Chapter Ninety-Five: To Become a Great Tree, One Must Not Compete With Grass
The next day, Zhang Yue and He Qi arrived at the Wu residence around the same time.
They met with the steward of the study tower, who was already wearing a broad smile.
“Gentlemen have arrived,” he greeted warmly.
Zhang Yue and He Qi exchanged a glance before bowing respectfully. “Steward, thank you for your courtesy.”
The steward opened the door wider. “You are esteemed guests of the eldest young master. I must apologize for any past neglect—it was my oversight.”
Zhang Yue was somewhat puzzled.
He Qi, however, replied graciously, “Steward, please do not say that. It is we who have intruded and caused you trouble. We are the ones who should feel apologetic.”
The steward chuckled. “He Qi, you speak so well. Please, come inside.”
The two men entered the room.
They immediately noticed some changes in the study tower. Beside each writing desk where they were to copy texts sat a brazier filled with smokeless charcoal, and not far off was a copper incense burner.
“What is this?” He Qi asked in surprise. Yesterday, they had not received such treatment.
The steward smiled. “The eldest young master instructed us to treat you well. These are all daily items of the Wu household.”
With a bow, the steward left and closed the door, not lingering to keep watch over them.
Zhang Yue placed his writing box on the desk and went upstairs to fetch books to continue copying from where they had left off the day before.
He Qi paced for a moment and remarked, “This incense is true agarwood from Hainan. Even a tiny amount is worth ten thousand coins. This is top-quality fragrance!”
“Ten thousand coins? So expensive!” Zhang Yue exclaimed.
He Qi shook his head. “Don’t be surprised. Though this agarwood incense is precious, it is common in the eyes of the Wu family. Such a household is well suited to such fragrances. If you make a fuss and attract attention, you will only invite ridicule.”
Zhang Yue smiled. “Thank you for the lesson, Brother He. I only thought the scent was wonderful but did not know its name or value.”
He Qi smiled slightly. “Naturally. From the highest officials down to ordinary scholars, everyone loves incense. When you become a scholar-official and cross that threshold, you will know these things as well. Understanding these arts is far easier than reading the classics or composing essays.”
Zhang Yue bowed. “I see. Many thanks for your guidance.”
“It’s nothing,” He Qi replied silently wondering if the Wu family’s sudden elevation of their treatment meant they valued them highly.
While they spoke, a knock sounded at the door. Zhang Yue noticed He Qi had already returned to his desk, sitting upright and composed.
Two beautiful maids entered, each carrying a tea tray with cups.
Neither He Qi nor Zhang Yue dared to glance at them; they sat with eyes forward, focused on their breathing.
“Thank you, young ladies,” Zhang Yue said to the maid pouring his tea.
She smiled. “I am but a servant; you must not address me so formally. Call me Fuye.”
Zhang Yue smiled inwardly—this young lady was quite lovely.
After serving tea, Fuye said, “Your inkstone is dry, sir. If you do not mind a clumsy hand, allow me to add water and grind the ink for you.”
Without waiting for a reply, she began grinding the ink.
Zhang Yue caught the faint fragrance on her—mixed with the agarwood incense in the room—and was momentarily dazed before regaining composure and continuing to write.
The other maid also helped He Qi add water and grind ink.
By then, the incense had burned out.
The maid beside Zhang Yue rose to replenish it. She first thoroughly ignited a small special charcoal piece, then placed it in the incense burner, covering it with fine ash and poking holes in the ash.
The other maid placed porcelain, mica, coins, silver leaves, and sand pieces above the ash to separate the fire, placing the incense cake atop. The gentle heat from the charcoal slowly coaxed the fragrance to waft.
Alternating expertly, the two maids moved gracefully, their practiced motions and elegant demeanor revealing long experience in incense burning.
Zhang Yue admired the scene, thinking how truly the wealthy know how to indulge. When he was rich one day, he would surely buy several catties to burn as firewood.
He noticed He Qi chatting leisurely with one maid about incense. He Qi was eloquent and knowledgeable, impressing them with his learning. Even Fuye, beside Zhang Yue, listened intently.
Zhang Yue did not dwell on it and continued copying.
He recalled He Qi’s earlier words: once you become a scholar-official and cross that threshold, you will naturally understand these things. Was the art of incense burning really harder than reading and writing?
The deer in the painting on the wall was still, its gaze unwavering.
Fuye nodded repeatedly to He Qi’s fluent discourse, then glanced at Zhang Yue, thinking the young gentleman seemed rather dull.
By midday, the steward arrived. “The eldest young master invites the two gentlemen to share a drink.”
Drinking during the day? That was risky. At the county academy, students caught drinking in daylight were confined to the study hall.
Though they were no longer at the academy, Wu Anshi, a fellow student, was toying with the rules.
Zhang Yue said, “I have already troubled you enough here. How could I accept the eldest young master’s kindness?”
The steward replied, “The eldest young master insists, and the third young master should not refuse.”
He Qi stood. “Indeed. Third brother, since we have borrowed the eldest young master’s place to copy, and he has kindly invited us to drink, we cannot decline.”
The steward led them to a courtyard.
The garden was filled with blooming winter plum trees, their flowers in full splendor—a riot of colors, enchantingly beautiful.
Wu Anshi invited them to a pavilion facing the courtyard, where a table was set with a lavish feast, allowing them to enjoy plum blossoms while drinking.
The feast was sumptuous, clearly a sign of favor. He Qi smiled happily, “Drinking beneath the plums! The eldest young master is truly a man of taste!”
Wu Anshi waved dismissively. “My wife loves to admire the plums; these dishes are her doing. We are merely borrowing her handiwork to drink.”
Zhang Yue said, “Eldest young master, I am not skilled at drinking. May I partake lightly?”
Wu Anshi laughed. “Third brother, you don’t seem like someone who drinks little. But no matter, drink as you please.”
Zhang Yue breathed easier. “Thank you, eldest young master.”
Soon, maidservants came forward to refill their cups and serve dishes.
“I insist on serving myself,” Zhang Yue declined politely.
Wu Anshi chuckled, “Third brother is unlike He Qi, who is quite at ease. Very well, if you are uncomfortable, we won’t press you.”
The two maids beside Zhang Yue bowed and withdrew.
Other maidservants flitted about like butterflies, serving dishes into the guests’ bowls. Zhang Yue had more than enough food before him.
During the meal, He Qi and Wu Anshi toasted frequently, exchanging cups and downing two or three rounds.
He Qi was a good drinker but was now somewhat intoxicated.
Wu Anshi asked He Qi, “Brother He, so young yet already recommended by the county academy to the prefecture—are you married?”
He Qi answered, “Eldest young master, I am not married.”
Wu Anshi smiled. “Really? You must be close to twenty.”
He Qi replied, “My parents have high hopes for me and once said I should not consider marriage before passing the exams, so I have devoted myself to study without distraction.”
“Admirable, admirable. But surely a man in your position grows lonely? Is there no beloved lady to confide in?”
He Qi said earnestly, “I have never entertained such thoughts. My heart belongs only to the sages' books. Until my writings are accomplished, I dare not bring shame upon my family.”
“And what of you, Third brother?” Wu Anshi asked.
Zhang Yue set down his chopsticks. “I have not married either. But when reading the Analects, I come across passages like ‘beautiful eyes glance, sweet smiles bloom, fair and radiant,’ and I cannot help but imagine how wonderful such a woman must be.”
He Qi and Wu Anshi both smiled.
“A graceful and virtuous lady is a gentleman’s perfect match. It is only natural,” Wu Anshi concluded, ending the topic.
After the meal, the two returned to the study tower to continue copying.
Zhang Yue, having drunk little, was still alert, but He Qi, despite having some sobering broth, appeared listless.
As night fell, both departed.
Inside the Wu residence, Wu Anshi, Mistress Shiqi, and Lady Fan sat drinking tea while listening to the steward’s report.
Lady Fan asked, “Shiqi, your plan—have you found anything after so long?”
Shiqi said nothing. Wu Anshi smiled. “I think I understand Shiqi’s intention now.”
“Stop speaking in riddles,” Lady Fan urged.
Shiqi turned to the steward. “Steward, I have no other questions. I only want to know how much each of the two gentlemen copied today compared to yesterday.”
The steward answered, “The young master from the Zhang family copied about the same amount as yesterday. The gentleman from the He family only completed about one-third.”
Lady Fan said, “Shiqi, what use is it to test their virtue? Why question them about copying books?”
Wu Anshi replied, “Shiqi’s point is this: those who see the red sleeves and incense and start boasting, thinking a few drinks mean they’ve befriended the Wu family—such people will never amount to anything.”
Lady Fan asked, “Is that Shiqi’s purpose?”
Shiqi said, “Sister-in-law, virtue is not always visible or audible. Those who get things done well are virtuous; those who achieve excellence may be somewhat flawed but still acceptable.”
“A prime minister able to govern well must be virtuous. These two came under the pretense of copying books, yet failed even that basic task. No matter how charming their words, it is meaningless.”
The steward added, “Here are two sheets of paper I secretly took while they were not paying attention.”
They looked and saw one page was a chaotic scrawl—strokes running into several characters, more careless than even wild cursive, truly unpleasant to behold.
The other was meticulously neat from start to finish, the characters upright and dignified, pleasing at first glance.
Lady Fan held the neatly written page. “This must be the young master from the Zhang family.”
The steward nodded. “Your insight is keen, madam.”
Lady Fan sighed holding the other sheet. “This He Qi is not here to copy books but only using it as an excuse.”
“But this young master from the Zhang family, with such beautiful handwriting—it could only come from a mind perfectly calm. He seems destined to grow tall and strong like a tree, not competing with the weeds.”
“Shiqi, what do you think?”
Shiqi examined the page. “The Zhang young master’s script was taught by Zhang Boyi, following seal script into regular script. If he practices diligently without slack, in ten or so years he will surely achieve something.”
“Shiqi, you flatter him too much.”
“See for yourself, sister-in-law.”
Le Wen