Volume One, Chapter Five: Father, I Want Him!

Before long, footsteps drew closer from the distance.

Steward Ren led the way, followed by a well-fed middle-aged man and a little chubby boy.

The middle-aged man was none other than the head of the Zhang family, Zhang Shengcai. He carried a substantial belly and wore the shrewd expression typical of a businessman. Following him was Zhang Jinbao, who appeared distracted and absent-minded. The little chubby boy furtively squeezed two pebbles in his palm, occasionally moving them about, mumbling to himself. Clearly, his mind was still lost in the intricate mysteries of the tic-tac-toe game, unable to break free.

"Master, young master," Steward Ren bowed respectfully, his voice deferential. "These are the children sent today, hoping to serve as your son's page boys." He gave a brief introduction of each child. One was said to be a distant relative of a scholar's family. Another hailed from a once-prosperous household in the county town. All claimed to be literate.

Zhang Shengcai listened, nodding noncommittally. He glanced over the children standing before him, hands at their sides, then turned to his son and said casually, "Jinbao, these are the page boys we've found for you. Take a look yourself—see if there’s anyone you fancy. Pick one."

Zhang Jinbao, his mind still spinning around those nine squares, didn't bother to look up at the candidates. He answered offhandedly, "None of them appeal to me. I don't want any!"

At his words, the faces of the children—who had been harboring hope—immediately dimmed, disappointment etched across their features.

Chen Pingchuan, standing at the very end of the line, felt his heart sink. This little fatty, he thought, certainly didn’t play by the rules! He couldn’t let himself be dismissed by a single careless remark. His sister was waiting at home, hoping he’d bring money to save her life.

With this in mind, Chen Pingchuan stepped forward from the end of the line, his clear voice ringing out in the quiet side hall, "Young master, are you still troubled by yesterday’s tic-tac-toe game?"

Zhang Jinbao was deep in thought, trying to figure out how to defeat that vexing "big brother." Suddenly hearing a familiar voice, he looked up abruptly. When he saw it was Chen Pingchuan speaking, his muddled eyes widened in surprise, and his face broke into a delighted grin.

"Big brother!" he exclaimed, tossing aside the pebbles he’d been playing with and rushing over like a gust of wind to grab Chen Pingchuan’s arm. Laughing heartily, he asked, "What are you doing here?"

Chen Pingchuan smiled gently and replied calmly, "I’ve come to be your page boy."

"Page boy?" Zhang Jinbao was momentarily taken aback, then quickly understood. He clung to Chen Pingchuan’s sleeve, turned, and ran toward Zhang Shengcai.

"Father! Father!" he pointed at Chen Pingchuan, urgency in his voice. "I want him! I want him to be my page boy!"

A barely perceptible frown crossed Zhang Shengcai’s face as he scrutinized Chen Pingchuan. The child was pale and thin, his patched, grimy clothes marking him as one from a poor family.

"A farm boy?" The disdain was evident in his tone. "Can he serve my son properly?"

To Zhang Shengcai, a page boy should at least be clever, obedient, and sturdy—even if not particularly learned. This one looked so scrawny; what use could he be?

But Zhang Jinbao was relentless, shaking his father’s arm and pleading, "I don’t care! He’s amazing! I want him, Father!"

A hint of hesitation appeared on Zhang Shengcai’s face.

At that moment, Steward Ren stepped forward and lowered his voice to speak to Zhang Shengcai. "Master, this child came yesterday to sell pebbles. Though from a farming background, he’s bold and meticulous, speaks clearly and with reason. Especially when negotiating prices, he was articulate, neither servile nor arrogant. For one so young to handle himself so adeptly—it’s rare to see such intelligence and perceptiveness. Perhaps... he truly could keep the young master in line, and guide him to study diligently."

Hearing this, Zhang Jinbao nodded eagerly, quickly adding, "Yes, yes! He can keep me in check! I’ve never beaten him at chess!"

With his son’s endorsement and the steward’s support, Zhang Shengcai examined Chen Pingchuan more closely. He cleared his throat and asked, his tone still stiff, "What’s your name? How old are you?"

Chen Pingchuan stood straight, neither humble nor arrogant, and answered clearly, "Sir, my name is Chen Pingchuan. I am eight years old."

His speech was clear enough. Zhang Shengcai nodded slightly, then asked, "Since you’re from a farming family, why seek to become a page boy in the Zhang household?"

He thought privately that the boy did seem sharper than the others, who barely dared breathe or look up. But a farm boy, surely illiterate—what could he possibly understand?

Chen Pingchuan lowered his gaze slightly, his voice calm, "My family is poor. I wish to help ease their burdens."

Zhang Shengcai noted the boy’s orderly responses and composure—rare for a child from the countryside.

"You don’t seem like an ordinary farm child," he said, a note of inquiry in his voice. "Have you read books?"

"No, sir," Chen Pingchuan replied honestly. "I simply enjoy listening to the elders in the village tell stories, and I ponder simple truths on my own."

After their exchange, Zhang Shengcai’s opinion tilted further in Chen Pingchuan’s favor. Compared to the other children who didn’t dare speak or raise their heads, Chen Pingchuan could converse fluently. That alone showed courage beyond the others. And recalling the steward’s mention of selling pebbles at the mansion, Zhang Shengcai grew convinced of the boy’s cleverness.

He paused, then continued, "Do you realize that once you sell yourself, you lose your freedom from then on? You’ll be like a beast of burden in someone else’s house. Are you not afraid?"

Chen Pingchuan raised his head sharply, his gaze bright, his voice carrying a firmness unusual for one so young. "I am not afraid! As long as I can sell myself for twenty taels of silver, my sister won’t have to be sold!"

Twenty taels? To save his sister?

Zhang Shengcai was moved. The boy was young, but showed responsibility. He didn’t ask why Chen Pingchuan’s family needed to sell a daughter; in these times, families selling children to survive were commonplace, and he had no interest in another’s sorrows. But Chen Pingchuan himself intrigued him.

His own unruly son rarely took a liking to anyone—it was no small matter. Seeing his son’s hopeful look, Zhang Shengcai thought for a moment, then made his decision.

"Very well! For your filial piety and sense of responsibility, the Zhang family will take you as a page boy!"

"But..." He suddenly changed his tone, cold and warning. "My twenty taels are not given freely! If you fail to keep my son studying, if you slack off, I’ll sell you to the coal mines, so you understand the consequences and make up for my loss!"

Chen Pingchuan was not frightened by these words; his expression remained calm and composed.

"Please rest assured, sir!" he answered aloud. "I will do everything I can to help young master study diligently, so that one day he may achieve the highest honors and bring glory to the Zhang family!"

Zhang Shengcai raised his eyebrows in surprise, then burst out laughing.

"Well, you have quite the ambition! You haven’t even begun your own studies, yet you dare boast that my son will become a top scholar?"

Chen Pingchuan replied steadily, "Though I am dull and have not yet begun to learn, I see that the young master is gifted and exceptional, far above the norm. Even if he does not become the top scholar, he will surely be a pillar of the Zhang family, bringing honor to our name!"

His words struck a chord in Zhang Shengcai's heart, pleasing him greatly. In truth, he knew his son’s abilities; he’d be satisfied if the boy could become a scholar. He chuckled, his mood light, and ordered Steward Ren, "Old Ren, go to the accounts room and fetch twenty taels of silver! No—make it twenty-three taels!"

With a grand gesture, he pointed at Chen Pingchuan, declaring, "The extra three taels are my reward to you! For your cleverness, and for daring to make such bold promises for my wayward son! Work hard—if you truly help my son improve, there will be greater rewards in the future!"

The burden in Chen Pingchuan’s heart finally lifted. He bowed deeply, sincerely saying, "Thank you, sir, for your generosity! I will serve the young master with all my heart, and will not betray your trust!"

Steward Ren worked efficiently, quickly returning with the silver in a small cloth bag. Once Chen Pingchuan pressed his red handprint onto the contract of sale, the heavy pouch was handed to him. To Chen Pingchuan, this was his sister’s hope for the future.

The other children, now rejected, were dismissed by Steward Ren. Chen Pingchuan watched their disappointed figures as they departed, then turned to Steward Ren and requested, "May I return home first? I wish to give the silver to my parents and inform them of what has happened, so they can rest easy."

He needed to get the money home as soon as possible, before anything could go wrong; his family’s troublesome relatives were not to be underestimated, and could cause unexpected trouble.

Steward Ren looked to Zhang Shengcai, who nodded slightly, so Ren agreed, "Since the master has consented, you may go home. Settle your affairs, spend one more night at home, and be sure to return to the mansion early tomorrow morning."

With his family’s location already reported—Peach Blossom Village, with only a few dozen households—Steward Ren was confident Chen Pingchuan wouldn’t run off.

"Thank you, sir! Thank you, Steward Ren!" Chen Pingchuan bowed again, clutching the money bag tightly, and hurried away.

Behind the screen, a small figure in a pink silk dress peeked out, half-hidden. Zhang Jingzhu’s big, bright eyes watched Chen Pingchuan’s hurried departure with curiosity, a mischievous smile curling her lips.

So the one who taught her silly brother how to play tic-tac-toe had ended up selling himself to the Zhang family?

How amusing.

Her clever, fox-like eyes flashed with anticipation. Perhaps life in the Zhang mansion would be far more entertaining from now on.