[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-a-literary-genius-in-the-song-dynasty":3,"chapter-a-literary-genius-in-the-song-dynasty-a-literary-genius-in-the-song-dynasty-chapter-20":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","A Literary Genius in the Song Dynasty",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2336403,4568,"Chapter 20: Little Uncle Is So Good","a-literary-genius-in-the-song-dynasty-chapter-20",20,"\u003Cp>Pei Yan’s anxiety was entirely justified: yesterday they were still talking about needing money to rent a house in the county seat, and today, after one outing, she had returned with fifty guan—how could she not suspect something sinister?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Beigu replied calmly: “Today at the literary gathering, I wrote a novel; these fifty guan are the fees paid by publishers who bought the copyright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Copyright was not a modern term—it emerged during the Song dynasty alongside the widespread adoption of movable type printing, yet its meaning then and now is identical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Beigu pulled out a copied manuscript from the bottom of his book satchel and handed it over: “This is the transcription.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced at Lu Beigu, then took the pages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she was a woman of the household, she had grown up in Kaifeng, the capital, and from childhood had studied music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and could read and write.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So this relatively accessible novel was not difficult for her to read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she reached the line “dipping the nail without letting it fall,” a spark popped from the stove, startling her so badly she nearly dropped the paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really written for this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She asked skeptically, her fingertip lightly brushing the edge of the banknote, as if afraid it might burn her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course,” Lu Beigu said, half-amused, half-exasperated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister-in-law, keep this money—first pay off the debts outside, use the rest to rent a house and buy household goods, and get something for the two children.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan fell silent for a moment, turning her back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moonlight traced the thin line of her shoulders; the wooden hairpin trembled slightly in her bun; the firelight cast her shadow on the earthen wall, swaying like reeds in the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister-in-law?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She swiftly wiped her face but did not reach for the banknotes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keep them yourself. We owe twenty-eight guan outside. If we’re to transfer our household registration to Hejiang County, we must repay it before leaving. As for the rest, rent a house first in Hejiang County and keep the remainder for your studies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister-in-law, now that we have Li Pan’s guarantee for the household transfer, and we have some money—can we move to Hejiang County after the festival?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not that easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan smiled bitterly: “Forget about our ancestors’ graves—just leaving this place requires signed guarantee letters from neighbors. Our family’s land has been coveted by these clan members for a long time; if we don’t sell it cheaply to them when we leave, they won’t sign the guarantee.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Beigu froze, suddenly remembering this detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the Song dynasty did not forbid mobility, whether relocating one’s household registration or seeking work elsewhere, one needed a guarantee letter from one’s original locality for the authorities to recognize it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Pan, as magistrate of Hejiang County, could guarantee that Lu Beigu’s family would face no issues upon registering in Hejiang—but he had no authority over the departure procedures from the Luo tribal region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could one, then, use a bit of cleverness and forge a guarantee letter oneself?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer was no: the Song dynasty placed great importance on whether a person was a “good citizen” with clean status. Hejiang County was not far from Gulin Town; if someone reported the forgery and it was confirmed, not only would the household transfer be denied, but future imperial examinations might be barred forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait until after Qingming, then go to Hejiang County and rent a house first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan sighed: “Don’t flaunt your wealth. The debt was borrowed from the clan. As for the guarantee letter—if there’s truly no other way, we’ll have to give in to them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This big courtyard and land—why should we give it up?” Lu Beigu said, indignant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their ancestral land had excellent feng shui and a large courtyard: one main house and two side wings; if sold, it could fetch over forty guan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll think of another way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan hummed in agreement, then suddenly asked: “I didn’t quite understand that piece ‘Heavenly River Water’—is it really about wine?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s about wine,” Lu Beigu replied quietly, “but also about people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few more words, they each returned to their rooms to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having walked far and expended much mental energy today, Lu Beigu fell asleep the moment his head touched the pillow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Pei Yan tossed and turned, unable to sleep no matter how hard she tried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the fifth watch drum struck once, she rose quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the kitchen, she pushed aside the cold ashes, intending to relight the fire, then suddenly retracted her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Today was the Cold Food Festival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to custom, fire was forbidden on Cold Food Festival; she put the flint back where she found it and instead lifted the damp cloth covering the willow basket, revealing four neatly arranged eggs dyed green with mugwort juice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The family was poor; these eggs had originally been Pei Yan’s planned festival meal for everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now that they had some money, she couldn’t bear for her children to go without treats on the holiday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After tidying the house, she took out the hidden iron coins and placed them in a bamboo basket, then stepped outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the morning mist had cleared, Pei Yan returned from the market, basket in hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fresh elm blossoms in the basket still glistened with dew; beside them, a paper-wrapped packet of candied apricot flesh shimmered faintly like amber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuchi rubbed her eyes, small hands gripping the doorframe, a strand of fine hair sticking up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan immediately raised a finger to her lips, pointing to the small side room where Lu Beigu still slept; the girl instantly clapped her hand over her mouth, but her eyes remained fixed on the candied apricots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Save it for Little Uncle,” Lu Yuchi said reluctantly, tearing her gaze away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Today it’s for you,” Pei Yan said, stroking her daughter’s head. “Little Uncle earned some money writing yesterday—he specifically said to buy you treats.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course it’s true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Uncle is so good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuchi carefully pinched off a tiny piece of apricot with her fingernail, popped it into her mouth, chewed, and her eyes instantly curved into crescents; then she ran off happily with the rest to find her brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lu Beigu woke, he saw Pei Yan already pounding apricot kernels beside the stone mortar; her sleeves rolled to her elbows, the pestle rising and falling, the kernels gradually grinding into fine white powder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was making Cold Food porridge, typically made by simmering apricot kernels, malt sugar, and glutinous rice, then chilling it in a well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Doufu, who hadn’t gone out to fight today, perched curiously on a peach branch, tail swaying gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Awake?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Lu Beigu could answer, a commotion erupted outside the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the group gathered at the courtyard gate, Pei Yan’s expression shifted slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third Grandpa, Fourth Uncle—there’s no reason to come demanding repayment on Cold Food Festival, is there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most neighbors in the alley had risen by now; hearing the noise, some gathered to watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the vast majority here were members of the Lu clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp “hah” rang out from the crowd; Lu Beigu’s sharp eyes caught the short woman Wang Shu tiptoeing to peer over, her silver hairpin askew, resembling a vulture spying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the gate, Third Grandpa leaned on his cane, his shriveled lips pressed into a thin line, his cloudy eyes fixed on the bamboo basket on the stone table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sweet aroma of the candied apricots drifted in the morning breeze, causing several creditors to swallow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Madam Pei, you can afford candied fruit and Cold Food snacks, yet you can’t repay your debt—isn’t that improper?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fourth Uncle Lu Zongde spoke first, revealing a sliver of counting rods in his sleeve—he had clearly prepared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third Grandpa added slowly: “Today is Cold Food, and the clan is settling accounts at the ancestral hall. We didn’t want to trouble you, a widow and her children, but times are hard for everyone—every household has its own troubles. There must be some resolution.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fourth Uncle Lu Zongde declared: “Your debt of twenty-eight guan, principal and interest, now totals forty guan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fourth Uncle!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan gripped the basket, her knuckles white: “The debt was taken last year with three percent interest—only a few months have passed; how could the interest be so high?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A murmur rippled through the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman shrilled: “Oh my, scholarly families are so refined—they can’t even calculate interest? The principle of compound interest is understood by three-year-olds!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She elbowed the person beside her, who immediately chimed in: “That’s right! Someone saw Lu’s boy sneaking home yesterday—his satchel was bulging; maybe he stole something!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You lie!” Pei Yan trembled with rage, about to retort, when she felt a sudden weight on her sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Beigu had stepped in front of her without her noticing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1487,"2026-06-20T21:44:14.864Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e28d8f20e857aac9a752ddacf66969376e114a2079e1f0e83a4b066f8559c107","a-literary-genius-in-the-song-dynasty-chapter-21","a-literary-genius-in-the-song-dynasty-chapter-19",56,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-literary-genius-in-the-song-dynasty-cover.jpg"]