Volume One: From Peasant to Courtier Chapter Five: Good Deeds Are Rewarded

“Father, I’m here!”
Seeing his father coming to look for him, Su Biao immediately thought of the recent danger. His father must be worried, so he hurriedly stood up, waving his arms and shouting loudly.

The other children from Muddy Ditch Village saw their own parents and echoed, rising to their feet.

The people across the river, seeing their children safe and sound, finally relaxed their tense nerves. They all crossed the bridge, each going to claim their precious child.

Su Laibao, who had been worried all the way, felt immensely relieved seeing his son unharmed, though mixed with a touch of confusion and doubt.

Just a handful of kids—could they really have rescued his son from the water?

Su Biao was the biggest among them.

Could it be Su Wei was lying?

Suddenly, Su Laibao turned fiercely, demanding in a stern voice, “Su Wei, how could you make up such nonsense, saying Su Biao was drowning?”

“Clan leader, Young Su really was drowning…”
Su Wei was bewildered, his face full of innocence and grievance.

He couldn’t swim and was timid, so he hadn’t dared go into the water.

He had seen Su Biao floundering and was the first to think of calling for adults.

Now, seeing Su Biao safe and being blamed by the clan leader, Su Wei stammered, not knowing how to explain.

“Father, it happened like this. We were playing by the river, and suddenly a chain of fire and water…”
Afraid his father would punish him, Su Biao timidly recounted the events.

Everyone now understood: if not for those two children’s quick actions, Su Biao might not be alive at this moment.

Su Laibao’s gaze fixed on Chu Liu and Pudgy, astonished and grateful.

“Young men, a debt of life-saving weighs more than Mount Tai. I am willing to give all I can in gratitude. What do you wish for? If it is within my power, I will surely grant it.”

Su Laibao was a wealthy merchant from Xiangyang Town and the clan leader of the Su family. His words of thanks were both sincere and direct, but unavoidably carried an aura of authority.

To Chu Liu, it felt somewhat patronizing, a tone he didn’t particularly like.

“Uncle Su, your words are too heavy. We saved Su Biao out of pure goodwill, not expecting any reward. If a good deed is done for reward, it loses its true flavor…”

Chu Liu politely declined, then said to Wheat Ear, “It’s not hot anymore, let’s hurry and gather wheat ears.”

Waving to Su Biao, he picked up his bamboo basket and walked away with Wheat Ear.

“Chu Liu, after the wheat harvest, I’ll come find you to play!”

Su Biao waved and shouted. Chu Liu turned, smiled, waved back, then walked off.

“Chu Liu, wait for us!”

The other companions, seeing this, followed Chu Liu.

“This child… is rather interesting…”

Watching Chu Liu walk away, Su Laibao couldn’t help but feel intrigued.

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Seeing Chu Liu frozen, Su Laibao teased, “Chu Liu, are we not welcome here?”

“Hello, Uncle Su!”
Chu Liu quickly set down his work, stepped forward and bowed to Su Laibao, then called loudly into the inner room, “Grandma, we have guests!”

Wang Cuicui answered and came out, surprised at seeing strangers, but then gently asked, “And you are…?”

Su Laibao clasped his hands and said, “Old aunty, I am Su Laibao from Muddy Ditch Village in Xiangyang Town. My son, Su Biao, was once rescued by your grandson Chu Liu. Today I have brought him to your door to express our thanks, a small token of our gratitude… Biao, greet her!”

“Greetings, Grandma!”
Su Biao bowed, his voice crisp and pleasant.

“This child is so round-faced—clearly destined for officialdom… tsk, tsk…”

Wang Cuicui, who never held back when scolding, found herself awkward when it came to praise. After that one remark, she was at a loss for words, hastily sending Wheat Ear to call the family to cover her embarrassment.

“Wheat Ear, hurry to the wheat field and fetch your father and brother… Come inside…”

The men of the family were busy, and Su Laibao didn’t want to trouble Wang Cuicui, so he quickly said, “It’s the height of summer, it’s cooler outside… Biao, have them bring in the gifts.”

Su Biao went out, and soon a donkey cart rolled in slowly.

Several attendants efficiently unloaded the items, dividing them into two piles.

Wang Cuicui was stunned.

Two sacks of rice, a bolt of cloth, half a pig.

For a typical farming family, this was a generous gift.

“This… This is too much…”

Wang Cuicui whispered in astonishment, hurriedly declining, her hands waving nervously.

Su Laibao smiled, “This is a small token from the Su family. One portion is to thank Pudgy. Please accept them, otherwise I will not sleep well.”

“How can we let you spend so much…”

With Pudgy’s family sharing in the gifts, Wang Cuicui found it hard to refuse.

Su Laibao gestured, and an attendant handed him a schoolbag.

Su Laibao took the bag and handed it to Chu Liu, his smile warm, “Chu Liu, this is for you. Open it.”

Chu Liu unzipped the bag, and under a flurry of astonished gazes, took out its contents.

The Four Treasures of the Study were all there, along with two books: The Hundred Family Surnames and The Three Character Classic, both elementary texts for children.

“No, this is too much, we cannot accept it.”

Wang Cuicui’s eyes widened in refusal.

This set of gifts was worth at least ten taels of silver.

“Aunty, compared to the debt of saving a life, this is nothing.”

Su Laibao spoke earnestly, “Giving Chu Liu these things is also my personal wish. My son loves to play, not to study. I want to invite Chu Liu to accompany him as a fellow student, to read and learn at the Su family’s private school. I hope you’ll agree… Oh, as a companion, there’s no need to pay tuition…”

In fact, this was Su Biao’s request.

······

He admired Chu Liu greatly, believing that with Chu Liu by his side, studying would not be so dull.

Su Laibao also liked Chu Liu; he felt that if Chu Liu accompanied Su Biao, his son would surely focus more on his studies.

Hearing that he could go to school, Chu Liu jumped up with joy.

Su Biao winked and whispered, “From now on, we’ll study together, roam the world with swords, and become great generals together…”

Seeing her grandson so happy, Wang Cuicui could not refuse any longer, though her face grew even more embarrassed.

Time passed, but Xie Gensheng had not arrived.

Su Laibao knew that during the busy farming season, it was hard to get away. Staying longer would be imposing, so he excused himself, citing matters at home.

Before leaving, he emphasized again and again that Chu Liu must be sent to school on the twenty-third of July, the day classes began.

Seeing them out the door, Chu Liu promised he would go.

Heaven had sent him a chance to study—he would be a fool not to seize it.

By the time Xie Gensheng and his son hurried back from the wheat fields, Su Laibao had already gone.

The Xie family stared, stunned at everything before them.

After much discussion, the family finally decided to let Chu Liu try it.

After all, there was no tuition, and with the Four Treasures of the Study, it couldn’t hurt to give it a try.

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On the twenty-third of July, Wheat Seedling took his son to Xiangyang Town.

He wasn’t sure what else Chu Liu might need for his role as a companion student, besides the schoolbag.

After thinking for a long time, he packed a wheat cake for his son and set out in haste.

He’d figure it out as he went.

Halfway there, Soybean Seedling grew anxious.

Their family had received such a great favor; to go empty-handed and meet Su Laibao would be far too impolite.

As he crossed the river, inspiration struck. He caught two fish and strung them on willow twigs.

At least he’d have a small gift, and wouldn’t be too embarrassed.

The pair found the Su family’s private school and heard the sound of students reciting aloud.

Soybean Seedling didn’t dare enter directly, so he waited under a tree outside for class to end.

At that moment, a man carrying two books approached, stared at the father and son as though they were thieves, then said with a face full of disdain, “What are you doing here?”

Soybean Seedling looked up and saw two large front teeth.