Chapter 5
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As soon as the voice fell, there was a clatter. The small mechanism in the red-dressed girl’s hand had fallen onto the carriage’s carpet, making a dull sound, and she seemed unable to immediately process what her father had said.
After a moment, her face turned pale and she asked:
“Father, are you joking?”
Su Shengyuan responded seriously: “Marriage is a serious matter, how could Father treat it lightly? This child’s talent is extraordinary, like a dragon soaring in the wild. In just a few years, he will undoubtedly rise into the clouds and soar across the nine provinces.”
“At that time, he will be famous throughout the world. Even the great families in the imperial capital might be seeking him out as a son-in-law…”
He had intended to say that, by then, it would be very difficult for his daughter to be involved with him.
But he paused and did not say that. Instead, he said:
“He has an upright character and integrity. Although he is currently poor, this situation won’t last long. If you can treat him sincerely while he is in hardship, when he eventually rises and becomes renowned, he will never be unfaithful to you. He would make an excellent match.”
Su Shengyuan spoke slowly.
Parents think very deeply about their children’s future.
At this point, with the dragon restricted to the shallows, he saw it as the best possible match for his daughter. However, the red-dressed girl’s face remained pale as death, her fingers intertwined nervously. Finally, meeting her father’s gaze, she gritted her teeth and slowly shook her head, saying:
“Daughter does not wish to…”
Su Shengyuan was taken aback. He was not angry but asked gently:
“Why?”
The girl in red was about to respond but couldn’t find any fault in the young man’s behavior or character. Although he wasn’t exceptionally handsome, he was steadfast and composed, with his own distinct demeanor. Hesitating for a moment, she bit her lip and expressed her true thoughts:
“He, his family is impoverished and lacks the support of elders. Even with talent, how far can he go in his official career?”
Once the words were out, she regretted them but could not take them back, so she forced herself to continue: “Father, you made me read historical texts. Throughout history, there have always been extraordinary talents, but how many have achieved high office? The five surnames and seven sects, even the mediocre among them, can gain official positions and mingle with the elite.”
“Is his talent really superior to that of the Five Surnames and Seven Sects?”
“Daughter, daughter does not wish to…”
Su Shengyuan was stunned for a long while, looking at his daughter with a complex expression in his eyes:
“I asked you to read history. It seems you have indeed learned something from reading history…”
The carriage door curtain was lifted, and a handsome youth in a brocade robe with a jade crown entered, laughing warmly: “Uncle Su, although Younger Sister Yue’er’s words might be somewhat inappropriate, don’t they contain some truth?”
“That Qi Wuhuo may have talent, but the world is vast. Even if he has talent and learning, how will he find his way in? Moreover, although I am not talented, I have some skills of my own. Even without the support of a prominent family, I might not be worse off than Qi Wuhuo.”
The handsome youth spoke with a smile, exuding charm. He was from Su Shengyuan’s wife’s family and had come specifically to meet them. It was rumored that he had some connections with the Cui family, one of the five surnames and seven sects. Seeing the young man’s spirited demeanor and noticing a slight blush on his daughter’s cheeks, Su Shengyuan sighed quietly and decided not to bring up the matter again.
Qi Wuhuo watched as Teacher Su’s carriage hurried away, its wheels churning through the snow along the only wide avenue in the small town. Once they were out of sight, he turned back.
Opening the package, he found not only the clothes but also some broken silver —about three taels’ worth. Currently, rice is somewhat expensive, costing about ten large coins per jin. Pork and lamb, with a rear leg cut, would only cost a little over a hundred wen. In the city, a maid or servant costs around five taels of silver. Three taels of silver would be more than enough to sustain a family through the winter.
In addition, there were several books filled with annotations.
Qi Wuhuo held these items and felt they were even heavier than before.
Suddenly, the old man in the courtyard knocked on the table and laughed heartily:
“Boy, why are you dawdling?”
“The tea is ready. Come over and have a few cups with me.”
Qi Wuhuo put away the items and replied: “I haven’t cooked the meal yet.”
The old man didn’t mind. He picked up the teapot, poured two cups, and held one out while watching Qi Wuhuo prepare the meal. Once the youth had set the rice cooking, he washed his hands and came to sit by the stone table.
The old man’s tea-making skills were excellent; the aroma was clear and ethereal. Even though Qi Wuhuo had never tasted fine tea, he could tell this tea was likely much better than the small tin Teacher Su valued so highly.
The old man sipped his tea, glanced around the room, and said with a smile: “Was Teacher Su teaching in this small town before? It seemed like he had high expectations for you.”
“Why, the young lad doesn’t care for a house filled with gold and silver, nor the fairy-like beauties, but instead wants to study and take the imperial examination?”
Qi Wuhuo sat upright and drank tea, nodding slightly.
The old man stroked his beard and asked: “Why?”
Qi Wuhuo felt the cup with his fingers and, after a long while, said: “When I was young, my father used to pat my back while studying, saying that a man should study to demonstrate his talents and knowledge, to repay the family and the nation, and to express his ambitions.”
“Our hometown suffered a great disaster. Along the way, I saw countless displaced people. The officials at that time did nothing. If they had acted, I think fewer people would have died there.”
“If I could become a civil official, I would amend the laws and implement good policies in the court to benefit the people. If I were a general, I could command troops to conquer the demon kingdom and avenge those who died at the hands of demons.”
“I could fully express my ambitions.”
His voice paused and then he continued: “By coming and going, I would get to know the heroes of the world, witness the many splendors of the world, and not live in uncertainty. I would achieve success, gain fame, and leave a mark in history.”
The old man only sneered.
The young man asked: “Is there something wrong with what I’ve said?”
The old man shook his head, stroking his beard, and said: “All of it is wrong. It could be said to be completely wrong.”
“Talking about being a civil official or a general, if you become an official, you are merely a sword in the emperor’s hand, a hawk or a dog in captivity. Wherever the emperor sends you, you go. Everything you do—supposedly aiding the people or resisting the demon race—requires the emperor’s approval to mobilize manpower. If the emperor has no such intention, even if you have great abilities, they are useless.”
“Once you are no longer useful, they will discard you.”
“You say you won’t live in uncertainty.”
“Serving the emperor is like accompanying a tiger. How do you know whether the intrigues in the court or the demons outside are more terrifying? Haha, it’s better to let go of rank, fame, and riches, they are merely worldly desires.”
The old man sighed: “You have natural talent, able to discern good from evil, understand honor and disgrace, disdain wealth and honor, see beauty as mere dust, and are not misled by wine, lust, wealth, and pleasure. Why then, can you not see through the characters of your [name]?”
Qi Wuhuo pondered for a long time and then calmly replied:
“Old Sir, your words come from the heart.”
“But I am still young.”
“There are many wonders in this world including talented people and beautiful women, mutual affection, heroes and mighty warriors, that I have yet to see. Perhaps after I have witnessed these, I will come to the same conclusion as Old Sir. But by then, I will also be old.”
Qi Wuhuo spoke to himself with emotion:
“The characters of my name, I will resolve it in this lifetime. ”
The old man laughed and said: “Resolve it in this lifetime? Why must it be so?!”
After saying this, he did not continue the conversation but invited Qi Wuhuo to drink tea and chat. Before long, a pot of tea was finished. Qi Wuhuo suddenly felt drowsy, his eyelids growing heavy, while the yellow millet rice in the kitchen was still far from being ready.
The old man smiled and asked: “Are sleepy, Wuhuo?”
“If you are tired, you should rest.”
Qi Wuhuo initially intended to refuse, but the drowsiness was too overwhelming, so he had to agree. When he stood up, his steps were unsteady. Upon returning, he found his pillow missing and searched for a while without success.
Just as he was about to go straight to sleep, the old man brought out another pillow, seemingly made of jade, flawless and white. Smiling, he said:
“Come come, I have a pillow given to me by a wandering Daoist priest. It’s said to let you see many wonderful scenes in your dreams. Take it and sleep; don’t worry, when the rice is cooked, I will come to call you.”
Qi Wuhuo, increasingly drowsy, nodded and took the pillow back to sleep. The old man sat in the courtyard, stroking his beard and smiling as he said:
“Fame, wealth, and status, as well as wine, lust, wealth, and pleasure—today I give you this opportunity. Let’s see whether you become enamored with these worldly gains or can transcend ordinary desires.”
“Go, have a grand dream.”
The old man poured tea alone. Although he had just finished the pot, it seemed to flow endlessly. He looked up and muttered to himself: “What a pity, there is tea but no flowers to admire.”
Suddenly, the earth cracked open, and a strange herb grew rapidly in the wind. In an instant, it transformed into a winter plum tree, blooming in a flash. The fragrance of the flowers lingered and mixed exquisitely with the tea’s aroma.
He added, “What a pity, there are flowers but no snow.”
In no time, snowflakes began to fall, but they did not settle in the courtyard. The combination of tea aroma, winter plum blossoms, and falling snow created an indescribably wonderful scene. The old man drank his tea, appearing ethereal and detached from the mortal world. Holding his cup, he gently tapped the stone table, each tap accompanied by a murmur:
“Beautiful women, heroes, fame, wealth, status.”
“Ha…”
He shook his head and smiled, “All are just ephemeral illusions.”
After finishing a cup of tea, he held the cup, gazing at the winter’s withered grass, and softly sighed:
“See through the splendor.”
“Enter the Gate of Immortality.”