Chapter 9: Auspicious Bird
Yuan Ye mentally revised his survival plan, feeling that the time to go to Nagoya Castle needed to be moved up, and he didn’t pick up his chopsticks to eat for a while.
Aping felt uneasy and cautiously asked, “Lord Yuan Ye, is the food not to your liking?” If Yuan Ye couldn’t eat well and got angry, demanding medicine money from her, she would have no choice but to hang herself.
Yuan Ye snapped back to attention, picked up his bamboo chopsticks, and smiled, “No, the food is very good. You’ve gone to too much expense.”
“Not at all, our poverty means we can’t offer proper hospitality. We are most grateful you don’t mind,” Aping said politely. If she could offset the medicine money with a few meals, even if it cost more, she would be eternally grateful.
Especially since Yuan Ye’s attitude had always been gentle, he hadn’t yelled or cursed at her and Yayoi for any perceived shortcomings, nor had he slapped them to the ground. This was truly beyond her expectations, and she had to be thankful.
“Is your husband feeling any better?” Yuan Ye’s thoughts weren’t as complicated as Aping’s. He couldn’t have imagined that not casually hitting her would earn him gratitude. He had even forgotten about the medicine. Following her lead, he asked again out of politeness.
“He got up to drink some water during the night and has been sleeping since. His complexion looks much better, and he should recover soon,” Aping said with a genuine smile.
Yuan Ye nodded and smiled, “Then I’ll go see him when he wakes up.”
“Thank you so much,” Aping bowed deeply in thanks. She then sat up, hesitated, and cautiously asked, “My Lord, Jubei wishes to pay his respects. Would you be able to spare some time to see him?”
Yuan Ye looked a bit surprised, “Does he have something he needs?”
Aping lowered her head, “I do not know.”
She truly didn’t know. Jubei had been peeking around the courtyard early in the morning. She only asked for him because their families had known each other for many years, and Yuan Ye seemed to be in a good mood and had a gentle disposition. She might not have dared to ask for someone else.
Yuan Ye thought for a moment and directly nodded, “I also have some things I want to ask him. After I finish eating, please have him come over!”
“Yes, my Lord.”
Aping responded and withdrew. She left her daughter behind to serve, which seemed to be a custom and fully demonstrated the strict hierarchy of the Japanese Medieval Period.
Perhaps in this era, even a slight offense to a superior could lead to death, which is why they lived so cautiously?
It’s so tragic and insecure. This is truly a terrible era!
Yuan Ye once again solidified his resolve to be a “Mongolian doctor” to preserve his life. After quickly finishing breakfast, and once Yayoi had cleared the dishes and table, Jubei arrived right on time.
He was dressed the same as yesterday, likely his only decent set of clothes. Upon entering, he had no intention of sitting on the earthen seat and instead knelt on the earthen floor of the earthen floor room, a sheepish smile on his face as he cautiously probed, “Lord Yuan Ye, did you rest well last night?”
“Thanks to you, I rested quite well.” Yuan Ye was a fake samurai. For his own safety, he wanted to act the part, but his upbringing demanded politeness in his speech, so his pretense wasn’t very successful. However, as an outsider and someone from the modern era, he genuinely didn’t know how to act like a feudal samurai. He couldn’t change it even if he wanted to, so he could only make do for now and adjust slowly.
As expected, his demeanor was amiable and approachable. Jubei, the old man, immediately’s eyes lit up, and he became invigorated, starting to get excited, “My Lord, I’m relieved to hear you slept well! I was worried all night. This is a poor and remote area; you must not be accustomed to it. So, before dawn today, I sent my two foolish sons out to look around for anything rare to entertain you properly. And guess what?”
Yuan Ye cooperatively played along, asking, “What is it?”
“We encountered an auspicious omen!” Jubei slapped his thigh forcefully and beckoned towards the door. Immediately, two young boys entered, holding a half-dead egret between them. “As soon as they reached the riverside, they saw this auspicious bird descend from the sky. It must have heard that my Lord was coming and flew here specifically.”
Yuan Ye instantly looked at the bald Jubei with new respect. The egret’s feathers were disheveled, and it was listless. It was clearly not a bird that had come to greet a wise man, but one that had been caught in a net. Perhaps it was nearing spring, and it was on its way back to its breeding grounds from its wintering grounds, only to be cruelly captured while resting and feeding.
This “auspicious bird” was more like a cursed bird!
However, gifts offered to others always have a purpose. Yuan Ye understood Jubei’s intention behind this display. His gaze fell upon Jubei’s two sons – around fourteen or fifteen years old, shorter than their father, both just over 1.4 meters tall, thin and small. However, their hair and clothes seemed to have been specially washed, appearing worn but relatively clean.
Seeing Yuan Ye notice his two sons, Jubei became even more excited and immediately recommended them, “The elder is Momorokuro, and the younger is Ichishiro. They are both quite clever. My Lord has traveled from afar without any followers. How about… letting them help you lead a horse for now?”
He was in a difficult situation. He had three children, but his eldest son, Sanlang, hadn’t survived. The younger two, the sixth and seventh, were difficult to provide for. Moreover, as they got older, these two boys ate more and more, making their household finances extremely strained.
Now that he had met Yuan Ye, it would be best if they could get a meal from him.
This could be considered a father’s love, as he risked angering an important person for his sons.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a great loss if it didn’t work out. After all, the cost wasn’t high; at most, it would involve the whole family going out to catch birds, fish, and small animals for a night.
Although Yuan Ye didn’t know where his next meal would come from, he didn’t refuse directly, merely joking, “I don’t have a horse.”
Jubei was quick-witted. The fact that this thin and small man could be a “village official” was likely due to his silver tongue. He immediately stated decisively, “Then let them be your horses!”
Yuan Ye indeed needed manpower. To be selfish, if he needed to fight desperately, he could pull someone over to block a blow. Moreover, they could help carry things for him. He no longer hesitated and directly asked Momorokuro and Ichishiro, “I need to go to Nagoya Castle. Do you know the way?”
Before Momorokuro and Ichishiro could answer, Jubei joyfully exclaimed, “They know, they know! My Lord, there’s no road in Kaito District they don’t know!” He then slapped each of them and ordered, “Quickly pay your respects to my Lord. From now on, be honest and diligent with my Lord! If my Lord sends you back, you don’t need to come home; just die outside!”
Momorokuro and Ichishiro didn’t say a word. They kowtowed on the ground, signifying their successful interview and entry as Yuan Ye’s family retainers and followers. From then on, they would share in his prosperity and adversity, eating from his table.
…
Half an hour later, Momorokuro and Ichishiro each received a bamboo spear, a finely woven bamboo conical hat, and two pairs of straw sandals. This marked their successful separation from their father and elder brother. Their first task was to accompany Yuan Ye to Nagoya Castle. As for Meng Ziqi, Yuan Ye entrusted him to Yayoi’s care.
On the way, Yuan Ye chatted with them intermittently, continuing to refine his accent while carefully observing and analyzing their personalities.
Momorokuro – his mother gave birth to him while eating wild peaches, and Jubei thought it was an auspicious omen, hence the name “Peach.” Momorokuro’s personality was more like his father’s; he was glib, eloquent, observant, and relatively bolder. Not long after following Yuan Ye, he was already suggesting his younger brother carry the hiking backpack.
Ichishiro – his mother gave birth to him while fetching water, and Jubei thought it was an auspicious omen, hence the name “Well.” Ichishiro’s personality was more dull and taciturn. He did whatever he was told, appearing very honest and diligent.
As for their knowledge and skills, both could do farm work, possessed some ability to catch fish and birds, and were familiar with the terrain of the nearby mountains. Beyond that, they were illiterate and innumerate, typical illiterate youths from the ancient countryside.
He didn’t notice any major issues with their personalities. Even Momorokuro, who was a bit of a smooth talker, still possessed a natural purity. Moreover, they adhered to the customs and traditions of the era. With a kowtow, the feudal chain of loyalty was established, and the relationship of personal dependence was formed. In this short time, they already regarded Yuan Ye as their head of the family, with a clear understanding of the hierarchy.
For now, they were usable individuals, at least as labor. Other matters could be discussed later.
Yuan Ye made his judgment and turned his gaze to the scenery by the roadside.
It was desolate, and not just because it was late winter. It was more due to the insufficient development of the era. The road was a dirt path trodden hard, varying in width. At its widest, it was about half a ken (about 1 meter), and at its narrowest, it could only accommodate footsteps. On either side were bare hills. In spring, summer, and autumn, the vegetation would likely be lush, making it a perfect place for ambushes, where dozens or even hundreds of people could hide without being noticed.
This situation was unseen in later generations, and the sense of unfamiliarity was strong. However, based on Yuan Ye’s estimation, this area would later become part of the suburbs of Nagoya City, transformed into a concrete jungle. The undulating terrain looked somewhat familiar to him. The Odaigawa River might be the Shōmi River of later Nagoya City, though the river channel was different at this time.
Was Aragiko Castle the Aragiko Kannon Temple of later years? The Aragiko Kannon Temple with over twelve hundred Enku Buddha statues?
Or was it built near Aragiko Kannon Temple?
Unfortunately, he had only heard of it but never visited. It wasn’t a particularly famous tourist spot in later years.
Yuan Ye observed the scenery and inquired about the surroundings. After walking for over an hour, he finally turned onto a main road under the guidance of Momorokuro and Ichishiro. Although it was still a dirt road, it was at least much flatter and wider, barely reaching one and a half ken. He also saw pedestrians, and occasionally ox carts carrying goods passed by. It seemed to be one of the main transportation routes in Kaito District, Owari Province.
He paid attention to the expressions of the passersby, fearing that his “unusual attire” would arouse suspicion and cause unnecessary trouble. However, he was clearly overthinking it. The passersby who met him merely glanced at him with curiosity before immediately lowering their heads, appearing either unconcerned or afraid of offending him.
This, however, made him curious. After walking for another two hours, he could already see the city walls of Nagoya in the distance. A person approaching on horseback startled him.
This person was riding a short bay horse, with vibrant and mysterious totem patterns painted on his cheeks. In the middle of winter, his chest was open, and his Ōhakama was only half-length, like shorts. His bare feet were on stirrups that resembled sandals. He wore a tachi and a wakizashi at his waist, and he had a stalk of straw in his mouth. His hair was braided and coiled on top of his head, making him look like a pile of dung from a distance.
What kind of monster is this?
Yuan Ye suddenly felt a sense of stylistic dissonance, as if he had entered Journey to the West!
He hadn’t expected the first samurai he encountered in the Muromachi period to have such a bizarre and unique appearance. He was so stunned that he couldn’t look away. The mounted samurai also noticed the “outstanding” Yuan Ye. First, he looked at Yuan Ye’s hiking clothes and hiking shoes with admiration, then noticed his ordinary short hair, and his gaze showed a hint of disdain.
The two parties did not interact. They went their separate ways on the wide road and soon passed each other.
Yuan Ye looked back at the “strange person” swaying on his horse and couldn’t help but say to Momorokuro and Ichishiro, “That person…”
Momorokuro asked curiously, “Lord Yuan Ye, what is it?”
“Nothing,” Yuan Ye realized and casually replied, “He looked somewhat familiar.”
“Is he your friend? Ah, no wonder he’s as unconventional and unique as you, my Lord. He looks extraordinary at first glance.” Thanks to his father, Momorokuro had some insight and immediately flattered him, trying to curry favor with his head of the family.
Yuan Ye smiled approvingly at him and said no more.
Unconventional and unique? Ancient Japan is so strange. One cannot approach it with old ideas or stereotypes. It’s better to observe and ponder more!
Take it slow!
