Chapter 31: Striking the Mountain
Chen Ping'an carried his buckets to the Iron Lock Well, passing by several breakfast stalls in Apricot Blossom Alley along the way. His stomach growled without warning, but his purse was empty, so the youth had no choice but to steel himself and queue up for water. There were three households ahead of him. When it was finally his turn, Zhigui suddenly cut in front of him, holding a small bucket of her own. The people behind immediately grew displeased.
Though they didn't curse or shout, their words were harsh. In particular, a stooped old woman known as Granny Ma had two very successful sons, each owning a dragon kiln. While these kilns were extremely small and ranked at the bottom among the thirty-plus dragon kilns, in Apricot Blossom Alley they were considered the pinnacle of wealth and status. But for some reason, Granny Ma didn't get along with either of her daughters-in-law. Her sons and their wives had long since moved to Peach Leaf Alley, leaving her to live alone in the ancestral home of Apricot Blossom Alley. In the eyes of Chen Ping'an and Liu Yangxian's generation, Granny Ma had always been a terrifying elder, harsh with her words and exceptionally petty and stingy. If there was snow piled outside her courtyard gate in winter, she would nearly try to scoop it into her own home. If children used snow from in front of her door for snowball fights or pulled icicles from under her eaves, she would chase them with a broom, scolding them for several streets without tiring.
In the past, among the alleys on the west side of the town, only Gu Can's mother could suppress Granny Ma's arrogance. Now that Widow Gu had supposedly followed her dead husband's distant relatives to his hometown, Granny Ma, who had softened a little over the years, immediately revived and returned to her old ways, finding fault with everyone. So when Song Jixin's maidservant pulled this stunt, Granny Ma immediately began speaking with sarcasm and innuendo. Her voice wasn't loud, and she wore a fake smile, deliberately chatting with the women beside her, saying that some young girls were finally old enough to have their faces threaded, since they could no longer walk with their legs together. This was a great joy, for they no longer had to live as maidservants but could openly be called wives.
Chen Ping'an's scalp tingled. He couldn't very well drive away Zhigui, who was in the wrong, after all these years as neighbors. After helping Liu Yangxian fill two buckets, he quickly drew a bucket for her too, wanting to leave this gossiping gaggle of women as soon as possible. Granny Ma saw that that little vile slave girl of the Song family was pretending not to hear, and grew even angrier.
When masters spar, this is the worst-case scenario: the opponent refuses to engage. No matter how skilled you are, you have no place to land.
In the past, when Granny Ma argued with that slutty fox Widow Gu, she would lose but always felt her skills had grown, and would surely reclaim ground next time. But this little tramp from Mud Vial Alley deliberately kept silent every time, yet the look in her eyes when she left always carried a meaning that made Granny Ma deeply uncomfortable. It made Granny Ma itch to claw her face to pieces, to keep the youths and sturdy men from the nearby alleys from practically hanging their souls on that shameless maidservant's waist.
Especially her own grandson. Though everyone else thought him a fool, even his grandmother recently felt he had truly gone mad. All day long he spouted nonsense, saying he would one day marry this maidservant from Mud Vial Alley and take her as his wife, and then punch a hole through the heavens.
Seeing that the detestable girl had no reaction, Granny Ma turned her attention to the impoverished youth. She clicked her tongue and said, "Useless mud-brick bastard, you have the nerve to live after killing your own parents. Knowing you'll never be able to afford a wife, you shamelessly lick up to someone else's maidservant. A perfect match of a dog and a bitch, the two of you. Why don't you just get together? After all, Mud Vial Alley is where trash and bastards live. The children you produce might even become kings of Mud Vial Alley."
Chen Ping'an thought for a moment and was about to set down his shoulder pole.
But the maidservant Zhigui had already put down her water bucket and strode toward the unrepentant old woman. Without a word, the girl slapped her, spinning Granny Ma around in place. Dazed, she would have fallen if the women nearby hadn't steadied her. Before the old woman could recover, Zhigui took another step forward and slapped her again across the face. The girl cursed, "You old undying thing, I've been putting up with you long enough!"
The old woman shook her head, furious beyond measure, and was about to strike back. But whether it was an illusion or not, the two women helping her held her so firmly that she couldn't break free. She suffered a third humiliation as the maidservant, for the third time, curled her fingers and knocked hard on Granny Ma's forehead. "If you ever curse again, I'll pull out your long tongue. For every word you say, I'll prick you with a needle!"
Granny Ma was terrified, forgetting to retort, let alone fight back.
The girl turned and walked away quickly. She found the neighbor boy had already lifted her bucket for her. She smiled and walked with him back to Mud Vial Alley.
Before Chen Ping'an could speak, the girl cut him off. "Don't thank me. I wasn't cursing because of you."
Chen Ping'an was speechless.
The girl, empty-handed, muttered to herself, never intending to take the bucket back from the straw-sandaled youth.
At the Iron Lock Well, the old woman sat on the ground wailing. "That accursed little vile slave girl, may heaven strike her down! My life is so bitter! Heaven has no eyes, why doesn't it send down a thunderbolt to smash that little tramp to pieces!"
The girl walked lightly, her hands extending toward the sky one after another in a strange gesture.
Fortunately, Chen Ping'an had been her neighbor for so many years that he didn't find it odd.
As they passed the breakfast stalls, Chen Ping'an saw a familiar back. She was short, wearing blue clothes, buying steaming hot meat buns fresh from the oven. The aroma filled the entire street.
Chen Ping'an.
This morning, unknown when, the clouds had gathered low, thick and heavy, like a rich man's quilt spread out to bask in the sun.
Rumble, rumble. Thunder roared overhead.
Granny Ma at the Iron Lock Well scrambled to her feet and hurried home. Her small bucket wobbled, spilling well water all the way. By the time she reached home, there probably wouldn't be half a bucket left.
Perhaps the old woman knew in her heart that if heaven truly opened its eyes, the first thunderbolt would likely land on her head.
Chen Ping'an heard the thunder and looked up, puzzled. It didn't seem like rain was coming.
The girl smiled and said, "My young master said he read in a book that there's a legend: every early spring, a heavenly god in golden armor beats a drum among the clouds, bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, suppressing all evil to herald the spring."
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Your young master certainly reads a lot."
The girl sighed. "My young master is perfect except for being a bit lazy, and also liking to curse the heavens. I don't think that's good."
Chen Ping'an wasn't in the habit of gossiping about others, so he said nothing. Their neighbor Song Jixin had a strange habit he'd maintained for years: cursing the heavens, just like Granny Ma, saying things like "heaven has no eyes." But as a scholar, he had his rules: he wouldn't curse during snowy nights, thunderous rains, or when the sky was full of colorful clouds. He said he wanted to curse the heavens while they were dozing, so they wouldn't hear and get angry, while he could vent his frustration—killing two birds with one stone.
Seeing that Chen Ping'an didn't respond, Zhigui asked casually, "You didn't come home last night? You went to Liu Yangxian's place?"
Chen Ping'an nodded. "There were guests at home. It wasn't convenient."
She suddenly asked, "By the way, did Mr. Qi meet with you and say anything?"
Chen Ping'an countered, "Why do you ask?"
She smiled innocently. "Just asking. Because when I went out to fetch water this morning, I happened to run into Mr. Qi. He said he was taking a morning walk and asked if you were home. I told him the truth."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "I happened to meet Mr. Qi before. He just chatted with me about everyday things. Basically, he said that back then, Liu Yangxian and I should have gone to the school together. I could only say my family was poor; there was nothing to be done. Otherwise, I would have been willing to study too."
Zhigui looked doubtful. "Is that so?"
Chen Ping'an met her eyes and asked with a smile, "What else did you think?"
She dismissed it with a smile.
The two parted at the street corner. Zhigui took the bucket and headed into Mud Vial Alley, while Chen Ping'an returned to Liu Yangxian's house. Afterward, he would have to go to the east city gate to pick up letters for delivery—one copper coin per letter. If he had secured this business earlier, with his ability to traverse all the mountains within a hundred li, he might have already saved up enough for a wife's dowry.
At the entrance to Mud Vial Alley, Zhigui saw her young master standing there, yawning.
She walked quickly and asked curiously, "Master, why did you come out?"
Song Jixin stretched lazily. "It was boring inside."
She asked softly, "Master, when will the new Supervisor return to town? After that, can we go to the capital?"
Song Jixin thought for a moment. "Within ten days or so."
Zhigui hesitated, the small bucket in her hand swaying.
Song Jixin smiled and asked, "What's wrong? Something on your mind?"
She said timidly, "Master, could you lend me that local county gazetteer? Just for a night or two. I want to learn some characters, so I won't be looked down upon when we get to the capital, and I won't embarrass you."
Song Jixin laughed, a little surprised. After a moment's thought, he said, "What's there to be shy about? But remember, wash your hands before flipping through the pages. Don't get them dirty. Also, be careful not to drip candle wax on them. Other than that, there's nothing to worry about. It's just a worn-out book that 'ends here.'"
Zhigui beamed. "Thank you, Master!"
Song Jixin was amused and laughed heartily. "Come, come, let your master carry the bucket for you."
Zhigui dodged and said seriously, "Master! Didn't we agree that gentlemen stay away from the kitchen? You mustn't touch such chores. If word gets out, the neighbors will curse my back!"
Song Jixin laughed angrily. "Rules, principles, etiquette—these things can fool others, but I..."
He, a scholarly seed raised in a humble alley, stopped mid-sentence.
She asked curiously, "Master is what?"
Song Jixin resumed his cynical smile and pointed at himself. "Your master, actually, is just a farmer. I mark out fields into ridges and rows, then let people sow seeds, channel water for irrigation, and then I just sit back and wait for the harvest. Year after year, that's all!"
She was bewildered.
Song Jixin laughed heartily.
Suddenly, the youth's smile vanished, and he said seriously, "Zhigui, did that fellow Chen carry your bucket all the way here?"
The maidservant nodded, her eyes innocent.
The youth spoke earnestly. "A sage once said that people are willing to regard a stranger's small kindness as a precious treasure, yet take the full devotion of those close to them for granted, turning a blind eye to it. That is wrong."
The maidservant seemed even more confused. "Huh?"
The youth rubbed his chin and muttered to himself, "She didn't catch my implication. How is your master supposed to continue? Should I find a smarter, more clever, and prettier little maidservant when we get to the capital?"
The maidservant couldn't help but laugh, completely unbothered by her master's threat, and exposed the truth. "Master, you were actually hoping I'd ask who this sage with such great learning was, weren't you? I know, Master! It's you!"
Song Jixin laughed heartily. "You know me, Zhigui!"
– – – –
Inside the school study, the middle-aged Confucian scholar sat upright. On the chessboard before him, all the black and white stones turned to powder at the sound of the spring thunder.
In the town, children and youths caught stone slab fish in the creek using a method: they would strike the stones in the creek with a heavy hammer, and the fish hiding underneath would be stunned and float to the surface.
It was similar in principle to the idiom "strike the mountain to scare the tiger."
But if one wanted to warn a saint of a region not to act against heaven's way or defy the Great Dao, then the most fitting heavy instrument between heaven and earth would probably be the majestic thunder of the heavens.