Chapter Sixty: That Blade

Zhang Hudaner had set his sights on Li Zhenzhen, the only daughter of the innkeeper in Zhao Village. Li Zhenzhen was strikingly beautiful, and she, too, felt drawn to Zhang Hudaner. The two would meet regularly at the tavern, their affection for each other growing with every encounter.

Li Zhenzhen was just sixteen, while Zhang Hudaner had reached twenty—both of marriageable age. Letting time slip by in such a fashion was no solution, so Zhang Hudaner pleaded with his father, Old Zhang, to approach the innkeeper and formally propose marriage.

Old Zhang was overjoyed to learn his son had found someone he cared for. Zhang Hudaner had long been a source of worry for his father, loafing about and shirking all honest work. If this match succeeded and the wedding was held before the year's end, perhaps it would settle the boy down into a proper life.

So Old Zhang gathered gifts and sent a go-between to Zhao Village to propose on his son's behalf.

But scarcely an hour later, the emissary returned, reporting that the innkeeper's wife had unleashed a torrent of insults upon him. How could her daughter possibly marry a ne’er-do-well? That would be a disgrace to their family!

Moreover, she declared that the third son of Cheng the Scholar from Gaochang Town had recently sent a formal proposal and a generous bride price, which she had already accepted. The wedding was to be held before the end of the year.

Cheng Ke, known as Cheng the Scholar in Gaochang Town, ran a school that attracted many students, bringing in a tidy sum each year just from tuition. His two elder sons also ran businesses in Qingdu County. The Cheng family had become one of the wealthiest households in Gaochang.

Cheng Ke’s status as a scholar also brought him close to the county officials; even the magistrate treated him with marked respect. For Li Zhenzhen to be chosen by such a family’s third son was, by all accounts, a stroke of great fortune. True, the third son was rather short and, by character, seemed little more than a pleasure-seeking idler. But for her daughter to marry into such wealth and never want for food or comfort—how could the innkeeper’s wife not be pleased? How could she refuse?

Li Zhenzhen, however, loved Zhang Hudaner deeply and refused the match. But in the rigid world of the Ming dynasty, a daughter’s fate was dictated by her parents and arranged marriages were the rule. Under her mother’s relentless threats and coercion, Li Zhenzhen despaired and protested for days, but in the end, she was forced to submit.

Zhang Hudaner had seen the third son of the Cheng family before—a man with thick, broom-like eyebrows, narrow, sharp eyes, and a diminutive physique that brought to mind the infamous Wu Dalang. The thought that the lovely Li Zhenzhen would leave him to marry such a man was something Zhang Hudaner could not accept.

But what could he do? Was he to storm into Gaochang Town and oppose the Cheng family? The Chengs were powerful, with a host of servants and thugs, all skilled in martial arts and fierce beyond measure. Zhang Hudaner, though the local chief among the ruffians, was ultimately a small-time figure in the countryside—no match for them.

To have his beloved stolen away left Zhang Hudaner helpless, his heart frozen and his spirit utterly crushed.

Yet, he was a man. Even at the depths of despair, he forced himself to look forward. In this world, the strong devour the weak; without power or influence, one must endure humiliation and abuse.

As a man, Zhang Hudaner swore to make something of himself—to win power, become an official, and bring honor to his family name.

He knew he was not cut out for scholarly pursuits, but there remained one shortcut to his dreams, a path that demanded utter resolve: entering the palace as a eunuch.

So Zhang Hudaner steeled himself, took a blade to his own flesh, and made himself a eunuch.

His father had spent his life as a pig-gelder, never imagining that his own son would one day geld himself. Now, Old Zhang sobbed as he recounted the tale to Zhou Zhi. In the end, he could not help but beat his chest and cry, "Ah! Retribution—is this retribution? I spent my life gelding pigs, and in the end, my own son gelded himself!"

Zhou Zhi was at a loss for words, a mix of emotions swirling within him.

Hudaner had always spoken of manhood and family honor, but Zhou Zhi had thought it empty talk, never suspecting such ambition lay beneath. The mere fact that Hudaner had taken a knife to himself was proof of his courage; how many men could do such a thing? To be ruthless with others is one thing, but true ruthlessness is to be ruthless with oneself.

It had only been a few days, but Zhang Hudaner, lying on the kang, already looked wan and haggard. Yet in his eyes blazed a fierce determination.

He turned to Zhou Zhi with a faint smile. "Brother, I’m finally free. I’ve always had this plan in mind, but never the courage for it—not until now, with all ties severed. Now it’s done. Little Zhi, we are men, meant to stand tall. To be a man and not seek power or office is no man at all. In a few days, I’ll head north to the capital. I’ll make my own way, no matter the cost."

His words rang with conviction.

Standing at the bedside, Zhou Zhi could almost feel the force of his courage and ambition.

Zhang Hudaner fell silent for a moment, then managed a bitter smile. "Little Zhi, you know I’m illiterate. In this world, this may be the only road left for me. Before I leave, there are some words I must entrust to you. You’re clever and capable, made for study—don’t neglect your learning, study hard, and win honors for yourself. I believe in you."

Everyone has their own path. Hudaner had made his decision, and Zhou Zhi could only nod quietly. "I’ll remember your words, brother."

"Good! That’s all I ask," said Zhang Hudaner, turning away, lost in thought.

Suddenly, he remembered something. "Little Zhi, once I leave in a few days, who knows when I’ll return? My family will need your care. I can tell you have potential—should the local landlords ever try to bully you, I’m sure you’ll repay them in kind one day. And my father is getting old. Please look after him, comfort him, and tell him that I, Zhang Hudaner, will one day make a name for myself and bring honor to our house."

"I’ll remember everything," Zhou Zhi replied solemnly.

"And one more thing, Little Zhi—now that I am as I am, the name Hudaner hardly suits me. I’ve given myself a new name: from now on, I’ll be called Zhang Yong," he said offhandedly.

Zhou Zhi nodded. "Yes, though the new name lacks the fierceness of 'Hudaner,' it’s a fine name."

He repeated the name softly—Zhang Yong...

Heavens! Could this be the very Zhang Yong, the great eunuch, one of the "Eight Tigers" from the Zhengde era?

Zhou Zhi rummaged through his memory. The records did indeed say Zhang Yong hailed from Baoding Prefecture in Northern Zhili. So Zhang Hudaner was actually him—Zhou Zhi was left momentarily speechless.