Chapter 83: Zhou Tie in Trouble

Mother Zhou now trusted Zhou Zhi completely. Whatever he decided to do, she supported wholeheartedly, just like his sister Zhou Lüyun. In her mind, Zhou Zhi was the family's hope. If not for his seemingly unreliable actions and daily toil over the past days, how could the Zhou family have come to possess over fifty taels of silver?

For a poor countryside family like theirs, fifty taels was an astronomical sum. In Baiyue Village, apart from the wealthy households on the south side of the main street, who else could possibly have that much silver?

In short, while the Zhou family could not be called rich, they had become one of the most respectable families in Baiyue Village.

Yet when Mother Zhou saw the pork and bolts of blue and patterned cloth, she still couldn't help but grumble, “Zhi, even though our days are easier now, we must still live frugally. This cloth must have cost a pretty penny, yes? We can’t just spend money like this in the future.”

Zhou Zhi replied with a smile, “Mother and Sister work so hard for our family, and for years haven’t had a new garment. I thought I’d buy some cloth so you and Sister could make yourselves some new clothes. Money is meant to be spent—once it’s gone, we’ll find ways to earn more! Trust me, Mother, our family’s days will only get better from here.”

“How could I not trust you, Zhi? All right, all right, since you’ve bought it, so be it,” Mother Zhou finally said with a smile.

Though only an ordinary village woman, Mother Zhou was broad-minded and adaptable. She was truly skilled at running a household.

She helped Zhou Zhi carry the red paper and cloth into the house, then began to prepare the evening meal. That night, the Zhou family’s table was graced with fragrant stewed pork and crispy baked flatbreads.

Zhou Zhi withdrew to his room to put away his brush and inkstone, then lovingly admired the copybook of “Thirteen Postscripts to the Orchid Pavilion” he’d picked up at Four Treasures Studio before carefully setting it aside. Though it was written in running script, which he wasn’t yet skilled in, he planned to practice this style after mastering regular script.

His sister, Zhou Lüyun, was still in the vegetable greenhouse. After exchanging a word with his mother, Zhou Zhi went out to relieve her.

The first crop of chives had already sold out, and the second wouldn’t be ready for another twenty days or so. With Zhang Bing’s help, there wasn’t much work left in the greenhouse during the day. Zhou Zhi told Zhou Lüyun to go home and took over her duties.

As for running into his future brother-in-law, Hu Zhe, in town that day, Zhou Zhi said nothing to his sister since Zhang Bing was present. He decided to wait for a better opportunity to broach the subject.

That night, as usual, it was his sister who brought him dinner in the greenhouse. After he finished eating, Zhou Zhi curled up in his bedding to rest his eyes. The heated bed was essential to keep up the temperature inside; as the weather grew colder, he had to add fuel more often, making the nights harder than before.

Suddenly, footsteps rustled outside. Zhou Zhi jumped up, but before he could step out to look, the visitor entered the greenhouse, cupped his hands with a smile, and said, “Brother Zhou Zhi, it’s me! I had nothing to do and missed you after a few days apart, so I came by for a look.”

It was Liu Hui from Nanzhuang.

Behind him followed his sidekick Zhang Dong, who carried a jar of wine and some meat, grinning obsequiously at Zhou Zhi.

Though Zhou Zhi and Liu Hui had become friends after an eventful first meeting, Zhou Zhi greeted them warmly and quickly invited them to sit. Zhang Dong set out the wine and meat, and the three of them gathered to eat, drink, and chat.

Liu Hui said, “I found out about that Daoist you asked after. Guess what? The man is closely related to Li Zisheng of the previous dynasty—he’s Li Zisheng’s own nephew. Li Zisheng’s infamy is well-known, and who’d have thought his nephew would still dare to run around swindling people?

If not for our brawl the other day, I might have fallen for his tricks myself. Getting tangled up with that sort of man is sure to bring disaster sooner or later.”

Zhou Zhi had already suspected Li Shun’s background was connected to Li Zisheng, but hearing Liu Hui confirm it still gave him pause.

During the reign of the Chenghua Emperor, the previous dynasty was thrown into chaos. The so-called “Paper Three Grand Secretaries” and “Clay Six Ministers,” along with various martial sects, had turned the court upside down. It was only thanks to the Hongzhi Emperor—a wise and resolute ruler—that the court was cleansed and order restored.

Li Zisheng, as a leading figure among the immortality sects, had been spared execution by the Hongzhi Emperor, who showed extraordinary mercy. Who would have thought his own nephew would follow in his footsteps, causing trouble with his trickery?

Although Zhou Zhi had no grand ambitions of saving the world, he deeply resented Li Shun for repeatedly aiding Chen Wenju. He resolved to deal with Li Shun severely.

After a brief pause, Liu Hui continued, “Li Shun met Chen Wenju in Gaochang Town. At the time, Li Shun was penniless and telling fortunes on the street. He took a liking to Chen Wenju, flattered him endlessly, and boldly predicted he would pass the provincial exam, then the imperial exam, and perhaps even become an academician.

Delighted, Chen Wenju brought Li Shun from Gaochang Town to his home, where Li Shun has become a much-favored guest, living quite grandly.”

Zhou Zhi couldn’t help but laugh to himself. Someone like Chen Wenju, destined for great things? Becoming an academician? Nonsense! He didn’t even have the appearance for it—imperial officials in Ming times were judged not only on exam results but also on looks, and Chen Wenju was sorely lacking.

Still, both Chen Wenju and Li Shun would have to be dealt with. Zhou Zhi knew he lacked the strength for it now and needed to build up his resources as quickly as possible.

Grateful for Liu Hui’s timely information, Zhou Zhi repeatedly toasted and thanked him. Liu Hui, a straightforward man with a strong sense of loyalty, assured him that if Zhou Zhi ever needed help, he would give it his all.

The three drank together until midnight before Liu Hui and his companion left.

In the days that followed, Zhou Zhi remained in the greenhouse. As he’d anticipated, with Zhang Bing’s assistance and several other farmers coming to learn his greenhouse techniques, there was little work left for him during the day. Zhou Zhi welcomed all who came and helped them generously, holding nothing back.

In truth, greenhouse cultivation didn’t require much skill—the main thing was temperature control.

With all these helpers, Zhou Zhi had much more free time. Sometimes, the other farmers even stayed overnight, which allowed him to sleep soundly through the night.

Thus he had more time for reading during the day. After finishing “The Spring and Autumn Annals,” he began “The Book of Changes,” which was even harder to comprehend. Fortunately, with his knowledge from later times, he read at a decent pace despite lacking a teacher’s guidance. When his mind grew weary from study, he would return home to write couplets and practice calligraphy.

Ten peaceful days slipped by in this manner, and now it was the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month.

As the saying goes, “On the seventh and eighth of the twelfth month, cold can freeze a family to death.” Indeed, the weather was bitterly cold. One afternoon, while Zhou Zhi was at home writing spring couplets, Wang Ren—husband of their neighbor, the notorious gossip Aunt Li—hurried into the house.

Wang Ren had gone to Tang County to perform corvée labor with Zhou Zhi’s father, Zhou Tie. Zhou Zhi was about to ask if his father had returned, but before he could speak, Wang Ren’s face turned ashen with fear and urgency as he blurted, “Zhi, something’s happened—your father, Zhou Tie, is in trouble!”