Chapter 3 South of the Mountain and North of the River (Part Two)

  Since he was a student in the school under the rule of Han Fuqu, writing good characters was a basic requirement for students. Zhang Songling was no exception, and under the guidance of his language teachers at elementary and middle school levels, he wrote beautiful calligraphy with a brush. At this moment, he had accumulated a belly full of sadness and anger, which coincidentally matched the mood of Wen Tianxiang when he wrote poetry. Therefore, a poem "Zheng Qi Ge" was written with great ease and fluency, far surpassing his usual level.

  "Good, good writing, good writing!" Before he had even finished reading, the surrounding area erupted in warm applause. Especially Old Man Wei, a hunchbacked old man who was a scholar during the Xuantong era, had learned so much but couldn't find anyone to share it with. Suddenly seeing such familiar loyal and righteous poetry and essays, he became so excited that even his old eyes welled up with tears!

  "Good, good words, really good words!" The master of the house, Wei Zhan Kui, also stopped pretending to be innocent and stretched out his big palm to slap Zhang Songling's shoulder. "This is much better than those couplets I bought during the New Year, you are Chinese, definitely Chinese, little Japan can't write such beautiful characters. Master, don't you think so?!"

  "This little brother is definitely not Japanese! Japan is a land of barbarians, its people are coarse and rude to the extreme. Don't mention this brushwork, just this "Righteous Qi Song" alone, they will definitely not be able to recite it!" The hunchbacked master wiped his eyes, drew out his voice and chanted. "It is the qi that is majestic, severe and eternal. When it penetrates the sun and moon, life and death are at peace! Good, good, what a great 'Righteous Qi Song'! We scholars stand between heaven and earth, above we bring peace to the country, below we comfort the people, relying on nothing but this righteous qi!"

  Other sturdy men didn't understand what tone and color meant, nor did they know what orthodox or unorthodox songs were, but as for whether the words looked pleasing to the eye, that was crystal clear. Immediately, someone whispered: "Fortunately, Master Wei is cautious, otherwise we would have killed the wrong person today!"

  "It's all because of that Zhao Er, he's always staring with his beady little eyes, thinking everyone is a Japanese spy! If we were to get someone's kid killed and then their parents came looking for us, how would we explain ourselves?"

  Xiao Duomu Zhao Er was scolded until he sweated, and he secretly glanced at the master of the house, Wei Zhan Kui. In his heart, he thought: "Can this be blamed on me? It was the master who took me out in the middle of the night and had me strictly interrogate passersby, not letting any Japanese spies slip through. Besides, just now it was also the master who insisted that he was a bandit's accomplice, not me!"

  He was secretly complaining in his heart, but he didn't dare to say what he really thought. He stiffened his scalp and stepped forward, bowing to Wei Zhan Kui, "Subordinate, subordinate did not do well, almost wronged a good person. Please, please punish me, master!"

  "What a load of nonsense!" Wei Zhan-kui swung his arm and slapped Zhao Er-zi half a zhang away. "You think that just because of your one-sided words, I would really take him for a Japanese spy? Let me tell you the truth, from the very beginning, I knew he wasn't a Japanese scout. I was just testing him to see how much he's worth!"

  "Great Master Gao is magnificent, Great Master Gao is magnificent!" Zhao Erzi had been beaten, but he was in a good mood, covering his bright red cheeks and flattered Wei Zhan Kui.

  "You're not bad either, at least you have a serious attitude towards doing things, it's worth praising!" Wei Zhan Kui waved his hand with a hint of pride and instructed, "Later, go to the warehouse to pick up two catties of cured meat, as a reward for your serious attitude this morning. Remember, no one is allowed to spread the word about the university students coming to our village! I'm recruiting soldiers and buying horses here, and I'm short of a few literate people to assist me. If outsiders find out and take them away from me, all my efforts this morning would be in vain!"

  "Yes, yes, thank you, Master Wei. We'll definitely keep our mouths shut and not tell anyone!" Zhao Er and the others replied, excitedly going to collect their meat. Turning back, Wei Zhan Kui suddenly turned serious again, scanning the crowd, "Did everyone hear what I just said?! This scholar has traveled thousands of miles from Shandong to get here, it's not easy. For his safety, no one is allowed to mention today's events outside. Otherwise, if I find out, everything in your homes will be confiscated and you'll all be expelled from the village!"

  The reason was far from sufficient, but the intention to shut people up was expressed. The people present did not dare to touch Wei Zhan's beard, they all lowered their heads and responded with a "yes" in unison. Having solved a major problem, Wei Zhan felt relieved. He put on a smiling face again, pulled Zhang Songling's hand and said: "I really admire the loyalty in your heart, little brother. I wonder if you can stay in our Wei Manor for a few more days and enlighten me?" As he spoke, he suddenly let go of Zhang Songling's hand, took three steps back, and bowed to the ground.

  Zhang Songling was startled, and he quickly stepped aside, returning the courtesy with a traditional long bow, "Wei Daren, Wei Daren is too kind. I'm just a middle school student, apart from being able to write a few brush characters, I don't know anything else!"

  "Don't go, don't go!" Wei Zhan-kui quickly rushed up and grasped Zhang Song-ling's arm with both hands. "As long as you're willing to stay, that's the greatest help to me. Although my Wei family's temple is small, it won't treat its own people unfairly. As long as you nod your head, anything about position or salary can be easily settled, I'll make sure you don't work for nothing!"

  The play of Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage, Wei Zhanqi didn't know how many times he had watched it. Although he couldn't learn Liu Bei's elegant demeanor, that posture of seeking talent like thirst was done perfectly. It's just that Zhang Songling really can't adapt to this change from a prisoner to a guest of honor, and is scared into being at a loss. After thinking for a while, he picked up the most harmless words and whispered to the other party: "Great, great master, you are so kind to me, logically, I should stay. But before I left, I made a vow in front of my ancestors' spirit tablet, that I must go to the 29th Army, kill the enemy and serve the country. Otherwise, after death, I will be crushed and scattered, and never enter the ancestral tomb! If the great master really appreciates me, please fulfill my filial piety!"

  At that time, the Chinese people were not long influenced by Western learning, and in their hearts, they attached great importance to ancestral temples. Especially in areas like Hebei and Shandong where Confucianism had a strong tradition, being unable to enter one's ancestral tomb after death was considered an oath worse than thunder from heaven, and once sworn, it would absolutely not be violated!

  Since Wei Dahan thought Zhang Songling was a rare talent, he wouldn't let him leave easily. With just a slight movement of his thoughts, he smiled and replied: "Look at what you're saying, it's as if I'm forcing you to betray your ancestors! Don't worry, I'm not an unreasonable person! Just let you stay here for half a year, teach the brothers a lesson or two, and let them understand what national righteousness is. As long as the team shows some improvement, you can leave anytime."

  "I'm already confused myself, how can I possibly teach others?! The great master is really overestimating me, I'm just a small bookworm, unable to shoulder the responsibility. Staying here with you will only bring trouble!" Zhang Songling shook his head repeatedly, carefully declining.

  To be honest, Wei Zhan Kui's performance was indeed quite heroic. But having just been deceived by Qin De Huan's elegant demeanor and nearly losing his life, how could Zhang Song Ling dare to easily trust a stranger again? Therefore, no matter how hard Wei Zhan Kui tried to persuade him, he refused to open up.

  Seeing the little bookworm being completely unimpressed, Wei Zhan Kui's anger ignited, and with a flick of his hands, he swept open his large coat, revealing two holstered pistols on his waistband. "Doesn't my young brother look down on me? Or is there something in your heart that makes you afraid to stay here?"

  This guy can turn his face faster than a gust of wind flipping through a book. Zhang Songling's heart skipped a beat, and he took a step back, responding in a low voice: "The great master has a pair of boxers tucked into his waist, majestic and powerful. How dare I look down on you?! It's just that I'm not worthy, and I don't dare accept the great master's mistaken affection. However, please rest assured, as long as I can stand firm in the 29th Army, I will definitely have a way to repay you. Even if I fail to stand firm in the 29th Army, once I get in touch with my family, I won't forget the great master's kindness today. I'll definitely let my family send a big gift to you! If you don't trust me, I can write an IOU right now!"

  "Who wants your thick gift!" A part of his mind was unintentionally pierced by Zhang Songling, and Wei Zhan Kui was both ashamed and angry. He patted the gun handle at his waist and roared, "I'll ask you again, are you staying or not today?"

  "Does the master want to take hostages? This seems to be an anti-Japanese militia, not a bandit's lair!" Zhang Songling also came up with a strong temper, sticking his neck out in response.

  Just as the two were about to turn against each other, Xiao Er's husband hurried forward, smiling and making a fist at Wei Zhan Kui, "Big brother, look at you, speaking nicely one minute, then getting angry the next! If he really insists on leaving, can you really draw your gun?!"

  He turned his head and quickly persuaded Zhang Songling, "I say, this little brother, you are too unkind! Our master values you so much, can't you just stay for a few days? What's the hurry? Besides, there are bandits everywhere on this road. If something happens to you when you're traveling alone, what will we do? Those who know think you're in a hurry to go to Beiping to join the 29th Army and won't stay with us. Those who don't know might think you're from Wei Zhuang's place and have ulterior motives, and harm you!"

  "Yes, yes. The road is not safe these days. Yesterday, at the foot of the gourd mountain, didn't bandits come down and kill many students who were on their way? If you want to go, at least wait until the road is safer." Teacher Wei Ding also feared that Zhang Songling would continue to be stubborn and completely provoke Wei Zhan Kui, so he smiled and chimed in.

  Although the tone of their conversation was gentle, every sentence hit the point. Zhang Songling thought for a moment and understood that he would definitely not be able to leave today. Not to mention Wei Zhan Kui, who must have been furious, Qin De Gang's side might also be searching for him everywhere. Since that traitor Qin had framed the unknown bandits for the murder of his classmates, he would surely secretly send people to hunt down and kill the "fish that slipped through the net" who escaped from the train station, in order to thoroughly eliminate any witnesses.

  Having analyzed the pros and cons, Zhang Songling found it not difficult to make an emergency choice. He helplessly rushed towards Wei Zhan Kui, Teacher Ye and Xiao Er Dangjia, three of them, and said in a low voice: "Then I'll trouble everyone. What does the master have for me to do? Just order me. As long as I'm here for one day, I'll be a member of the Wei Manor for one day!"

  "No trouble, no trouble!" Wei Zhan Kui immediately burst out laughing like a little kid, his ancient bronze-colored face gleaming with thick oil. "Master, take a look at our place and arrange a suitable position for Zhang brother! Don't make it too low-level, or it'll be an insult to him! Old Xiao, go tell the kitchen to stew half a pig's head for lunch today. All the officials will eat ribs, while everyone else will have soup and pancakes. We'll all get together to welcome Zhang brother!"

  "Yes!" Xiao Er, the second master of the house, nodded and walked away. However, Teacher Ye did not immediately respond to Wei Zhan Kui's words, furrowing his brow in thought for a moment before whispering to Zhang Song Ling, "Our Iron Blood Society is a civilian organization. The positions within are not as formal as those in officialdom. It wouldn't be suitable for the young brother to lead troops right away. How about we have him assist the master of the house as a deputy officer instead? At the same time, he can help me with drafting various notices and managing the accounts?"

  Everyone stays at the Ren's house, what choice does Zhang Songling have? He bowed his hands and replied very politely: "Your arrangement is definitely the most suitable. I just graduated from school and don't understand much. If there's anything I did wrong, I hope you can point it out to me!"

  These words, which were neither too humble nor impolite, pleased the old teacher. The elderly man smiled and waved his hand repeatedly, "Don't be polite, don't be polite. I'm an old scholar who doesn't know much useful things either. Let's just take care of each other from now on!"

  He then very solemnly asked Wei Zhan Kui if his arrangements were reasonable. Wei Zhan Kui relied heavily on this teacher, and without thinking, he approved the other's arrangements. Then he pulled up Zhang Song Ling and took him to meet the other masters of the house, "This is Old Three, Lu Fang, Lu Ban's Lu, Mu Fang's Fang. This is Old Four, Yang Da Shun, Yang Shu's Yang, Da Xiao's Da, Shun Feng Ding Feng's Shun. There are also several other team leaders who brought troops, Zhao Er Zi, Liu Xiao Wu and others, they all went out earlier. I'll introduce you to them one by one when we eat later!"

  "I've met Uncle Lu and Uncle Yang." Zhang Songling bowed his hands to the other two masters, "In the future, I'll be serving under both uncles, please take care of me!"

  "Let's help each other out!" Lu Fang and Yang Da Shun, both with a more straightforward temperament, smiled and waved their hands.

  "You haven't eaten yet, have you? It seems like there's still some porridge left over from this morning in the kitchen. I'll take you to find some later." The hunchbacked teacher followed closely behind Zhang Songling, seeing that he had already greeted Lu Fang and Yang Dashun, looked up and smiled, seeking his opinion.

  "How can we serve Vice Zhang leftover food for the first meal?! Charcoal Qiu immediately vetoed Teacher Ye's proposal, "Tell the kitchen to set up a separate stove for Vice Zhang. Slaughter a sheep now, cook mutton balls with white noodles! The leftovers, including bones and meat, will be stewed together with the pork from noon, and served as a snack for everyone!"

  As he spoke, he waved his hand magnanimously, as if commanding a thousand troops.

  Note 1: When Han Fuqu was in power in Shandong, he attached great importance to education. He himself had some attainments in calligraphy. Therefore, having good handwriting was almost a stepping stone for promotion in the military and political circles of Shandong at that time. In order to cope with the official inspection of teaching quality, schools at all levels also worked hard to cultivate students' calligraphy skills.

  Note 2: A deputy officer is a privately hired aide-de-camp of an officer, who undertakes some staff and secretarial duties, usually arranged by the officer himself, with very casual ranks.