Chapter 23: A Message

"Why did you stop me from arguing back earlier? Their child had the audacity to mock you—he really needs a lesson!"

He was furious that someone would dare ridicule Chou Dan right to his face; who knows how they treat him when he’s not around!

"Father, the man you were arguing with is Landlord Lu."

"I don't care if he's a Green Landlord or a Red Landlord! If he dares to bully you, that’s not happening! We aren't eating his food or drinking his water; we’re in the right here!"

"I know you're worried about me, Father, but it’s really nothing. The little fatty and I were just joking; that’s how we usually talk. Let’s go. I haven't seen Mother and my siblings in days, and I’ve missed them!"

Wang Xuezhu didn't want to dwell on the subject. The two of them let the matter drop.

As soon as they returned to the village, Wang Xuezhu ran into his Great-Grandfather.

"Chou Dan, did your grandparents really send you to the city to study?"

Wang Shoucai and Old Man Wang were brothers, and although they had split the household long ago, their families remained on good terms.

Hearing the question, Wang Chengzhi announced loudly, "Indeed! I just went to the city to pick him up! Even the tutor in the city said my Chou Dan has a talent for learning!"

Wait, when did the tutor praise him? How come he didn't know about that?

Wang Xuezhu turned to look at Wang Chengzhi, only to see him standing before his Great-Grandfather, gesticulating with great excitement: "When I first brought the boy to the tutor, he saw at a glance that this child would have a bright future. He didn't even hesitate to take him on..."

...Right, here he goes, boasting again.

Seeing his father so engrossed in his tale, Wang Xuezhu offered a greeting and headed home on his own.

Upon arriving home, Old Man Wang was in the courtyard repairing the dining table, clattering away with his tools. When he saw his grandson, he stopped and his face softened into a smile. "Chou Dan is back! How are your studies at the school?"

"Grandfather! I'm doing quite well. I’ve already memorized the *Thousand Character Classic* I got from Uncle!"

Although Old Man Wang didn't know how long it usually took others to memorize that book, he remembered clearly that his eldest son had spent over a month learning it.

He was startled. "Really? Recite it for me to hear."

Even though he didn't understand the text, he could tell if his grandson was lying.

Wang Xuezhu smiled slightly and began to recite it loudly, standing right there in the courtyard. Since the family was investing in him, he naturally needed to show them the results, didn't he?

Hearing her son's voice, Lady Zhang rushed out. Seeing her son standing before his grandfather, reciting with such ease, she felt a surge of pride and vindication.

See that? Who said only the eldest branch could produce scholars? Her son was every bit as good!

Lady Gao peeked out from her door, then slammed it shut in annoyance. Lady Ma of the third branch felt a pang of envy and couldn't help but touch her own belly—when would she ever give birth to a son?

Wang Xuezhu finished the thousand characters in no time.

Old Man Wang threw down his tools in excitement. "Good! Good! Old woman, did you see that? Sending Chou Dan to school was the right decision! He’s only been there ten days and he already knows so many characters."

At this rate, wouldn't his youngest grandson become a *xiucai* scholar soon?

Old Lady Liu murmured to herself, wondering how the second son, usually so slippery and cunning, had managed to produce such a bright child. Could the eldest and second sons have been swapped at birth?

"Grandfather, don't worry. I will study hard. Once I pass the *xiucai* exam, I will bring back rice, grain, and silver from the county to honor you and Grandmother."

Regardless of whether he could actually become a government-supported scholar, he had to paint a picture of future prosperity.

"Good, good, good. Grandfather will be waiting for you to bring back the silver and grain."

Even though he had already consumed the "pie in the sky" promised by his eldest son, Old Man Wang couldn't help but hold onto the hope when it came from his youngest grandson. After all, it wasn't easy to give up on a lifelong dream.

That evening, they had a pot of bean rice, served with dressed wild vegetables and scrambled eggs—it was a delicious meal. The special portion that usually went to the eldest uncle was given to him this time.

Old Lady Liu scooped a large spoonful of eggs into his bowl. "Eat more, build up your strength."

Although her tone was blunt, Wang Xuezhu could still hear the care behind it. He grinned and pushed the eggs in his bowl toward his grandparents. "Grandfather and Grandmother, you work harder than I do at home. You eat more! Once you’re in good health, just wait to enjoy the good life I'll provide for you!"

"Hmph, you little sycophant! You were never this attentive to me before..." Old Lady Liu grumbled, yet she scooped more eggs for him, not caring if the others got any.

After dinner, Wang Xuezhu called his siblings to the courtyard. Wang Lanyue refused to leave the eldest branch’s quarters, so Wang Xuezhu simply skipped her and began teaching the others to read.

Old Man Wang was surprised to see his grandson actually following through on his promise to teach the others what he had learned, and he looked at him with newfound respect.

Except for the family of four in the eldest branch, everyone else sat in the courtyard, working while listening to Chou Dan teach them to read, their faces filled with joy.

"I will teach you six characters at a time, then I'll teach you how to write your own names. Once you've learned these, I'll teach you more tomorrow. Whoever does the best will get a reward from me when I come back from the city next time!"

"I want to eat candy! Can you reward us with that?" Wang Jiaoyue’s eyes lit up, looking at him with anticipation.

"Fine. The next reward will be malt candy. Whoever learns it gets it."

Hearing this, his siblings were eager to start.

...

In the two days at home, Wang Xuezhu felt quite busy. He had to please his grandparents, help with farm work, and find time to teach his siblings. Although no one—not even his eldest aunt’s family—had demanded he go to the fields, it was the final stage of the planting season, and how could he stand by idly?

Without a word, he rolled up his sleeves and got to work.

When he returned to the school, Lu Dasheng continued to call him "Chou Dan." Wang Xuezhu tried to stop him with a dark face several times, but the boy wouldn't change, so he simply started calling him "Little Fatty" in return.

His life was busy and fulfilling. Amidst the noise and bustle, July arrived.

One day, when Zheng Guangyuan and Xia Qianli came to class, they shared a piece of news that caused the expressions of Qi Xian, Zhao Xing, and Wang Xuezhu to change instantly.

"Is the news reliable? When will the forced labor service begin?"

Zheng Guangyuan looked at them with sympathy. "It should be reliable. My father heard it when he was seeing a patient with a colleague—the patient was Lady Zhu. Do you know who Lady Zhu is?"

Xia Qianli finished his thought: "Lady Zhu is the wife of the County Magistrate."

Qi Xian’s face turned pale; upon hearing this, he collapsed onto his desk and began to weep, his muffled sobs filled with despair.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to tell you all, I... I..."

Zheng Guangyuan had intended to be helpful, but seeing the boy cry, he became flustered and embarrassed, not knowing where to put his hands or feet.

The little fatty looked displeased. "Zheng Guangyuan, why are you apologizing? You were kind enough to tell him, and he has a problem with it? A real man shouldn't be crying at every turn. Isn't it disgusting?"

He and Qi Xian had joined the school at the same time after the New Year, and after six months, they still couldn't get along. He hadn't even managed to become friends with Chou Dan yet!