diymy Chapter 16 Zhang Shanren
Chapter 16 Zhang Shanren
As soon as Shen Zhong'an finished speaking, the joy on the faces of Zhou Cairen and the three shopkeepers froze instantly. Their previous excitement vanished, and they all forgot about their dignity in their haste.
Zhou Cairen was the most dramatic among them. He suddenly stood up and asked Shen Zhong'an urgently what he meant by those words.
"Brother Bai, are you planning to retire from writing storybooks?"
"Mr. Bai, your previous novels were such bestsellers, and these four new volumes are even more amazing. It would be a great pity if you were to retire from writing!" Manager Rong advised.
"Brother Bai, please think it over! Our cooperation is going so well, please don't give up halfway!" Yin Xiaoer followed closely behind.
"Mr. Bai, do you have any concerns? Please tell us in detail, and perhaps we can help you come up with a solution," Manager Li said sincerely.
"No, you've misunderstood. I don't mean to retire from writing..."
Shen Zhong'an's release of four new volumes in one go was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather the result of two careful considerations.
Firstly, there are many complicated matters related to the drought relief efforts in Chenliu County recently, and the rest days are uncertain. I had already broken my promise last time, and this time I have entrusted everything to them in order to avoid encountering any more urgent matters, which would delay the cooperation with the others and betray the trust between us.
Secondly, we've already tested the waters enough; it's time to change the subject matter and style.
While love stories certainly have a wide audience, ranging from ladies in their boudoirs to commoners in brothels, they are ultimately considered lowbrow and unsuitable for formal occasions.
At present, I am just a minor acting clerk in Chenliu County. I have just turned eighteen and am at the age when I am young and infatuated. If I write about love and romance on a whim, even if others gossip, they will only think that I am just a young man's curiosity and description of love and romance. It is still understandable and acceptable.
However, if one continues to delve into this path, with every word and sentence inseparable from romantic love, the consequences will be unimaginable once the true identity of "The All-Knowing Scholar" is exposed.
Those Confucian scholars who adhered to the rites and morals would surely rise up to attack him, accusing him of abandoning the sacred way, pursuing selfish desires, corrupting the Confucian teachings, and disrupting the social order. They would accuse his vernacular stories of "inciting lewdness and theft, bewitching people's hearts, and corrupting the people's morals." At best, they would petition the government to ban his books and strip him of his imperial examination title; at worst, they would jointly impeach him and expel him from the scholarly community.
People may admire his talent, but they will never despise his behavior, let alone dare to befriend him, for fear of being implicated.
A prime example is Liu Yong. His ability in administration is unknown, but his talent in poetry and prose is truly exceptional. However, his success and failure both stemmed from his poetry and prose. The line "I would rather exchange fleeting fame for leisurely drinking and singing" displeased Emperor Renzong, who then wrote a reprimand, thus ending Liu Yong's career.
Regardless of the dynasty or who is in power, all freedom is limited, especially in the realm of writing.
Continuing to be obsessed with romance novels will undoubtedly sow the seeds of future trouble for one's career and leave an opportunity for rivals in the court to exploit, a sure way to dig one's own grave.
Of course, ceasing to write romance novels does not mean that he has completely given up writing them.
There are vast differences between different storybooks.
The literary atmosphere in the Northern Song Dynasty was relatively open-minded, and many literary masters and important officials of the court had the hobby of writing notes on strange tales, anecdotes, and unusual events.
Ouyang Xiu's "Gui Tian Lu", Sima Guang's "Su Shui Ji Wen", and Su Shi's "Dongpo Zhi Lin" contain many records of strange tales and anecdotes from the streets.
The government did not consider this shameful at all; on the contrary, it regarded it as a manifestation of "broad knowledge and superb writing skills," classifying it as a refined pursuit of scholars, and by no means a stain on one's official career.
Therefore, Shen Zhong'an simply changed direction, not that he was ending his work.
Seeing the four of them panic, Shen Zhong'an simply revealed all his thoughts, and then bowed to them, saying:
"Going forward, I plan to try my hand at detective stories and legends. At that time, I would appreciate your valuable advice and suggestions."
Zhou Cairen and the three shopkeepers were all seasoned veterans who frequented the streets of Bianjing. They had interacted with many literati, officials, and clerks, and were very familiar with the rules and taboos of the scholar-official circles. How could they not know what Shen Zhong'an was worried about?
However, their relationship with Shen Zhong'an was ultimately just a cooperative one based on mutual interests. They had only thought about getting more excellent works from him before, without ever considering the impact these stories would have on their careers.
Now that Shen Zhong'an had pointed it out, the group looked embarrassed and repeatedly agreed.
"That's how it should be, that's how it should be. We were inconsiderate and didn't think much about Brother Bai's feelings."
After saying this, they all patted their chests to express their support.
"Brother Bai, please rest assured, we will be among the first to read your legendary tales and legal cases in the future!"
After such a dramatic turn of events, the atmosphere at the table was inevitably a bit awkward.
The group deliberately made small talk to ease the tension, from the progress of the bookstore's printing to the new songs of the Wazi. In the midst of this rambling conversation, Zhou Cairen's eyes suddenly lit up, and she changed the subject.
"Speaking of which, recently a storyteller has appeared in Sangjiawazi. He has made up a new story based on a recent true event. Although it is not extremely popular, it has been widely circulated and many people enjoy listening to it."
These words immediately piqued the interest of Shen Zhong'an and the three shopkeepers, with Yin Xiao'er being the first to ask questions.
"Oh? What kind of story is it? To be able to establish oneself in the entertainment district with an original story, one must have something extraordinary about them!"
Seeing that everyone was interested, Zhou Cairen began to explain in detail.
"This story originates from a rumor from Chenliu County."
I heard that the newly appointed registrar of Chenliu County is a rare and capable official. As soon as he took office, he managed the backlog of documents in the county government warehouse in an orderly manner, without any mistakes.
Unfortunately, this year's severe drought struck. He only spent one day inspecting the countryside before devising a method to save the seedlings from the drought. After it was implemented, it had an immediate effect, saving thousands of dying wheat seedlings in Chenliu County from the clutches of the drought. His achievements were truly remarkable.
It is said that the magistrate of Chenliu County immediately announced that he would petition the Kaifeng Prefecture to exempt him from the civil service examination and promote him from acting registrar to official registrar. The twists and turns involved are truly suspenseful.
"Whoa!"
Upon hearing this, Yin Xiaoer couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
"I've heard of such a capable official in Chenliu County, but I never imagined he'd be made into a story. Many high-ranking officials haven't even enjoyed that privilege!"
Manager Rong stroked his beard and nodded in agreement:
"In terms of ability, the registrar of Chenliu County is certainly not bad, but what is even more rare is his luck."
This year's drought is not limited to Chenliu; the entire Kaifeng Prefecture, including Xiangfu, Weishi, Yongqiu, Kaocheng, Fugou, Yanling, Zhongmu, Yangwu, and Yanjin counties, has been affected, with no area spared.
Chenliu County was the hardest-hit county, but thanks to his rescue efforts, 70% of the harvest was recovered, minimizing the impact of the drought.
It's only natural that such a capable official would attract attention and have his story told and sung.
"Indeed, such people are honest and upright officials, those who save people during famine years, capable grassroots cadres, and those who govern with benevolence and good deeds. They deserve to be praised and celebrated." Manager Li nodded in agreement.
Zhou Cairen and the three shopkeepers chatted enthusiastically about this capable official from Chenliu County, their words filled with praise and admiration.
Only Shen Zhong'an, who was standing to the side, felt extremely uncomfortable listening to this.
One can accept praise from strangers in private with equanimity; but when praised to one's face, one person after another, it makes one feel somewhat at a loss and uneasy.
At the same time, Shen Zhong'an also felt a bit curious and became more interested in the storyteller who had compiled his own story into a tale.
After the group had finished their discussion, Shen Zhongzhuang, feigning nonchalance, asked with a mixture of curiosity and inquiry:
"Brother Zhou, may I ask the name of that storyteller who makes up the tale? And in which shed in the entertainment district does he usually perform?"
"The storyteller's surname is Zhang, and everyone calls him Zhang Shanren. He usually tells stories in the north shed of Sangjia Wazi, starting every afternoon. He's quite popular," Zhou Cairen replied casually without giving it much thought.
Shen Zhong'an silently memorized the storyteller's name and stage location, secretly planning to go and find out later how his story had been embellished.
After chatting for about half an hour, everything was settled. Zhou Cairen and the three managers got up one after another to say goodbye and left. Shen Zhong'an was left alone, looking at a large table of food that had hardly been touched and began to worry.
His previous leave of absence was short, and he had to return home on the same day. He brought back the leftover food and asked the county government's kitchen to hang it by the well for cold storage so that it could still be eaten the next day.
However, since we only have two days off and will not return to Chenliu until tomorrow, most of the food on this table will definitely spoil and become inedible by the day after tomorrow.
However, this meal cost nearly two taels of silver, equivalent to several months' expenses for an ordinary person, and Shen Zhong'an really couldn't bear to just throw it away.
After pondering for a long time, Shen Zhong'an finally raised his hand and called over the waiter, who turned out to be the same waiter from last time.
This shrewd and quick-witted fellow had been eyeing Shen Zhong'an's reward of food and money since the last time. When he saw Shen Zhong'an enter the shop, he kept a close eye on the commotion. Upon hearing the call, he immediately ran over with a fawning smile on his face.
"My lord, what are your orders?"
Just like last time, Shen Zhong'an picked out two dishes of good quality from the table, handed them to the waiter, and gave him five coins as a reward.
"Please pack all the food on the table and find me an oxcart or donkey cart to go to Chenliu County. Have the driver deliver the food to the Chenliu County government office."
Then, through the coachman, he told the officials of the county government, "An anonymous person from the capital region, seeing how hard you have been working for the drought relief efforts these past few days, has been deeply moved and has specially gifted this meal to express my gratitude. It is nothing to boast about."
Having received both a dish and a reward, the waiter naturally wouldn't refuse such a small favor, and immediately patted his chest to assure him.
"Rest assured, my lord, I'll take care of this!"
Upon leaving Qingfeng Tower, the sun was high in the sky, and the streets and alleys of Bianjing City were still bustling with people. Shen Zhong'an did not linger and headed straight for Xixi Tower Inn in Tianshui Alley in the south of the city.
There was originally a Sifangguan in the capital region, which was a government office for receiving officials and envoys from vassal states. Later, it also served as a lodging place for county and prefectural officials and clerks on official business in the capital. It only cost ten coins for lamp oil to stay there, which was considered cheap and affordable.
However, the people coming and going in the office were all colleagues and friends, and it was inevitable to have to exchange pleasantries and socialize, and deal with official business, which was quite tedious.
Now that Shen Zhong'an has a share of the profits from his storytelling, he is financially well-off and no longer needs to compromise himself for a few coins. Naturally, he no longer wants to stay at the bustling Sifang Inn.
Xi Xi Lou Inn is a famous high-class official inn in Bianjing City. It strictly adheres to the rules and only accepts three types of people: officials, scholars, and wealthy merchants. Other people are not allowed to enter. The price is eighty coins per night.
Although it is several times more expensive than Sifangguan, it is quiet and elegant, and it is very close to Qingfenglou. It only takes three minutes to walk there.
After entering the shop, Shen Zhong'an presented his Jinshi certificate and the official seal of the registrar. The shop assistant verified his identity and, not daring to be negligent, quickly led him up to the third floor and found him a guest room by the window.
Looking out the window, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the bustling streets of Sweetwater Lane. The room is well-ventilated and bright, with elegant furnishings and clean, tidy tables, chairs and beds.
Shen Zhong'an put down his luggage, quickly tidied up, then called over a waiter, handed him a few coins as a delivery fee, and instructed him:
"Please pass on a message for me: Zhong'an has invited Brother Jingming to a small gathering for drinks and hopes he can come when he has time."
The waiter took the money, beaming, readily agreed to the task, and quickly turned and left.
Having accomplished this task, Shen Zhong'an felt at ease and slowly descended the stairs, heading towards the Sangjia Wazi area.
Before even getting close to the entertainment district, one could already hear the sounds of string and wind instruments and cheers emanating from inside; it was a bustling and lively place.
Stepping into the tile-roofed area, the scenery becomes even more distinct.
The area in front of the peony pavilion was packed with people, making it impossible to move. Inside the pavilion, Li Zao was giving a series of performances of "Du Shiniang" and "Zhao Pan'er," his voice full of emotion, which drew cheers from the audience. People waiting outside kept peeking out, and there was no sign of the quietness that usually accompanies afternoon performances.
In contrast, the smaller greenhouses outside the large greenhouses, such as the peony greenhouse and the lotus greenhouse, appeared particularly desolate, with only a few people inside, creating a stark contrast to the bustling atmosphere of the larger greenhouses.
Following Zhou Cairen's directions, Shen Zhong'an found the small shed to the north.
The shed had no elegant name, only a number to indicate its size. It was neither too big nor too small, and could hold more than eighty people. At this moment, there were only a dozen or so spectators inside. On the stage, an old man was holding a small bamboo clapper and talking nonsense. He was Zhang Shanren, whom Zhou Cairen had mentioned.
Zhang Shanren was over sixty years old, with a sallow and thin face, and a white beard. He wore an old, faded shirt with slightly rolled-up edges. He held a bamboo clapper and tapped it lightly, reciting a seventeen-character poem he had composed himself.
"In Chenliu, there was a clerk named Shen who was incredibly skilled at digging wells to combat drought, managing to dig a hundred wells a day—truly impressive!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a few scattered cheers came from inside the tent.
This seventeen-character poem, also known as the three-and-a-half-line poem, matured in the Northern Song Dynasty and was extremely popular among the people. It is characterized by its humor and satire and is often used to mock people and things. Zhang Shanren was a master of this.
He was born into a poor farming family in Yanzhou. He lost his father at a young age and relied on his widowed mother to spin and farm to make a living. He did not study much in his youth and only had a rudimentary understanding of literature. However, he was naturally eloquent, had an excellent memory, and was good at joking and teasing.
At temple fairs and markets in the village, he always loved to join in the fun, learn to sing village folk songs and imitate local slang and humorous sayings. He especially loved to compose short poems in the form of three and a half lines. Over time, he became quite famous in the village, and the villagers all called him "Zhang Hai'er".
Around the age of thirty, his hometown suffered a famine, leaving him destitute and homeless. Disgusted with the poverty of the countryside, he heard that the entertainment districts of Bianjing (Kaifeng) were bustling and that artists could make a living with their skills. So he decided to go to the capital to seek a living.
To fit the identity of a performer in a theater and to avoid a common, rural name, he changed his name from "Zhang Pai'er" to "Zhang Shanren," meaning "a recluse in the mountains, unconventional and unsophisticated," to make a living in a low-key manner.
Although his story about the registrar of Chenliu County contains a few jarring and humorous remarks, it resonates with the tastes of the common people and is quite vivid. Overall, it is of high quality.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
As the sun began to set, a donkey cart hurriedly drove into the gate of Chenliu County Government Office and stopped in front of the main hall.
Without saying a word, the driver carefully unloaded the table of food that had already been packed up in the cart. The meat and vegetable dishes, fruits and snacks were neatly separated and stacked in wooden food boxes, arranged in an orderly manner.
Upon seeing this, the yamen runners and guards on duty all gathered around and started asking questions.
"May I ask, driver, which official sent this feast?"
"Why are you giving food to everyone in our county government office without any reason?"
The driver simply followed orders, and no matter how much people questioned him, he would just shake his head and bow.
"I was merely entrusted by someone to deliver the item; I know nothing about who gave it to me or why."
As soon as he finished speaking, the driver didn't linger. He turned around, jumped onto the donkey cart, cracked the whip, and drove straight out of the county government office, disappearing into the end of the street in the blink of an eye.
The remaining officials and servants surrounded the food box, looking at each other with surprise and doubt.
In the past, county officials would only reward their subordinates or local gentry would present gifts. This was the first time they had ever encountered a whole table of food delivered out of nowhere by an anonymous person.
Unfortunately, none of the officials in charge at the county government office are here today.
County Magistrate Luo Shi went out to a banquet hosted by the village elders and was away from the office on official business; County Assistant Tang Geng was still inspecting agricultural affairs in the countryside and had not returned to the city; Registrar Shen Zhong'an happened to be on his day off and was also not in the office.
For a moment, everyone was undecided, unsure whether to accept the food or keep it, and dared not rashly divide it up on their own.
After a brief standoff, Liu Laocao slowly walked to the food box, lifted the lid to examine it carefully, and after a moment's thought, began to reassure everyone.
"Gentlemen, please do not hesitate. Since the food is being brought to the yamen, it would be a waste to let it go cold. Everyone on duty is working hard at this time of year, so I will take the liberty of distributing it to everyone to fill their stomachs."
Everyone was already looking forward to it, and upon hearing this, they all agreed.
Liu Laocao then instructed his men to divide the table evenly, distributing it according to the number of yamen runners, clerks, and guards. Each person received two or three pieces of meat, a few chopsticks of vegetables, and half a piece of seasonal fruit.
Although it wasn't a grand banquet, the dishes were all exquisite and rarely found in the marketplace. They were fragrant and flavorful, far surpassing the taste of ordinary meals, making each bite a rare treat.
The reason why Liu Laocao dared to step forward and take charge was not because he was arrogant, but because he saw the clue when he saw the dishes. This banquet was exactly the same as the one Shen Zhong'an had served to his scribes during his last vacation.
What kind of perfect coincidence could there be in this world?
It must be that Registrar Shen, out of consideration for the hard work of the county clerks in disaster relief and guard duty for days, wanted to reward them privately.
However, he was only acting as the registrar, and his position was still low. It was not appropriate for him to openly spend money on a banquet to win people's hearts, so he simply asked someone to send the food to him anonymously, without leaving a trace, to show his consideration for his colleagues.
Old Liu saw through it but didn't point it out. He just silently watched everyone eat happily, his face expressionless, but his heart was filled with many emotions.
Having served in the yamen for nearly thirty years, I am now old and still able to encounter such a compassionate official. If it had been twenty years earlier, no, even ten years earlier, I would have followed him no matter what.
But now, old and frail, with the will but not the strength, it's truly disheartening...
Not reconciled!