Lin Shouyi

Biodata

Background / History

Childhood and Family Fortunes

Lin Shouyi grew up in a family that sometimes had nothing to eat. During one such period, Zhou Fusheng gave him twenty copper coins and several steamed buns, a kindness he remembered into adulthood. His father later earned money through business and returned to become Wild Field Village’s chief. His second uncle worked as a registrar at the county yamen 5.

Helping the Zhou Family Resettle

When Zhou Fusheng’s family left Zhou Family Village, Lin Shouyi offered them a free ride after another cart driver refused to carry them. Recognizing Fusheng as his childhood benefactor, he arranged their household-registration transfer through his second uncle and introduced them to a schoolmaster’s house being sold for two taels of silver. He then helped them exchange a gold ring for three taels, complete the purchase, sell their game, and buy household necessities 5 6.

He publicly defended the family when Zhou Family Village residents called them calamity stars and threatened them. Later, he arrived with a group of villagers to drive away the men accusing Fusheng over Pockmarked Liu’s disappearance, declaring that the family now belonged to Wild Field Village 6 16.

Preparing for Disaster

Lin Shouyi initially laughed at Zhou Family Village’s grain stockpiling. After Zhou Wanwan warned him of a severe drought, however, he reconsidered and decided that preparation was safer than dismissal. He began purchasing grain, encouraged villagers to store food and water, and arranged for his father and younger brother to help dig the Zhou family’s cellar 7 10 14 15.

Wanwan’s further warning about locusts prompted him to oppose the purchase of suspiciously cheap farmland from Zhou Family Village. He called a village meeting and urged buyers to recover their money and stockpile grain instead. Some households listened, but Old Madam Shen, Old Madam Wang, and more than a dozen other families rejected his advice 15 16.

He continued warning villagers in the fields and visiting households individually. When Shen Boxian demanded his source and challenged his motives, Lin Shouyi refused to disclose it. Through his second uncle’s connections, he later took Wanwan to buy high-quality official grain that county officials were secretly diverting for private profit. He purchased ten taels’ worth for his own household and arranged yamen delivery 25 26 27.

Continued Assistance

Lin Shouyi transported the Zhou family’s wild boar to Steward Feng’s restaurant and challenged the initial offer, helping secure two taels and two hundred wen. He also introduced Wanwan to the county yamen’s discarded weapons, where she purchased a collection of equipment for three hundred copper coins 17 20 21.

He drove the family to Liu Family Village for Liu Su’e’s reunion with her relatives. Later, he accompanied them to the livestock market and transported the sick cow Wanwan purchased, despite doubting that it could be cured 29 30 41 42 43.

After locusts destroyed the crops overnight, Lin Shouyi reported that grain prices had risen tenfold 50.

Personality

Lin Shouyi is grateful and generous toward those who have helped him. He repays Fusheng’s childhood kindness with practical assistance, repeatedly waives cart fares, and initially resists the extra money Wanwan gives him. He worries that accepting too much would amount to taking advantage of her family 5 15 17 20.

He rejects the “calamity star” accusations and openly confronts people who threaten his neighbors. Although initially skeptical of the disaster warnings, he changes his mind after considering Wanwan’s reasoning. His patience wears thin when villagers ridicule his repeated efforts to prepare them 6 7 10 25 26.

His judgment remains fallible: he dismisses Wanwan’s corroded weapon finds as useless and considers her purchase of a dying cow impulsive 21 43.

Abilities & Skills

Transport and Local Trade

• Drives the village’s only ox cart at the time of the Zhou family’s visit to Liu Family Village, carrying passengers, game, grain, and livestock 17 29 43.
• Knows restaurant buyers and cheaper grain suppliers, helping the Zhou family sell game and stretch their money 5 15 17.
• Offers guidance when selecting cattle and advises against buying unsuitable animals merely to obtain a cart 41 42.

County Yamen Connections

• Uses his registrar uncle’s help to arrange household registration and access discarded weapons 5 20.
• Knows that damaged bows and crossbows can be bought cheaply and offers to help repair them; no completed repair by him is documented 20.
• Uses a waist token and personal contacts—including childhood friends—to access discounted official grain and arrange delivery 26 27.

Equipment / Items

• Ox cart — His principal means of transporting people and goods; he sometimes provides rides without charge 5 15.
• Waist token — Presented when entering the granary to purchase official grain 27.

Relationships

• Zhou Fusheng — Childhood benefactor. Lin Shouyi remembers his gift of food and money and helps his family establish a new household 5.
• Zhou Wanwan — Trusted young neighbor who calls him Uncle Lin or Uncle Shouyi. Her warnings lead him to prepare for disaster, while he supplies transport and access to local sellers 10 15 20 27.
• Lin Fugui — Father and Wild Field Village chief. They discuss grain stockpiling, and Fugui helps build the Zhou family’s cellar 14 15.
• Second uncle — An unnamed county-yamen registrar whose position enables registration assistance, access to old weapons, and official-grain purchases 5 20 26.
• Shen Boxian — A village skeptic who accuses him of ulterior motives and challenges his disaster warnings 25.

Notable Quotes

“From now on, Zhou Fusheng's family belongs to our Wild Field Village, and we won't let you run wild here.” 16

“Better to believe it might happen than assume it won't. Have you stocked up on the grain and water I told you to prepare?” 25