Chapter 5 - The Cannon Fodder Little Fulang [Quick Transmigration]

Translator's Note:

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Wu Kang'an was deeply absorbed in his reading when he heard footsteps at the door. Turning, he saw his younger brother and assumed he'd come to borrow a storybook. He pointed to the shelf behind him. "Same place as usual—third row from the top, right side. Help yourself."

 

Wu Bai froze briefly, then, recalling the memories inherited from the original host, understood the reason behind Wu Kang'an's assumption. He couldn't help but feel exasperated. Storybooks didn't interest him at all; the tales his husband used to share were far more captivating, especially one called Journey to the West*, leagues more exciting than the current popular tales.

 

[T/N: Journey to the West is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Written by Wu Cheng'en in the 16th century during the Ming Dynasty, it is a mythological and spiritual adventure story about the monk Xuanzang's pilgrimage to India to retrieve sacred Buddhist scriptures. He is accompanied by his three disciples, the Monkey King (Sun Wukong), the pig demon Zhu Bajie, and the river ogre Sha Wujing. The novel is famous for its blend of fantasy, allegory, and Buddhist teachings, and the exploits of Sun Wukong, in particular, have made him a beloved and iconic character in Chinese culture.]

 

But he hadn't come for storybooks today. Refocusing his thoughts, Wu Bai approached the shelves, scanning the titles displayed there to see if Wu Kang'an's reading material matched the classics he knew. Relieved to find the expected Four Books and Five Classics*, he took down a copy of The Analects of Confucius and flipped to the first page, noting with satisfaction that the content was just as he remembered.

 

[T/N: The Four Books (四书, Sìshū) and Five Classics (五经, Wǔjīng) are foundational texts in Confucianism, forming the core of classical Chinese education and thought. They were traditionally used to guide scholars preparing for the imperial civil service exams, and they continue to influence Chinese culture, philosophy, and governance.

The Four Books include The Great Learning (大学), which focuses on self-cultivation and moral governance; The Doctrine of the Mean (中庸), which emphasizes balance and harmony in life; The Analects (论语), a collection of Confucius' sayings and teachings; and Mencius (孟子), which discusses human nature and benevolent governance.

The Five Classics are comprised of The Book of Changes (易经), a divination and philosophical text on yin and yang; The Book of Documents (书经), which records historical events and speeches; The Book of Songs (诗经), a collection of ancient poetry reflecting daily life; The Book of Rites (礼经), which outlines social rituals and proper conduct; and The Spring and Autumn Annals (春秋), a chronicle of the history of the State of Lu.]

 

Carrying that book, he approached his second brother, who had already returned to his reading, and asked, "Second Brother, have you read all the books on your shelf?"

 

Without much thought, Wu Kang'an nodded instinctively.

 

"Then can you recite them from memory?" Wu Bai pressed further.

 

Another nod came from Wu Kang'an—though halfway through, he looked up, puzzled. "Why are you asking this?"

 

Wu Bai had already gotten the confirmation he needed, but he chose not to answer directly. Instead, he playfully challenged, "I don't believe it. Prove it—recite it for me."

 

"Come on, Bai ger, stop making trouble. Just take a storybook and let me study," Wu Erge* thought his younger brother's request was rather strange, so he had no intention of reciting it for him. Instead, he planned to get rid of him, since he was returning to school the day after tomorrow. His teacher would surely test his knowledge, so he wanted to study alone for a while, lest he be unable to answer the teacher's questions.

 

[T/N: "伍二哥" (Wu Èr Gē) refers to the second-born son in the Wu family. The term "二哥" means "second brother," and "哥" is a respectful way to address an older brother or male figure, often used when addressing or referring to one's elder sibling.]

 

"But, Erge, isn't reciting also studying?" Wu Bai gave him a pleading look. "Why not recite a passage for me?"

 

Wu Kang'an relented, realizing that reciting it now for his younger brother could indeed serve as practice, as he would also have to recite in front of his teacher then. If he stumbled or made any mistake, he'd have a chance to correct himself in time.

 

He handed the book over to Wu Bai and agreed, "Alright, I'll recite from this one. If I make a mistake, let me know."

 

Wu Bai nodded.

 

Wu Kang'an then began to recite aloud.

 

Hidden from view in a corner of the study, Wu Bai listened as his second brother's voice filled the room. Outside, the other family members only saw Wu Kang'an sitting alone, seemingly engrossed in his studies.

 

As Wu Kang'an recited, Wu Bai nodded in quiet approval. His brother was clearly familiar with these texts; the real question was how well he understood them.

 

Before long, Wu Kang'an had recited the entire book flawlessly.

 

To encourage him, Wu Bai praised warmly, "That was perfect, Second Brother—not a single error."

 

"Really?" Wu Kang'an looked at him, surprised and delighted.

 

Wu Bai gave an affirming nod. "Of course! Now, could you explain what you just recited?"

 

Buoyed by his brother's praise, Wu Kang'an readily agreed. He took the book back from Wu Bai, opened it to the first page, and began explaining each passage.

 

Having rarely explained things to others before, he started a bit awkwardly, but with time, he grew more confident. Gradually, Wu Kang'an noticed that teaching his younger brother helped him gain new insights as well.

 

There's a saying that goes, "The faintest ink is better than the strongest memory," and not wanting to forget these fresh thoughts, Wu Kang'an began noting them down in the margins as he explained.

 

Seeing Wu Kang'an's dedication, Wu Bai felt reassured. He nodded silently, thinking that with proper guidance, his brother could surely achieve the rank of juren.

 

And if anyone wondered why he was so confident in this, it was all thanks to his faith in his own husband, Xiao Zimo.

 

Xiao Zimo, after all, was the first person in history to achieve the Six Honors*—a renowned scholar of unmatched depth.

 

[T/N: In traditional Chinese culture, the "Six Honors" (六艺, liù yì) refer to the six arts or disciplines that were considered essential for a scholar or gentleman to master during the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BCE). These six disciplines were central to Confucian education and were viewed as a foundation for a well-rounded individual, especially for those in the ruling class or aspiring to public office. They include Rituals (礼), Music (乐), Archery (射), Chariotry (御), Calligraphy (书), and Mathematics (数).]

 

Wu Bai had learned from him and knew well that Xiao Zimo didn't believe in confining ger to the role of passive virtue*. Instead, he took pains to teach Wu Bai various subjects, not limiting him to the Four Books and Five Classics. Wu Bai had simply kept a low profile, so few people knew of his scholarly abilities.

 

[T/N: In old China, passive virtue referred to qualities expected of women, such as obedience, humility, and chastity. Women were seen as passive figures, supporting their husbands and maintaining harmony in the home without questioning their authority. Rooted in Confucian values, this role confined women to domestic duties, emphasizing their moral integrity and loyalty rather than active participation in public life.

In contrast to the more active, public virtues associated with men (such as leadership, bravery, and wisdom), passive virtue emphasized the woman's role in maintaining moral integrity within the home, preserving the family's honor, and supporting the moral fabric of society through her conduct.]

 

Seeing Wu Kang'an absorbed in his notes, Wu Bai didn't interrupt him.

 

Knowing that his brother would be leaving for Nanping Academy soon, Wu Bai made his way to the study again the next day, seizing the opportunity to offer him some guidance.

 

The rest of the family didn't think twice about his visits, assuming he was, as usual, simply there to borrow some storybooks for his idle reading.

 

As for why Wu Bai, seemingly with nothing to do, wasn't assigned any chores, it was because his mother had returned from Doctor Li's the day before with instructions for Wu Bai to rest. The Wu's father and both brothers readily agreed.

 

The two sister-in-laws, for their part, didn't mind. The eldest sister-in-law, a plain and honest soul, was more than content with a kind mother-in-law who didn't play favorites, aside from a bit of doting on Wu Bai. The second sister-in-law, though sharp-minded and quick to weigh family affairs, found it wise not to object. For one, everyone had agreed to it, and even if he disagreed, his husband, Wu Erge, would certainly be displeased. Besides, anyone could fall ill and need rest one day, including himself.

 

All things considered, Second Sister-in-law had no objections. Anyway, Wu Bai wasn't one for heavy chores, only handling the small things like tidying the courtyard or feeding the chickens. Taking on those tasks himself was hardly a burden.

 

...

 

Wu Bai's purpose in the study this time as well was to subtly guide Wu Kang'an.

 

But, to his surprise, as soon as he entered, Wu Kang'an, holding a book, excitedly beckoned him over. "Little Brother! Come here—let me explain this book to you in detail."

 

Seeing this opportunity, he quickly walked over and made a show of attentively listening.

 

Seeing his eager expression, Wu Kang'an's heart warmed further. He had realized that explaining these teachings to others brought him fresh insights, so he was eager to begin the moment Wu Bai entered the study.

 

Moreover, he had found Wu Bai to be an excellent listener. In their family, not many people could read; only his father and eldest brother could manage, but as pillars of the household, neither had time to discuss books with him.

 

When Wu Kang'an's father, the village head, was younger, he understood the importance of literacy, so he sent both his sons to school. However, the eldest son, less academically inclined than his younger brother, had been advised by the teacher to stop at basic literacy. Wu Village Head had planned to pass the position of village chief to his eldest son, who would not need to take the imperial exams, so he didn't push for his eldest to continue his schooling.

 

The eldest son knew that he wasn't suited for these exams and never blamed his father for not letting him continue his education. In fact, he counted himself fortunate, for he had learned to read and write when many in the village hadn't had the chance. And when he later learned that he would inherit the village head role, he felt even more at peace with it.

 

Since Wu Kang'an's mother and both sisters-in-law had never attended school, Wu Kang'an, hoping to sharpen his understanding by teaching others, naturally turned to Wu Bai. For one thing, Wu Bai had more free time to spare, and for another, he could read and understand what Wu Kang'an was explaining. Sometimes, in the middle of their discussions, things that had once puzzled him became suddenly clear.

 

Of course, this was due to the subtle hints Wu Bai would occasionally give, but in Wu Kang'an's mind, it was merely the act of teaching itself that brought about these insights. He hadn't considered that Wu Bai might be behind these breakthroughs—after all, he'd taught Wu Bai to read himself and thought he knew his younger brother's abilities well. Since he had no reason to doubt him, he attributed his clarity to a simple shift in perspective.

 

Previously, he had approached knowledge as a student; now, he was viewing it from a teacher's perspective. His teachers had often advised their students to try "putting oneself in another's shoes" when tackling complex ideas, a concept he had struggled to understand before. Now, he finally grasped its meaning.

 

Inspired, Wu Kang'an picked up his brush and wrote down all his recent insights, setting the pages aside to dry. He planned to submit them to his teacher the next day at the academy for feedback.

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