Chapter Fifty-One: The Proposition of Buddhism and Daoism, Part One

After the fifth watch had passed, thunder and lightning crashed in the sky. A clear, soaking rain came and went in fits and starts, lingering for more than two hours. By dawn, it had weakened to a fine, steady drizzle.

Zheng Yanqing had slept soundly. When he rose in the morning and pushed open the bamboo window, a fresh wind rushed into the upper floor.

Stretching himself, he felt invigorated.

At that moment, Mao Ya came upstairs carrying a basin of clean water and set it before Yanqing. After washing and dressing, Zheng Yanqing ate a little, then took up a bamboo umbrella and stepped out of the bamboo house. The White Dragon Horse was running among the bamboo groves; the thin rain hung like mist, the hoofbeats bright and clear, now near, now far. Standing beneath the veranda, it was as though one had strayed into a fairyland.

Mao Wang’s wife led over the blue donkey and helped Yanqing mount it.

Zheng Shian had already climbed onto his horse. When he saw Yanqing settled, he said softly, “Are you ready?”

Yanqing smiled. “Grandfather, let us be off.”

Ding-ling, ding-ling.

The bells at the blue donkey’s neck rang as the old man and the boy gradually rode away through the silvery rain, leaving only the sound of the bells echoing in the garden.

From the window of another bamboo house, two heads, one large and one small, poked out.

“Big Brother Du, shouldn’t we go watch the match?”

Dou Fengjie had not gone home the night before and had stayed in the bamboo-garden guest quarters. But fearing he might disturb Yanqing’s preparations, Du Ruhui had early on dragged him to his own lodgings to rest.

Du Ruhui yawned broadly.

“What is there to watch? If Yanqing wins, he wins; if he loses, he still wins. From the day he sent out the challenge, he has already stood on the upper hand. Today’s contest is only to see how it ends. If he wins, the ending will be prettier; if he loses, merely uglier. Rather than rush off for the excitement, we might as well stay home and wait for word. Now then, I want to sleep a little more. Do not wake me again. You little devil kept me awake all night.”

“You were the one tossing and turning. What does that have to do with me?”

Dou Fengjie yawned too, then withdrew his small head back into the bamboo house.

Neither of them went to the General’s Hall to watch the contest, though for different reasons. Dou Fengjie held a reverence for Yanqing bordering on blind faith, and therefore firmly believed Yanqing could defeat Wang Tong. Du Ruhui, however, was less optimistic. Wang Tong’s strength was there for all to see; he truly did not believe Yanqing could best him in a scholarly debate, and he could not bear to witness Yanqing’s disappointment.

The drizzle drifted on, and over the fields floated wisps, strands, and layers of gauzy white mist.

The weather had turned somewhat cool, and Zheng Shian unconsciously drew his robes closer.

Looking to the side, he saw Zheng Yanqing sitting calmly on the blue donkey’s back as if nothing in the world concerned him, leisurely taking in the pastoral scenery on both sides.

“Yanqing, are you confident?”

Zheng Yanqing smiled. “What confidence is there to speak of? I am only going to keep up appearances.

“It is good enough if I win, and not bad if I lose. In any case, I have already agreed with Brother Zhang San, and the contract has been signed. Why should Grandfather be anxious?”

Zheng Shian said, “I am not worried about the shop. I am worried about you...”

“Me?” Zheng Yanqing said. “There is even less reason for you to worry about me. Wang Tong is fourteen years older than I am. If he wins, it will not be glorious; if I lose, it will not be shameful. Besides, before he left, Teacher said that I have been too much in the spotlight of late. It is no bad thing to let Wang Tong suppress that a little. In any case, I also wish for some quiet. Once this matter is over, I intend to go into the mountains with Brother Du for a while, as a way of settling my mind. Grandfather, do not fret over me. Your grandson will come to no harm.”

After thinking it over, Zheng Shian felt there was truth in his words.

Indeed, in this scholarly contest, after all the turmoil Yanqing had already caused, even if Wang Tong won, he would gain no advantage.

On the contrary, if Yanqing truly lost, it would not necessarily be a bad thing. His fame had become too great of late, and he did need a setback to temper it.

Besides, the prosperous Hengji shop had already been successfully transferred into the hands of the Zhang family. Zheng Shian had moved from center stage to behind the curtain, and from now on could live at leisure as a contented wealthy old man.

In short, it was good for everyone.

Of course, if Zheng Yanqing could win, that would be best of all.

Yet in his private heart, Yanqing had no certainty that he could defeat Wang Tong. Setting aside the difference of more than ten years, the most important matter was still his foundation. Even if Yanqing possessed a soul that had lived forty years, the learning from his former life had little use in this age. At the very least, he was not like Wang Tong, who had studied the Five Classics thoroughly.

The examination was to be held at the General’s Hall, the hall name of the Dou family.

In the Han dynasty, the Dou family had produced several great generals, and so the elegant title “General’s Hall” both commemorated that history and reflected a tradition rooted in military merit.

Whether it was the Dou family’s elder ancestors or men such as Dou Yi, all had risen through martial accomplishment.

Before the hall stood a row of stone carvings, some showing a mounted warrior with sword across his horse, others a man leaning on a spear with his head bowed to the ground, all testament to the achievements of Dou family forebears.

As one entered the General’s Hall, a stern and killing chill swept out at once.

In the main hall sat more than a dozen people, and before it were set two writing tables with brush, ink, paper, and inkstone upon them.

Rainwater ran from the eaves, washing the ground below the steps to a pale gray, lending the place an air of solemn weight.

Zheng Shian did not go in. Instead, he watched as Zheng Yanqing entered the gates of the General’s Hall.

Outside the doors had gathered many people: scholars and students, as well as nobles and grandees. More numerous still were the common folk come to watch the excitement.

“Zheng... Shian!”

Suddenly someone called out to Zheng Shian.

He followed the sound and saw a carriage parked beneath the steps near the gate.

A bamboo rain canopy had been raised over it, the blue satin cover drooping low and casting all the rain away from the carriage. Beneath it sat Zheng Renji and Yan Shigu, waving to Zheng Shian. Beside the carriage stood Xu Shiji and Zheng Hongyi, hands folded respectfully.

Zheng Shian wondered inwardly why this young master was being so forward with greetings today.

But his feet did not pause. He quickly went to the carriage.

Though they belonged to separate branches of the family, years of service to the Zheng household had left Zheng Shian with a measure of deference toward Zheng Renji.

Zheng Weishan was also standing nearby, giving Zheng Shian a slight smile.

“Well... how is Yanqing prepared?”

By seniority, Zheng Renji ought to have called Zheng Shian Uncle of the Clan.

But such a form of address would have been hard for him. He had nearly blurted out “Steward Zheng” just now. Facing Zheng Shian now, he had no choice but to set aside the title and ask in a low voice.

Zheng Shian could understand Zheng Renji, and would not foolishly expect him truly to acknowledge him as a clan elder.

In truth, within the entire Anyuan Hall, there was probably not a single person who truly acknowledged his status, not even Zheng Dashi.

Allowing you to return to the clan is already a great favor.

“First Young Master, I never inquire into Yanqing’s affairs. You know my own abilities; this is not something I can presume to question.”

Zheng Renji smiled awkwardly.

“Oh yes—how is the business on Hengda Chopper’s side? I hear it is booming.”

“With the blessings of our ancestors, it is still going fairly well... Big Chopper’s craft is good, and he is earnest in his work. With the help of the old neighbors, we have at last found our footing. Still, that matter no longer has anything to do with me.”

Zheng Renji was taken aback. “Why not? Did you not put in a great deal of money?”

“First Young Master, I am not the sort of man suited to business. At most I only helped out in the beginning, doing odd tasks here and there... Besides, I am getting on in years now, and my energy no longer keeps pace. In ordinary times it is manageable, but when things get busy, it will not do at all. During this last stretch, I have often miscalculated the accounts... The other day, the people from the Zhang family of Wu County came and discussed matters with Hengda Chopper and the others, deciding to provide the capital and run the business themselves.

“The young master was there that day as well. The Zhang family came specifically to discuss that matter.

“I merely retain half a share now. Even so, by year’s end I can still take in seven or eight hundred strings of cash, and that is enough for me.”

Zheng Renji stared.

“The Zhang family has taken over Hengji? How much did they put in?”

“Besides returning the one thousand strings I had previously lent Big Chopper and the others, they invested another ten thousand strings to enlarge the shopfront.”

Zheng Renji was not very knowledgeable about business matters.

On hearing that the Zhang family had made a move with ten thousand strings of cash, he could only marvel at their deep pockets and formidable generosity. As for a small trade such as making scissors, he did not think much of it. The Anyuan Hall already had many businesses under its name, bringing in tens of thousands of strings a year, so Zheng Shian’s few hundred strings were scarcely worth attention. He merely sighed over it and asked no more.

Xu Shiji beside him, however, seemed somewhat more interested.