Futile Devices Scans

Before dawn the next morning, both men were so pent-up and restless that they rose early to help Cook Wu and her husband prepare breakfast for everyone.

Cook Wu and her husband were now the only people in the entire residence who could look at the two of them without laughing. Delighted by the young master’s return, Cook Wu chattered away to Li Si as they worked.

Zhang San went to the woodshed in her husband’s place and carried back two bundles of kindling. After piling the wood beside the stove, he said to Li Si, “Let’s hurry and eat. You need to report to Chief Commander Wang at the military camp today, don’t you?”

Li Si nodded obediently, never realizing that Brother Xiao merely wanted to flee the residence before Mother and Grandma woke up.

＊

Li Si changed into his military uniform: a red robe beneath silver armor, cinched tightly around his slender waist. The brilliant crimson made his complexion appear even fairer.

He had not led troops or fought for the past two or three months, so his tan had finally faded. Zhang San happily pinched his cheeks several times.

General Zhang proudly led his own little white colt into the military camp and headed straight for Chief Commander Wang’s central command tent. His delight vanished within only a few sentences.

Chief Commander Wang intended to keep Li Si in the recruits’ camp as an instructor while sending Zhang San back to supervise the city’s reconstruction.

General Zhang immediately began howling inside the command tent. “You said he’d become my personal guard and stay right beside me! I’ve been saying it for two months! How can you go back on your word?”

Chief Commander Wang replied calmly, “You have been babbling about it for two months. When did this old man ever agree?”

“You never said you disagreed either! Does becoming Chief Commander mean you can break your word? Pacification Commissioner Li said he’d release him, and he did…” Seeing Chief Commander Wang’s hand move toward the sword at his waist, Zhang San immediately changed his tune. “Then borrow him for half a month. Give him back to me after fifteen days.”

Chief Commander Wang released his sword and picked up his brush. “I’ll write to Venerable General Zong and ask. I hear he recently recruited a large number of militiamen and may be short of a capable instructor.”

Zhang San: “…”

＊

When Wang Xu heard that Li Si had returned, he happily hurried straight to his father’s command tent. Lifting the flap, he called, “Si’er, Brother Wang brought you several packets of sweets… A’Xiao? Why are you rolling around on the ground?”

“He wants to steal Sisi!” Zhang San wailed. “He even threatened to give Sisi away! I’ll die right here! Punish me under military law! I don’t want my head anymore! Burn me to ashes and let Sisi carry me away!”

Wang Xu silently looked at his father.

Father and son exchanged a glance, the same words written across both their faces: This food-begging menace!

＊

Wang Xu opened all the packets of sweets, poured two cups of tea, and sat with Li Si eating them while watching his father bargain with Zhang San.

“Three months.”

“Half a month!”

“Three months.”

“Twenty days!”

“Three months.”

“One month at most!”

“Three months.”

“Are you even bargaining? You haven’t reduced it by a single day! I’m done negotiating! Burn me to ashes and let Sisi carry me away!”

Chief Commander Wang sighed. “Training a new army takes at least three months. Ask Li Si.”

Li Si tried hard to swallow the sweet in his mouth, then answered honestly, “Commander, this subordinate is no longer a Deputy Commander. Brother Xiao, it really does take three months.”

Zhang San: “…”

He immediately began sinking back toward the ground.

Chief Commander Wang sighed. “Three months. I’ll also grant the two of you two additional days of leave, so you can use the next few days to show him around Jinyang.”

His expression darkened as he looked at Zhang San. “Other officers will soon arrive to make their reports. Should you disgrace the army’s dignity in front of them…”

Zhang San sprang upright in one fluid movement and restored his “military bearing” in a few brisk motions. Smiling shamelessly, he said, “Three days of leave, then. Perfect. Sisi’s elder sister wants to open a restaurant in Jinyang, so we can help her choose a suitable shop.”

Chief Commander Wang waved at him in disgust. “Three days. Get out.”

Zhang San cheerfully got out. Before leaving, he also scooped up every sweet Wang Xu had brought, leaving him not even half a piece. “Brother Xu, why are you glaring at me? I’m only holding them for him. I don’t even like sweets, so obviously I won’t steal any.”

＊

Before leaving, Li Si solemnly saluted the father and son, then obediently followed Zhang San out.

Chief Commander Wang rubbed his ears, which were still ringing from all the howling, and sighed as he watched the two depart.

Wang Xu smiled and advised him, “Father, try to look on the bright side. Si’er is cautious in everything he does and can persuade A’Xiao to listen. With him beside A’Xiao to keep him in check, you’ll have less to worry about.”

Chief Commander Wang knew that perfectly well, but still sighed. “It’s a pity. Si’er has the makings of a commander himself. Making him a personal guard may waste his talents.”

“There’s something you may not know, Father,” Wang Xu said. “Si’er’s nature is far too innocent. All sorts of people mingle within the army, and dealing with those above and below inevitably involves ugly matters. Forcing Si’er to face such things would be too cruel. The two of them complement each other perfectly. Si’er restrains and advises A’Xiao, while A’Xiao protects Si’er. That may not be a bad arrangement.”

Chief Commander Wang considered this and found it reasonable, so he decided to leave them to it.

＊

After leaving the tent, Zhang San turned toward the stables, led out Big Black Ghost, and rode out of camp with Li Si sharing his saddle.

Big Black Ghost had not seen Li Si in a long time and kept turning its head to nuzzle him in delight. Li Si even gave it two sweets, leaving his hands covered in horse drool.

The two first went to Jinyang Temple in the northern part of the city to visit Qiao Shen. As the imperially appointed Temple Master, Qiao Shen also had to report there that day. Zhang San feared the elderly Daoists might bully the newcomer and refuse to accept a fourteen-year-old as the head of the temple, so he intended to bolster Qiao Shen’s authority.

When they reached the supposed site of Jinyang Temple, however, there was not even a temple in sight. A small amount of stone had been piled on an empty plot beside a crude wooden shelter. Qiao Shen sat upright on a battered wooden chair, dressed in a dazzling golden Daoist robe and holding a solid-gold fly whisk bestowed by the throne. He was leafing through several small registers.

Zheng Jiu was leading four subordinates—two of his own and the two servants bestowed by the Empress Dowager—in counting the stones. From a distance, he saluted the pair.

Beside Qiao Shen sat a small Daoist novice with a head of yellowish hair. The boy was sallow and painfully thin and was speaking to him.

“Little Brother!” Zhang San called.

Qiao Shen looked up and broke into a delighted smile. He immediately jumped down from the chair and pulled out a battered bench for his two brothers. “Sit carefully. Don’t collapse it.”

Zhang San coughed, hearing the mockery in his little brother’s words. Qiao Shen had also awakened during the previous night’s commotion. He had run into the courtyard, seen their bed collapsed on the ground, and laughed so hard that he could barely breathe.

Little Brother had spent several months coughing blood as part of his scheme against the Emperor. Although he had recovered somewhat lately, Zhang San still could not bear to hit him. He therefore forced himself to restrain his itching fists.

The pair carefully sat on the broken bench. Zhang San asked, “Little Brother, where’s your Jinyang Temple?”

Qiao Shen lifted his chin toward the empty plot. “This is it.”

Everything in Jinyang still awaited reconstruction. As for this so-called Jinyang Temple, construction had not even begun.

Zhang San asked again, “Then what about the Daoists under you…?”

Qiao Shen tilted his chin toward the young novice. “He’s the only one. His master and martial uncles were Daoists at a temple in Kuiyuan, but they all died during the war. He has no parents. His master found him and took him in.”

The young novice looked no older than ten or eleven and gazed pitifully at the older brothers. Li Si immediately reached into Brother Xiao’s robe, rummaged around, and pulled out all the sweets they had packed earlier, arranging them on the table so the boy could choose whichever ones he wanted.

Qiao Shen opened a tattered register and showed it to his brothers. “His master entered him into the Daoist register. Look, he’s a properly registered novice. In terms of rank, I’m the imperially appointed Temple Master, so he ought to be the Deputy Temple Master.”

Looking at the fourteen-year-old Temple Master and the ten-year-old Deputy Temple Master, both solemnly dressed in Daoist robes as though everything were perfectly proper, Zhang San could not stop himself from laughing.

Qiao Shen flipped farther through the register. “Third Brother, these are the documents sent over this morning by the new Prefect. They say Jinyang Temple is an imperial Daoist temple and will be constructed with funds from the court. Jinyang Prefecture will provide the money and craftsmen, while you’ll supervise the construction.”

Zhang San sighed. “Your Third Brother has had no battles to fight and has spent two months building walls. Fine. Once the moat in the southern district is finished in a few days, I’ll transfer some workers over here. For now, have Zheng Jiu take the documents to the prefectural storehouses and collect the stone and timber. Hire craftsmen to start drawing the plans.”

Zhang San gave several more instructions. Knowing that Qiao Shen was clever beyond his years and perfectly capable of looking after himself, he stopped worrying and left with Li Si. Li Si gave all the sweets to the young novice and received several earnest cries of “Thank you, Brother.”

Zhang San teased him. “Brother Xu gave those to you, yet you certainly know how to win favors with someone else’s gifts.”

Li Si stared at him blankly, with no idea what “winning favors” even meant. Zhang San wanted to swallow him whole, and a green light once more appeared in his eyes.

“We’ll buy you several more packets at the marketplace this afternoon. Brother Xiao got paid a few days ago. Brother Xiao will provide for you.”

＊

They were all one family; it was difficult to say who would be providing for whom. Instructor Li now possessed more than a thousand guan in assets. Compared with the penniless General Zhang, he was practically a rich patron keeping his tiger in luxury. At noon, the two went to the marketplace, freeloaded a meal of steamed cakes from Elder Sister and Brother-in-law, then helped them close the stall early so they could all choose premises for the new restaurant.

They inspected several shops in succession, but Elder Sister disliked every one. One was in a poor location, making her fear that business would suffer. Another had too small a rear courtyard, leaving insufficient room for everyone to live comfortably. Another cost too much and was not worth the price.

Zhang San said, “Sister, why don’t we go back tonight and talk it over with Uncle Rong? He was a head steward and has seen plenty of the world, so he can offer some guidance. As for the price, don’t worry about it. Our Sisi is rich… Ow, ow! My ear hurts…”

＊

The two parted from Elder Sister and Brother-in-law at the marketplace.

Since the day was still young, Zhang San planned to ride quickly to Ant County.

Even using the secret passage through the mountain behind Jinyang, they probably would not reach Ant County until after sunset. Li Si asked blankly, “We have three days of leave. Can’t we go tomorrow?”

“What do you know?” Zhang San replied. “If we don’t go to Ant County, are we supposed to return to the Qiao residence and sleep in the woodshed again tonight?”

“We could buy a new bed at the marketplace…”

“What do you know? What sort of decent bed could we buy in this little marketplace? What if it collapses again tonight and the entire household comes out to watch the excitement? Listen to Brother Xiao!”

“Oh. All right.”

＊

Liu Wu was helping Chen Lu calculate accounts inside the clerks’ office when his nose suddenly began itching. He suppressed the sneeze but felt a cold wind creeping down his back, as though something were wrong.

“Hasn’t the Militia Commander stayed away for more than half a month?” Liu Wu asked.

“Yes,” Chen Lu replied. “He stopped coming after Brother Sisi’s letter arrived. By my calculations, Brother Sisi should have reached Jinyang by now.”

“I feel as though something is wrong. Let’s not remain on duty at the county yamen tonight. We should go home and sleep.”

Chen Lu immediately brightened. Going home was naturally wonderful. The quarters at the county yamen were small, and they had to keep their voices down at night. Brother Wuzhi was thin-skinned and always worried the yamen runners next door might hear them. Even if he were dying from holding it in, he refused to make a sound.

Home was much better. Brother Wuzhi’s courtyard was spacious. Even if they were slightly louder, Chen Lu’s parents in the neighboring courtyard would not hear them.

His round eyes shone brightly. Liu Wu’s eyelid twitched at the sight. “What new trick are you thinking about now?”

“A traveling peddler came the day before yesterday and brought me a jar of new ointment. He said it heightens pleasure. It cost me half a month’s pay.”

“Half a month’s pay! You spent it on that?”

“It must work well if it costs so much. Let’s try it tonight. Hehe.”

＊

Militia Commander Zhang truly was the bane of Liu Wu’s existence. Liu Wu could not escape him even after hiding at home. That night, just as the pair were rustling beneath the quilt and experimenting with the new ointment, a familiar voice began howling outside the courtyard.

“Brother Liu! Brother Liu, are you home?”

“I knew it!” Liu Wu said. “You go. You go.”

Chen Lu whimpered, “I’m already like this. My trousers can’t even hide it. You go.”

“You smeared oil everywhere! I’m all sticky. How am I supposed to go?”

“Let’s pretend to be dead…”

Zhang San shouted, “Brother Liu, open the door! I know you’re home! Oh, are you perhaps unable to get out of bed? Lulu! Lulu!”

＊

Zhang San pounded on the courtyard gate for quite some time. At last, Brother Liu arrived wearing a loosely draped robe, walking with his legs spread and his face dark.

“Keep your voice down!” Liu Wu hissed. “A’Lu’s parents live in the neighboring courtyard. Don’t disturb the elders.”

“Heh, all right, all right. My mistake,” Zhang San said. “I was passing your home on the way to the county yamen. When I saw a light inside, I knew you were here! Look who came with me.”

Li Si’s small head appeared from behind him. “Hello, Brother Liu.”

Liu Wu was genuinely pleased to see Li Si and turned to call Chen Lu outside as well. Chen Lu emerged evasively, bent at the waist and wrapped in a robe. The moment he saw Li Si, he gave a delighted cry, pulled him into the courtyard, and began chattering softly with him.

Zhang San likewise pulled Liu Wu aside for a quiet conversation. “Brother Liu, has the new County Magistrate still not arrived to assume his post?”

“No. He sent a letter saying he caught a chill on the road and is unable to travel. He’s resting in Fenzhou for a while and will set out once he recovers.”

Zhang San grinned. “Then the main room in the county yamen’s rear courtyard must be empty, right? Give me the key. Sisi and I have several days of leave and plan to rest in Ant County.”

“You came looking for me merely for this?” Liu Wu demanded. “You could tear the lock off that door with one hand!”

“I was afraid the yamen runners might think thieves had broken in during the night. What if Sisi and I are in the middle of important business and the yamen brothers charge inside with sabers?”

Liu Wu fell silent. “They all recognize you. You can swagger inside and openly behave like a thief. What dignity do you need?”

“Heh. I saw the light in your room, and Sisi missed the two of you, so we came over for a visit.”

Once Zhang San had obtained the key and Li Si had finished catching up with Lulu and Brother Liu, the two happily mounted their horse. Li Si carefully cradled a small bowl inside his robe.

“What’s that?” Zhang San asked.

“Lulu shared it with me. Brother Xiao, Godmother is keeping all my money. Tomorrow, you need to give Lulu half a guan.”

“You’re such close friends, and he still won’t give it to you for free?”

“He said it was too expensive to give away. If we think it works well, we can pay him next time, and he’ll buy more for us.”

＊

Militia Commander Zhang and former Envoy Li appeared at the county yamen in the middle of the night, startling the yamen runners on duty. Several men hurried to settle their superior officers in. The two needed no assistance and sent everyone back to the quarters to rest. They swiftly tidied the main room themselves, casually washed with two basins of cold water, and eagerly threw themselves onto the room’s enormous bed.

Zhang San rolled several times across the broad bed in satisfaction, stretching his waist and extending his limbs like a large cat luxuriating inside an enormous nest.

“Heh! That rich rat committed plenty of sins, but this bed alone has earned great merit! It’s enormous and sturdy! When we leave in a few days, we’ll dismantle it and haul it back to Jinyang on an ox cart!”

Li Si felt that the bed probably counted as public property belonging to the county yamen and that Brother Xiao’s plan did not seem entirely appropriate. He opened his mouth to object, but Zhang San already knew what he intended to say and rolled over to pounce on him.

“Oh, stop worrying! The new County Magistrate won’t know. Brother Liu can have another bed built for him… Don’t waste your thoughts on that! Hurry and use that half-guan wonder ointment!”

＊

The two burrowed beneath the quilt and began rustling around as they experimented with it.

Zhang San groaned, “Why is it so sticky… It’s freezing…”

Li Si asked, “Does it feel uncomfortable? We don’t have to use it.”

“Wait… Now it’s getting hot… So hot…”

＊

All night, they swung between freezing cold and burning heat—an ordeal of ice and fire. Zhang San’s skin burned until it glowed bright red.

Unable to bear it, Zhang San buried his face in the pillow. His waist trembled as he urged hoarsely, “Faster… Go faster… It itches so badly… Ah…”

Sweat poured from Li Si’s forehead like rain, and his face burned crimson. He frowned with effort and cried softly, “Don’t… don’t pull so hard… Don’t wrap your tail around me…”

“What tail…? You didn’t… ah… even drink today…”

The enormous, sturdy bed creaked throughout the entire night.

＊

It was nearly noon the following day before Junior Clerk Chen came to the county yamen to answer roll call. County Commandant Liu did not appear at all. Fortunately, the new County Magistrate had not yet assumed his post, so the county yamen had few rules to enforce.

Militia Commander Zhang and former Envoy Li stood inside the room eating the dry flatbreads sent over by the yamen runners. There were chairs beside the table, but neither of them dared sit.

Junior Clerk Chen approached with dark circles beneath his eyes, his legs spread wide as he limped with every step. Like Li Si, he had nearly ground an iron pestle down into a needle. He did not dare sit either and stood beside the table with a sigh. “It worked, but it worked far too well. Brother Wuzhi won’t let me use it again.”

Supporting his tiger waist, Zhang San said with deep satisfaction, “It certainly worked. We shouldn’t use too much of it. Once a month would be enough.”

Li Si had been drained completely dry. His two little colt eyes were empty as he blankly gnawed his flatbread.

Zhang San turned and teased him. “I think there was still a little left in the bowl. Shall we finish it tonight?”

Li Si’s colt body shuddered. His lips moved. He wanted to obey Brother Xiao, but he was also somewhat frightened.

“I’m teasing you. We used it all.”

Li Si sighed in relief and resumed gnawing his bread in peace. He even broke off a small piece and shared it with Brother Lulu.

＊

Neither of them was fit to ride a horse, so after finishing the bread, they slowly strolled around to aid digestion. Li Si wanted to visit the brothers Zhou Qi and Zhou Ba in the village below the mountain. Zhang San took his hand, and the two walked slowly down the official road leading from the southern city gate.

Before setting out, they had purchased incense, candles, and paper offerings in the county. Halfway down the mountain, they found a level patch of ground, lit the incense and candles, and began burning the paper money.

Second Uncle and the Commander were both buried somewhere nearby. Yet after so many battles, the mountain’s forests and vegetation had been destroyed several times. It was now impossible to determine precisely where their graves lay.

For soldiers who died far from home, recovering their remains was difficult in the first place. Li Si had long accepted this. Forget Second Uncle—even he and Brother Xiao might one day die on the battlefield. Where their bones were buried did not matter.

Zhang San crouched on the ground, his tiger waist bent as he patiently tore the yellow paper apart sheet by sheet and burned each piece. Li Si crouched beside him and rested his head on Zhang San’s shoulder. Peacefully, he thought, People say that even when their bones are buried in a foreign land, their souls long to return home. But wherever Brother Xiao is—that is my home. I have no need to return anywhere else.

The weight of Li Si’s head made Zhang San’s ear grow warm, and tenderness filled his heart. He suddenly sighed. “Sisi, Chief Commander Wang wants to keep you as an instructor. I understand what he means. He wants to cultivate you so you can command troops in the future. Keeping you beside me as a personal guard may be holding you back.”

Li Si buried his face against his shoulder and answered in a muffled voice, “It isn’t.”

“Even if it is, you still can’t leave. Don’t think of becoming some great general. I won’t let you go. I don’t want to spend even one day apart from you. Everyone calls me a food-begging ghost, but I don’t care about saving face.”

Li Si did not think Brother Xiao was a food-begging ghost. He did not wish to spend even one day apart from him either. When Chief Commander Wang said the previous day that he intended to keep Li Si as an instructor, Li Si knew he ought to obey military orders, but he had still felt deeply unhappy.

At the time, he had lowered his eyes and silently eaten his sweets. Inwardly, however, he had been cheering Brother Xiao on as he rolled across the ground, hoping he would behave even more shamelessly.

Fortunately, they would be separated for only three months. Besides, they would both live inside the same military camp, so Li Si could still visit Brother Xiao at night.

Perfectly content, he rested against Brother Xiao’s shoulder, warmth filling his heart, and fell quiet.

Zhang San lowered his head and looked at him. Seeing the peace upon his face, he gently kissed his forehead.

“Will you still be with Brother Xiao in our next life?”

“Mm.”

“Let’s not fight wars in our next life. We can become farmers like Zhou Qi and Zhou Ba. I’ll work the fields during the day, and you can weave cloth at home. Don’t go outside and let the sun darken you.”

Li Si imagined Brother Xiao carrying a hoe and could not stop the corners of his mouth from lifting. Yet he felt that Brother Xiao had been born to fight. Whenever Brother Xiao rode a horse or swung his military saber, his entire body shone brilliantly.

When he told Zhang San this, Zhang San laughed as well.

“Heh. I also think I was born to fight. If I go even one day without it, my whole body itches. I can endure it a little better when you’re beside me. Do you know what you were born to be?”

Li Si curiously lifted his eyes, shook his head slightly, and waited for Brother Xiao’s answer.

“You were born to be a little fairy!” Zhang San declared. Turning, he pulled his little fairy into his arms and stole a kiss.

The two kissed and fooled around on the mountain road. A mild mountain breeze drifted around them, while the gentle spring sunshine covered them in gold.

＊

Zhou Qi and Zhou Ba joyfully entertained their old chief and the young master. They even went into the fields and dug up a nest of mole crickets especially for the young master. Most of the former fortress residents now lived in the new village below the mountain. They all brought fresh vegetables from their homes to welcome the pair.

The two spent the entire day amid the village’s lively hospitality. At dusk, they slowly walked back along the mountain road toward the county town.

＊

After their absurd behavior throughout the previous night, both were somewhat tired. That evening, they temporarily lowered their banners and ceased hostilities, pulled the large quilt over themselves, and simply went to sleep.

That night seemed extraordinarily long. Zhang San had a very strange dream.

He dreamed that Sisi truly was a little fairy glowing with golden light. Zhang San chased and chased after him, wanting to take the fairy’s hand, but at first he could never reach it.

The dream contained joy, despair, anger, and pain—all the meetings and partings, sorrows and happinesses of the human world. There was greed, wrath, obsession, hatred, love, and aversion, as well as desire and hope.

Zhang San suddenly awoke from the dream, his face already covered in tears.

He turned anxiously toward Sisi. In the faint light of dawn, Sisi was awake as well, his own face glistening with tears.

Zhang San turned onto his side and stroked his cheek. “What did you dream about?”

Li Si rubbed his tears against Zhang San’s palm. After thinking for a while, he whispered, “I forgot.”

Zhang San had forgotten too. He could not remember a single thing that had happened in the dream. Yet he remembered the grief of losing something and the joy of finding it again.

He drew Sisi into his arms with great tenderness and gently stroked his hair. “Don’t think about it. It’s still early. Sleep a little longer.”

Li Si nodded softly, buried his face against Zhang San’s shoulder, and fell asleep.

＊

Outside the window, the faint light of dawn flowed like a clear spring. Spring filled the world, and all things stirred to life anew.

Author’s Notes:

The entire story ends here. Thank you all for your patience and support.

Ants’ Cry has signed contracts for publication in Simplified Chinese and Japanese. The specific publication dates have not yet been determined. Readers who are interested, please keep an eye out. I will also post updates promptly on my social-media accounts.

My work in real life has been rather busy, so these extras were delayed for a long time. I’m sorry, everyone. The story of the Big Tiger and the Little Colt has not ended yet. We’ll meet again in Turbid Times.

I plan to finish and stockpile the entire manuscript of Turbid Times before launching it so there will be no interruptions or delayed updates. For that reason, serialization will begin somewhat later.

It will probably be several months from now. I’ll make plenty of noise and announce it in advance when the time comes.

Once again, thank you all for your support!

Elio’s Notes: Thank you, everyone, for following this story! We had fun translating it. We’re sad to see Ants’ Cry end, but the author confirms that Zhang San and Li Si’s story will continue in Turbid Times. We plan to translate it once serialization begins and will keep everyone posted. Please continue supporting the author, and feel free to leave a rating or comment for Ants’ Cry on Novel Updates. See you again soon!