Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Provincial Capital

It was truly a coincidence; Gan Sui had just sat down at the inn when Banxia and Lin You returned from outside. However, Lin You looked rather disgruntled, his cheeks puffed in frustration. Upon seeing Gan Sui, he dumped the pile of items he carried onto Gan Sui’s table and, with a fierce expression, said, “I never want to accompany Banxia shopping again. Look, let me tell you—she sees a bolt of cloth and says, ‘This fabric is nice, it’ll make Gan Sui look fairer.’ She sees an inkstone and asks for ages, then goes, ‘Gan Sui’s inkstone isn’t good enough, we should get him a new one.’ Every single thing she sees, she wonders if you’d need it... I walked with her for hours, she never once asked what I wanted, and I carried all those heavy things...”

“Didn’t I treat you to lamb noodles? Fifteen coins a bowl, mind you.”

“Oh, you dare mention that? You casually buy Gan Sui a writing brush and it costs half a tael of silver. Tell me, does your conscience not hurt?”

Banxia was left speechless, and Gan Sui simply drew Banxia into his arms. “Of course, my wife is only good to me. If you want someone thinking of you, you should find yourself a wife. We’re heading upstairs—we’ll be staying in town for two days. Will you be returning with the magistrate, or...?”

“I want to have fun with you guys...”

“No way. A married couple has their own matters. Go home and read your books. If you don’t finish memorizing that military treatise this month, you’ll face the family rules.”

Lin You: “QAQ” Father doesn’t love me, friends hurt me, books torment me—life is simply unbearable.

Banxia gave him a sympathetic glance, happily heading upstairs with Gan Sui.

“Gan Sui, look, this inkstone cost three taels of silver. I don’t know how to choose, but Lin You said he does, and he said this one’s very good. I secretly touched it—it’s so smooth, just like a baby’s skin.”

Gan Sui examined the inkstone with her; from its appearance and luster, it was clear it was a fine piece. “Very nice, Banxia chose well. What else did you buy?”

Banxia, her cheeks flushed, displayed her purchases one by one. “This dress is lovely. I can’t make clothes, and I can’t always trouble Hui Niang, so I bought ready-made ones. And this...”

Suddenly, Gan Sui embraced her.

“What are you doing?” Banxia asked, shyly.

“Thank you.” To have companionship, concern, and affection in such a foreign time and place truly softened his heart.

“There are still so many things to put away,” Banxia whispered.

“Then let me hold you a little longer.”

“Just for a little while,” she murmured.

The next morning, Banxia rose as usual; Gan Sui was still reading. At this rate, Banxia thought, he might soon become a bookworm.

“After breakfast, shall we go see Yunyin Academy?”

“Yunyin Academy? That’s the most renowned academy in the realm, isn’t it?” Gan Sui hadn’t expected Banxia to know of it. “Where did you hear about it?”

“Yesterday, when we bought the inkstone, we ran into some students from Yunyin Academy. Their noses were so high in the air. I bought the inkstone, and because he didn’t, he muttered behind my back, ‘Scholars should avoid extravagance and waste. Three taels for an inkstone? I’m sure all your essays reek of money.’ I was magnanimous and didn’t stoop to his level, otherwise I would’ve flattened his nose with a punch and spared him the smell of copper.”

“Don’t pay heed to such sour words. I think that inkstone is excellent; I’ll use it always and write beautiful essays so everyone will know.”

“Alright.” Banxia smiled foolishly.

Together, they arrived at the foot of Yunyin Academy, which was situated atop a mountain, its name meaning “hidden among clouds.” Banxia looked at the winding, endless peaks and asked, “We have to walk up there?”

“It’s said the dorms are at the base, the dining hall halfway up, and the classrooms at the top. This way, students have to walk up and down several times daily, which strengthens their bodies.”

“With such a tall mountain, after eating, you’d be hungry again climbing up to the classroom. I’ll need to prepare extra snacks for you so you can eat between classes.”

“That’s not allowed. Yunyin Academy’s rules state that only specific activities are allowed in designated places. No food may be brought into the dorms or classrooms.”

“So strict? What if someone gets hungry?”

“Learning isn’t just about knowledge—it’s about forging willpower. That’s why they say, ‘Endure hardship to achieve what you cannot.’ Hunger is part of the learning process.”

“Oh, how miserable for you,” Banxia said with sympathy. “You’ll be as thin as a sheet of paper.”

“Hardly. I’ll eat well and never starve myself, don’t worry.”

Outside visitors weren’t allowed into the academy, so Gan Sui and Banxia merely wandered around the gate. The surrounding shops mostly sold stationery and similar items. Banxia found a nice-looking shop, bought a stack of paper, and asked, “Boss, are any shops here for rent?”

“Miss, don’t you know? All the shops around here belong to Yunyin Academy. If you want to open one, you need to see Steward Wang. He lives on East Alley—you’ll find him easily.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. But the rules at Steward Wang’s place are strict. If you go, be sure to bring generous gifts.”

So, renting a shop required bribery—this surprised Banxia.

Gan Sui’s brow furrowed; such sordid affairs had existed through the ages. Banxia, however, took it in stride, saying, “Let’s go see Steward Wang’s house first.”

Steward Wang lived nearby; his small courtyard was modest, giving no sense of extravagance. Gan Sui stepped forward and knocked. Soon, a servant opened the door. “Are you here to open a shop or to study?”

“What difference does it make?”

“If it’s a shop, pay thirty taels of silver up front and leave your address to queue. If a spot becomes available, you’ll discuss terms then. If it’s for study, the master will judge your qualifications first, but...” The servant rubbed his hands.

Banxia understood and handed him a few copper coins. The servant glanced at them and sneered, tossing them to the ground. “Trying to dismiss a beggar? You dare offer mere copper coins? If you look so shabby, you’d best not bother with Yunyin Academy—try another place.” With that, he slammed the door shut.

Banxia quickly stepped back. “Oh, that was close, nearly hit my nose.”

She turned to see Gan Sui with clenched fists, and hurried to hold his hand. “It’s alright, Gan Sui. Don’t mind them. They look down on others; let’s not bother with a dog.”

Gan Sui took a deep breath, picked up the coins, and said, “Let’s go look elsewhere.”

Both were in low spirits. Banxia cracked jokes to lighten the mood, and Gan Sui finally managed a smile. Banxia felt relieved. Gan Sui, raised as a favored son of heaven, likely had never encountered such a scene. But what could be done? Inequality from birth would always create divides throughout life. Such things were inevitable.

Gan Sui secretly vowed that one day, these people...

Banxia and Gan Sui walked to a street behind, where a massive yellow camphor tree stood. Beneath it, two elderly men were playing chess. Just as Gan Sui and Banxia were about to pass, the old men began to argue, their voices rising until it seemed they might come to blows. Combined, their ages surely approached two centuries; if they fought, it would surely be mutual destruction.

Banxia, upholding respect for elders, tried to mediate. “Gentlemen, isn’t there a way to talk things through instead of shouting?”

The chubby old man said, “He always cheats at chess, and now he wants to take back a move.”

The thin old man looked aggrieved. “If I don’t take it back, I’ll lose!”

Oh dear, these elders’ competitiveness was too much. Shouldn’t they learn the meaning of ‘no regret after making a move’?

The chubby old man grew agitated. “A bet’s a bet. Put the piece back, let’s finish this game.”

The thin old man clung to the piece. “No, I’ve already lost so many games. I won’t lose again.” He looked pitifully at Banxia.

Banxia rubbed her forehead, regretting getting involved.

“I’ll put it back if he plays for me. I’m tired; I don’t want to play the rest,” said the thin old man.

Clearly, he wanted to pass the blame for a loss onto someone else—a disaster came out of nowhere for Gan Sui and Banxia.

“Then, please, put the piece back,” Gan Sui said, realizing they wouldn’t be able to leave until the game was finished.

The old man returned the piece. Banxia whispered to Gan Sui, “Do you know how to play chess?”

“A little,” he replied.

Banxia was half reassured. The last person who said ‘just a little’ was the great Zhuge Liang. Anyway, losing shouldn’t be a big deal.

Gan Sui sat, examined the board, then looked at the thin old man, and said slowly, “Forgive me for being blunt, but your chess skills are dreadful.”

The thin old man grimaced in pain. Banxia rubbed her forehead; sometimes Gan Sui’s honesty was like a dagger straight to the heart.

“You say my skills are dreadful? Let’s see you play. If you don’t beat him, I’ll jump into the river and die for you.”

That’s outrageous—such shamelessness.

“For the sake of your life, please excuse me,” Gan Sui said, bowing to the fat old man and making the first move with the black piece.

“Hmm!” The old man clicked his tongue, then responded with a white piece.

Banxia didn’t understand chess at all, but thought Gan Sui’s hands were beautiful. She’d often heard of people being ‘hand-obsessed,’ weak-kneed at the sight of hands. Today, she finally understood that feeling; she patted her head, realizing her mind was full of indecent thoughts.

The old man behind them occasionally muttered, “Oh no... wrong move.” Gan Sui ignored him, playing as he pleased. Banxia didn’t know how much time passed; her legs felt numb, and as she was about to stretch, Gan Sui made a move, and the old man behind suddenly cheered, “Victory!”

The fat old man said to the thin one, “See? I won this round.”

He ignored him and turned to Gan Sui, “Young man, you play well.”

“Thank you for letting me win,” Gan Sui replied.

“Ah, no need for that. Losing is losing; skill is skill. I’d never, like some people, resort to tantrums and cheating just to win.”

Banxia thought: You win, but still can’t resist a jab at your opponent.

“Enjoy your game, gentlemen. We have matters to attend to,” Gan Sui said, taking Banxia’s hand to leave. The thin old man caught him, saying, “Young man, I see you have unusual bones and a clear mind. Why not...”

Learn to cook, perhaps, Banxia imagined.

“...study with me.”