Chapter 6: Pledging Their Troth Beneath the Flowers, Speaking of Feeling and Duty — Meeting Evil and Finding Grace, an Adoption Along the Road

Lyric (to the tune of "Die Lian Hua"):

Such beauty and talent — how could he bear to let another see her face?

Once face to face, once drawn together, how could he not linger?

Though no flower-tips were sent by arching brows,

Still glances flew like orioles and swallows at the corners of her eyes.

He thought only of encountering enemies and being made to suffer —

He never expected that a star of grace would appear

And act on his behalf just in time.

Now he knows at last that Heaven and Earth hold no partiality:

All things conspire to bring a fine marriage to completion.

— Written to the melody "Butterfly Loves Flowers"

Now let us speak of Duan Ju. That year it fell to him by rotation to present himself as a tribute student for the capital examinations. Though he had no real ambition for official rank and was content to let the matter rest, the repeated urgings of relatives and friends stirred in him a foolish hope. He thought to himself in secret: "The capital draws people from every corner of the realm. Perhaps in going there I may happen upon some news of my daughter — who can say?" So he gathered his travelling money and luggage, and seeing that Chang Jian was idle, he decided to take him along as an attendant on the road. Chang Jian, for his part, had long been thinking of going to the capital to inquire after news of his former master. He agreed at once with pleasure. A propitious day was chosen, and the two set out on their long journey — but of that we need say no more.

Now we turn to Feng Yi, who had taken up his post in the capital as a Censor. Bold and fearless by nature, he shrank from no powerful faction or corrupt official, and all stood in awe of him. Finding it inconvenient to live alone in the capital, he sent a household servant back home to escort his wife and daughter to join him in the city. Within a few days the servant arrived, presented his master's letter to the mistress and the young miss, and explained the purpose of his visit. Wife and daughter were overjoyed without measure. The mistress set about putting the household affairs in order, entrusting everything to a senior servant, while at the same time sending word to Tang Xiyao. Tang Xiyao, learning that Madame Wang and her daughter were about to undertake so long a journey and knowing there was no holding them back, invited his wife Zhao Shi and his son Tang Chang to prepare wine and come to the Feng household to see them off. Madame Wang received them with great warmth and happiness.

Tang Chang, on seeing the young miss, showed joy on his face, yet in both their hearts there was a particular sorrow. It was inconvenient to speak in front of their mothers, so he made the excuse that the peonies in the garden were in full bloom and proposed they go together to admire them. Once in the garden, who had any heart for looking at flowers? They simply sat beneath the blossoms, close and leaning upon each other. Tang Chang spoke first: "Your beautiful face is but an arm's length away, yet there is no way to be near you as I wish. My feelings are already more than I can bear, and now comes talk of parting far away. Once you are gone to the ends of the earth, who will carry messages between us? There is nothing left but death. I do not know what counsel my worthy younger sister can offer me."

The young miss replied: "What troubles elder brother is precisely what troubles me. Yet there is nothing to be done. Fortunately, Mother loves you deeply, and her earlier words were surely no idle promise. Elder brother needs only to set his heart at rest and wait quietly — on no account must you let your private feelings show, or our parents will think the less of us. When I go with Mother to the capital, if ever an opportunity presents itself, I will certainly find a way to send word quickly."

Tang Chang said: "Your honoured mother and you, younger sister, are true and steadfast in your hearts, and I do not doubt you will not change. But I fear that as the days pass and the distance grows, ties will gradually loosen. Should your father's official connections widen, and should there arise someone of great promise who comes to know of your virtue — whether through earnest suit or through the pressure of influence — with a powerful go-between and a heaven-appointed matchmaker working their will, one morning a swift and talented rival might seize the prize ahead of me. Would that not leave the man who sits waiting by his tree-stump sorely disappointed?"

The young miss heard him out and could not help her colour changing. "How shallow is elder brother's view!" she said. "Have you not heard: 'My heart is not a stone; it cannot be rolled away'? Would you take the vows we spoke before as mere child's play? Father and Mother cherish us both most tenderly; there will surely be nothing of the kind you describe. But if it should come to that — if the mountains are exhausted and the waters run dry — then younger sister will die to follow elder brother and will not steal another breath of life at the cost of failing your hopes!" Her words and her expression were both severe as she finished.

Tang Chang, seeing this, hurried to say: "It is only my foolish anxiety speaking. Hearing younger sister's words of iron and ice, I am overwhelmed with shame. From this moment on I shall wait quietly and in good order for happy tidings. My earlier words were presumptuous — I beg younger sister to forgive them."

The young miss said: "It is only because elder brother's feeling is so deep that he entertains such far-reaching fears. There is nothing strange in it. But let us set that aside. From where I stand, marriage and success in the examinations are very often near neighbours. Since elder brother possesses such talent and feeling, why not devote yourself wholeheartedly to your studies and strive to advance? Moreover, the examination period is now upon us. Should the blue clouds of fortune rise beneath your feet, then marriage will be in the palm of your hand. I hope, worthy elder brother, that you will make every effort — that would be the greatest happiness."

Tang Chang heard her out and was moved beyond measure. He replied with heartfelt thanks: "With younger sister's earnest and repeated counsel before me, how would this unworthy brother dare to do otherwise than strive for fame and rank, so as to justify your hopes?" There happened to be paper and brush ready to hand in the pavilion, so he took them up and inscribed a poem:

I gaze upon those arching brows so fine —

She is barely thirteen, yet full of grace.

Each thought she holds is touched with clever light;

Each word she speaks is rare beyond compare.

Her gentle nature stands above a thousand ages;

Her steadfast heart surpasses the odes of Er Nan.

Were she not destined for one of purple and gold rank,

Even her own reflection would put me to shame.

The young miss read it, moved by the freshness and clarity of Tang Chang's lines, and could not suppress her own emotion. Following the same rhyme-scheme, she composed a matching poem in reply:

Though in the mirror two figures brush their hair,

In this one heart there is no second or third.

Tender feeling and dreams together I keep;

Intimate words I entrust to poetry's speech.

The swift steed must gallop north across the plains;

The steadfast plum blooms only facing south.

If we should meet again and share these lines,

Then we will know that neither of us need feel shame.

Tang Chang, seeing how sharp and brilliant her talent was — not a trace of frivolity in any of it — was filled with boundless admiration. And seeing too her warm and earnest encouragement and her sworn fidelity, he was moved with gratitude beyond words. He said: "Younger sister's feeling is as deep as a still pool, its savour like aged wine. It has made this unworthy elder brother drunk at heart before he has even lifted the cup." As he spoke his thoughts began to drift and his spirit to wander; he could not govern himself. He was on the verge of drawing near to her when his heart lurched like a startled fawn, and he could only stare at her with wide, dazed eyes.

The young miss, seeing him like this, said: "Why are you looking at me so? Have you not heard the caution against acting while the blood and breath are still unsettled? Moreover, the betrothal between us is now fixed, and the day of our return to each other will come. If you were to turn a longing of the riverside and riverbank into the wayward desires of Mulberry-Lane and Pu-Shang, that is something younger sister would deeply disapprove of."

Tang Chang heard her, and it was as if he woke from a dream. He said again and again: "Every word younger sister speaks is a pearl and a gem — how would I dare to do otherwise than hold them close and follow them!" They exchanged the two poems they had inscribed, each keeping the other's as a token of recognition for some future meeting. The two of them sat on a while longer in the garden, and only when they saw someone approaching did they finally return inside. Fortunately Madame Wang was fond of both her niece's son and her own daughter, and seeing that they were still young, she let the two of them wander in the garden looking at flowers without the least suspicion. Little did she know what vows they had exchanged beneath the blossoms. As it is rightly said:

Between man and woman, desire has always been great;

How much more so when both are gifted and full of feeling.

One morning, parting words are spoken in the shade of flowers —

How could the heart be free of longing and admiration?

Two more days passed, and Madame Wang, having finished setting the household in order, made ready to depart that very day. Tang Xiyao and Zhao Shi both came to see them off. Of Tang Chang and Cai Wen alone, when the moment of farewell came, neither could speak a single word. Their expressions were bleak and desolate; each could only silently press a hand against their own heart. Before long, Madame Wang set out with her daughter, attendants in tow, and all of them headed north together. Tang Chang returned home with his parents, sunk in a daze of longing, as though something had been lost. But there was nothing to be done. As it is said:

When shall we meet again — who can know?

The parting of the living is now, this moment.

Even if the heart were iron or stone,

How could it not be consumed by longing?

Now we turn to Duan Ju, who had set out with Chang Jian in attendance. The two travelled the road together by land and by water for many days and arrived at last in the capital. At that time tribute students from all over the empire had assembled, and the selection period was approaching soon; Duan Ju had no choice but to wait his turn among the crowd. When the selection day came, however, the positions were few and the candidates many, and those who knew how to manoeuvre and work their connections had already secured the posts for themselves. A poor scholar with no skill at such manoeuvrings and no resources to deploy, Duan Ju found himself passed over that time and had to remain in the capital waiting. He waited another half-year before at last receiving the appointment of Jiao Yu — Education Officer — of Xinyu County in Linjiang Prefecture. He received his credentials without delay and set out from the capital to take up his post.

As for Tang Chang, after parting from young miss Feng, he sat day after day in his study — and yet his thoughts would not be still. He was like a man who had lost a treasure; all day long he had no feeling and no spirit, no appetite for tea or food, no inclination for books or histories. He simply sat in his study in a state of listless emptiness. Then word suddenly came that the Superintendent of Education had issued an official notice to the county, and the county magistrate put up a proclamation ordering all boy candidates to come to the county seat to sit the examinations. Tang Xiyao, seeing this, walked into the study and said: "The Superintendent is coming soon; the magistrate has given the order and boy candidates are to sit the examinations. You should make ready and go and sit them. Even if you cannot advance straight away, it would still reflect well on the family." Tang Chang heard him and laughed: "How can Father speak as though it were so difficult? If I were not to sit, that would be one thing — but if I do sit, the two words 'success and rank' are already in my pocket. What is there to remark upon?"

Tang Xiyao said: "I only hope you will have the will to see it through — that would be best."

Tang Chang turned over in his mind the words of encouragement that young miss Feng had spoken, and thought: "If I should be fortunate enough to make a name for myself, going to the capital to see her would become easy. I could further ask Father for a letter, presenting myself openly to seek the engagement — with my elder aunt lending her support from within, I could not fear that Lord Feng would refuse." So he composed his spirits, and on the day of the county examinations Tang Xiyao escorted Tang Chang to the gate of the academy. Tang Chang went in with the other candidates, and when the examination topic was placed before him, he did not pause to deliberate but let his brush fly straight across the page. Before noon both essays were complete. He handed in his papers and came home. His parents, seeing him return so early, were delighted beyond measure. A few days later the county results were announced — first place was Tang Chang.

More than a month later came the prefectural examination. Tang Chang entered and again treated it as effortlessly as picking up a piece of straw, taking first place there as well. Tang Xiyao was immensely pleased. News spread quickly throughout the town, and all marvelled and praised the Tang family's son for his great learning and talent — first place in both the county and the prefecture. Tomorrow, at the Superintendent's examination, he would certainly win his licentiate degree.

The news spread fast, and it soon stirred up a small-minded man who was jealous of talent and greedy for money. Who was this, you ask? He was a man named Tang Tu, a clansman of Tang Xiyao's generation. Tang Tu was no student of books; he busied himself entirely with cultivating connections among yamen runners, and he had two sons. Seeing that Tang Xiyao's household was wealthy and that he had no children of his own, Tang Tu had repeatedly sent people to suggest that his second son be adopted as Tang Xiyao's heir — with the real aim of getting hold of the family property. Tang Xiyao, knowing his conduct was irregular, had refused. Then, to his great fury, Tang Xiyao suddenly adopted Tang Chang as his son. Tang Tu had repeatedly schemed against Tang Xiyao and Tang Chang, but when Feng Yi had come home on leave, the matter had been kept in check and there was no opportunity to make a move. Tang Tu also reckoned that once Tang Chang was fully grown, he would be no easy opponent. He had told himself to wait until the old man died — at that point the property would naturally revert to him anyway, since this outsider with a different surname could hardly hold on to it. And so he had endured in silence all along.

Now he suddenly heard that Tang Chang had entered the examinations — and at first he assumed it was merely Tang Xiyao putting on a show of grandeur. He never expected that Tang Chang would take first place in the county, and first place in the prefecture as well, setting the whole county astir. Everyone at the yamen came to congratulate Tang Tu, saying: "Your younger kinsman is a man of rare talent — when he passes the licentiate examinations and goes on to become a juren and a jinshi, that will be glory for the whole Tang family." The more Tang Tu heard, the more oil was poured on his fire, and his fury knew no bounds. He began secretly plotting a scheme to harm Tang Chang — but for the moment no plan came to mind, and he brooded in angry frustration.

Then one day a scheme suddenly came to him, and he was overjoyed. "If I am to be rid of him," he said, "then this — and only this — is the way, and done like this it will be invisible to gods and ghosts alike." His plan was settled; he only needed to wait for the right moment to act. Some time passed, and the Superintendent of Education arrived in the district to conduct the examinations, bringing together boy candidates from all the counties and prefectures. At the fifth watch, the candidates were called by name and entered the examination hall. Tang Xiyao had brought his son Tang Chang and stood waiting on the left side of the barrier gate. Tang Chang's name was called; he picked up the things he needed and walked in through the gate. Tang Xiyao could not follow, so he had no choice but to let him go.

Tang Chang had barely reached the door and was just about to step through when, without warning, two men in the pressing crowd shoved and jostled him, pushing him back to the rear. Tang Chang, finding himself pushed away, tried to force his way forward again. But someone at his side seemed to grip him tight, preventing him from moving forward — and with one heave and one clutch, he was shunted all the way out through the right side of the outer gate. Tang Chang was alarmed. He shouted out loudly, but with so many people and so much noise, the other boy candidates could only look to themselves; who had the attention to spare for him?

Tang Chang was about to shout again when from behind him a hand clamped his sleeve over his mouth. Unable to make a sound, he was dragged to a secluded side alley, where a torrent of fists and kicks rained down upon him. That spirited and accomplished young student — possessed of both grace and learning — was beaten to death on the spot. Who, you ask, had shown such viciousness? It was Tang Tu himself. Knowing that Tang Chang would enter the examination hall at the fifth watch, Tang Tu had gone with his elder son and mingled in the crowd near the Superintendent's gate, waiting for Tang Chang to arrive. As expected, Tang Chang appeared, and Tang Tu, father and son together, bundled him away and beat him to death.

When Tang Tu saw that he was dead, he was finally pleased with himself. He said to his son: "That mongrel is done for. Now the property is all yours. We must take advantage of the fact that it is not yet light and no one is about — carry him out of the city, and there will be nothing to worry about." He had his son hoist the body on his back. The city gates had only just opened; they walked straight out through the gate, and three li from the city they laid the body down beside a low earthen mound, covered it well with wild grass, and headed back home.

Now we come to this same day. Duan Ju had set out from the inn at the fifth watch and had been travelling along the road in a sedan chair. He reached a high mound, and when the chair-bearers grew too weary to continue, they set down the chair and went off to find water. Duan Ju, wanting to relieve himself, stepped out of the chair, told Chang Jian to keep watch over it, and walked down to the base of the mound. He had barely started when he suddenly heard a voice from somewhere in the pile of grass crying out: "Ayu! Ayu!" Duan Ju was startled. "In such a wild and desolate place," he said to himself, "how can there be someone calling out? This must be someone who set out early and has been murdered by robbers on the road!" He called out to Chang Jian: "Come here quickly!"

Chang Jian heard him and hurried over. Duan Ju pointed urgently: "There is someone calling in that grass — go and look." Chang Jian went at once to search but found no sign of anyone. "There is nobody here," he reported. Duan Ju heard this, and was just about to turn back when again he heard a voice — "Ayu! Ayu!" Duan Ju stopped where he stood: "Was that not a human voice? Did you hear it?" Chang Jian said: "Indeed it is a human voice. How very strange!" They stood still and listened, and again came the cry: "Ayu!" Chang Jian rushed over and saw, amid a heap of wild grass, the faintest glimpse of clothing. He called out: "He is here!" and yanked the grass away.

Duan Ju also came over, and there he saw a young boy student lying in the grass, his whole body covered in fresh blood. He drew closer and looked carefully: the student opened his eyes and cried out, "Ayu — save me!" Duan Ju asked at once: "Whose student are you? Why are you lying here in this place?" The student, hearing the question, let the tears stream from his eyes and could not speak. Duan Ju thought to himself: "From his dress, he is clearly no common person. Though his face is injured, his brows and eyes are very handsome. Only I do not know who has harmed him and left him here." He called Chang Jian to help the boy up. But the student could not stand at all; they had to lay him back down on the ground.

Duan Ju wanted to rescue him, to learn his story and send him home. But seeing wounds all over his body and finding him unable to speak — only weeping — Duan Ju thought further: "This student cannot be more than twelve or thirteen. What great enmity or great grievance could have brought him to this? Could it be that he was well-treated by earlier kin but has now suffered abuse at the hands of later ones? If I send him back now, it would be hurrying his death. Better that I take him along and nurse him back to health, then ask what happened and decide what to do." So he had Chang Jian carry the boy on his back, returned to the chair, and had the boy placed inside, while Duan Ju himself rode Chang Jian's donkey, and they all set off together.

At the river landing, Duan Ju, fearful that someone might notice him rescuing the student and that the situation might turn awkward for him, found it inconvenient to linger. Nor was it convenient to set out so early. He simply hired a boat going in the opposite direction, helped the student aboard into the cabin, and then sent Chang Jian to buy a good quantity of walnuts and some fine wine for the student to take. Then they cast off. It was fortunate that the Yellow River offered a following wind and flowing current, and within a day they reached Qingjiang Pu, where they changed to a smaller vessel. Chang Jian attended to the young student all the way. After nearly half a month the swelling had subsided and the wounds had faded; the student could take food and drink again, and could sit up and move about a little in the cabin. Duan Ju was greatly pleased and asked him: "What is your family name and given name? Why were you harmed so badly in this way?"

The student spoke with a thoroughly northern accent: "This student's surname is Tang and given name Chang. I was entering the examination hall to sit the tests when I was suddenly seized by people and beaten to death. I never dreamed that Your Honour would rescue me and nurse me back to health — a kindness as great as creating me a second time." When he finished speaking he bowed down low. Duan Ju quickly helped him up. "It was only that your fate had not yet run out, and that I happened to be there," he said. Then he asked: "At the time of the attack, could you make out who the people were?" Tang Chang replied: "It was dark and hard to tell, but I faintly heard a voice say: 'The property is ours now!'" Duan Ju said: "That is it, then. It was certainly people who plotted your death in order to seize your family property. How old are you this year?" Tang Chang said: "Thirteen this year." Duan Ju asked: "Since you were sitting the examinations, which of the Classics have you studied?" Tang Chang answered: "I am well versed in all Five Classics." Duan Ju then put a series of questions to him about the meaning of the texts, and Tang Chang answered each one readily, with perfect fluency.

Duan Ju was greatly delighted and thought to himself: "This child will have no small future ahead of him. I have no son of my own — why not take him in with affection as an adopted son? What would be the harm in that?" So he said: "Having come back from death to life as you have, and now following me more than two thousand li from your home, it would be very difficult to return. And even if I were to send you back, with this enemy still there, you would surely suffer harm again. I have now received the appointment of Jiao Yu — Education Officer — of Xinyu County in Linjiang Prefecture. Though I am going home first, I will take up the post before long. I have no heir to carry on after me, and I wish to take you as my adopted son. If you should make your way in the world later on, you can always seek out your origins again — there is no harm in that. What do you say in your heart?"

Tang Chang heard this and at once knelt down. "The life I have today is truly the gift of Your Honour's recreating grace — you are no less to me than the parents who gave me birth. How could I dare to be anything but a filial son?" He prostrated himself and bowed four times, saying: "From this day forward, though this son is unworthy, I place myself entirely in Father's hands to instruct and guide." Duan Ju was overjoyed and accepted his four bows. Thenceforth, on the boat, they called each other father and son. As it is rightly said:

What was clearly the peak of a father-in-law's mountain

Became instead the lineage of an adopted son carried far from home.

When the day comes that people say it could not have worked out better,

They will know that Heaven's design found its way to them with artful grace.

Duan Ju, Tang Chang, and Chang Jian arrived before many days at Duan Ju's home in Huating. Duan Ju had Tang Chang pay his respects to his mother, Madame Li, and explained to her everything — how he had rescued the boy on the road and taken him as an adopted son — one thing after another. Madame Li, seeing Tang Chang with his clear brows and bright eyes, took a great liking to him and was boundlessly happy. After Duan Ju returned home, a great many relatives and friends came to offer their congratulations on his receiving an official post. When the celebrations were over, Duan Ju took Madame Li and Tang Chang to sweep and pay respects at the ancestral graves.

Several more days passed, and presently servants came from Xinyu County in Lin'an Prefecture to meet and escort the new official. Duan Ju put his household affairs in order, entrusting the management to Chang Jian, who dared not decline. Duan Ju then boarded a boat together with Madame Li and his son Duan Chang and set off along the road to take up his post. All of this, from that point on, gave rise to the following:

The quiet official's study stands cold and solitary;

A kindred spirit's writings move him to repay the debt of grace.

What happened next? Listen to the following chapter for the explanation.