Chapter 42: Who Says It Isn’t Beautiful Because It’s Backward?
“Mister, you are truly a master!”
“Today has been an eye-opener for us!”
“Truly immortal methods!”
All the way, everyone surrounded Song You, both awestruck and admiring, treating him just like a master traveling the world.
The large group made their way to the old man’s master’s residence. It was the largest house in the village.
Even just standing outside the courtyard, looking at the white walls and eave corners as well as the bamboo and plum showing through, it was evident that a refined family definitely lived here. Passing the stone lions and entering the vermillion door, the interior was far beyond what a typical wealthy mountain village family could possess.
As expected, while waiting for the old man to go inside to report and explain the situation, someone beside Song You informed him that this household belonged to a former official surnamed Liu. After reaching old age, he returned to his hometown to retire here. The fertile fields he had seen on the road previously mostly belonged to this old official, Mr. Liu.
In two days, it would be Old Official Liu’s seventieth birthday. Reaching seventy had always been rare since ancient times. Old Official Liu had been back in the village for a long time. Though he didn’t plan to hold a big celebration or invite any guests, his younger relatives were still coming. He had even hired an opera troupe for a lively celebration.
Unfortunately, this vicious tiger had come to the village a few days earlier.
Initially, the villagers thought it would leave after eating its fill, so they killed pigs and sheep for it and spoke nicely to it. However, the tiger refused to leave, and Old Official Liu began to worry. If it was an ordinary tiger, they could organize some strong young men to drive it away. However, this cunning tiger actually engaged them in a battle of wits and courage for several days without being vanquished. Therefore, they decided to go to the county to seek help.
Successfully driving the tiger away meant the birthday celebration could still proceed with difficulty. Otherwise, they would send people to inform Old Official Liu’s younger relatives in the county not to come.
Now that Song You had effortlessly driven away the vicious tiger, he had not only helped them immensely but also showcased extraordinary skills. Naturally, Old Official Liu treated him with utmost respect, hurriedly arranging the best room for them and inviting them to lodge with him. The jujube-red horse was led to the back courtyard to be well-cared for, and he also sent someone to ask Song You about his preferences when it came to clothing, food, lodging and transport. He even told him to bring his clothes to the family laundress for washing. He could be said to have been very considerate.
However, since Song You had only persuaded the tiger to leave after all and had not killed it, the villagers still felt uneasy.
That evening, Old Official Liu arranged a lavish banquet, and the table was laden with fish and meat. Despite being so frail that he had trouble walking steadily, Old Official Liu personally poured wine for Song You.
“Mister, you are indeed a master.”
“I am merely a hermit cultivator, unworthy of such praise.”
“Where did you cultivate, Mister?”
“Hidden Dragon Temple on Yin-Yang Mountain, Lingquan County, Yizhou.”
“It must be a famous abode on a celestial mountain,” Old Official Liu remarked. “I have aspired toward the Immortal Dao for many years. I don’t know how you drove away that fierce tiger, what wonderful method did you use?”
“It was just a petty trick, not worth mentioning.”
Old Official Liu exchanged a few looks with those sitting beside him, looking awkward. Then he praised Song You again. “You managed to persuade the tiger to leave with just a few words, truly an immortal method. It’s just that that tiger has returned to the mountain forest. Once you leave in a few days, we will be on tenterhooks again.”
As he said this, Old Official Liu immediately smiled, “It’s not that we doubt your immortal methods, but it’s a beast after all and it’s hard to change its inherent nature...”
“Mr. Liu, please don't worry. I have gotten it to understand. It won’t return again.”
Song You also knew clearly that they were trying their best to keep him there mostly because for that reason. However, the tiger hadn’t harmed anyone, just eaten some livestock. Seeing it was pure, with no black foul qi or ghosts of devoured victims[1] following it, it had never harmed a person. Moreover, it had gained some wisdom and was close to enlightenment. The heavens value life, so he was also willing to be lenient.
All living things had spirits, and beasts were stupid. Actually, one needed to be clever to break rules and be untrustworthy. Thus animals followed rules better than humans. Once an animal understood a rule, and knew that something is forbidden, it rarely broke the rule again.
Moreover, this spell to summon beasts and birds had its own mysteries. Since he had made an agreement with the mountain tiger, Song You will no longer seek it or harm it. It will also not break its vow and descend the mountain.
It was both an agreement and a Daoist art.
It was both its nature and a mysterious principle.
Only with the two combined, did Song You dare to guarantee everyone that the tiger would never descend the mountain again.
Seeing Song You so assured, Old Official Liu exchanged looks with those beside him again, but he couldn’t say any more and had no choice but to believe him.
“Thank you truly, Mister.”
“It was nothing.”
“Please enjoy the food...”
When he returned to his room at night, Old Official Liu even sent someone to bring a few candles over.
Candlelight was somewhat brighter than oil lamps. As Song You lit the candle, he was even somewhat sentimental. To be honest, it was his first time lighting a candle of his own volition despite his age. Candles were occasionally lit at the temple, but they were lit by worshipers who came to offer incense to the gods. The temple's master and disciple weren't devout, so naturally they wouldn’t normally buy candles to light them for the gods.
Candles were very expensive. Song You only bought lamp oil when he was in Yidu. One catty cost less than a hundred wen, but a single candle cost three to four hundred wen. To keep a candle burning all night, you’d need at least two or three.
Old Official Liu was indeed generous.
After washing up, Song You lay down on the bed. He covered himself with the blanket and glanced around on a whim. He noticed the calico cat lying close beside the window, looking outside into the night.
How could a human guess a cat’s thoughts?
After a while, she turned her head, and stared at Song You who was in bed. She asked in a clear voice, “Are tigers always that big?”
“You’re thinking about the tiger from today.”
“Yes.”
“Was it your first time seeing a tiger?”
“Yes.”
“Tigers do grow very large.”
“Are they all that big?”
“Some are big, some are small.”
“Was today’s tiger considered big?”
“Not the biggest.”
“Not the biggest, huh...”
“Are you feeling inferior again?”
The cat beside the window didn't answer, only continued to ask, “Can cats grow that big?”
“I'm afraid not.”
“What about cats who have become demons?”
“Probably not either.”
“Oh...”
“Actually, Lady Calico is more impressive.”
“Why?”
“You can talk, spit fire, and take human form. That mountain tiger is only strong due to natural advantages,” Song You looked at the cat. “You are still superior.”
“I'm very clever.”
“Absolutely.”
The cat then jumped back from the window, no longer pondering. She symbolically lay down at a corner of the bed’s foot as always.
If nothing unexpected happened, she would be under the blanket by tomorrow morning.
“Go to sleep.”
Song You waved his hand, extinguishing the candle.
Early next morning, Old Official Liu sent someone to invite him to breakfast and then for a stroll outside, respectfully chatting with him. Old Official Liu, being old after all, saw that he had skills and turned to him in desperation hoping that he could offer some method or elixirs for longevity, but Song You couldn’t help.
One more day later was Old Official Liu’s birthday.
Old Official Liu had invited all the farming households in the village and some of his younger relatives had also returned from outside the village. He had also hired an opera troupe to play music, sing and dance, making it very lively.
The village had just been troubled by the tiger a few days ago, and people still felt somewhat uneasy in their hearts despite Old Official Liu’s repeated reassurances. However, once the people gathered in large numbers, they no longer feared anything.
Song You was invited to be seated at the main table, surrounded by respected elders.
The table was laden with fish and meat that people rarely got to eat normally, and no lack of mountain delicacies and wild game. The cook was unusually meticulous, with every dish prepared methodically and at least looking like a proper dish. It must be noted that in an era when iron pots had just begun to be widely used, having such a variety of dishes at a village banquet was quite rare.
Song You very quickly also discovered that dining here was very interesting.
Everyone was overly cordial, thus you had to protect your bowl while you were eating. Female cooks carrying rice basins wandered everywhere behind, and if you weren’t careful, a large scoop of rice would be dumped into your bowl. Sometimes, two cooks would even approach from both sides, making it impossible to avoid.
Song You found it interesting and watched closely.
He very soon realized this was actually a symbol of the host’s cordial generosity. In this era, white rice was a luxury for most. Being able to provide an unlimited supply of white rice even to the point of making you full, not only shows the host's generosity but also demonstrates their wealth and capability.
This show of forcibly adding rice softened the host's display of wealth, covered up the guests’ poverty and added a lot of fun, making the banquet atmosphere very pleasant.
He then observed the diners.
Even though these people had just started eating their first bowl of rice and definitely could finish two or three bowls, they guarded their bowls closely from the start. Tacitly engaging in a battle of wits and courage with the female cooks serving the rice, they waited until a “careless mistake” allowed a scoop of fragrant white rice to be added to their bowls, which then elicited a burst of laughter.
It seemed like cooperation, yet also like playful teasing.
It also seemed like a form of implicit culture.
Song You gradually lapsed into deep contemplation.
In his contemplation, he didn't notice a cook sneaking up behind him. In his panic, he imitated the people beside him, moving his bowl from right to left in order to dodge the rice. However, he didn't realize there was another cook on the left. By the time he reacted, his half-eaten bowl of rice was already piled high again, forming a small mound.
“Ha ha ha ha...” The table erupted in laughter.
Looking around, Song You saw everyone laughing except himself and the curious, puzzled cat standing on his lap. He saw wildly trembling beards stained by oily soup, dark, wrinkled faces, and mouths displaying unhealthy yellowed sets of teeth that had three or four teeth missing. Strangely, not only did he feel no disgust in his heart, but only simplicity and splendor.
It was a purity of heart and a pure happiness.
Inexplicably, he smiled too.
This was the joy of this era.
The unrestrained joy of this time.
Then Old Official Liu who was at his side, leaned over, smiling, to share his tips on protecting the bowl. His heart was clear, and he just bowed his head and inclined his ear to listen attentively.
Only the calico cat remained puzzled.
***
That night, the opera troupe performed.
The stage was the ancestral temple’s altar, fully adorned with lanterns on the sides. It was even more lively than during the day. The troupe sang all night, and the villagers also listened all night. Children ran everywhere, shouting and pursuing the simplest joy in this night without neon lights.
Song You sat below and listened all night too.
Why was it livelier than during the day?
It was because the daytime birthday banquet was only for the farming households in the village, but even people from distant places had hurried over for the night’s opera performance.
Some had received letters saying that there would be a stage erected and an opera performance that day before the tiger had entered the village. They had calculated the days ahead of time, and did not know there was a tiger here a few days ago. Others who lived nearby had heard that a fierce tiger had descended the mountain recently. However, thinking that there will be many people and that there was nothing to fear, they also hurried over before dark for the sake of the performance.
Many had walked ten li of mountain roads to come here.
Some had even brought straw mats, and slept on the spot when they grew tired from listening.
It was no doubt an era with few pleasures. It was very difficult to find fun. Perhaps due to this, some things became extremely precious and required to be cherished carefully and not taken lightly.
1. According to Chinese folklore, victims devoured by a tiger are supposed to follow it as ghosts and help it devour other humans. ☜
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