Chapter 4: Old Master Kuan

Elder Li Shikuan emerged from the ancestral hall, hands clasped behind his back, walking slowly toward home.

Upon entering the courtyard gate, Li Shikuan stopped, tilted his head slightly to look at the loquat tree in the yard, and after a moment, called out loudly for his young grandson, Azhuang.

"Where is Azhuang? Go call your Third Uncle over."

Azhuang, who was writing in the room, gave an answer and came bounding out, skipping toward the other end of the street to fetch his third uncle, Li Wenhua.

Li Wenhua was in his thirties, with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a face that suggested prosperity, though he preferred to maintain a stern expression to appear fierce and strict. He was the eldest son of Li Shiping, Li Shikuan's younger brother; Li Shiping had passed away from illness several years ago.

Li Wenhua's house was not far away. Before long, Li Wenhua entered Li Shikuan's courtyard carrying a bowl of steamed pork with preserved vegetables. He delivered the dish to the kitchen and then entered the main hall.

"Has the matter regarding the Qingming Festival been settled?" Li Wenhua asked before even sitting down.

Their branch of the family had the fewest males. For matters like the Qingming sacrifices, the amount of copper coins they were expected to contribute was the same as branches with many males, yet when it came time to distribute the surplus grain from the ancestral lands, it was divided per capita. Because of this, he grew irritable whenever the clan was mentioned.

"Mhm, it's the same as last year. I didn't call you here for that." Li Shikuan stood up with his hands tucked into his sleeves. "Come, let's talk in the back."

Li Wenhua followed Li Shikuan, one after the other, into the rear courtyard.

"Do you know Li Wenshan from Little Li Village?" Li Shikuan lowered his voice.

"Didn't he die several years ago? I heard his funeral was quite grand," Li Wenhua said, curling his lip and shaking his head.

*To have such a grand funeral after dying—what a spendthrift!*

"Li Wenshan's only son is named Li Xuedong. He placed third in this year's county exam," Li Shikuan continued.

"Oh? So his family still supports a scholar? That's a lot of copper coins. No wonder they held such a grand funeral," Li Wenhua remarked with a click of his tongue.

*No matter how much money they have, they shouldn't waste it on a dead man. Truly a waste!*

Li Shikuan glanced sideways at the incessantly clicking Li Wenhua and let out a long sigh.

His younger brother was honest but useless, and this eldest nephew was just as useless as his father!

*Forget it, forget it. If they are useless, so be it. At least they know how to manage a household and aren't spendthrifts.*

"Go push a cart. Say you're going to the county town to look for incense and candles, and wait for me at the three-way junction," Li Shikuan instructed directly, without further ado.

"Alright!" Li Wenhua agreed immediately, then asked in confusion, "Why aren't we going together?"

"We are going to Gaocun Market. Remember, you must not let anyone know about this trip to Gaocun Market! Not even your wife," Li Shikuan warned solemnly.

"Don't worry, Uncle," Li Wenhua nodded repeatedly.

Although he didn't know what his uncle was planning, it didn't stop him from listening attentively.

His uncle was a man famous throughout the surrounding ten miles for his shrewdness. When his father was alive, his uncle made all the decisions for the family, both big and small.

His father used to say: "Whatever your uncle says, you do exactly that! Don't overthink it!"

………………………………

Li Jinzhu and Li Yuzhu pushed Li Xuedong back home. Li Xiaonan and Li Yinzhu were cooking; seeing the expressions on the three of them, they knew the money hadn't been obtained.

Li Yinzhu served the rice, then used a cotton thread to divide an egg into two halves, giving one half each to Li Xiaonan and Li Xuedong.

Their family had hatched over a dozen hens last spring, but several had been stolen by their third cousin Li Wencai's family, two had been given to the teacher, one was slaughtered for the New Year, and another was slaughtered for the county exam. Now, most days, they could only afford one egg a day.

"Sister, the clan won't give us a single copper coin. How are we going to go to Pingjiang Prefecture?" Li Yuzhu couldn't help but worry as she ate a few bites of the vegetable rice.

"Borrow from someone?" Li Yinzhu's ideas were always many and quick.

"Borrow from whom? And how would we pay it back? Even if he passes," Li Jinzhu's voice trailed off, and she slumped down. "There are still the prefectural exam and the metropolitan exam after that."

"The metropolitan exam is held in Hangzhou City," Li Xiaonan added softly.

"If we borrow the money and he fails..." Li Yuzhu glanced at Li Xiaonan and lowered her head to eat.

Li Xiaonan said nothing; she truly didn't dare guarantee that he would pass.

The group fell silent, each burying their head in their vegetable rice.

After finishing the meal, Li Jinzhu pulled herself together and said, "Xuedong and Xiaonan are going to study. As for the money, I will find a way to help you, Second Sister and Third Sister."

Not long after Li Xiaonan and Li Xuedong went to the main hall, Li Jinzhu and Li Yuzhu entered with grim faces. Each took up a loom and began weaving with a rhythmic *clack-clack-clack*.

Li Xiaonan slipped out of the main hall and pressed close to Li Yinzhu, who was rinsing a pot. She whispered, "Third Sister, has Eldest Sister found a way?"

"Eldest Sister said not to tell," Li Yinzhu's eyes reddened.

"Let's just tell each other secretly," Li Xiaonan squeezed closer to her.

"It's your Second Sister... she's going to pawn herself," Li Yinzhu's voice choked.

Li Xiaonan froze. After a moment, she slowly slumped down by the stove, watching her third sister rinse the pot while occasionally wiping away tears. She felt so much sorrow she wanted to burst into tears.

The next morning, Li Jinzhu and Li Yuzhu saw Li Xuedong and Li Xiaonan off to the Gao Family School.

As Li Xuedong entered the school, Teacher Gao waved to stop Li Jinzhu.

Li Jinzhu followed Teacher Gao into the Gao family main hall, feeling dazzled by the brightness and luxury of the room; fine things were everywhere.

"How much do you know about your clan's affairs?" Teacher Gao asked first.

Li Jinzhu was momentarily stunned. "Little Li Village is four or five miles from Li Family 集 (Settlement). We don't go to the clan much. When there are clan matters, our Third Cousin passes on the messages—collecting copper for sacrifices or thanking the gods—but we don't know much."

"Your Li family is divided into five branches: Feng, Sheng, Xiang, Man, and Wang.

"The Feng branch is the eldest. You and your third cousin belong to the Sheng branch. The Sheng and Feng branches share the same ancestor and have always been closely linked. These two branches also have the most descendants. Most clan matters are handled by the Feng and Sheng branches; the current clan leader is from the Feng branch," Teacher Gao explained in detail.

Li Jinzhu nodded repeatedly.

"In the process, it's inevitable that one side gets more and the other gets less. As for the other three branches, I don't know about the others, but the Wang branch is very dissatisfied," Teacher Gao lowered his voice.

Li Jinzhu stared blankly at Teacher Gao.

"Yesterday, the head of the Wang branch, your grand-uncle Old Master Kuan, came to see me. He came to ask about Xuedong's character and scholarship. Old Master Kuan's intention is that he will provide the money for Xuedong to take the prefectural and metropolitan exams."

Li Jinzhu's eyes widened.

"Do you understand?" Teacher Gao asked, looking at her.

"He wants my Xuedong to help them in the future?" Li Jinzhu blurted out.

"You clever little thing!" Teacher Gao smiled. "Old Master Kuan's meaning is that if Xuedong fails to pass, the matter will not be mentioned again, and he will consider the money wasted. But if Xuedong passes the scholar exam, then in clan matters, your Xuedong must stand behind the Wang branch."

"Deal!" Li Jinzhu nodded immediately.

The only reason her third cousin dared to eye her family's dozens of acres of land was because the clan was ruled by his family. She dreamed every day of the day she would be capable enough to slap both of them until their faces were swollen!

(End of Chapter)