Chapter 19: The Li Estate's Porridge Distribution Day

When Li Fu heard Yun-ge calling him, he immediately set aside his book and went over with curiosity.

He had intended to praise the boy regardless of the quality of his work, simply out of appreciation for the focus Yun-ge had shown. However, as he leaned in, Li Fu was stunned to find that the boy’s handwriting was actually quite good, written in a neat and precise regular script (Kaishu).

Li Fu was a man of average intelligence but high aspirations. His ancestors had a unique history, making him desperate to bring honor to his family. Lacking exceptional talent, he relied on perseverance and stubbornness—traits his son, Yi-ge, had inherited. Having realized his own limitations, he had dedicated himself to mastering regular script.

Regular script originated from Zhong Yao, who served the usurping Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. Later, through the efforts of the Imperial Uncle Liu Bei and Liu Shan, the Han Dynasty had managed to restore order. Zhong Yao was never purged by the Imperial Uncle; instead, he was praised for the square, straight-lined, and exemplary nature of his script. In the regimes following Liu Bei, it became widely popular and was even recognized as the official calligraphic standard. Every scholar of that era could write a beautiful regular script.

However, after eighty-six years, the Shu Han fell into chaos once more, and no descendant of the Liu clan could reclaim the mandate of heaven. The dynasty that followed was the Liang. To erase the legacy of the Han from the hearts of the people and bolster their own legitimacy, the Liang rulers systematically destroyed most of the Han’s literature and customs, especially those of the Shu Han. They even denounced regular script, claiming its rigid, orderly appearance was dull and lifeless—much like the five-hundred-year-old Han Dynasty itself, which they deemed a rotting tree waiting to be replaced by the new moon of Liang. Throughout the Liang dynasty, the fashion favored unrestrained, hedonistic behavior, and regular script was cast aside.

Even today, most scholars who pride themselves on their talent avoid regular script, viewing it as too simple—a style that requires only a disciplined attitude to learn, leaving no room to show off one's superior calligraphic prowess. But Li Fu, possessing only modest talent, had chosen this path where hard work yields miracles, and he had become quite skilled at it.

Li Fu had never taught Yun-ge calligraphy. At such a young age, it was impressive enough that the boy could form characters at all, let alone with such structure. Yet, Yun-ge had even mastered the nuances of the "long slanted stroke" and the "dot," which made the character "snow" look remarkably rigorous.

"Yun-ge, were you copying my writing?" Li Fu tried to mask his surprise, but it was too profound to hide, causing his face to twitch as if he were cramping.

Yun-ge saw Li Fu’s strange expression. Yi-ge, meanwhile, was simply crawling on the ground, oblivious to the sand tray or the characters; he just wanted to play.

"I was thinking of how you write, Father," Yun-ge replied uncertainly. "Did I not do it well?"

He had hoped for praise, but Li Fu’s reaction had made him feel insecure. Li Fu let out an exclamation and scooped up his son. "Your brain is truly sharp, Yun-ge! This is excellent. Keep writing like this. In a few years, when you are older, Zheng Ziming will teach you other styles of calligraphy."

Li Fu was genuinely delighted. He scooped up both Yun-ge and Yi-ge and declared that their studies for the day were finished.

***

Learning requires a balance of tension and relaxation, and although Li Fu was a strict taskmaster, he knew his limits.

Because of Yun-ge’s practice, Li Fu felt a surge of motivation despite the heavy snowfall and the busy affairs in Long County. That evening, he bought a significant amount of fabric and pastries to share with Bu-shi and Xin-niang. He also had a private intention: he had requested a protective talisman from an old Taoist priest, which he asked Xin-niang to sew into a sachet for Yun-ge to wear.

Xin-niang was overjoyed. Regardless of whether the talisman held any mystical power, she was touched that Li Fu cared so much for Yun-ge. She sewed a small, intricate sachet that very night and tucked the talisman inside.

The next morning, Xin-niang dressed Yun-ge in a brand-new, festive outfit and hung the fish-shaped sachet at his waist. "Our Yun-ge looks so handsome, just like a little lucky spirit."

She loved dressing him in bright red, reminiscent of her own childhood when her mother would tie red ribbons in her hair, making her look like a tightly wrapped red rice dumpling. It brought a smile to her face. Yun-ge, having no say in his attire, simply let her be.

"Mother, I’m hungry."

Xin-niang picked him up. "Alright, let’s go eat." Before leaving, she told her maid, "There was a piece of fabric in the bundle the master brought yesterday that was slightly lower quality. I made a padded coat for Gou-zi; take it to him later. There is another piece for you—it’s enough for a set of clothes, so take it and make something for yourself."

The maid accepted the gift with delight. Yun-ge, never a stingy child, didn't mind that his fabric had been shared. He only clung to Xin-niang, wondering what delicious things Auntie Pan had prepared for him.

In the front hall, Yi-ge was already eating. He was a messy eater, preferring to use his hands, and often spat out his food. If not for the bib Bu-shi had made, his new clothes would have needed a change already. Seeing how neatly Yun-ge ate, Bu-shi and Xin-niang exchanged a resigned look.

Bu-shi and Xin-niang had once been indifferent toward one another, but over the past year, as the children grew closer, they had grown to rely on each other. Bu-shi had to admit that Yun-ge was clever and endearing, and she hoped that as brothers, Yun-ge would look out for Yi-ge. They had become like sisters, often confiding in each other when Li Fu was away.

Gou-zi, also in new clothes, was eating in the kitchen. He was growing rapidly, his body finally absorbing the nutrients it had been starved of for years. Life at the Li residence felt like a dream. He touched the clothes in his small cabinet, feeling as if he were floating on air; he used to wear the same rag for a year, passing hand-me-downs to his younger siblings.

"Eat quickly, Gou-zi," Auntie Pan said while drawing water. "The Li family is going to give out porridge today."

"Porridge?" Gou-zi slowed down, carefully smoothing his new clothes.

"Yes," Auntie Pan added. "It is the family’s ancestral tradition. Every year, on the day after the first snowfall, they distribute porridge to the poor."

***

In the front hall, Yun-ge heard about the porridge distribution. His eyes lit up, and he raised his hand like a student eager to speak in class. "I want to go! Mother, take me with you!"

Yun-ge wasn't just curious about the porridge; he was dying to see what Long County looked like outside the Li residence. He had never been outside, and he hadn't even explored the entire estate. He was usually confined to the back courtyard, the small garden, or the front hall. Xin-niang always had an excuse to keep him away from the "edges" of the world, fearing he might encounter something untoward.

"No," Xin-niang said, tapping his forehead. "You are too young. The refugees and beggars outside are not only dirty but many are carrying illnesses. You cannot get involved in that."

"Mother, please," Yun-ge pleaded, nuzzling her neck. Yi-ge, not understanding why but eager to join in, began to fuss in front of Bu-shi as well.

Xin-niang, determined to play the role of the kind mother, deflected the decision. "We will wait until your father returns. He must decide."

Yun-ge waited in the front hall, pinning all his hopes on Li Fu’s arrival. As the only adult male, Li Fu had to be present for the distribution, so he took a half-day off and arrived near noon.

He had barely finished a light meal when he noticed Yun-ge, barely reaching his knees, standing beside him with wide, dark eyes fixed on him. Li Fu felt a chill.

"What is it, Yun-ge?"

When Xin-niang explained, Li Fu shook his head. "No. Both you and Yi-ge are still too young; there is nothing to see out there. If you’re bored, Father will buy you a small drum to play with tonight."

In these times, wealthy families rarely took children out before they were two or three, and cautious parents waited until the children were five or six due to high infant mortality and the unstable world. Because Yun-ge was so bright, Li Fu was even more protective and unwilling to expose him to any unnecessary risk.