Biography of Duke Cai Zhengyuan (Far-reaching) Gentleman

The Duke of Cai Zhengyuan (Far-reaching), my grandfather, hailed from a distant land. Born in the year of Guiyou (1933), in Lujiang County, Anhui Province in China, he experienced the turmoil of his early years with war and adversity entwined, losing his father while still in the cradle. Fortunate was he, for his elder brother took pity and together they struggled for existence. Orphaned in youth, the elder brother assumed a paternal role. At that time, his elder brother, an official in the government, secured prosperity with vast fields and numerous laborers, a household not devoid of wealth.

The Duke studied in a private school, mastering the Six Classics and delving into ancient history. Even in his youth, he displayed exceptional talent, pondering the rise and fall of the world, empathizing with the suffering of the people, and lamenting, "The vicissitudes of the world, both ancient and modern, are inevitable. How can the indulgence of those officials and the privileged threaten the livelihood of the common people?"

Upon reaching manhood, as conflicts subsided, he optimistically declared, "The world is now at peace; I only wish for repose, equality of status, and the balance of wealth, so that the path of virtue may not be far off." However, the political climate was severe, and the elder brother, having served in the former government, faced imprisonment. The Duke, too, was assumed to be the role of a landlord, his wealth being confiscated, leading to a sudden plunge into poverty. Yet, he embraced a meager existence, tilling the fields and studying, content in the belief that the pursuit of virtue and economic equality was inevitable, though regretful that he could not share this journey with his elder brother.

Several years passed, and the political climate in Lujiang County grew more oppressive. The elder brother had been executed by firing squad, falling victim to the times, and the Duke's family, labeled as landlords, faced the scorn of the villagers. Famine spread, and the Duke, finding no solace in his hometown, decided to relocate with his family to the remote mountains of Guichi County.

The mountain dwellers of Guichi were simple, hospitable, and sincere, akin to people far and near. The Duke, upon arrival, found warmth and hospitality among the villagers, considering it a haven away from the troubles of the world. However, as the years passed, even Guichi faced political oppression, and the Duke's family, still burdened by the landlord label, was subjected to official scrutiny. Faced with adversity, the Duke contemplated returning to his hometown, hoping for the protection of distant relatives.

Returning to Lujiang, the Duke encountered the destruction of the "Four Olds" and the fervor of the Cultural Revolution. His cherished books were set ablaze by the authorities. Gazing at the ashes, he sighed, "I do not understand what you call revolution. Burning books began with the First Emperor, and what of the tyranny of the Qin Dynasty? People mourned without reflection, perpetuating a cycle of sorrow." A decade later, during the height of political persecution, the Duke, owing to past benevolence, was spared from condemnation.

During internal strife, the Duke spoke out against injustice. Some in the village fell victim to chaos, their wealth confiscated and livelihoods disrupted, labeled as righteous actions by the officials. On one occasion, a villager sought the help of the Duke, as he was summoned for public criticism, unfairly accused, and trying to seek refuge in another town. The Duke, sympathizing with his plight, crafted a false travel permit using scraps of paper and old pens. The villager, tearfully thanking the Duke, escaped to safety.

In his later years, the Duke dedicated himself to farming, fostering good relations with neighbors and relatives. Highly respected for his integrity, the villagers held him in esteem. The Duke had four sons and two daughters, all educated locally. Despite financial hardships and rising education costs, the Duke, adhering to frugality, accumulated resources to support their education, emphasizing the importance of passing on knowledge. When disputes arose in the village over property and land, the residents sought the Duke's arbitration. His judgments were universally accepted, settling disputes without further debate.

Skilled in divination and well-versed in the principles of the I Ching, the Duke once guided a villager to find a lost fortune on the roadside, accurately directing him ten miles east. In his final days, the Duke was emaciated and bedridden, overwhelmed by household affairs. My grandmother hired a lot of laborers to help with the affairs. The Duke called his descendants to his bedside. Struggling to speak, he wrote the character "食" (food) on paper before passing away. This character, the radical of "rice (飯)," is to ask my grandmother to provide more food for the laborers who they hired, symbolizing the Duke's lifelong virtue of treating laborers well, a reminder even in his last moments.

At the time of the Duke's passing in the year of Dingchou (1996), at the age of sixty-four, I had not yet been born. In my youth, when I visited the public grave in Lujiang to honor our ancestors, I chanced upon a stele inscribed with the words "Tomb of Duke Cai Zhengyuan (Far-reaching) Gentleman." Unaware of the details, I inquired of my father, gradually learning the story of the Duke. I marvel at the fleeting nature of his life, lament his wealth of knowledge lost in the dust of history, grieve for his untimely existence, and am astonished by his unwavering virtue. Thus, I compose this tribute:

Born into a distinguished family, your aspirations reached lofty heights.

Yet, you were born out of sync with the times, having wandered in foreign lands.

Moving from place to place, your destiny is not in yourself's control.

Unaccepted by the world, you have gained respect in a solitary corner.

Noble and proud, your character was upright and sincere.

With steadfast virtue, your soul departed your homeland's suffering.

The vastness of the sky, the boundlessness of the earth,

As the setting sun casts shadows on desolate hills, I mourn before your grave.

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