Chapter Ninety-Six: The Beginning of Autumn

“‘The second line, ‘The lotus breeze carries fragrance past the willow embankment,’ has perfect tonal patterns with no rhymes out of place: the rhythm flows as gently as the lotus breeze,’” Su Youcai analyzed line by line.

“The third line, ‘A sunny day fills the front creek,’ is harmoniously balanced in tone and neatly concluded, echoing the coolness of summer, bringing the scene vividly to life and making one feel as if immersed within it.”

“Excellent, excellent. These delicate, tender verses truly reflect the level we should aspire to,” Su Youcai nodded with satisfaction. He was pleased that his son could compose lyrics of such caliber. The imagery in the previous poem had been overwhelming, almost as if it might pierce the heavens at any moment…

Su Lu found it quite enjoyable as well. Indeed, before learning to compose lyrics, one must first master poetry. Understanding the tonal regulations and structure made the craft of lyric writing rather fascinating.

“Writing lyrics is quite fun, isn’t it?” Su Youcai smiled warmly. “Try composing a longer piece using the same tune title, ‘Remembering the Prince.’”

Having studied the tune pattern, Su Lu began silently choosing words and crafting sentences. After careful deliberation, he recited:

“A volume of poems and books, tea growing cold,

Before the steps, wind passes, carrying the scent of fallen lotuses.

Bamboo shadows sift through the window, sunbeams stretch long.

Calmness unbroken, cicadas’ intermittent chirps send forth pure light.”

“Very good,” Su Youcai praised joyfully. “To create such lyrics on your first try shows you have some talent.”

“My son disagrees,” Su Lu shook his head, showing self-awareness. “If I can write like this, it is thanks to the teachings of my father, my teacher, and the academy head. Father taught me the tonal rules, my teacher taught me diction and phrasing, the headmaster taught me the unity of imagery and spirit. I merely assembled a scene following your guidance; it is all acquired skill, not innate talent.”

“Do you think those great poets and lyricists were born knowing all this?” Su Youcai laughed. “The ability to learn well and to teach well is talent. At least, in the Ming dynasty, that’s more than enough for you.”

“Yes, father,” Su Lu nodded in agreement. His father’s reasoning was sound. After all, the imperial examinations did not require lyric composition. His current level was certainly sufficient.

Yet, he began to understand why his father was so obsessed with this art. It was truly addictive.

Composing a lyric one is proud of can indeed provoke a cerebral climax…

~~

The scorching summer stretched everything long, as if time itself stood still. The cicadas’ ceaseless shrill made the summer feel endlessly prolonged.

On the last day of June, Mr. Zhang finished teaching the entire “Mencius,” summarized its essential teachings, and, as custom dictated, earnestly addressed his disciples:

“Zhu Xi said that when reading the Four Books, one should proceed step by step: first read ‘The Great Learning’ to set the scope, next ‘The Analects’ to establish the foundation, then ‘Mencius’ to inspire transcendence—this inspiration is precisely the vast righteous spirit we scholars must cultivate!”

“Mencius said, ‘I am good at nurturing my vast righteous spirit.’ This spirit is immensely vast and powerful. It must always be nurtured with justice and never harmed by evil. Then it will fill the world and take root deep within our hearts! When we consistently uphold ‘benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness,’ when ‘wealth cannot corrupt us, poverty cannot shake us, power cannot bend us,’ and when we stand firm on the path of righteousness at moments of moral crisis without bowing to evil, this righteous spirit will grow plentifully within!”

“In your futures—whether as officials governing, teachers passing on the flame, or common folk in the marketplace—no matter your circumstances, you must nurture this vast righteous spirit! It is the lifeblood passed down by our ancestors, the torch passed down by sages—so long as someone holds it, hope remains in the world; so long as many uphold it, the world will not fall into ruin!”

“Even if the utopian world the sages longed for never arrives, you must remember: wherever you are, no matter the filth around you, hold fast to your vast righteous spirit! For this spirit is our most precious possession—what we desire more than life itself, what we abhor more than death!”

With a long sigh, he said, “Perhaps we lack the power to change the world, but we can at least not change ourselves. Because once we go with the flow and sink into corruption, all our past efforts become meaningless. The world loses a seed of light.”

“So what should we do? Simply this: ‘When the state is governed, speak the truth boldly and act accordingly; when the state is in chaos, behave cautiously and speak humbly.’ No matter the circumstances, keep the vast righteous spirit alive within your heart! Let us all encourage one another!”

“Students will remember the teacher’s teachings!” the disciples responded in unison.

~~

At Erlangtang Community School—

Spring, relying on “Journey to the West,” had corralled a bunch of mischievous boys and finally secured his footing.

After appointing two assistant teachers, following Su Lu’s suggestion, he divided the school into three grades, ending the previous chaotic, mixed-age classes.

He took the senior grade, Su Hai taught the middle grade, and Cheng Wantang handled the junior grade. As for the stipends for the two assistants, the two clans agreed to share the cost…

At first, the two clan heads were reluctant to pay, but after Su Dan and Cheng Wanzhou conferred, they each visited the other’s home the next day, announcing that their grandfather had agreed. Neither clan head could bear to be outdone, and so both paid up.

Thus, competing in the right way could yield positive results.

The effect of dividing classes was immediate. Without mentioning anything else, the students’ effective daily class time multiplied severalfold. Learning progressed rapidly, and there was less idle mischief. The school’s academic atmosphere was completely transformed!

To celebrate this historic union of the two clans’ schools, at the end of the month, Su Lu and his group of middle-grade scholars held Erlangtang’s first “Sweet Water Festival: Summer Gathering” at the He family estate!

They pooled money to buy melons, fruits, and candies for the little rascals, along with one hundred cans of “Melon Sweet Summer” sponsored by Sweet Water Records, as rewards for the children’s behavior over the past ten days!

Why forty more cans than needed? Because the little brothers and sisters were also there.

Seeing the younger siblings drinking the sweet water they had longed for but could never afford, casting admiring glances at them, the Erlangtang children swelled with pride. At that moment, all the past ten days of effort felt worthwhile…

The children were thoroughly delighted and promised to behave. Then they eagerly asked, “When does ‘The Monkey King’ performance start?”

As the elder brother, Su Yang naturally kept his word. For this performance, they went to town to watch shadow puppetry and even asked Brother Xia to help make a set of string puppets, each with flexible joints and distinct features, so you could tell at a glance who was the Dragon King and who was Venus.

Especially the Great Sage, holding his golden staff and wearing the phoenix-winged crown—he looked magnificent!

The musical troupe was also replaced by Erlangtang’s professional team, the same used at local weddings, funerals, and grand ceremonies. Naturally, the expenses were covered by the godmother…

Thanks to careful preparation, the audiovisual quality of this performance greatly improved. Not only did the children enjoy it, but the lively drum and cymbal sounds also drew adults relaxing on summer nights.

The entire courtyard was packed—people from the Su family, the Cheng family, and others. Everyone gathered together without quarrel or dispute, engrossed in the legendary tale of the Monkey King!

Su Lu narrated with particular vigor; his clear storytelling voice echoed throughout the yard:

“…It turns out the Great Sage was forged in the Bagua Furnace for forty-nine days. Instead of turning to ashes, he gained fiery golden eyes! Suddenly, with a loud ‘clang,’ he overturned the furnace, smoke billowing from his body, and burst forth!”

“Bravo!” adults and children alike cheered, exhilarated. “We all knew the Great Sage couldn’t die.”

“‘Old Jade Emperor! Here I come!’ With a roar shaking the Southern Heavenly Gate, the monkey brandished his golden staff like a windmill, beating the heavenly soldiers until they cried for their mothers. The Four Heavenly Kings dropped their weapons, the Nine Luminaries fled in panic, and even the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions hid in the clouds, afraid to show their faces!”

“Wonderful, wonderful!” the crowd was spellbound, continuously applauding, too thrilled to utter a single critique.

When Su Lu reached the part where Sun Wukong stormed the Palace of Supreme Heaven, scaring the Jade Emperor under the table, the cheers reached a crescendo. The children were ecstatic, and the adults thoroughly satisfied—the atmosphere reached its peak!

~~

Cheng the Scholar’s home sat atop Erlangtang, not far from the He family estate.

By now, he had already gone to bed but was rudely awakened by the commotion. Irritated, he went to the courtyard and, to his astonishment, found the He family estate, which should have been empty, brightly lit and bustling with noise!

“Gasp…” he nearly fell to the ground from shock.

“Father, what’s wrong?!” Fortunately, Cheng Chengcheng heard the noise and rushed out to steady him.

“What’s wrong with your sister’s family? Is the place haunted or something?” Cheng the Scholar was alarmed, forgetting altogether the admonition not to speak of ghosts and spirits.

“Father, no,” Cheng Chengcheng smiled knowingly. “Wan Tang and the others are putting on a monkey play for the kids. Many adults with nothing else to do came over to watch.”

“Stop dodging the question,” Cheng the Scholar snorted. “Wan Tang and the others couldn’t have caused such a racket alone. Is it with that Su family gang?”

“Yes…” Cheng Chengcheng could no longer hide the truth.

“Sigh, all mixed up again. What a disgrace,” Cheng the Scholar sighed deeply, resigned. “Can’t everyone just live their own lives separately?”

Fearing his father’s anger would flare, Cheng Chengcheng hastened to say, “They won’t be allowed to do it anymore.”

“Ah, never mind. It’s just children’s business; adults shouldn’t interfere,” Cheng the Scholar shook his head.

Suddenly, a cool breeze swept by, dispelling the long-standing summer heat over Erlangtang.

“Is the evening breeze cooler?” Cheng the Scholar felt refreshed, the lingering gloom in his chest greatly eased.

“Yes, today is the start of autumn,” Cheng Chengcheng smiled. “This solar term is always so precise.”

“This heat has lasted too long; it’s about time for a change,” Cheng the Scholar murmured.

Thinking of the events from last year to this, he sighed, resigned, “Change it will, rain will fall, and daughters will marry—no one can stop it.”

Cheng Chengcheng began to understand his father’s thoughts and laughed, “That’s a good thing. Otherwise, people couldn’t bear it, and the crops would wither.”

“People can’t stand it either. Everyone stays indoors now. How long has it been since your eldest uncle came by?” Cheng the Scholar suddenly recalled his elder brother.

Cheng Chengcheng thought to himself, “Is it because of the heat? No, it’s because Cui Cui married Su Youma, and your uncle has been sulking.”

But hearing his father speak like this clearly meant he wanted to mend fences. “Why not invite your eldest uncle over for a drink tomorrow?”

“Hmm, have your wife cook a couple more specialty dishes, and bring out a jar of ten-year-old aged wine,” Cheng the Scholar instructed, then added, “Let’s call it a celebration of the start of autumn.”

Cheng Chengcheng couldn’t help but grumble silently: fine, fine, if you want to celebrate the start of autumn, go ahead. Scholars are truly peculiar!