Chapter Sixty-Two: The Gift Storm

It was already late in the night when Li Yanqing returned to Liwen Village. Just as he reached the entrance of the village, he saw a slender figure standing by the roadside, holding a large dog on a leash.

A warm surge of emotion welled up in Li Yanqing's heart, and he called out from a distance, "Magpie, is that you?"

"Young Master, it's me!" Magpie ran up to him, and Big Black, the large dog by her side, also bounded joyfully toward its master.

Li Yanqing dismounted from the donkey, affectionately patted Big Black—whose long snout was almost reaching his nose—and then asked Magpie with a smile, "Why are you two out here?"

"Big Black wanted to come and meet you, so I brought it along on the leash."

"What a good boy!" Li Yanqing hugged Big Black affectionately, rewarded it with a steamed bun, and the dog wagged its tail as it took the lead to guide them forward.

"Uncle Zhong said the Young Master was going to stay in the county town tonight, but I figured since the Young Master is taking the imperial examinations soon, you would definitely rush back to practice your calligraphy."

"That's right! Master only gave me one day off; if I don't go to the schoolhouse tomorrow, I'll be getting the whip."

Having finished studying his final book today, Li Yanqing felt as though a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Fanned by the gentle breeze of the spring night, he was in an exceptionally cheerful mood, and his words flowed a little more freely than usual.

"In a few days, it will be the Spring She Festival. I'll give you a day off so you can go home and have a good time."

"I... Ah-Tao and I agreed to go play together."

Ah-Tao was the little maid from Li Er's household, having been bought only a few months ago. He hadn't expected the two girls to become such good companions, so Li Yanqing didn't press the matter further. He smiled and said, "Anyway, I'm giving you the day off. You can decide how to spend it."

Magpie was overjoyed and quickly curtsied. "Thank you, Young Master!"

......

Giving gifts to one's teacher to show gratitude during the She Festival was a tradition among students in the northern part of the Song Dynasty. The value of the gift did not lie in its expensiveness, but in the sincerity behind it. Some impoverished students would simply offer a few calabashes or a basket of plucked beans, and the teacher would appreciate them just the same.

Two days before the She Festival, Yao Ding's study was already piled high with gifts from the students. Although this happened every year, Yao Ding was still very happy. From each and every gift, he could feel the genuine affection the children held for him.

Despite the multitude of gifts, Yao Ding also had to prepare return gifts for his students. He had been so busy over the past two days that he couldn't stop even for a moment, writing dozens of scrolls of calligraphy every day. For the students, nothing could be more inspiring than their master's encouragement.

Inside the room, Yao Ding was hard at work writing calligraphy while the cheerful sounds of students echoed from outside. At midday, defying his usual routine, Yao Ding skipped his afternoon nap. Just then, Li Daguang appeared at the doorway, a full smile on his face as he asked, "Is Master Yao very busy?"

Yao Ding pointed a brush at the room full of gifts and smiled, "With so many gifts, I still have to write return calligraphy for the students. How could I not be busy?"

"I've received many gifts myself, but I have no idea how to return the favor. My heart is in a panic over it."

Li Daguang had been drawn over by the large dark-green donkey tethered at the entrance. It was a gift Wang Guizhi had given to the master, creating a sensation throughout the entire schoolhouse. It was as conspicuous as a donkey could possibly be, and Li Daguang's eyes were green with jealousy—that large green donkey was worth at least fifteen strings of cash!

As he spoke, he rummaged through the gifts the students had given to Yao Ding, rapidly estimating their value in his mind, and felt that every single one of them was worth more than his own gifts.

He picked up a bolt of fine, soft cyan fabric and sighed inwardly. This was top-grade cotton from Fuzhou, and a bolt of it must be worth at least three strings of cash. He happened to be in need of a spring tunic—why hadn't anyone given him one?

At that moment, Li Daguang suddenly noticed a beautifully crafted black-lacquered wooden box nearby, its edges trimmed with vermilion. He paused for a moment. Could this be from the Jiuzhitang Pharmacy...?

He quickly picked it up, and the seal on top indeed marked it as the Four Treasures of the Study from the capital's Jiuzhitang. He had seen them in Anyang County, priced at ten strings of cash. Glancing at the note underneath, he was even more shocked: it was a gift sent to the master by Li Yanqing.

Li Daguang felt a wave of bitter acid rise in his stomach. Li Yanqing was his own nephew, yet he had given the master such an expensive gift while giving nothing at all to him. This... this was simply outrageous!

"Master Yao, look at this..."

...

He began plotting to get his hands on these gifts. He might be too embarrassed to ask for the donkey, but he hoped Yao Ding might give him either the bolt of cyan fabric or the box of scholarly treasures.

To his surprise, Yao Ding walked over and unceremoniously snatched the scholarly treasures right out of his hand. "Every single one of these gifts is among my most precious possessions, and I do not give them away. If Master Li is interested, I can write you a calligraphy scroll instead!"

"There's no need for that. By the way, I came to discuss the holiday arrangements for the Spring She Festival with Master Yao."

Yao Ding rolled his eyes. "What is there to discuss? Just keep it the same as last year. Except for the twenty-odd students preparing for the county examinations, whom I will handle, Master Li can see to the rest however you wish!"

"I understand. I'll go make the arrangements right away."

Li Daguang glared fiercely at the scholarly treasures and the cyan fabric, wishing his eyes could grow hands to snatch them all away. Disappointment bred resentment, and a spark of anger ignited in his heart. He decided he must go settle accounts with Li Yanqing. Since he had the money to buy such expensive things for the master, why wouldn't he buy something for him?

......

Li Yanqing encountered the aggressively approaching Li Daguang by the schoolhouse wall. "Qing'er, I have something to discuss with you!"

Li Yanqing glanced at him with a puzzled look, then turned back to give Wang Gui and Tang Huai a meaningful look. The two understood immediately, circling around to leave, though they didn't go far, standing a dozen paces away to watch the uncle and nephew.

"Is there something Fourth Uncle needs?" Li Yanqing asked with a smile.

Suppressing the anger in his heart, Li Daguang interrogated Li Yanqing, "Let me ask you, in what way has Fourth Uncle ever wronged you?"

"What does Fourth Uncle mean by that? Did Yanqing do something wrong?"

Li Yanqing felt puzzled inwardly. Fourth Uncle looked utterly furious—how had he offended him?

"Hmph! I am your Fourth Uncle. The She Festival is right around the corner, yet my desk is completely empty. Shouldn't you, as a student, show some token of respect?"

So it was because of this. Li Yanqing burst out laughing. "Fourth Uncle is exaggerating too much. I see plenty of things in Fourth Uncle's room! Edibles and daily necessities, at least a few dozen items. How can you call it empty?"

Li Daguang's face lengthened as he said coldly, "But there is no donkey tethered at my door, nor is there fine cyan fabric on my desk, let alone the Four Treasures of the Study from Jiuzhitang. Qing'er, Fourth Uncle's heart feels heavy with grievance!"

Li Yanqing, however, remained unhurried and smiled slightly. "I can understand Fourth Uncle's feelings, but Fourth Uncle should take it easy. Master Yao told us that when he first became a teacher at the schoolhouse, he only received half a bag of beans on the She Festival. He was very happy just knowing that students still remembered him. By comparison, Fourth Uncle is doing much better than Master Yao. Your nephew believes that twenty years from now, the animal tethered at Fourth Uncle's door won't be a donkey at all, but a horse! Fourth Uncle must believe in himself and absolutely must not lose heart!"

"You—"

Li Daguang was so choked with anger by Li Yanqing's words that he couldn't utter a single reply. Li Yanqing bowed to him. "Since Fourth Uncle is busy, your nephew won't disturb you any longer!"

Li Yanqing turned and strode away. Watching his retreating figure, Li Daguang gnashed his teeth so hard they clicked. "You little brat, I'm going to settle scores with your father!"

......

As the Spring She Festival approached, the students lost all inclination to study. Their attention was entirely captivated by the increasingly lively festive atmosphere.

Although the Spring She Festival fell on the second day of the second month, preparations had begun days in advance. Over a dozen large sheds were erected in the open space before the She Temple, and the village headmen led able-bodied men and women in meticulously decorating their respective village's festival pavilion.

They competed like rivals in a martial arts tournament, each harboring a competitive spirit and locked in a secret contest. One village brought out ten jars of aged wine, another carried three fat pigs; one scattered flower petals across the roof of their shed, while another bound willow branches to the pillars. Tricks were varied and competition was fierce.

The festival drums beat a resounding rhythm, and the horns blared through the air. The Earth God was draped in seventh-rank official robes, and baskets of paper candles and incense were carried before the She Temple. Most bustling of all were the various small peddlers and vendors who, like mushrooms sprouting across a meadow after a spring rain, occupied every nook and cranny of Lushan Town.

On the second day of the second month, Lushan Schoolhouse granted a day off, but the twenty-odd candidates preparing for the examinations were not so lucky. "The county examinations are in three days! Today, nobody is to think about the Spring She Festival!"

Master Yao Ding's bamboo ruler struck the desk with sharp cracks, casting a cloud of gloom over the White Tiger Hall.

"Our Spring She Festival is ruined!"

At midday, the moment the master stepped out to use the outhouse, Li Er let out a mournful wail that immediately drew echoes of sympathy from the others. Even Li Yanqing felt the master was being unnecessarily harsh; since nobody's mind was on the schoolhouse anyway and they wouldn't learn anything today, why not let everyone go out and enjoy themselves?

From the distance came the rolling rumble of drums and clashing gongs—the festival opera was about to begin, and everyone grew restless. At that moment, Wang Gui blurted out, "Let's go negotiate with the master!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Yao Ding walked back in, holding his bamboo ruler with a dark expression. "Negotiate what with me?"

The students instantly fell silent as death, all lowering their heads and daring not make a sound. Li Yanqing, however, raised his hand and said, "Master, we are willing to stay and make up for lost lessons tomorrow night. We earnestly beg Master to give us half a day off today."

Encouraged by Li Yanqing taking the lead, the others chimed in with pleas, "Master, please give us half a day off! We're willing to make up the lessons tomorrow night."

Looking at the rows of pleading eyes, Yao Ding's heart softened slightly. "Very well! Make up the lessons tomorrow night. School is dismissed for today."

With a cheer of "Hooray!", the students rushed out of the schoolroom with unprecedented speed.

Yao Ding pointed his bamboo ruler directly at Li Yanqing. "You stay behind!"

The students cast sympathetic glances at Li Yanqing as they filed out. Taking the lead truly had no good outcome—Brother Qing was about to get a beating.

"Does Master have any further instructions?" Li Yanqing stood before the master with his hands at his sides.

With a straight face, Yao Ding said, "Your father sent word through someone. If your maternal grandfather wants you to go through a matchmaking meeting, you are to ignore it for the time being."

The students hiding outside the door burst into loud laughter and bolted away like the wind, their voices echoing from afar as they shouted at the top of their lungs, "Extraordinary news! Brother Qing is going matchmaking!"

Li Yanqing's face burned with heat, and he felt a trace of annoyance toward his master. Why didn't he mention such matters in private instead of making it known to the entire schoolhouse? Unable to hold it in any longer, Master Yao Ding finally cracked a smile, threw his head back in laughter, and walked away.

As soon as the master left, Wang Gui and Tang Huai rushed back in, exchanging winks and laughing. "Old Li, congratulations, congratulations! When are we getting wedding pastries?"

Irritated, Li Yanqing gave each of their heads a fierce rap. "Congratulations my foot! I'm completely baffled myself. What matchmaking?"

Rubbing his head with a grin, Wang Gui said, "Don't be shy! You can ask Old Tang for advice on matchmaking. He's got plenty of experience—he's been to matchmaking meetings more than once."

Tang Huai's face flushed bright red with embarrassment. Furious, he reached behind Wang Gui and grabbed him by the neck. "You promised you wouldn't say anything! I'm going to choke you to death, you brat!"

"Oh? So Old汤 has been to a matchmaking meeting? When was that?"

Li Yanqing immediately shifted the battlefield, grinning mischievously as he pressed Tang Huai. "Tell us about it! Which family's young lady was it, and did the match get made?"

Tang Huai struck Li Yanqing's head lightly with his folded fan. "We're talking about you! Don't drag me into this."

At that moment, the drums beat out once more, and Yue Fei's anxious voice urged from outside, "Let's go quickly!"

Wang Gui's expression changed. "Oh no! The opera is about to end."

Forgetting all about the topic of matchmaking, the group hurriedly dashed out of the schoolhouse.