Nine Lives of Unjust Suffering Chapter 3

Receiving a Letter from the Capital, Lord Chen Sells an “Opening”; Casting Off Mourning Garb, Ling Kwai-hing Sits for the Provincial Exams

Ling Kwai-hing left Ma the Semi-Immortal and headed home with his servant. Along the way, he asked repeatedly, “Why is Lord Chen looking for me?”

The servant, named Xi-lai, was no longer a child—around fifteen or sixteen years old—and Kwai-hing treated him as a trusted confidant. Xi-lai answered, “I don’t know what important business it is, but he came by the day after you left. I told him you went to Nanxiong. He asked when you’d return, and I said I didn’t know. Since then, he’s been checking in every three to five days. Today, seeing your luggage had arrived, he came over immediately. He sat in the study waiting for a long time, and when you didn’t return, I came out to find you. I didn’t know where to look until I ran into Old Master Yi-hang from the main house, who said he saw you here getting your fortune told.”

Talking as they went, they reached the house. Kwai-hing went straight to the study to meet Lord Chen.

Now, this Lord Chen was a native of Zhejiang. He was originally a compiler in the Hanlin Academy and had served a term as a Commissioner of Education, which is why everyone called him “Lord Chen.” Later, due to a scandal that offended public opinion, he was impeached by a Censor and dismissed from office by Imperial Decree. After his dismissal, he admired the prosperity of Guangdong and decided to settle there. The house he rented happened to be right next to Kwai-hing’s; as neighbors, they visited each other often. His visit today, however, was for a very specific matter.

Once they had exchanged greetings and pleasantries, Lord Chen stepped closer and whispered, “I have visited several times these past few days, but you were away on business…”

Kwai-hing cut in, “What advice do you have for me?”

Lord Chen said, “I received a letter from a classmate in the capital. This classmate is surnamed Wang—though it’s not convenient to reveal his full name just yet. Next year, the fourth year of the Yongzheng reign (1726), is the year of the Provincial Examinations (Xiangshi). This classmate of mine is the favorite pupil of the current Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Pavilion and Chancellor of the Hanlin Academy. He has already been secretly promised the position of Chief Examiner for Guangdong. He wrote to me wanting to sell one or two ‘Openings’ (Guanjie). Since I am only a guest in your province, selling an ‘Opening’ is a grave matter—I can hardly go around shouting that I have such things for sale! Therefore, I came specifically to consult you: do you know anyone who might want to buy one?”

Kwai-hing was secretly overjoyed upon hearing this, thinking to himself, “Ma the Semi-Immortal’s words are coming true!” He counted on his fingers and realized his period of mourning would end exactly next May. He said to Lord Chen, “I don’t know how one goes about buying such an ‘Opening.’ What is the proof of the deal?”

Lord Chen replied, “Since you’ve never handled such matters, it’s no wonder you don’t understand the mystery behind it. For example, once the price is settled, he will give you a few specific words. You must memorize them firmly. When you enter the examination hall, you embed those words into the ‘Opening Clause’ (Poti) of your first essay. When he sees them, he will naturally select your paper.”

“But I cannot meet the Chief Examiner face-to-face right now,” Kwai-hing argued. “How can it work?”

“That is easily solved!” Lord Chen said. “If someone buys it, I will have to make a trip to the capital myself. It would even work if I were the one to give you the words. Once I arrive in Beijing and tell my classmate which words we’ve chosen, it amounts to the same thing.”

Kwai-hing asked, “And what is the price?”

Lord Chen answered, “To pass as a Juren (Recommended Gentleman) costs five thousand taels of silver, plus a one thousand five hundred tael fee for me as the middleman. If you wish to be a Jingkui (a top-ranking graduate), it will cost ten thousand taels, with a three thousand tael fee for me. These are my firm prices. Whatever extra you manage to sell them for to others is your own profit; I won’t interfere.”

Kwai-hing hesitated. “Isn’t that a bit expensive?”

“It may seem expensive,” Lord Chen countered, “but to someone passionate about academic rank, it isn’t at all. Furthermore, a Juren from your province carries more prestige than those from others. Once you pass, everyone—from yamen runners to gambling dens and brothels—will come to flatter and curry favor with you. What glory! Even if there is a dispute in your home village, or if you need to argue a legal case, the local officials won’t dare treat you with disrespect…”

This speech left Kwai-hing bursting with excitement. He said, “In that case, there’s no need to look for anyone else—I’ll buy it myself! However, making you travel all the way to Beijing just for me seems a great imposition.”

Lord Chen revealed, “To be honest, I already have two buyers for the Juren rank. If I can get two more, or one Jingkui, and gather a total of twenty thousand taels, I will set off.”

Kwai-hing practically jumped up. “Don’t worry, Excellence! I’ll take the Jingkui spot! Tell me when you plan to leave, and I shall have the silver ready for you.”

“Hush!” Lord Chen hissed. “What kind of matter is this? How can you shout like that! If others hear us, it will be the end of us!”

Kwai-hing immediately shut his mouth and quietly asked for the departure date. Lord Chen said, “Since you’ve committed to a Jingkui rank, I’ll prepare to leave in three to five days. Though it is early, I fear unexpected delays on the road. Besides, once I settle things in Beijing, I can send word back early so everyone can rest easy.”

Kwai-hing hesitated again. “What if your classmate isn’t appointed as the Chief Examiner for our province?”

“He will naturally have a plan for that,” Lord Chen assured him. “If someone else is appointed, he can sell the ‘Opening’ to that person at the last minute and take a commission. One way or another, he will ensure you don’t end up empty-handed.”

After settling the plan, Kwai-hing went to the inner hall to see his wife, Lady He. His younger sister, Kwai-sin, also came over to greet him and ask about the scenery in Nanxiong. Kwai-hing said to his wife, “My lady, I have wonderful news. I’ve returned home today to find a great fortune—you should prepare to become the wife of a Juren official!”

Lady He laughed. “The provincial exams aren’t until next year. How can we prepare now? Besides, you are still in mourning; how could you even enter the examination hall?”

“My lady! Have you lost track of time? Our mourning period ends next May!” Kwai-hing then told her everything about Lord Chen selling the “Opening.”

Lady He replied, “Passing as a Juren is well and good, but you’re throwing away over ten thousand taels of silver!”

Kwai-hing clapped his hands. “You have no head for strategy! Think about it—our Ling family hasn’t been prominent lately, so in next year’s ‘Wei-Xing’ lottery, people will rarely bet on the name ‘Ling.’ Furthermore, Lord Chen already has two other buyers. I’ll find out their surnames tomorrow. Next year, I’ll place a heavy bet on those three names. Do you really think I won’t win my money back through the lottery? I might even turn a profit!”

As they spoke, the servant Xi-lai entered. “Old Master Yi-hang from the main house is here to pay his respects.”

Kwai-hing frowned. “He’s only here to borrow firewood or rice again. I won’t see him. Just tell him I’m exhausted from the road and have already gone to sleep.”

As Xi-lai left, Kwai-sin said, “Uncle Yi-hang’s circumstances are difficult. Even if he asks for a loan, it wouldn’t be much. He is family; why be so harsh, brother?”

“Sister, you don’t understand,” Kwai-hing said. “That man’s ‘speech is tasteless and his face is detestable.’ He shows up with a pout, and he never has a word to say that isn’t begging for help. I can’t stand him. He’s nothing like Uncle Zong-kong from the second house. Zong-kong is just as penniless, but he’s cheerful, witty, and always willing to help others. I’m happy to help a man like Uncle Zong-kong often.” Kwai-sin fell silent.

The next day, Kwai-hing drew a draft for 10,000 taels and took 3,000 taels in cash to return Lord Chen’s visit. He finalized the deal, received the secret “Opening” words, and asked for the surnames of the other two candidates to prepare his lottery bets. He even added, “When you reach the capital, please give my regards to Lord Wang. If I can rank as the Jieyuan (Number One Graduate), I have another 10,000 taels ready as a gift.” Lord Chen accepted the money and congratulated him, leaving Kwai-hing overjoyed. A day later, Kwai-hing held a farewell banquet for Lord Chen, who gave him further secret advice on bribing recommendation clerks and scribes.

Ten days after Lord Chen left, Kwai-hing sent Xi-lai to collect his detailed horoscope from Ma the Semi-Immortal. The fortune-teller, sensing a goldmine, treated Xi-lai with tea and tobacco, pumping him for information about the Ling family’s business. Three days later, the document was ready.

Kwai-hing read it: the horoscope predicted he would pass the provincial exam in 1726, sweep the national exam in 1727, and become the “Top Scholar of the Realm.” It foretold a career leading to the highest ministerial offices. Kwai-hing danced around like a madman, shouting, “This master is truly divine!”

While he was celebrating, his clan uncle Zong-kong arrived. “Nephew! What are you so happy about? Why not tell me so I can share the joy?”

Kwai-hing said, “Uncle, you have no idea. Since I was a child, my father had many people read my fortune. They all talked nonsense about ‘clashes,’ ‘harms,’ and ‘bloody omens.’ It was all lies! But this Ma the Semi-Immortal… he is the real deal!”

After settling the plan, Kwai-hing went to the inner hall to see his wife, Lady He. His younger sister, Kwai-sin, also came over to greet him and ask about the scenery in Nanxiong. Kwai-hing said to his wife, “My lady, I have wonderful news. I’ve returned home today to find a great fortune—you should prepare to become the wife of a Juren official!”

Lady He laughed. “The provincial exams aren’t until next year. How can we prepare now? Besides, you are still in mourning; how could you even enter the examination hall?”

“My lady! Have you lost track of time? Our mourning period ends next May!” Kwai-hing then told her everything about Lord Chen selling the “Opening.”

Lady He replied, “Passing as a Juren is well and good, but you’re throwing away over ten thousand taels of silver!”

Kwai-hing clapped his hands. “You have no head for strategy! Think about it—our Ling family hasn’t been prominent lately, so in next year’s ‘Wei-Xing’ lottery, people will rarely bet on the name ‘Ling.’ Furthermore, Lord Chen already has two other buyers. I’ll find out their surnames tomorrow. Next year, I’ll place a heavy bet on those three names. Do you really think I won’t win my money back through the lottery? I might even turn a profit!”

As they spoke, the servant Xi-lai entered. “Old Master Yi-hang from the main house is here to pay his respects.”

Kwai-hing frowned. “He’s only here to borrow firewood or rice again. I won’t see him. Just tell him I’m exhausted from the road and have already gone to sleep.”

As Xi-lai left, Kwai-sin said, “Uncle Yi-hang’s circumstances are difficult. Even if he asks for a loan, it wouldn’t be much. He is family; why be so harsh, brother?”

“Sister, you don’t understand,” Kwai-hing said. “That man’s ‘speech is tasteless and his face is detestable.’ He shows up with a pout, and he never has a word to say that isn’t begging for help. I can’t stand him. He’s nothing like Uncle Zong-kong from the second house. Zong-kong is just as penniless, but he’s cheerful, witty, and always willing to help others. I’m happy to help a man like Uncle Zong-kong often.” Kwai-sin fell silent.

The next day, Kwai-hing drew a draft for 10,000 taels and took 3,000 taels in cash to return Lord Chen’s visit. He finalized the deal, received the secret “Opening” words, and asked for the surnames of the other two candidates to prepare his lottery bets. He even added, “When you reach the capital, please give my regards to Lord Wang. If I can rank as the Jieyuan (Number One Graduate), I have another 10,000 taels ready as a gift.” Lord Chen accepted the money and congratulated him, leaving Kwai-hing overjoyed. A day later, Kwai-hing held a farewell banquet for Lord Chen, who gave him further secret advice on bribing recommendation clerks and scribes.

Ten days after Lord Chen left, Kwai-hing sent Xi-lai to collect his detailed horoscope from Ma the Semi-Immortal. The fortune-teller, sensing a goldmine, treated Xi-lai with tea and tobacco, pumping him for information about the Ling family’s business. Three days later, the document was ready.

Kwai-hing read it: the horoscope predicted he would pass the provincial exam in 1726, sweep the national exam in 1727, and become the “Top Scholar of the Realm.” It foretold a career leading to the highest ministerial offices. Kwai-hing danced around like a madman, shouting, “This master is truly divine!”

While he was celebrating, his clan uncle Zong-kong arrived. “Nephew! What are you so happy about? Why not tell me so I can share the joy?”

Kwai-hing said, “Uncle, you have no idea. Since I was a child, my father had many people read my fortune. They all talked nonsense about ‘clashes,’ ‘harms,’ and ‘bloody omens.’ It was all lies! But this Ma the Semi-Immortal… he is the real deal!”

Zong-kong took the document, reading it with difficulty as he only recognized about half the characters. “Year of Bing-wu… that’s next year! It says you are to be ‘dispatched’ (fajie). I wonder where they are sending you?”

Kwai-hing laughed. “How can you not understand this, Uncle?” He held up a thumb and explained, “‘Dispatched’ means I am going to rank as the Jieyuan (the number one graduate) next year!”

Upon hearing this, Zong-kong immediately made a deep, formal bow. “Congratulations, Nephew!”

Kwai-hing roared with laughter. Zong-kong continued, “And after becoming the Jieyuan, why does it say you will be the ‘Great Ghost’ (dagui) of the realm in the year of Ding-wei?”

Kwai-hing could hardly contain his amusement. “That is the word for ‘Chief’ (kui), not ‘Ghost’ (gui)!”

“Even if it’s ‘Chief,’ I still don’t understand,” Zong-kong admitted.

Kwai-hing held up his thumb again. “This word? It means Zhuangyuan—the top scholar in the entire empire!”

Terrified and impressed, Zong-kong scrambled to his knees and kowtowed to Kwai-hing, who quickly pulled him up. Zong-kong exclaimed, “Praise the Buddha! I can’t even find the words to congratulate you! If this is true, not only will I benefit from your glory, but even the Ling ancestors will bask in your light!”

Kwai-hing added, “More than that! Guangdong hasn’t produced a top-three candidate in over eighty years. If I break the record and become the Zhuangyuan, the very skies of Guangdong will shine brighter!”

The uncle and nephew spent half the day lost in this shared dream. Finally, Zong-kong revealed his true reason for coming: a request to borrow two mace of silver to buy rice. Kwai-hing gave it to him, and Zong-kong bowed his thanks and departed.

Time flew by. Winter ended and spring returned. A letter arrived from Lord Chen in Beijing, stating that everything was settled and he was ready to return for the “celebration wine.” Kwai-hing was overjoyed once more. By May, he cast off his mourning robes. Some time later, he passed the preliminary qualifying exams.

One day, the official Beijing Gazette arrived: the Chief Examiner for Guangdong was indeed a man surnamed Wang, with a man named Li as the deputy. His heart leaped with joy. On the sixth day of the eighth month, Zong-kong came to see him off to the examination hall. Throughout all three sessions of the exams, it was Zong-kong who busied himself with the arrangements.

After the three sessions were finished, Kwai-hing spent every day drinking and making merry, certain that his status as a “Master Juren” was secure. Zong-kong, eager to flatter, went to the sign-makers to price out honorary plaques, to the timber yards to price out flagpole wood, and to the printers to ask about the cost of publishing the “Vermilion Essays.” Every day he brought back new information to please Kwai-hing.

He worked Ling Kwai-hing into such a trance of anticipation that the man could do nothing but stare longingly toward the eighth day of the ninth month. On that day, word came that the results would be posted the following morning. Kwai-hing fell into a frantic state of preparation—though what exactly he was busy with, you must listen to the next chapter to find out.

Translator’s Note:

Selling an “Opening” (賣關節 – Mài Guānjié): This is a historical term for examination fraud. An “Opening” was a secret code or specific phrase a student would hide in their essay. The corrupt examiner would look for this code to ensure that specific student passed, regardless of their actual talent.

Jingkui (經魁): While a Juren was a successful candidate, a Jingkui was one of the top five scorers in the province. Buying this rank didn’t just mean passing; it meant becoming a local celebrity with massive political “clout.”

The “Opening Clause” (破題 – Pòtí): This was the very first section of a “Bagu” (Eight-Legged) essay. By placing specific, pre-arranged words here, the student was “tagging” their paper so the corrupt examiner could identify it among thousands of anonymous entries.

Mourning Period (滿服): Following Confucian tradition, Kwai-hing had to wait three years after his father’s death before he could participate in joyous events or government exams. His “counting on his fingers” shows he is prioritizing his ambition over his grief.

The “Wei-Xing” (闈姓) Lottery: This was a popular (and often illegal) form of gambling in Guangdong. People would bet on which surnames would appear on the list of successful exam candidates. Kwai-hing’s plan is “insider trading”—since he knows he has bribed the examiner, he plans to bet heavily on his own name to recoup his bribe money.

Jieyuan (解元): The title for the person who ranks first overall in the provincial examinations.

Language is Tasteless, Face is Detestable (語言無味，面目可憎): A classic Chinese idiom (originally from the Tang Dynasty) used to describe someone who is boring, unpleasant, and lacks any social grace. It shows Kwai-hing’s elitist attitude toward his poorer relatives.