu was shocked and excited. Cui Xie came out of the study located in the West Wing and raised his eyes to view the rare clear blue sky in the middle of winter, there was a feeling of not knowing what evening this evening was.

What evening this evening is (idiom from the Classic of Poetry in the Odes of Tang): meaning, what night is tonight? This phrase is often exclaimed in admiration and is used to reference an auspicious day

Young Master Wang had randomly made a bet, but how could it actually come true? He had only given something that was not even worth five or ten taels and Colonel Xie sent servants all the way to Qian’an to repay him with a gift?

He silently stood outside and deeply inhaled a few more deep breaths of frigid, cold air before stepping foot into the Flower Hall. Xie Shan hurriedly put aside the tea cup, rose from his seat to give his salutations. He then respectfully continued, “This subordinate is Xie Shan, and is a longtime retainer of the Jinyiwei Colonel da-ren. Today, by Master’s orders, I am here to give something to the Young Master.”

Flower Hall: A sort of living room or foyer located near the outskirts of the residence and mostly built in courtyards or gardens.

He promptly handed over Colonel Xie’s letter and gift list, his lips pulled into a beaming smile, “My family’s Master is especially fond of the portrait gifted by Young Master Cui and even specially ordered this subordinate to buy some pigments and white silk paper for the Young Master in hopes that Young Master can continue to paint more masterpieces in the future. This subordinate was fortunate enough to have taken a look at the painting, it’s the same as if one was looking at the mirror. Just looking at the appearance of the facial features, it is even somewhat more attractive and charming than our family’s Colonel!”

Cui Xie restrainedly smiled, the corners of his lips barely moving. There was only a quick radiance that flickered in his eyes briefly, revealing a slight expression of joy. He humbly replied, “You flatter me, it is just that Xie da-ren has an impressive and graceful demeanor, I’ve only captured three-tenths of his true likeness.”

Xie Shan has compared the gentle and leisurely handsome man in the painting with the appearance of his family’s daren adorned with red silk robes, mounting his horse with a smile that could make a person’s heart turn cold. He felt that Cui Xie was being too modest and repeatedly praised, “This Young Master is being too self-deprecating, our Colonel’s household is long accustomed to coming across various famous masterpieces, how can we not discern that your paintings are far better than the infamous Cui Beauty in Qian’an? Our Master even stored it away somewhere so that no one else would look at it! This subordinate has come across some of the imitation Four Beauty portraits on the market and it is far more lackluster and naturally cannot compare to the one Young Master Cui painted for our Colonel.”

CUi Xie nearly forgot his manners and was about to spring up from his seat, but firmly suppressed himself and sat firmly, asking stiffly, “Cui Beauty?”

Xie Shan nodded slightly, “I was still wondering whether Young Master Cui and Cui Beauty are from the same family. Those in the capital that sell the Four Beauty Portraits say that this Cui Beauty is the true master from behind the scenes of the Zhirong Study. Others conjecture that she is the boss’ concubine, does the Young Master know the truth of this matter?

The Cui Beauty…..Boss Cui twisted his head to look at the desolate and bleak courtyard outside the door, lightly coughed twice and rigidly persuaded, “That Cui Beauty is merely mistaken rumors disseminated outside, there is actually no such person. I have lived in Qian’an for a few months now, how could I not know the truth? The Four Beauty Portraits is actually the work of a famous artist and the Zhirong Study accidentally obtained these paintings and as such, printed it as painting prints, nothing more. If Colonel da-ren likes it, my residence still has a few copies and I will have to trouble this elder brother to deliver them back on my behalf.”

Xie Shan hurriedly bowed and replied with a beam, “My family’s da-ren has already received the Young Master’s painting, how can these beauty prints possibly catch his eye! However, real and genuine Cui Beauty paper is extremely rare in the capital. This subordinate will be shameless and thanks the Young Master for this bestowment.”

Xie Shan had initially appreciated the Cui Beauty Prints, but now that he had obtained some, he also stayed behind for a meal. As he drank the Cui Residence’s brewed wine, did he finally remember the wine recipe Cui Xie had given to Colonel Xie.

This is something Colonel Xie had him keep a close eye on for almost half a year, now that he had done so, how could Xie Shan not show off his accomplishments?

He insisted on drinking and specially seeked for an audience with Cui Xie again and exerting all of his strength, he exaggeratedly said: “Ever since half a year ago, our family’s Master ordered the hamlet to experiment and brew according to the recipe. It is a pity that it is still short of one or two months until the process is finished. Otherwise, it would have been delivered to Young Master Cui today. Master was concerned and kept thinking of Young Master, and has definitely not forgotten about the matter. 

That day, this subordinate thought it was such a pity upon seeing Young Master’s painting——that painting just happened to be our Master! What is the point of him looking at himself all day? If it was a portrait of Young Master Cui, it would most definitely be hung on the wall for everyone to see!”

……It was normal to hang your own portrait at home, but wasn’t hanging a portrait of other males a bit shameful?

Cui Xie just simply did not know hence from where to start to complain. But, thinking of how Colonel Xie had always remembered his wine recipe, and that it wasn’t just because of the gift he received from Young Master Wang that he had sent Xie Shan over with gifts, a slight joy blossomed in Cui Xie’s heart. At the last moment before sending away the guest, he handed over a freshly written letter to Xie Shan with a smile: “Please take care of Colonel da-ren on my behalf. I have always remembered his advice and dare not relax my studies for even a day. I only look forward to the day we meet in Beijing as soon as possible.”

After sending off Xie Shan, Cui Xie only took a jar of grape wine and those specially bought paint pigments behind before personally escorting the rest of the food to Commander Wang’s Fu.

When Wang Xiangzhen saw that Cui Xie had sent these things over, he was celebrating like Zhuge Liang who had outsmarted Sima Yi. He laughed with a smile, “I just knew that he would send someone to gift you separately. You must have already picked through these gifts, then what share have you left for yourself? Is it convenient to tell this gege?”

like Zhuge Liang who had outwon Sima Yi: Zhuge Liang was a military leader and strategist during the Three Kingdoms and Sima Yi was a warlord under Cao Cao on the enemy side.

Cui Xie magnanimously and frankly explained, “Naturally, it is something that Wang xiong has no need for. This time, I gave Colonel Xie a portrait and since he saw that I like painting, he was afraid that I could not afford high-quality pigments and therefore gave me a few.”

Wang Xiangzhen let out a ‘tsk’, “As for the things you scholars use, this mind of mine really can’t think of any. Not to mention this, gege really wants to sincerely thank you. News from the capital just arrived, and as for those Four Beauty portraits of yours, Vice Commissioner Chen has taken a fancy to them. Maybe in the next one or two years, my father, the Xingtun Right Commander, can finally have the opportunity to move up in the ranks.”

Tongzhi: otherwise known as Vice-Commissioners (rank 2b) of the five Branch Regional military Commissions under the bigger umbrella of the Five Chief Military Commissions that supervised professional military affairs with the Ministry of War.

Cui Xie hastily got up and put his hands together, grinning, “Then I must give my congratulations to the Old Master.

Young Master Wang thanked him, “Thank you for your congratulatory words. If I am to move away, I will definitely vacate the courtyard behind your book store to save you from squeezing together with those artisans. However, your Four Beauty portraits have already been given out to many people this year and it will not be so novel and fresh in the future. One doesn’t know when you are planning on publishing new ones?”

Last year, it was still relatively easy, but this year’s schedule was a little tight. Furthermore, Teacher Lin advised him to study hard every day and Cui Xie would not ask for new manuscripts from him. At this time, there was nothing new to print.

Cui Xie pondered for a spell and asked, “Does Wang xiong want these prints for your own viewing or is it to be used as gifts? If it is to be gifted away, I recently gifted a few sets of hand copied Diamond Sutras to the various elders in my household a few days ago. If you want it for your own entertainment, you will have to wait for me to find a new manuscript suitable for printing.”

Young Master Wang spread his hands and shrugged his shoulders, “I don’t like reading or reciting scriptures, you are making me feel awkward to death. There are so many scripts and novels out there, you can just find one, add some beautiful portraits and then just print it!

That would not work. He was a man of integrity and if he were to print, he would print books without any copyright disputes.

Cui Xie headed back to discuss this matter with Shopkeeper Ji. Shopkeeper Ji slapped the bookcase and exclaimed, “What need for new manuscripts! Newly published novels are just not as popular as 《The Three Kingdoms》. Young Master has such painting abilities, just simply draw the 108 generals  from 《The Three Kingdoms》and it will be guaranteed to sell better than the Four Beauty portraits

You mean the Water Margin’s 108 Stars of Destiny….

Cui Xie shook his head, chuckling lightly and came to a decision to print the Diamond Sutra and the Three Kingdoms in the next upcoming days. There were so many editions of these two books on the market, there was no need to engrave these templates themselves. They just needed to go to other bookstores to buy a set of meticulously proofread carved printing blocks and then attach the portrait template blocks to print together. As the two finalized these plans to publish the next set of books, Cui Xie inquired, “How did the voting go for selecting the number one beauty from the 《Integrated Fragrant Diaries》? Has it been counted? If there is a clear majority, I will immediately produce the portrait out for everyone to see.”

Shopkeeper Ji stroked his beard and crinkled his eyes with a smile, “This rotten old one has called someone to count the votes everyday, but it seems that there are more who voted for Wanning, with a total of 410 votes and the other three are merely short by 30 or 40 votes. After the Lantern Festival, I fear that it will be even harder for the other three to overtake these results. After all, it was Young Master who had calculated and made the wise decision by printing Wanning’s prints by three-tenths less compared to the others. Not to mention her prints were the first to come out, those customers that only buy the novels to collect portraits given in the book, they all increasingly want to obtain her portrait!”

Cui Xie’s lips curled into a satisfied smile and promised to draw the portrait immediately. He then let Shopkeeper Ji quickly go prepare for the printing jobs coming up after the festival.

It was only after Shopkeeper Ji left, that the smile on Cui Xie’s face receded and he secretly sighed at the painting paper: “It was a pity that it was just a story about an illiterate scholar plucking flowers. If it was instead a novella like Red Rose, White Rose, that kind of foul wind and bloody rain, it would tyrannically force the customers to fork money out to pay for it.”

Red Rose, White Rose: novella written by Zhang Ailing. The story is set in the 1930s and 1940s and the story focuses on the tangled love between Tong Zhenbao and two women. The white rose was his spotless wife Yanli and the red rose was his passionate mistress Jiaorui.

Foul wind and bloody rain: reign of terror/carnage

If he could find a good writer, and have those current boring and senseless stories altered, then it would be good to come up with something new.

He drew a portrait for the New Year’s Festival and also took the time to perfect that 《Compilation of Antithetical Couplets from the Four Books》. After matching these couplets in a scattered and smashed manner, he actually ended up memorizing the Four Books from top to bottom. If one were to pick out just one or two phrases, he would know which page they were from, what chapter it was located in and all the preceding and following sentences, so he no longer needed to start reciting from the beginning instead.

After this round of tempering, he took a look at those xiaoti that Elderly Teacher Liu (Assistant Liu) had sent him and felt that these prompts were extremely familiar, the meaning of the text immediately coming to mind. Cui Xie could even answer the prompt: “Is it possible that a man should not be equal to this bird?” In the Classic of Poetry, it is said, ‘Profound was King Wen’ ’, these two unreliable and seemingly unconnected phrases were analyzed by breaking the topic and Cui Xie wrote : ‘Furen is inferior to a bird, truly shameful; Disgraceful, if one is truly ashamed, one should learn from King Wen of Zhou.”

Xiaoti: lesser themes

Fun Fact: the poti Cui Xie wrote was actually a famous master’s response to this prompt. The original prompt uses the analogy of people and birds to find a connection with the benevolent and noble character of the King Wen of Zhou. Basically, in the Classic of Poetry it says “The twittering yellow bird rests on the corner of the mound.” The next prompt phrase mentions how “is it possible that  man should not be equal to this bird” and “Profound was King Wen”. Together, this draws a comparison between that little bird that knows propriety and recognizes King Wen’s character in which he “as a sovereign, rested in benevolence. As a minister, he rested in reverence. As a son, he rested in filial piety. As a father, he rested in kindness. In communication with his subjects, he rested in good faith.

After the two holidays, New Year’s Day and the Lantern Festival, it was already the 20th of the First Lunar Month and it was only a year or less before the looming Jiachen county Imperial examinations. This particular year, the Guimao Year, was the Xiangshi (Provincial) Imperial Examinations. There was no such thing as taking two examinations in one year, but Teacher Lin had no intention of taking the examination to become a juren so he planned to do his utmost best to spruce up this whole study of children scholars by desperately reviewing material, hoping to squeeze out a few talents.

Jiachen: 41st year of the 60 year cycle

Guimao: 40th year of the 60 year cycle

Xiangshi: triennial provincial examinations

Juren: successful candidate from the provincial examinations

After school officially started back up, Teacher LIn doubled the amount of daily homework for his students and then brought Cui Xie up to the teaching podium. He flipped through the homework Cui Xie completed during the holiday as well as that single copy of the 《Compilation of Antithetical Couplets from the Four Books》. Face etched with satisfaction, Teacher Lin commented, “If you can compose this type of book, it seems that you have thoroughly mastered the Sage’s scriptures. Now that you have almost finished studying the Classic of Poetry, you should match couplets from the entirety of the Four Books once. However, you are not allowed to match antithetical couplets from the same book, can you do it?”

Cui Xie set  his hands down and obediently replied, “This student will do his best.”

Teacher Lin’s smile widened and he warmly advised, “I know that I have assigned more homework to you compared to the others and you must be tired of learning all day, every day. But this Teacher is doing it for the sake of your future prospects. In our school alone, there are around 10 tongsheng. In the county’s city walls, there are 14 institutions and outside the county, there are 12 village institutions, three mintun colonies and numerous disciples  from the juntun colonies. In total, there are at least a few hundred tongsheng, but every year, Qian’an County Academy only selects 20 shengyuan. If you have a weak foundation, and don’t learn more than others, develop a deep learning foundation, how can you compete with the people in this county?”

Tongsheng: not yet passed the county level imperial exam

Mintun:Agricultural colony consisting of purely civilians

Juntun: Agricultural colony staffed with military personnels

These tuntian (literally scion fields) were agro-colonies, mostly located in border regions, that served to supply the inhabitants and CHinese colonists with agricultural products. They help to support the economy and provide different crops to supply the entirety of the entire empire/military.

Shengyuan: entry level candidate who has passed the college exam

That’s true ah, Qian’an’s academic atmosphere could not be considered as extremely prosperous and the acceptance rate was rather low. The Cui Residence’s Second Young Master was located in the Shuntian Fu’s district lines, and the exam difficulty would be even higher. No wonder Xu Furen was willing to kill in order to get her son a place in the Imperial Directorate of Education.

Shuntian Fu: Particular location/name for the district examinations in Beijing

Imperial Directorate of Education (guozijian): created for officials rank five and above, effectively an educational institution for nobles. These students would become tribute students or university students (easy to buy titles) and If enrolled, they were in fixed intervals tested by their tutors and automatically registered for the provincial examination. They had some advantages over your regular commoner students.

But, Cui Xie was also a person who had fought for his life with his college entrance examinations. The difficulty of being admitted to a 985 University was much higher than this. How could he be scared just by this elimination rate? He bit his lip and grinned, raising his eyes to  look at Teacher Lin, stating firmly, “Teacher Lin needs not worry, no matter how much homework is added, I will be able to cope with it. This student must pass the annual exam next year.”

985 University: World-class elite universities in China part of something called Project 985. Equivalent to your so called “Ivy-League” schools here in America, similar to institutions like Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale etc’. Let me remind you, for Chinese students, the College Entrance Exams (gaokao) are the SOLE criteria for determining where you go to college, so I can only imagine how stressful it is.

Teacher Lin gazed at Cui Xie’s luminous, seemingly burning brows and eyes, and it was as if he saw himself walking into that examination room fearlessly many years ago. He also became excited in his heart, “Good! One naturally must have such indomitable spirit and advance courageously at the Imperial examinations. Today, Teacher will teach you the Eight Rhetorical Devices. In the future, you will learn to write an entire essay. When I grade your homework, I will no longer grade it so relaxedly. Instead, I will treat yours the same way as those tongsheng students who have already passed the examination.”