Chapter Eighteen: The Troubles of Youth

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Ma Jianguo first sent Ma Yuan to tidy up. After he planed down the two doors, he would start preparing dinner. Ma Yuan’s mother had gone to a neighboring village to help with a wedding and was expected to be gone for two or three days. By then, Ma Yuan would have already returned to Gao City.

With nothing else to do, Ma Yuan decided to visit the places he often went to as a child.

Back when they lived in Hui Village, Ma Yuan had few friends due to Ma Jianguo’s strict discipline. The two closest friends he had were Zhu Cong and Lu Guozhang.

Zhu Cong’s family sold pork in the village. There were several pork vendors in Hui Village, but everyone preferred to buy from Zhu Cong’s family because they were honest and precise when weighing the meat—no matter how small, every ounce was exact. Of course, this earned them the envy of their competitors.

Lu Guozhang’s family, on the other hand, was a scholarly lineage. His grandfather had been a successful candidate in the imperial examinations during the dynasty’s prime, renowned throughout the neighboring villages. However, by Lu Guozhang’s father’s generation, with the fall of the dynasty, the imperial degree system had been abolished. Still, the family’s scholarly heritage persisted, and Lu Guozhang himself carried an air of refined gentility.

Usually, Ma Yuan played best with Zhu Cong and Lu Guozhang. Zhu Cong was bold, Lu Guozhang steady, and Ma Yuan somewhat reserved. Yet, together, the three shared everything without reservation.

By the river in Hui Village, the three of them had kicked off their shoes and sat by the water’s edge, their feet—calloused and rough—dangling in the flowing stream. The fish didn’t seem to mind the odor and swam playfully around their feet, though the tough skin remained unbroken.

“Ma Yuan, how’s the city?” Zhu Cong asked. Although he had been to Gao City a few times with his father to buy live pigs at the smelly pig farm, he never had time to explore.

Ma Yuan flicked some water with his foot and replied, “The city’s fine, but the people there are complicated. Every day is filled with fighting and killing. They say things outside are even worse. Maybe soon, Hui Village will get caught up in it too.”

“Ah, Hui Village is more than twenty miles from Gao City, and even farther from Jizhou City. How could trouble reach us here?” Lu Guozhang asked. He was more knowledgeable than Zhu Cong, and before, among the three, he was the thinker with wider insight and more learning.

Ma Yuan laughed heartily, then said, “Before I went to Gao City, I thought Hui Village was quite large. Even before I visited Jizhou City, I thought Gao City was everything.”

“Unfortunately, our vision was very narrow. Honestly, Zhu Cong, Lu Guozhang, if you ever get the chance, you should really go and see for yourselves. You would understand things differently.”

“I won’t talk about it. If I go out, I’m afraid my father would beat me to death,” Zhu Cong sighed deeply, helpless.

Lu Guozhang frowned, seemingly pondering what Ma Yuan had just said.

Ma Yuan smiled but said no more. Since returning from Gao City, he had come to understand some things clearly. Unlike Wang Xian and Hou Xinjie from the city, they were born and raised here, carrying many worries. Once a decision was made, it meant risking their future.

“Ma Yuan, is the outside world really as you say?” After a long pause, Lu Guozhang asked with a serious expression.

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Ma Yuan nodded. He remembered that Lu Guozhang rarely showed such solemnity.

“You know, my family is a scholarly one. My grandfather was an imperial degree holder back in the day, and I have not failed to live up to my ancestors. But by my father’s generation, the family fortunes declined. So my father hopes I can bring honor to our name.”

“However, Hui Village is too small. Originally, the plan was for me to go to Gao City at fifteen, or even to Jizhou City, or even farther, to see more of the world.”

“But I’m only twelve now, and there are still three years until I turn fifteen. After hearing what you said, I really can’t wait. I want to go now.”

Lu Guozhang’s voice grew more excited and urgent.

Ma Yuan smiled. “Lu Guozhang, you’re welcome to come to Gao City. If you do, I can ask my father to pull some strings and get you admitted to Quhe Academy.”

A bright light appeared in Lu Guozhang’s eyes. He looked at Ma Yuan and nodded firmly.

Zhu Cong sighed long and deep but said nothing, swinging his feet and splashing water.

Ma Yuan scooped up a splash of water and threw it at Zhu Cong, drenching his face. A loud shout followed, and the three, shoes in hand and barefoot, ran wildly along the ridges of Hui Village’s fields.

...

Night fell, and stars sprinkled gentle light across the sky. The three of them stepped lightly through the dew, each heading home.

When Ma Yuan returned, Ma Jianguo had already prepared a sumptuous meal. He had specially slaughtered a chicken—half braised in soy sauce, half boiled plain—and made some vegetarian dishes as well.

“You’re back? Come, serve yourself and eat!” Ma Jianguo said, pointing to the pot steaming on the stove.

Ma Yuan rubbed his hands and took a clean bowl to serve rice.

The night grew darker, like ink poured from the sky. In the silent night, occasional caws of crows echoed.

In the Ma family’s large courtyard, Ma Jianguo and Ma Yuan ate dinner together. Ma Jianguo poured himself a small cup of wine. It was clear he was genuinely glad to have Ma Yuan home.

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“How’s the academy?” Ma Jianguo sipped his wine and clicked his tongue.

Ma Yuan took a mouthful of porridge. “It’s fine. I’ve met a few people, and Mr. Men is especially kind and attentive.”

“The first time I met Mr. Men, I thought he was a good man. I’m not asking you to be anything great, but if you can be like Mr. Men, that would be good enough!” Ma Jianguo said, picking up some peanuts and speaking somewhat indistinctly.

Ma Yuan nodded, raised his bowl, and drank another hearty mouthful of porridge.

“You just drink porridge? Eat some meat! This chicken was freshly slaughtered; it’s nutritious. Eat more; once you’re at the academy, I won’t be able to care,” Ma Jianguo said, placing a large, lean piece of chicken into Ma Yuan’s bowl.

Ma Yuan nodded but then set the bowl down.

“Father, this time I’ve come back because...” Ma Yuan hesitated, uncertain how to bring up the matter with Ma Jianguo.

Ma Jianguo took a bite, then raised his wine cup. “Hmm? If you have something to say, say it. Why be so shy?”

After speaking, Ma Jianguo drank the wine in one go.

Ma Yuan mustered his courage and took a deep breath. “Father, it’s about what Mr. Men mentioned last time. I want to apply to the Huali Military Academy. I’ve made up my mind.”

Ma Jianguo’s hand holding the cup froze mid-air. After a moment, he set the cup down.

Then he poured another cup and drank it all at once, remaining silent for a long while.

Ma Yuan nervously fiddled with the edge of his clothes, glanced at Ma Jianguo, and held his breath, waiting for his father’s response.

Ma Jianguo ate a few more bites, then lowered his head and said, “Eat!”