Chapter 0048: Mute Scholar Zhang Yuheng, Geographer Zhang Yuheng
The burly scholar continued writing on the ground: “You seemed so focused, I didn’t want to disturb you.”
Xie Chengze: …
Thank you so much for being so considerate.
Eh? Wait a minute?
Xie Chengze narrowed his small eyes, bad ideas surfacing once again. He reached out with a smile to put his arm around the burly scholar’s shoulder, acting like close buddies: “Brother, we’ve known each other for so long, but I still don’t know your name or where you’re from.”
The burly scholar: “Zhang Yuheng, from Yuzhou.”
From Yuzhou?
Xie Chengze couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat.
He had previously told Zhu Xiaobiao to tell the common people of Yi Province that The Foolish Old Man Removes the Mountains was a folk myth from Yuzhou, but in reality, he had no idea whether Yuzhou here actually had this story or whether there were even Taihang and Wangwu mountains there.
Because he thought no one would care about such details.
So he never expected that there would actually be someone from Yuzhou among the scholars.
Zhang Yuheng seemed to notice his embarrassment and wrote on the ground: “According to the Records of Yuzhou Mountains, during the Xia Yuan Dynasty, the locations of Taihang and Wangwu mountains did indeed shift over a long distance, causing countless casualties. Later chroniclers attributed this to a major earthquake, though I’ve never heard of The Foolish Old Man Removes the Mountains story.”
Xie Chengze laughed awkwardly, “Ahaha, really? I didn’t know that. Maybe Governor Liang made up this story to encourage people to dig mountains!”
Zhang Yuheng didn’t expose his lie. The Xia Yuan Dynasty was hundreds of years ago – how could a Yizhou Zhifu possibly know what happened in Yuzhou centuries earlier?
Especially since the Records of Yuzhou Mountains was privately collected by the magistrate of Nanyang County in Yuzhou, recording the changes in Yuzhou’s mountains and rivers throughout various dynasties. It could be said that currently, only the Nanyang magistrate and himself knew about the movement of Wangwu and Taihang mountains.
Although unclear how Xie Chengze knew about this, Zhang Yuheng assumed that for someone so young to understand earthquakes so well, he must have been taught. And since Xie Chengze happened to be from a merchant family in Huaiyang County, Yuzhou – which was only about three hundred li from Nanyang County – perhaps some ancestor of his had coincidentally seen the contents.
Completely unaware that his casually fabricated identity had already been rationalized by the person before him, Xie Chengze’s mind was entirely occupied with how to trick Zhang Yuheng into helping him extract saltpeter.
Rubbing his hands together expectantly, he asked, “Brother Zhang, you see how I just helped you solve so many problems? I happen to have a small task that needs an extra hand. Could you help me out?”
Zhang Yuheng shook his head.
Xie Chengze, who had been confident moments before, suddenly felt like the sky was falling. “Why! Did I not teach you enough?”
Zhang Yuheng wrote on the ground: “My father said people who smile like you are always plotting something bad. Can’t help.”
Xie Chengze: …
Xie Chengze: o(▼皿▼メ;)o
“But I think you’re a good person.”” Zhang Yuheng continued writing: “As long as it doesn’t break the law, I’ll do my best to help.”
Xie Chengze immediately beamed with joy: Don’t worry brother, it’s absolutely legal (＾ω＾)~
…
Those who don’t listen to their elders will suffer.
Zhang Yuheng soon began to regret not following his father’s advice.
“Like this, then like that.” Not far away, Xie Chengze pinched his nose and fanned himself while loudly directing Zhang Yuheng on how to extract saltpeter from feces.
He knew two extraction methods – one using pottery jars for boiling and filtering, and another using earthen wall permeation. Though both methods were rather unsightly, they were simple to operate, so Xie Chengze had Zhang Yuheng try both.
Overwhelmed by the smell, Zhang Yuheng took a moment from his busy work to write on the ground: Brother Cheng, I hate you.
Xie Chengze guiltily waved his golden-thread fan, “Brother Zhang, only when people repay kindness will this world remain filled with love! Just endure a bit longer, I’ll definitely reward you handsomely in the future.”
Zhang Yuheng: … I hope I live to see that day.
Villagers passing by saw them handling waste and curiously gathered around. Upon realizing the tasks were quite simple, they felt it was a waste of talent and scolded with frustration, “Oh my! How can you do this kind of work!”
“Put that down, let us handle this kind of work.” An elderly villager snatched the manure ladle from Zhang Yuheng’s hands, muttering, “You scholars’ hands shouldn’t be doing such filthy work! The Autumn Examination is coming up, followed by the Spring Examination – those are important days for earning official positions. You should be reading more books!”
To the villagers, such minor tasks weren’t about propriety – after all, they regularly carried manure for fertilizing while farming. But Zhang Yuheng and Xie Chengze were different. Zhang Yuheng was a scholar destined to become an official, while Xie Chengze clearly came from a wealthy family, the type whose hands never touched rough work – completely unsuitable for such tasks.
“Yes, young master, with your handsome looks, how could you be suited for this work!” A village woman admired Xie Chengze’s exceptionally beautiful face, “How old are you, young master? Are you married?”
Many village women gathered upon hearing this, inquiring about Xie Chengze’s background, family members, marital status, whether he had someone he liked, etc…
Xie Chengze found it hard to handle. Catching sight of Shen Yuan’s figure from the corner of his eye, he quickly signaled for help.
Shen Yuan held a red oil-paper umbrella. After glancing at the situation, he turned on his heel and decisively walked away.
Xie Chengze: ?
Shen, do you even have a heart?
Shen Yuan’s quickened pace seemed to reply: Sorry, this subject doesn’t.
Very well, very well… Xie Chengze laughed angrily. Since you’re being heartless, don’t blame me for being unjust!
Xie Chengze immediately squeezed through the crowd, quickly caught up to Shen Yuan, wrapped his arms around his waist and dramatically exclaimed, “Husband, you’re here~ Husband, have you come to take your husband home for dinner~”
Shen Yuan: !!!
The villagers: Oh~ ohoh~!
The embraced Shen Yuan stiffly turned his head, looking down through gritted teeth, “Let… go—”
“Won’t let go!” Xie Chengze bared his small white teeth fiercely. “If you stand by today, no one will beat the drum of justice for you tomorrow! Every cause has its effect, and I am your retribution!”
Shen Yuan: ?
What kind of nonsensical rubbish was he spouting now?
Sighing deeply, Shen Yuan pried Xie Chengze’s arms from his waist. Under Xie Chengze’s displeased gaze, he slowly opened the red oil-paper umbrella and placed it in his hands.
Then he scooped Xie Chengze up with one arm, hoisting him over his right shoulder, and said deeply, “Fine, your husband will take you home for dinner.”
His tone carried both resignation and a hint of indulgence.
The villagers again: Oh~ ohoh~!
Young people~ so passionate~~
Aaaaaah… Xie Chengze silently tilted the oil-paper umbrella in his hand to cover his flushed, embarrassed face.
Damn Shen Yuan! How could he carry him like this! What about his dignity!
Only after walking some distance did Shen Yuan put Xie Chengze down, casually asking, “From my quick glance earlier, what were Your Highness and Zhang Yuheng doing over there?”
“Playing with shit,” Xie Chengze unconsciously twirled the oil-paper umbrella in his hands. No sooner had he spoken than Shen Yuan shot him a horrified look.