Chapter 5: Good Nephew, you wouldn't want to be branded as unfilial, would you?
“Mingfu, I shall take my leave now.”
“Alright, you’ve worked hard these past few days, Xiaoyan Butou.”
“Mingfu, you are too kind. You can call me Wuxu, or Yan Liu.”
“Is Yan Liu because you are the sixth child in your family?”
“Yes. Above me… I have five older sisters.”
Ouyang Rong, who was seeing Yan Wuxu out, chuckled and joked, “Then you’ll be busy being an uncle later on.”
“Hehe.” Yan Wuxu scratched his head.
“From now on, I’ll call you Liulang,” Ouyang Rong decided.
“Alright, Mingfu!” Yan Wuxu immediately became energetic as if injected with chicken blood. Calling him Liulang was clearly more intimate.
However, Yan Wuxu, who was about to leave, turned his head halfway, remembering something, and hesitated, “Mingfu, I was really flustered today and offended your Aunt. How about I go in and offer her a cup of tea… ”
“Aunt is not that kind of delicate woman.” Ouyang Rong shook his head, “Moreover, my Aunt and I haven’t had a chance to thank you, Liulang, for saving us from the water that day. The kindness of saving a life is clearly greater.”
Yan Wuxu quickly waved his hand, “No, no, it’s Mingfu’s good fortune, and I’m truly ashamed. It wasn’t just me who jumped into the water to save people that day…
“At that time, the water level of Butterfly Creek surged, full of rapids and hidden reefs. Even the most skilled fishermen found it tricky. Mingfu’s head was injured by one of those hidden reefs. However, among the cooks who jumped into the water, there was a very brave man who directly rescued Mingfu from the turbulent whirlpool. But he also seemed to have suffered some injuries.”
Ouyang Rong lowered his head, thought for a moment, and nodded, “After I rest for a couple of days and go down the mountain, I will definitely go and thank this brave man properly.”
He seemed to recall something, “Before I fell into the water, when we first met, did you ask me for a piece of calligraphy?”
“That’s right, but I was ignorant at the time, Mingfu, please don’t take it to heart. Mingfu is a great person and shouldn’t write casually. My father also lectured me after I went back…” The latter quickly explained.
“Come and get it tomorrow.”
Yan Wuxu’s face immediately flushed red. He gasped, wanting to speak but holding back, and finally couldn't help but say:
“Mingfu, I, Yan Liu, admire two kinds of people most in my life: one is an upright official who speaks for the people and punishes injustice; the other is a great hero who roams the pugilistic world, robbing the rich to help the poor. I was clumsy at studying since I was young, not even as smart as my sisters. When I woke up from my dream, I couldn’t be the former; as for the latter, my father would never allow it. He even forbade me from joining the army, saying that military households are of low status, a gambler’s business of betting a cheap life for fame. He just wants me to take over his job and muddle along in this county yamen.
“Mingfu, I heard that you spoke out for the people, angered a noble in Luoyang, and were demoted to Jiangzhou. That day, you rode a skinny horse to take office alone. You stood on Dragon Head Bridge and publicly declared that during your four-year term, you would cure the flood and bring justice to the six thousand households of Longcheng County. I, Yan Liu…”
The eight-foot-tall man choked up at this point.
Ouyang Rong suddenly asked, “Don’t you suspect that I’m just putting on a show, shouting a slogan, and then leaving after four years?”
Yan Wuxu shook his head, “Some colleagues privately say that, but I don’t believe it, because I don’t believe that someone who dared to speak the truth loudly to the emperor in the Golden Imperial Hall would specially run to our poor, remote place and shout lies to a bunch of illiterate poor people.”
Ouyang Rong, whose mind was still somewhat preoccupied with the new thing that had appeared in his head, his expression changed slightly.
He looked up and chuckled, “So when you fell into the water that day, you jumped in without a second thought?”
“Not me, but us.”
Ouyang Rong raised his hand and patted Yan Wuxu’s shoulder, “Liulang, I understand.”
Then, the Catch Cop in the dark blue uniform left.
As soon as he left, a graceful woman slowly walked out from the inner room, coming behind Ouyang Rong, who was seeing him off, and gently draped a coat over him.
However, she said, “Tanlang, your yamen subordinate is so clumsy, he can’t even hold a knife steady. What’s the point of stooping to win him over? It’s hard for you to patiently listen to him say so much. It’s truly childish and a waste of your time.”
Zhen frowned and glanced outside the door, “And doesn’t he know that Tanlang’s body is still weak? How can he stand in the wind at the door for so long? He’s ignorant. Oh, by the way, Tanlang, the Abbot just took your pulse and said it’s still unstable. You need to drink some conditioning medicine for the next few days. The medicine will be delivered later.”
“Childish…” Ouyang Rong withdrew his gaze and turned to ask, “Does Aunt think… that saving her nephew from the water was something they should have done?”
Zhen’s rounded chin lifted slightly, “Of course, Tanlang is a Son of Heaven’s student, an official appointed by the court, and the head of a county. How can their lives be as precious as yours? Not even one ten-thousandth. If they don’t jump in to save you, are they trying to rebel? If anything happened to you, they would all be implicated!”
Ouyang Rong chuckled, “So if the emperor fell into the water like I did that day, should I immediately jump in to save him?”
Zhen immediately said, “You, no.”
“Isn’t the Great Zhou Emperor’s life more precious than mine, a County Magistrate?”
Zhen cunningly said, “The current Great Zhou Emperor is a female emperor. Men and women should not touch each other. Those palace Lady-in-waiting should jump in to save her. Tanlang, remember to stay far away.”
“What if it’s a man?”
Zhen was silent for a while, then glanced outside the door and muttered with a pouted mouth, “Stinky boy, then you’re not allowed to foolishly jump in either. You can’t swim anyway. Just put on a show. There are plenty of loyal subjects, you’re not the only one!”
Ouyang Rong glanced at Zhen, but her expression was normal, not at all feeling contradictory. Instead, she became more certain, “Anyway, Tanlang is born noble, maybe even a reincarnation of a literary sage. He is just different from others. The specific reason… I, a woman, can’t explain clearly, but just listen to Aunt, she wouldn’t harm you, would she? If you don’t listen… not listening is unfilial!”
“My good nephew, famous throughout the world for both loyalty and filial piety… you wouldn’t want to bear the name of unfilial, would you?” Zhen smiled.
She led the helpless Ouyang Rong to the table and sat him down, pouring him a cup of hot tea to warm his body.
Ouyang Rong held the hot teacup, silently observing Zhen, who was busy taking care of him, through the warm tea steam.
At this time, she was wearing a light blue diagonal-collared ruqun on her upper body and a goose-yellow silk skirt on her lower body. However, the floor-length skirt was tied in a knot at her calves, making it convenient for daily outings. She also wore an additional half-sleeve top, which was originally popular among the young ladies and wives of powerful families in Luoyang, a noble lady's attire.
Zhen was the daughter of a military household, her given name was Shuyuan. It was said that her father had once served as a colonel in a certain border army and possessed some inherited spear techniques and martial arts. However, her family later declined, and she married into the Ouyang family. Unfortunately, Ouyang Rong’s uncle passed away prematurely not long after their marriage.
Zhen had the rounded, delicate face of a classical lady. In the words of the common people at that time: she looked like a dignified and virtuous woman, but the faint mole at the corner of her mouth added a touch of charm. Though she was already middle-aged, she was still plump and beautiful.
However, her pair of bright phoenix eyes gave people a rather sharp and unyielding feeling.
And indeed, that was the case.
In his memory, this Aunt had always been quite fiery, with a hint of shrewdness and snobbery. She was the kind of person who would argue fiercely over half a stalk of rice in the countryside…
Indeed, after the young men in the family had all passed away prematurely, she and Zhao had raised Ouyang Rong, supporting his education. Besides the appropriate care from the local clan, the two women were naturally not to be trifled with.
It was only in recent years that Ouyang Rong had proven himself, passing the imperial examinations all the way to Luoyang and becoming a successful Jinshi. Their branch immediately became the core family of the Nalong Ouyang Clan, bringing glory to their ancestors. With her son’s success, Zhen became even more untouchable. Their family no longer lacked fields or servants, and they no longer needed to concern themselves with petty gains. She could be said to have finally held her head high among the women of the clan.
In fact, the original body… or rather, he, with his two fused memories, was a little afraid of Zhen, because in his memories, his mother Zhao usually played the good cop, and Zhen played the bad cop, taking turns to discipline the child.
Now, only the bad cop was left.
“Tanlang, why are you staring at Aunt? Don’t you recognize Aunt anymore?”
“No, I’m looking at… a very interesting tower.”
“A tower?” Zhen, who was bending over to pour tea, looked back at the door, “The pagoda in this temple is built quite high. I wonder how much silver it cost. These temples are indeed very rich.”
She suddenly turned her head and asked, “Tanlang, why don’t you talk to me about that Meng-whatnot’s principles after this argument?”
“Meng-whatnot?”
“It’s about the people being noble… and the monarch being less important. In the past, you would always teach Aunt about it.” Zhen looked at Ouyang Rong with some confusion.
Ouyang Rong put down his teacup and said calmly, “Because nephew has grown up.”
Upon hearing this, Zhen put down what she was doing, sat upright on the stool, and looked at him in silence for a while before sighing:
“You have indeed grown up. You even knew how to use your talent to win over subordinates just now, and you no longer argue right or wrong with Aunt… Looking at it this way, being demoted once isn’t too bad. Your mind has become more profound. This is good. To be an official, one must be profound, then those below will fear you.”
The woman in the silk skirt tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with her little finger, then suddenly changed the subject, “Since Tanlang has grown up, shouldn’t you start considering marriage? The three years of mourning have already delayed things.”
Ouyang Rong was a little tired. He didn’t want to talk about these domestic matters right now. He just wanted to figure out what this thing that suddenly appeared in his mind… or rather, that he brought with him, was. It might even be related to whether he had a chance to go back. As for the flood down the mountain, he was currently hesitant, just as he had told the Old Daoist in Crane Cloak before climbing out of the underground palace: he was not a saint, nor did he have the heart to be one; he was just a person who had left his “hometown.”
Fortunately, at this moment, a shining little bald head appeared in the courtyard outside, carrying a tray and entering the room.
“Benefactor, it’s time to take your medicine.”
Ouyang Rong immediately went to meet him, and without caring about burning his mouth, he gulped it down, almost clinking cups with Xiufa’s small bald head.
“Good medicine.” He praised, then turned, “Aunt, nephew is feeling a little dizzy again. The medicine is quite strong. I’ll go lie down for a bit. You’ve been traveling all day, so go settle down and rest early.”
Zhen glanced at him, nodded, and after a few more instructions, got up and left.
But before leaving the door, she threw out a sentence without looking back:
“Tanlang, don’t forget, your mother had two wishes for you in her lifetime: first, to pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi; second, to marry a Five Surnames woman!”
After the woman left, the last four words still echoed in the room.
Even Xiufa, with his short hair and even shorter insight, looked at the calm-faced Ouyang Rong in astonishment.
Good heavens, the Prefect wants to marry a woman from the Five Surnames and Seven Clans? That should be even harder than marrying a Li or Wei princess, right? The Five Surnames and Seven Clans sometimes even disdain to marry their daughters to the imperial family…
Xiufa was about to carry the medicine bowl and slip away, but Ouyang Rong suddenly called out to him, “Oh, by the way, Xiufa, there’s something I’d like to ask you to do.”
“Prefect, you are too kind. Please tell me anything this humble monk can do.”
Ouyang Rong lowered his head and thought for a moment.
“That night I fell into the underground palace… besides your senior brother Xiuzhen, there was also an old man covered in pus sores and a Mute Girl with a severed little finger. They are quite pitiful. Can you ask Beitian Jiyang Hospital to take good care of them, especially the old man? See if his pus sores can be treated.”
“No problem. Beitian Jiyang Hospital is funded by the County Yamen anyway. Prefect, please rest assured. This humble monk will speak to the managing senior brother at the hospital, and he will take care of them for the Prefect.”
“Then I’ll trouble you all.”
“You’re welcome.”
Ouyang Rong smiled and watched the rather bold and enthusiastic young novice monk leave.
With this matter settled, he closed the door and lay down on the bed fully clothed.
As soon as he closed his eyes, auspicious clouds and immortal mist, overlapping distant mountains, appeared before him. At the end of his vision stood a very familiar Gongde Tower, its door already open…
…
After Xiufa left Sanhui Courtyard, he returned the bowls and plates to the kitchen.
He first went to the sutra chanting hall to join his senior brothers for the afternoon lesson, chanting sutras and offering incense.
After the lesson, he turned left out the door, passed through several solemn halls with Buddha statues, and found his master, who was receiving pilgrims. He conscientiously poured tea and water, accompanying his master in interpreting divination slips and dreams for the more distinguished pilgrims.
By evening, with few pilgrims remaining, the Abbot finished his work perfectly. Xiufa went out, preparing to eat his vegetarian meal, when he suddenly remembered something on the way and turned towards Beitian Jiyang Hospital.
On the night road, the young novice monk mumbled to himself, imitating and learning his master’s demeanor and tone from the afternoon. When he reached a certain point, he suddenly let out a soft “eh.”
“amitabha, female benefactor… Eh, why did Master call the Prefect’s Aunt ‘Female Bodhisattva’ in the morning, but call that sincere, praying pockmarked woman ‘female benefactor’ in the afternoon? Strange, strange, truly strange. Is there some particular reason for this?”
Xiufa lowered his head and pondered for a long while, then shook his head in disappointment, “Buddhist philosophy is too profound, so difficult to comprehend… Never mind, I’ll ask Master tomorrow.”
A short while later, the young novice monk, who was still diligently studying his master’s ‘profound Buddhist teachings’ even while walking, arrived at Beitian Jiyang Hospital. No one was on duty inside.
“Senior Brother Xiudu?” He called out four or five times before someone finally responded.
“Here, here, here I am, here I am.” A middle-aged monk stumbled out of a room, his face flushed red in the cover of night.
“Eh, what’s that smell?”
Xiufa sniffed, pointing at Xiudu, “Why does it smell sour?”
“The utility room is too stuffy, full of sweat.”
“Oh, Senior Brother, don’t catch a cold from sweating.” Xiufa nodded, not suspecting anything.
Then the young novice monk seriously repeated Ouyang Rong’s instructions, emphasizing repeatedly that these were the County Magistrate’s orders and must be handled well.
Xiudu burped, readily agreed, and finally sent the junior brother away. Once the person was far away, he patted his face, which reeked of alcohol, and sighed, “This is truly the last sip.”
Having said that, he was about to go back to the room to get more wine, but halfway there, he suddenly froze.
“There are two old men with pus sores, and one mute woman, but a person covered in pus sores and missing a little finger… Do we have these two types of people at our Beitian Jiyang Hospital? And did they fall down a well like the Prefect two days ago? How come this humble monk doesn’t know?” Xiudu scratched his head in confusion.
“I went to look two days ago, and wasn’t it just Senior Brother Xiuzhen alone down there? How strange…”
Finally, the shaking monk mumbled and returned to his room.
“The County Magistrate’s illness is truly getting worse… *hic* ~ One more sip.”
…
I said two updates a day, and it’s two updates a day! This chapter has four thousand words~