Biography Supplement One
Time swiftly passed. The tall forest remained evergreen throughout the year; whether in spring or winter, the woods were always lush and verdant. Lin He grew up here. He bore a striking resemblance to his mother—thick black hair, clear eyes, and a high, straight nose.
One morning, his father took him out. That year’s harvest had been good, and the husband and wife had agreed to send him to the village to study for a diploma. They had heard the teacher there was excellent, and best of all, there was no tuition fee.
“Father, why must people learn things from books?”
“There is a golden house in the pages of a book; it’s not the same as fighting or brawling.”
“Learning to read and write is nothing compared to real skills! Only with martial prowess in the world can one be called a true hero.”
“I think the same, but your mother and I would rather not see you clashing with others in combat, understand?”
“Alright, Father, I understand!”
“Come, He’er! Mother taught you some martial arts, didn’t she? Show your father a few moves.”
“All right, Father!” Lin He said, then strode to the narrow embankment by the fields, proudly displaying the martial techniques his mother had taught him. That embankment was only a few inches wide; even an adult could easily lose their footing, but a boy barely in his teens could walk and practice martial arts on it at the same time.
Lin Zhongcheng couldn’t help but marvel—He’er’s talent was indeed far superior to Yu’er’s.
He Yu Yun was weaving clothes in the courtyard, bathed in the morning sun that made her already fair skin appear even more radiant. Her loose hair fluttered gently in the breeze. Although she wore a snow-white cicada silk skirt, it didn’t quite suit her graceful bearing.
She was so engrossed in her weaving that she didn’t notice her husband returning.
Lin Zhongcheng shaded her face from the sun to let her see.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you so focused. Even in the dog days of summer, you don’t fear the heat!”
“It’s too dim inside to see clearly, so I came out to weave. How do you like it?” She handed him the garment—a broad brown robe with a yellow iris embroidered on the chest.
Lin Zhongcheng joked, “The flower is indeed beautiful, but the robe isn’t so much.”
He Yu Yun teased, “Why don’t you try weaving it then?”
Lin Zhongcheng frowned playfully, “That would never be as good as yours!”
They both laughed.
She laid the robe on a stool.
“How’s He’er? Does he like going to school?”
“He still prefers martial arts. I wonder if he’ll resent us.”
He Yu Yun’s voice turned somber. “He’er is truly gifted, but I’ve always been afraid…”
Lin Zhongcheng looked at her and said, “Your concerns are valid. He’er is just like you—mastering martial arts might not be the best path for him. But right now, your health is the most important thing.”
“Don’t worry. The ‘Desire Sound of the Nine Heavens’ still helps me.”
He Zhongcheng nodded. “I’ll go fetch some water first. You should go rest inside.”
“All right, be careful!”
Lin He sat in the classroom with other scholars, listening intently. Unlike the others, he had no books on his desk. The teacher was a stout, white-haired man about six feet tall, dressed in a pale blue robe, with a straight white beard.
The elder asked Lin He, “What’s your name, and why do you want to study?”
“I don’t know…” Lin He’s reply caused the classroom to erupt in laughter. The teacher rapped the desk with his ruler, silencing everyone. All eyes turned to him.
“Don’t you even know your own surname?”
Lin He then realized and said, “Lin He… Lin He is my name!”
The teacher paused, a hint of regret in his eyes, shaking his head. “You’re too slow to learn. You’re not cut out for school. You need not come back.”
Lin He didn’t know how to respond. Then he recalled his mother’s words.
“People feed on books, with food as a supplement; one should keep company with heaven and earth, using light as guidance. Professor, please let me study!”
The teacher was somewhat surprised. “Who taught you that?”
“My mother,” Lin He answered.
The teacher nodded. “Bring your mother here tomorrow.”
After school, Lin He remembered the way home and ran back, bursting with excitement as he pushed open the door.
His mother hurriedly set aside her work and touched her restless child.
“Didn’t your father tell you to wait for him to pick you up?”
Lin He grinned, “Mother, I made a friend today.”
“Tell me about this friend.”
Lin He’s voice quivered with excitement.
“It’s a girl! She even lent me a book!”
He Yu Yun couldn’t help but laugh.
“So, did you learn anything today?”
Lin He shook his head immediately. “Mother! The teacher taught me a poem. I’ll recite it for you!”
She smiled, “Go ahead, recite it for me.”
Lin He thought for a moment.
“Human nature is originally good;
Nature is close, but habits diverge.
If not taught, nature changes;
The way of teaching values focus.
Child… child… child who doesn’t learn…” He stumbled at the end.
He Yu Yun chuckled, “A child who doesn’t learn is not right; if you don’t learn young, what will you do when old, right?”
Lin He looked at her in disbelief. “Mother, you can read too? You went to school?”
She laughed, “I was even younger than you when I learned these.”
At that moment, the door opened. It was his father, back from his errand. Lin Zhongcheng took off his straw hat and laid it on the table, brushing dust from his clothes.
“Why did you come home by yourself? Didn’t I tell you to wait for me?”
He Yu Yun walked over. “The child was just reciting a poem.”
Lin Zhongcheng looked at Lin He. “Is that so? Come, recite it for your father.”
He Yu Yun smiled. “You two chat, I’ll get dinner ready.”
Lin Zhongcheng ruffled her hair. “Go ahead, I’m starving.”
The sun dipped behind the mountains, and the cricket’s chirping grew louder. The moon shone purer and brighter, and soon the stars would appear. Inside the house, a voice called, “Dinner’s ready!”
The family of three sat around the table, the faint yellow glow from the short filament lamp casting a warm, tender light.
The father placed a piece of meat from his plate into Lin He’s bowl. Lin He scooped rice, bit into the meat, chewed slowly—each small piece took five bites—then spooned in more rice. His parents watched, both comforted and pained.
Suddenly, Lin He recalled the teacher’s words from earlier, still chewing as he spoke.
“Mother! The teacher wants you to come tomorrow.”
He Yu Yun’s heart immediately tightened with caution, but she first instructed, “Don’t speak with your mouth full. Finish eating first.”
Lin He swallowed slowly and then told her what the teacher had said.
She looked at her husband. Lin Zhongcheng said, “The teacher probably wants to understand our situation better. After all, it’s He’er’s first day at school!”
His words did little to ease her worry. She resolved to go herself, determined not to let He’er risk going to school alone.
That night, Lin He slept soundly. Lin Zhongcheng and He Yu Yun stood hand in hand in the courtyard beneath the bright, full moon. They looked up together.
“Zhongcheng, the stars are beautiful tonight.”
“Tomorrow will be another sunny day.”
“It’s good to live like this.”
“On this journey, how much hardship have you endured?”
“Today I realized that day will come sooner or later.”
“Heaven has allowed us such a happy life for so long—that’s already a reward for you and me!”
He Yu Yun shook her head. “No... I can never be sure if what we did back then was right or wrong.” Her voice choked with emotion. “I’m just afraid they’ll never let He’er be…”
Lin Zhongcheng gazed at her, gently brushing away her tears. “No matter right or wrong, no matter what others say, you are my wife, He Yu Yun. Even if I am powerless, I will stand by you.”