XIX A TALE OF TWO STUDENTS

ONE day walking about in Peking, we came upon a Chinese father and son, whom we knew before. They begged leave to call, and did so after a few days. Their little history, so far as it can yet be written, is so characteristic of China at its best, that it is worth recording. The father had been for years earning a scanty living by teaching, he had also for thirty years been going up for examination to obtain the degree of Chii-jen, or Picked maxi, often translated into English as M.A. But that degree, I understand, can be obtained for money in superior England ; in corruptible China it can only be gained by learning. And the poor man had failed six times when my husband first made his acquaintance and began to have the honour of contributing to the expenses of the necessary journey to, and stay in, the provincial capital. The little boy, a grave but then rosy little fellow with the round, innocent face so taking in Chinese boys, used to be brought to see us and given cakes, Then came the period when he was twelve years old, and it transpired that he had been for some time contributing to the family finances by writing

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inscriptions to be pasted up outside houses against the great China New Year festivity, and was already so celebrated for his caligraphy that that year he was to have a stall in the street all to himself. He still appeared such a child we could but marvel at his success, and a little regret that he had already to work for his living. We had thought he might grow up into such a bright, pleasant man.

But now at last came a triennial examination, when my husband refused to contribute to the poor teacher's expenses, saying " You are already a Hsiutsai (Budding talent, or B.A.). Rest satisfied with that Why should you waste your own and your friends' money for the tenth time trying for what you will never obtain? You are advancing in years, too, and have already once or twice been made very ill by the fatigues of the examination. Rest quietly at home ! " But the teacher replied, "It is not only I that am going this year, but my son too. And I must go, if it be only to take care of him." " What ! that child ? " exclaimed rny husband. The boy was barely sixteen. " Oh, well, then I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll contribute to your expenses so far as to let both you and your son live in my house whilst at the provincial capital." This house, a very large one, and the first opened by a foreigner for business purposes, had lately been secured after some difficulty, and at a very low rental, because it was deemed an unlucky house. Two enterprises had already failed in it, with much loss of money to every one concerned. It is true one was a business entered upon by a member of that most learned body, the Hanlin College, who are supposed to be equal to anything, but who are still often infants as regards finance.

The poor teacher thanked warmly, and refused to accept the customary offering of money, saying enough had been done for them in giving them houseroom ; however, a small shoe of silver, as it is called it is more like a very big thimble was pressed into his son's hand at parting, and the two went forth to contend against all the talent of the Province.

There were between ten and fifteen thousand scholars up for examination that year, and only 296 degrees to be accorded. Yet, when my husband arrived at the provincial capital, he found his house placarded with the largest possible characters announcing the unparalleled success of both father and son, residing in this house. Such inscriptions are commonly put up in letters of gold over family residences. The luck of the house was now considered entirely changed, and, as usual, a reason was found.

" You see what came of opening that door to the south " a little door opened in the wall at the back that we might obtain direct access to the city wall, and so enjoy the delightful walk on the top, f viewing all the country round from an elevation, without the disagreeableness of going through the city streets, "You have let in Good Fortune by it," the south is considered the lucky quarter. " You will see you will get the concessions now that you have been trying for so long." Which also followed in due course of time.

And now there they were in far-away Peking, the august capital of the huge Empire, almost as large as Europe. And when they came to call they explained

that they had now come together to try for the next degree, that of Chin-shih, which alone stood between them and the far-famed Hanlin College, with its claims to office. Only as, owing to the Boxer uprising and consequent penalties, no examinations were allowed to be held in Peking, they had now to proceed to Kai Feng Fu, and how they fared there, and when they returned, I hope to learn when I myself am once more mixing among Chinese circles. As a joke, my tall husband, with his many years of experience, bowed before the young lad, already with bent shoulders and pallid cheeks, and said, " I hope you will protect me when you obtain high office." But the boy saw no joke in it, but only serious earnest, as with perfect gravity he replied, " I will indeed. You may rely upon my doing all I can for you," bowing courteously the while.

And then the two took leave, and went on their way, so learned, yet so ignorant of what we think most worth knowing. It is, however, interesting to note that, at the examination at which they both succeeded they had not only to pass, as usual, in the Chinese Classics, but had to write an essay on the very important subject, " How best to preserve peaceful relations with foreign nations," and the young lad's essay had won such fame, that it had been printed for distribution among friends. It was as jejune in argument and ideas as might be expected But all his life if, poor lad, he lives he will remember the thesis by which he won his Chii-jen degree, and we may trust be correspondingly friendly to foreigners and foreign ideas.

My husband had presented him with a little pair of clubs, and begged him to exercise himself with them every day, and thus expand his chest, and he had thanked and promised. But it was terrible to think what an exhaustive knowledge of the classics was shut up in that slender form, behind that contracted chest, beneath those bowed shoulders. He had not, however, yet started those very large round spectacles that are the distinguishing mark of scholarship in China.

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第十九章 兩位學生的故事

有一天，我們在北京散步時，遇見了一對中國父子，他們是我們以前認識的。他們請求來訪，幾天後如約而至。他們的小故事，到目前為止還只能寫成這樣，但卻非常具有中國特色，因此值得記錄下來。這位父親多年來靠教書微薄地維持生計，同時他也在過去三十年裡多次參加科舉考試，試圖獲得「舉人」學位（在英文中常被譯為碩士學位）。但據我所知，在偉大的英國，這個學位可以用金錢獲得；在腐敗的中國，只有靠學識才能獲得這個學位。而這位可憐的人在他第一次認識我丈夫時，已經失敗了六次。我丈夫開始為他支付前往省城參加考試的必要費用。當時的小男孩，一個面色紅潤、帶有圓圓無邪臉龐的嚴肅小伙子，經常被帶來看我們，並被給予蛋糕。

隨後來到了他十二歲的時期，這時我們得知他已經開始為家庭經濟做貢獻，通過書寫對聯在中國新年期間貼在房屋外面，他的書法已經非常出名，以至於那年他在街上擁有自己的一個攤位。他仍然看起來像個孩子，我們只能對他的成功感到驚奇，並有些遺憾他不得不那麼早就開始工作。我們本以為他會成長為一個聰明愉快的青年。

然而，到了科舉三年一次的考試，我丈夫拒絕再資助這位貧窮老師的考試費用，對他說：「你已經是一個秀才了（即初級學位，類似於學士學位）。滿足於此吧。為什麼要浪費你和朋友的錢，第十次去嘗試你永遠無法獲得的東西呢？你也在逐漸老去，這幾次考試的疲憊已經讓你病倒了好幾次。在家裡安靜休息吧！」但這位老師回答說：「今年不僅僅是我去考試，我的兒子也要參加。如果只是為了照顧他，我也必須去。」我丈夫驚訝地說：「什麼！那個孩子？」這個男孩當時才剛滿十六歲。「哦，好吧，那我告訴你我要怎麼做。我會資助你和你兒子的住宿費用，讓你們在省城期間住在我家。」

這所房子是一棟非常大的房子，最近才被外國人用來開展業務，經過一些困難後才以非常低的租金租下來，因為它被認為是一棟不吉利的房子。此前已有兩個企業在這裡失敗，所有涉及的人都損失了大量金錢。事實上，當初這房子的租戶之一是一名翰林學院的學者，他們被認為是無所不能的，但在財務方面仍然經常如同嬰兒一般無知。

這位可憐的老師感激地拒絕接受慣常的金錢捐助，說讓他們有地方住已經足夠了。然而，我們還是堅持在分別時將一小塊銀子（俗稱「銀錠」，更像一個大頂針）塞到他兒子的手中，然後父子倆就踏上了與省內所有人才競爭的旅程。