Great Tang Idyll Chapter 5

Mrs. Zhang-w.a.n.g and w.a.n.g Juan’s parents had no time to pay attention to Yingtao’s agitation. They were excited, too. Watching their children from their birth to learning how to talk and walk was a process that was the happiest matter for those who are parents.

Zhang Xiaobao and w.a.n.g Juan became like treasures that were surrounded and watched over as well as periodically called upon to say something nice. This commotion was nothing to Zhang Xiaobao as he was willing to enjoy this sort of coziness. But w.a.n.g Juan couldn’t take it. She just couldn’t understand why, as mature as Zhang Xiaobao was, he liked being infantile.1 It looked like the team sending her to get the money was a wrong decision. They should have found a mother with child in tow. She trusted they would have gotten even more money.

To avoid this kind of helplessness, w.a.n.g Juan had to resort to feigning sleepiness as she gave Zhang Xiaobao a secret signal with the thinking that they could still continue their interactions later. Zhang Xiaobao also played along with w.a.n.g Juan as they yawned in unison and they began to be unable to keep their eyes open.

Waiting until the adults found another place to discuss today’s happy business, w.a.n.g Juan who had been repositioned back onto the couch finally sighed as she patted Zhang Xiaobao beside her and said: “Can you not be so juvenile in the future? How old are you?”

“Without never having lost, you will never understand what it is to have. This kind of happiness, how many times can a person enjoy it in a lifetime? Not to mention I’ve never enjoyed it before. I’m not prepared to leave behind any regrets. You go be your grownup and I’ll be my child. Let’s see who first runs into trouble?” Zhang Xiaobao was still reminiscing about that kind of sensation with closed eyes as he conversely gave advice to w.a.n.g Juan.

“Keep pretending. This one day, ~ah… When can we have a clear s.p.a.ce to better plan out our own matters? You even said to help pave the way for your dad [modern]. Based on how it looks here, don’t expect too much.” w.a.n.g Juan muttered, wanting to turn over but instead discovered that her body still couldn’t do this. The only posture was lying p.r.o.ne.

“One week. Give me another week’s time and I’ll be able to let us have an excuse to use our talents. For this week, you and I will keep talking and add a bit of content to our speech each day so people will believe that we’re child prodigies. That’s the deal.”

Zhang Xiaobao made the final decision.

The summer weather changed as it pleased. The previous few days were bright with sunlight but today was overcast in gloom as if the sky would fall down at any time. The wind swept across the ground in swirls and even the dirt that was whipped up looked dark. The majority of people were all either hiding indoors or under the canopy of outdoor tea vendors.

Only a minority of people were especially spirited upon seeing that it was about to rain as with an umbrella in tow, they deliberately walked to the site of a bridge or outside of the tea vendors’ awnings to wait for the arrival of the rain.

Through the past 7 days of pretending to be child prodigies which caused the adults to puff up with pride, Zhang Xiaobao and w.a.n.g Juan finally got a special privilege. That was that the both of them were able to each order around a maid servant or manservant—or footmen—to do some things such as letting the maids and footmen carry them to go outside to look at the scenery or to take them to the garden in back to look at the flowers and gra.s.s.

The both of them extremely cherished this limited freedom. Seeing that today would rain, they hid inside their room. Bidding people to open the window, they looked at the view outside. Zhang Xiaobao and w.a.n.g Juan both liked this type of weather, especially with the dark clouds up in the sky that gave people a feeling of pressure. The both of them were willing to face the pressure so they looked on with exuberant interest.

But this was hard on the maid Yingtao and the other manservant, Erniu,2who feared that the two little ancestors3 would be blown at by the wind and also worried that they would be drizzled on by the rain in a bit. Thus, they were on tenterhooks4 as they waited to the side, not stopping in their persuasion.

“Mister Bao,5 why don’t we step back and then look? It’d still be able to see clearly what the rain is like. Add on another piece of clothing and then that would be even more comfortable.” Near Zhang Xiaobao, Erniu was relatively clever in his suggestion.

Zhang Xiaobao appeared to not have heard. After quite a while and the rain looked like it was about to fall did he suddenly say: “Erniu, what do you say if in a while the rainy wind blows in and gets me and Juan-Juan drenching wet, we both cry together, and we say that it was you who pushed us toward the windowsill when my mom comes? Do you think that my mom would trust your explanation or would trust the two of us?”

Zhang Xiaobao’s talk was only that—talk. But the words he said gave Erniu and Yingtao a frightening shock as their mouths gaped wide open, momentarily not knowing how to answer.

“Yeah, at that time, me and Xiaobao will say to my Mom [in-law] that the two of you didn’t wish to take care of us so you did something like that in preparation for transferring to a position someplace else. What consequence would that have?” Next to him, w.a.n.g Juan backed him up.

Right now, Erniu was already not considering why the two children could speak so many words that should not be coming out of children’s mouths. With a thump, he kneeled down on the ground with his face all scrunched up as he begged Zhang Xiaobao: “Little ancestor, I, Erniu’s entire family have dedicated all our hearts and effort to working at the Manor. I haven’t offended you [honorific]! You [honorific] can’t be like this! Even if I weren’t beaten to death, I would be driven away. My entire family would be finished. I beg of you [honorific]! I’ll kowtow6 to you. Please let me off.”

Yingtao also reacted and kneeled down, too. This gave Zhang Xiaobao and w.a.n.g Juan a frightful shock. They didn’t think that they would get such a result with just a single breezy sentence.

“Get up. Get up. Don’t kneel. Don’t kowtow, either. We were just asking casually to see if my Mom would trust you guys or trust us.” Zhang Xiaobao wanted to help the two people up but after reaching out with a hand, he discovered that he only just touched the two people’s chest and fearing he had no way to help them up, could only use persuasion.

“Little Mister, this even requires asking? What adult would even believe their own child of only 1 year of age was able to lie? The more I and Yingtao explain ourselves, the greater the trouble. Moreover, it’s even the both of you [honorific] saying this. Even if Mistress knew you were lying, she would wonder why you were doing this. With that, she’d definitely find me and Yingtao an eyesore, thinking we didn’t do a good job looking after you.” Erniu didn’t dare get up as he remained there and replied honestly.

“Oh~! So that’s how it is. That’s good, then. We wanted to discuss something with you two a bit. What do you think?” What Zhang Xiaobao wanted was this answer.

“Whatever you [honorific] say, Yingtao and I will definitely obey. There’s no need for discussion. Whatever you [honorific] say is, is.” Erniu only now realized that Little Mister and Little Miss Juan-Juan’s speech was not childish at all. To the side, Yingtao vigorously nodded as well.

It was easy now. Zhang Xiaobao and w.a.n.g Juan gave a few requests to Erniu and Yingtao. That was, one, no matter how out of the ordinary the things that the both of them did were, they could not tell anyone else and that included Mistress, Master, Old Madam, and Old Master.

Two, no matter what things the both of them did later on, they could not ask the reason why and couldn’t not do them, either. At the same time, they couldn’t let anyone else be aware of this. Otherwise, they could imagine the consequences.

Erniu and Yingtao dared not say even a word of refusal. Whatever Zhang Xiaobao and w.a.n.g Juan proposed was promised to. Offending the two children was certainly more severe than offending Mistress. Displeasing Mistress led to nothing more than a salary fine or a beating. Displeasing the children? Even if they didn’t die, they would lose a layer of skin. Besides, even if they made a mistake, the two children would then naturally carry the brunt of the burden. This was only what Zhang Xiaobao and w.a.n.g Juan had pledged them.

The rain finally fell with a pitter-patter on the open window. The wind blew the window till it creaked. Yet, Zhang Xiaobao and w.a.n.g Juan’s mood kept improving. Looking outside at that torrential downpour, they gazed at each other and smile. Everything was left unspoken in the silence.

It rained for an entire day and only gradually lessened when it was nighttime. After having milk, the two who had just woken up called over Erniu and Yingtao. They first told Yingtao to keep watch by the doorway outside and to give a warning if she discovered someone coming. Then, Zhang Xiaobao said to Erniu: “Erniu, who do you have in your family? Have you taken a wife yet?”

“I haven’t. I’m only 17. Don’t see how hearty I look, I’m really not that big so I’m not in a hurry to take a wife. I’ll see once my older brother weds. Oh, of my family, my parents are still present. Above me, I have an older brother. Below me, I have a 9 year old younger sister. My mom said to save another year of money and we can find a wife for my older brother and I’ll have an [older] sister-in-law.” Erniu respectfully replied.

“Oh, good. Your parents being still present is good. Having an older brother and younger sister is even better. That’s more like a family. I also want to have a younger sister or older brother but it’s too bad as I’m the eldest. Don’t know if my mom will give birth to more younger brothers and sisters later on. What does your [older] brother do?” Zhang Xiaobao continued asking.

Erniu didn’t think he would hear such words. Thinking of his own family, they really were not bad. So smiling happily, he replied: “In answer to Little Mister’s words, my [Older] Brother Daniu7 works the land during the busy farming season and does some odd jobs during the idle times. He can even earn some extra rice and salt. [Younger] Sister helps gather some firewood. My parents also work the land during the busy season and does some work for others when idle.”

“It doesn’t seem to be the farming season right now?” Zhang Xiaobao directed this at w.a.n.g Juan. w.a.n.g Juan thought for a bit and nodded.

“Not busy. It’s busy after 2 more months. We’re all idle.” Erniu answered upon hearing the question.

“It’s good that it’s not busy. We can find something to do. Especially for your [Older] Brother Daniu. What to do?” Zhang Xiaobao got lost in thought. w.a.n.g Juan knew that this international great scammer was starting to plot against people. She was prepared as well. If Zhang Xiaobao still wished to continue running cons, then no matter what, she would prevent it.

Seeing Zhang Xiaobao’s brow wrinkle, w.a.n.g Juan worried in private. With such a troubled face on such a huge swindler, the matter he was thinking of absolutely was not as simple as a minor ha.s.sle. There was no doubt about the scammer’s capabilities.

“I have it.” Zhang Xiaobao’s brow suddenly cleared as he yelled excitedly.

“Have what? You can’t swindle people.” w.a.n.g Juan trembled in fright. Her first thought, was this criminal swindler getting ready to go scam a region’s highest official? Like a prefectural governor,8 a chief of the Three Departments and Six Ministries,9 etc. These were all a possibility. Back then, he sure cheated quite a few of the 1st level provinces.10

Zhang Xiaobao gave w.a.n.g Juan a slightly discontent look as he said: “Do I need to swindle just to earn a bit of money? Could it be that in your heart, I’ve always been a swindler? I can turn around,11 too.”

“A swindler saying they’re turning around—who can guarantee that it’s not another trick?” w.a.n.g Juan did not show one bit of mercy to Zhang Xiaobao.

“Never mind. Let’s not speak of this. Look, Erniu is all muddled. Let’s talk about the main issue. This matter needs Erniu’s [Older] Brother Daniu to go do it. Erniu, listen well. Now, I’m a.s.signing you a glorious yet grave mission. Do you have the confidence to complete it?” Zhang Xiaobao gave a look as he solemnly spoke to Erniu.