Volume One, Chapter Eight: Receiving the Brush, Ink, and Paper

Under Mother Luo's anxious gaze, Shen Yubai leaned on his wooden staff and stepped out of the house.

It was September, not the peak of the farming season, yet villagers are rarely idle. The men took advantage of their spare time to patrol the fields, weeding, catching pests, or applying fertilizer. The women, left at home, busied themselves with tending to the poultry and livestock.

Shen Yubai did not need to pass through the fields to reach the clan school, so he only encountered a few village women and maidens. Whenever he felt tired, he would sit by the roadside to rest for a while. He politely declined any offers from villagers to come inside and sit; he did not want to risk passing his consumption to anyone else.

Shenjiawan was a village of a single surname; everyone was related by blood or marriage. Many who saw Shen Yubai out asked if he was feeling better, and he responded to each one with courtesy. Because of the clan school, the village had a strong scholarly atmosphere and held educated men in high regard. It was expected that a scholar should possess the proper etiquette and temperament; failing to greet the villagers was considered boorish and a betrayal of ancestral ties. The villagers would curse such a person for having "learned his books into a dog's belly." A tarnished reputation would be detrimental to any future imperial examination prospects.

It took Shen Yubai an entire hour to walk that single mile. Though he did not break into the cold, clammy sweats he once suffered, he was still covered in a light, hot perspiration.

The clan school consisted of four large buildings with blue bricks and tiled roofs. Three were classrooms, and the one closest to the ancestral hall served as the library. Aside from an ancestor who had reached the third rank, the Shen clan had produced several minor officials. These men, having achieved success, often sought to repay the clan’s cultivation by donating silver or books, resulting in a well-stocked and well-organized library.

The gatekeeper was an elderly student of the Shen clan. He spent his days sitting at a desk by the entrance, guarding the library even when no students were there to borrow books. Shen Yubai approached him, performed a student’s bow, and called out respectfully, "Second Granduncle." By the rules of seniority, that was his rightful title.

Second Granduncle lifted his sagging eyelids and peered at Shen Yubai with cloudy eyes. "Are you feeling better?"

"Much better, thank you for your concern, Second Granduncle. I have come today to borrow a book to study."

Shen Yubai showed no sign of disrespect toward the old man. He knew that the elder had guarded the library for years and could name the location of any book on the shelves. Even his father had borrowed books from him back in the day.

Second Granduncle nodded. "You have been bedridden for three years; it is indeed time to resume your studies. With your natural aptitude, you can catch up on the missed lessons, even if it is a bit late. However, as your consumption is not yet fully cured, I cannot allow you inside the library. If you were to pass it on to the other students, I would lose my position."

Shen Yubai did not attempt to force his way in. He asked humbly, "Since it is inconvenient for me to enter, might I trouble you to bring a book out for me?"

Second Granduncle looked at him in surprise, a rare hint of a smile appearing on his face.

"Which book?"

"The *Records of Yue*."

The old man quickly retrieved the book and handed it to him. He opened a ledger, had Shen Yubai sign for the book, and waved him off. Shen Yubai bowed once more, clutched the book in one hand and his staff in the other, and began the slow journey home.

It was noon, and many men were returning from the fields for their midday rest. They greeted him as they passed. By the time Shen Yubai reached home, the family had already finished their meal.

"We still have some meat," Mother Luo said, feeling awkward. "I can heat it up for you." She was referring to the food Su Jin had given them days ago; she hadn't been able to bear eating it and had hidden it away in her bedding.

"It has been so long," Shen Yubai said. "It must have spoiled."

Mother Luo took it out and sniffed it; it was indeed sour and rancid. Her heart ached so much her hands trembled. It was meat—precious, rare meat—and because she couldn't bear to eat it, it had gone to waste. Shen Yubai had expected this. While the September weather was not stiflingly hot, food could not stay fresh for ten days. His mother’s frugality had resulted in the very loss she feared. He hadn't stopped her at the time because he wanted her to feel this pain herself so that she might eventually change.

Shen Yubai rested on the *kang* for a while before picking up his staff again. Mother Luo thought he was going to beg for food and wanted to stop him, but knowing he needed nourishment, she held her tongue.

Before the mother and son could even step into the main house, they were intercepted by Aunt Zheng.

"Don't come in! If you have something to say, say it outside!"

Shen Yubai stopped in his tracks and stood in the courtyard. "Grandmother," he called out respectfully.

Aunt Zheng did not offer a kind look. "You know when we eat our midday meal. If you weren't home, we didn't save you any, and there is no reason to cook again at this hour."

Although the Shen family were farmers, they were quite well-off and ate three meals a day. After lunch, the family would nap to escape the harshest heat of the day. Grandfather Shen was home, but there was no sound from within. Shen Yubai’s eyes darkened, but his expression remained gentle and humble. "It is no matter if I skip a meal, Grandmother."

Aunt Zheng felt a surge of triumph. She had finally managed to subdue this grandson. The anger she had felt over the inkstone incident earlier began to dissipate. "What do you want, then?"

"I am much better now and wish to resume my studies. I have just returned from the clan school with a book, and I would like to request paper, brushes, and ink from you and Grandfather so that I may practice my calligraphy."

Shen Yubai spoke calmly, but Aunt Zheng exploded. "The brushes and paper in this house belong to Hongye! What business is it of yours?"

"Did the clan school not issue my monthly stipend? Mother, please help me go back to the school."

Aunt Zheng’s hackles rose. "Go to the school for what?"

Shen Yubai turned to her. "I have not been expelled. The school issues a monthly stipend of one hundred copper coins to every student. If the family hasn't received it, I must go ask to ensure there hasn't been a mistake."

Grandfather Shen, who had been silent until now, spoke up from inside. "The clan issued the stipend, and it all went toward the medicine you’ve been drinking these years. You were too ill to study or write, so we didn't bother buying you brushes or paper."

Shen Yubai lowered his eyes to hide the coldness within. He hadn't taken much medicine, and what he had taken was paid for by his mother’s own dowry. The Shen family’s money was reserved for the "cutting edge"—and Shen Hongye was that edge. In the eyes of the family, Shen Yubai was a dead man walking; why waste a single copper on him? Even if that money was a stipend meant for a student’s supplies, it would be redirected to secure the first son’s future.

But his grandfather was an elder. He could not argue, or he would be branded unfilial, destroying his chances at the imperial examinations.

"In that case," Shen Yubai said submissively, "I shall borrow some supplies from others and repay them once the school issues the next month’s stipend."

He said this, but he did not move. Inside, the sound of a pipe being slammed hard against a table echoed—Grandfather Shen was clearly furious. The commotion was so loud that Mother Luo turned pale with fright. Shen Yubai, however, remained calm, standing as straight and proud as a pine tree, as if the old man’s rage had nothing to do with him.

"Give him Hongye’s things?" Aunt Zheng shrieked. "What will our Hongye use? Old man, have you lost your mind? Hongye is the eldest grandson! Hongye is the one with the future!"