Courtyard House: Rebirth of a Shopkeeper in 1937

The wheelbarrow traveled back along the smooth, new road, its wheels making a light "roll" sound as they rolled over the surface, saving much effort compared to the way there. It was midday, the sun was high, and there were few pedestrians on the road. Taking advantage of the absence of anyone around, Xingbao quietly put the porcelain jar, medicine packet, blood peaches, and potatoes into his spatial storage, leaving only a bag of grain, a few empty burlap sacks, and two water jugs on the wheelbarrow as a mere formality.

A breeze blew through the rice paddies, carrying the sweet scent of rice blossoms. Sunlight filtered through the rice stalks, warming him. Xingbao sat on the cart, clutching an empty sack, his heart heavy, unable to appreciate the scenery. He glanced furtively at his father's sweat-soaked profile. His father pushed the cart, his coarse cloth shirt soaked through, his fingers unconsciously gripping the handlebars—how could he tell his father? His elder brother had been waiting for the recommendation letter for over half a year, studying with his teacher during the day and practicing calligraphy under the kerosene lamp at night. If he told him he couldn't get into the county middle school, would his father cry? But Shuangfeng Academy taught modern learning; even Mr. Cai Hesen had graduated from there. It was a hundred times better than the village schools that only taught Confucian classics. How could he make his brother understand that studying here wasn't a waste of time?

"Xingbao, you've been looking downcast since you came out of the academy. Did something happen? There's no one on the road now, tell your father." With that, the father suddenly stopped, wiping the large beads of sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. He then turned to look directly at Xingbao, his eyes filled with deep concern. Actually, he had already noticed his son was troubled, but he had been too busy to ask. At this moment, Xingbao's heart skipped a beat. He quickly looked up and met his father's gaze, instantly realizing that the truth couldn't be hidden any longer. So, he straightened his back, sat upright on his horse, took a deep breath, and calmed his slightly agitated emotions before saying, "Father, please don't make my older brother go to the county town to take that middle school exam again. Just let him study at Shuangfeng Academy!"

"Oh?" The father frowned, his expression immediately turning serious. He knew his son never spoke without reason, so he quickly pressed, "What did you see at the academy? Or did you hear the teacher say something? Tell me in detail."

Xingbao then recounted his secret visit to the academy in detail: from hearing the children reading prose, to seeing the teachers instructing in geography and arithmetic, and finally, in the last room where English was taught—he didn't miss a single detail. Finally, he clenched his little fist and said firmly, "Dad, that academy teaches modern subjects! The Confucian classics taught in the village school definitely won't be tested in the county high school. My brother would have wasted his time there! The township head, Liu, might have known about this because he didn't give us the recommendation letter! Besides, I heard the teachers at the academy say that graduating from here allows you to go directly to the provincial capital to take the entrance exams for teacher's colleges or senior high schools—much better than going to the county town!"

The father stood there, listening to Xingbao's words, silent for a long time. He raised his hand and touched the wood grain on the handlebars, his knuckles turning slightly white from the pressure. The sunlight stretched his shadow long, falling beside the golden rice paddies, carrying a heavy weight. After a long while, he slowly spoke, his voice tinged with lingering fear and self-reproach: "Xingbao, if it were really as you say, Dad... Dad almost ruined your older brother!" He had always thought that the village school taught proper knowledge, and that getting a recommendation letter would allow his son to study in the county town. He hadn't realized that the old and new schools of learning had changed so drastically, and he himself didn't even understand these intricacies, almost letting his son waste his efforts.

"The middle school in the county town won't start until after the Lunar New Year. I was originally planning to have your brother go next month, find a place to stay, get familiar with the environment, and secure a spot." The father sighed, his eyes gradually clearing. "Now that this has happened, there's no point in waiting. When we get back, I'll tell your brother not to prepare to go to the county town yet. After the people sent by the district have finished training him, I'll personally come to Yongfeng Town and ask the teachers at the academy how I can get your brother to study here."

Upon hearing his father's words, Xingbao finally felt relieved, his eyes lighting up instantly as he eagerly asked, "Dad, is what you're saying true?"

"Of course it's true." The father raised his hand and patted his son's head, a relieved smile finally appearing on his face. "Your older brother is a sensible child. He knows this is for his future, so he'll understand." With that, he gripped the handlebars of the wheelbarrow again, his tone urgent: "Come on, let's go home as soon as possible, so your mother and brother won't worry."

The wheels started turning again, the rumbling sound particularly clear in the quiet afternoon fields. This time, Xingbao was no longer as preoccupied as before. He leaned gently against the sack beside the cart, watching the rice paddies rush past, the fresh scent of rice blossoms filling his nostrils, his heart filled with longing—if his elder brother could study at Shuangfeng Academy, he would surely achieve great things in the future!

Seeing the lingering self-reproach on his father's face, Xingbao quickly comforted him, "Dad, you don't need to blame yourself too much. Nowadays, apart from academies with a long history and extensive connections like Shuangfeng Academy, or higher primary schools established by the district, the schools in our village only teach basic classics like the *Three Character Classic*, *Hundred Family Surnames*, and *Thousand Character Classic*. It's precisely because my eldest brother is intelligent and learns quickly that he has mastered all the knowledge of that old scholar!"

Hearing Xingbao's thoughtful words, the father's worries gradually dissipated, and he couldn't help but laugh and say, "You clever little devil, what you say makes some sense. But you should address that old scholar as 'Old Master,' since your elder brother formally became his apprentice."

Perhaps because his worries had been resolved, the return journey was faster than the way there. Seeing his father's forehead beaded with sweat, Xingbao simply put the last bag of grain from the cart into his personal storage space. As dusk approached and they neared the village, he took the grain out again, along with the brown sugar, red dates, blood peaches, and salt he had bought earlier—the rest of the cultivable crops had already been planted in his space. His father had even found a well by the roadside, thoroughly cleaned the newly bought jars and bottles, and soaked some herbs he had just bought at the pharmacy in the spiritual spring water. Not knowing their specific medicinal properties, he didn't dare add too much; just enough to give off a faint medicinal aroma.

The village entrance was deserted. At this hour, the villagers should all have gone home to prepare dinner, and no one had come out to enjoy the cool air. The father and son put their worries aside and pushed the cart straight to their side gate. Xingbao put the other bags of grain on the cart, and also packed a bag of the large sweet potatoes he had dug out of the space into the cart. Then he turned and ran to the gate to find his brother to open it.

As soon as Xingbao stepped through the gate, he saw his mother and Shanshan's mother sitting at the counter checking accounts, while his brothers were busy serving the shop's customers. Guixiang was sitting by the counter. When Guixiang saw Xingbao come in, she first snorted, then turned her face away in a huff.

"Mother, Father and I are back." Xingbao greeted his mother first, then called out to his second brother, who was entertaining guests, "Second brother, Father is by the side door, please go open it." Finally, he quietly crouched down next to Guixiang, but the little girl turned her whole body away, refusing to acknowledge him. Seeing this, Xingbao took out the blood peach he had specially saved to appease Guixiang and said softly, "Sister, look what I brought you."

Gui Xiang still ignored him until Xing Bao handed her the blood peach and whispered "blood peach." Her eyes lit up instantly, and she immediately grabbed the peach—she knew that blood peaches were only found in Xiangxiang; they usually only saw hairy peaches here. "Are there any more?" At this moment, the sulking little girl finally returned to her usual self.

"There are nine more, they're all in Dad's car. I'll give you one first." Xingbao said quickly, seeing Guixiang playing with the blood peach.

"Mom, these blood peaches are for you and your brother." With that, Gui Xiang took Xing Bao's hand and headed towards the backyard: "Let's go help Dad get his things!"

It wasn't until Xingbao was pulled past the kitchen door by Guixiang and caught a glimpse of his grandmother and aunt inside that he suddenly realized: This girl really can't be trusted! He had deliberately not told her everything last night, but she had overheard some bits and pieces. Today, she must have asked around and that's how his grandmother found out! In that case, his father would definitely get a few more scoldings from his grandmother—after all, he hadn't told his grandmother about his mother's pregnancy so soon.

As they entered the backyard, they saw their eldest and second eldest brothers helping their father push the wheelbarrow inside. The wheelbarrow was loaded with ten bushels of grain and a bag of sweet potatoes, weighing a total of about 1400-1500 pounds, piled up like a small mountain! The wheelbarrow, unable to bear the weight, creaked and groaned. Xingbao secretly plotted: he'd have to come up with a good excuse for how they got the grain back! He quickly pulled Guixiang away, preventing her from getting close to the wheelbarrow. Only after the wheelbarrow stopped and their father unloaded several bags did he reach down to take down the blood peaches, red dates, brown sugar, and salt hanging beside the wheelbarrow, instructing, "Guixiang, you two take these things to the kitchen." The two brothers happily went forward and each took two items. Taking the opportunity, Xingbao moved closer to his father and whispered, "Dad, Grandma is here too." At the same time, he secretly pointed to the grain on the cart and asked, "Have you thought about how to explain this grain?" After saying that, he turned around and followed Guixiang back into the house.

Upon entering the kitchen, Xingbao saw his mother there as well. He first greeted his busy grandmother and aunt, then handed his things to his mother. Afterward, he found a small stool to sit on and told everyone about the interesting things that had happened in the county town and the academy that day. After his father, eldest brother, and second brother finished carrying the grain and sweet potatoes, his mother asked Xingbao and Guixiang to go and call his grandfather and uncle over for dinner. This was Guixiang's favorite chore. Carrying a lantern in one hand and holding Xingbao's hand in the other, she skipped and hopped towards her grandfather's house.

After dinner, just as Grandma was about to scold Dad and Mom, Xingbao quickly interjected, "Big brother, we discovered something big at Shuangfeng Academy today!" This immediately drew the attention of the whole family. He then turned to Dad and urged, "Dad, tell everyone!"

Helpless, Father had no choice but to tell the whole story about Shuangfeng Academy teaching "new learning". He also said that he planned to go to Yongfeng Town to find out more details after the people sent by the district left.

After hearing Dad's account, Grandpa and Grandma couldn't sit still any longer. Grandpa immediately said, "This is such a big matter, how can we wait! Yanbang is the most academically gifted child in our village. Youchu, tomorrow morning, you go to Yongfeng Town and find out everything, even the tuition fees!"

"Okay!" The eldest uncle immediately agreed.

At this moment, Xingbao thought for a moment, then turned to his elder brother and said, "Brother, did you read that letter of recommendation? Judging from Mayor Liu's attitude at the time, the letter probably only contained a few sentences. If it hadn't specified which place or school it was for, it might have come in handy."

"I'll go get it and take a look!" The older brother quickly got up and ran back to his room.

When the elder brother returned, he took out the letter and opened it. Just as Xingbao had expected, the letter only stated that the elder brother's household registration, character, and academic achievements were all excellent, and earnestly requested that "your esteemed school" grant him the opportunity to take the entrance examination. It was signed by Jieling Township and stamped with a large red seal. There was nothing else.

After reading the simple letter of recommendation, everyone was both angry at Mayor Liu's perfunctory work and secretly relieved—thankfully, there was no restriction on the school. Father folded the letter back up as it was, carefully put it back in the envelope, and returned it to his eldest brother. With this letter, his eldest brother's chances of getting into Shuangfeng Academy were at least 80%.

But at this moment, the eldest brother was somewhat anxious. He had studied the Four Books and Five Classics for so many years, and now he suddenly had to switch to learning a "new learning" he had never heard of before. For a moment, he lost his confidence and just stared blankly into space.

Seeing his elder brother's expression, Xingbao quickly encouraged him, "Brother, don't worry! The teachers at the academy all used to teach the Four Books and Five Classics. I specifically asked them, and the 'New Learning' is actually easier to learn than the Four Books and Five Classics. You just need to let go of the old ideas from the Four Books and Five Classics and gradually accept the 'New Learning' approach. It's just that the 'New Learning' has a few more practical subjects. As long as you're willing to put in the effort, you'll definitely be able to learn it well!"

With the eldest brother's schooling settled, the whole family breathed a sigh of relief, their faces finally showing a relaxed expression. Even so, Grandma still wasn't going to let Mom and Dad off the hook, continuing to scold them for not telling them about Mom's pregnancy sooner. The group chatted for a while about everyday matters and future arrangements, with Xingbao specifically mentioning Aunt Zhang, saying she was kind and gentle, and wouldn't deliberately make things difficult for Shanshan. Shanshan blushed deeply with embarrassment!

Finally, when it was time to say goodbye, Mother picked out five blood peaches from the ones she had bought that day and stuffed them into Aunt's hands, insisting that they take them home to try. Aunt declined several times but had no choice but to accept them. The family then said their goodbyes in the night, and Grandma and Uncle's family slowly walked towards their own home.