Chapter Forty-One: Sophistry

Over the course of one night, little brother Zhou Shaocheng’s low fever would sometimes subside, only to return again, repeating itself two or three times. To the family, this seemed a sign of gradual improvement.

These past few days had been filled with endless matters at home, leaving Zhou Zhi with neither the time nor the heart to read. At dawn the next day, Zhou Zhi rose, first reaching out to touch his little brother Zhou Shaocheng’s forehead. It was slightly warm, but already he was just as before, curled up in his bedding with those bright eyes open, gazing at Zhou Zhi. His complexion had clearly improved, and Zhou Zhi’s worries eased.

“Brother, you’re up early but not reading today?” Zhou Shaocheng blinked his eyes and asked.

Hearing his little brother speak with such spirit, Zhou Zhi’s face lit with joy, and he quickly smiled, “No, not today. I’ll check on the stable first—the headman is coming to inspect the official horse today.”

Yesterday, the horse’s diarrhea had seemed to stop, but Zhou Zhi was still uneasy, fearing the problem might return. So, he prepared to go outside.

“Brother! Wait for me, I want to come too!” Zhou Shaocheng threw off his covers, already reaching for his clothing.

“So you’re really feeling better, Xiao Cheng? All right, I’ll wait for you,” Zhou Zhi replied.

In Zhou Zhi’s mind, his brother had been confined to bed for four or five days, and now that he seemed so much better, a little movement would do him good.

Zhou Shaocheng hurriedly dressed, and with a leap, landed off the bed.

“Xiao Cheng, you’ve only just recovered, you mustn’t jump like that.” Zhou Zhi’s expression grew stern.

“I’m fine, I’m all better! …Ouch! Brother, my stomach hurts!” No sooner had Zhou Shaocheng landed than he clutched his belly and squatted down.

Zhou Zhi rushed to support him, anxiously asking, “Is it very painful? Don’t move, get back into bed!”

“It hurt sharply for a moment, but now it’s faded,” Zhou Shaocheng said as he slowly stood up.

Zhou Zhi reasoned it was probably the sudden jump that caused it and, after a while, it would pass. The doctor Qiu Huichun had said illness strikes like a mountain but departs as fine as silk; recovery would not be instant. Xiao Cheng’s swift improvement was already remarkable. With another couple of days of herbal medicine, proper care, and rest, he should be fully restored.

“Let’s go, brother. I’m really fine now—the pain’s barely noticeable,” Zhou Shaocheng insisted, his small hand already gripping Zhou Zhi’s.

His little hand was cool to the touch, a sign that the fever had abated.

The two brothers soon left the house and entered the stable.

“Brother, look! The horse has diarrhea again!” Zhou Shaocheng immediately noticed the mess on the ground and called out in alarm.

Zhou Zhi’s main concern was precisely this. Entering the stable, he looked down and was momentarily stunned.

So it hadn’t worked—the horse’s illness had returned. Was it because he hadn’t fed enough fried sorghum yesterday? Or was the remedy itself flawed?

He gestured for his brother to be quiet and whispered, “Xiao Cheng, don’t say a word. Under no circumstances should Mother or Sister find out.”

Zhou Shaocheng blinked in understanding, nodding rapidly and replying just as softly, “I understand, Brother. You’re worried Mother and Sister will be anxious, right?”

Zhou Zhi stroked his little brother’s head affectionately—such an adorable, clever child!

The headman was due to inspect the horse today, so the most urgent task was to clean up the manure before he arrived. His inspections never took long; as long as the horse didn’t defecate again during the visit, perhaps nothing would be noticed.

As for the horse’s illness, that could be dealt with after surviving today’s ordeal. Perhaps with a bit more fried sorghum, the problem would resolve for good.

There was no time to hesitate. Zhou Zhi hurried to the woodshed for a shovel and swiftly began cleaning up the stable.

Meanwhile, Zhou Shaocheng wandered the yard, occasionally rubbing his stomach, but appeared not to be in much pain.

“Brother!” Zhou Shaocheng suddenly called out loud in the yard. Zhou Zhi rushed from the stable, and upon seeing what awaited, muttered a curse under his breath: Damn it! Why has he come so early?

Headman Wang was already striding toward the stable.

Last time, Wang Qi’s inspection had been near noon, but today, he arrived at first light. What had gotten into him?

Today, Wang the headman looked far more self-important than before, dressed in new clothes but still wearing his battered old cap. He walked with head held high and a sullen expression, giving Zhou Zhi the immediate sense that he was here to make trouble.

“Boy from the Zhou family, cleaning up horse dung, are you?” Wang asked coolly, quickly stepping to the stable door.

He cast just a glance inside and immediately scowled, turning back to Zhou Zhi. “Boy, look at all this mess—clearly the official horse has diarrhea, hasn’t it?”

“Well…”

Faced with the evidence, Zhou Zhi was momentarily at a loss. But seeing Wang’s smug, petty face, he braced himself and retorted, “Humans eat grains and still fall ill; it’s only natural for a horse to get an upset stomach from time to time.”

“Hmph! So glib! Just ten days gone and the horse is already looking thin and sickly, not to mention the diarrhea. Clearly you haven’t taken proper care of it. Still want to argue?”

Zhou Zhi knew he was at fault, but Wang’s relentless attitude filled him with disdain. With men like Wang, one must never show weakness, or he’d only make things harder.

Zhou Zhi forced a cold smile, replying, “Headman, you’re being unfair. I’ve tended the horse day and night without neglect. As for illness, I disagree—the horse merely has loose stools, which will surely resolve in a day or so. How can you call that sick?”

“If the horse isn’t sick, why would it have diarrhea? Even a child knows this. Must I teach you such simple logic?” Wang pressed aggressively.

Zhou Zhi’s lips curled in a mocking smile, and he shook his head dismissively.

Infuriated, Wang jabbed a finger at him. “Fine! You’re a real piece of work—arguing with me, are you? I won’t waste words today. The official horse is ill; you owe a five-tael silver fine. Hand it over.”

Demanding five taels at once—when the Zhou family scarcely had a coin to their name, let alone five whole taels! Besides, even if the horse was ill, it was only a bit of diarrhea, hardly worth such a penalty. Clearly, Wang was making trouble on purpose.

With that in mind, Zhou Zhi smiled lightly and replied, “Headman, and what if I say we have no silver?”

Almost without hesitation, Wang sneered, “Of course I know you have no silver! I’ve already thought of a solution for you. Doesn’t your family own eight mu of land? Sell the land, and you’ll have enough to pay the fine.”