FVN Chapter 35: When poor, cultivate your own virtue; when prosperous, benefit all under heaven.
Chapter 35: When poor, cultivate your own virtue; when prosperous, benefit all under heaven.
"Those who hate the unrighteous are themselves benevolent, for they will not allow the unrighteous to harm them..." The old man murmured the words from the classic text, his eyes gleaming with approval.
After a long silence, he sighed softly, "You are truly a gentleman!"
After saying this, the old man, with a solemn expression, bowed deeply to Zou Yun.
"Father-in-law, please rise. I am truly unworthy of such an honor."
The old man's sudden action startled Zou Yun.
He quickly stepped forward, bowed deeply in return, and reached out to help the old man up.
"I have never heard of an act of kindness that does not deserve praise."
After being helped up, the old man remained solemn and dignified, his gaze fixed intently on Zou Yun. "This bow is not for anything else, but solely for my benevolence!"
These words resonated powerfully, standing out clearly amidst the hustle and bustle of the city.
Seeing that the old man was becoming increasingly serious, Zou Yun quickly changed the subject and asked, "I appreciate your kindness, father-in-law. But I still don't know your name..."
The old man opened his mouth, preparing to introduce himself.
suddenly!
A stern rebuke suddenly rang out from the north side of the city street.
"Get out of the way! Do not block the way!"
Like cold water poured into boiling oil, the once bustling market instantly froze.
The people passing by and the merchants sitting in rows all changed their expressions upon hearing the sound, their eyes revealing undisguised fear.
According to Qin law: When officials patrol the market, commoners should give way.
As if driven by an invisible whip, the crowd hurriedly retreated to both sides of the stalls, bowing their heads and standing there, holding their breath and not daring to look directly at the source of the sound.
Four men dressed in black, narrow-sleeved robes and wearing crimson headscarves were seen.
That is, the officers and soldiers under the county magistrate, responsible for capturing thieves, were walking briskly toward Zou Yun.
They carried a ring-pommel knife on one side of their waist and a bronze inspection badge issued by the county government on the other, and held rough hemp ropes and wooden slips recording arrest warrants in their hands.
"That's him!"
The four men had grim expressions, and when they saw their target, their eyes instantly sharpened like those of hawks.
Upon hearing the sound, the old man froze, as if struck by lightning. His once gentle and composed face instantly drained of color, turning deathly pale.
Zou Yun frowned, and without making a sound, stepped forward to shield the old man behind him.
Then, Yili bowed and asked in a deep voice, "Lord Qiu, this is a commoner who sells cakes in the market. He is law-abiding and has not violated any market rules."
"What has caused this disturbance to the shops? We would appreciate an explanation."
His upright posture formed an invisible barrier for the old man.
The leader of the thieves glared at Zou Yun, about to lash out, but his gaze swept over Zou Yun's fine, luxurious clothes and his composed demeanor.
He eventually managed to suppress his anger somewhat, and his expression softened slightly.
But in his eyes and brows, there was still a hint of businesslike toughness.
He shook the wooden tablet in his hand, which bore the arrest warrant, and called out, "This is a wanted criminal by the county government! Don't meddle in other people's business, lest you bring trouble upon yourself!"
The voice was deliberately raised, both to address Zou Yun and to announce to those around them.
"The offender's name is unknown, but he is known in the village as 'Old Chen.' He privately possessed forbidden books such as the Book of Poetry and the Book of History."
"They dared to gather the common people and their children at night to teach each other in private! This blatant defiance of the First Emperor's decree to burn books has violated the 'Law Against Possessing Books'!"
"Having been reported by the village head, and on the orders of the county magistrate, this man has been apprehended and brought to justice!"
Upon hearing this, the already trembling crowd around them fell even more silent.
The severity of the Qin law, the "Law on Possessing Forbidden Books," was deeply ingrained in people's minds: those who privately possessed forbidden books would have their faces tattooed and be exiled to the city for hard labor; those who dared to gather a crowd to recite books would have their entire clan executed!
Therefore, no one dared to get involved with such a heinous crime and avoided it at all costs.
After the thief finished recounting his crimes, the old man's pale face softened somewhat, and he regained his composure.
He slowly raised his hand and gently but firmly pushed away Zou Yun, who was blocking his way.
That hunched figure is the mark left by years of kneading dough, making pancakes, copying books late at night, and trying to make a living.
It's as if there are towering mountains pressing down on it.
Yet at this moment, facing the cold laws and fierce officials, his bent spine straightened even more.
In his murky eyes, there was no longer a trace of pleading, only a kind of tragic calm.
"Please stop protecting me, my lord."
The old man's voice was hoarse, yet he was unusually composed.
"The laws of Qin are strict and merciless. You are a kind-hearted gentleman, and you must not let me, a man with a criminal record, implicate you and bring trouble upon yourself."
He turned his gaze to the leader of the group, Qiu Dao, and said frankly, "His Majesty the First Emperor issued the edict to burn books and ban all kinds of classics. Perhaps there was a reason for it."
"but!"
"I have lived most of my life and read most of my books. I really... I really can't bear to see those classic texts that carry the wisdom of ancient sages and worthies disappear from the world and turn to ashes."
"Only then, under the cover of night, did he teach the village children to recognize a few characters and recite a few lines of classical texts."
"I thought being careful would be enough, but in the end... in the end, I still couldn't hide it..."
He gazed at the earthenware steamer basket in front of him, where half a basket of warm steamed cakes remained, steam rising gently.
He glanced again at the half-eaten pancake tightly clutched in Zou Yun's hand, and a bitter smile appeared on his lips.
"When poor, one should cultivate one's own virtue; when successful, one should benefit all under heaven..."
The old man slowly recited the ancient saying again.
It was as if they wanted to engrave each word into their hearts, or as if they were savoring and chewing on something.
"I have remembered and followed the teachings of the sages my whole life. But in the end, I couldn't even preserve this half of our cultural heritage."
"Why......"
This sigh seemed to have exhausted all his strength and drained him of his life force.
After saying that, the old man said nothing more and took the initiative to extend his withered and calloused hands.
With palms facing upwards, he neither begged for mercy, nor offered any explanation, nor showed the slightest intention to resist; he simply waited calmly for the shackles to be placed on him.
Qin law stipulated that when apprehending a commoner who did not resist arrest, hemp rope should be used for binding, and iron chains should not be used without authorization.
Although Qiu Dao's expression remained fierce, he acted in accordance with the law and dared not overstep his bounds.
Seeing that the old man confessed, the two thieves stepped forward, grabbed his arms without being too rough, and dragged him away from the pancake stall in accordance with the law.
To be honest, after hearing the old man's story, these thieves couldn't help but feel respect for him.
But such are the laws of Qin, and what can these petty thieves do against them?
Getting him to reveal his true feelings was the only thing they could do; otherwise, they would have rushed forward long ago, regardless of his grievances.
"Please, father-in-law."
The two thieves, carrying the old man, walked out of the city. The old man walked with a limp, his head down, seemingly lost in thought.
As he passed Zou Yun, he suddenly turned around.
Looking at the small pancake stall and the half-eaten steamed pancake in Zou Yun's hand, he said softly, "Sir, that pancake... please eat it."
"From now on, it seems there will never be another day like this in the world, a day when you can eat a pancake in peace..."
Staring at that slender figure, Zou Yun clenched the steamed bun in his hand.
The once warm cake gradually cooled down, just like the sudden chill in the surrounding atmosphere.
Although he was well aware that later generations had exaggerated the brutality and bloodshed of Qin law.
But at this moment, personally experiencing these legal provisions, which loomed over him like an iron curtain, making it hard to breathe, Zou Yun's heart still felt heavy.
"No wonder, after Ying Zheng's death, the vast Qin Empire disintegrated in just a few short years." Zou Yun sighed inwardly, his thoughts churning.
Such harshness has alienated the people.
"Even the old Qin people of Guanzhong... are probably no longer willing to uphold this empire that once brought them unparalleled glory..."
He watched as the old man was being escorted away by Qiu Dao.
That hunched yet upright figure, amidst the bustling yet deathly silent market, and countless bowed heads, walked further and further away...
All the people on the street had their heads down, seemingly lost in thought.
But no one dared to look up, nor was anyone willing to look up, at this figure about to be swallowed by the law.