Chapter 27: The Finishing Touch

Not long after Liu Xianyang arrived in Mud Bottle Lane, another rare guest visited the small alley: the elegant scholar Zhao Yao, dressed in a green robe, who bore a striking resemblance to the schoolteacher, Qi Jingchun.

Zhao Yao was the eldest grandson of one of the town's four great families. Unlike the idle纨绔 sons of wealthy families like Lu Zhengchun, Zhao Yao, also born into privilege, enjoyed a good reputation. Many of the town's orphaned and elderly had benefited from the young man's kindness. To suggest that this was a deliberate strategy of "cultivating a reputation among the common people," as some scholars advocated, would be an overestimation of Zhao Yao's ambitions, a petty thought about a gentleman's heart. After all, from the age of ten, the youth had always been benevolent and kind, year after year, without the slightest pretense. Even the elders of Fortune Street, who had watched him grow up, would give him a thumbs up. Whenever they scolded their own children, they would invariably use Zhao Yao as an example. This led to Zhao Yao having few close friends among his peers.

Lu Zhengchun and his ilk were free-spirited and disliked associating with a bookworm who constantly spouted Confucian principles. Imagine the scenario: they were excitedly climbing a wall to peek at a charming widow, only to have someone reciting, "Do not gaze upon what is improper," ruining the mood entirely. In short, young Zhao Yao had, over the years, preferred to interact with people outside of Fortune Street. He had walked through almost every alley, big and small, except for Mud Bottle Lane. This was because Song Jixin lived there, a peer who often made Zhao Yao feel ashamed of his own shortcomings.

However, if he were to speak of true friends, Zhao Yao would probably only consider Song Jixin, his chess companion. Although he had lost to Song Jixin in chess countless times over the years, despite his competitive spirit and desire to win, Zhao Yao had always deeply admired Song Jixin's innate talent. Nevertheless, Zhao Yao felt a sense of loss, because his intuition told him that, although Song Jixin joked and laughed with him and seemed to be a close companion, he had never truly regarded him as a confidant.

Although Zhao Yao had never visited Song Jixin's home before, the moment he saw a certain residence, he knew it had to be Song Jixin's. This was due to the Spring Festival couplets pasted on the door, which contained a great many characters and were clearly written by Song Jixin. The reason was simple: the style was too varied. Almost every character was different. For example, the characters "Yu Feng" (御風 - Riding the Wind) were written in a single, seamless stroke, free and unrestrained, conveying a sense of soaring. The character "Yuan" (淵 - Abyss), with its water radical, was particularly profound and meaningful. The character "Qi" (奇 - Strange, Extraordinary) had an immense sweeping stroke, filled with great power, like thunder and lightning! The character "Guo" (國 - Nation), on the other hand, was written with utmost balance and composure, like a sage sitting upright, without the slightest flaw.

Zhao Yao stood at the courtyard gate, almost forgetting to knock, leaning forward, staring intently at the characters, lost in thought. He felt he was losing the courage to knock. It was precisely because he diligently practiced calligraphy and studied numerous rubbings that he knew the immense power, weight, and spirit contained within those characters.

Dejected, Zhao Yao took out a money pouch, bent down, and placed it at the door, preparing to leave without a word.

At that moment, the courtyard gate suddenly opened. Zhao Yao looked up and saw Song Jixin, seemingly about to go out with his maid, Zhigui. They were chatting and laughing merrily.

Song Jixin feigned surprise, teasing, "Zhao Yao, what do you intend with such a grand gesture?"

Zhao Yao awkwardly picked up the money pouch, about to explain the reason, when Song Jixin snatched the embroidered bag, grinning, "Oh, Zhao Yao is here to deliver gifts! Accepted, accepted. But let me say beforehand, I'm a poor man. I don't have any gifts that would catch your eye, Zhao brother. Not to reciprocate would be impolite indeed."

Zhao Yao forced a smile, "Consider this bag of lucky money a farewell gift. No need for reciprocation."

Song Jixin turned to his maid and exchanged a knowing smile. He handed her the money pouch, "See? I told you Zhao Yao is the most courteous scholar in town, didn't I?"

The girl accepted the money pouch and held it to her chest, her eyes narrowed with happiness. She slightly curtsied, "Thank you, Young Master Zhao. My young master has said that families who accumulate virtue will have abundant blessings, and those who do good will have a field of fortune. I hereby wish Young Master Zhao a meteoric rise to success, a boundless future."

Zhao Yao quickly returned the bow, "Thank you for your kind words, Miss Zhigui."

Song Jixin scratched the back of his head, yawning, "Aren't you two tired?"

Zhigui smiled, "If I could get a bag of money every time, I wouldn't be tired even after bowing ten thousand times."

Zhao Yao felt a bit ashamed, "I'm afraid I'll disappoint you, Miss Zhigui."

Song Jixin waved his hand, "Let's go, let's go drink!"

Zhao Yao looked troubled. Song Jixin baited him, "A good-for-nothing! Reading only produces rigid rules, not a bit of the temperament of a renowned scholar. How can that be?"

Zhao Yao tentatively asked, "A small drink for enjoyment?"

Song Jixin rolled his eyes, "Drunk as a skunk!"

Zhao Yao was about to speak when Song Jixin put his arm around his neck and dragged him away.

As the maid Zhigui locked the door, the four-legged lizard tried to sneak out, but she kicked it back into the courtyard.

Passing by the neighboring residence, she quietly tiptoed and glanced sideways, catching sight of Liu Xianyang's tall figure. The latter noticed her and immediately smiled brightly. As Liu Xianyang was about to greet her, she had already withdrawn her gaze and quickly walked away.

The town had a tavern, but it was really small, yet the expenses were not small. However, Zhao Yao was, after all, a member of the Zhao family, and his reputation was good. The notoriously stingy tavern owner, for some reason, had a sudden change of heart and boasted that he wouldn't accept a single coin. He declared that it was an honor for his humble establishment to have two scholars grace it with their presence. The two gentlemen should be the ones to accept his money. Song Jixin immediately chuckled and reached out his hand, demanding money on the spot. The tavern owner, feeling awkward, quickly found an excuse to save face, saying that he would owe it and have someone deliver a few jars of good wine to Young Master Song tomorrow. Zhao Yao wished he could dig a hole and bury himself. The tavern owner was well aware of the eccentricities of the Song family's young master from Mud Bottle Lane, so he wasn't really angry. He personally found a quiet window seat on the second floor for the three of them.

Song Jixin and Zhao Yao didn't say much to each other. Song Jixin also didn't try to persuade him to drink or trick him, which made Zhao Yao, who had been prepared for the worst, feel very strange.

From the tavern's second-floor window, one could see a plaque on the Twelve-Foot Archway, which read: "Benevolence Before All."

Song Jixin asked, "Master Qi really isn't leaving town with you?"

Zhao Yao nodded, "Master changed his plans at the last minute. He said he would stay at the schoolhouse to teach the second-to-last lesson, 'Knowing Propriety.'"Song Jixin sighed, "So, Master Qi is about to impart a great truth, to transmit the wisdom of the Confucian sage to the world, telling us that in the beginning, there were no laws. The sage civilized the masses with propriety. The rulers of that time all revered etiquette, believing that deviation from reason and propriety would lead to punishment. Thus, law came into being. First propriety, then law..."

Zhao Yao, already tipsy, slurred his words, "Do you think it's right? And why doesn't Master simply teach the final chapter, 'Observing Propriety'?"

Song Jixin answered irrelevantly, "Before leaving this small town, things like mountain demons, water sprites, gods, and spirits, if you believe, they exist; if you don't, they don't. As for how Master Qi teaches and how I listen, let fate decide."

The maid, Zhigui, also took a sip of wine, her youthful face flushed and playful. From beginning to end, she didn't even glance at the towering memorial archway.

The twelve-legged archway had pedestals with carvings of the nine mythical sons of the dragon, as well as the White Tiger, Black Tortoise, and Vermilion Bird.

The townspeople, having lived here for generations, were long accustomed to it.

Zhao Yao couldn't help but hiccuped, stood up unsteadily, and said, "Farewell, my friend. I hope we meet again."

Song Jixin thought for a moment, then stood up as well, smiling slightly, "We will definitely meet again, Zhao Yao. Don't worry about having no kindred spirits on your journey."

Zhao Yao, his vision blurred, bit his tongue and said sincerely, "Song Jixin, you should leave this small town as soon as possible. Who in the world wouldn't recognize you? You can definitely do it!"

Song Jixin clearly didn't take it seriously, waving his hand, "Go, go. Drunken ramblings, a disgrace to scholarship."

After leaving the wine shop, Zhao Yao and Song Jixin parted ways. Before leaving, perhaps emboldened by the alcohol, Zhao Yao asked, "Song Jixin, do you want to take a look at the official residence of the kiln affairs supervisor? I can persuade the gatekeeper..."

Song Jixin's face turned cold as he spat out a single word through gritted teeth, "Get lost!"

Zhao Yao departed dejectedly.

The maid, Zhigui, watched his retreating figure and whispered, "Young Master, he meant well."

Song Jixin sneered, "How often do good intentions of good people lead to bad deeds and bitter fruit in this world?"

She thought about it, and it seemed that this was indeed a dull and uninteresting truth, so she didn't persist.

Zhao Yao's residence, Fulu Street, was in the northern part of the town, while Mud Lane was in the west, where poor households were concentrated. As Song Jixin and the maid walked side by side past the archway, she looked up at the plaque that reads "Aura Reaching the Heavens", like an old man at dusk.

The girl, whose real name was Wang Zhu, smiled without showing her teeth.

After Zhao Yao returned to his ancestral home on Fulu Street, a servant told him that the old matriarch was waiting for him in the study and that he had to go immediately. The young scholar in his blue robe, still reeking of wine, immediately felt a headache and steeled himself to head to the study.

The Zhao family in the small town was low-key and restrained, unlike the Lu family, who were flamboyant and liked to boast of being a family of scholars. The study was also very antique.

The old matriarch, holding a cane, was standing beside a desk, stroking its surface. Her weathered face was filled with nostalgic sadness.

The old matriarch smelled the strong scent of alcohol on her eldest grandson and didn't get angry. She smiled and beckoned, "Yao'er, come in. What are you doing standing in the doorway? What's wrong with a man having a little wine? It's not like drinking horse pee, not embarrassing!"

Zhao Yao smiled wryly and stepped over the threshold, respectfully greeting the old matriarch. The old matriarch said impatiently, "Too much reading is bad in this respect. All the rules and regulations make scholars feel like they're running in circles for the rest of their lives, tiresome. Take your grandfather, for example, he was top-notch in everything, except when he talked to me about great principles. He nagged on and on, which was really annoying, especially his demeanor and expression, tsk tsk, which was particularly asking for a beating. But I couldn't win an argument with him, which made me want to smash him with my cane..."

The old matriarch suddenly amused herself, laughing loudly, "I almost forgot, I didn't need a cane back then."

She asked with a smile, "What, were you drinking with that Song kid?"

Zhao Yao said helplessly, "Grandmother, I've told you so many times, Song Jixin is very talented. He has great comprehension and learns everything faster than anyone else."

The old matriarch sneered, "Him? He's smart, the smartest of all. But your grandfather foresaw this long ago, even when he was three years old. Do you want to know what your grandfather said?"

Zhao Yao quickly replied, "Grandson doesn't want to know!"

The old matriarch didn't care whether her precious grandson wanted to hear it or not, and continued, "Your grandfather said, 'At a young age, he is deep in scheming. He will inevitably ruin his ancestors' reputation.'"

Then she pointed at Zhao Yao, "Your grandfather also said, 'Gentle, kind, respectful, frugal, and modest, he may not seem outstanding at first, but he will nurture the vitality of his descendants. It must be my grandson!'"

After the old matriarch finished speaking, she smiled, "That old codger was a sourpuss his whole life, but he finally said something nice."

Zhao Yao, a little confused, was about to speak when he heard his grandmother sigh, "I'm getting old, I'm getting old!"

The young man had to retract his words, smiling as he stepped forward to take the old matriarch's arm, "Grandmother, may you live as long as the Southern Mountains. You're still very young."

The old matriarch stretched out her withered hand and patted her precious grandson's hand, "Better than your grandfather. Reading doesn't mean you only talk nonsense; you also know how to say nice things to make people happy."

The young man smiled, "Grandfather was truly knowledgeable. Master Qi also said that Grandfather had a way with scholarship and had great insights into the meaning of 'righteousness'."

The old matriarch immediately revealed her foxy tail, unable to conceal her smugness, but pretended to snort coldly, "Of course. You don't see who picked the man!"

Zhao Yao pursed his lips, suppressing a smile.

The old matriarch led Zhao Yao to the chair behind the desk. The young man noticed that there was a wooden carving of a reclining dragon on the desk, lifelike. However, after careful observation, he found that this blue wooden dragon had eyes but no pupils.

The old matriarch picked up a brush that was already dipped in ink, a new small conical brush made of old locust branches. She held it with both hands and tremblingly handed it to her eldest grandson.

As Zhao Yao accepted the brush, not knowing what to do, he felt a weight on his shoulder. It turned out that his grandmother had placed her hand on his shoulder. He sat down in the chair that only the head of the Zhao family could sit in.

The old matriarch took a step back, extremely solemn and respectful, "Zhao Yao, take your seat! Today, you will represent the ancestors of the Zhao family and dot the dragon's eyes!"

Broken and dilapidated clay statues of gods were scattered, crooked and neglected, on the weed-covered ground.

It had been like this for thousands of years, and even more clay statues would constantly fall into this place. The townspeople were not only used to many things, but they also no longer had much respect for these statues.The old folks would occasionally nag, warning their children to stay away from this place. Yet, the young children, oblivious, still came to play hide-and-seek, catch crickets, and the like. Perhaps when these children grew into wizened elders themselves, they too would tell their own children to avoid this area. Generation after generation, it went on like this, without storms or ripples, utterly ordinary.

Here, one could see rolling heads, severed torsos, and detached hands, seemingly forced together, barely maintaining a semblance of their former selves, clinging only to this last vestige of dignity.

A young boy in straw sandals hurried from Mud Jug Alley to this place. He clutched three offering coins tightly in his palm. Upon arriving, he meandered around, muttering to himself, then expertly located a divine statue. He knelt down, scanned his surroundings, and, finding no one, secretly placed the copper coins into the statue's fractured crevices.

Afterward, he sought out the second and third statues, performing the same ritual.

Before leaving, the boy stood alone amidst the lush green grasses, pressed his palms together, and lowered his head, muttering, "Peace in fragments, peace in fragments. I hope you protect my parents, so they won't suffer in their next life... If possible, please tell them I'm doing well now and that they don't need to worry..."