Chapter 24: Playing with Nothing

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The chubby boy’s words instantly silenced the schoolroom, and even Qi Xian’s sobbing came to a halt.

He wiped away his tears, his face flushed as he hurriedly explained, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cry. I... I really couldn’t help it.”

After a pause, he seemed to steel himself before continuing. “My family is very poor... and I’m the only male descendant for three generations. The only adult men in our household are my grandfather and my father. Because my grandfather has been in poor health these past few years, my father has had to perform corvee labor for two years in a row. Last year he went to dig a canal and nearly lost his life. He still hasn’t recovered. I became anxious when I heard that just now, and I couldn’t hold back.”

“I know I have a bad temper. I’ll change in the future. Please... don’t be angry with me.”

Qi Xian had always been somewhat insecure. Naturally, he behaved timidly and spoke little, afraid of revealing his weakness.

The chubby boy’s words made him realize that if he did not explain himself, his classmates would surely form a poor impression of him. If his father and grandfather heard about it, they would certainly be disappointed. Thus, he could no longer care about his embarrassment and forced himself to speak.

“There’s no need to cry over that. If you don’t want your father to go, just pay to exempt him! Your family can still afford to send you to school. Surely you aren’t so poor that you can’t even produce a few ounces of silver?”

Even the servants in his household could come up with several ounces of silver.

Qi Xian picked at the hem of his clothes and murmured, “My parents sold my elder sister so they could send me to school. They didn’t want me to end up like them...”

Everyone else fell silent. They were young, and all had brothers and sisters of their own. They could understand Qi Xian’s parents, but they did not approve of what they had done, and for a moment, none of them knew what to say.

Such was the heart of parents beneath heaven.

Lu Dasheng stared at him in astonishment. “Your family is really that poor? Then I’ll lend you the money. I have plenty!”

As he spoke, he began rummaging through his purse, intending to hand over the silver.

Qi Xian waved his hands frantically. “No, I can’t borrow it! I won’t be able to repay you...”

Wang Xuezhou had something else on his mind. He looked at Zheng Guangyuan and asked, “Brother Guangyuan, do you know where we’ll be sent to perform corvee labor this time, what exactly we’ll be doing, and how long we’ll be gone?”

Zheng Guangyuan answered gravely, “I heard we’re going to Linxing Town this year to build a bridge. I haven’t heard how long it will take. And the exemption payment has gone up this year. It’s five ounces of silver.”

Building a bridge. Five ounces of silver.

Those words felt like two great mountains pressing down on the hearts of Zhao Xing and Qi Xian.

“Building a bridge...” Wang Xuezhou muttered to himself.

There was an old saying that those who murdered and burned homes gained golden belts, while those who built bridges and roads left no corpses behind. Though it was merely a comparison, it proved that bridge construction truly could leave a person with nothing but bones if anything went wrong.

Especially in an age when nearly every task depended on human labor, building a bridge meant carrying heavy materials such as stone and timber, as well as entering the water to dredge out mud. If an accident occurred while joining the bridge sections, the deaths of one or two men would hardly be unusual.

Only the families of these three boys in the schoolroom were required to perform corvee labor.

Zheng Guangyuan’s family practiced medicine and had both money and connections. Even with this year’s increase of two ounces of silver, they would have no real difficulty.

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Xia Qianli’s father worked as a shopkeeper in someone else’s business, and his family was financially comfortable as well.

Lu Dasheng’s family were great landowners. Each year, the land tax paid by their household alone accounted for one-third of the entire county’s revenue. Naturally, they possessed the privilege of exemption from corvee labor and had no reason to worry about the matter.

The only ones truly troubled were the three of them.

When Teacher Zhou entered, he sensed that something was wrong with the atmosphere in the schoolroom. He quietly observed the students for a moment and saw that they were not quarreling with one another, so he let the matter drop.

As long as they did not cause trouble in front of him, he would not meddle in affairs between the children.

After lunch, during the break, Lu Dasheng ran over enthusiastically and tugged at Wang Xuezhou.

“Come on, come on! Let’s play ring toss like we did yesterday. This time I’ll definitely beat you!”

Wang Xuezhou rolled his eyes and pulled his hand free. “Play my ass. I’m not in the mood.”

Rich people truly had no idea what sorrow was.

“Play eggs? Is that some new game? Tell me how it works!”

Lu Dasheng grew even more excited.

...

Although Wang Xuezhou had learned of the news ahead of time, he could not leave the school until the scheduled holiday. And even if he returned home and told his family, what good would it do?

His family would never be able to produce five ounces of silver to buy an exemption from corvee labor.

Still, he had to tell them as soon as possible. Knowing in advance would at least give them time to prepare whatever they needed to take with them.

He could not delay earning money any longer, either.

Actually, ring toss was a pretty good idea. He could go somewhere crowded, set out things that interested adults and children alike, and make some rings from bamboo strips for people to toss over them. During temple fairs or the New Year celebrations, it could earn quite a bit.

Unfortunately, he had no money to buy anything to set out.

At first, he had considered tricking the chubby boy out of some money, but he was worried that Teacher Zhou might find out and that it would affect him. In the end, he had abandoned the idea.

He would have to think of another way first...

“Heaven moves with vigorous strength; a gentleman should strive unceasingly. Xuezhou, explain the meaning of this sentence.”

Teacher Zhou had appeared in front of him at some point and was now questioning him in a deep voice.

“It means that the way of Heaven moves with strength and vigor, and a gentleman should constantly strive to improve himself without ever becoming lax.”

After answering, Wang Xuezhou realized that Teacher Zhou must have noticed him daydreaming and deliberately called on him.

Teacher Zhou fell silent.

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He had originally intended to wait until the student failed to answer, then give him a thorough scolding and warn him not to grow indolent merely because he possessed some talent.

He had not expected the boy to have actually listened when he explained the passage to the others earlier.

The corner of Teacher Zhou’s mouth stiffened almost imperceptibly. “Since you understand it, I hope you will remember it at all times.”

“Yes.”

After receiving his teacher’s warning, Wang Xuezhou no longer dared to let his thoughts wander. He picked up his brush and began practicing with full concentration.

...

After lessons ended, the three of them were still the only students left in the schoolroom.

Today, however, neither of his two classmates was reading. Both were sitting in a daze.

“There’s no use sitting here and worrying,” Wang Xuezhou said, rising and looking at Zhao Xing and Qi Xian. “Why don’t we go outside and take a walk together?”

The two of them looked at him at the same time.

Zhao Xing wondered whether taking a walk would really help.

But then he thought that he could not absorb a single word if he remained sitting there anyway. A stroll to clear his mind might do him some good, so he nodded.

Qi Xian had no objection either, and the three of them walked together toward the school gate.

When Little Wu saw them leaving together, he did not stop them. He merely looked at Zhao Xing and reminded him, “Come back by the Xu hour. You’re the oldest, so take good care of your two classmates. If the three of you leave together, you must return together. Don’t cause trouble for Teacher Zhou, understand?”

The three of them answered in unison.

Once outside, Qi Xian looked somewhat lost. “Where are we going?”

“Do you know where the city’s ash pit is?” Wang Xuezhou suggested. “Why don’t we go take a look?”

“No. How could we possibly set foot in such a filthy place? I’m the oldest, so you two should listen to me.”

The moment Zhao Xing heard the words “ash pit,” his face filled with disgust, and he resisted vehemently.

Qi Xian said nothing, but his expression clearly showed disapproval as well.

Wang Xuezhou’s eyes lit up. He looked at Zhao Xing with eager anticipation. “So you know where it is? If you two don’t want to go, that’s fine. Just tell me where it is, and I’ll go by myself.”