Chapter 6 - Concubine Zhao (1/2)
Proofread by Fu Tianying
Standing on the Yinding Bridge, one could only see one curved corner of Shichahai which seems like a part of a girl’s sleeve, nifty and refreshing.
Shichahaiin’s morning is bustling with noise and excitement. Several old men are strolling with bird cages in hand; a few vendors are preparing to sell goods; and there are some young scholars who walk around, enjoying the beautiful scenery and discussing national affairs and people’s livelihood.
Walking down the Yinding bridge, Ma Tian’en looks around as he walks and greets people now and then. Wu Zhong found Ma Tian’en has a large circle of acquaintances: young masters, wharf boatmen, vendors and so on. No matter who they are, Ma Tian’en greets them warmly with a broad grin.
They keep walking for a while and the panorama of Shichahai slowly emerges. The sky is clear and bright in the summertime. Gilded with the rising sun, white clouds nestle sluggishly in the blue and bright sky. Boats loaded with food and various goods are coming and going.
Seeing the passing boats, Ma Tian’en sighs with depression. Wu Zhong stares at him in a confusion, wondering what Childe Ma is worrying about.
“I am afraid that you do not know. In the previous dynasty, the goods were shipped directly to Jishuitan Lake through the waterway. When it came to Ming dynasty, the Beijing city was reconstructed and rivers were rebuilt to be underground rivers. Thus, the goods were only shipped to water-gate and then handled manually and officials would charge for every sack of goods. The river was blocked and dredged over and over again but it was not fixed essentially. I guess someone does not want it to be fixed. Even if I had to fix it, I would have done it well. If only we had a complete waterway! It would save time and money as well as labor.” Wu Zhong felt a stab in his heart when he saw sadness and indignation on the face of Ma Tian’en for the first time.
“Did you come up with those all by yourself?”
“Of course. My father thought I knew nothing about business on the wharf. I did know little about it, but talking with my various friends acquainted me with it unconsciously. You know, life is not easy for those who make a living on the wharf, including Ma family. You could tell it from gray hair on my father’s head.
“Uh, how could I hear that Master Ma, the householder of Ma family, got annoyed by his idle son so much so that his hair turned grey?”
“How could it be possible! Only a rumor. Master, you are a sensible scholar and how could you believe those groundless suspicions?” Ma Tian’en denied it rightfully.
Unexpectedly, Wu Zhong redirected the topic, “So, you want to be a hero to uphold justice?”
“Sure.I want to knock all those bad guys out here and the people in the Second Dam could live a better life then.”
“All right. Have you ever thought of that? You fight off those bad guys and a new bunch of greedy officials will emerge soon. How could you solve it essentially by fighting? The fundamental way as well as the only way to fight against corruption is to be an official in power supported by the emperor. But I think it is pretty good that you could come up with that.”
“Then if you become a high-ranking official one day, remember to fight against those greedy officials.” Ma Tian’en stares at Wu Zhong adoringly. “Sure enough, he is not the same as those former teachers. He did not scold me at all. Instead, he praised me!” Ma Tian’en thought.
“Well, I will keep that in mind.” Wu Zhong nodded heavily as if he made a commitment. Naturally, he strokes the hair of Ma Tian’en gently and then stepped forward.