Chapter 11: Why Read?

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Chen Ping was still somewhat uncertain. How could they already be sure he had passed? But seeing how delighted Chen Duohai was, he could hardly bring himself to say anything. He could only follow his father as they bid Doctor Zheng farewell, silently praying that someone would truly come to their home with good news the next day, lest his father end up celebrating for nothing.

After their visit to Huating Academy, by the time Chen Duohai and Chen Ping went to meet Uncle Pan, who was waiting in line to sell the furs, the other man had already been waiting at the agreed place for quite some time.

Chen Duohai spotted Uncle Pan from a distance. He swept one arm around Chen Ping, lifted him into his embrace, and ran toward the meeting place.

Though Chen Ping rarely had the chance to enjoy the privileges of being a child, he was nearly shaken dizzy by Chen Duohai.

Fortunately, Uncle Pan was attentive. He hurried toward them, covering three steps in two, all the while muttering, “Careful with the child! Careful with the child!”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Boys are sturdy.” Though Chen Duohai said this, he slowed his pace considerably.

Chen Ping gave Uncle Pan a grateful smile. He had decided to keep well away from such privileges in the future.

On the way home, Big Yellow traveled at a brisk pace, as though he knew how cheerful Chen Duohai was feeling. Apart from the few lashes at the beginning, he did not delay once along the way, ignoring even the tender grass growing beside the road.

Perhaps because Uncle Pan was present, Chen Duohai glanced at Chen Ping several times during the journey, as though he had something to say, yet never actually opened his mouth. Just as Chen Ping was about to ask, they arrived at Uncle Pan’s home.

Only after Uncle Pan had left did Chen Duohai ask Chen Ping about the medicinal herbs he had discussed with Doctor Zheng that day.

“Are there really that many medicinal herbs on the back mountain?”

So that was what had been troubling him?

Chen Ping had assumed that his father had been dwelling on the apprenticeship gifts, the money, or something of the sort.

“There are. Besides the raspberry leaves, the roots can also be used as medicine. There are other herbs too. Those black berries you once forbade us from playing with can be used medicinally as well.”

“Those things can be used as medicine?” Chen Duohai was so startled that he nearly pulled the reins tight.

Chen Ping nodded. He had seen plenty of them while herding cattle before. They grew in clusters, rather like grapes, though smaller and darker, and many of the village children liked to pick them for fun. Chen Duohai remembered seeing them once as well, and had even warned Chen Ping not to get so carried away playing that he dirtied his clothes.

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The smoke from the cooking fires gradually dispersed. By the time Chen Ping and his father reached home, Xiang-shi had already prepared the meal and was waiting for everyone to arrive before serving it.

All along the way, Chen Duohai had listened to Chen Ping describe where the herbs grew. The moment he tied Big Yellow up, he wanted to rush up the mountain while there was still daylight. Chen Ping could not hold him back alone. Only by tugging at his father’s clothes and shouting for Xiang-shi did he manage to keep him home.

“There are still several hours before dark, aren’t there?”

Chen Duohai was indignant. Clutching his bowl, he blew on it and slurped the rice porridge into his mouth.

His childlike reply made Xiang-shi shake her head. Since Chen Ping was there, she merely pushed the blanched wild greens toward Chen Duohai.

“Can’t you keep your mouth shut while you eat?”

By the time dinner was over, night had fallen, and Chen Duohai’s eager plans had to be put aside for the moment.

The next day, Chen Duohai had intended to take Chen Ping up the mountain early to have a look around. Yet he was also afraid of missing the bearer of the good news, and so he could not settle down at home, pacing back and forth restlessly.

Chen Ping, however, remained as calm as ever. After glancing up at the sun, he climbed onto Big Yellow’s back and headed into the mountains.

No matter what, the household’s main laborer had to fill his stomach first.

Around noon, when Big Yellow had eaten his fill and began strolling about at leisure, Chen Ping knew it was time to head home.

The moment he stepped onto the village road, Chen Ping noticed that something was different. Quite a few people were carrying hoes still caked with mud, gathering in groups of two or three and talking among themselves. Whenever they saw him, they pointed toward him and whispered.

By chance, he met Chen Jun, the eldest uncle’s son, who had just come in from the fields. Before Chen Ping could ask anything, Chen Jun glanced at him and walked away without turning his head.

His younger sister, Chen Li, who was a step behind him, instead gave Chen Ping a shy smile and congratulated him softly.

“The bearer of good news came and said you were admitted to Huating Academy. You’re really amazing, Chen Ping. You’ll be a scholar from now on.”

“Thank you.”

Chen Ping suddenly understood. The bearer of good news had arrived, which explained the villagers’ behavior.

When he drove Big Yellow to the front of his house, he immediately saw the messenger beaming as he spoke with Chen Duohai. Without the slightest hesitation, the man took the item from Chen Duohai’s hands and tucked it into his sleeve.

He had not even enrolled yet, and the first expense had already appeared. Chen Ping knew it was customary, a way of seeking an auspicious beginning, but with the family living in poverty, he still worried about the burden his parents would have to bear.

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Sure enough, once the messenger had left, Chen Duohai picked up a carrying basket and a sickle, then dragged Chen Ping toward the mountain.

They began with the raspberry leaves, which were the most familiar to them. Compared with the rough way the children gathered them, Chen Duohai’s method was exceptionally careful. He inspected every leaf before picking it, immediately discarding any that were damaged or yellowing. Compared with the large handful Chen Ping had gathered, roots, stems, and all, the leaves harvested by Chen Duohai were of an exceedingly rare quality.

Seeing how carelessly Chen Ping was picking them, Chen Duohai felt his heart ache.

“You go stand over there. I’ll take care of this.”

Chen Ping glanced at the handful in his own hand, then at the fresh raspberry leaves in the basket. For a moment, he was unsure whether he should tell his father that the leaves would ultimately be chopped up and dried anyway.

Apart from the raspberry leaves, Chen Ping also discovered quite a bit of patrinia herb. Since Chen Duohai found him in the way, he simply changed his target and began gathering the patrinia growing nearby.

To keep the herbs intact, Chen Ping had to put in considerable effort. He had only just finished harvesting the patrinia in that area when his father suddenly appeared behind him, nearly making him jump.

Chen Duohai carefully picked up a stalk of patrinia.

“This is a medicinal herb too?”

Chen Ping nodded.

“Take it home and dry it.”

As this was Chen Duohai’s first time gathering medicinal herbs, he was not greedy for quantity. Once the basket was full, he stopped and took Chen Ping home. The drying would have to be left to Xiang-shi, while he still had to carry his hoe to the fields and work.

At first, Chen Ping had thought that selling medicinal herbs would merely provide the family with an additional source of income. Yet several nights later, when he rose to use the latrine, he noticed a faint rustling coming from a corner of the courtyard.

By the light of the moon, Chen Ping approached and discovered Xiang-shi moving the herbs into the corner of the courtyard in the darkness.

Neither Chen Duohai nor Xiang-shi had ever treated the herbs with such painstaking care, something Chen Ping had never anticipated. He seemed to understand why Xiang-shi was tending to them so carefully, and the realization lodged in his throat like a bone.

As he gazed at the indistinct figure half-hidden in the darkness, his thoughts about studying began to change.