Chapter Forty-Six: The Zhou Rites and the Rituals of Ceremony

Zhang Yue tiptoed back to his room from outside the door. As he passed by the southern chamber, he overheard Zhang Shi conversing with Yu, prompting him to pause and listen. In the past, he would never have done so, but today was different.

He heard Zhang Shi say, "Third Brother is thirteen this year. It's time to arrange a marriage for him." Zhang Yue realized that the conversation indeed concerned him—his lifelong matter. His elder brother's words on New Year's Eve were not just idle talk.

Yu replied, "When Second Uncle was twenty, you weren't in a hurry. Why are you pressing about Third Uncle when he's only thirteen?"

Zhang Shi answered, "You don't understand. Second Uncle is a county school scholar, the most talented of the county, but Third Uncle is different. In three years, he'll be sixteen and come of age."

Yu said, "Right, Second Uncle can be exempted from labor service, but Third Brother cannot. If he comes of age at sixteen, our family will be classified as a double labor household. No wonder you're so anxious."

Zhang Shi sighed, "That's why I want Third Brother to marry early and set up his own household. You know how heavy the taxes and labor are nowadays. Though Xu the Constable looks after us in the yamen, who knows when the county might get strict?"

Yu said, "But how can we find a good match for Third Brother? Our family is hardly appealing for decent families. And if we split households, there needs to be somewhere to live. Right now, we can't even afford a dowry, let alone another house."

Zhang Shi sighed deeply, "That's exactly my difficulty. Let me think it over."

Soon, the sound of clothing rustling came from the room.

"Where are you going?"

Zhang Shi replied, "To Xu the Constable's place for drinks. You don't have to wait up for me tonight."

"How can you just leave at a moment's notice?"

Zhang Yue quickly returned to his own room, listening as Zhang Shi opened the door and left.

The night was starlit, like a field of grains.

In a shabby alley, a ramshackle house covered by a tattered cloth curtain echoed with the shouts and calls of gamblers.

Among the crowd, Zhang Shi stood at the gambling table, face flushed and ears burning. He had been here for countless nights, uncertain why, but a few days ago luck had favored him—he'd win a coin or two each night. Tonight, however, he'd lost everything, and desperate to recoup his losses, he'd borrowed ten coins from the gambling den. He refused to believe his bad luck would persist.

"Pure! Pure!" Zhang Shi shouted, eyes wide, "If you won't do it, I'll roll myself!"

The others laughed, "Let Master Zhang decide for himself then."

Zhang Shi muttered, "If I roll myself, it won't be like this. My fate is mine to command!"

He rolled with all his might, then cast the coins onto the ground.

"Ha! All tails! Master Zhang, you rolled yourself—can't blame us!"

Sweat rolled down his forehead as he slammed the table in frustration.

The others jumped, "Master Zhang, what are you doing?"

"It's been tails all night, that's never happened before!"

"Who can say? You're tired, Master Zhang. Sit and rest awhile."

Zhang Shi shook his head, "Gamble again! Again!"

"But you have no money. You already owe us ten coins."

"No," Zhang Shi snarled, "I'll go wash my hands. Next round, I'll roll myself, and it will be pure."

"But what about the money?"

"Let me borrow again. I'll pay you back as soon as I win."

"We only lend up to ten coins."

"No, I saw Master Xue borrow fifty coins from you the other day!"

The gamblers exchanged glances.

One spoke gently, "Master Zhang, let me advise you: if you lack the luck, don't come here. If you lose it all, what will your family eat? Over these days, you've won and lost in equal measure. Take my advice and quit while you can!"

Zhang Shi suddenly realized, "Yes, what about my wife and Xie'er? If I lose everything, how can I face them? I'm useless!"

He fled the gambling den, lost and panicked, unsure where to go. At the alley's entrance stood two people—his wife Yu, holding Zhang Qiu, watching him.

"Wife, Xie'er... I..." Zhang Shi burst into tears.

"Father!"

At the other end of the alley, Zhang Yue watched the scene, unable to bear it and turned away.

Peng Jingyi hurried up: "This is Elder Brother's IOU. Good thing you noticed early, or disaster would have followed."

Zhang Yue looked at the ten-coin note and said, "Who is really behind all this?"

Peng Jingyi replied, "Don't worry about it. Those small fry just follow orders. Even if you beat them, what's the use? It's lucky you recovered the money. Don't stir up trouble now, focus on studying under Master Boyi. When you succeed in the future, you can settle accounts with them."

Zhang Yue glanced at Zhang Shi's family and nodded, "Very well, help me keep this from Elder Brother for now."

He believed Yu could handle Zhang Shi. After handing the IOU to Yu, he counted the days: soon it would be the fifth day of the new year, time to return to Wu Creek to study.

On the fourth day, Scholar Zhuang visited Zhang Yue again. As usual, they closed the door for their conversation.

Scholar Zhuang began directly, "I've heard that Master Boyi has taken on a new disciple who can understand his seal script. Is that you?"

Zhang Yue nodded, "Indeed. What guidance do you have for me, Scholar Zhuang?"

Upon confirmation, Scholar Zhuang grew solemn, "I never expected you would become Master Boyi's disciple. I must pay my respects."

Zhang Yue understood what Scholar Zhuang was thinking. He had assumed that Zhang Yue, being under Master Guo, would have no way to meet the academic director of the prefectural school. But now that Zhang Yue studied under Zhang Youzhi, introductions to such people were possible.

The Zhang clan had produced many high officials and dignitaries; Zhang Youzhi could refer Zhang Yue to a few influential figures.

Thus, Scholar Zhuang had lost a great opportunity.

Seeing Scholar Zhuang's regretful expression, Zhang Yue thought: this connection must not be severed.

After all, the clan school had not formally accepted his discipleship yet. The opportunity was still uncertain.

Moreover, Scholar Zhuang was Zhang Qiu's teacher. Some people cannot help others, but are quick to harm. Out of caution, if he had ties to the prefectural director, he could still cause trouble.

Zhang Yue coughed lightly, "Scholar Zhuang, you are my benefactor. Without you, I would never have realized that my casual three-character poem qualified me for the child prodigy exam."

Scholar Zhuang was delighted, "You are truly a man of gratitude."

Zhang Yue continued, "But my learning is not yet solid. If I really attend the child prodigy exam, my abilities may not match the reputation, which would tarnish your name as a judge of talent. What should I do?"

Scholar Zhuang said, "You can apply first. Leave it all to me..."

"Not wise, not wise."

"Perhaps wait a few more days?"

"Indeed."

Zhang Yue smiled, "Rest assured, Scholar Zhuang, whether or not I am Master Boyi's disciple, you will not miss out on your reward."

Reward, yes, but its magnitude would depend.

He sent Scholar Zhuang away. The next day, Zhang Yue packed his belongings and headed back to Wu Creek.

The Southern Peak Academy would not open until after the start of spring, but Master Guo summoned him back on the fifth day.

The reason was simple: in March, the county school would hold admissions.

Guo Lin was determined to seize this opportunity, and as for Zhang Yue, Master Guo also wanted him to try his luck.

The county school was divided into the Classic Studies Hall and the Scholar's Hall.

The Classic Studies Hall focused on the Nine Classics, or Five Classics, while the Scholar's Hall was for those pursuing the imperial scholar's path.

The imperial scholar's path promised far greater prospects, a fact well known.

If one perused the history of the Song Dynasty, examining the biographies of high officials, one would find almost none from common backgrounds—most were descendants of officials or renowned families.

Most eminent officials in the Song Dynasty were imperial scholars.

Thus, it was clear that candidates for the imperial scholar's path were invariably wealthy or noble.

For those without connections, only the various classics offered a glimmer of hope. But even that was relative; for the classics, those with no connections at all still had little chance.

Guo Lin and Zhang Yue, naturally, both applied for the Classic Studies Hall.

On his arrival at Wu Creek, Master Guo addressed them: "Listen well to every word I say. During the New Year, I visited the county school director, who told me that this year's admissions will take five from the Scholar's Hall and ten from the Classic Studies Hall."

Zhang Yue thought, for a county of seventy to eighty thousand people, those numbers were neither too many nor too few.

"The imperial court selects scholars by examining their grasp of the classics and their literary talent. If you write the classics with not a single mistake, no one can replace you, but if you make even one error, someone else may take your place."

Zhang Yue thought, damn, so everything must be perfect—who can guarantee that?

It's as if memorizing a book is easy, but memorizing it without a single mistake is ten times harder.

Moreover, the imperial decree stipulated that writing on the classics required passing ten sections with six correct to qualify—this was the provincial exam standard.

Those with ambition could consider this carefully...

For students without connections, to enter the county school, they must reduce mistakes to zero.

No wonder none of Master Guo's disciples had ever passed the county school exam.

Seeing Guo Lin and Zhang Yue’s expressions, Master Guo’s face showed a hint of pity, and after a moment he said, "At most, you can miss one or two questions. With just ten spots, all the county’s sons are watching."

County school students were often called Talented or Distinguished Scholars.

These titles originated from the Han Dynasty's recommendation system, like the Filial and Honest, where counties with less than 100,000 people would recommend one every three years; less than 200,000, one every two years; 200,000, one per year; 400,000, two per year.

Filial and Honest was a county-level recommendation, so numbers were few; Talented was a prefectural recommendation, so numbers were higher.

But the recommendation system eventually became corrupt, as that famous saying goes: "They recommend Talented Scholars who are illiterate, and Filial and Honest ones whose fathers live elsewhere." The Song Dynasty's examination system, though flawed, was an improvement.

But Song county school students were the talents of their region, hence called Talented Scholars.

The Song Dynasty provided generous policies for county school students, varying by county.

In Pu County, for instance, county school students were exempt from labor service. The Song labor laws were so harsh that in Fujian, there was a custom not to raise sons—a surplus of male infants would be abandoned by their parents.

This was why Zhang Shi had earlier suggested early marriage for thirteen-year-old Zhang Yue: once married, he could establish his own household. Otherwise, when Zhang Yue became sixteen and came of age, the labor duty could ruin a prosperous family.

Moreover, one-third of Pu County’s school students received monthly rice rations, each had a set of scholar’s robes, and lodging.

Most important was the background behind county school students. Why are elite universities prized? Beyond intelligence, it’s about connections—classmates, teachers, future contacts.

Master Guo added, "This year’s exam questions have not been posted, but the director has quietly told me. For the Classic Studies Hall, besides the compulsory exams on the Classic of Filial Piety and Analects, you can choose any five from the Nine Classics."

"Third Brother, you’re familiar with the Easy, Book, and Poetry, but have not studied the Three Rites or Three Commentaries. You have a talent for memorization, so in these two months, you can learn two more classics."

Zhang Yue nodded. Among the Nine Classics, he had not read the Three Rites or Three Commentaries; he would have to choose two of these for the exam.

Master Guo said, "Only two months, and mastering two classics is tough. The Book of Rites is the longest, so skip the Zuo Commentary. Third Brother, you should first study the Rituals of Zhou, the Etiquette and Ceremonies, the Gongyang, and the Guliang."

Zhang Yue knew that the Book of Rites and Zuo Commentary each had 200,000 characters—a massive undertaking, especially with commentary. The Rituals of Zhou and Etiquette, Gongyang, and Guliang were only forty to fifty thousand characters; with intensive effort, he could manage them in two months.

Finally, Zhang Yue wondered if he entered the clan’s Southern Peak Academy, would he still need to take the county school exam?

The answer was yes—just for the exemption from labor service, he had to.

The Southern Peak Academy housed only official sons, who were always exempt, but he was not. There was no help for it—the Song was unfair that way. If he entered the academy and turned sixteen, what then?

He could not avoid labor by studying at the academy, and his elder brother would have to take his place.

So entering the county school was better than the clan academy.

Thinking this, Zhang Yue replied, "Then I’ll choose the Rituals of Zhou and Etiquette and Ceremonies."

Master Guo was surprised, and Guo Lin asked, "Why not choose one from the Three Rites and one from the Three Commentaries?"

Zhang Yue answered, "Since you can choose any five from the Nine Classics, why stick to one from Spring and Autumn and one from the Book of Rites? Besides, Gongyang and Guliang overlap, and examiners may dislike that. So I choose the Rituals of Zhou and Etiquette."

Master Guo and Guo Lin nodded, seeing that Zhang Yue’s reasoning was truly unconventional.

The Rituals of Zhou, the Lesser Book of Rites, and Etiquette and Ceremonies were collectively called the Three Rites.

Zheng Xuan wrote commentaries on all three, collectively called the Three Rites Commentaries. Though Zheng Xuan annotated all the classics and histories, his deepest expertise was in the Three Rites. Their prominence owed much to his exposition of ritual meaning.

By contrast, the commentaries on Gongyang and Guliang were less standardized, and easy to fault in exams.

Now Zhang Yue had to master the Rituals of Zhou, Etiquette and Ceremonies, and their commentaries in two months.