ReZhui stood next to the school gates as he tightened his grip on his cloth bag. Teacher Woo stood alongside him, supporting his weak legs with his wooden cane. The two of them had been waiting for quite some time. Class just ended on an early dismissal as this marked their final school day for the year. Winter was coming and Teacher Woo knew that climbing up these stairs and uphill trails was a tough endeavor for little kids in the cold winter mornings. Therefore, he implemented a holiday system several years back. The next period of school was planned to start when spring arrived. ReZhui did not realize that his temporary stay at the Xu residence coincided with the arrival of the winter holidays. However, after reevaluating the circumstance, it was the optimal schedule for his out-in-the-field training.
“Teacher Woo, how long are we gonna be waiting here for?” said ReZhui, holding his cloth bag that was filled with a handful of thick clothes, a small money pouch and a notebook with an ink brush. He started to sway on the spot and fiddle with belt sash on his tunic.
“Be patient, ReZhui. Just this morning, your father sent a letter that said he will be accompanying you to their house. I also agreed with his decision and went along. Now, let’s give him some time to get the horse carriage down the mountain.”
“Understood Teacher Woo.”
“Oh, speaking of which, allow me to test you on what I taught you this past 2 weeks. It is not a test though. Don’t worry.”
“Alright…”
“Very well! Firstly, what are the major components that make up a new business?”
“There consists of location, the employed, capital and skill.
“Explain all four of them.”
“Location ties to all the natural resources obtained in nature and comes in a variety of materials from textiles to metals.
Employed refers to the workers that are paid to do work in the business. This could also differ from business to business. A restaurant would have a lot more people working compared to a smithy or carpenter’s cottage.
Capital is the total value of all the money and equipment that belongs to the business. An anvil is a blacksmith’s most important asset while a chef’s stove is not. Although…the money the businessmen have may not be…physical?”
“Don’t worry about that for now. YaoMing’s pharmacy would have a good example on what that concept means. What’s the final one?”
“Skill involves the recommended characteristics and abilities that a merchant should possess. As they are the owners…they would need to be hard workers, risk-takers, unique and independent. Moreover, they need the practice of effective communication to talk with…
Ah, creditors, investors, customers and business rivals.”
“For now, do you have an idea what investors are?”
“While I was reading the books in your study, I learnt that they are very important. Without them, a merchant could not start trading.”
“That is very conditional though, ReZhui. The reason it was said like that is because to start trading, one has to buy resources and sell them at a profit. The investors lend money and get a portion of the final earnings after the merchant does his practice. However, there are some merchants that were rich to begin with so buying the materials with their own money is no major obstacle for them.”
“So when you said that your investment was in me, what you meant was my potential success will earn you money. But you didn’t lend money to me. All you spent was your time therefore I do not see the exchange here…”
“You are taking the word ‘investment’ in the physical sense here. Similar to the capital money earlier, I am expecting a different form of return from you,” Teacher Woo explained as he looked into ReZhui’s eyes.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Where is the fun if I am just gonna tell you? Fufu.”
The old man left out a light chuckle before returning to the conversation. ReZhui was still deep in thought, slightly frustrated. Teacher Woo cleared his throat before continuing.
“However, those were some very solid responses overall, just now. Although this is just barely scratching the surface of what a licensed merchant would have learnt before starting, it wouldn’t really matter much until you apply your knowledge into real life. If that was not the case, farmers and former lower-class workers that turned over their lives to earn a solid living through the art of trade would be nonexistent. Those people didn’t learn the academic syllabus like the higher classes. All they got was a hardworking spirit, faster learning capabilities or greater adaptability and superb street smarts. The only thing they learnt from people was selling higher makes money and money is used to make more money and have greater power. The rest of the recipe for their success is a mixture of luck and failure.”
Seeing his mentor’s sudden change in tone and topic, ReZhui made an appropriate response.
“Therefore, I am grateful to my family, your teachings and Mr Xu’s cooperation. They are opportunities I will not take for granted. That’s what you are trying to say right, Teacher?” ReZhui declared as he faced the old man.
“Yes. You really are an understanding child.”
“Still though, Teacher…Your talk about the commoners that rise from rags to riches. It wasn’t in the books you lend me so how-”
“There were no written accounts of that. All their stories were shared and retold by word of mouth as they were illiterate…I was once like that many decades before. There were many that were like me, or more intelligent than I would ever be, but I was the luckiest one.”
“...”
“The Heavens truly are unfair and ruthless, aren’t they? Even so, I pray back to them for blessings in the New Year. Oh…I remember it’s coming soon. How hypocritical and pathetic we humans are?”
ReZhui had no clue on what his teacher just said but he had the feeling that it was one of longing and denial. His teacher’s eyes closed as he sighed. A melancholy atmosphere surrounded them. There was no exchange as the two of them watched as the leaves started to slowly fall. The weather was a gray overcast that just rained overnight. Damp soil puddles and water-filled plot holes were scattered sporadically throughout the main road with dense water vapor surrounding the air near the ground. Clouds of fog with varying density diffused slowly across the thick forests, reducing their field of vision of the road as they waited.
---
After the passing of an hour, ReZhui’s father arrived, riding a horse carriage with a makeshift roof made of bamboo stalks and leather hide. The seats at the front had soft padding hammered into its wooden top frame which was partitioned to allow a maximum of 4 people to sit next to each other, side by side. ReZhui’s father was seated at the center, holding onto the reins of the two horses. Located at the back were several barrels of food supplies that ReZhui was able to pinpoint. The majority being rice, potatoes and bok choy.
His father was surprisingly well-dressed for the occasion. He tidied his long hair with a comb and tied it into a bun, covered with red cloth. His tunic was more formal with a shade of dark green and was obviously ironed by ReZhui’s mother. He also wore a bright white inner layer and had a new set of pants on. The muddy farmer shoes were replaced with a clean pair of black cloth sandals. His face, that used to be caked in grime and sweat, appeared relatively smooth and clean. At his center, a blue sash tightened his tunic, giving him a more presentable physique. After ReZhui’s father settled the reins and calmed the horses, he greeted ReZhui and Teacher Woo with loud enthusiasm.
“Good morning Elder Woo and ReZhui! Apologies for the wait, I had to get everything ready. Also, sorry for the sudden change again, Elder Woo. I want to see this through with my own eyes. I express hope that you don’t mind. Again, thank you,” ReZhui’s father said as he bowed his upper body in the teacher’s direction, still seated.
“Oh no need for the formalities, Mr Zhang! I am now even closer to the young ReZhui and I can confidently see his greater potential. With the performance your child has shown for the last 2 weeks, I should also show my respects to you for being such a wise father,” Teacher Woo replied with vigor as he bowed in return.
As ReZhui watched this unfold, he felt a warm sensation in his heart. It was a feeling of mutual respect for the other. It was different to friends greeting friends, sons and daughters greeting their parents or grandchildren to grandparents. It was reminiscent of pupil and master but with a more equal distribution of respect between both parties.
‘I feel like it's client to client. Both benefit and lose at the same time. That bond is me.’ ReZhui felt delighted at this thought. He showed importance among the two of them. He mattered to them. And, he won’t let them down.
ReZhui got on the carriage and held onto the side handles for extra support. Looking down at Teacher Woo, ReZhui waved his hand wide in the air as the carriage began to move. The sound of the wipe cracked causing the horses to grunt into motion.
“Have a good time, ReZhui!” Teacher Woo shouted before his figure began to blur away into the morning fog. The sun was not as high in the sky as it was in the summer. It was the final week of autumn before winter setted in. Harvests had been completed and the farm animals were herded into their respective barns. It would have been a busy week for the village during the period ReZhui went for his training and he sank in some final imaginative thoughts about what the villagers will be doing soon. As he closed his eyes, he dreamt of his mother raking the hay into the sheds, the uncles sharpening their sickles and the children raising the flags as they assisted herding the sheep.
Soon after, ReZhui dozed off into a short slumber. His father grabbed a blanket from one of the compartments under the wooden seat and placed it over him. The young boy responded subconsciously and snuggled it tightly as he laid on the seat.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
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The remaining part of the journey took quite a while. Nonetheless, ReZhui’s father was able to skillfully avoid the larger size plot holes and any potential highwaymen. The last threat was aided by the fact that the surrounding forests were damp and sticky, making stationing posts on the borders of the road incredibly uncomfortable to those men.
Unfortunately, even with all that expert steering, a foggy vapor managed to cover a significant part of the upcoming trail. Braving through it regardless, the father accidentally rode over a huge mound of dirt, sticking out of the ground. It shook the carriage and raised the left side by several centimeters. ReZhui’s father skipped a heartbeat as it returned back to its normal position, balanced perfectly. No goods were toppled over as he inspected the back and the wheel had no cracks. He breathed a sigh of relief and carried onward.
Even so, the sudden impact slowly awoke ReZhui from his nap and there was no going back. He felt wide awake.
‘Kids really charge their batteries very fast these days,’ the father gave in.
“Good afternoon Pa. Where are we now?” ReZhui inquired.
“See the light up ahead, it is where the circular junction that leads to the other villages including DongBu village, is located. After the end of this trail, we will take a left turn to the nearest road corner and head straight afterwards.”
“Oh is that so? A few weeks ago, ShiYan and I went through the forests and followed a downhill stream that leads to a clearing next to the main road. She told me that it was a deserted shortcut. But, even if that was the case, it wouldn’t fit this large carriage, ain’t that right Pa?”
“Did your extra lessons remove some of your common sense, boy? Haha, of course it is! However, it is good that the both of you went there. There is now something special in your friendship.”
“How so, Pa?”
“The deserted trail is a little secret that only ShiYan and you know. That is what makes your relationship worth more than it should be. Even the tiniest happiest memories can add to that bond. However…Remember that even a single drop of ink can ruin the pristine paper. The deep bond that you nurtured in your school life may come shattering after one incident, no matter small or large. There will always be tension afterwards despite greater effort to mend the relationship. Trust my word on that, ReZhui. I may not be the best in academics like Elder Woo or have a job that is as helpful as Mr Xu, but I also have my own fair share of life lessons to teach you as my duty as your father. So, behave well at their place. If there is anything, I am confident that you will make it back. I will do whatever I can for my family.”
“Pa…”
“You got me, boy?”
“Yes…Father,” ReZhui’s eyes were filled with determination and he deepened his brows as he made eye contact with his father. Never expecting that sort of reaction from the otherwise cheerful young boy, ReZhui’s father reached out and ruffled his hair with joy.
“Excellent kid,” he complimented.
There was a moment of silence before ReZhui asked a question.
“Pa?”
“Yes?”
“Aren’t you upset that I may not be likely to inherit your craft and the terraced paddy field?”
“Why would I be, ReZhui? The main reason I send you to study under Teacher Woo is to hope something like this would happen. Personally, I wish that I could go out into the world and establish former severed ties with the other villages in the area. However, my father, his father and my grandfather’s father, along with my ancestors always followed the code to isolate ourselves high up in the mountains. As the current chief, I am also entrusted to maintain the status quo as well.”
“But, why were they that resentful to the other villages?”
“I don’t think it is the appropriate time for me to tell you due to your age but I am now confident that you could understand. We may not have a chance to bring up this topic in the future for a long time. Haha!”
“...”
“The reason I learnt of it was because your grandfather told me on his deathbed before he passed away. The routine occurred in a similar way for the previous generations as well. Telling you on my deathbed is pretty uncomfortable to be honest…
Anyways, back to the reason. Firstly, we would need to talk about when the Bai village was first built. At that time, Bai Village and the other settlements were under one of the warring factions before the unification of all the states to form the Middle Kingdom of today. This land used to be one of the entry points to an important military outpost and invasions would happen nearly everyday. And, since the villages have a common enemy, they banded together and were successful in repelling outsiders from conquering this site as a resupply warehouse chain.
After unification, the feeling of triumph of war was welcomely shared across all the villages. Unfortunately, that happy emotion didn’t last for very long. Small but violent skirmishes occurred as often as eating but the cost of such bloodshed was not worth the farmland obtained. Bai Village, which had the largest occupied land in the area, was located right on the plains that neighboured the mountains we live in now. The other villages formed a small coalition to demolish the dominant power that Bai Village was. My ancestors retaliated without hesitation at first. However, as time went on for the next 5 years, he had enough. The farmland started to spoil and there were less men left than women in the village. He tried to make negotiations but the conditions were too cruel for his people. So instead, the villagers of Bai fled high into the mountains after they discovered fertile land uphill. Resulting in the current day…”
“So, why didn’t the alliance push forward?”
“Ahh, that wasn’t explained clearly by your grandfather but I can make speculations based on the facts stated. The alliance’s goal was the plains only and not the villagers themselves so they had no motive to harm the Bai village any further. Moreover, like after the unification, the remaining villages fought hard over the land and this period was way crueler than before. The war eventually had its winners and losers, estimated to be after 40 years of dispute. Finally, as the generations passed, the knowledge of the disputes and grudges that were held began to fade into obscurity and now the village borders are fixed and agreed by all.”
“I…I never thought it would be that…scary.”
“True, even I was surprised at first. I even grew some hatred at them for a period of time. How could they abandon us when we used to fight like brothers on the battlefield? That is what I used to question my ancestors about but as you grow older, you come to accept that it is in human nature and every situation is in the gray. I contemplated that maybe some villages were forced into the alliance while others didn’t have a choice and the rest are just plain greedy. Moreover, I have no reason to harbor hatred for the other village chiefs just because their ancestors did something bad in the past. It was all in the ancient past. All that matters now is who they are as a person now. You understand that, ReZhui?”
“Of course, Pa.”
“Haaah…So in conclusion, I was scared to get in contact with them for the longest time until now. Originally, I planned to pass on the chieftain title to you and the twins and leave a final message to establish connections on your own. I realized it was immature planning on my part and I apologize.
Luckily though, your situation was what gave me the opportunity and confidence to turn over a new leaf. I will bring back my isolated village into the world. That is my goal now at this age.”
“And I will support you until the end, Pa!”
“You really are a thoughtful child from the beginning when you learnt to fluently talk and write. What did you do in your previous life to have such blessings?”
“You’re…You’re making me embarrassed, Pa.”
“Oi, what’s the problem with being proud of my own child?! Look at how much he has grown in the past few weeks!”
The exchange grew wilder until they reached the junction. Like water extinguishing a flame, their chatter stopped as soon as the father and son were out in the open. A large number of horse carriages and travelers were walking in all directions, to and from ShiYan’s village. They were the only ones that exited from their side of the junction, attracting the gaze of the ongoing travelers who rarely saw a different carriage descend the mountain besides the one used to pick up the students from the well known school run by the famous Scholar Woo. ReZhui’s father ignored the curious stares and made a quick turn to the right route and raced straight to ShiYan’s village.
ReZhui’s father was able to pass through the gate guards with a letter, stamped by the Scholar himself. Apparently, Teacher Woo gave it to ReZhui’s father after informing him about ReZhui’s apprenticeship.
“Listen up ReZhui, with this stamp and letter, outsiders like us would have a much easier time gaining entry to all these places that would normally need an official permit or recognition badge that takes months to get.”
“Why didn’t Teacher tell me this?” ReZhui puffed his cheeks wide in disappointment. His father ruffled his hair in return.
“The Elder just wanted to give me a chance, haha,” his father replied with a wholesome smile.
---
As the horse carriage made its way through the crowded streets, ReZhui observed the shoppers that consisted of numerous age groups making their way to the long line of stalls that stretched to the end of the street, staying in parallel on either side of the dirt road. The road itself was split into a two-way road and the carriages were moving like ants to an anthill. Children ran on the sidewalks and one-man street vendors strolled through the gaps between the carriages that sold goods such as candy sticks and cakes on boxes attached to a carried long wooden pole or handheld bags. The atmosphere was as hectic as the last time he went here but unlike before, he felt truthfully excited and confident. Moreover, sitting on the carriage provided a higher elevation to give him a better view of the scene up front. The several story buildings and houses brought curiosity into his young mind.
He wondered about the construction techniques needed, the system of transportation for heavy materials and the arrangement of labor duties and individual wages. Thinking like a merchant and to some extent, a scholar, gives a form of power that was different from the pressure of a master martial artist like Brother MianJu. Despite their differences, they all were founded based on extensive knowledge and experience. So, that was what he would be doing here.
In the end, ReZhui’s father was able to reach the Xu residence with the help from several passersby. He followed through a maze of houses, numerous bridges and interlinking streets to arrive at their destination. As he was quite familiar with the Xu residence, only ReZhui’s father showed the most reaction at the size and design of the front gate. The top wooden banner hung high in its brilliance, displaying the shiny golden font of ‘The Xu Household’. His father took some time to stare in awe at the majestic beauty of the entrance and the courtyard within. As soon as he had his fill, ReZhui’s father set aside the reins and voiced his complaints.
“It sure was troublesome to only use the wider, main roads of the village. I am sure that you and ShiYan used the alleyways as another shortcut. What a bumper it was for the Chief.” ReZhui’s father sighed in mental exhaustion.
“It was as ShiYan said before, Pa. We truly are the bumpkins of country bumpkins.” ReZhui teased.
“Don’t insult my self esteem even further, boy. ShiYan’s village just so happened to be one of the larger villages in the area,” the father excused amusingly.
“Are you perhaps the father of Zhang ReZhui?”
A new voice appeared onto the scene.
ReZhui and his father turned to face the person who asked them the question. At the entrance, there was now a standing middle-aged man wearing a maroon-coloured qipao and white cotton pants, complemented with a pair of black cloth slippers. He had his hands crossed behind his back and hiding timidly next to the entrance door was ShiYan, sticking her head out.
As ShiYan’s father adjusted his glasses on his nose, ReZhui’s father stepped out of the carriage with a rough landing onto the pavement. Making his way across the horses to face the father of his son’s friend, he placed his hands together, one curved palm over a fist, and initiated a bow.
“My name is Zhang GuoZhao, the Chieftain of Bai village and the father of Zhang GuoZhao. Thank you for inviting us into your household and accepting my son as a temporary assistant of your pharmacy.
After his respectful introduction, ShiYan’s father did the same.
“Likewise, it is a pleasure to meet the Chieftain. My name is Xu YaoMing and I am the father of Xu ShiYan, a close friend of your son. I run the pharmacy of DongBu village with a position as one of the village’s council members.”
A silence emerged after YaoMing ended his introduction.
‘Damn it! What is gonna happen now? That old geezer Woo!’ ShiYan scowled as she hid nervously behind the door. Thunder cracked in the distance as the dark overcast became filled with large storm clouds.