Chapter 42: The Elder Brother's Plan

The sun was tilting westward, casting a semi-bright, semi-shadowed glow across the blue brick courtyard.

As soon as Wang Mingyuan stepped through the gates, he didn't even pause for a sip of water before rushing straight into the study on the west side.

With a few quick movements, he untied his book-box straps, pulled out his writing brushes, inkstone, paper, and ink, and laid them out across the slightly rough elmwood desk.

The lecture on *Mencius* delivered today by Prefectural Instructor Liu had set his mind racing with countless thoughts. Moreover, Instructor Liu’s approach to teaching was vastly different from Master Zhao’s.

Back in his primary schooling days, Master Zhao had taught him "to distress his mind," focusing heavily on "endurance" and "perseverance," much like a stone being shaped and smoothed in a riverbed.

But what about Instructor Liu?

He broke things down meticulously, explaining that this "toil of muscle and bone" was not merely about physical suffering; rather, it was about using this physical vessel to carry and put one's inner resolve and aspirations into practice!

This perspective was undeniably a fresh way of thinking.

Fearing he might forget, Wang Mingyuan hurriedly picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and frantically jotted down the main points on paper, preserving the historical examples cited by Instructor Liu as closely as possible.

He also came to realize that shutting oneself away to build a carriage behind closed doors simply wouldn't work; one had to listen and observe widely, cross-referencing and pondering deeply.

The foundation Master Zhao had laid for him was solid, but Instructor Liu’s blade was whetted much sharper, striking from far more unorthodox angles.

Having finished his notes, he turned his attention to the assignment Instructor Liu had given: "On Water Transport and Border Defense."

Wang Mingyuan stared at those six characters, his brows knitting into a tight knot.

This topic... was truly a bit beyond their level, wasn't it?

The prefectural and county examinations at most tested one on civil livelihood policies, such as how to encourage agriculture and mulberry cultivation or how to reduce litigation.

Water transport and border defense? Those were hard-core affairs of state! Matters that only frontier generals and senior grand secretaries of the central court ought to be worrying about.

As mere scholars of the lowest rank, they were hardly qualified to engage in armchair military strategy.

Yet, upon second thought, Wang Mingyuan reasoned that since Instructor Liu had set this topic, he must have his own reasons.

The prefectural academy was a place where crouching tigers and hidden dragons resided; who knew if someone might actually be able to offer profound insights?

Besides, since he had come to audit classes under the reputation of "County Top Scholar," how could he hope to catch Instructor Liu’s eye without producing something genuine?

Hadn't Master Zhao entrusted him to Instructor Li precisely in the hope that he could advance further?

He propped his chin in his hand, his fingers tapping rhythmically and unconsciously against the desktop as his mind spun at top speed.

Water transport was the lifeline of the nation—shipping southern grain to the north to feed the northern garrisons and populace; border defense meant protecting the frontiers, holding the nine major strategic garrisons, and resisting foreign enemies...

These two matters seemed unrelated at first glance, but upon closer reflection, both burned through vast amounts of silver and moved the entire nation with a single pull!

What Instructor Liu wanted was likely not empty talk about their importance, but rather how to weave them into a single cord so that every ounce of silver was spent where it mattered most...

Just as the tangled threads in his mind were becoming even more convoluted, the courtyard gate creaked open, and a heavy set of footsteps strode in accompanied by a gust of wind.

It was his eldest brother, Wang Daniu, returning home.

Wang Daniu was carrying a bulging coarse cloth sack over his shoulder, along with two pig thigh bones thicker than Wang Mingyuan’s thighs, their stark white, jagged fracture points looking quite startling.

Upon entering, the moment he caught sight of that studious figure in the study, he slowed his pace and gently placed his burdens down by the kitchen doorway.

In his heart, he was calculating: since his third brother was working so hard on his very first day at the prefectural academy, he simply had to whip up something delicious to help nourish him.

He immediately tidied up, rolled up his sleeves, and dived straight into the kitchen.

He hoisted those two massive marrow bones and tossed them directly into a large iron iron-pot, giving them a simple parboil to remove the gamey odor before setting them to simmer.

As the flickering flames licked the bottom of the pot, Wang Daniu turned to the dough he had left to rise earlier that morning on the chopping board nearby, beginning to knead and roll out flatbreads.

Over the years, with the growing success of the family's braised meat shop, he had also honed a fine culinary skill. If nothing else, making flatbreads was something he did more often than anything else.

His large hands kneaded the dough, producing rhythmic, muffled thuds.

Even as he kneaded, he kept a close watch on the activity at the stove, lifting the lid from time to time to skim away the floating froth with a large iron ladle.

Meanwhile, in the neighboring courtyard, a shadowy figure stealthily climbed up a ladder leaning against the wall and had been watching for quite some time.

It was none other than Aunt Ma from next door. Clutching a broken tile and pretending to mend her roof, she stood on tiptoe, stretched out her neck, and cast furtive, sweeping glances into the Wang family’s small courtyard.

The kitchen had no door, and Wang Daniu’s tall, robust figure along with the commotion by the stove came into her full view.

When Aunt Ma saw Wang Daniu heave those two thigh-thick, stark white bones with a loud clatter into the massive iron pot to boil, matched with his appearance reminiscent of a fierce black bear, it was genuinely rather startling.

And so... the very next day, this scene spread abroad. Having undergone several layers of embellishment, it had evolved into a rumor that the Wang family’s eldest brother, who looked just like a black bear spirit, loved to boil and eat human leg bones—truly terrifying!

As a result, from then on, even fewer people greeted Wang Daniu when he walked down the street, and some even went out of their way to avoid him altogether!

However, all of that is a story for another day.

Busy with the dough in his hands, Wang Daniu was still pondering the sights and experiences of the day.

Having wandered around Chang'an City for the past couple of days, he felt entirely out of sorts. Back home, he was used to a mountain of chores, and suddenly finding himself idle felt thoroughly unnatural.

Moreover, Aunt Ma at the mouth of the alley and the other neighbors looked at him as if he were some kind of monster, dodging him from far away.

At first, he felt a bit dejected, but later he simply stopped caring—it was peaceful! It saved him from having people constantly peering through the door cracks to gossip and disrupt his third brother's studies.

Yet, peaceful as it was, being idle drove him half-mad with restlessness.

With his third brother spending the greater part of the day at the prefectural academy, sitting cooped up in this palm-sized courtyard was far more agonizing than a full day of heavy labor.

That very day, he had actually contemplated asking about a job carrying heavy loads at the cargo depot.

Given his brute strength, one man could do the work of three or four, and the wages surely wouldn't be low.

Yet the moment that thought surfaced, he ruthlessly crushed it.

No! Absolutely not!

He, Wang Daniu, was here to accompany his third brother as he prepared for the prefectural examination! He wasn't here to be a common laborer and earn silver!

Go off to haul heavy cargo? If word got out, where would his third brother's face be saved?

Besides, it would make the Wang family look utterly destitute, forced to rely on their eldest brother doing coolie work to make ends meet?

Wouldn't that just cause his third brother unnecessary distress and pile on unneeded pressure?

Most importantly, the schedules definitely wouldn't align.

As for taking out the family’s braised meat recipe to set up a street stall...

Wang Daniu thought of his own clumsy tongue and his timidity whenever he encountered strangers, and immediately shook his head.

That was a business he simply couldn't handle. Furthermore, what if it attracted covetous eyes, just like what happened to their father a few years ago? Wouldn't that needlessly bring disaster upon his third brother?

They didn't know a single soul in the prefectural city!

After turning it over and over in his mind, he concluded that his old trade was still the most natural—slaughtering pigs!

It was an inconspicuous trade, and one he knew like the back of his hand.

Today, as he happened to pass by the East Market, a butcher's shop was having one of its hands slaughter a pig, but the man couldn't manage the thrashing, heavy-set hog, whose shrieks could be heard half a street away.

Wang Daniu’s hands had itched so badly he almost couldn't resist stepping in to lend a hand.

Later, he had forced himself to strike up a conversation with the distressed butcher shop owner.

That was how he learned that business had been booming lately, but finding skilled butchers, especially those capable of single-handedly bringing down large livestock, was difficult, and the wages were negotiable.

Wang Daniu had been tempted on the spot; he could do this job with his eyes closed!

And as for the timing... he had tentatively double-checked: butcher shops generally began slaughtering before dawn to catch the early market. If he were brisk and nimble, he could finish the work and return home just in time to cook breakfast for his third brother, delaying nothing at all!

Besides, he could take on odd jobs deboning meat during his free time during the day. In short, nothing would be neglected! Everything about it was simply wonderful!

Even so, he still needed to talk it over with his third brother. If his third brother didn't object, then he could certainly go ahead; if his third brother wasn't willing, he would naturally prioritize his third brother's wishes above all else.

Meanwhile, the bone soup in the pot began to bubble with a rhythmic *gurgle*, and the rich, savory aroma of meat filled the small courtyard.

Wang Daniu lifted out several golden-brown, thick flatbreads he had cooked, stacking them neatly on a plate.

He walked over to the doorway of the study and saw that Wang Mingyuan was still propping up his chin, lost in deep contemplation.

"Third Brother, time to eat!" Wang Daniu’s booming voice broke Wang Mingyuan’s train of thought. "The soup is ready, and the flatbreads are done. Come have a bite while they're hot!"

Pulled back to reality by that shout, Wang Mingyuan rubbed his throbbing temples and walked over to the main room.

Gazing at the milky-white marrow bone soup in the familiar coarse porcelain bowl and the crusty, fragrant flatbreads on the table, his stomach timely let out a low rumble.

He picked up a flatbread, broke it apart, and submerged it into his personal small bowl of soup.

The scalding hot broth instantly saturated the dough, making the aroma even richer.

He took a slurp; it was savory, piping hot, and full of flavor, seeming to wash away a fraction of the exhaustion weighing on his body.

Wang Daniu sat across from him without rushing to eat.

Rubbing his rough, large hands together, a look of hesitation flickered across his dark-skinned face, and he stammered for a moment before speaking: "Well... Third Brother, I want to discuss something with you."

"Hmm? What is it, Big Brother?" Wang Mingyuan asked vaguely, his mouth half-filled with flatbread.

"You see... you go to the prefectural academy during the day, and I'm just sitting around alone at home."

Wang Daniu lowered his voice slightly, a touch of eager anticipation creeping into his tone:

"When I went out today... I saw a butcher shop over at the East Market that's short of hands for slaughtering pigs. The boss said the wages are settled daily, and all the busywork is during the early morning market hours... I was thinking, I'd like to... like to give it a try."

Before Wang Mingyuan could reply, he quickly added: "Don't you worry! I've calculated the hours, and it won't interfere with anything!

I promise I'll be right back as soon as I finish work! After all, I came here to accompany you through the imperial examinations, not to make money!

It's just that... well... staying idle at home is driving me crazy.

If I go back to doing my old trade... would it... would it bring shame upon you?"

Wang Mingyuan stopped mid-chew.

Looking at the expression mixed with anticipation and anxiety on his elder brother's face, a wave of warmth washed over his heart, and then he burst into a smile.

"Big Brother! What kind of nonsense are you talking about?"

Wang Mingyuan swallowed what was in his mouth, his tone resolute and decisive.

"Our ancestors generations back were butchers. We make an honest living by this craft, standing upright and tall! What is there to be ashamed of?

Didn't Father back then famous Butcher Wang across dozens of villages?

This craft is the root of our family! Go ahead and do it if you want to, as long as you don't exhaust yourself and you can manage the timing. I'm all for it!"

Wang Mingyuan also realized that his brother was simply driving himself crazy with boredom at home and wanted something to occupy his hands; truly, he had neglected his elder brother somewhat.

Hearing this, the stone in Wang Daniu's chest dropped with a dull thud, and a massive smile instantly bloomed across his dark face, revealing two rows of white teeth.

"Hey! Good! Good! As long as you don't think it's shameful, Third Brother, then I have peace of mind! And I promise I won't let it get in the way of your affairs!"

With that, he grabbed a large flatbread, took a ferocious bite, chewed with great gusto, and felt that today's flatbread tasted exceptionally delicious.

The two brothers ate their flatbreads dipped in bone soup, and for a time, the main room was filled only with the sounds of slurping broth and chewing.

Once they were thoroughly full and satisfied, Wang Daniu briskly cleared away the bowls and chopsticks, humming a little tune as he went to the kitchen to wash up.

Wang Mingyuan returned to his desk and continued working on his political essay.

Gradually, the night deepened, and the small courtyard grew utterly still.