Chapter 131: The Scholar Disciple
Longquan County Magistrate Wu Yuan, accompanied by a trusted confidential secretary, left the Li family mansion on Fulu Street. While walking in his official robes, Wu Yuan suddenly stopped, lifted one foot in a golden rooster stance, bent over to take off his boot, and shook out a pebble. The secretary, a young man from a noble family, was used to such behavior. However, since Fulu Street was far livelier than before, and he was still only a minor clerk, he quickly tried to shield his superior from view while quietly saying, "Li Hong had clearly softened earlier and was willing to take the lead in conceding on the matter of the Immortal’s Grave. Why did he suddenly change his mind? Isn’t he afraid of leaving you, sir, with the impression that he’s a two-faced rat?"
Wu Yuan, looking exhausted, rubbed his pale, gaunt cheeks and said helplessly, "It’s most likely that Li Hong’s second son, Li Baozhen, has made a name for himself in the capital. He might have even found a powerful backer and sent a secret letter home, telling Li Hong not to act rashly. Alternatively, it could be the eldest son, who keeps to himself, advising Li Hong to stay still and observe. It’s hard to say. In any case, we’re the ones in trouble now. There’s no helping it—most of our original plans were based on my teacher… Ah, forget it, I won’t say more. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Let’s go drink. First, two jugs of Peach Blossom Spring Burn. I’ll treat, but you pay, and you can charge it to your account, Master Fu."
The secretary surnamed Fu was already numb to his superior’s habit of running up tabs. Still, he asked curiously, "I’ve heard the rumors in town that the Li family on Fulu Street has two sons and one daughter, and a fortune-teller once gave a decisive prediction, calling them dragon, qilin, and phoenix respectively?"
Wu Yuan rubbed his tired, pale face and chuckled casually, "You actually believe that kind of stuff? In our Great Li capital, if you want to rise in the world, especially if you’re a commoner from a humble background, who doesn’t have unique tricks for cultivating a reputation and building a name? Even the high-born noble clans are no better. Your Fu family is praised as ‘resplendent and dazzling, a feast for the eyes.’ Do you really think there’s no exaggeration there, Fu Yu? Ask yourself honestly."
Fu Yu, having his secrets exposed, huffed, "Magistrate Wu, are you really in a position to mock my Fu family?"
Wu Yuan’s mood improved, and he laughed heartily, patting his trusted friend on the shoulder. "You and I are in cahoots, birds of a feather."
Fu Yu joined in the laughter. "How about ‘like-minded and kindred spirits’—doesn’t that sound better?"
Wu Yuan scolded with a smile, "Quit being so pretentious, will you? It’s exhausting being a hypocrite. Being a true scoundrel is much more satisfying."
Fu Yu shook his head regretfully. "Magistrate, that sounds like you’re letting yourself drift with the current."
Wu Yuan sighed mournfully and changed the subject. "I’m starting to miss my wife."
Fu Yu smiled. "Magistrate, don’t you think it’s time to lift the ban on brothels and taverns in Longquan County? Drink and women—it’s not right to just have drink."
Wu Yuan nodded seriously. "Among those exiled criminals from the Lu dynasty, there are some women whose status fits. Rather than having them toil to death in the remote mountains and forests, it’s better to give them another option. Of course, this can’t be forced. The decision must be theirs. Fu Yu, from now on, you don’t have to endure daily scorn with me. You’ll be in charge of handling this personally."
This time, it was Fu Yu’s turn to be thoroughly surprised. He had only mentioned it casually. "Are you serious?" he asked, puzzled.
Wu Yuan tugged at the collar of his official robe and laughed. "What’s there to be serious or not about? With all those mountain peaks being developed, most of the future residents will be immortals from celestial estates. If we want to keep these high-minded, deep-pocketed patrons spending freely in our town, do you think it’ll rely on me, a mere county magistrate about to lose my position as overseer, or on you, Fu Yu? From what my teacher used to say, those lofty cultivators look down on worldly women. They’re hardly interested in mere beauty, because compared to female cultivators in the Dao, the difference in both appearance and essence is vast. So what remains for women of the mortal world is their status—like fallen princesses of a ruined dynasty or noblewomen disgraced by confiscation. That still holds some allure. And among those Lu dynasty exiles, there’s no shortage of such women."
Fu Yu said indignantly, "The imperial court chooses now to appoint a new kiln overseer? Isn’t that just plucking the fruit you’ve already grown? Over the past two months, you’ve walked through over sixty mountain peaks, worn out your mouth arguing with those old foxes, from the breaking of ground for the county office and the City God Shrine, to the site selection negotiations for the civil and military temples, preliminary surveys, and timber preparation, to the resettlement of the Lu remnant. You’ve attended to every detail, big and small. Have you slept more than three hours any day? And now, the court officials just wag their tongues, and suddenly you’re deemed incompetent? Who’s to say the difficulties raised by the four great surnames and ten noble houses weren’t orchestrated from within the court? They intend to see your official career start and end in Longquan County!"
Fu Yu seemed to feel his last remark was too unlucky and unrealistic, so he grumbled, "At the very least, they’ll want to ensure you can’t take charge of a ministry until you’re fifty. The only way forward is to grind it out, slowly inching toward a high post at the ministry."
Wu Yuan parted his chapped lips but ultimately said nothing.
Fu Yu suddenly burst out laughing. Wu Yuan turned to look. "What’s so amusing?"
Fu Yu nodded. "This Longquan County town—it’s small, but compared to the bustling capital, I actually prefer it here. The liquor, the pastries, and the meat buns every morning. If I want them, I can just walk over and buy them. The round trip takes at most half an hour. Sometimes, when I’m restless and annoyed, I sit at the tavern, order a pound of loose liquor, and I can sit quietly for an hour. No one comes over to call me ‘Master Fu.’ I’ll add a small bowl of soy-braised meat and a dish of pickles. I wish I could go on like this forever. That’s why now I want even more to accomplish something worthwhile here. No matter how hard it gets, I’m not afraid."
Wu Yuan hummed in agreement. "If you’re just going to lie back and enjoy the blessings, riding the tide to a high position, what’s the point of being an official? You have to keep your feet on the ground and do something for the people. You’re better than me. I grew up poor, so I know the hardships of common folk in the markets and villages. But you, Fu Yu—you’re a noble son from a family with generations of honor. It surprises me that you think this way."
They walked side by side.
Fu Yu sighed helplessly. "But here’s the problem: even if you do good deeds, the commoners won’t necessarily remember your kindness. In history, how many capable officials, who pushed boundaries and made progress in the provinces, ended up drowned in criticism and slunk away in disgrace? And a hundred, five hundred years later, the court and the people finally realize what they’ve lost—only to pass down a few flattering poems. What the hell use is that?"
Wu Yuan shook his head. "That way of thinking is wrong. Doing things is about doing things. Your original intention should be to do something that makes you proud. As for whether the people appreciate it afterward or the court acknowledges it, don’t worry about that now. Overthinking it only breeds more trouble. If you go down the wrong path, you might even lose your drive completely. Our Confucian school is different from the Daoists, who pursue the highest Dao, and the Buddhists, who pursue the farthest Dharma…"
Fu Yu sighed.
Wu Yuan seemed to mutter to himself, "Among the three teachings, the Daoists value tranquility. It’s a matter for the individual alone. Even if heaven crumbles and earth splits—"
(The chapter continues on the next page.)
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