Volume One: From Farmer to Gentleman Chapter 51: The Clean Plate Campaign

A few days later, tender shoots of green struggled out from the soil. Yuexi climbed over the wall, gazing curiously at the vibrant new life, and asked eagerly, “Xie Shuxian, how long will it take for them to grow up?”

Chu Liu replied unhurriedly, “Vegetables have their own lifecycles. They need time to grow.”

“So we just have to wait, then!” Yuexi circled around the vegetable patch, then returned to Chu Liu and whispered, “Do you want to learn martial arts?”

“Learn martial arts?” Chu Liu was taken aback. “Well… I haven’t really thought about it.”

“What’s there to think about? I’ll decide for you—you’re learning!” Yuexi said earnestly, “That day I saw you fighting, you had no technique at all. If you learned martial arts, that villain wouldn’t be your match at all, and you wouldn’t have to resort to dirty tricks like that low blow. But I must say, you do have a bit of a knack for it, that fierce spirit of yours…”

Is that a compliment or an insult?

Chu Liu’s face flushed crimson and, unsure of what to say, simply listened in a daze as Yuexi rattled on.

“Yuexi, I want to learn,” Su Biao called out, running over. “I want to become a wandering hero, righting wrongs and traveling the world with my sword. How could I do that without learning martial arts…”

While Su Biao was still babbling, Yuexi suddenly interrupted, “I won’t teach you.”

“Why not?” Su Biao was dumbfounded.

“My father always said, learning martial arts is first to strengthen the body, and second to protect one’s family and country. If you only crave fighting, martial arts will become a curse.” Yuexi shook her head. “Your dream of learning martial arts is just to hit people, I won’t let you become a menace.”

Su Biao protested, “Aren’t you teaching Shuxian to fight too?”

“That’s different.”

“How is it different?”

Yuexi pondered for a moment, then said seriously, “I don’t know how it’s different, but I’m just not teaching you.”

“You’re being unfair!” Su Biao huffed.

“Xie Shuxian, let me show you a few moves.” Without further ado, Yuexi demonstrated a few techniques, then slowed down to explain them, imitating an adult’s tone, “You must master this by tomorrow, or you’ll get punished!”

With that, she clapped her hands, “I should be heading back, or my mother will start calling for me.”

She waved and left.

Chu Liu did want to learn martial arts. Exercising was secondary; the main thing was self-defense.

Relying on memory, Chu Liu began to imitate the moves, slowly getting the hang of it.

Su Biao grumbled, “Shuxian, she’s bullying me, and you’re still learning from her? The moment you see a pretty girl, you forget everything, even your own surname! If you keep learning from her, we’re not brothers anymore.”

Chu Liu almost laughed.

In his past life, he’d scolded his friends for abandoning brotherhood for love, and now it was his turn to be scolded.

But I really do want to learn martial arts!

“Su Biao, you’re taking my good intentions for ill,” Chu Liu replied solemnly, spouting nonsense. “You think I want to learn? I’m enduring humiliation for your sake—once I’ve learned it, I’ll teach you. Or do you want to talk your way through the world?”

Su Biao’s eyes lit up. “I was wrong. You hurry up and learn, and once you’ve got it, teach me. If you won’t teach me, I still have my brother!”

With his extraordinary memory, Chu Liu practiced for a while and was already showing some promise.

Su Biao pulled Zhao Shao over, marveling, “Look, Yuexi was right, Shuxian really has a talent for martial arts. He’s only been practicing for a bit, and already looks the part…”

Zhao Shao glanced over lazily, then shook his head. “Why bother with that? I’m not interested, and I don’t like fighting.”

…

Soon it was the day of rest.

Su Biao and Zhao Shao were picked up by their families.

Wen Lan Cang, being a bachelor, found no difference between being at home or at school, so he stayed behind. Chu Liu said it was only one day off, going back and forth was too much trouble, and he’d rather spend the time reading.

In truth, he wanted to keep his master company.

His master lived alone, didn’t care for company, and on rest days the loneliness was even more pronounced. By staying with him, Chu Liu could help dispel some of that solitude.

On the day of rest, master and disciple had a simple meal, and were reading inside when a knock sounded at the door.

Chu Liu put down his book and went to open it slowly.

Outside stood Chief Scholar Zhou Mo, accompanied by a refined gentleman—the very one who had spoken up for him in the dining hall that day, Yuexi’s father.

“Good morning, Chief Scholar!”
“Good morning, sir!” Chu Liu greeted them with a bow.

Zhou Mo chuckled, “Shuxian, we had nothing to do today, so Mr. Zhao and I thought we’d drop by. Is Master Wen in?”

“He’s reading inside,” Chu Liu replied quickly, stepping aside to invite them in, then called, “Master, the Chief Scholar has come to see you.”

Wen Lan Cang emerged and hurriedly greeted them.

Zhou Mo smiled and said, “Master Wen, this is Mr. Zhao, who was greatly impressed by your literary talent and has come to pay you a visit.”

Wen Lan Cang clasped his hands in return. “I am but a humble scholar, hardly worthy of praise. Mr. Zhao flatters me.”

Mr. Zhao bowed as well. “I dare not accept the title of sir. My name is Zhao Nan, and I am but a few years your senior. If you’d be so kind, Master Wen, call me brother.”

“Chief Scholar Zhou, Brother Zhao, please come in!”

The four entered the house, and Chu Liu busied himself making tea.

While the three chatted, Chu Liu waited quietly at the side, like a little attendant.

From time to time, Zhao Nan stole glances at him.

His visit was not only to see Master Wen, but also to learn more about Chu Liu.

He had already heard that his daughter was teaching martial arts. As for the children’s antics, he chalked them up to playfulness.

But his daughter had praised Xie Shuxian repeatedly, saying he was bright, quick to learn both literature and martial arts, and knew how to grow vegetables—his courtyard was a lush green.

She envied him and clamored to plant vegetables in their own yard, ceasing only after her mother scolded her.

Now, seeing the boy in person, he was indeed clever.

He behaved properly as host, without the slightest sign of fear.

At this point, Zhou Mo suddenly asked, “Xie Shuxian, you’ve been at the county school for ten days now. Is there anything you’d like to say?”

“Yes!” Chu Liu replied slowly, “Chief Scholar, the greatest impression these ten days has been the dining hall. The meals there are bountiful, far beyond what I’d imagined. But after the meal, I was shocked and deeply troubled—the waste is appalling…”

“Eggs, rice, steamed buns, and so much more are discarded as if they were nothing, thrown into the trash. If anyone in our village wasted food like that, their parents would break their legs.”

“Meals like these, a farming family wouldn’t get to eat more than a handful of times in a year. Chief Scholar, every grain is hard-earned! If learned men cannot even understand this simple truth, how can we expect them, as future officials, to feel compassion for the people?”

Zhou Mo’s face grew grave at these words.

He had long grown used to such scenes, but hearing Xie Shuxian point it out so plainly, he realized the gravity of the matter.

After a moment, he looked up and asked, “Shuxian, what do you suggest?”

“The Clean Plate Campaign.”

“The Clean Plate Campaign?”

“Yes, to advocate for thrift and frugality, and to regard waste as shameful. All the teachers and students of the county school should participate, promoting thrift and opposing waste, forming good habits of cherishing food…”

Zhou Mo was taken aback, pondering the suggestion.

Zhao Nan suddenly asked, “Xie Shuxian, why do you study?”

Chu Liu answered solemnly, “In hardship, one perfects oneself; in success, one helps the world.”

“In hardship, one perfects oneself; in success, one helps the world…” Zhao Nan echoed softly, lost in thought.

That, too, was why he studied.

He wondered how far his current actions had strayed from his original intention.