Volume One: A Peasant at Dawn Chapter 16: Buying a Donkey

Early the next morning, Xie Gensheng invited an expert from the village who knew how to appraise donkeys, and together they went to the mule and horse market to buy a donkey.

After careful selection and haggling, he finally purchased a desirable female donkey for eight strings and two hundred coins. The donkey was nearly as tall as a grown man, weighing over two hundred pounds, with a large head and long ears, gentle in temperament—clearly suited for hard labor.

Xie Gensheng paid the money, signed the contract, and completed the transaction before heading home. Leading the donkey into the village, he brimmed with pride and satisfaction.

“Uncle Gensheng, you bought a donkey?”

Seeing the admiration and excitement in others’ eyes, Xie Gensheng couldn’t contain his joy and replied with smug delight, “Yes, this is a Shu donkey, known for its endurance. It’s perfect for grinding grain and pulling carts. From now on, we’ll have it much easier at home…”

Amidst the villagers’ envy and praise, Xie Gensheng led the donkey into his courtyard.

“Chuliu, Chuliu, the donkey is here, the donkey is here…”

Maixui shouted, and Chuliu stepped outside to see his grandfather leading the donkey home.

Yezi, Caixin, Maixui, and several children from the village stared wide-eyed, as if they had discovered a new world. They approached the enormous creature cautiously, afraid to get too close lest the donkey kick them.

“Grandpa, I want to ride the donkey!”

Chuliu knew the donkey was gentle, unlike the unruly nature of mules and horses.

Upon hearing this, Xie Gensheng’s face softened into a kindly smile. He patted the donkey’s back, signaling it to stay calm, then held the reins in one hand and carefully lifted Chuliu onto its back with the other.

Leading the donkey by the reins, he walked it around the courtyard.

Sitting astride the donkey, Chuliu swayed gently with its slow steps, and, for reasons unknown, thought of the witty, humorous, and comical Afanti. He couldn’t help but sing, “I ride my little donkey, full of joy, my song rides the wind, rides the wind. Oh, dear friends, dear friends, though we do not know each other, I wish to share your sorrows…”

“Father, I want to ride the donkey too!”

Seeing Chuliu’s delight, Maixui grew envious and clamored to ride.

Chuliu dismounted and yielded the donkey to his younger uncle.

Xie Gensheng repeated the process, gently lifting his son onto the donkey.

Maixui was small, so Xie Gensheng worried he might not sit securely. He held the reins in one hand and supported his son with the other as they walked slow circles around the yard.

Maixui was ecstatic, shouting excitedly from atop the donkey, “Dad, I’m taller than the donkey!”

Yezi and Caixin, both girls, watched with curiosity tinged with timidity. They dared not ride, nor even touch the donkey.

Children from other families wished to ride as well, but didn’t dare ask; they could only watch with envy as others rode.

In the countryside, buying livestock was a great event.

Before long, neighbors gathered to join the excitement, some touching the donkey, others checking its teeth.

“Old Xie, this donkey was a good buy—three years old, and a female. Come spring, you can breed her, and the year after, she’ll have a foal. You’ll have made a fortune.”

“This donkey is stronger than Doumiao, and will grind grain much faster.”

“How can you compare a donkey to a person?”

“Hahaha…”

Laughter was full of envy and jealousy.

Ma Fengya also came to see the excitement. She saw Chuliu’s family so cheerful and felt a pang of bitterness. “Chuliu, you’re literate—give your family’s donkey a resounding name, let it bask in the scholar’s glory…”

“Mother, our donkey has such long ears, let’s call her Long Ear!” Maixui was the first to name the donkey.

Chuliu laughed at the name and said, “Maixui, Long Ear isn’t a good name. Let’s call her Dingguang Immortal instead.”

“Dingguang Immortal? Haha, Uncle Gensheng, you’ve unknowingly bought an immortal donkey.”

“Mother, I want to ride the Immortal Donkey!” Fat Dun shouted and tried to approach the donkey, but Wang Cuicui stepped forward to block him, smiling warmly. “Our Dingguang Immortal just arrived, she’s still shy—don’t scare her.”

“Fat Dun, let’s go home. What’s so special about a donkey? I’ll buy you a horse to ride another day.”

“No, I want to ride the Immortal Donkey!”

“Smack! That’s for being disobedient!”

“Waaah…”

Ma Fengya dragged her crying son away.

Chuliu found time to write the second volume, “The Waters of West Lake, My Tears,” and the third, “Fahai, You Don’t Understand Love.”

It had been more than ten days, and Su Laibao had not come looking for him. He had no idea what price the first manuscript sold for.

Whenever he had free time, he read the Analects. Whether he understood the content or not, he memorized it first.

He loved reading aloud, especially when his family was listening—his voice grew particularly loud.

These days, Su Laibao had been busy running about in the county town.

The tale of the White Snake was novel and captivating, but if it couldn’t gain the acceptance of the storytelling halls and theaters, it would be nothing more than a solitary flower.

Su Laibao was a shrewd businessman; he knew that promotion was key to making money.

He had several copies of the manuscript transcribed, then divided them by chapters, sending the first few chapters free of charge to several well-known storytelling halls, asking them to tell the story.

Su Laibao was a regular at the book venues, and the story itself was compelling. The managers of the storytelling halls obliged him, and thus, “The Legend of the White Snake” made its way to the storyteller’s desk.

After three days, the tale became a sensation, drawing crowds of listeners.

The storytellers profited, but soon discovered a problem: the story had no continuation. The audience began to stand at the door, cursing, refusing to listen to other stories, demanding only “The Legend of the White Snake.”