Chapter 16

His mother replied: “I heard today that he sold his books, doesn’t plan to attend the academy anymore, and is preparing to withdraw.”

“What?” Li Hongyun was so shocked that one of his chopsticks fell.

After the shock came delight. Could it be that Song Sheng had admitted defeat? He must have realized he couldn’t beat him in the upcoming academy exam, so he chose to withdraw early to avoid greater humiliation. Li Hongyun thought smugly: “At least he knows his place.”

Still uneasy, he asked: “Mother, where did you hear this? Is it true?”

She answered: “Everyone in his village is saying it, with detailed accounts—even describing how he went to town to sell the books. It seems real.”

Li Hongyun remembered that on the day of the wager in the county town, he had seen Song Sheng near the Sanshi Bookshop. His friends had teased him, asking if he was buying storybooks. Now he realized Song Sheng must have been there to sell his books, since Sanshi Bookshop also bought old ones. Convinced, he grew cheerful and ate two extra bowls of rice.

His mother, puzzled by his happiness, warned: “Zhuzi, don’t follow his example. If you don’t use your books, you must keep them for your younger brothers. If I ever find out you sold them, I’ll break your legs. Do you understand?”

Li Hongyun smiled: “I understand, Mother. I won’t. Don’t worry, your son still intends to earn scholarly honors.”

Thinking that Song Sheng had already decided to quit, Li Hongyun felt he didn’t need to study so hard anymore. After lunch, he told his mother he was going to town to meet He Rong and Chen Yan. With them, he could eat meat at every meal. Even if he suffered some slights, the chance to eat meat outweighed everything.

The next day, the Lu family in West Village also heard the rumor that Song Sheng had sold his books and planned to withdraw. Lu Xun hurriedly packed his things and left, even postponing a carving job he had promised.

When the Lus arranged the marriage with the Songs, it was because Song Sheng was a tongsheng (student who passed the lowest exam) and had been attempting the xiucai exam for seven or eight years. They believed he was close to success, so marrying Lu Qing to him might make her the wife of a future scholar.

But now, only days after the wedding, the groom seemed ready to abandon his studies. Lu Xun felt this could not be allowed—he had to go personally and persuade him.

Early in the morning, Lu Xun went to Songjia Village. Everyone knew the marriage between the Lu and Song families was largely because Song Sheng was a tongsheng. Now that rumors claimed Song Sheng had stopped studying, of course the Lu family would come to check and scold.

As soon as Lu Xun entered the village, all eyes followed him. Necks craned, waiting to see him storm into the Song household.

Inside, Song Sheng had been quietly studying for days without stepping outside, while Lu Qing stayed with him, sewing as he read. Neither of them knew what rumors were spreading outside.

That morning, the eldest sister‑in‑law Sun and second sister‑in‑law Li carried wooden basins to the river to wash clothes. The weather was turning cold, so fewer people came to wash, since the icy water numbed hands quickly.

A gossiping Aunt Niu asked: “I heard your Song Sheng doesn’t plan to study anymore? Is he going to work as a bookkeeper in town?”

Sun and Li were shocked: “Who told you our Song Sheng isn’t going to study?”

Aunt Niu replied in surprise: “It’s all over the village! Everyone says he sold his books, that he won’t study anymore, and will soon withdraw from the academy.”

“What?” Sun and Li exchanged bewildered looks.

Their younger brother‑in‑law had indeed sold some books, but only miscellaneous travel notes, useless for the exams. How had this turned into a rumor that he was quitting school? Who spread such lies?

While beating clothes with a stick, Sun clarified: “Aunt Niu, don’t believe or spread rumors. Yes, he sold a few travel books, but they weren’t needed for the exams and might have molded if left unused. But quitting school? Absolutely not. Our Song Sheng has great ambition. He’s been studying diligently at home every day. Please don’t spread falsehoods.”

Normally gentle, Sun was angry at hearing such slander. Her brother‑in‑law had been rising at dawn to recite and studying by lamplight late into the night. To say he was quitting was outrageous.

Li asked: “Aunt Niu, who said our Song Sheng was quitting?” She wanted to find the source. After all, he had sold those books to raise money for the family’s corvée redemption, and she was grateful. Hearing others twist it into quitting school made her furious. If she discovered the culprit, she vowed to splash pig‑swill at their door.

Though gossip might seem trivial, Sun and Li worried it could reach the academy. If teachers believed Song Sheng intended to quit, it could damage his reputation and prospects. For the Song family, farming was the first priority, but Song Sheng’s studies were the second.

Both sisters‑in‑law feared the academy’s tutors might misunderstand and think he lacked commitment.

Aunt Niu felt wronged, insisting she hadn’t started the rumor, only repeated what she heard. She suspected Sun and Li were defending their family’s pride. After all, Song Sheng had once been celebrated as a prodigy at age ten, yet years later still hadn’t passed the xiucai exam. To her, quitting would be a humiliation.

Annoyed, she snapped: “I didn’t spread it! Why scold me? If you’re angry, find the one who started it.”

Meanwhile, the elder Song brothers were working in the fields. Usually they chatted with neighbors while weeding, but today they noticed odd looks. Uncle Yang asked: “I heard your Song Sheng isn’t studying anymore? He’s so frail—if he doesn’t study, what can he do? You should persuade him. Otherwise, those seven or eight years of effort will be wasted!”

The brothers were baffled until they realized the rumor had spread everywhere.

Song Laosan immediately refuted: “Uncle Yang, you must have heard wrong. My son never said he was quitting. He’s been preparing his things for the academy. He will not withdraw—next year he’ll sit for the exam.”

Uncle Yang paused, then said: “That’s good, that’s good. As long as you persuade him to continue, it’s fine. Our Songjia Village has never produced a xiucai, so Song Sheng must work hard.”

After Uncle Yang left, Song Laoda and Song Laoer asked Song Laosan: “Third Brother, did Song Sheng really say he wanted to withdraw? Could it be that he feels the family’s burden is too heavy, so he didn’t tell us but only confided in you?”

Song Laosan frowned: “Sheng never told me he wanted to quit. On the contrary, he just said he wanted to study hard and aim for the xiucai degree. I don’t know why the whole village is saying he’s quitting. I’ll ask him when I get home.”

The three men lost all mood for farm work. They had planned to clear weeds from several acres that morning, but now they were too distracted. Withdrawing from school was a serious matter. Gripping their hoes, they hurried back home.

The Song household was lively.

Not only had Lu Xun arrived, but even relatives had come: cousin Song Ying from the second branch and Song Sheng’s elder sister Song Dong from the third branch.

They didn’t arrive together.

Song Ying lived closer, so she came first. Nineteen years old, she had married into the Cheng family of Shangnan Village four years earlier. Her husband, Cheng Du, was literate and worked as a guarantor—similar to a broker or middleman. Song Ying now had two daughters, aged three and two.

This time she returned alone, leaving the children behind. As soon as she heard the rumor, she rushed back. When she was still unmarried, she knew how much the family valued her cousin’s studies. Hearing that he might withdraw from the academy, she thought something serious had happened and hurried home.

When she arrived, most of the Song family was out. Zhang Xinghua had taken two grandsons to cut grass along the ridges. Only Song Sheng and Lu Qing were at home.

Seeing Song Ying return, Song Sheng was surprised. Since he had crossed into this life, it was the first time meeting this cousin, so he felt a little reserved.

He came out to greet her: “Cousin, you’re back! Where are Cousin‑in‑law and the two little nieces? Didn’t they come with you?” He even glanced behind her as he spoke.

Song Sheng thought to himself: She had just been here for his wedding day, only a few days ago. Why return so soon, and alone? Could it be that she was mistreated at her husband’s home?