Chapter 7: Liu Ertiao's After-School Assignment

“Second! Just in time! Come on, help your elder brother hold down this stubborn ox. I refuse to believe we can't force it to swallow this!” Breathing heavily, Honest Liu ordered Liu Second, who had just returned. He and Liu First had exhausted themselves trying to get the sick ox to drink the garlic soup. Who would have thought a sick ox could still muster such strength?

“Ox!” Liu Second exclaimed in delight, set his book aside, and rushed to the animal's side. “Dad! When did our family get an ox? What are you doing?”

“We'll talk about that later. First, help your brother hold it down. Yes, just like that, one hand on each horn! Don't let go!” Honest Liu seized the chance to pry open the ox's mouth and poured in the garlic soup.

“All right, Second, let go now,” Liu First said, clapping his hands.

Liu Second leaned in close to his brother. “Brother, what's going on? What did you just feed the ox? I smell garlic.”

“Heh, this ox is suffering from colic. Father and I were treating it. Well, these are miscellaneous skills, nothing you need to know much about. By the way, how's the private school? Is the visiting teacher better than the local one?” Not wanting Liu Second to dwell on the matter of curing the ox, Liu First subtly shifted the topic.

Liu Second sighed and shook his head, saying nothing.

“This little rascal has learned to sigh?” Liu First thought, amused. But, as the eldest brother, he didn't want to see Liu Second so troubled. Patting his shoulder, Liu First asked, “What's wrong, so gloomy? Did you run into trouble at school? Don't worry, tell me, and I'll help you sort it out.”

Liu Second shook his head. “You can't help me, brother, unless you know how to compose couplets.”

Did Liu First know how to compose couplets? Clearly, he didn't—not before, at least. He had never spent a day in school and barely knew how to read, let alone craft poetic couplets.

But now, Liu First certainly could.

Couplets evolved from poetry, and Liu First's mind was filled with thousands of verses.

Liu First laughed easily. “Well, tell me about it. Two heads are better than one. Who knows, maybe I'll come up with a good answer.”

“Is that so?” A glimmer of hope shone in Liu Second's eyes. To him, his elder brother was capable of anything; it never crossed his mind that an illiterate person might not know how to compose couplets. “Brother, listen carefully. The teacher gave us this as the first line: ‘A lone pointed horn, six corners facing every direction.’”

“A lone pointed horn, six corners facing every direction. Hmm, this is a metaphorical couplet, describing the shape of something—pointed horn, hollow, six corners… It must be a hexagonal pavilion.” Liu First squatted and used a dry twig to sketch a rough hexagon on the ground, pondering deeply. “The second line should also describe an object. But what should it be? This is rather tricky. These teachers nowadays—how can they assign such difficult homework to elementary students?”

Hearing Liu First mutter, Liu Second’s eyes brightened. He tugged his brother’s sleeve and exclaimed, “Brother, you’re amazing! The teacher was sitting under a hexagonal pavilion and pointed to one of its corners as he gave us the couplet. Have you thought of a matching line?”

Liu First waved his hand. “It’s not that easy, not so fast. I’m not a deity. Even gods need the right context for couplets. Without the right scene, the match won’t fit… Wait, you said the teacher pointed to the corner of the pavilion when he gave the line?”

“Ah!” Liu Second nodded, dumbfounded.

“Could that be a hint? Possibly.” Liu First mused. “If I use a hand for the match, what would it be? Single hand—well, that matches ‘lone,’ but doesn’t pair well. What about two hands? Two fists, ten fingers, four long, six short. If I make two fists, five fingers—three long, two short. Does that fit? Hmm, it doesn’t roll off the tongue. Needs refining. How should I revise it?”

“Hmm, got it!” Liu First stood up. “Second, let’s match it with: ‘Two fists arched, five fingers—two short, three long!’ How’s that? Is it neat?”

“‘A lone pointed horn, six corners facing every direction; two fists arched, five fingers—two short, three long.’ Brother, you’re so talented! I admire you!” Liu Second blurted out a phrase he’d picked up from Liu First, a classic from later generations.

Liu First said, “It’s just a word game. Now that we’ve matched it, let’s not dwell on it. Let’s go eat.”

“Mm!” Liu Second nodded vigorously and followed Liu First into the main house, bouncing with excitement. There, Madam Liu He had already prepared the meal.

When she saw them enter, Liu He said, “There’s warm water by the door. You two go wash up. Just look at your filthy hands. Honestly, can’t you talk inside on a cold day? You have to squat outside.”

“Enough chatter! A little thing and you won’t stop talking. Hurry up and serve them food!” Old Liu snapped nearby, his tone harsh, nostrils flaring and eyes glaring. It almost made little Hui burst into tears.

“What are you yelling for? Look at how you’ve scared the child. I know you’re upset today—years of savings spent on a sick ox. But you can’t blame anyone else; you brought this on yourself, chasing bargains. Besides, didn’t First say he could cure it? Why are you so angry? If you’ve got the nerve, go confront Wang Shuai. He beat up First a few days ago, but I never saw you shout at him,” Liu He retorted, unwilling to back down, beginning to scold Honest Liu bit by bit.

“You spendthrift woman! Do you think I didn’t want to spend more for a better ox? Do you think I didn’t want to rush in and avenge First? I wanted to! But could I? If I spent all our money, what happens to the family? If I charged in, what would happen to you all?”

“Brother, Father and Mother are arguing again. Go in and calm them down—they always listen to you.” Liu Second nudged Liu First, looking at him pitifully.

“Again?” Liu First sighed helplessly. This family was hardly harmonious.

Hearing someone knock at the door outside, Liu First said, “Second, go see who’s there. I’ll go inside and calm Father and Mother.”

“Okay!” Liu Second nodded and ran out.

Liu First strode into the house. Honest Liu and Liu He fell silent as he entered.

Liu First walked over to Liu He, took little Hui—who was about to cry but didn’t dare—from her arms, and addressed his parents, “Father, Mother, please stop arguing. It’s not worth it for such a small matter. It’s only five taels of silver; we’ll earn it back soon enough. Besides, arguing during the New Year isn’t lucky. Look, here’s the money I made selling vegetables today. After paying ten coins in taxes, there are ninety-eight left. With this, we can have a good New Year.”

“And as for Wang Shuai—” Liu First hadn’t finished when Liu Second’s joyful shout rang out from the doorway.

“Uncle Yang! What brings you here?!”