Chapter 22: Becoming a Little Teacher

Carried by Auntie Guo, young Yun was resting his chin on her shoulder, his small face still fixed intently on the crowd. The teenage captain had also received a bowl of porridge; he sat huddled in the corner, blowing on the rim of the scalding rice-bran congee and carefully slurping it down, bit by bit. The expression of pure, blissful satisfaction on his face was identical to the one Gouzi had worn earlier.

Yun looked down at his own fair, delicate hands. Ever since he and Yi were born, they had never known hardship. Xinniang and Mistress Bu worried endlessly if they ate even a little less than usual, let alone allowing them to suffer from cold or hunger. Yun pressed his small cheek against Auntie Guo’s shoulder, his heart feeling heavy and stifled.

Night fell.

A lamp was lit in Xinniang’s room, but this time, instead of sewing small clothes or shoes by the warm yellow glow, Xinniang sat on the edge of the bed with Li Fu, watching Yun sleep. Li Fu had only just returned after a day of exhaustion.

Yun’s actions today had triggered a cascade of follow-up tasks. They needed to find a new spot for the porridge distribution and set up a shelter. Although those who had caused trouble and were injured in the scuffle had been thrown into jail, a doctor still had to be summoned to set their bones and tend to their wounds. In short, Li Fu was worn out.

Yet, Li Fu noticed that this porridge distribution had been remarkably effective. The refugees, in particular, did not leave behind the usual trail of chaos and debris as they had in years past. This time, they looked at him with grateful eyes, weeping as they kowtowed to him. Li Fu could not describe the feeling that welled up in his heart. Since becoming a magistrate in Long County, he had considered himself diligent in his official duties, but he had never received such genuine gratitude or felt such a sense of fulfillment.

Meng Fu had once criticized him, calling him a detached scholar governing a region. While Li Fu had not blindly exploited the people or ignored right from wrong, the reality was that Long County was no better off than the neighboring districts. Li Fu remembered refuting him at the time, arguing that it was not his fault—the poor governance was due to natural disasters, the barren geography, and the corruption of the Liang Kingdom, where the decay started from the top. With neither favorable weather, geographic advantage, nor the support of the people, what could a mere scholar do?

Li Fu had always believed this, but today felt different. Pondering his own affairs, he lowered his voice and asked Xinniang, "How has Yun been since he returned today? Did he eat much for dinner?"

At this, Xinniang frowned. Yun had been in low spirits since returning in the afternoon and had eaten very little. Yi, having not seen him for a while, had pestered him to play, but for the first time, Yun had left Yi behind and retreated to his room. He had been tossing and turning in bed for a long time just now before finally falling asleep.

Xinniang had heard about the events outside; Auntie Guo had reported them to her during dinner. Because of this, Xinniang had no heart for anything else, only watching Yun with worry. Hearing this, Li Fu reached out and patted the quilt covering Yun with a troubled expression.

"Yun is truly too intelligent. To be able to see through so much at such a young age... you don't know, but during the day, I felt both fortunate that he is my son and terrified that his excessive wisdom might bring him harm."

A look of worry crossed Xinniang’s face as well. If that were the case, she would rather Yun be just as the old Taoist priest had once said—an ordinary person with mediocre fate throughout his life. If she had to choose between a son who achieved greatness but endured hardships, or one who lived a smooth, unremarkable life, Xinniang would surely choose the latter.

"But don't worry too much; Yun’s health is still strong. He hasn't been sick once since he was born; he is truly blessed."

***

Xinniang was at a loss and subconsciously wanted to think for the best. "I hope so. But things were a bit chaotic out there today; had I known, I wouldn't have agreed to let Yun go out. He’s just a child—seeing those refugees sick, dying, and rioting, I don't know what nightmares he might have. I won't let him go out again." Xinniang spoke with lingering fear.

Li Fu patted her shoulder comfortingly and pulled her into his arms. The two of them sat by the bedside for most of the night, guarding the sleeping Yun, afraid that the day’s events might leave him with psychological trauma.

Yun was not sleeping as comfortably as usual, but he did not have nightmares. By the next morning, his spirits had recovered. Xinniang, the maid, and Gouzi had stayed in the room the entire time. When Yun woke up, Xinniang came over to touch his forehead, sighing in relief when she found nothing wrong.

"Are you hungry, Yun? Mother will make you something to eat today. Anything you want." As she spoke, she smiled and took the clothes the maid had been warming in her arms, dressing Yun with nimble efficiency.

"Where is Father?"

Xinniang did not want to bring up the porridge distribution, but seeing Yun’s expectant eyes, she helplessly said, "He went to distribute porridge outside the city. Auntie Pan and the others went along to help, so he probably won't be back until evening. So today, whatever you want to eat, let Mother make it for you."

Yun chuckled.

The egg custard Xinniang made tasted wonderful, and he and Yi finished two large bowls each in the front hall. Once they were done, Mistress Bu and Xinniang, having a rare moment of leisure, let the two boys play together. Because it was cold, they didn't go to the small garden, but to Mistress Bu’s room.

Mistress Bu’s room was slightly larger than Xinniang’s and much more luxuriously decorated. This was largely because she had family in Liang Province; her younger brother, Bu Zhao, would occasionally send her fine things. Furthermore, Mistress Bu had been pampered at home, and feeling guilty that she had married Li Fu without a formal title, her family had emptied their savings to provide her with a dowry. She was, in essence, a little heiress.

As she chatted with Xinniang, she let Yun, Gouzi, and Bu Hong gather to play. Yun, having nothing to do, quietly asked Gouzi and Bu Hong, "Do you two know how to read?"

Both shook their heads.

Yun grew interested. "Then when I learn, I'll teach you. Yi, come here, stop biting that little drum, and study with us." Yi pouted but didn't dare to cry. It was strange—he dared to cry in front of Li Fu to show his lack of interest in reading, but in front of Yun, he felt aggrieved yet dared not rebel.

"We can learn too?" Bu Hong and Gouzi looked at him in disbelief.

Both knew that it was not easy to study. Literacy was a skill; sending a child to a mediocre school required tuition, and better schools required letters of recommendation. To put it bluntly, the teachers at good schools were men of some renown; if a tenant farmer or a bonded servant brought a bit of dried meat and asked for instruction, they would be seen as beneath the teacher's status. Moreover, famous teachers had quotas. They couldn't even finish teaching those with recommendations, let alone them.

Gouzi’s family had never mentioned education; he knew it was difficult, but not how difficult. Thus, he was simply happy and felt that literacy was something prestigious, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the sudden opportunity.

Bu Hong, however, understood the benefits well, his eyes turning red as he looked at Yun. Meng Fu and Zheng Zuosheng had been willing to take Yun as a student not just because he was clever, but because he was Li Fu’s son. Li Fu had spent many years building a reputation as a scholar. Scholars were all like this—trading favors, teaching each other's sons, forming a vast web of interests. Even Meng Fu, who lived in seclusion, was essentially waiting for the right opportunity; otherwise, he would have just been a tenant farmer tending his crops. In truth, he still wanted to prove his own talent.

The Bu family had allowed Mistress Bu to marry Li Fu precisely because of his official status and clean reputation. When Bu Zhao’s children were born, Li Fu could write them letters of recommendation for famous teachers. If Bu Zhao’s children were talented, they could establish a family school and slowly transform into a scholarly gentry family. As for learning from a one-year-old like Yun, Bu Hong felt no shame at all. Yun was a disciple of Li Fu and Zheng Zuosheng; by learning from them, he was reaching the pinnacle of life. Even Bu Zhao couldn't find such good teachers, yet he, Bu Hong, could.

"We’ll all learn. I’ll teach you," Yun said with a smile.

Yun was very interested in being a little teacher. He added, "Gouzi, you especially should study hard. Once you learn some characters, you should change your name. Being called 'Gouzi' sounds like a nickname; it’s not suitable as a formal name."

Chen Gouzi had no strong opinions on his name. He thought to himself that he was Yun’s playmate and would be his servant in the future, so what difference did a name make? A name didn't mean anything. Yun called him Gouzi but played with him and gave him good food; the mistress called him Gouzi but sewed him new clothes with her own hands. At home, he was often beaten and scolded by his parents, but here at the Li mansion, it was like paradise—everyone spoke to him gently. Even if he wasn't called Gouzi, if Yun called him "Dog-egg" or "Dog-shit," he wouldn't mind as long as Yun was happy.

Still, since he was asked to change it, Gouzi didn't think twice. Again, as long as Yun and the mistress were happy, that was all that mattered. "All right, when I learn more, I'll change my name," Gouzi agreed immediately.

Seeing Yi, Gouzi, and the others agree, Yun went straight to Xinniang and asked her to help bring over his sand tray for practicing calligraphy.

The little teacher, Yun, was officially on the job.

Mistress Bu and Xinniang were surprised to discover that Yun intended to teach them to write, but they were inwardly delighted. Yi did not like to study, but he was willing to listen to Yun, and it was good that he would start learning to read early under Yun’s guidance.