Chapter 81: CH 81

After paying the evening respects, it was time for the evening meal. Old furen intended for the two of them to stay to eat in her courtyard.

Cui Qi had returned as a guest, naturally, he ought to be properly received this time. But, since he was an outsider male after all, and there were still womenfolk in the residence, it was inconvenient for male and females to mingle. He also felt that he was still Cui Xie’s manservant and always felt it was awkward to sit down at a table with his masters. Hence, he took the initiative and got up to decline, “Da-ge can accompany Old furen to eat. I will accompany Little Shopkeeper Ji to eat outside in the courtyard.”

Old furen could not remember the surname of the shopkeeper that had been part of her daughter-in-law’s dowry and blankly asked Cui Xie, “What Shopkeeper Ji? Is the residence hiring a new shopkeeper?”

Cui Xie raised his face to look at her, laughing: “No, it is just that I don’t think the three stores are doing well and they are all staffed by people from our residence and are not professional shopkeepers like others. I am afraid that they do not know how to run operations, so I invited a shopkeeper I am familiar with to consult.”

Old furen turned silent for a spell and then sighed, “Then you can go back to accompany the guests, I will ask someone to send food and drink to your courtyard.”

Cui Qi hurriedly got up and replied, “Da-ge has just returned home, he ought to spend more time with Old Laoye and Old furen more. Little Shopkeeper Ji is not an outsider, I can just accompany him.”

Cui Xie then recalled that when he arranged the tasks in the afternoon, he seemed to have scared Ji Du away. He asked him to come eat dinner, but it was just like as if one was invited to a dinner party that one’s boss was hosting. Cui Xie was afraid that they would feel uncomfortable while eating. It was better to have those two youths sit together and eat in peace, so they could curse at the boss behind his back to decompress a bit.

Once official work was launched, he was afraid that even if they wanted to take a rest, there would be no time either.

Exposing a trace of an indulging and pampering smile on his face, Cui Xie got up and said, “Have Pengyan go back. Those two youngsters will find it more enjoyable to chat and laugh among themselves while eating, if they were to accompany us here, on the contrary, they will feel ill at ease. I Will accompany my grandpa and grandma here instead.

Although Cui Xie was not very old himself, he was already a person who was addressed as Laoye by others. In the presence of officials, he only needed to bow respectfully with clasped hands and did not need to kneel and bow like jiansheng, a student of the Imperial College, normally would. Thus, even with peers or people older than him, others did not feel there was something amiss.

Old furen instructed someone to call the Steward to accompany them, but Cui Xie stopped him with a sentence, “Peng….Little Qi-ge is not unfamiliar with our residence, no need to call for the Steward. Just find a few young ones to deliver food and drinks. This will put the youngsters more at ease.”

Cui Qi murmured under his breath, ‘You’re not that old either’, and got up to say his farewells to the Old furen. He then went to the little courtyard to accompany Little Shopkeeper Ji.

Soon after he left, Yun-jie and He-ge paid their respects with their mothers. When the two concubines saw that Cui Xie was also there, they were like mice hiding from a cat, not daring to act imposingly. On the other hand, the two children were at a bold and lively age. They had long forgotten Cui Xie had wanted to send out some family servants and upon seeing each other, they easily kneeled to the ground to give their greetings, looking enviously at his new clothes.

He-ge headed straight into his Grandma’s arms, tugged at her clothes and said, “Grandma, da-ge’s clothes are beautiful, I want new clothes too.”

Old Song furen smiled and patted him, “Alright, make, make. We will dress up He-ge to look as good as your da-ge.” 

Although she had often told her son to not let ‘those born of the second wife’ suppress Cui Xie, that was merely to beat some sense into her son. It was not like she truly disliked her other grandchildren. In fact, she was fond of all of grandchildren and loved to pamper them. Whatever they wanted, she would give. She turned to Zhang mama in order use her private savings and make new summer clothes for He-ge and Yun-jie.

However, Cui Xie could not let her use her private savings and promptly stopped Zhang mama, exhorting, “The residence still has money and it is indeed time to make summer clothes. Let us make a new set for the entire residence. Find the best tailor, as well as leather belt and boots craftsmen…..I still need to make two new yesas.”

From the sofa, He-ge yelled, “I also want, I also want to wear a yesa!”

Zhang mama responded with a sigh, but only looked at Cui Xie, waiting for him to make up his mind. Cui Xie laughed, “If he wants it, just make one for him. Replace his straight-bodied robe with a yesa, it is easier for the child to move in as well. As for Heng-ge……I’m afraid he will not be able to return until half a year later and the weather will be chilly then. Do not make his summer clothes for now, let us discuss such matters in autumn.”

Now that Zhang mama had received the orders, she set down her mind and returned to attend to Old furen.

During the meal, Old Laoye was not able to get down from the bed and could only ask servants to prop him up, placing a thick cushion behind his back so he could lean on the cushion to eat on the bed. The left side of his body was paralyzed and he could not speak clearly, but he could still move his right hand. Occasionally, he raised his finger to point to the dishes in front of him, humming vaguely to ask someone to feed him.

Old Song furen had attended to him for many years, even if he was ambiguous, she would know what he was saying. Throughout the entire meal, she sat next to him in the bed to attend to him. Only after he was finished, did she start moving her own chopsticks.

Watching the old couple get along silently, yet tenderly, Cui Xie began to feel sad in his heart. He began to hope that he could find a good physician to treat the Old Laoye so he could get a bit better. But, he had a shallow knowledge of modern medicine and knew that such cerebrovascular diseases could not be cured by just taking medicine or by acupuncture and moxibustion. The only other thing one could do was help him to turn over a little bit and push him outside……

Take him outside?

If it was just strolling around the courtyard, it would be possible since the four sides of the courtyard were surrounded by verandas with handrails and there was no need to feel worried about having to go down the staircase, couldn’t one be pushed around the veranda in a wheelchair? If the Old Laoye could not sit still, Cui Xie could also make a mobile bed, like a hospital stretcher….worst comes to worst, they could use a platform cart, which would save the money on having to make a new bed and it would be good to let the the old man bask in the sun and feel the wind everyday.

The Old Laoye had been lying inside the room for many years, with no sunlight and could not supplement for vitamin D. He had no other choice but to recline, but this only made him more fragile over time. Furthermore, the bedchamber the Old Laoye used emitted a kind of heavily rotten odor, a smell that indicated the room had not been ventilated for quite some time. By mixing with the fragrant incense to conceal the smell, on the contrary, the smell assailed one’s nostrils even more.

Even a youngster like Cui Xie felt that the room was stuffy and the two elders lived in this, their bodies must naturally be even more uncomfortable.

Cui Xie crinkled his brows for a while and once the two yiniangs and his younger siblings returned, he brought up the idea of making a wheelchair and movable stretcher for his Grandfather so they could push him around the courtyard for a stroll.

Glancing at the bed, and seeing her husband have a somewhat expectant gaze, Old Song furen hesitated for a bit before finally shaking her head, “With him like this, what if he catches a chill from the wind blowing outside? The physician recommended he not go out so easily, for fear that the wind would make him sicker. If it is summer, I am afraid that the shining sun will make one feel dizzy.”

Old Cui Laoye had laid sick in bed for many years, another year was like a new year. Old furen did not dare to touch him and only hoped that he would peacefully live and she had her own judgment.

Cui Xie could not use medical knowledge from more than 500 years later to persuade her, so he could only go back and figure out a way to keep the wind from blowing on the Old Laoye, but also enable him to go out at the same time——In any case, he needed to find someone to make a wheelchair first, it was good to let him take a stroll around the hall too.

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After returning to his study, he called Chief Steward, Cui Liangdong, and ordered him to quickly find a carpenter willing to make new style furniture. Cui Liandong thought that Cui Xie was going to make a new set of furniture for himself and sighed, “This subordinate has already ordered people to find someone, but even after finding a few people, it did not work out. The craftsmen in North Zhili are careless and clumsy, how could they make such finely sculpted Jiangsu-style furniture? We have no alternative but to ask Cui Dahui’s store to import some from the south. It is just the right time for Young Master to switch out the sofa…..”

Cui Xie set down his tea and when the bottom of the cup landed on the small teapot table, it made a light sound, interrupting the Chief Steward, “Did I say I wanted Jiangsu-style ones? What I mean is to find a craftsman who is willing to make new styles and patterns. I will draw the design and ask him to make it based on that. No need for any decorative carved patterns, as long as it is simple enough to use.”

Brimming with a sense of superiority, Cui Liangdong scolded, “How can that be alright? Our Laoye is a fourth ranked advisor, Young Master, you are the residence’s Eldest Young Master and this courtyard is the face of our Cui Residence, how can we use such simple things!”

Cui Xie narrowed his eyes as he looked at the other.

It was only then that Cui Liangdong realized that Cui Xie had not been discussing with him, but had ordered him. Then, he remembered that Cui Xie was not an Eldest Young Master who knew nothing of the world, but the jiansheng Loaoye who had the highest status and scholarly honor. His attitude of priding himself as an old hand suddenly stopped and he honestly said, “I will ask someone to find a craftsman tomorrow.”

Only then did Cui Xie nod his head and ask him, “I was busy with other matters before, forgot to ask you, has third brother begun his schooling yet?”

Cui Liangdong lowered his hands, “Already begun schooling and has been studying with Teacher Lu. In the past few days, since the Second Young Master has gone to the south, Teacher Lu has been teaching the Third Young Master individually….”

Was Teacher Lu still at their residence?

Cui Xie was a bit startled and nearly directly asked about it. Cui Liangdong rolled his eyes and sneakily looked at Cui Xie, trying to fathom the other’s thoughts, asking: “Teacher Lu said he wanted to ask the Eldest Young Master to meet him. I saw that Young Master was busy today, hence I did not tell you. He was invited previously by Xu furen. If you think that his teaching is not good, should this subordinate dismiss him?”

Cui Xie shook his head, “No, no need….” Whether he was good or not, Teacher Lu was also a juren, if they dismissed him, where could they find another juren [1] to teach in the residence? Besides, Teacher Lu also knew how to paint. It would be quite cost-effective if he added a few taels of silver and asked Pengyan to learn from Teacher Lu.

But before that, Cui Xie had to meet this juren to see if the other had the heart to teach. Or, was he merely going through the motions for the money?

Seeing the color of the sky outside, Cui Xie sighed, “Teacher Lu must have already retired at this time, I will visit him when I return from the Imperial College tomorrow.:

Daytimes were long in April and it was not too dark at this time. But, Cui Xie was too lazy to move and would rather take advantage of the few minutes of daylight left to draw that beautiful scene of He Qing’s entrance while wearing a snowy white cloak from that episode of Wolong paying a condolence visit in 《Chai Sang Kou》.

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The next day, it was recitation day at the Imperial College.

This type of recitation was something different from what Cui Xie thought it was going to be. Unlike when he was still in Teacher Lin’s county academy, where the Teacher called his name as well as the other students to recite one by one, this was a public affair!

In the morning, Libationer Qiu Jun and Director Fei Yin sat in the main seats of Yilun Hall. A few dozen court academicians and teaching assistants stood at the sides. They asked the students to line up based on Hall and rank. Two high-ranking officials drew lots in the hall to pick out a student to go up and recite from memory, assigning them to recite from the the《Four Books》,《Five Classics》, 100 characters from the 《Great announcement, compiled by his Majesty》in addition toexplaining each one in detail.

For those who stood in the wrong section, made a racket with their speech, had mistakes in their recitations or their explanations weren’t detailed enough, the Deputy Supervisor and Hall Chief were on standby with bamboo sticks, waiting to deliver ten lashes on the palms.

No wonder he felt like his classmates had been so conscientious and eager to learn these past two days. If one hadn’t learned well, one would get thrashed. Even Cui Xie would have to begin to gamble with his life to study!

Cui Xie stood on the extremities of his foot, on tiptoe, to watch his fellow classmates called up to recite. Among them, there were good ones and some bad ones: there were people in their thirties and forties who could not even memorize the chapters and sentences, directly asking the supervisor to scold and beat them; there were also people like Fei Hong, a ten-year-old or so youth who could recite from memory, smoothly and unhindered like running water. The Libationer and Director Fei praised him; There were also those who were not called on ——

These were usually the precious dignitaries or the Emperor’s son-in-laws sent to the Imperial College to learn etiquette and study.

CuiXie had stood on his tiptoes for a long time, his legs trembling slightly. Hall Chief Zhang Luan pressed down on his shoulders, leaned closer and softly comforted near his ear: “You have all just entered and have yet to formally practice reciting assignments out loud, there is no need to go so far to pick you all.” In addition, Libationer Qiu da-ren is also the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, busy with official business. He does not have much time to listen to everyone recite.”

Cui Xie hurriedly set his heels down and quietly returned a grateful glance at the Hall Chief.

It did not take long before the draws terminated. Only about twenty people had actually been selected, which was less than 3% of the 600 plus students in the Imperial College. But the choking feeling of picking out people from the crowd made people’s hearts beat faster. It was even more exciting then when Cui Xie had been in middle school in his previous life, when he was simply in class when the teacher suddenly told everyone to put away their books and take a pop quiz.

Luckily, they did not pick him this time.

After the two high-ranking officials left, the instructors also dispersed, ordering the students to return back to the classrooms and wait for the lecture to start.

Cui Xie felt his solar plexus and let out a small breath, lining up behind the Hall Chiefs. Midway back, he heard Hall Chief Zhang lowly laughing and saying, “When class starts, Hezhong will have to listen and memorize carefully. Today, the Libationer disdained people for having poor memorization skills and especially pointed out Fei jieyuan [2] to go up; In drawing the lots tomorrow, if he dislikes someone for having poor memorization skills again, and suddenly remembers there is another student who is about the same age as Fu jieyuan, and picks you to go up, what will you do?”

That couldn’t be right…..Cui Xie recalled the situation at the time, skeptically asking, “I clearly saw the scene, didn’t the Libationer call Fu Jieyuan after drawing his name from the lots?”

Hall Chief Zhang turned his face away and laughed, “You saw it? Hey, I thought you hadn’t gone on your tiptoes at that time just yet.”

Footnotes:

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