History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 174 Wei Mao's Dream Wei Mao

After discussing Bu Yanzhen's affairs, Wei Yao bid farewell to her two fellow disciples. She continued her stroll in the garden with her parents, first visiting the orchard deep within the garden to admire the fruit trees. Here, peach, plum, jujube, and pomegranate trees were planted, and various birds were not afraid of people, either chirping on the branches or pecking at insects in the shallow grass.

The family had lunch at the restaurant in the park, then rented fishing gear and enjoyed fishing by the pond.

When Wei Yao couldn't catch any fish, she would scatter bait, attracting white geese to perch on the lotus leaves, while blue ducks would gather around her hand to snatch the food.

Happy moments fade with the setting sun, scattering into shimmering waves that completely fill the day with joy.

During the day, Wei Yao played to her heart's content, and at night she focused on her studies. Now she has finished learning the entire "Airs of the States" section of the Book of Songs. After the autumn break, she will soon face the first annual exam of the new school order.

The annual examination differed from the regular joint examination. The papers with excellent results would be submitted by the prefecture to the Imperial Academy in Luoyang. The Imperial Academy was the only academy for members of the imperial family in the Great Wei Dynasty, and it was also a gathering place for renowned scholars. If she wanted to make a name for herself in Luoyang, praising her through the Imperial Academy was a more legitimate way than any other method.

However, nine students from each state had their exam papers sent to the Imperial Academy. Given her background, if she wanted to be valued by the Doctor of Classics and have her answers reviewed, she would have to be the top student in Hengzhou!
In the main house, even if Wei Yin managed to steal a day off, he would still have to extend his copying sessions into the night to make up for the time he spent playing. Although there were many articles to copy, whenever his wife became bored and tried to talk to him, Wei Yin would put down his pen and coax her to smile before resuming his writing.

Zhao Zhi asked, "Does my husband know about the family surnamed Bao at the west end of the alley?"

Wei Yin: "I know, they moved here later."

“That woman wants to arrange a marriage for our Yao’er. I scolded her for dreaming. Her whole family of ten can’t even read ten words! She still has the nerve to argue with me, saying that a bandit died in our house recently, and the house is tainted with evil spirits. Only her family has many sons, so they can suppress it.”

"This is outrageous! According to her logic, her family should move to the vicinity of the state prison, no, to a mass grave!"

Zhao Zhi smiled and said, "I'm just not as quick-witted as you."

"Studying should not be done in vain."

“If she says that again, I’ll scold her just like you said. Husband, how much would it cost if we bought a courtyard the same size as ours in Luoyang?”

Wei Yin: "When I was at the governor's office, I asked Clerk Gou about it. He said that land prices in Luoyang rise every month, and the land in the south of the city is the cheapest. The south bank of the city is bordered by the Luo River and the Yi River, which makes it low-lying, prone to flooding, and unsuitable for living. The north bank of the Luo River is much better, and there is currently a lot of open land. He advised us that if we want to move to Luoyang, we should go as soon as possible and be sure to buy land on the north bank. According to his estimate, buying a house the same size as ours on the north bank of the Luo River in the south of the city would cost at least 20,000 coins."

The couple opened the valuables they had accumulated over this period. The five-colored silk in the several large boxes was a reward from Zhao Zhi for killing Yuan Heshu. The pine soot ink was all earned by Wei Yin for writing tales of the strange and supernatural. The ordinary ink was what they had saved up over the years by copying books. There were also gold ingots and copper coins obtained from killing bandits in Luoyang.

Zhao Zhi: "That should be enough for moving, right?" Moving isn't just about buying a house in Luoyang; it also involves the cost of the journey from Pingcheng to Luoyang. And once we arrive in Luoyang, Wei Yin will definitely have to prepare gifts to pay his respects to Wei Yi.

Wei Yin nodded, reassuring his wife, "That's definitely enough."

Zhao Zhi remembered something and said excitedly, "I heard that people living by the Luo River can catch and sell fish. When the time comes, I'll build a raft and weave a net, and then I can eat fish every day!"

Wei Yin thought that Luoyang had been the capital for so many years, and the waterfront near the residential area must have been occupied by the powerful and influential long ago. However, he decided to speak only when the time was right and there was no need to hurt his wife now. He was also very happy and suggested, "Yes, we can change the way we eat every day. If we get tired of stewed fish, we can have grilled fish."

Zhao Zhi, feeling hungry, continued to imagine: "Yes, I prepare pepper water every day!"

Wei Yin's stomach growled, "Add garlic too!"

"How about stewing fish and mutton together?"

"So delicious!"

It was almost midnight when Wei Yao in the side room suddenly sniffed. What was going on? Who was so heartless as to stew meat so late at night?
"Hee hee—" Wei Yao ran into the kitchen even though it was only a few steps away, which shows how happy she was.

Tonight, Wei Mao was also very happy. Since returning home, he carried the ball everywhere he went, not caring at all that it was covered in mud. Before falling asleep, he lay on his back and spun the ball, clockwise and counterclockwise, clockwise and counterclockwise, murmuring her name: "Wei Yao, A Yao, Yao Yao, Yao'er, hey—Wei Yao, A Yao..." until the ball gently landed on the bedding and he drifted off to sleep.

In his dream, Wei Mao walked with a candle in hand. It was very dark all around, and he felt like he had walked for a long time before he recognized that the road led to the school. He walked cautiously, step by step, until he finally saw the school gate. The sky was still dark, and only Wei Yao was sitting in the school building.

She just sat there, letting the books and scrolls lie open on the desk.

"Wei Yao, what's wrong with you?" Wei Mao then realized that he couldn't make a sound, but he wasn't worried because he had a feeling that he was experiencing a dream.

It's true! Another "he" came into the dormitory, and with a cold, sour face, said to Wei Yao, "Light a candle next time, otherwise you'll look like a ghost sitting here and scare people."

Wei Yao replied with "Yes," then touched the candle and struck it with a flint.

The grumpy-faced "him" immediately retorted, "Keep your voice down!"

Wei Mao's anger surged, and he kicked at the "him" in his dream. As a result, not only did his foot pass through the ghostly figure of the "Grumpy Monster," but his entire body also passed through it.

It really was a dream!

The scenery around him changed dramatically. Although it was still pitch black, the towering city walls could be seen not far away.

It's much more magnificent than the city walls of Pingcheng!

Suddenly, a rider galloped out of the city gate, pursued by a woman adorned with headdresses, who shouted as she chased, "Wei Mao! If you dare to leave, don't ever come back to Luoyang!"

Wei Mao found it hard to describe his current feelings of surprise and astonishment. The young woman kept running, chasing after "Wei Mao on horseback," while he followed after her, carrying a candle.

Is she Wei Yao?
No, she's much taller than Wei Yao.

That's not necessarily wrong, though; "Riding Wei Mao" was also much taller than him.

Could it be... that he dreamt of himself and Wei Yao many years in the future?
But the dream was too dark, and "Wei Mao on horseback" disappeared quickly without ever looking back. Wei Mao, carrying a candle, came to the weeping woman and circled her, growing increasingly anxious: "Raise your head! I want to see if you are Wei Yao?"

The woman looked up, startling Wei Mao awake!

That person has no shame!
It looks like a big duck egg, and it's covered with many thick, twisted scars!

Upon waking, Wei Mao glanced to the side and saw the ball. He noticed that every seam on the ball's leather was crooked and twisted, just like the scarred duck egg in his dream.

What should have been a funny thing gradually left him feeling empty. After he finished washing up, he could hardly remember the details of the dream, but that feeling of emptiness lingered for most of the day.

October arrives.

It's winter.

News of the Gaoche tribe's rebellion in the border town began to reach Pingcheng.

(End of this chapter)