Nine Lives of Unjust Suffering Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Anxiously Awaiting the Results as if Boiling; Casual Talk and Tall Tales About Feng Shui

In the year of Bing-wu (1726), the results of the Guangdong provincial examinations were scheduled to be posted on the ninth day of the ninth month. By the eighth day, Ling Kwai-hing was already in a frantic state. He grabbed Zong-kong to plan the menu, arrange the banquet, and prepare for the celebration feast. He consulted the Almanac to find an auspicious day for the festivities. He called out to Lady He to prepare the reward money for the messengers who would bring the good news. He even put on his newly purchased official boots, walking back and forth in the hall to make sure they weren’t too tight for his future visits to superiors.

That evening, he couldn’t swallow a single bite of dinner. But by the first watch (around 8:00 PM), he suddenly felt a gnawing hunger. Zong-kong, who had been helping for days, ordered the servants to bring food and wine and sat down to accompany him.

Suddenly, Kwai-hing froze. “They must be writing the scrolls for the list right now. I wonder if the three characters ‘Ling Kwai-hing’ have been brushed onto the paper yet?”

“Nephew, just drink your wine and relax,” Zong-kong replied. “Once it’s written, the messengers will surely come to report it.”

But Kwai-hing’s mind began to spiral. What if he failed? He muttered to himself, “If I don’t pass, I’m a dead man!”

Zong-kong, busy gulping down large cups of wine and stuffing his face, didn’t pay much attention. Kwai-hing suddenly stomped his foot. “If I really don’t pass, what will I do!”

“Don’t worry,” Zong-kong said. “Ma the Semi-Immortal’s words are never wrong. I had my own fortune told the other day, and he said my life’s sustenance depends on the help of a ‘Nobleman.’ Look at how poor I am—if it weren’t for your care, where would I get food or clothes? That part about the Nobleman has already come true! It’s the second watch now; I’ll go tell the servants to light every lamp and candle in the house. We need the place to be glowing with brilliance to welcome the news. A house of celebration must look the part!”

Zong-kong bustled about, and soon the house was as bright as day. Kwai-hing burst into a laugh. “If I truly pass, I wonder how much work I’ll have to put you through, Uncle?”

“It is my duty to serve. When you become the Jieyuan, I share in that glory.”

Kwai-hing sighed. “I don’t even care about being the Jieyuan anymore. I just want my name on that list.”

Just then, a loud gong sounded outside. There was a clamor of voices. Kwai-hing was ecstatic, thinking the news had arrived. Zong-kong rushed outside, only to hear the voices and gongs fade into the distance.

Kwai-hing’s heart became a tangled mess. “This is my first time sitting for the exams; perhaps it isn’t so easy. But if I don’t pass this time, who knows about the next?” Then his thoughts shifted again: “Regardless of the fortune-teller, I already spent 13,000 taels to buy the ‘Opening.’ There is no reason I shouldn’t pass!”

He felt a momentary joy, but then a new fear gripped him. “I embedded those secret words into my essay, but it felt a bit forced. I wonder if Lord Wang will recognize them? What if he misses them? Everything would be ruined!”

Then another thought: “Those words are quite common. What if someone else accidentally used the same words in their opening clause? If the examiner sees their paper first and thinks it’s me, he might pass them instead! That would steal my spot!”

At this thought, he broke into a cold sweat. He couldn’t sit still. He lay down on the couch for a moment, then paced the floor. He tried to comfort himself: “Only I know the secret words. How could anyone else be so lucky as to use the exact same ones?”

But then: “Strange things happen in this world. What if such a coincidence actually occurs?”

He strained his ears. Outside, the third watch (midnight) had already struck. “Ah! If I hadn’t taken the exams this year, I’d be sleeping soundly right now. Still… after waiting all night, it will be wonderful to put on my official robes and hat tomorrow, pin the golden flowers, and attend the Deer Cry Banquet! I am only twenty-five. By the sixty-fourth year of Yongzheng, when I am eighty-five, I’ll be celebrating the sixtieth anniversary of my graduation!”

Thinking of this, he let out a sudden giggle.

“What are you laughing at now, Nephew?” Zong-kong asked. “Those messengers are truly loathsome! Listen to them—group after group passing by outside, but none of them come here! When they finally arrive, I won’t give them a reward; I’ll give them a scolding first! …Wait, listen! This group must be coming for us!”

The sound of voices rose again outside, but as they listened, the noise faded away once more.

Kwai-hing sighed, “I’m not waiting anymore. I’m going to sleep!” He went into the inner room and lay down fully clothed, but how could he possibly sleep? In less than fifteen minutes, he was up again. Outside, he found Zong-kong sprawled on the couch, snoring loudly. Alone and dispirited, Kwai-hing stared blankly at the leftovers and dregs of wine.

After sitting for a while, he shook Zong-kong awake. “Uncle! Listen, the fifth watch (3:00 AM – 5:00 AM) has passed. I’m afraid there’s no hope left!”

Zong-kong scrambled up. “Nephew! Didn’t you say you were going to sleep? Why are you back out here?”

“I don’t know why, I just can’t sleep.”

“Nephew!” Zong-kong exclaimed, “I just remembered something. I heard people say that when they write the results list, they start from the sixth name and work down. Only after the whole list is finished do they fill in the top five names. You are going to be the Jieyuan (Number One), so your name is the very last to be written. Naturally, the report is late because the writing is late!”

Kwai-hing had a sudden realization. He thought, “I bought a ‘Jingkui’ (Top 5) rank, and I’m even hoping for the ‘Jieyuan.’ Whether I’m the top one or just top five, my name would be filled in last. Why didn’t I think of that? I’ve wasted the whole night worrying!” He felt a surge of renewed hope. “It’s nearly dawn; they must be filling in the top five right now. I have to wait a little longer. In one more watch, I’ll know for sure.”

The two sat together, Zong-kong rambling on with idle talk while Kwai-hing listened intently to the outside world. Slowly, the silence of the night gave way to the stillness of dawn. Seeing the sky turn pale, Kwai-hing began to wring his hands and stomp his feet in a panic.

Suddenly, a voice shouted from outside the gate: “Advance List of the New Provincial Graduates!” > (Note: This was a local custom in Guangdong. The night before the official posting, scouts would find out the names, set them in movable type, and print them overnight. These ‘Advance Lists’ were sold on the streets before the official government list was even hung up.)

Zong-kong rushed out to buy a copy, but the seller had already vanished into the distance. Kwai-hing groaned, “The advance list is already out. If they haven’t knocked on our door yet, it’s hopeless! What’s the point of seeing it?”

“Maybe the messenger just couldn’t find our house,” Zong-kong suggested. “The official list must be up by now. Nephew, why don’t you go see for yourself?”

Zong-kong looked at Kwai-hing and saw him physically trembling. “U-Uncle… you go look! I… I’m too afraid to see it!”

“Don’t you worry,” Zong-kong said. “I’ll go. I guarantee you’ve ranked as the Jieyuan. Ma the Semi-Immortal wouldn’t lie to me.” And with that, he left.

Kwai-hing, consumed by frustration and fear, saw the sun rise fully. He stomped back to his room and collapsed into bed. He slept until late afternoon. When he woke, he saw the red-wrapped silver intended for the messengers still sitting there untouched. Feeling humiliated, he retreated to his study to sleep again. He began to wonder if Lord Chen was a fraud. He cursed himself for not asking for a receipt for the 13,000 taels—if he had one, he could sue the man! “If he ever shows his face in Guangdong again, I won’t let him get away with it!” He spent the whole day in a daze, refusing to eat.

Three days passed before Zong-kong returned. As soon as he arrived, he said, “Nephew, do not be grieved. I have been furious on your behalf these past few days. I’m certain there is a reason for this.”

“What reason?” Kwai-hing snapped.

“The ancients said it best,” Zong-kong explained. “To achieve fame and success, five things must align. It’s an old proverb: ‘First is Destiny, second is Luck, third is Feng Shui, fourth is Accumulating Secret Virtue, and fifth is Study.’ Now, according to Ma the Semi-Immortal, your Destiny and Luck are as good as they can be…”

“As for ‘Secret Virtue,'” Zong-kong continued, “I can’t speak for others, but I am your poor distant uncle, and there isn’t a moment where I don’t benefit from your kindness. If that isn’t accumulating virtue, what is? And as for ‘Study,’ I often see you speaking in such elegant, literary prose—always using ‘Zhi, Hu, Zhe, Ye’ correctly—so how could your essays possibly be bad? My suspicion lies with the Feng Shui. Perhaps there is some hidden obstruction there.”

Kwai-hing answered slowly, “I’m not so sure. When my father was alive, he was obsessed with Feng Shui. Every stove placement and doorway was oriented perfectly; he even chose auspicious dates for small things like fixing a drainage ditch. This must simply be my own bad luck. Why blame the Feng Shui?”

“That may be true for your house (the ‘Yang’ dwelling),” Zong-kong argued, “but perhaps the ancestral graves (the ‘Yin’ dwelling) aren’t quite right. I’ve heard that Ma the Semi-Immortal is an expert in Feng Shui; his nickname is ‘Drill Through Stone.’ Why not invite him to check the graves? It won’t cost much, and a man like you, Nephew, won’t mind the small expense.”

Kwai-hing agreed, “In that case, I’ll trouble you, Uncle, to invite him.”

Zong-kong agreed instantly. He found Ma and negotiated a fee of five taels of silver—though Zong-kong secretly demanded a kickback for himself. They met at Kwai-hing’s house and took a boat to Tam Village.

The Ling family’s ancestral graves were located there. Once the boat docked, Kwai-hing, Zong-kong, and the Semi-Immortal went ashore. Ma opened his Feng Shui compass (Luo Pan), checked the directions, surveyed the surrounding landscape, and began his absurd lecture:

“This ancestral site is high at the front and back but low in the middle—a layout called ‘The Lazy Cat Stretching.’ The placement of the gates and water flow is perfectly aligned. I can predict that this land should produce high-ranking officials and abundant wealth.”

“If there are any flaws, please point them out,” Kwai-hing said. “Do not overpraise it.”

“I am speaking strictly by the books,” Ma replied. “The master who chose this spot was very skilled; it is perfectly placed within the Dragon’s Coil. The ‘Literary Brush’ peak in the east is prominent, and the ‘Official Promotion’ star in the west is strong. The Black Tortoise rises behind, and the Vermilion Bird is flat in front. With the eight generals gathered in the hall, this site should produce one Top Scholar (Zhuangyuan), three Palace Graduates (Jinshi), and a never-ending line of scholars.”

“If that’s the case,” Kwai-hing asked, “why did I fail the exams this year?”

Ma sighed. “The most hateful thing is that stone room in front. It sits exactly on a ‘clashing’ position. That area should be flat; it shouldn’t have anything high standing there. I don’t know who owns that house, but if you could have them move it and level the area, this site would be ten-out-of-ten perfect.”

Kwai-hing’s expression changed. “That is the house of my relative, Leang Tin-loi.”

“Since it’s a relative, it should be easy to discuss,” Ma said. “My brother…”

At this point, Zong-kong pulled Ma aside and whispered sharply, “When you see my nephew, you address him as ‘Great Master.’ It doesn’t insult you to show respect! How dare you call him ‘Brother’!”

Ma hurried to correct himself. “Yes, yes! Master! You must not worry about a small expense. You must acquire that house and tear it down. Not only will it guarantee your family’s safety, but it will ensure a continuous line of official success. You must not miss this chance!”

Overjoyed, Kwai-hing paid the fee and sent Ma home. Zong-kong followed Ma to the boat to collect his kickback, then returned to Kwai-hing to beg for the task of visiting Leang Tin-loi to negotiate the purchase of the stone room.

Will the attempt to buy the house succeed? Listen to the explanation in the next chapter.

Translator’s Note:

The Deer Cry Banquet (鹿鳴宴 – Lùmíng Yàn): A formal banquet hosted by the provincial governor for the newly minted Juren graduates. The name comes from an ancient poem in the Classic of Poetry.

Yongzheng 64 (雍正六十四年): This is a bit of dramatic irony. The Emperor Yongzheng actually only reigned for 13 years. Kwai-hing’s fantasy of living to see “Yongzheng 64” shows his detachment from reality and his obsession with eternal status.

The Watches (更 – Gēng):

• 1st Watch: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
• 2nd Watch: 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
• 3rd Watch: 11:00 PM – 1:00 AM (The height of the tension).

The Advance List (試錄 – Shìlù): Think of this as the “unofficial leak” or the “Twitter spoiler” of the 18th century. Because the official list was huge and took time to post, enterprising printers would bribe clerks to get the names early and sell the scoop to anxious families.

The Five Factors (五件事): Zong-kong quotes a famous Chinese hierarchy of success:

1. Destiny (命): Your birth and fixed fate.
2. Luck (運): The timing and “flow” of your life.
3. Feng Shui (風水): The alignment of your ancestors’ graves and your home.
4. Secret Virtue (積陰功): Good deeds done without seeking recognition.
5. Study (讀書): Academic effort.

The Four Directional Symbols (四象 – Sì Xiàng): Ma mentions the Black Tortoise (North), Vermilion Bird (South), and others. In Feng Shui, these represent the ideal landscape: a high hill behind for protection and a flat open space in front for prosperity.

Yang vs. Yin Dwellings: Traditional Chinese belief distinguishes between the homes of the living (Yang) and the graves of the ancestors (Yin). Both had to be in harmony for a family to succeed.