Chapter Eight: The Three Character Classic

Hearing Xu Captain’s words, Zhang Yue and Lady Yu both pricked up their ears.

Zhang Shi, standing nearby, said with a mixture of doubt and curiosity, “Oh? Please, Brother Xu, tell us in detail.”

Lady Yu added, “Shi Lang, ask Captain Xu if he’s eaten yet. I’ll prepare some wine and dishes—invite him in so we can talk over a meal?”

But from outside the door, Xu Captain laughed, “I still have official duties, I wouldn’t dare impose. I’ll say a few words and be on my way.”

Zhang Shi said, “May I ask, Captain, wasn’t the case of our shop’s arson already settled by the magistrate? How come there’s talk of a reversal?”

Xu Captain replied, “The case was settled, and the county has already compiled the written report. However, it’s the busy season, so by custom, cases can’t be sent to the prefecture for judgment. Thus, the report hasn’t been forwarded yet.”

“Then who overturned the case?” Zhang Shi pressed.

Xu Captain said, “After your family’s shop was burned, there were whispers that something was amiss. The yamen investigated openly and in secret, and finally uncovered that Wu Silks Merchant colluded with your servant Qiao San to orchestrate it. Their aim was to extort a sum of money from your Zhang family.”

“Qiao San?” Zhang Shi looked utterly incredulous. “He actually betrayed us?”

Xu Captain answered, “The case is now solved. Wu Silks Merchant is on the run, whereabouts unknown. The magistrate has ordered a deadline for capture, and Qiao San is currently held in the county jail, awaiting the magistrate’s judgment.”

Zhang Shi murmured, “Qiao San must have been confused for a moment, I fear…”

Lady Yu, who had been listening, could no longer restrain herself, and stepped forward, “I warned long ago that Qiao San was unreliable, addicted to gambling. Shi Lang never heeded me, saying Qiao San was foolish but grateful and loyal. And now, will you plead for him with the magistrate?”

Zhang Shi replied, “Qiao San was always loyal to me. But Wu Silks Merchant fled—didn’t he take the money with him?”

Xu Captain smiled, “The money wasn’t recovered, but we did find Wu Silks Merchant’s six bundles of genuine silk that were supposed to be burned.”

Zhang Yue thought to himself: Why would Wu Silks Merchant flee before settling the silk accounts? Something seemed odd. Yet he recalled that the yamen always left loose ends when handling cases; they never resolved everything at once.

Hearing the silk had been recovered, Zhang Shi felt reassured and immediately cursed, “That merchant is truly…”

Xu Captain said, “I heard the news and came to inform you. Tomorrow, the magistrate will summon you for questioning.”

Zhang Shi, despite everything, felt more joy than anything else. “I can hardly believe it—such a reversal! All thanks to Captain Xu’s loyalty! Truly, I don’t know how to express my gratitude.”

Zhang Shi bowed to Xu Captain.

Xu Captain gave him a meaningful look, “Eh, after so many years of friendship, how could I not bear you in mind?”

Zhang Yue responded with a series of cold laughs.

After a pause, Xu Captain continued, “But to be honest, the one who really brought things to light was County Officer Peng.”

“Oh? Why would Officer Peng help us? I don’t understand.”

“I only know a little, not enough to explain. One day, eldest brother, you’ll understand,” said Xu Captain. “Earlier, you offended Registrar Zhao, and I couldn’t help much. These past days, I’ve felt uneasy about it. I’ll come another day to apologize properly to you and sister-in-law.”

Zhang Shi replied, “There’s no need for that. When this is over, I’ll host a banquet for you, Captain Xu.”

“Very well, very well. The yamen has other matters, so I’ll take my leave.”

“Safe travels, Captain!”

Zhang Shi returned to the house, his face alight with joy.

Lady Yu immediately cautioned, “Don’t celebrate too soon. Why would the county officer help us? And the money we lost—will the yamen let us offset it with six bundles of raw silk? The magistrate may be high and mighty, but officials protect each other. Would he risk offending Registrar Zhao to uphold justice for us?”

Zhang Shi nodded, “My lady speaks wisely.”

Lady Yu’s anger subsided somewhat.

Zhang Qiu, seeing his parents smile again, grew lively.

Zhang Shi said, “Tomorrow I’ll go to the yamen to see—whatever happens, it’s worth a try… Sometimes you can’t think too well or too poorly of people.”

Zhang Yue, listening, wondered whether he spoke of Xu Captain or someone else.

The next morning, Zhang Yue slept in as usual, not rising until the sun was high.

It appeared he intended to carry his daytime slumber to its limits.

In earlier years, his father and brothers had high hopes for Zhang Yue, wishing the family would produce another scholar.

Second brother Zhang Xu, tasked by their elders to tutor Zhang Yue, was so exasperated he declared him “a rotten wood that cannot be carved, a dung wall that cannot be plastered,” and refused to teach him further.

From then on, Zhang Yue abandoned all attempts.

Busybodies made jokes about the two brothers: they said Zhang Xu was a prodigy, usually resting with his eyes closed during lessons, but whenever he opened them, the teacher knew he’d made a mistake. As for Zhang Yue, he was equally remarkable—in his case, every time he opened his eyes, the teacher knew it was time to dismiss the class.

Zhang Yue listened for a while and realized Zhang Qiu was reading elementary primers—“Essential Instructions for Beginners” and “The Hundred Family Surnames.”

“The Hundred Family Surnames” originated in the early Song dynasty, its first line—Zhao, Qian, Sun, Li—referring to the Zhao family of the Song emperors, King Qian Shu of Wu-Yue, Consort Sun, and the Li family of Southern Tang.

“The Thousand Character Classic” was compiled even earlier, commissioned by Emperor Wu of Liang and written by Assistant Cavalry Attendant Zhou Xingsi, who supposedly turned his hair white overnight from the effort of composing a thousand unique characters.

It was a marvel of literary ingenuity: “limited in characters yet coherent and flawless, with elegant phrasing and artistry, truly a wonder to behold.”

What did ancient elementary schools (the “primary learning”) teach?

Mainly literacy. In the Qin dynasty, there was “Three Cangs,” compiling over 3,300 essential characters in small seal script.

But “Three Cangs” was too difficult for beginners and has long been lost.

After the Han, the “Rapid Attainment Text” became popular. The idea was to quickly master difficult characters—essentially, a crash course in literacy.

But the “Rapid Attainment Text” was also challenging since it used seven-character lines.

Children needed to know two thousand characters before reading the classics. In other words, the minimum literacy for beginners was two thousand characters. The “Hundred Family Surnames” and “Thousand Character Classic” alone weren’t enough; primary learning also required a miscellaneous character book.

For example, “Essential Instructions for Beginners” was such a book.

These miscellaneous books taught daily knowledge and were commonly used in village schools during winter studies. Winter studies meant sending children to school in October, when farm work slowed, for two or three months of reading.

Winter study didn’t even qualify as proper primary learning; it was mainly for learning a few characters. Reading a few miscellaneous books and the “Hundred Family Surnames” sufficed—such materials were called “village books.”

Children truly aiming for the imperial exams wouldn’t attend winter school.

As the eldest grandson, Zhang Qiu was carefully nurtured; at his young age, he’d already read the “Hundred Family Surnames” and “Essential Instructions for Beginners,” but not yet the “Thousand Character Classic”—his primary learning was only halfway complete.

As for himself, though expelled from school, Zhang Yue had at least finished basic primary learning. But if he wanted to pursue the imperial exams, it was time to find a capable teacher to study the classics and begin writing essays.

Back when the Zhangs were comfortable, they could afford schooling for all three brothers. Now, with the family so poor they might have to sell the house, how could Zhang Yue bring it up? Yet if he didn’t, wouldn’t he waste his gift for learning?

At this moment, Zhang Qiu sat by the window with his little stool, book on his lap. By the time Zhang Yue got up, Zhang Qiu had already studied for over an hour—a diligence that made Zhang Yue sweat with shame.

He was a grown man, yet not even as diligent as a child.

“Third Uncle, did my reading disturb your sleep?” Zhang Qiu blinked up at him.

Zhang Yue felt a little embarrassed. “Not really; your uncle always sleeps soundly.”

“Okay. Father and mother say it’s bad to nap during the day.”

“It’s good that you don’t nap.”

“Yes, Mother told me never to imitate Third Uncle.”

Well, children speak truthfully.

Zhang Yue switched topics: “Qiu’er, has your father returned yet?”

He thought his brother must have gone to the yamen early to seek news, but wondered if there was any progress.

“Father left early. Oh, Third Uncle, can you teach me the Thousand Character Classic someday?”

Zhang Qiu looked up.

“Of course!”

“Teach me now, Uncle!”

Though he’d mastered the Thousand Character Classic long ago, Zhang Yue’s mind drifted to another famous primer.

Seeing Zhang Qiu’s eager face, Zhang Yue said, “Qiu’er, let me teach you: ‘At birth, man’s nature is good. Their natures are similar, but habits set them apart.’”

Zhang Qiu thought for a moment, “Uncle, that’s not the Thousand Character Classic, it’s the Three Character Classic.”

“Correct, Uncle is teaching you a Three Character Classic verse,” Zhang Yue laughed. “Qiu’er, you’re very clever.”

“‘At birth, man’s nature is good’ means people are born with a good nature. People’s natures are similar, but their habits differ.”

Zhang Qiu recited, “‘At birth, man’s nature is good. Their natures are similar, but habits set them apart.’ I understand. Is there a next line?”

Zhang Yue nodded, “Yes, listen: ‘If not taught, nature will change. The way of teaching values dedication.’”

“If not guided, the nature turns bad; and the way of teaching values focus.”

“I understand, Uncle. It means we must study well from childhood and heed our teachers.”

Zhang Yue smiled, “That’s right. ‘Mencius’s mother chose their neighbors. When her child neglected study, she cut the loom.’”

“This is a story—Mencius’s mother, to help him study, moved house three times. When he played instead of studying, she cut her weaving to teach him…”

Zhang Yue recited a few lines; Zhang Qiu was already able to memorize them.

Seeing his nephew so bright, Zhang Yue felt delighted and wanted to teach more, but Lady Yu’s voice called from downstairs, “Uncle, breakfast is ready.”

“Teach me more, Uncle!” Zhang Qiu pleaded.

Zhang Yue laughed, “Six lines are enough for today. I’ll teach you more tomorrow!”

“You mustn’t forget, Uncle.”

Zhang Yue smiled, “You’re so eager to learn, I’m happier than ever.”

“Qiu’er, is Father back yet?”

Lady Yu urged from beside the stairway.

Zhang Yue realized Lady Yu was intentionally interrupting his conversation with Zhang Qiu. How tiresome, always afraid he’d “mislead the child.” Did she really see him as so hopeless?

Well, perhaps she had reason.

Thinking this, Zhang Yue whispered to Zhang Qiu, “Qiu’er, don’t tell your mother I taught you the Three Character Classic.”

Zhang Qiu nodded sensibly, “I understand. Mother doesn’t like you teaching me.”

What an honest child!

Zhang Yue forced a smile, “Go on, then!”

Zhang Qiu dashed downstairs and opened the door, exclaiming joyfully, “Father has really returned!”

Zhang Yue followed, and Lady Yu rushed to the door, “Husband…”

Everyone saw Zhang Shi standing at the door, hands behind his back, looking troubled.

Lady Yu put down her rag and stepped forward, “Husband, the yamen… You’re home, that’s all that matters.”

Zhang Shi said nothing.

Zhang Qiu hid behind Zhang Yue, silent. Zhang Yue felt puzzled, but noticed Zhang Shi’s hands behind his back—he revealed a bottle of wine and gave a fleeting look, and Zhang Yue immediately understood.

Zhang Yue played along, “Brother, what did the magistrate say? If it didn’t work out, we’ll look for another way.”

Zhang Shi sighed, “What way? What other options?”

Yet Zhang Yue clearly saw joy in Zhang Shi’s eyes, impossible to conceal.

Lady Yu threw down her rag, gloomily, “If we don’t get the money, this house will have to be sold, and there’ll be nowhere for us in Pucheng.”

“Don’t be sad, Mother, you still have Qiu’er,” Zhang Qiu said, tugging at her skirt.

Lady Yu forced a smile, “I’m not sad, just disappointed. Can we really trust Captain Xu?”

Suddenly, Zhang Shi gave a strange smile, and from behind his back produced a bottle of wine and a package of lotus leaf chicken. “Wife, look—what’s this?”

“You bought wine and food? Wait—could it be…?”

“I pretended just now, but the magistrate overturned our case!” Zhang Shi looked triumphant.

Lady Yu was overjoyed, her eyes reddened, and she punched Zhang Shi’s shoulder, “You scoundrel, at a time like this, you tease me!”

Zhang Shi laughed, “That punch was strong—I can barely stand it.”

“It’d be best if it killed you, so you’d never come home and let Third Brother see us making fools of ourselves.” Lady Yu wiped her tears, finally smiling through them.

“You cry and laugh in turn, Qiu’er must think us a joke now.”

Zhang Yue and Zhang Qiu laughed quietly at the side.

Zhang Shi handed the food to Lady Yu, “Quick, warm the wine and cook a few good dishes—let’s sit together as a family and talk over a meal.”

Zhang Qiu jumped for joy, “Wonderful, we get meat today!”

Everyone laughed at his words.