Chapter 4

Liu Gong suspected Di Wu because, in this era, filial piety and fraternal duty were indeed profitable matters.

In the Former Han, the emperor ruled the world with filial piety, and the posthumous titles of emperors all included the character for "filial." Fraternal duty was derived from filial piety, as stated in the Classic of Filial Piety: "To teach the people to be courteous and obedient, nothing is better than fraternal duty," advocating that brothers should love and respect each other, and that the young should respect the old.

After the Xin Dynasty replaced the Han, Wang Mang, who had usurped the throne from a minister, did not emphasize loyalty too much, even with the myth of the Red Emperor's abdication, to avoid contradicting himself. Thus, he continued to promote filial piety and fraternal duty.

When Liu Gong asked, Huan Tan spat out a fish bone and began to talk about an unrelated matter.

"Back when the current emperor was of humble status, he served his mother and widowed sister-in-law, raised his brother's orphaned child, and served his uncles with great care. When his uncle, the Marquis of Yangping (Wang Feng), was ill, he personally tasted the medicine, disheveled and unwashed for months, earning the praise of the people."

Wang Mang himself was a typical example of someone who gained fame and position through the image of filial piety and fraternal duty. Huan Tan's words had a deeper meaning: "At that time, were there also people like Master Bo who suspected the emperor's motives were impure, and that his display of filial piety and fraternal duty was for fame and profit?"

"This... What does this have to do with today's matter? The emperor is a sage and virtuous man who appears only once every five hundred years, while Di Wu is just a rural youth. How can they be compared?"

Liu Gong regretted his impulsive words and turned to the county magistrate, Xian Yu Bao: "The Di and Ba families are relatives. Is it possible that they colluded to let Di Wu gain fame by giving up his quota, while Ba Jiao entered the Imperial Academy?"

"Absolutely not."

Xian Yu Bao firmly stated: "The Di and Ba families are not as friendly and harmonious as Di Wu claims. In fact, they have many grievances. I once saw the heads of the Di and Ba families meet on a bridge and refuse to yield to each other, standing there for half an hour. They have not interacted for a long time, so it is impossible for them to collude."

"Oh?" Liu Gong was surprised; the matter had become more complicated. Was Di Wu repaying grievances with virtue?

Xian Yu Bao said, "I dare to inform the two doctors that Di Wu is known for his fraternal duty in the village, especially since he recovered from a serious illness a month ago."

He then told a story about Di Wu.

"In Linqu Village, there is a large pear orchard. Every year when the pears ripen, the clan members are invited to share the fruit."

Of course, the best pears, wrapped in money and silk, are sent to the local officials. This story was heard from the servant, Di Fu, who delivered the pears.

"Di Wu always takes the smaller pears, even though they are more sour. When asked why, Di Wu replied, 'After studying the Classic of Filial Piety, I understood the way of filial piety and fraternal duty. I am the youngest in the family, so I should let my older cousins and uncles take the larger ones, and I will take the smaller ones.'"

This simple story left a deep impression and spread throughout the county in just a few days.

Liu Gong dismissed his doubts about Di Wu: "It seems that Di Wu is truly kind and humble. Giving up his place in the academy is not an isolated incident; I was wrong to suspect him."

Huan Tan took a sip of wine and said, "Although I have only spoken a few words with this young man, I think his reason for giving up his place might not be entirely due to filial piety and fraternal duty..."

"Why then?"

"Perhaps it is just like me, too lazy to bother with the tedious studies of exegesis and chapters." Huan Tan laughed.

Liu Gong did not take his words seriously, only thinking to himself, "Di Wu's story of giving up the pear is quite interesting. I should write it down and show it to my uncle in Chang'an. Perhaps it will be included in the Miscellaneous Records."

On the other side, the county magistrate Xian Yu Bao was secretly worried about Di Wu.

He helped the Di family because his father and Di Ba were colleagues and had a good relationship. To help Di Wu enter the Imperial Academy, the old man gave him many benefits.

After the banquet, Xian Yu Bao's thoughts became more active.

"Now that Di Wu has given up his place, the money and silk the Di family gave me should be returned."

But he had already accepted the gifts and had no reason to return them. What should he do?

Xian Yu Bao had a sudden idea and decided to report Di Wu's acts of giving up the pear and the place to the prefecture.

First, such a model of filial piety and fraternal duty in his jurisdiction would be a political achievement for the county magistrate.

Second, it would give the Di family a satisfactory response, and he would not have to return their bribes.

"There is a position in the county that can be decided locally, which is suitable for someone like Di Wu, who is known for filial piety and fraternal duty!"

...

The central hall of the Di family's compound was the largest building, with thick pillars supporting the roof. The hall had windows on all four sides, making it bright during the day. At night, bronze lamp stands were lit along the walls.

But Di Wu, accustomed to the bright lights of the future, still found the room too dark.

In the spacious center, two rows of low-legged lacquer tables were placed, with seating mats behind them. This was where the Di family held meetings for important matters and entertained guests. The head of the Ba family and his young son were kneeling on the guest seats on the west side.

On the main seat on the east side sat the arrogant Di Ba, with a wooden stand behind him holding a long sword, the one he practiced with every morning.

The sword was in its sheath, its sharpness hidden, just like Di Wu's calm and smiling face as he greeted the guests.

Seeing his old rival arrive, Di Ba spoke with a bad temper: "The meat in my pot has just cooked, Ba Zhi, are you here to freeload?"

Unlike Di Ba, who had a military background, Ba Zhi had studied at the Imperial Academy in his youth and always spoke with the subtlety of a scholar. He was not there to provoke a fight but lowered his eyes and said, "To be honest, I haven't eaten at the Di family's table for decades."

They had once been friends in their youth, both serving as officials in the village, one as a pavilion chief and the other as a clerk. Later, they fell out, and the reason... well, it was because of a woman.

Di Ba narrowed his eyes: "You old man haven't changed. Speak your mind, don't beat around the bush."

Ba Zhi smiled and explained his purpose: "I am here today because Bo Yu gave up his place at the Imperial Academy for my son. As the poem says, 'If you give me a peach, I will return with a plum.' We should come to thank him."

"Ha ha ha." Di Ba was somewhat proud and said, "My son Lun is naturally intelligent. In the official school, he always ranks first in exams. He is young and has many opportunities. Considering your son is nearly twenty and has failed the exams multiple times, he is getting old. Since we are of the same clan, I felt sorry for him and gave him the place!"

"I don't need his place!"

Ba Jiao, with a scholarly air, felt ashamed. He had a short beard to look more mature, but his temper was short. Angered by Di Ba's words, his face turned red, and he stood up to argue, but his father held him back.

"Speak your mind." Ba Zhi smiled. "What does the Di family want?"

"The good land in Qunan."

"Or the small house in the county?"

"Or perhaps, you want me to recommend you as the village elder to the county?"

He thought the Di family wanted to make a deal with his family using the quota.

Ba Jiao was anxious: "Father, I can go to the Imperial Academy next year. Why..."

"Shut up!"

Ba Zhi stopped him, disappointed in his son. The boy didn't understand the current situation. Look at Di Wu, who remained calm and smiling. He was three years younger and much more composed.

Was it about their academic abilities? It was more about the power struggle between the two families. They would only get a chance when the larger scholarly families in the county had no eligible children. The Di family had won by paying more, but suddenly gave up the place, which was unexpected.

Di Wu's act of giving up his place spread throughout Changling County in just one afternoon.

Whether the Ba family liked it or not, they owed a favor.

In this era, what was most important for a wealthy family? Not land or slaves. Since the Xin Dynasty banned land consolidation and slave trading, these two things were almost impossible to increase rapidly. The only thing that could be accumulated was reputation!

If this matter was handled improperly, it would be seen as repaying kindness with ingratitude, damaging their reputation in the county. This would be a much greater loss than giving up a piece of land or a few houses.

But Di Ba was unmoved, smiling at Ba Zhi, his expression clearly saying, "I don't want anything, just for your family to be indebted to the Di family."

"Ba Zongbo."

Di Wu finally spoke, lifting the lacquer pot brought by a servant and pouring three cups of wine into the beautifully crafted black and red lacquer cups. His family was a small local power, with limited wealth, so they were usually frugal, using pottery for daily use and lacquerware only for guests.

He stood up and presented two cups of wine to Di Ba and Ba Zhi, then knelt on the empty space between the east and west seats, raising his cup. "I have heard that people in this world are divided into different surnames, the same surname, the same clan, and the same family."

Surnames referred to ancient surnames like Ji, Jiang, and Mi from the Spring and Autumn period, representing the original source. Different surnames were like different trees in a forest. As they grew and branched out, they became clans.

The Gui surname branched out into the Chen and Tian clans, and the Tian clan in Qi further branched out into the Di and Ba clans. Although the eight families were beyond the fifth generation, they still recognized each other as relatives.

Di Wu said, "The Di and Ba families are brothers of the same clan, blood-related, and close neighbors, with no disputes over land or water. I have also heard that in the past, Ba Zongbo and my grandfather were very close, but later fell out due to a misunderstanding."

Di Wu sighed, "I heard a song in the county: 'A foot of cloth can be sewn, a peck of grain can be ground, but two brothers cannot live together.' This time, the competition for the Imperial Academy quota has made many people laugh at our two families!"

"So I would rather give up the opportunity to go to the Imperial Academy than let our families break apart. I only hope that the Di and Ba families can use this event and this cup of wine to bury the hatchet!"

With that, he raised his cup and drank it in one gulp!

Di Wu's maturity far exceeded his age, and not only Ba Zhi and his son but even Di Ba were stunned. After a long pause, Di Ba said, "I am ashamed. We have lived for so many years but are not as broad-minded as the younger generation."

With that, he raised his cup and toasted to Ba Zhi.

Ba Zhi also raised his cup, feeling guilty, "Yes, my brother has a good grandson."

They drank together, showing the empty bottoms of their cups, and laughed heartily.

...

After that, the servants brought in the food, and the atmosphere at the table became more relaxed and friendly. The tension from earlier disappeared.

Di Ba and Ba Zhi seemed to have returned to their past friendship, drinking and getting drunk. In their drunken state, they even used chopsticks to tap the edges of their bowls and sang the songs of their youth.

When the night was deep, the small banquet ended. Di Ba, with a good tolerance for alcohol, personally saw Ba Zhi and his son out. The news of the two families reconciling would quickly spread throughout Linqu Village.

Ba Jiao was truly drunk. He had studied Confucian classics for many years, and his blood was infused with Confucian moral principles. Di Wu's words today made him look at him differently, and his admiration erased his previous resentment. He burped and said to his father, "Sir, Di Wu is truly filial and fraternal. I was wrong to suspect him."

Ba Zhi, however, was pretending to be drunk, thinking to himself, "You young man, after studying for a few years, you only understand righteousness and morality, not the treachery of human hearts. Di Wu calls you brother, toasts you, and flatters you, and you forget your own name!"

Di Wu spoke so confidently that if they still held onto their petty grievances, they would be seen as ungrateful. Ba Zhi could only smile and agree, and the final result was...

They had made a trip in vain, and the Ba family still owed the Di family a favor. They would have to continue to play the role of brothers reconciling!

"But, this is not bad for our family."

Ba Zhi thought about this and looked at his son, who was already asleep in the carriage, only taking off his outer robe and gently covering him. He sighed, "Di old man is lucky to have such a grandson, a rare talent. When it's the younger generation's turn to lead, the Ba family will probably have to rely on the Di family!"

...

"Reading more books is indeed useful. Ba old man is usually cunning, but today he could only force a smile, drinking like he was drinking urine. It was satisfying."

After watching the guests' carriage drive away, Di Ba turned around and looked at his grandson in amazement, but his doubts grew larger.

"Lun, your reason for giving up your place is not just to resolve the grievances between the Di and Ba families, right?"

"Of course not."

Di Wu usually kept his plans hidden, but now, half-drunk, he revealed his small sense of pride, smiling. "Grandfather, if the world truly falls into chaos in the next few years, can our clan and village survive on their own?"

Di Ba shook his head. They lived in a fortified compound, which could defend against small-scale bandits. But if the world fell into the great chaos of the late Qin and early Han, their mere two hundred able-bodied men would be insufficient. A larger rebel force would be enough to wipe out the Di family.

"A fence needs three stakes, so our family needs help."

Di Wu revealed his goal: "Grandfather, I want to become the recognized leader of all the clans through fame and prestige."

In the night, the lights of Linqu Village flickered in the darkness, like scattered stars in the sky.

Di Wu stretched out his hand as if to grasp them, bringing them together.

"If I can do this, once the world changes, I need only raise my arm, and within ten miles, from eight clans, three thousand able-bodied men will gather and follow me!"

...

PS: The book has already reached ten thousand collections in just half a day. You guys are really amazing.

Also, thank you to the three patrons, Ren Zai Wutongxia, Kamisama Nanami Official, and Liudan Pa Shui, and other readers for their support. The patrons will be rewarded after the book is published—since the Han has already fallen, the debts of the previous dynasty will not be repaid in the new one.

Additionally, during my break, I have been following Liudan Pa Shui's "Song of the Song Dynasty," which is quite good, and I have learned a lot, such as...

"Don't wait tonight!"

So I will change the update time. From today, both chapters will be updated around 8:00 AM, so everyone can finish reading before work and not have to wait at night.