Chapter 24: First Arrival in the County Town

The carriage rolled slowly into the county seat. Like the fields outside, the town was a world blanketed in white snow. Yet, compared to the quiet countryside, the town was bustling with activity. Every household was busy preparing for the New Year: pasting door charms, hanging rabbit heads, shaping dough snakes, brewing Tusu wine, and pounding rice cakes. It was noon, and wisps of smoke curled from the chimneys of every home, signaling that the festive spirit was drawing near.

On the main street, groups of children played, building snowmen and engaging in snowball fights, their laughter ringing through the air. A detachment of garrison soldiers, wearing Fanyang hats and wielding white wax-wood spears, jogged past in formation, while pedestrians walked cautiously along the slushy, churned-up road, careful not to splatter mud onto their hems.

"Oh! I really want to get down and build a snowman," Wang Gui said, looking enviously at the children.

Tang Huai kept his eyes closed, meditating like a Daoist monk, but at Wang Gui’s words, he couldn't help but glance at a large snowman outside the carriage window.

"Fifth Brother, that snowman looks a bit like you!" Wang Gui giggled, pointing at a snowman in the distance wearing a hat identical to the one Yue Fei wore.

Yue Fei merely murmured an acknowledgment without looking up. He was busy reciting the era’s finest literary works, especially the masterpieces of Wang Anshi, which he had to memorize perfectly. His grandfather had repeatedly reminded them that their county magistrate was once a student of Wang Anshi.

Seeing that Yue Fei ignored him, Wang Gui muttered under his breath, "What a little scholar!"

Li Yanqing leaned against the other window, staring entranced at the Tangyin county seat. It was the first time he had seen a city of the Great Song. Everything felt novel, yet strangely familiar—the deep, long-standing threads of history and culture bound together the people who had lived on this land for thousands of years.

"Do you see that carriage in front of the inn on the left?"

Their master, Yao Ding, who had been silent the entire journey, suddenly spoke. The boys crowded toward Li Yanqing’s window; even Yue Fei set aside his studies to peer out.

"Master, is it that carriage with the black wheels?" Wang Gui asked.

"That’s the one. The youths who just stepped out are from the Weinan Town Academy, just like you."

They all saw four youths and an elderly man with a goatee emerge from the carriage, while a middle-aged man scurried about arranging accommodations for the students.

At that moment, the old man with the goatee spotted Yao Ding in the carriage, waved, and walked briskly toward them.

Tang Huai whispered, "They placed fifth the year before last and third last year. A bunch of annoying guys."

Li Yanqing observed the four youths. They were twelve or thirteen, nearly as tall as adults, though their faces remained boyish. They were clearly from wealthy families, dressed in white hooded capes made of fine lake silk, wearing gauze caps, black tight-fitting fur coats, and horn-buckled belts. They looked quite magnificent. As they stood at the inn entrance, they cast disdainful glances at the carriage across the way.

The old man with the goatee walked up, bowed, and smiled, "Master Yao, it’s been a year. I thought you weren't planning to come this year!"

Yao Ding did not show him any courtesy, replying coldly, "We met just last month. Why do you say it’s been a year?"

"Haha! Perhaps I simply didn’t notice Master Yao at the time."

"I think it’s Master He whose eyes are fixed on the top of his head."

Li Yanqing knew his master well; he never understood hypocritical politeness. If he disliked someone, it was written plainly on his face, and this Master He was no exception.

The old man with the goatee squinted and smiled, "We are all looking forward to the arrival of Lushan Academy! Let’s see who has the best luck this time, haha!"

He laughed heartily toward the sky and turned to walk into the inn. Yao Ding snorted heavily and told the driver to move on, turning the carriage toward another road.

"Ah-Tang, what did that Master He mean?" Yue Fei asked, puzzled.

It wasn't just Yue Fei; Li Yanqing and Wang Gui were also confused. Tang Huai sighed, "The rule for the first round of the tournament is that the top four from last year draw lots to determine their opponents, and the remaining four schools are the ones drawn. Everyone hopes to be paired with us. They even nicknamed the first round 'Chasing the Deer,' a jab at our Lushan Town, because we are always eliminated in the first round."

"Hmph, let's see who ends up being the prey this year!" Wang Gui said, rolling up his sleeves in anger.

Li Yanqing and Yue Fei exchanged a look. They both knew the situation was dire. Their opponents were twelve or thirteen, while they were only seven or eight. Academic success was built on accumulation, and that was exactly what they lacked.

Yao Ding heard Wang Gui’s words, and his face grew even darker.

...

The carriage finally stopped in front of an inn. It was the inn owned by Tang Huai’s family in the county, called the Tang Inn, where they stayed every year.

As soon as the carriage stopped, the innkeeper, as plump as a giant winter melon, rushed out with two attendants, his face beaming, "I’ve been waiting all day! Finally, Master Yao has arrived."

The innkeeper’s warmth was like a cup of hot tea in winter, warming their hearts. Even the perpetually stern Yao Ding showed a hint of a smile, "I’m sorry to trouble you again, Manager Wang."

"Not at all! It is the honor of this small shop to host the four child prodigies of our home county. Come in and warm yourselves; let the attendants handle the luggage."

Yao Ding glared at his four disciples again, as if asking if they were worthy of the title "child prodigy."

The manager led them to the backyard. Since this was the Tang family’s inn, they not only waived the room fees but also provided the best quarters. Yao Ding stayed in a superior room by himself, the four students shared the largest room, and an extra room was cleared out for their study and preparation.

"Four child prodigies, tidy up and come down for dinner! Your master has already gone ahead," the manager called out warmly from the doorway.

Tang Huai said with some displeasure, "Manager Wang, please don't call us prodigies anymore. It sounds grating."

"Haha! Young Master is right. I’ll go prepare the bowls and chopsticks. You young gentlemen, please come down quickly!"

After the manager left, Tang Huai said to the three, "Manager Wang will look after our daily needs. As for the administrative arrangements for the Children’s Tournament, my uncle is in charge. He lives here in the county."

"When is the drawing of lots?" Yue Fei asked.

"Probably tomorrow. I imagine some academies haven't arrived yet. The County Scholar will preside over the drawing tomorrow morning."

As the four chatted, they walked to the dining hall in the front courtyard. It was a modest room to the left of the main lobby, furnished with two black-lacquered jujube-wood tables and long benches.

A section by the window was screened off, and inside, the setting was quite decent, featuring a couch that could accommodate three people. Yao Ding sat alone on the couch, sipping wine slowly, with three or four side dishes laid out before him.

The four boys’ meal was set on the large table. In the center, a pot of clear-stewed old hen was steaming. Beside it were braised fish, scrambled eggs with minced meat, stir-fried winter bamboo shoots, cold-sliced soy sauce mutton, and four or five other fine dishes.

Around the table were four large porcelain bowls filled with colorful, thick congee. Wang Gui sat down and complained, "Why are we having thin porridge?"

Li Yanqing’s heart stirred, and he asked with a smile, "Manager Wang, is this Laba porridge?"

Manager Wang walked up with a smile and explained, "Although Laba is tomorrow, according to the customs of Tangyin County, we drink Laba porridge for three days. Of course, you don't have to drink it today, but this was arranged by your master."

The four looked toward their master. He was hidden by the screen, but his cold voice filtered through the cracks, "Yue Fei, recite the Poet Sage’s 'Laba Day.' If you can't recite it, don't eat."

The poem was somewhat obscure, and Yue Fei truly couldn't recall it. He lowered his head and said, "Student does not know it!"

Yao Ding roared, "Take out the book, read it once, and go back and write it ten times."

Yue Fei took out the book, glanced at it, and recited loudly:

*The Laba day arrives, yet the winter warmth lingers far,*
*This year, the frost of Laba has completely melted away.*
*The snow-color encroaches, yet the daylily blooms,*
*The leaking spring light reveals itself on the willow branches.*
*Indulging in wine, I plan for a night of deep intoxication,*
*Returning home, just as the audience at the Zichen Palace disperses.*
*Lip balm and facial medicine arrive as signs of imperial favor,*
*Jade flutes and silver infants descend from the ninth heaven.*

Li Yanqing memorized it silently as well. His learning ability was exceptional; he rarely forgot any poem he read once.

Yao Ding nodded, "Eat! After dinner, go write. Write three thousand characters, then compose a poem with today’s snow scene as the theme. Be self-disciplined. Once you’re done, go to sleep; I won't be checking."

"Is Master going out tonight?" Wang Gui asked impulsively.

"Too much chatter!" Yao Ding snorted.

Wang Gui didn't dare say another word. Li Yanqing nudged him with his elbow, winked, and whispered, "Maybe Master is going out to scout the enemy’s situation tonight. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated!"

Wang Gui’s face lit up as he imagined his master dressed in night-traveling clothes, leaping over rooftops. He added, "And carrying a precious sword on his back!"

Yue Fei sighed, "Please, both of you, stop letting your imaginations run wild. Master is going home."

"Home?"

The three were stunned. They looked at each other, only then realizing that their master must have a home to go to.

"Fifth Brother, is your grandmother still with us?" Li Yanqing asked.

Yue Fei shook his head, "Grandmother passed away many years ago. Master lives with my eldest uncle. My youngest uncle is studying at the Imperial Academy in Bianliang."

After a pause, Yue Fei added, "My eldest uncle is the County Scholar here."

The group was completely dumbfounded. With a son who was the County Scholar, yet the Lushan Town Academy finished in last place every year—that son must be truly upright and incorruptible!