Examination

Li Zhuang was a decent man. At noon, he took a flatbread from the kitchen and pressed it into Shao Shuyi’s hand, saying, “Eat first.” His voice was as ever hoarse, rough as flying wood shavings. Shao Shuyi found a pile of wood, sat down, and ate the flatbread. His mood had calmed considerably. At least there were no constables or soldiers inside the Zheng family boatyard; for the time being, he was safe—only for the time being. People came and went in the boatyard, and from time to time someone cast a glance at him. Some he had met a few times even teased him, saying they would introduce him to someone as a live-in son-in-law. Shao Shuyi smiled wryly, and at the same time felt a spark of hope, though he did not know if anyone would look favorably on him—compared to selling himself into slavery, being a low-status live-in son-in-law seemed somewhat better. “Actually, it’s not a bad place.” Li Zhuang sat down as well, speaking in a low voice. Shao Shuyi turned to look at him, listening quietly. “Naturally not to a destitute household; they need at least some modest means.” Li Zhuang continued: “At least you can fill your belly. Be honest, help them continue the family line, take on miscellaneous corvée duties, and after ten years you can return to your natal family.” “What does ‘return to your natal family’ mean?” Shao Shuyi asked. Li Zhuang looked at him somewhat strangely and said: “Naturally, it means divorce and going home.” Shao Shuyi found it novel, and asked again: “You still have to return to your natal family? Isn’t that becoming a husband and wife? Can’t they spend a lifetime together?” “That’s called an old-age son-in-law; it’s different.” Li Zhuang said: “Actually, you’re right. Returning to your natal family is disadvantageous, because you can’t take anything with you.” Leave with nothing! Four large characters lit up in Shao Shuyi’s mind. It seemed this live-in son-in-law arrangement was a trap. Being a long-term hired hand still meant wages; but you—ten years of working yourself to death, not a single copper in wages, and upon leaving you couldn’t share in the family property, with no compensation whatsoever. But he had no choice now, did he? If someone was willing to take him in as a live-in son-in-law, he should count himself lucky. Li Zhuang’s cloudy eyes swept over Shao Shuyi; seeing no reaction, he dropped the matter and asked instead: “Where have you been these past few days?” “Looking for work in the city,” Shao Shuyi answered. “Not easy to find, is it?” Li Zhuang asked. Without waiting for Shao Shuyi to answer, he continued: “It seems there was fighting somewhere last year, the court was urgently demanding levies, and the market has become much more depressed. Business is hard to do, and consequently fewer people are being hired.” “Fighting?” Shao Shuyi was startled. Had the late Yuan peasant uprisings broken out? That shouldn’t be. But he soon understood. Just as a series of geological disasters might precede a great earthquake, before a large-scale uprising there would certainly be localized peasant rebellions confined to one corner, numerous but small in scale, overall flaring up here and there. At this stage, the Yuan court could still grit its teeth and suppress them. But as the situation continued to worsen, it would ultimately become unmanageable and bring down the entire Yuan dynasty. After realizing this, he felt somewhat relieved, yet also had an inexplicable disappointment—perhaps related to what had just happened to him; he was truly conflicted. Li Zhuang did not have Shao Shuyi’s advantage of standing on the heights of history overlooking the earth; he could only judge based on unreliable hearsay and half a lifetime of experience. So at this moment he merely said: “No need to worry too much; it should be suppressed soon. But times are hard; if you want to find a position with a wealthy household or shop, it won’t be easy.” Shao Shuyi grunted in acknowledgment. He really had no mood for such thoughts now. He only wished to find a place to stay as soon as possible, just to have something to eat. Everything else could wait; survival came first. Li Zhuang was about to say more when he saw three people approaching in the distance and immediately exchanged a meaningful glance. Shao Shuyi looked up and saw Zheng Song walking alongside an old man with a striking goatee, speaking in low voices. Behind them came a burly middle-aged man with a scar on his brow, looking quite intimidating. Li Zhuang tugged Shao Shuyi and pulled him forward to salute. The three stopped. Zheng Song did not look at Shao Shuyi; he only looked around at the several riverboats under construction, and only after a long while withdrew his gaze. “Master Craftsman Li, can they be completed before the seventh month?” Zheng Song’s gaze rested on Shao Shuyi for only a moment before quickly fixing on Li Zhuang as he asked. “I’m afraid that’s difficult.” Li Zhuang pondered for a moment and replied honestly: “Perhaps by mid-August.” Zheng Song furrowed his brow. He disliked things not under his control, because they produced variables that disrupted the whole plan. But he also understood that shipbuilding was no simple task; a delay of just over a month was already quite difficult, especially with insufficient money, materials, and labor. Moreover, the boats built would be court-purchased by the government for use on the canals, with no profit and possibly an obvious loss, so a delay didn’t matter. “Make it as soon as possible,” he nodded. “Yes.” Li Zhuang returned the salute respectfully. Zheng Song finally fixed his gaze on Shao Shuyi and said: “I’ve seen you before. Once at the Sea Transport Granary, twice at the charity granary, and today is the third time, right?” “Yes.” Shao Shuyi also saluted and replied. “Judging by your appearance, you must have fled for your life through the night?” Zheng Song stepped closer, examined him carefully, and asked expressionlessly. “Yes.” Shao Shuyi had nothing to hide and answered directly. “Pursued by the Crossroads Army?” Zheng Song asked. Shao Shuyi was stunned, not quite understanding. “‘The Myriad Household Office guarding the crossroads of Pingjiang.’” The scar-faced man who had come with Zheng Song spoke up: “The Great Capital Battalion is one of ten Guard Battalions under the Crossroads Army; you don’t even know that?” Shao Shuyi suddenly understood; this was the superior organ of the Great Capital Battalion that he had guessed. It sounded like the Yuan troops in Pingjiang Circuit were precisely this so-called Crossroads Army, with ten Guard Battalions under it; the Great Capital Battalion stationed in Taicang was one of them. And if his guess was correct, the first batch of soldiers in this Guard Battalion probably came from Dadu, though he didn’t know which generation it was now—after all, Yuan military households were hereditary. “Alright, Sixth Brother, say a little less.” Zheng Song stopped the scar-faced man, looked at Shao Shuyi, and asked: “At the end of your rope?” “Yes.” Shao Shuyi’s face turned slightly red. Zheng Song stared at him for a long time, then suddenly asked: “In the sixth month of the twenty-third year of Zhiyuan, Chancellor An Tong and others memorialized that it was decided to requisition horses in Han regions: two out of every three horses taken, yielding 102,000 horses. How many horses did the Han regions possess at that time?” As he asked, his eyes watched Shao Shuyi closely, as if observing his subtle movements. “153,000 horses.” Shao Shuyi almost failed to react, but answered instinctively. Zheng Song turned to look at the old man with the goatee who had come with him. The old man pondered for a moment and nodded: “Indeed 153,000. But at that time, Muslims, Uyghurs, military households, idle residents, and wealthy households had two out of three taken, while Han people had all their horses requisitioned. Properly speaking—” “Enough.” Zheng Song waved his hand and continued: “After the ban on killing was lifted on the fifteenth of last month, the Transport Office bought sheep at the Sheep and Horse Market, spending 85 dings of Zhongtong chao. The commission is three per hundred; how much commission should the Transport Office pay?” Shao Shuyi thought for a moment and replied: “127 guan and 500 wen.” Zheng Song looked at the old man again. Perhaps this was an impromptu question and he did not know the answer in advance; the old man hesitated, muttering under his breath: “Three per hundred… thirty per thousand… one hundred taels should be three taels. Eighty-five dings of chao calculate to four thousand… four thousand two hundred fifty taels; the commission should be one hundred twenty… one hundred twenty-six… one hundred twenty-six taels and five mace… hmm, that’s not right, one hundred twenty-seven taels and five mace.” Listening to the old man’s entire calculation process, Shao Shuyi inexplicably breathed a quiet sigh of relief. When he calculated, he simply multiplied 42.5 by 3 in his mind and quickly got the answer; it wasn’t that hard, was it? Still, perhaps this old man could calculate faster with tools, but mental arithmetic was difficult for him. Zheng Song had not actually calculated it, but he observed; seeing that both men named the same amount, he understood. At this point, his gaze was no longer reserved; when he looked at Shao Shuyi, there was considerable scrutiny, even some suspicion. “Little lad, have you read books?” he asked softly. “I’ve read for a few days,” Shao Shuyi replied without changing expression. “Your family lives near the Sea Transport Granary, right? Who taught you?” “Mr. Yu,” Shao Shuyi answered. Zheng Song looked at Li Zhuang. Li Zhuang hesitated, then said: “There is indeed a Mr. Yu in East Second District; he passed away last year. It is said he had the bearing of an ancient benevolent man and taught anyone willing to learn. The children from several districts around Zhangjing have all benefited from him; even my worthless son went to study for a few days, but unfortunately had no talent and couldn’t learn anything.” Zheng Song nodded slightly. Shao Shuyi breathed a sigh of relief. Mr. Yu was a real person, and his original self had indeed attended school for a few days, though he hadn’t learned anything, quit halfway, and went home to help tend sheep. “Can you write?” Zheng Song asked. “Yes.” “Do you have family?” “Both parents dead. Years ago, an older sister married in Jiangyin Prefecture, and there has been no news for many years. Also a younger sister who died of illness last year.” “Clansmen?” “Perhaps some of the previous generation in Jiangyin; I’m not sure.” Zheng Song remained expressionless and said nothing. Just as Shao Shuyi felt uneasy, Zheng Song suddenly smiled and said: “Why should I help you escape? By regulation, encountering runaway delinquent households like you should mean delivering you to the authorities.” This came out of the blue, but Shao Shuyi understood. There is no causeless hatred, nor causeless love. When you are at the end of your rope, others helping you is a favor; not helping is their duty. More plainly, what do you have that is worth helping? What can you offer the other side? At this moment, he seemed to understand something; his heart was filled with desolation, yet his face showed a resolute expression as he said: “I still have one life; I can sell it to you, sir.” Zheng Song stood with his hands clasped behind his back, raised his head to look at the sky, and said: “There are many people in this world willing to sell their lives; they are not worth much.” “But few are willing to sell their lives who can also keep accounts and do arithmetic,” Shao Shuyi said. “The Zheng family may have such people, but their lives are worth more than mine; to squander them recklessly would be a pity, wouldn’t it?” Zheng Song withdrew his gaze and made a sound of acknowledgment. “Thirteenth Brother, if this person is delivered to the authorities and thrown in jail, with no one to look after him, he won’t even be able to snatch a bowl of sour rice and will surely die,” the scar-faced man suddenly said. “Ning’s niece has just recovered from a serious illness, and Third She Zheng has invited monks to pray for her. At this juncture, if we can help, we should help.” Zheng Song’s expression shifted slightly. Shao Shuyi held his breath and waited patiently. I don’t know how long passed before Zheng Song said: “Come here three days from now, early, and I’ll take you on a trip to Liujiagang.” After saying that, he turned and left. The old man gently stroked his goatee, glanced at Shao Shuyi with a pitying look, and also turned and left. The scar-faced man chuckled softly and said in a low voice: “Don’t die, alright.” Zheng Song looked back at him. The scar-faced man snickered, quickened his pace, and slipped away. Li Zhuang looked at Shao Shuyi with a joyful expression, perhaps mixed with some complexity. Shao Shuyi felt his strength leave him, as if his spirit and energy had been completely exhausted in that moment. He turned his head and gave Li Zhuang a forced smile.