A Gallop on the Embankment with Spring Breeze - Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Do Not Look at What Is Contrary to Propriety
Translator: Wu Meixin
Proofread by Fu Tianying

Fortunately, Ma Tian’en was forbidden to go out but was still able to wander in the courtyard, which did not arose anxiety in him. Moreover, Wu Zhong persuaded him that Master Ma did so out of concern. Master Ma was worried about Hu Chunqiu’s revenge. As long as he behaved himself, Wu Zhong would talk to Master Ma over time. What’s more, Wu Zhong ensured that he would let him come out before the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Apart from two hours of learning every day, Ma Tian’en had nothing to do but stay at home. Out of sheer boredom, he had to find something to kill his time such as listening to ventriloquism.

It was so wise to take Mr. Jia back with him! Sitting in the rocking chair, Ma Tian’en listened to Jia’s ventriloquism leisurely. What Jia acted was one couple who went to go fishing in Yuquan Mountain. The sound of running water, birds singing, quarrels and laughter between the couple were all lifelike.

“The little crucian carp in Yuquan Mountain is really delicious and the fish soup in Wangdong Building is almost like the ethereal food. If we eat fish we catch by ourselves, it would be more delicious.” Ma Tian’en began to wander in his mind while listening to it. “The fish soup is my father’s best. Why not catch some fish for him? He would be glad.” Soon, he found himself a good excuse to run out to play.

Firmly determined, Ma Tian’en sent Mr. Jia away. He went back to his room and found out a sack made of straw, which was bought when he caught fish with Tian Fugui. It could be used to pack stuff as well as catch fish. Putting the sack on the table proudly, Ma Tian’en fished out a dagger, cleaned it and put it into the sack.

As soon as it turned dark, Ma Tian’en turned off the light and lay on the bed, pretending to be asleep. When it was quiet outside at midnight, he slipped off the bed. With the sack in his hand, he opened the door lightly, slowly closed it and then ran towards the garden as usual. Having run to one corner of the wall, he looked around to ensure nobody was there and then took the brick off the dog hole. Put the brick outside the wall, he crawled through the dog hole, put the brick back and then ran away.

Yuquan Mountain was also known as the Jade Spring Mountain. The spring was famous for its pure cool water, which flowed in abundant supply from its underground source, spurting from the dragon-head-shaped stone fountainhead in a fine spray that resembles snowflakes. In the Qing Dynasty, the spring was praised as the “Finest Spring under Heaven.” The fine water nurtured delicious fish. At the thought of brilliant fish, Tian’en felt happy and all his unpleasantness was gone.

“Uncle, are you going to Yuquan Mountain to fetch water? Could you give me a lift? I am going to catch fish for my father.” Seeing the wagon, Ma Tian’en said hello to the man on it quickly. The water in Yuquan Mountain was the most popular both with the royal court and the folks. Thus, some people would fetch spring water in the Yuquan Mountain to sell to restaurants or the rich.

“Okay. Come on.” People along the canal were also extraordinarily affable and they considered it natural to help others. The uncle beckoned Ma Tian’en to the wagon, and when he heard that he was going to catch fish for his father, he became more enthusiastic. The two talked and laughed on the way and arrived at the foot of the mountain soon. At that time, the sun rose and gilded the verdant mountain. Ma Tian’en hopped off, said goodbye to the uncle and ran joyfully up the mountain. Sunlight filtering through the trees was warm and itchy like a naughty little girl with feathers gently caressing people’s faces.

Spring water was seen everywhere. There were a lot of fish there, among them the little crucian carp was the most delicious. Though he was not good at reading, he was an expert at fishing. Crucian carps were typically omnivores. They ate meat in spring and autumn and ate vegetables in summer. So Ma Tian’en chose ground shrimps as baits. Having selected a grassy place relatively close to the downstream, he spread out the net and ran to play. The mountain was awash with beautiful wild flowers and occasionally hares would run over. At the very start, he ran after rabbits, picked flowers and tasted wild fruits, all being in high spirits. However, maybe because of bad sleep last night, he felt tired just after playing for a moment. Sitting down under a big tree, he fell asleep, and the wild flower he picked fell down unconsciously.

He slept for a while. With his body leaning over, he fell down to the ground and woke up.

“How could I fall asleep? Guess my fish should be already in the net now. I have to see it.” Ma Tian’en jumped for joy and walked towards the net.

Ma Tian’en found the net, stepped onto the stone besides the grass and collected the net skillfully. “Ah!” There were a lot of fish jumping in the net with water splashing onto the face of Ma Tian’en and his clothes.

“I gonna cook you when I get home.” The sun had been up in the middle of sky, shining brightly and warmly. Seeing his hands full of splashed water and some water weeds, Ma Tian’en found it early to go back and nobody around, so he decided to swim in the water.

Once he got the idea, Ma Tian’en carried the fish, and went deeper where the water was deep. Seeing a relatively deep water, he put the fish net besides a tree, took off his coat and worn hair down, only with tight clothes inside. Since he came to Yuquan Mountain, he had already prepared for a swimming. Jumping off into the water, he swam swiftly and happily as if he returned home. In addition, he began to catch the fish with bare hands. The fish was caught and then slid out from his hands and he swam swiftly between the water and grass just like the elf born in the water.

“I catch it!” With half of his body out of the water, he held a fish in his hand with sunshine all over his hair. His face was full of brilliant smile, and his eyes were like bright stars. This was what Wu Zhong saw when he stood by the riverside.

“Her body soars lightly like a startled swan, and gracefully, like a dragon in flight. It’s the Sea Princess!”

“Ah! Teacher!” Unwarily, fish in his hands slipped into the water.

“You…go up at first.” Wu Zhong felt dizzy and his heart seemed to be hit heavily. The figure of the daughter of Sea King coincided with that of Ma Tian’en. The one who saved him that day was just Ma Tian’en right here. How could this happen?

Turning around in a panic, Wu Zhong stepped on a stone and almost slipped with words in his mouth, “Do not look at what is contrary to propriety.”

Ma Tian’en had not thought Wu Zhong would be here. He panicked and immediately regained his composure. It seemed that Teacher Wu had recognized that he was a woman. Otherwise, he would have directly scolded himself rather than suddenly turned around and let him go up first. Ma Tian’en thought, “So now it’s time to tell the truth. Teacher Wu is kind. When he knew that I was forced to be dressed as a man, he must feel sorry for me. In the future, he may be more lenient with me. I have not finished my homework yet, so maybe he would not let me hand over it.”

With his mind wandering wildly, Ma Tian’en swam ashore, changed his clothes and then walked slowly towards Wu Zhong. With his face blushing scarlet, Wu Zhong did not dare to turn around when he heard his footsteps were approaching.

“Teacher Wu?” Ma Tian’en called him. At that time, Wu Zhong began to turn around but he still dared not to look at Ma Tian’en, which amused the latter instead. If he had known Teacher Wu was so afraid of women, he would better tell him all the truth at the beginning and maybe got less scolding.

“You…are a woman?”

“Teacher, I am so miserable. I am a woman, but… ”

“The daughter of Sea King?”

Ma Tian’en was interrupted by Wu Zhong before he finished his words. The daughter of Sea King? What did he mean？Oh, I got it. On July 15th!

Staring at Wu Zhong, Ma Tian’en reached out and touched his face, “Teacher, you are…that scholar?”