After much contemplation, Yuan Niang still wanted to earn lots and lots of money, then stay by her teacher’s side to organize his poems and essays for publication. After her teacher’s passing, she would choose a scenic spot to establish her own school and live out her life in peace and tranquility.
She had no intention whatsoever of marrying her Zhang-family fiancé. Given Zhang Shi’s ambitious nature, he likely wouldn’t think much of an orphan girl like her either. The marriage alliance between the two families had a high chance of falling through, so she held no particular expectations about it.
Yuan Niang carefully considered her skills. Well… when she grew up, she could start with a food stall to gain experience. After all, she was still young and could take her time earning money.
Having sorted out her thoughts, Yuan Niang’s mind suddenly felt clear and unburdened.
The others had already gone off to play elsewhere. After Su Shi took the two children to drink fragrant beverages, he bought a bag of bran feed and two packages of dried meat for the Golden Lion Cub at the kennel before heading home.
Before even stepping through the study door, Yan Qiu came rushing over excitedly: “Young master, there’s a reply from Chenzhou!”
“Oh?” Su Shi’s eyebrows shot up in clear surprise, wondering if Zi You was facing financial difficulties and needed money. He made a mental note to ask Runzhi how much could be spared from the household accounts to send to Zi You.
While pondering this, he took the package and opened it. Inside were several children’s primer books on rhymes, all ones he and Zi You had read in their childhood. The pages looked new, suggesting these weren’t the originals but likely copies Zi You had made in his spare time.
He opened the envelope on top and read the brief message: “The red bean milk tea was delicious. The dairy cow is quite troublesome to use for plowing, but still – thank you, elder brother.”
Su Shi facepalmed. That dairy cow… was it meant for plowing?
Just one thin sheet of paper, and that was it.
His gaze fell upon the package again, noticing there was another thick envelope addressed: “To Yuan Niang’s own hands.”
Su Shi handed the envelope to Yuan Niang: “This is for you.”
Yuan Niang never expected to be involved in this correspondence. Overwhelmed by the honor, she accepted the envelope and opened it. Ah! Su Zhe’s personal letter!! Ahhh!!! Su Zhe actually wrote her a personal letter!!! Her astonished little face was filled with delight!!
Looking more carefully, oh no!! Being half-illiterate now, and with Su Zhe’s cursive script, she could only read haltingly – how could she possibly understand it?! She had to guess at the meaning!
The first page mentioned the anecdote about “having no one to share steamed buns with,” complaining about his brother’s mischievous nature. It advised Yuan Niang not to worry about her teacher’s opinions, saying that if she had questions but feared being teased by her teacher, she could write to him, her uncle-by-teaching, and he would explain everything thoroughly!
On the second page, she stumbled over many characters and couldn’t even guess the general meaning. Sitting on the bamboo chair scratching her head for a long while, she finally looked to Chen Ge’er for help.
Although Chen Ge’er knew more characters than most children his age, there were still many he didn’t recognize. The two children put their heads together, struggling to decipher the writing.
Su Shi rested his chin on his hand and asked leisurely: “Do you need my help?”
The two little ones refused in unison, “No!” Yet their worries differed. Yuan Niang, having seen Su Zhe’s first letter filled with complaints about his elder brother’s youthful follies, feared the second sheet might contain something that could strain their brotherly bond—though it likely wouldn’t. Meanwhile, Chen Ge’er was simply prideful, unwilling to show ignorance in front of Yuan Niang.
Frowning, the pair continued guessing: “This should be the character for ‘book’… something about ‘knowing all characters under heaven’…” They exchanged bewildered glances and mumbled in confusion, “What does it mean?”
Shaking their heads together, they suggested, “Shall we ask Elder Brother when he returns?”
Su Shi, covering his mouth with a fist to stifle a laugh, teased, “‘Strive to recognize every character under heaven’?”
The two widened their eyes in astonishment!!
Yuan Niang swiftly folded the letter and tucked it into her sleeve, asking curiously, “Master, is this phrase related to you?”
“Hmm? What do you mean?” Su Shi asked, puzzled.
Yuan Niang hadn’t recalled it at first, but when Su Shi recited the line, she suddenly remembered an anecdote: In his youth, Su Shi was said to have been so confident in his scholarship that he vowed to “recognize every character under heaven and read all books in the world.” One day, an elderly visitor to the Su Family saw this couplet and handed him a book filled with obscure, difficult characters. Su Shi, realizing he couldn’t read many of them, understood that there was always someone greater beyond oneself. Ashamed, he added two characters to each line, revising it to “Strive to recognize every character under heaven, resolve to read all books in the world.”
Yuan Niang had once believed this tale wholeheartedly! But after hearing stories about Madame Cheng, she grew skeptical. Madame Cheng, a magnanimous mother who deeply valued her children’s moral upbringing, would not have raised such an arrogant and frivolous son. Thus, Yuan Niang began to doubt the anecdote. Yet Su Zhe had blatantly written this couplet in his letter, leaving her bewildered and prompting her to discreetly seek confirmation from Su Shi.
Clearing her throat softly, Yuan Niang timidly recounted the story. Su Shi chuckled and patted her shoulder, saying, “Having studied for years, how could I not know that there are always greater talents beyond oneself? Would I ever be so conceited and rash? Clearly, this is a distortion spread by others—or perhaps rumors fabricated by the New Faction.”
Yuan Niang pursed her lips into a smile. “Not necessarily.”
Su Shi’s expression shifted. Like a magician, he whisked the thick stack of letters from Yuan Niang’s sleeve, stood up, and began flipping through them.
Tall as he was, Yuan Niang stood on tiptoe but couldn’t reach, instantly flustering her into a fretful dance.
After skimming the contents, Su Shi slammed the papers onto the table and gritted out each word, “Su. Zi. You. Just. You. Wait.”
Chen Ge’er hurriedly asked, “What’s wrong? What happened?”
Yuan Niang covered her face and whispered, “Probably Uncle is fabricating stories about Master, spreading rumors.”
“Ah?” Chen Ge’er froze for a moment, then stammered, “What should we do?”
Yuan Niang snickered. This matter should stay between us, known only to heaven, earth, and Master in secret—it must not spread!
Chen Ge’er nodded solemnly, fully agreeing.
Yuan Niang rescued her letter, locked it safely in her treasure box, and instructed Zhi Xue to fetch a piece of aqua-green brocade. Taking up the brush herself, she scrawled a line of crooked characters: “Wash away the former shame!”
She folded the silk cloth, positioning the written characters to the front before tying it around her forehead. Still unsatisfied, she then cut two long strips of paper, picked up her brush, and wrote: “Strive to recognize every character under heaven; resolve to read all books among mortals.”
She called Chen Ge’er to paste these two paper strips on the pillars flanking Su Shi’s study door, adopting an expression of fierce determination.
This prompted visiting literati and scholars, upon seeing the grand proclamation posted at Su Shi’s study entrance, to exchange bewildered glances. They murmured in suspicion, privately speculating: Had Master Su’s eye ailment flared up again? Otherwise, how could his brushstrokes have become so blurred and sticky?!
Little did Su Shi know that while his younger brother merely enjoyed fabricating inspiring tales about him to motivate younger generations, his own disciple was genuinely tarnishing his reputation in tangible ways! Yet, being broad-minded, he didn’t remove Yuan Niang’s ambitious declaration after hearing the scholars’ gossip. Instead, he maintained a perpetually amused and indulgent attitude toward the whole affair.
As Yuan Niang perused the rhyming manuals and poetry primers sent by Su Zhe containing his early poetic insights, she thought: This is like receiving a pillow when drowsy! With two of the Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song dynasties as her teachers, she refused to believe she couldn’t master poetry composition.
However, while Yuan Niang charged ahead with fervor, Chen Ge’er found himself dumbfounded! His original intention in studying alongside his younger sister was to have a playmate who’d distract him from lessons. Never did he expect her to emulate the ancient scholars who tied their hair to beams and stabbed their thighs with awls to stay awake – she was studying more diligently than he was! This was rather hard to swallow.
With his younger sister so determinedly pursuing knowledge, what room remained for his leisure? Reluctantly, he had no choice but to take out his own books and review his lessons.
Su Mai, already a diligent student, returned home to find his younger siblings quietly absorbed in study despite their tender years. Inspired by their example, he redoubled his own scholarly efforts. The three children would retreat to the study daily after academy, creating such an intense learning atmosphere that the household became noticeably quieter.
Wang Runzhi expressed her concern to Su Shi: “The children never seem to rest. If they keep studying this intensely, they might exhaust themselves.”
Su Shi replied, “No matter. Ziyou and I were just the same in our youth.”
Wang Runzhi looked at him with mild surprise.
Chuckling, Su Shi teased: “Did my lady suppose I was born with knowledge?”
Shaking her head, Wang Runzhi said, “The world praises your husband for memorizing texts after a single reading, claiming you’re a rare genius. I truly never imagined you studied so arduously in your youth.”
Su Shi smiled. “The ocean of books in this world is vast. Even with my ability to memorize at a glance, how could I claim to know them all? Ahem… enough of that. I shall go read as well.” He had taken two steps when he turned back. “My lady, please have half our remaining funds delivered to Ziyou. His official salary is meager yet he has many dependents. He’s always been stubborn about maintaining appearances – likely he’d endure financial strain rather than ask me for assistance.”
“Very well,” Wang Runzhi acknowledged. After a moment she added, “But husband, this means you’ll have to tighten your belt this month.”
“Oh? Are funds so low?” Su Shi asked in surprise.
“Every month we spend to the last coin,” she sighed.
Su Shi rubbed his nose. “Then we’ll host fewer banquets this month. One lives and learns – I should also devote myself to quiet study.”
“Agreed,” Wang Runzhi replied with a smile.
Late at night, Su Shi sat in his study writing a family letter to his younger brother: “It’s fine for you and my disciple to discuss scholarly matters, but your elder brother has two requirements: first, do not tarnish my reputation or damage my glorious image in my dear disciple’s eyes. Second, use regular script for future family letters, as Yuan Niang has just begun her education and her vocabulary is still very limited.”
After finishing the letter, he let out a long sigh, feeling as though he had exhausted his heart with worry.
He dried the ink and sent the letter along with a hastily gathered hundred strings of coins by express courier to Chenzhou. Several days later, Su Zhe sent back from Chenzhou a sack of daylily flowers, a peck of dried yellow pears, a box of clay figurines, two jars of Zaoji wine, and two letters. The one addressed to him contained just one sentence: “Elder brother, you are the sweet dew rain—thank you.” The encouraging letter for Yuan Niang, however, was another thick one.
Su Shi was utterly exasperated, wondering how this uncle and disciple who had never met could have so many secrets to share.
Staring at the substantial sack of daylily flowers before him, he fell into deep thought, mentally running through frying, stir-frying, boiling, and mixing techniques. Well, it seemed his family was about to plunge into a daylily pit—just how many acres of daylilies had that troublesome younger brother Ziyou planted?!