Working in the medicine shop, Cheng Chun understood all too well the hardship of being illiterate. Those who could read could become medicine apprentices or accountants—their work was light and not exhausting, and they earned much more silver. But those who couldn’t read could only do manual labor, toiling hard all day long and earning only a fraction of what others made.
Cheng Chun nodded eagerly, “If Fifth Master doesn’t mind my foolishness, I’ll certainly work hard to learn!”
Seeing Cheng Chun’s obedient and eager demeanor, Su Xubai, for once, felt a rare sense of being a mentor. He then smiled and said, “Since I’m going to teach you to read, that makes me your teacher. A teacher’s gift is unavoidable!”
“In our countryside, the teacher’s gift is just a few taels of pork and a jar of good wine. I’m afraid Fifth Master would look down on it!” Cheng Chun said, somewhat troubled.
Su Xubai looked at Cheng Chun for a long while before smiling, “I don’t care about that. You’ll have to think carefully about what to give me as a teacher’s gift!”
Cheng Chun bit her lip and lowered her head in deep thought, clearly troubled.
Su Xubai, however, paid no mind to her distress. Instead, he pulled her into his embrace and gently sniffed her hair, pleasantly surprised. “You’re not using the hair oil the mansion buys anymore?”
“Fifth Master didn’t like it, so I stopped using it!” Cheng Chun leaned into Su Xubai’s embrace. By now, she had grown somewhat accustomed to his broad chest and no longer felt particularly distant when resting against it.
“This scent is much better—light and not at all cloying!” Su Xubai laughed, picking up a strand of her beautiful hair to play with in his hand.
Su Xubai forgot about the teacher’s gift as soon as he mentioned it, but Cheng Chun kept it in mind. As soon as she returned to the mansion, she pulled Hongdou aside to discuss what kind of teacher’s gift to prepare.
Hongdou knew nothing about such matters and was largely clueless about Su Xubai’s preferences. She suggested many things, but they were all expensive jewels and utensils—items Cheng Chun couldn’t afford with her own silver and would lack sincerity if bought with Su Xubai’s money.
Cheng Chun worried about this for a long time, still pondering it even while washing up at night. Seeing her gloomy, Hongdou tried to cheer her up by making conversation. “The people from the shop have delivered everything. I thought you had chosen quite a lot, but when it arrived at the mansion, it turned out not to be much at all!”
“If we were back home, the silver spent today would be enough for our family of four to live on for several years!” Cheng Chun picked up a comb nearby to brush her hair, a hint of longing inadvertently showing in her eyes.
Hongdou, being perceptive, noticed immediately. “Are you missing home, Mistress?”
Cheng Chun paused, then smiled. “My brother is at the age where he’s growing taller. If I don’t see him for a season, he’ll shoot up quite a bit. Who knows when I’ll see him next? By then, I might not even recognize what he looks like!”
“Fifth Master said that if you miss home, you can go back often. It’s no trouble at all!” Hongdou looked at Cheng Chun in the bronze mirror, comforting her softly.
Cheng Chun shook her head. “Fifth Master is considerate of me, and I should be sensible too. What married woman goes back to her parents’ home all the time? Besides, the countryside is a small place—even the smallest matter spreads like wildfire!”
“Fifth Master treats you well, Mistress. Going back often would bring honor to your family. It would be good if it spread like wildfire!” Hongdou said, somewhat puzzled.
“In this world, there are plenty of people who wish you well, but they never wish for you to be better off than them. Because of my misfortune… marrying into a wealthy family as a concubine, they know I married into wealth, but because I am a concubine—a concubine—I am considered beneath them. Even if I live in luxury, they still think poorly of me, pity me, and even show me sympathy!” Cheng Chun lowered her head and spoke softly.
Just then, Su Xubai walked in. Hongdou was about to speak but was stopped by him, so she quietly pretended nothing had happened.
“But if they knew I am not as pitiful as they imagine, they would feel discontent. When people feel discontent, resentment arises. By then, even if I only return home occasionally, my parents and brothers live there permanently. As farmers, they can hardly avoid staying on the estate year after year. In the end, it will be my parents and brothers who suffer!” As she spoke, Cheng Chun couldn’t help but sigh.
Hongdou glanced at Su Xubai beside her but said nothing.
“Fifth Master treats me well because he has a kind heart, and it is my good fortune. But if I boast about it everywhere, even the best fortune will fade away!” Cheng Chun slowly raised her head.
It was only then that Cheng Chun noticed Su Xubai standing behind her in the mirror. Startled, she tried to stand up abruptly, but Su Xubai pressed her shoulder down. “You are quite perceptive!”
Cheng Chun quickly tried to recall if she had said anything wrong, her face gradually paling. “Fifth Master, I…”
“You are right. Most people in this world are like that. Everyone has kindness in their hearts, and they often wish you well. But when one day you surpass them, that kindness often disappears. As the saying goes, ‘Hide cleverness in simplicity, conceal brilliance in modesty, blend purity with humility, and retreat to advance.’ These are the true treasures for navigating the world, the three burrows for safeguarding oneself!” Su Xubai looked at Cheng Chun with a faint smile.
Cheng Chun didn’t quite understand, her face full of confusion.
Su Xubai didn’t mind and explained with a smile, “It simply means that in our conduct, we should hide our cleverness beneath apparent clumsiness, conceal our sharpness beneath restraint, mask our pride with humility, and temper our impulsiveness with caution.”
“Is that from a book?” Cheng Chun’s eyes lit up, looking at Su Xubai with anticipation.
“Yes, from a book. The last two lines mean that these are the most useful tools for survival and the most effective strategies for self-preservation, like the cunning rabbit’s three burrows!” Su Xubai said, smiling as he looked at Cheng Chun.
“Books teach such things?” Cheng Chun was astonished. “I thought books were full of obscure words and phrases that ordinary people like us couldn’t understand!”
Hongdou, perceptive as ever, quietly slipped away, carefully closing the door behind her.
Su Xubai walked over and sat down beside Cheng Chun. “The purpose of reading is to understand principles. Most books contain the accumulated wisdom of our predecessors. Reading can help us avoid many pitfalls and teach us many things, including how to farm, how to weave—the very foundations of livelihood. These things can be passed down not only through word of mouth but also through books.”
Cheng Chun’s eyes grew brighter and brighter as she gazed at Su Xubai, her expression almost reverent. “Does Fifth Master truly intend to teach me to read and write?”
“What I said is absolutely true!” Su Xubai chuckled, gently tapping Cheng Chun’s nose. “But it’s getting late tonight—we’ll continue our lesson another day!”