Chapter Ninety-Eight: A Remarkable Coincidence

Wu Wending laughed heartily as he approached Zhou Zhi, giving him a hearty punch on the shoulder. "Ah, Brother Zhou, truly a man of great talent. Your elder brother here is genuinely envious," he said.

Wu Wending was a burly man, and the punch carried considerable force. Zhou Zhi winced slightly, wincing in pain but smiling wryly, "Brother Shi Tai, please be gentler. This blow will have me aching for days."

That punch had instantly brought them closer together.

Fan Jin, already invigorated and ecstatic, cast a glance at the stunned Xu Jing before picking up the paper Zhou Zhi had just written on and exclaiming with admiration, "What exquisite handwriting! It’s as if Zhao Mengfu himself were alive today—though, no, even Zhao Mengfu might not have produced such elegant small script."

Once again, Fan Jin was lavishing praise on Zhou Zhi. Zhou’s calligraphy was modeled after Guan Daosheng and Zhao Mengfu. Zhou had even stumbled upon an original copy of Zhao Mengfu’s "Thirteen Postscripts on the Orchid Pavilion," which he studied carefully, knowing his own work still fell short.

Zhou Zhi hurriedly protested, "Brother Fan, please don’t flatter me. I just practice calligraphy when writing couplets. How could I compare to Zhao Mengfu? Your praise embarrasses me greatly."

His words were sincere and heartfelt.

Yet Zhou’s modesty only deepened Xu Jing’s embarrassment. What? Merely practicing couplets had yielded such skill, while all his years of diligent study couldn’t match this? It was truly maddening!

His face turned pale as anger churned within, but he was left speechless.

The atmosphere in the parlor grew awkward due to Xu Jing’s displeasure.

Though all were friends, and though Lü Xingchuan now regarded Zhou Zhi with newfound respect, he refrained from showing it too openly.

With a smile, he said, "Though Brother Zhou is undeniably talented, he has had limited formal education. Today, our main purpose is to seek guidance from Brother Zhi Fu on the intricate eight-legged essays. Brother Zhi Fu has risen to the rank of juren at such a young age, while I, Lü Xingchuan, am already forty and have yet to pass even the xiucai examinations. It is truly humbling.

Everyone here saw Brother Zhi Fu’s essay just now—it was extraordinary!"

Lü Xingchuan deftly changed the subject, and Gu Dingchen chimed in agreement, followed by Wei Haogu’s praise for the essay, which gradually eased Xu Jing’s mood.

By noon, the writing desk in the parlor was cleared away and replaced by a large square table surrounded by seven high-backed wooden chairs. Lü Xingchuan invited everyone to take their seats.

After some polite hesitation, Xu Jing was allowed the seat of honor, which lifted his spirits somewhat.

An elderly servant named Ding busied himself alone. Though advanced in years, his movements were brisk and efficient; soon, the table was laden with various dishes and an array of cups and bowls. The wine, naturally, was the Taoyuan wine that Zhou Zhi had previously enjoyed at Lü Xingchuan’s home.

Fan Jin, upon seeing the feast, seemed to forget the earlier near-dispute with Xu Jing. After Xu Jing filled everyone’s cups, Fan Jin smiled broadly and toasted, "Brother Zhi Fu, ha ha, please try our northern Taoyuan wine. It is mild yet excellent against the cold. The northern winters are harsh, so Brother Zhi Fu, you must drink several cups."

Fan Jin toasted himself first, putting Xu Jing at ease. Xu Jing quickly lifted his cup with a smile, "Brother Fan, to you!"

They drained their cups together.

Wine proved a powerful balm for tension; soon laughter and cheerful conversation filled the table as the atmosphere grew warm and harmonious.

Gu Dingchen sat close to Zhou Zhi, and the two quickly found a rapport, frequently raising their glasses in mutual toasts. Their bond grew tighter by the moment.

Wu Wending raised his cup to Zhou Zhi, who eagerly reciprocated. Wu said, "Though Brother Zhou’s formal studies have been brief, I trust that with your remarkable memory, your progress will be swift. The titles of xiucai and juren will surely be within your grasp soon. Ha ha! Come, Brother Zhou, a drink!"

According to history, Wu Wending would become a notable figure in the Ming dynasty. Zhou Zhi was keenly aware of the opportunity to cultivate good relations and quickly drained his cup.

Lü Xingchuan smiled and said, "Speaking of Brother Zhou, his photographic memory and his ability to produce such elegant small script are indeed remarkable.

But Brother Zhou comes from a humble background, spending much of his time laboring in the fields, studying only in his spare moments. To persist in scholarship despite poverty and hardship—that resilience and dedication command my utmost respect."

In truth, Xu Jing, Wu Wending, and Gu Dingchen had long discerned Zhou’s impoverished origins from his attire. Lü’s words only deepened their admiration.

Though born into a wealthy family, Xu Jing had never looked down on the poor. Still, his earlier debate with Fan Jin about southern versus northern talents lingered in his mind, and his youthful ambition fueled a competitive spirit between the two regions.

While Zhou’s poverty and devotion to study were admirable, his wealthy background was incomparable. Yet he smiled faintly and said, "Coincidentally, when speaking of Brother Zhou’s humble origins and perseverance, our Brother Jiuhe’s family situation is even more difficult, yet he too studies with exceptional diligence.

In fact, Brother Jiuhe’s family history is quite a troubling matter."

Upon hearing this, Gu Dingchen’s face flushed slightly but he did not interrupt. Clearly, he possessed the courage to confront harsh realities.

Xu Jing then recounted Gu Dingchen’s family background.

Gu Dingchen’s father, Gu Xun, ran a modest oil shop in Kunshan city. Life was not prosperous, and the household had only one maidservant of average appearance. What troubled Gu Xun was that at over fifty years old, he still had no children—neither sons nor daughters. He had considered taking the maid as a concubine, but his wife was strict and forbade it.

One day, a heavy rain prevented Gu Xun from returning home promptly. His wife sent the maid to deliver their meal. Seizing the opportunity the heavens had granted him, Gu Xun boldly took advantage of the moment with the maid. Unexpectedly, the maid soon became pregnant. When the child was born, Gu Xun was overjoyed to have a son late in life and named him Gu Dingchen.

However, Gu Xun’s wife was consumed with jealousy and could not tolerate Gu Dingchen’s presence. In a fit of rage, she nearly killed the infant with a kitchen knife.

Gu Xun wept bitterly, and the maid knelt, pleading with his wife to spare the child. Only then did she relent. Yet, seeing the child who was not her own every day was unbearable, so one night she secretly abandoned Gu Dingchen.

Fortunately, Gu Dingchen was fortunate enough to be found by a kind tofu vendor who took him home and raised him.

The tofu vendor was an unmarried man with no land or property, living a life of hardship. Yet despite these conditions, Gu Dingchen studied diligently and tirelessly.

He had attempted several times to visit his biological mother, but Gu Xun’s wife repeatedly obstructed the meetings. Even on the rare occasions they met, Gu Dingchen was heartbroken to see his mother disheveled and bruised.

To this day, though Gu Dingchen had passed the xiucai exam, he had yet to return to the Gu household.

As Xu Jing revealed this tragic tale, all present were filled with sorrow and indignation, their hearts moved with sympathy for Gu Dingchen.

Despite such a background, Gu Dingchen faced life with dignity and without a hint of inferiority. He smiled lightly and said, "Such a troubled family history is indeed vexing. Only by immersing myself in my studies can I rise above it all."

Zhou Zhi’s respect for Gu Dingchen deepened. He said, "Though my own family is poor and I love to read, I have not been as diligent as Brother Jiuhe. He is truly my exemplar."

Zhou’s words carried a double meaning, though none but he himself perceived it. He was resolute: if Gu Dingchen, with such a past, could one day top the imperial examinations, then surely he, Zhou Zhi, now in a better position, could do so as well.

A soldier who does not aspire to be a general is no good soldier. Though he was still without official rank and the highest honors seemed distant, one must have a goal to strive toward. Whether or not he passed was less important than holding that dream firmly in his heart.