Chapter 27: A Chance Encounter

After breakfast, Liu Yitiao tucked his hands into his sleeves, slung the basket he used to sell vegetables over his back, and stepped out the door. He didn’t want to buy too much garlic at once and attract attention, so he resolved to spend a little extra this time. After all, the new year was approaching, and his family needed to stock up on holiday provisions.

The marketplace was bustling; it was the season for festivities, and everyone needed supplies—vegetables most of all. Remembering they still had some cabbage at home, Liu Yitiao purchased a selection of nutritious and flavorful side dishes, such as wood ear mushrooms and shiitake, picked up a few pounds of pork, bought two hens, then chose a dozen or so live fish, and finally bought nearly half a basket of garlic from a small stall.

Altogether, his purchases weighed about fifty or sixty pounds, but carrying them on his back didn’t feel burdensome; he considered it a form of exercise. Leaving the marketplace, Liu Yitiao sought out a stately paper-mounting shop and stepped inside.

The clerk inside, seeing Liu Yitiao clad in coarse cloth and carrying a basket of vegetables, rose briefly but soon sat back down. From experience, he knew that such customers were usually just browsing, so he didn’t bother to greet him.

Observing this, Liu Yitiao shook his head. The world has always had its share of snobs. He paid them no mind, set his basket aside, and clasped his hands behind his back as he studied the couplets hanging in the shop.

“Phoenix brings fortune, dragons bestow auspiciousness; red peach celebrates the year, plum welcomes spring.” Liu Yitiao read one quietly, then shook his head. “The couplet is good, but the wording is a bit forced. Plum welcomes spring does match the first line, but doesn’t pair well with red peach. Perhaps if plum were changed to apricot, it would be better.”

He turned his gaze to the next couplet and recited, “Yellow oriole sings in green willow, purple swallow cuts through spring breeze. Excellent! In just two lines, the scene of spring’s return is vividly presented—what a fine couplet!”

“Eternal universe grows old together… Hmm, there’s no second line?” Liu Yitiao pondered for a moment. “If the response were: Radiant sun and moon compete for brilliance, and with a horizontal inscription celebrating the festival, that would make a matched pair.”

“Eternal universe grows old together, radiant sun and moon compete for brilliance.”

“Splendid! Marvelous!” A voice of admiration came from behind Liu Yitiao.

He turned to see a young man whose face was as fair as polished jade. The youth wore a deep blue gown and a pale blue scholar’s cap. His complexion was delicate, with a hint of rosy glow, his features well-proportioned, eyes bright and brows fine—a handsome figure reminiscent of Song Yu. Even the attendant behind him was strikingly attractive, causing Liu Yitiao to feel a twinge of self-consciousness.

“Greetings, sir,” the fair-faced scholar bowed to Liu Yitiao.

Liu Yitiao returned the gesture. “May I ask why you called me, young master?”

“‘Called’ is too strong a word. I merely overheard you reciting couplets and offering such incisive critiques, and I was deeply impressed. Knowing you must be no ordinary person, I wished to introduce myself, though I hope you will pardon my boldness.”

“Oh?” Hearing the scholar speak so, Liu Yitiao’s confidence, which had waned, rose again. As the saying goes, ‘A belly full of books brings its own aura’; in his case, it was far more than just books. Liu Yitiao smiled calmly. “You flatter me, young master. Judging by your attire, you are surely a cultivated gentleman. To lower yourself to befriend a humble farmer like myself, I am also quite honored.”

He extended his right hand to the scholar and looked at him sincerely, “Liu Yitiao.”

The scholar was momentarily stunned, but soon understood Liu Yitiao’s intent. Perhaps unfamiliar with this custom, his cheeks flushed as he reached out to shake Liu Yitiao’s hand. “My name is Li Rusi.”

At that moment, Liu Yitiao noticed Li Rusi’s attendant seemed displeased with him. Ever since their handshake, the youth had been glaring at Liu Yitiao. Bemused, and unwilling to be outdone, Liu Yitiao childishly returned the glare. The little attendant pursed his lips in annoyance, casting white-eyed looks at Liu Yitiao one after another, which delighted Liu Yitiao. This attendant was quite amusing.

“Mr. Liu,” Li Rusi cupped his hands, “hearing your commentary on couplets, I sensed your deep learning. I have an upper line here that I’ve long struggled to match. Since fate has brought us together today, may I ask for your guidance?”

Liu Yitiao clasped his hands behind his back and replied, “I can’t claim deep learning, but I do have some insight into the art of couplets. Go ahead, let’s see if I’m lucky enough to come up with a suitable response.”

Li Rusi was joyful at Liu Yitiao’s agreement. “Please listen carefully, sir. My upper line is: Atop the pagoda, the gourd, its tip clenched like a fist strikes the white sun.”

“Atop the pagoda, the gourd, its tip clenched like a fist strikes the white sun.” Liu Yitiao repeated it, furrowing his brow. An object-based couplet—these are quite challenging, often relying heavily on personal experience. Only those widely read and knowledgeable can find matching objects.

Liu Yitiao closed his eyes in thought for a while. The only thing that could match the gourd in both form and presence was the arrow.

He opened his eyes and spoke, “Listen well, Young Master Li, my lower line is: On the city wall, the arrow embrasure, its teeth grown upside down bite the blue sky. What do you think?”

“Ah?” Li Rusi was startled. So quickly had he found a matching line? Even the attendant behind him was dumbfounded, no longer scowling at Liu Yitiao, and now finding him much more agreeable, thinking to himself that this farmer had some real talent.

“Atop the pagoda, the gourd, its tip clenched like a fist strikes the white sun; On the city wall, the arrow embrasure, its teeth grown upside down bite the blue sky. What a match! Marvelous! Balanced in strength and perfectly paired—I haven’t seen such a flawless couplet in ages. You two gentlemen are truly gifted. My respects!” At this moment, a round-faced, chubby fellow emerged from the inner room of the shop, loudly praising them.

“Who might this gentleman be?” Liu Yitiao asked.

“I am Huang Zichu, the proprietor of this paper-mounting shop,” the chubby man introduced himself.

“Oh, so you’re the owner, Mr. Huang. My respects.” Liu Yitiao cupped his hands to Huang Zichu. Li Rusi nodded slightly but said nothing; it was clear he had a scholar’s pride and wasn’t much interested in merchants.

Huang Zichu smiled affably. “Gentlemen, are you here to mount calligraphy or purchase couplets? Whatever you need, just say the word. In light of your splendid couplet, I will gladly fulfill your requests free of charge.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Huang.” Liu Yitiao bowed in gratitude and declined, “Though my family is poor, I can still afford a few pieces of calligraphy.”

He surveyed the shop and asked, “May I ask, Mr. Huang, do you have brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones? I wish to write a couplet myself, as a gift.”

Upon hearing this, Li Rusi’s eyes lit up. After witnessing Liu Yitiao’s literary talent, he was eager to see if his calligraphy was equally impressive.

“Of course, of course! How could a paper-mounting business lack the essentials?” Huang Zichu turned to his clerk and called, “Little Wu, quickly fetch brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone for Mr. Liu! Make sure the paper is premium rice paper!”