Chapter 12: Little New Year

Chapter 12: Little New Year

"At birth, human nature is good; natures are alike, but habits differ..."

"Ruh... shih... shih... shih..."

The resonant sound of reading came from the eastern wing of the house, occasionally interspersed with a word or two of Gu Muan's slurred, garbled repetition.

For several days now, they'd been making breakfast to the sound of this reading, and not only Chen Youyan but even Wang Xiuxiu and Gu Daniu could join in with a few lines.

The ringing voices had gone from something they weren't used to at first to a familiar, everyday sound.

"If a child does not learn, it is not right." Chen Youyan suddenly murmured in unison with the reading.

His voice was very soft, but it was clear in the kitchen.

Wang Xiuxiu looked down at Chen Youyan tending the fire, and picked up the next line in an equally hushed voice: "If one does not learn in youth, what will one accomplish in old age?"

The two exchanged a smile, eyes shining with excitement, pride, and a touch of shyness at the fact that they could actually recite those verses.

The crackling "pop" of burning firewood in the stove was likewise a familiar sound. Chen Youyan ducked his head to add more wood, while Wang Xiuxiu bent back to her flatbreads.

Wang Xiuxiu thought to herself, indeed, one must study—studying is a good thing. Her eldest grandson was absolutely right.

She was all smiles, her eyes crinkling into crescents as she listened to the reading, showing not a trace of the disapproval she'd felt on the first day about the little boy's learning to read and write.

Inside the eastern wing, Yin Hongxue recited in one breath all the way from "one times ten is ten" to "ten times ten is a hundred, a hundred times ten is a thousand, a thousand times ten is ten thousand" before slowly coming to a stop.

As soon as he paused, Gu Muan also trailed off, confused. His eyes bright, the little boy knew his favorite part was coming next.

Sure enough, Gu Chaoning then put down his book and spoke in praise: "Mm, very good. Xue Geer recited it all, and An Geer too—you followed along as well."

Yin Hongxue gave a shy smile. Having gone several days of studying without being rapped on the palm with the discipline ruler, he wasn't so scared or resistant to studying anymore.

Gu Muan showed off his little baby teeth. He was already sitting up straight and tall, and upon hearing the praise, he puffed his chest out even further and nodded in agreement.

Seeing the two little boys so happy, the corners of Gu Chaoning's mouth lifted in a smile as well. But the cheerfulness of the past few days had mainly been to spark their interest—when it came to learning to read and write, just reciting from memory wasn't enough.

Gu Chaoning turned around and fetched the three sand trays he'd had his father make the day before, placing them on the equally new low table in front of the two little boys.

The table was low, just the right height for them.

"Starting today, we'll spend half an hour reading and half an hour writing. Three characters a day, and you need to be able to recognize them, say them, and write them. When I get back from school in the evening, I'll check."

The last part of what he said was mainly aimed at Yin Hongxue.

He paused for a moment, to show he was being easygoing and not strict, and asked: "On the first day, do you want to learn your own names, or the Three Character Classic we read every day?"

Gu Muan wasn't even listening to him—he'd already started doodling in his sand tray.

Remembering the characters for "Yin Hongxue" that Gu Chaoning had written out for him before, Yin Hongxue answered decisively: "The Three Character Classic."

That was exactly what Gu Chaoning had been thinking. He nodded in satisfaction, completely unaware of Yin Hongxue's inner thoughts.

"Alright then, today we'll learn 'At birth, human nature is good'."

The sunlight grew gradually more brilliant, shining through the persimmon tree planted in the courtyard. Dappled, flower-like patches of light fell through the half-open latticed window onto the table before Gu Chaoning.

The fine specks of light swayed slowly, shifting westward as the sun traveled across the sky.

A light breeze stirred, and the persimmon leaves swayed gently. The green persimmons dangling among the branches slowly ripened to orange-yellow. Someone picked the persimmons, and the thick persimmon leaves yellowed progressively as fewer fruit remained.

Another breeze passed, and the last dry yellow leaf fluttered slowly to the ground. Fine snowflakes began to fall, and the rough black trunk gradually became covered in frost and snow.

A plump little bird landed on a branch; when it flew off again, it disturbed the branch and sent a dusting of frost and snow falling.

The warm sun rose in the east as always, shining through the bare branches and the window, which was cracked open just a sliver for air, onto the table before Yin Hongxue, along with the gently swaying branch shadows.

Winter was here, and the New Year was just around the corner.

Yin Hongxue closed his book and stretched contentedly.

Unlike Yin Hongxue, who was getting better and better at his lessons, Gu Muan had grown lazier by the day once the initial novelty wore off.

Today was the same. The second Gu Chaoning left for the kitchen, Gu Muan, who was supposed to be in the main room with Yin Hongxue, warming himself by the fire and reading, started dozing off.

Yin Hongxue giggled behind his hand, poked the dozing Gu Muan awake, and then tugged him eagerly toward the kitchen.

Today was the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month—Little New Year. The household was to make offerings to the Kitchen God and do an initial sweep of dust.

Right now, all the adults in the family were busy in the kitchen.

In the leisurely winter days, Gu Wen, who could never sit still, would usually go out for a stroll and pick up some firewood along the way.

It wasn't much, but day after day of accumulation saved them the trouble of making dedicated trips to gather firewood. Today, however, he stayed behind.

The two little ones had originally been assigned to read, but this year was Yin Hongxue's first New Year in the Gu family, and his heart was full of satisfaction and restless excitement—he simply couldn't sit still.

Unlike previous years, Yin Hongxue had early on put on a cotton-padded coat stuffed with thick new cotton. The coat itself was dark-colored, but the outer garment covering it was bright.

His was a muted red, while Gu Muan's was a pea green.

Against the dreary gray of the Gu family's small courtyard in winter, they were strikingly vivid and eye-catching colors.

The new shoes were also padded with this year's fresh cotton, exceptionally warm on the feet, with a tiger head embroidered on the edge by Wang Xiuxiu.

Knowing that he got chilblains on his hands and feet every year, Gu Wen had bought hand cream in advance.

From the very start of winter, under Chen Youyan's supervision, Yin Hongxue would soak his hands and feet in hot water every day, apply the cream, and then climb into bed—also made with new cotton, warm and cozy—to sleep.

As a result, this year Yin Hongxue, to his own surprise and yet quite naturally, hadn't developed any chilblains.

But even so, Chen Youyan and Wang Xiuxiu didn't let their guard down. After all, anyone from a farming family knew that once you'd had chilblains, they took root, and you'd get them every year afterward.

Only if you managed to keep them from recurring through an entire winter would that root be suppressed and completely cured.

Yin Hongxue ran halfway, then, as if suddenly remembering something, turned back and picked up the hand warmer sitting on the chair by the charcoal brazier before continuing toward the kitchen.

This hand warmer had been made for him by Wang Xiuxiu, who had told him to bring it along whenever he went out.

Gu Muan had long since grown impatient. While Yin Hongxue went back for the hand warmer, he'd already walked to the kitchen by himself.

Inside, the adults were bustling with activity. Chen Youyan and Wang Xiuxiu were making stove cakes and stove candy, Gu Wen was tending the fire, and Gu Daniu was with Gu Chaoning, preparing clean water and fodder beans.

As if sensing something, Gu Chaoning turned his head and happened to see Gu Muan peeking in, one hand gripping the door threshold, trying to step inside but hesitating because the threshold was too high for him.

Seeing that he'd been spotted, the little boy gave him an ingratiating smile and reached out his hands, clearly wanting to come in.

Gu Chaoning chuckled, "Where's your Xue Gege?"

"He's holding his hand warmer."

Now that Gu Muan was a bit older, his speech was much clearer. More than anything, he could finally call out "brother" distinctly, which was what pleased Gu Chaoning most.

Hearing the two of them talking, Gu Daniu, who sat closest to the door, turned his head, smiled at Gu Muan, then quickly turned back around.

His son-in-law didn't allow the little ones inside, so he'd better not watch, or he wouldn't be able to resist his little grandson's pleading.

Seeing Gu Daniu look over, Gu Muan's eyes lit up. He was about to put on a cute act when he saw his grandfather turn back again. Knowing it was hopeless, Gu Muan looked at Gu Chaoning once more.

"Brother, pick me up~" Gu Muan spread his arms and reached upward.

Gu Chaoning smiled but didn't move. Just then, Yin Hongxue also walked over, and Gu Chaoning's gaze automatically fell on Yin Hongxue's hands. Only after seeing that he had his hand warmer on properly did he look away, relieved.

Seeing that Gu Chaoning still didn't move, Gu Muan pouted in frustration, then turned and threw himself onto Yin Hongxue, whining, "Xue Gege~"

But even though Yin Hongxue wanted to, he didn't dare move either. He instinctively looked at Chen Youyan, and seeing that Chen Youyan was busy and wouldn't turn around, he looked back at Gu Chaoning.

Gu Chaoning knew exactly what these two boys were thinking. He casually grabbed two pastries he'd bought earlier from the table and walked out.

"Have you finished reciting the books I gave you?"

Yin Hongxue was exceptionally fast at memorizing and learning characters. He'd already finished reciting, recognizing, and writing the entire Three Character Classic, and had fully memorized the Thousand Character Classic, with reading and writing about halfway done.

And this was with Gu Chaoning teaching him only half an hour a day. If he could study at a traditional school like Gu Chaoning, he'd surely make even faster progress.

At this moment, Gu Chaoning finally understood why Yin Hongxue had always looked down on him in his previous life.

If a boy could take the imperial exams, Gu Chaoning figured his title of Good-for-Nothing Top Scholar would have to become Good-for-Nothing Bangyan.

"Finished reciting." Yin Hongxue nodded readily. Gu Muan, as always, kept his head down and ignored him.

Gu Chaoning nodded and asked teasingly, "Xue Geer has memorized it, so what about An Geer?"

An Geer snorted, wiggled his little feet, and turned even further away from him.

Gu Chaoning let out an exasperated laugh. He reached out with his free hand and pinched the back of the little boy's neck.

After getting a slap from the little boy, he drawled, "Ah, An Geer won't pay attention to me. Too bad I specially brought pastries for him. Since that's the case, why don't Xue Geer and I just eat them together~"

Gu Muan, who had been with his head buried, instantly lifted it at the word "pastries." The little boy looked at Gu Chaoning with a fawning smile, showing a row of tiny teeth, "Brother~"

"Hmph!" Gu Chaoning snorted with a laugh, pinched his cheek, then handed the pastries to him and Yin Hongxue. "Come on, it's too cold outside. Let's go back to the main room."

He strolled along behind them, speaking leisurely, "In a bit, when we sweep the house, you two will have plenty to do."

The sweet pastry melted in his mouth, and Yin Hongxue squinted his eyes in satisfaction. His heart swelled with anticipation for the New Year, and he felt that the days now were—

Nothing could be better.