Chapter 35: The Uncle Returns
After listening to the conversation for quite some time, Madam Liu interjected, “Ruier, you mentioned before that you dreamed of the army’s disastrous defeat, and even Wang Zhen perished on the battlefield. Why haven’t we heard news of his death yet?”
This was the matter that concerned Madam Liu most. As long as that wretched eunuch Wang Zhen didn’t return, her husband’s chances of leaving the imperial prison would greatly increase.
Earlier, when Xue Rui spoke of the army’s defeat and Wang Zhen’s demise, she hadn’t believed it. Now, after three consecutive defeats of the court, she had no choice but to accept it. Yet among the high officials who had died, Wang Zhen’s name was absent, so how could she not be anxious?
Xue Rui glanced up at the sky and silently mused that by now, Wang Zhen had surely had his head smashed in by General Fan, making him a truly dead eunuch.
“Mother, rest easy. Given how things are developing, Wang Zhen’s death is not far off. Father will certainly be released from prison, so don’t worry,” Xue Rui comforted her.
“Amitabha, merciful and compassionate Buddha, Guanyin who saves all from suffering, please take Wang Zhen away quickly, so my husband may be released soon…” Madam Liu prayed fervently.
Liu Ren pulled Xue Rui to one side, asking nervously, “Do you mean these two defeats are not the end, that there will be further losses?”
Had it been his uncle asking, Xue Rui would never have replied, but his maternal uncle’s family had always treated him and his mother well. Now his grandfather had misjudged the situation, and the three thousand bushels of grain he’d collected were stuck in hand. If they didn’t find a way to dispose of them quickly, once the Oirat army reached the city, all would be seized.
Moreover, with the court enforcing a scorched earth policy, they would never allow grain to fall into enemy hands; orders would be given to burn it. In that case, the Liu family’s savings accumulated over generations would be destroyed, and his grandfather might be driven to madness.
“Sigh.”
Letting out a sigh, Xue Rui spoke earnestly to Liu Ren, “Uncle, the previous defeats are but appetizers. The Oirat morale is high, and they will surely press their advantage. Our Ming troops, having suffered repeated setbacks, lack the will to fight. When faced with such a cunning foe as Esen, retreat will not be easy. The situation is perilous, and we must prepare for the worst.”
His analysis made it clear: more defeats awaited the court.
And with Wang Zhen, who stayed by the Emperor’s side, dead by unnatural means, it was easy to imagine that the Ming army was close to total annihilation.
After listening, Liu Ren felt his vision go dark and nearly fainted.
This time, the Liu family would truly suffer grievously!
Madam Liu, seeing her brother so agitated, quickly asked Xue Rui, “Ruier, do you have any way to help your grandfather, even if only to reduce the losses?”
Liu Ren added in a strained voice, “Your grandfather has toiled his whole life to accumulate these belongings. If the grain is burned or seized, he might not…”
Survive! Though Liu Ren didn’t finish his sentence, all present understood.
Xue Rui pondered for a moment, then said to Liu Ren, “With so little time, there’s no perfect solution. We can only try to minimize losses. I have three suggestions, and Uncle should act quickly.”
“Tell me at once. I’ll get to it as soon as you’re done,” Liu Ren nodded repeatedly.
“At this point, the best plan is to transport the grain to the capital. But Wanping County is several miles away from the city, and moving so much grain in haste will be costly and time-consuming. You must act without delay!”
“Very well, I’ll go rent warehouses right away. Go on,” Liu Ren urged.
Xue Rui continued, “Time is short; it’s best to transport less grain if possible. If there isn’t enough time, consider lending the grain to local tenants. Don’t bother with weighing tricks; fair or discounted prices are fine. When the grain is returned, your losses will be less than hauling it to the capital.”
“The autumn harvest is already in, so few tenants will want to borrow grain. No matter, I’ll discount it. It’ll count as doing good for the village,” Liu Ren said, gritting his teeth.
Xue Rui was satisfied. This time, with the Oirat invading the heartland, the court was burning even unripe crops. After the war, the people would not only be displaced but hungry. Lending this grain for safekeeping would at least ensure no starvation in the future; saving even one life would be the Liu family’s merit.
“The third option is only for emergencies. If any grain remains that cannot be moved, hide it—dig a deep cellar or find a cave in the nearby mountains. This carries great risk; be prepared for others to seize it.”
“Excellent!” Liu Ren decided at once. “No time to waste—I’ll go make preparations. Moving all this grain will take a long time; I’ll need plenty of carts and animals.”
“Uncle, have you eaten yet?” Xue Rui asked, seeing Liu Ren about to leave.
“No matter, I’ll eat when I get home,” Liu Ren replied with a smile.
Glancing at the box on the table, Xue Rui said, “It’s Mid-Autumn today. I happened to buy a box of mooncakes and pastries—consider it a festival gift for you, Uncle. Take it to eat on the road.”
Liu Ren was moved, saying, “Ruier, you truly have grown up. You know how to honor your elders. Fine, I won’t stand on ceremony with you.”
Taking the box, Liu Ren hurried away.
After this, Madam Liu and her servants had little enthusiasm left for the Mid-Autumn festivities.
Nonetheless, the court’s defeat was not necessarily a bad thing for the Xue family.
Xue Rui could neither prevent nor claim responsibility for the events. Seeing Madam Liu and Su Su in low spirits, he asked, “Mother, you and Su Su spent most of the morning in the kitchen making mooncakes and pastries. I’m starving—where are they?”
“You didn’t eat at your master’s house?”
Normally, Xue Rui would dine at the Hu residence before returning home, so Madam Liu and her maid need not cook for him.
“I wanted to celebrate the festival with you, so I didn’t eat,” Xue Rui replied.
Madam Liu chided him gently, “Child, you should have said you hadn’t eaten. Wait here, I’ll make you something.”
“I’ll help too,” Su Su said, following after her in a hurry.
In this household, Xue Rui was the pillar; he was their sky. Taking good care of him was their most important duty.
Thus, Madam Liu and her maid spared no effort regarding his food and clothing.
With so much on his mind, the food in the jail had tasted bland, and Xue Rui had only picked at it. Now, after half a day, he was famished.
After eating, Xue Rui went to his room to practice calligraphy, while Madam Liu and her maid bustled in the courtyard preparing offerings for the moon.
According to current Mid-Autumn customs, families in the capital would set up an altar for the Moon Goddess, placing apples, pears, and other fruits on the offering table, along with round mooncakes and lotus-petal-shaped watermelon slices for the rites.
The wealthier the household, the more elaborate the offerings.
Southern families would even add pomelos, bananas, and other seasonal fruits; some burned moonlight paper with images of the full moon and the Jade Rabbit pounding herbs—a very grand affair.
By the time his mother finished preparing everything, the bright moon hung high in the night sky, its light casting the courtyard in silver frost.
After finishing his calligraphy, Xue Rui emerged to join the moon worship.
Unexpectedly, Madam Liu only let him watch, while she and Su Su proceeded with the ritual.
He then realized that in Ming times, men did not worship the moon, nor women the kitchen god—so the moon festival had nothing to do with him.
When the ceremony finally ended, Xue Rui picked up a mooncake from the plate and examined it.
On the surface was a rather disproportionate Jade Rabbit, wielding a pestle and pounding a huge vat, looking quite comical—a handiwork of either his mother or the maid.
Though poorly drawn, it didn’t affect the taste.
Xue Rui took a small bite, chewed a few times, and spat it out.
The mooncake seemed undercooked.