Chapter 27: Distant Ties Cannot Come Between Close Kin

Diwu Lun looked around and realized that it was not only people from Fifth and Seventh Wards who had come to watch — even those from Sixth, Fourth, and as far away as First and Third had turned out. Yet few gloated over the misfortune; most felt the fox's grief at the hare's death.

No matter how they quarreled, they shared a single ancestor. Fellow villagers and kin — who could take any pleasure in seeing Seventh Biao so humiliated by an outsider?

An idea immediately took shape in Diwu Lun's mind.

Under pressure from Yuan Chu, Seventh Biao first bowed deeply toward Diwu Ba atop the fortified manor wall, then turned back to kowtow to Diwu Lun. But to his surprise, Diwu Lun strode forward and caught hold of Seventh Biao, stopping him from kneeling.

"I thought this was a petty squabble between brothers and paid it little mind. I never imagined it would end in such an ugly scene — first an assassin sent, and now outsiders called in to settle a clan feud."

Seventh Biao assumed Diwu Lun was rebuking him and swallowed his anger — only for the tone to shift.

"Family shame must not be spread abroad. Uncle Seventh of the clan, must our two families keep up this farce, shaming our forefathers the King of Qi and the Chancellor of Qi in the underworld with such unworthy descendants?"

Seventh Biao looked up, stunned, and saw Diwu Lun's expression full of sorrow and sympathy — nothing like someone seizing the chance to exact punishment.

What came next was even more astonishing. A warmth spread over Seventh Biao's body: Diwu Lun had, in full view of everyone, taken off his own outer robe and draped it over him, then plucked away the two arrows behind his ear.

Diwu Lun raised the arrowheads high so that all could see, then snapped them sharply and hurled them to the ground!

"Arrows are easily broken, but the blood and sinew of bone and flesh are hard to sever."

The youth's words rang with conviction, spoken to Seventh Biao and to all the clansmen present: "I once heard a common saying — even when a bone breaks, the sinews still hold. Kin are kin, in the end."

"Before our forefathers, let the grudges between the Diwu and the Seventh clans be wiped clean from this moment! Let the two families be kin once more, and never seek vengeance against each other! Whoever breaks this oath — let them be as these arrows!"

…

Seventh Biao had thought he would suffer the humiliation of Diwu Lun gloating over a petty victory. He never expected that, before his face could hit the ground, the other would set aside past grievances and catch him.

He had even offered a gentle step to climb down — clearly wanting to end the feud with dignity.

Only a fool refuses a ladder when he sees one. Seventh Biao immediately nodded and assented: "Indeed. Petty grudges cannot sever the blood ties between our two families. I, Seventh Biao, am also willing to swear this oath before our forefathers."

No sooner had he spoken than a great burst of laughter rang out — Diwu Ba had jumped straight down from the fortified manor wall.

The old man walked up close. When he raised his hand, Seventh Biao thought he was about to strike him and shut his eyes in fright.

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Instead, Diwu Ba tightened the outer robe around him and said with a laugh: "Now that's more like it — the same A-Biao who, as a youth, always followed me around with the village lads, asking how vast the lands of the Western Regions were!"

Seventh Biao stood tongue-tied, not knowing what to say. Diwu Ba waved a hand expansively: "No need for many words. Come, drink with me at home! Whatever needs saying, let it be said in the wine!"

This duet of grandfather and grandson genuinely moved Seventh Biao. His resentment toward the Diwu clan turned to shame. The whole affair had indeed been stirred up by his own family, by Seventh Bao. Today's humiliation had been forced on them by Yuan Chu — it could not be blamed on the Diwu.

Seeing the two families reconciled, the watching clansmen and villagers of the various Di wards near and far finally set their hearts at ease, and cheers and praise rose unceasingly.

Diwu Lun walked over to Yuan Chu, who stood staring blankly, and cupped his hands in salute: "Today's matter has put Young Hero Yuan to much trouble. But distant ties cannot come between close kin. Let us shut the door and settle our own clan's grievances. Another day I shall certainly send men bearing gifts to Maoling to thank Great Hero Yuan!"

Yuan Chu, headstrong and self-willed, had wrecked the win-win drama that Wan Xiu had so painstakingly planned. Diwu Lun had seized the chance to climb the pole and gathered all the prestige that should have been shared between the two families into his own arms.

Wan Xiu could only shake his head in secret. Now it was Yuan Chu who found himself in an awkward spot.

"Send men? Shouldn't you go in person?"

When the lord is humiliated, his vassals fret. Seeing displeasure on their young master's face, several of the gallant youths from Maoling who had accompanied him immediately perked up and called out to Diwu Lun.

"Diwu boy, hold it right there!"

Diwu Lun turned his head and saw these gallant youths speaking with an air of overblown seniority: "Today's matter was resolved for you all thanks to Lord Yuan. Shouldn't you and Seventh Biao offer your thanks in person, face to face!?"

Yuan Chu straightened up. He thought so too.

To these gallant youths, this was only natural. Whenever Yuan She helped someone accomplish something — whether avenging a great wrong or fulfilling a long-cherished wish — the person would kowtow and bow repeatedly, thanking him profusely, and the debt owed to the Yuan clan could only be repaid with their very lives.

Diwu Lun, however, did not feel he owed the Yuan clan anything.

In his youth, Diwu Ba had also been a knight-errant fond of combat. He had once described the world of martial artists of Guanzhong to Diwu Lun. By territory, it could be roughly divided into four: in the north, Yuan She of Maoling; in the center, Lou Hu of Chang'an; in the south, Chen Zun of Duling; in the west, Lü Wei of Chencang… only the east lacked a seat.

These four great knights-errant had carved up the Guanzhong jianghu, each forming their own faction. What they had in common was that they cultivated both Confucian learning and the knightly arts, and all had spent time within the system — they moved freely through both the light and the dark.

These jianghu bosses, who had adapted to the new age, routinely took the place of the authorities in settling private grievances and carrying out private punishments. It had become so commonplace — truly just like Don Vito Corleone resolving troubles for others.

But in Diwu Lun's eyes, this was nothing more than them applying their own internal code, resorting to blades at the slightest provocation, and settling disputes through violent means.

It was the Yuan clan that, without asking right or wrong, had sent Wan Xiu to kill him — they were the party at fault. He had not pursued the matter, and yet they still wanted to force their way in and meddle in the private grudge between the Diwu and Seventh clans.

If they had let the clear-headed Wan Xiu handle it, everyone could have kept face, gained prestige, and found it acceptable. But Yuan Chu had handled it so disgracefully — and still wanted him to offer thanks?

Diwu Lun had already been polite with his words, yet they kept pressing. Was this Young Hero Yuan's caliber really so far below Wan Xiu's?

So Diwu Lun dropped the pretense and shook his head: "I will not bow."

"How dare you!"

"Ungrateful wretch!"

The gallant youths around Yuan Chu already had their hands on their sword hilts, their goldfish eyes bulging. Wan Xiu was frantic to stop them — but with Diwu Lun's next words, they all wilted.

"I have already been recommended as Filial and Incorrupt by the commandery office. Next month I enter the court as a Palace Gentleman."

Diwu Lun's face was full of helplessness: "I bear official rank. It is not that I will not — it is that I truly cannot!"

…

"Filial and Incorrupt?"

At these words, the gallant youths around Yuan Chu immediately let go of their sword hilts and looked at one another. Even Yuan Chu rose to his feet from his folding stool.

These gallant youths were well-versed in the art of bullying the weak and fearing the strong. Intimidating a commoner, slapping his face and forcing him to kneel — that was one thing. Threatening a Filial and Incorrupt nominee, a Palace Gentleman with official standing, to bow his head — the consequences were entirely different.

As a Filial and Incorrupt, one was a pride of heaven, a paragon of the commandery, with a career path leading straight to the imperial court. Even meeting an Assistant Magistrate required only an equal salute. If he bore the official seal and cord, it was they who should be bowing to Diwu Lun instead.

"Filial and Incorrupt! Boyu has been recommended as Filial and Incorrupt!"

Diwu Ba, Seventh Biao, and the others were also stunned by these words. Diwu Ba was first incredulous, then his face lit up with joy. This happy surprise had come too suddenly. His lips trembled, not knowing what to say, and he could only stroke his beard rapidly to keep himself composed and refrain from cheering aloud in public.

Seventh Biao looked at Diwu Lun, deep fear in his eyes.

In two hundred years, among all the Di clans of Linqu Township, only the First clan had ever produced a Palace Gentleman — back in the time of Emperor Wu of Han, and even that was bought with donated grain. A Filial and Incorrupt through the proper path was absolutely unprecedented. Remembering that his own younger brother had actually dared to hire someone to assassinate Diwu Lun, Seventh Biao's legs went weak.

Their township's Second clan had been utterly uprooted by Emperor Wu's harsh officials and exiled to a distant land once more — precisely because they had associated too closely with the great knight-errant Guo Jie and helped him assassinate government officials.

Wan Xiu, too, secretly clutched his chest, rejoicing that he had stopped that assassination attempt.

"That's right. Boyu has indeed been recommended as Filial and Incorrupt by Commandery Governor Lord Zhang."

Jing Dan, who had arrived a little later, pushed through the crowd and walked in, confirming the matter. He did not bother mentioning the Four Categories selection — there was not much difference between the two anyway. When speaking to common folk, it was best to use terms they could understand.

Seeing an official with seal and cord at his waist arrive, Yuan Chu found it harder to keep pestering them. Though his family ran roughshod over Maoling in the Capital Commandant's jurisdiction, their influence in neighboring commanderies was not that great. Yuan She had been extremely cautious lately, warning his son to avoid conflict with the authorities whenever possible, so he had no choice but to call his gallant companions away with a sullen face.

Only Wan Xiu, after mounting his horse, glanced back at Diwu Lun, cupped his hands in a bow, then promptly followed the others as they left.

Wan Xiu could only feel regret in his heart. This had clearly been a perfect chance to spread the great hero Yuan's fame throughout the Arrayed Commandants, yet Yuan Chu's foolish antics had ruined it — it looked more like they had rushed over to hand Diwu Lun prestige on a platter.

"I still botched this matter. I have truly let the great hero Yuan down." Wan Xiu was an honest man; he lowered his head in shame.

Before the Maoling gallants had even left, the onlookers on both sides surged toward Diwu Lun — some to congratulate him, some brimming with questions. Diwu Ba included: everyone wanted to hear him talk about what it felt like to be nominated as Filial and Incorrupt.

Diwu Lun was nearly surrounded by the crowd, with no chance even to bid Wan Xiu farewell: "All-Purpose Oil, you still haven't taken back that broken bow of yours!"

Before the crowd could start chattering, Diwu Lun's companion Diqi Biao suddenly flung off his outer robe! It gave them all a great start — they thought the fellow was about to do something villainous.

But Diqi Biao merely bared his shoulder and knelt before Diwu Lun, his head hanging low.

He knew very well that, having produced a Filial and Incorrupt, the Diwu clan's prospects were now boundless; they had plainly become a locally prominent surname of the district, one that absolutely could not be offended. And with Diwu Lun's reputation and insight, he might well become a high official in the commandery or county someday.

Brother Biao had finally made up his mind. Even a gecko knows to shed its tail to survive — how much more so a man? Blocking the crowd that was pressing forward, he declared loudly: "Uncle Cigong, Boyu — all the past entanglements arose because of my younger brother. I have decided…"

"As of today, to expel Diqi Bao from the Diqi clan!"

…

That night, in Diwu Hamlet, it was as if the autumn sacrifice day had come again. Every household went to the hamlet's ancestral shrine to celebrate, using song and dance to report this joyous news to the ancestors and the village god.

This stirred a thousand emotions in Diwu Lun. It was exactly like the scene in those tiny mountain-hollow villages of his past life when the first university student emerged — the whole hamlet shared in the honor.

Diwu Ba was exceptionally generous that day, bringing out the household's wine and letting everyone drink their fill.

"Boyu, is your family still drinking sweet wine this time?" Jing Dan drank only one cup before taking his leave with a smile. He too had been selected for the Four Subjects, listed alongside Diwu Lun, and wanted to go home and share this great happy event with his wife and children.

Neighbors and relatives also came in succession to offer congratulations. Diqi Biao had long since transformed into the most zealous defender of the Diwu clan. This time, Diba Zhi did not send his son in his stead but came to the door in person, earnestly asking Diwu Lun to look after Diba Jiao, who was going to be a student at the Imperial Academy, once he reached Chang'an. Diliu Du brought another fifty dan of grain — grain was all their hamlet had. Disi Xian generously expressed his willingness to arrange lodgings for Diwu Lun's future life as a Palace Gentleman in Chang'an, and told him to speak up freely about anything he needed to purchase.

Even the Disan clan, sparse in numbers as they were, hurried over to offer congratulations.

The various Di clans of Linqu Township, once a plate of loose sand, had found a backbone again because of a single Filial and Incorrupt nomination.

Only the Diyi clan seemed to be playing dead — still no one came to the door. It seemed that old man Diyi Liu still hadn't thought things through.

After the celebrations had quieted down a little, Diwu Ba, alone with his grandson, stroked the wine stains on his beard and said with emotion: "Good Lun'er, it was just as you said — the more you decline, the higher the office you get afterward! In all these years, how did this old man never grasp that?"

Diwu Lun laughed in spite of himself. Diwu Ba was still hung up on that! What he himself cared about was not the official rank, but the convenience and channels this status brought, and the qualification to go to Chang'an and meet Wang Mang and the State Preceptor "Liu Xiu."

"Filial and Incorrupt… though this old man has lived a life of mediocrity and idleness, before I die I have cultivated a Filial and Incorrupt. I can face the ancestors now…"

The old man, however, was a pure office-enthusiast. Somewhat dazed, he began pacing in circles in the courtyard, all the way to the main gate, where he pointed beyond the lintel and said: "Now that you're a Palace Gentleman, can our family erect merit and service pillars outside the fortified manor?"

Diwu Ba had been eyeing other families' pillars with envy for decades. His requirements were not high — the small kind would do.

"We can."

Diwu Lun was also a little drunk. Swaying, he stepped out and pointed to the starry vault above.

"Later on."

"Boyu will raise for Grandfather the tallest merit pillar and service pillar under this sky, in this world of men!"

…

PS: "The Qin Official" has no extras, but some readers have written fan fiction.

Muzi Wushao, who won first place in the fan fiction event, has uploaded "Chronicles of the Xia Qin Empire" on Qidian — those who want to read it, go take a look. The content of the fan fiction is the reader's original creation; Qiyue Xinfan and Shiyue Xinfan bear no responsibility for it.