Chapter 81 — Wu Shan (Pink Vote 660 Bonus Chapter)

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That his son had taken first place in the examination was due, first, to the boy's own intelligence and hard study, and second, to the fact that the Dou family had not mistreated him, but treated him and the other Dou sons alike. For that breadth of heart alone, as Wu Songnian put it, "the two families ought to be joined in friendship for generations to come."

The Dou clan was overjoyed as well.

Over the years many had come to study at the Dou family school, yet those who ranked at the top had always been Dou sons. The exceptionally gifted boys from poor families could not help muttering among themselves. Now that a Wu Shan had emerged, more people would surely come seeking instruction, and the Dou family school would be able to choose and cultivate more young talent—a fortune beyond measure in gold for the Dou family.

For this, Dou Bingheng dispatched a retainer to discuss the matter with the Second Old Madam and Dou Zhen: "...move out the several households living around the school, double its size, and invite several renowned scholars to teach. But there is no hurry to enroll more students; we must ensure that most of those who come out of the Dou family school can pass the xiucai examination."

The Second Old Madam nodded again and again. Dou Zhen handled the details, while the Second Old Madam had a stage erected at the gate of the Dou residence and invited a troupe from the capital to perform ten plays in a row. All through the sixth month, Zhending County was like a town celebrating the New Year, bustling beyond measure.

Yet the rear courtyard of the Dou residence lay deep in green shade. The faint strains of gongs and drums and the bursts of cheers only made this corner of the world seem quieter still.

Dou Yan, tanned as black as charcoal, raged in Dou Yong's study: "...simply ruining the court! A nest of maggots! Drawing pay and doing nothing!"

His voice startled the mynah bird beneath the covered walkway, which flapped its wings in fright.

Dou Huaide, meanwhile, blinked and handed Dou Yan a bowl of iced sour plum drink. "Cool yourself down!"

Dou Yan took the sour plum drink and drained it in one go.

The icy liquid at once banked his anger.

He sat down in the armchair opposite Dou Huaide, leaned forward, and said, "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it. Over at Nangou, more than six hundred unregistered households have been hiding out there clearing wasteland—most of them grown men in their prime. Six hundred and more! Thank goodness the weather's been kind these past few years. In a lean year, with nothing to eat, those people would be capable of anything. They could even stir up a rebellion!"

As he spoke, Dou Yan shivered.

Then he looked at his friends, each of them staring at him dumbstruck, as though looking at some strange creature.

Dou Yan could not help but give a long sigh.

What was the point of telling them all this? They didn't understand. And even if they did, they might not feel it as he did.

A sudden gloom came over him, and listlessly he asked them, "What do you all plan to do from here?"

The prefectural examination was over; they could relax a little now.

Dou Yong, Dou Huaide, Dou Qiguang, and Dou Qitai, seated in the room, all sensed Dou Yan's mood. But Dou Yan had just rejected the suggestion of reporting the matter to the county magistrate, and no one knew quite how to comfort him. Now that he had changed the subject, Dou Yong hastily picked it up: "Father wrote back. He wants us to rest for the summer, then go to the capital after the Mid-Autumn Festival to see something of the world, and pay a few calls on our elders while we're there." Then he asked Dou Qiguang, "Would you like to come with us?"

This was preparation for the metropolitan examination.

Dou Yan nodded to himself.

But Dou Qiguang shook his head again and again. "I'm not going. I've already arranged with Master Du. He's going to instruct me in the art of examination writing on my own from now on."

Dou Qitai gave a sigh at this and said wistfully, "I'd like to go, but my father says if I don't pass the xiucai examination, I'm not allowed to go anywhere."

No sooner had he spoken than a voice not their own rang out in the room: "Where are you all going?"

Everyone turned and saw Wu Shan come striding in, radiant, in a plain ivory Hangzhou silk robe with a straight collar.

Everyone in the room chorused, "Oh—" and called out "Top of the list Wu!" in teasing voices.

Wu Shan was too happy to mind. Smiling, he nodded and bowed to all sides. "I'm much obliged! Much obliged!"

"You wretch!" Dou Yong could not help but laugh. "Not a shred of modesty!"

"'When life is good, enjoy it to the full; never let the golden goblet face the moon empty.'" Wu Shan snapped open the folding fan in his hand with a flick, waved it twice, and sat down without ceremony in the armchair opposite Dou Yong. To Dou Yan he said, "It's so hot, and so noisy outside—shall we go to Zhaojue Temple for vegetarian food?" A look of anticipation actually showed on his face.

Dou Huaide gave a disdainful sniff. "What's so good about Jingjue Temple's vegetarian food? Let's go to Jingfuchun for ice bowls instead."

Dou Yong and the others nodded eagerly.

Only Dou Yan fixed his eyes on Wu Shan and said slowly, "You want vegetarian food, do you? Has your mother agreed to let you go?"

The play performed today, *The Fourth Son Visits His Mother*, had been chosen by Madam Wu.

His tone was icily indifferent, and his gaze on Wu Shan was bright and penetrating, with an edge of sharpness. Dou Yong and the others were taken aback and fell silent.

"I took first place so that Mother would agree to let me go to Zhaojue Temple for vegetarian food," Wu Shan said, slowly closing his fan. The smile faded from his face bit by bit, and his expression grew grave and earnest. "If she hadn't agreed, I'd already thought of seven or eight arguments to persuade her. Luckily, she agreed." As he spoke, the corners of his mouth curled up beyond his control, higher and higher, until at last he was grinning from ear to ear.

Dou Yan gave a humph. "Are you sure your mother agreed?"

Wu Shan laughed merrily. "Of course!"

Dou Yan's expression eased a little.

Dou Qiguang, utterly baffled, asked blankly, "What's going on with you two? It's only vegetarian food... does it really need my aunt's permission?"

Dou Yong looked thoughtful.

Dou Huaide's eyes darted this way and that, glinting with a touch of cunning.

Wu Shan smiled at Dou Qiguang and said, "I just thought, since we're going out to enjoy ourselves, why not invite the Fourth Sister and the others along too..." His eyes, however, were on Dou Yan.

"Oh!" Dou Qiguang said in sudden understanding. "Joy shared is joy doubled. You want to invite Aunt Four and the rest to the vegetarian meal too, and that's why you chose Baoguang Temple, and why you had to report to my aunt. And if my aunt is willing to bring Aunt Four and my younger cousins along—so much the better!"

"Precisely," Wu Shan said, his smile brilliant beyond measure—brighter than the summer sun outside.

Wu Ya, however, was so furious that her lips jutted out a mile. "If Shouyuan can go to Zhaojue Temple for the vegetarian feast, why can't I?" she fumed. "Brother is far too partial! He's only lived at the Dou family's for two years, and already he treats that Dou girl better than he treats me. I'm his own full sister, born of the same mother..." And with that, tears began to plop down her cheeks. "It's too infuriating!"