Chapter 301: The Poor Kid and the Rich Kid

The Gu family used to be one of the most prominent clans in Kaifeng, second only to the Zhang family, with many ancestors holding official positions in the court. Yet the influence of their forebears could not withstand the extravagance of the younger generation. Today, the remaining descendants of the Gu family are mostly unremarkable. The former clan head, Gu Qiaoshan, was the legitimate younger brother of the Gu family. After his first wife died, he married a wealthy woman twenty years his junior as a second wife. He had no fewer than a dozen concubines and maids, as well as numerous illegitimate sons. He paid no attention to the sons born to these concubines and maids, distributing some family wealth to them early on so they could start their own lives, focusing instead on his own pleasures. By the time of his death, he couldn’t even recognize all his grandchildren.

After trying to persuade him several times to no avail, the Gu family member resolved to ignore matters related to her own family. For this reason, she had always maintained a distant relationship with the Gu family. Many of the Gu family’s illegitimate sons resorted to dishonorable acts due to poverty, so she ordered her servants not to let them come to her house when she was in Kaifeng. Zhang Zhuo met Gu Bin’s father during a time when he was not successful and admired his character and background, which led him to help Gu Bin. Later, he also secured a position as a student for Gu Bin before the Gu family member.

Now, seeing her nephew kneeling before her, the Gu family member on the kang was stunned for a while, filled with mixed emotions. Afterward, she smiled and said, “The third son brought you here once when you went to Nanjing. You’ve grown so tall already. Get up so I can take a good look. Among all the useless people in the Gu family, only you seem to have made something of yourself!”

Compared to Zhang Yue’s skill in interacting with people, Gu Bin was less adept at this. As he stood up and stepped forward, feeling uneasy as the Gu family member examined him from head to toe. The room was filled with the fragrance of lilies from the incense burners, and there was a Dingyao porcelain vase painted with landscapes on a stand in the corner. The maids standing around were all dressed neatly in brightly embroidered clothes. In contrast, he appeared like a poor relative visiting wealthy elders, so he felt very self-conscious.

Gu Shi didn’t pay much attention to these details. After examining him carefully, she told him to sit down and asked about his situation at the Imperial Academy. Only after learning that Gu Bin had achieved top grades in both of his exams over the past two years did she nod in satisfaction. Glancing at Zhang Yue standing beside her, she thought Gu Bin’s clothes really didn’t look proper, so she said, “You study at the Imperial Academy and will have few opportunities to come here in the future. Stay for lunch today before leaving. It’s good that you’re simple and not fond of luxury, but since the weather has turned cold, you should get some winter clothes. I’ll ask Brother Yue to take you to have your measurements taken so that he can make you a couple of sets of silk-cotton clothes, along with hats, shoes, and socks—as a small token from me.”

Although Gu Bin’s expenses at the Imperial Academy were covered by the government, there were still some daily costs, all of which were provided by the Zhang family. So when Gu Shi suggested getting new clothes, he instinctively wanted to decline. But after seeing Zhang Yue giving him repeated eye signals, he swallowed his words and mumbled a thank you. Fortunately, after keeping him for lunch, Gu Shi gave him a few more instructions before ordering Zhang Yue to take him away.

Zhang Yue called two maids skilled in sewing to the east wing of the north courtyard to take Gu Bin’s measurements. After sending them away, he said with a smile, “Just accept this as a gift. It’s just a few sets of clothes—there’s no need to be embarrassed. Who doesn’t care about their family? The old lady has always been disappointed in you not achieving more, and now that she sees your progress in studies, she naturally wants to compensate you in some way.”

“I’m just not used to it,” Gu Bin said, a hint of confusion appearing on his cold face. “Apart from your father, no one else ever cared about our family. There was even a time during the New Year when we almost ran out of food… But it’s pointless to talk about this now. I need to return to the Imperial Academy to prepare for classes. From now on, I’ll have few chances to see you since I’ll be staying there most of the time. I thought Fang Ling would tell you about it. If I had known, I would have sent a letter. It’s all my fault! But I really don’t know what happened. The Imperial Academy hasn’t made any announcement about it either. It was his elder brother who took him back.”

Zhang Yue naturally wouldn’t be insensitive enough to stir up Gu Bin’s wounds. He also knew well that given Gu Bin’s personality, he probably had few friends at the Imperial Academy. So as long as Fang Ling gave an order, Gu Bin definitely wouldn’t blab everything around. Just as he was sighing inwardly, he saw Gu Bin suddenly pat his head.

“I almost forgot the most important thing. You know my nature tends to offend people; on several occasions, I couldn’t protect Fangling. I don’t know who intervened, but Lord Chen, the supervisor of the Imperial Academy, stepped in to protect me, and things improved a lot after that. Before I came to Beijing this time, Lord Chen said someone asked me to convey a message to you—that he had read all your notes on The Analects.”
What did that mean?
Zhang Yue was stunned for a moment, but upon reflection, his eyes lit up. The Imperial Academy was composed of rigid, ritual-conscious civil officials who rarely sided with military officers. Thus, only a few people could earn the attention of a high-ranking supervisor like Chen to look out for Gu Bin—perhaps even Yang Shiji wouldn’t have such influence. And who else, besides the crown prince Zhu Zhanji, would go to such lengths as to send such a simple message through someone else? It seemed Zhu Di had had those notes copied after reading them and sent them to Zhu Zhanji.
After seeing Gu Bin off, Zhang Yue, still excited, splashed cold water on his face to calm his agitation, realizing he hadn’t taken the risk for nothing. Concerned about Fangling, he decided to first visit the Sun family to see Sun Han, then go together to the Fang family’s residence.
Although Sun Han’s father was the second son and couldn’t inherit the title, he was still granted the position of deputy secretary, so they bought a large house in Songshu Hutong after arriving in Beijing. Since the Sun and Zhang families were closely related by marriage, the gatekeeper let Zhang Yue in as soon as he introduced himself. However, the Sun father and son were on duty in the palace that day and were not there, so Sun Han’s mother, Lady Liu, met with Zhang Yue in person. Though she wanted to help, she knew even less about the Fang family than Zhang Yue did.
Fangling had just arrived in Beijing before Zhang Yue’s marriage, and since Zhang Yue always knew his uncles and brothers were selfish, he had never visited the Fang family. Now, he had to ask for the address of their residence. Lady Liu couldn’t explain it right away, so she sent a housekeeper to take Zhang Yue outside. Soon, they found a servant who had been to the Fang family’s house and asked him to show Zhang Yue the way.
After leaving the Sun family’s house, Zhang Yue followed the man’s lead. To his surprise, the Fang family didn’t live in the Western City, where the nobles resided, but in Weijia Hutong, east of Shichahai. There were indeed some wealthy households in the area, but their gateposts didn’t list any official titles—just ordinary wealthy families. Even with a guide, it was still difficult to find their house one by one.

That lackey was a chatterbox. While leading Zhang Yue and the others to find a place, he kept talking nonstop: “The grandfather of Young Master Fang surrendered to the emperor during the Jingnan Rebellion. He once fought side by side with our late patriarch in Tongzhou, so the two families have a close relationship. Although our patriarch can’t inherit the title, he has only one son, so he still dotes on him dearly. The Fang family’s title isn’t hereditary. Now, Young Master Fang’s father has been appointed as a military commander, and his elder brother serves in the palace as a guard as the legitimate son, yet no one pays attention to him… Sigh!”
Although Zhang Yue already knew some things about the Fang family, he heard some of these details for the first time today and frowned deeply. After much searching, they finally found the place—a large courtyard surrounded by high walls, with a three-room, five-pillar gate covered in black tin rings. The side gate beside the wall was tightly shut, with no one coming in or out. He dismounted from his horse and was about to ask Liansheng to knock on the door when, suddenly, the closed side gate creaked open, and a person dressed in green silk stepped out.
“Yuanjie, what are you doing here?”
Fang Ling blurted out, only to see Zhang Yue glaring at him with a displeased expression. Realizing what had happened, he quickly stepped forward and said cheerfully, “I know I shouldn’t have hidden it from you, but you were in such high spirits back then. How could I bring you such worries? It’s fine—what if the Imperial Academy doesn’t want me? I’m a man of integrity. If this place won’t keep me, there’s surely another place that will!”
Seeing the side gate behind Fang Ling slam shut, with no followers or horses, and noticing his carefree smile despite looking much thinner, Zhang Yue immediately understood. He stepped forward and punched Fang Ling hard on the left shoulder, then said in a deep voice, “Since you don’t want to talk, then don’t. Let’s go drink!”
Hearing this, Fang Ling burst into laughter. “You said that! On your wedding night, Lao Wan and Xiao Xia originally planned to get you drunk, but they let you off out of respect for your elder brothers and the bride. Since you want to drink today, I’ll make sure you get thoroughly drunk!”
Zhang Yue told Liansheng to lead the horse behind them, while he walked with Fang Ling. After turning two alleys, Fang Ling pointed to an unassuming sign by the road and said with a smile, “This is it. It may seem small, but the liquor inside is authentic Jimo old liquor! Since you insisted on drinking today, I’m determined to empty your pockets!”

Zhang Yue signaled Liansheng to tie the two horses to the post by the door, then followed Fangling into the tavern marked with the sign of Jimo Old Wine. After they sat down, the waiter brought them hot wine, and the two drank several bowls together. Just as Zhang Yue was about to speak, he saw Fangling down another bowl in one gulp and even started laughing drunkenly.

“It’s said that competing with others as a student has tarnished the reputation of the Imperial Academy, but isn’t it really because I offended Marquis Fuchun Li Maofang? I’m just a bastard from a declining family of meritorious officials, while he’s the legitimate son of Princess Yongping. Isn’t it easy for him to find faults with me?”

As he spoke, he filled another bowl with wine and drank it all at once, then sneered, “My family members only know how to avoid trouble. When they heard I was expelled from the Imperial Academy, they had my elder brother take me back to Beijing without even asking why at the academy. Once we got there, they punished me with family discipline without giving me a chance to explain! Yuanjie, your family has responsible elders and brothers—why is my family so indifferent, with such a cold father and elder brother?”

Seeing Fangling drink as if it were water, Zhang Yue had initially planned to persuade him a bit, but upon hearing his last words, he couldn’t help frowning. Drunk from the wine, Fangling unconsciously muttered about his past at home, continuing to drink bowl after bowl recklessly, until he finally collapsed on the table and fell into a deep sleep.

Even then, Zhang Yue could still hear his murmurs: “Li Maofang… don’t think I don’t know you’re meeting foreigners in secret with ulterior motives!”