Volume One — Youths Meet in Humble Times Chapter Forty: Zhou Ce’s Thoughts

The three of them were welcomed inside by Zhou Ce. As Li Yu walked along, he observed the small courtyard carefully. It was not very large, with a main house and what seemed to be a kitchen beside it, everything appearing extremely simple.

Once inside, Li Yu saw that the furnishings were sparse as well: a dining table, a few benches, some small cabinets holding miscellaneous items, and a room to the right that he presumed to be Zhou Ce’s bedroom.

They sat chatting at the dining table in the main room while Zhou Ce served them tea. He asked, “What were you all doing at the central square? Is there something going on there?”

Li Yu and Shen Xun exchanged glances, unsure whether to speak or how to phrase it. Were they supposed to say that Shen Tang had overheard those three discussing the stone tablet?

Shen Tang, however, took it simply and replied, “I overheard those three talking about the stone tablet. They said it recorded the history of Tianmen Town. I just mentioned it to my brother and the others.”

Zhou Ce couldn’t help but laugh. “So it’s about that too!”

Shen Xun seemed to realize something. “Were you just talking about the same thing?”

Zhou Ce nodded. “Yes, they want me to look into the stone tablet’s history at the City Lord’s Mansion.”

At this, Li Yu seemed to guess something and asked, “Brother Zhou, are you still able to go to the City Lord’s Mansion?”

Shen Tang, proud on his behalf, chimed in, “Of course! You just arrived, so you might not know, but the City Lord greatly appreciates Brother Zhou Ce and often asks him to organize the library at the mansion.”

Shen Xun added, “The City Lord’s Mansion has the largest collection of books in Tianmen Town, but most people aren’t allowed access. Later, the City Lord let Ah Ce visit twice a month and copy some books for us scholars to read.”

Li Yu nodded to show he understood and didn’t press further.

Shen Xun continued, “So they want you to check the library for information about the stone tablet?”

Zhou Ce nodded helplessly. “Yes, they want me to investigate, claiming there’s some secret about the tablet and that it might benefit me if I find it.”

The three could clearly sense Zhou Ce’s reluctance. Shen Tang asked directly, “So you don’t want to look into it, do you?”

“Of course not. The City Lord has treated me so well—how can I investigate Tianmen Town’s secrets with an ulterior motive? It feels like a betrayal. Besides, I just want to study peacefully here. I have no wish to get involved in their schemes.”

Li Yu asked, “Can’t you refuse?”

Zhou Ce didn’t answer. A brief silence fell among the four. Li Yu wondered if he had asked something improper and glanced at the others. At last, Shen Xun patted his head and explained, “Ah Ce’s situation is a bit special. Unlike us, he has no family here to look out for him. He lives alone in Tianmen Town, making him vulnerable in many ways. Without the City Lord’s protection all these years, he would have had a much harder life.”

Shen Xun’s words weren’t exhaustive, but Li Yu understood well enough. In these times, there were countless ways to hold someone to account. Without an adult’s protection, survival was difficult indeed.

From this, he also began to understand why Zhou Ce hadn’t stepped in earlier when Wang Feiyu was pressing Shen Xun so harshly. From Zhou Ce’s perspective, enduring when one could was the best way to protect oneself.

Seeing the others fall silent over his troubles, Zhou Ce didn’t want them to fret on his behalf and changed the subject: “Let’s not talk about this anymore. It’s a rare day off—let’s discuss something cheerful. Ah Xun, didn’t you say yesterday you’d take us out to sea today? When do we leave?”

Shen Tang turned wide-eyed to her brother in disbelief. “So that’s why you didn’t want me to go with you this morning—you were planning to sneak out to sea behind our parents’ backs? Are you mad? Without any adults with us, aren’t you worried something might happen?”

Shen Xun, somewhat annoyed, retorted, “Then don’t come! Who asked you to tag along?”

But seeing her brother so unconcerned about the risks, Shen Tang grew a little angry herself. “Fine, I’ll go tell our parents and see if they’ll let you go.”

Zhou Ce and Li Yu exchanged helpless glances, unsure how to mediate between the siblings. Li Yu finally mustered the courage to say, “Sister, don’t be upset. I don’t think Brother intends to go far out to sea—just to the beach and shallow waters to show me the sights.”

Thanks to Li Yu’s diplomatic intervention, Shen Xun’s tone softened. “That’s right. Who said I was going out to deep waters? I only thought, after hearing yesterday that Little Fish had never seen the sea or played on the beach, that I’d bring you all to have some fun. If it really were dangerous, I wouldn’t have the ability to take you. Even if I didn’t fear for myself, I wouldn’t ignore your safety!”

Shen Tang paused, realizing her brother, though sometimes unreliable and fanciful, always looked out for her and would never lead her into danger. This time, she had overreacted.

She pouted. “I was just worried you’d get too excited and something might happen to you all.”

With the tension eased, Zhou Ce and Li Yu both breathed a silent sigh of relief and exchanged wry smiles.

The four planned to have lunch outdoors. They took some fruit and snacks from Zhou Ce’s home, added the steamed buns they’d brought from home, and intended to catch a couple of fish at noon to roast over the fire.

Once Zhou Ce had locked up, the group set off for the seaside.

On the way, Zhou Ce and Shen Xun walked behind, quietly discussing matters away from Li Yu and Shen Tang. Zhou Ce asked, “Tang doesn’t know? I thought you’d told her today.”

Shen Xun whispered back, “Of course not. If she knew, our parents would know.”

“Then why bring them? Couldn’t it just be the two of us?” Zhou Ce was puzzled.

Shen Xun explained, “I originally planned to bring Little Fish. You don’t know—after talking with him yesterday, I realized he’s very knowledgeable. I thought it’d be good to have someone like that with us, in case anything came up. But I didn’t expect he’d get along so well with my sister, and once she heard he was coming, she insisted on joining too.”

Zhou Ce looked doubtful. “Him? He looks only five or six, even shorter than us. How much could he possibly know? Are you sure you’re not being fooled?”

Shen Xun replied, “Don’t underestimate him. Just look at his words earlier—you can tell he’s unusual. And besides, although Uncle Lin has never shown his skills in front of us, we all know how powerful he is. If someone like him would take Little Fish as a disciple, do you think he’s ordinary?”

Zhou Ce was taken aback. “You mean he’s a cultivator too?”

Shen Xun said with a touch of pride, “He’s never said so, nor has Uncle Lin, but I can sense it. He’s certainly not as weak as he appears.”

Zhou Ce was astonished. “Who would have thought Daoist Lin would accept him as a disciple?”

He then asked curiously, “Speaking of which, why aren’t you becoming Daoist Lin’s disciple? He’s so close to your family.”

Shen Xun replied, “Actually, I asked Uncle Lin about it later. He said I wasn’t suited for cultivation, only for studying. Looking back, I realize I do prefer reading. As the saying goes, ‘Read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles.’ That’s the kind of scholar I want to be. I don’t think I could sit still long enough to meditate and cultivate.”

Zhou Ce said, “You’re quite content with that.” There was a hint of loneliness in his tone, but it passed quickly, so Shen Xun didn’t notice. Shen Xun then asked, “What about you? Why didn’t you try? We used to wonder if Uncle Lin would ever take a disciple, but now that he’s taken Little Fish, it shows he’s open to it.”

This question stirred something in Zhou Ce, but he remembered that he had tried once. It was while he was copying books at the City Lord’s Mansion and Daoist Lin was visiting. The City Lord had introduced Zhou Ce and praised him, suggesting that even as a junior disciple he would be suitable. The Daoist glanced at him and asked, “What do you think cultivation is?”

At that time, Zhou Ce was only six, just beginning his studies. He vaguely knew from books that cultivation was powerful, but had no idea how to answer. In hindsight, he only remembered saying, “I want to stand at the pinnacle of the world and let everyone see me. Does that count as cultivation?”

After that, the Daoist never mentioned the matter again.

As he grew older, the memory only became more vivid. He realized the Daoist had not been satisfied with his answer, nor intended to take him as a disciple.

Now, faced with Shen Xun’s question, he replied with a wry, helpless smile, “I suppose Daoist Lin and I simply lack the fate to be master and disciple.”

Shen Xun understood and let it go. Some things didn’t need to be probed too deeply. He patted Zhou Ce’s shoulder in comfort, “It’s all right. We can still become great scholars. After all, the books say that people in this world can not only cultivate but also attain greatness through learning. That’s just as remarkable.”

On the way, they met some familiar faces, who greeted them warmly. They also introduced Li Yu, and so he was truly brought into the community.

“So this is the child Daoist Lin brought? Such a handsome boy—looks like he’s from a well-off family.”

“How old are you? Where is your hometown? Do you have any family left? Did your family agree to let you go with Daoist Lin?”

The questions came thick and fast. Li Yu answered what he could and glossed over what he couldn’t. From this, Zhou Ce gathered a rough idea of his background and felt a surge of sympathy, sensing that Li Yu, too, had endured hardship.

After passing through this barrage of questions, the four finally reached the shore. Li Yu gazed at the vast sea and the boats sailing across it, and felt his world suddenly expand.

It was different from when he first saw the sea aboard the ship to Tianmen Town, when thick fog had made the world seem constricted and oppressive. Most of that journey he had spent below deck, never glimpsing the sea’s true face.

Now, looking out at the ocean, the last trace of unease he’d carried since his grandmother’s passing and his arrival in this unfamiliar town was swept away. He finally understood a line of poetry he had once read: “Floating sky, distant sea; the vessel of the past departs lightly.”

The departed are gone; the living must live well.