Afterwards things can be discussed separately. What about the trouble right in front of him. It seemed impossible to avoid. The minor officials led by the lean and wiry man once again blocked his path with thick skinned faces.
They did not scold him, nor did they hit him. They tried hard to smile and plead, holding the official document and begging him to sign and receive it. They even temporarily borrowed pen and ink, and prepared everything for him in advance.
What could Yu Qing do.
Before he could still say he suspected there was a problem, and could act shamelessly. Now it was confirmed. Some things would not allow him to mess around endlessly. No one could indulge without limit.
The problem he faced now was no longer whether to accept the document, but the series of matters that would follow.
If he accepted it, he could still have room to breathe.
If he did not accept it and continued to resist, some matters he would have to face today.
Which one to choose.
For someone who truly wanted to escape, it was not hard to make the choice. Yu Qing decisively reached out to sign, then took the document into his hands and asked in return, “Can you make way now?”
The lean and wiry man, as if relieved of a heavy burden, immediately waved to those around him, “Make way, make way, quickly make way.”
The group of minor officials immediately opened a path, and only after Yu Qing left did they shake their heads and sigh one by one, realising that this lord really had a big attitude.
The lean and wiry man waved his hand to signal everyone to follow.
This commotion left the people looking at the displayed papers puzzled, not knowing what was going on.
Similarly, Zhan Muchun and the others who were looking at other candidates’ papers not far away also noticed the unusual activity.
Pan Wenqing gave a sound of surprise and pointed over, “Is that not Brother Shiheng?”
Several people looked carefully and found that it really was Ah Shiheng walking out from among the group of minor officials.
“We should go and congratulate him.” Zhan Muchun gave his opinion and was also the first to walk over quickly. The others immediately followed together.
However, they did not get the chance to greet Yu Qing. Yu Qing got into the carriage and left, directly throwing the document in his hand to Du Fei who followed him into the carriage.
Du Fei was stunned. Was this thing hot to the touch? So many people wanted to beg for it but could not get it.
The carriage rumbled away.
The lean and wiry man who led the group there waved his hand again and said, “What are you still standing there for? Get on your horses and follow.”
One minor official asked doubtfully, “Our task is already finished. Why go and look at his stinky face?”
The lean and wiry man immediately kicked him in the butt, “Are you brainless? He was chased out by us from the Zhong residence. With this person’s current reputation, if something happens on the road, losing our rice bowls would be the least of it. Only after we send him back to the Zhong residence will anything that happens afterwards have nothing to do with us.”
“Oh, oh, oh.”
The group immediately reacted, quickly untied the reins, climbed onto their mounts and chased after him.
Zhan Muchun and the others who arrived a step late could only stay where they were, watching helplessly and seeing him off.
Su Yingtao sighed with emotion, “The grandeur of a perfect score top metropolitan examinee is indeed different. Just coming out for a casual walk, he already has so many yamen runners and attendants protecting him.”
Who could say otherwise. Several people had faces full of envy.
After sending Yu Qing back to the Zhong residence and watching with their own eyes as Yu Qing entered the main gate of the Zhong residence, the group of minor officials lingered at the entrance for a while.
They had been running back and forth until they were exhausted, yet they got no benefits at all. They all felt somewhat unwilling, but it was not good to enter the door again. The Zhong residence gate was not so easy to enter, and the gatekeeper would not take these minor officials seriously.
With no choice they could only give up and could only curse their bad luck in secret.
The group had just ridden their horses out of the small alley and had not gone far on the street when suddenly someone shouted, “Several official lords, please wait a moment.”
Several people turned back and saw that the Zhong residence steward had brought two people chasing after them. It looked like there was good news, so they immediately dismounted and put on smiling faces.
Sure enough, Steward Li took out a stack of silver notes from his sleeve and handed one to each person, “We have troubled you all. This is a small token of appreciation from Squire Zhong. We hope you will not dislike it.”
The denomination of the silver notes was one hundred taels each. The group of minor officials immediately had their eyes shining. They could not earn this much in salary in a whole year. This was truly a huge windfall.
The Zhong family’s reward this time was indeed given heavily. First, they had encountered a huge happy event. Second, Yu Qing had run out and caused a messy trip for the people from the Liezhou guild hall.
“Thank you, Squire. Thank you, Steward Li.”
The group was overjoyed and kept thanking them repeatedly. They all felt that the trip had not been in vain, and all their dissatisfaction vanished like smoke.
Steward Li smiled and asked, “The words were not finished earlier. I wonder if my young master and the guild hall side still need to fulfil any procedures?”
The lean and wiry man said, “It should be none. Otherwise they would have asked us to pass on a message. I will go back and inquire for you. If there is really something, I will immediately turn back and run another trip to notify you. Moreover, Young Master Ah will be going to the guild hall in the next few days. If there is anything, it can be handled along the way.”
After that both sides exchanged polite words and all returned satisfied.
Inside the main hall of the Zhong residence inner courtyard, a round table was placed in the middle. The wood was dark red and glossy. Wen Jianhui sat guarding it in front, holding the document and admiring it. Her two daughters stood one on the left and one on the right behind her to look.
Du Fei had brought the document back. It had only been in Squire Zhong’s hands for a short while before the madam took it to look.
“Tsk tsk, look at this bright red big seal. This is the big seal stamped by the Ministry of Rites. The seals given by the six ministries to private individuals are indeed different. Just looking at it feels impressive. Ordinary families cannot have this thing. Most people probably will not see it in their entire lifetime.” Wen Jianhui pointed at the document and flipped it over and over to admire it, with her mouth never stopping.
Squire Zhong, who was talking to Du Fei, felt his teeth ache from listening. He turned back, reached out his hand and said, “Give it to me.”
Wen Jianhui said, “Ai ya, I have not seen it before. Let me look at it more to gain some experience. Do not worry, I will keep it well.”
You keep it? Squire Zhong’s eyes widened a few degrees. He had originally thought to let her look if she wanted, but now he immediately became unwilling. He took a few steps over, directly snatched it back in one grab, and gave her a scolding from head to toe, “What are you thinking? This is not something for you to take out and show off to a group of women who have eaten their fill and have nothing to do.”
Wen Jianhui immediately stood up and retorted, “Which ear of yours heard me say I wanted to take it out?”
How could Squire Zhong not know what these women were like with each other? He was too lazy to argue with her, turned around, called Du Fei and left, going to the east courtyard to see Yu Qing.
Wen Jianhui was huffing with anger, but today’s anger came quickly and went quickly too. Her mind turned and she walked out of the main hall, stood under the eaves and waved her hand, quickly calling over a group of nearby servants in two or three gestures.
Her opening words shocked the group of servants, “You all have heard about the young master in law passing the top metropolitan examination, right?”
“Young master in law?”
The group of servants looked at each other. One person asked, “Madam, the young master in law you mentioned, is it that Young Master Ah from the east courtyard?”
Wen Jianhui said, “Who else could it be? How many top metropolitan examinees can one examination produce? If he is not our family’s young master in law, could he live in our east courtyard for so long? He and Ruo Chen have been engaged since they were young. This time returning to the capital to take the examination is only one part. After the examination, marrying Ruo Chen is the important matter.”
Inside the hall, Zhong Ruo Chen’s face suddenly turned red. She had not expected her mother to act on a whim and suddenly make this matter public.
Wen Ruo Wei leaned close to her ear and laughed secretly, “Sister, look at our mother. She cannot hold back from showing off again. Her old sisters probably cannot escape it.”
Someone outside the hall exclaimed in surprise, “So the Ah young master who passed the top metropolitan examination with a perfect score is our Zhong residence’s young master in law.”
Wen Jianhui’s face was full of radiance and pride. She snorted, “What did you think? You think I usually do not know you are chewing tongues behind our backs, saying why the eldest young miss is not married at such a big age, suspecting there is something wrong with the eldest young miss’s body. Let me tell you, those are all petty views. Can the daughter of the Zhong family be married to just anyone? Count the sons in law of the Zhong family across the world. How many can compare?”
“Wow, so Young Master Ah is the young master in law.”
The group of servants immediately discussed noisily. They really felt honoured by association and were somewhat excited.
Wen Jianhui waited until they had said enough, then continued, “Aunt Liu, later take the tailor to the east courtyard to measure the young master in law for clothing sizes. The young master in law will enter the palace to take the top scholar examination in a few days. That means facing His Majesty. He cannot be dressed improperly. We must hurry to rush out a set of new clothes for the young master in law.
The material must be the best. This money cannot be saved.
Ai, forget it. You all do things too carelessly. When the tailor comes, inform me. I must personally go and supervise.
Also, Aunt Zhang, later take a few nimble ones over and thoroughly clean the east courtyard inside and out.
The young master in law is now an official. After the examination, if a few classmates come, or later a few colleagues come or something, what would it look like if they see the young master in law living in a dirty place? Would it mean I, this mistress of the Zhong residence, have not managed the household well, or that our Zhong residence is mistreating the young master in law? When the young master in law moves in official circles later, we must also help him maintain some face.
Also, Old Qi, from today onwards, the young master in law’s diet must be handled carefully. In a few days he will take the top scholar examination and enter the palace to see His Majesty. This is a matter of the highest importance, not something an ordinary family can encounter. If the young master in law eats something bad for his stomach, what then? The ingredients and seasonings must all be the freshest.
Ai, forget it. You are the kind who can be lazy when possible. Leaving this matter to you really makes me uneasy. Later I will still discuss with the master and let the young master in law eat with us. After all he is not an outsider and will soon be family. With me watching personally, I can feel a bit more at ease. Otherwise if something happens the master will say again that I have not managed the household well.”
She was about to eat face to face at the same table with Ah Shiheng soon? Zhong Ruo Chen inside the hall felt her heart beat faster just thinking about it.
Wen Ruo Wei also laughed cheekily by her ear, “Sister, you will see him soon. Are you nervous?”
After a good round of talking outside and sending all the servants away, Wen Jianhui returned to the room, took a good gulp of tea to quench her thirst, then sat there looking at her daughter who had a shy expression and teased, “Now you will not blame your parents for not being anxious about your marriage, right?”
Zhong Ruo Chen could not withstand such teasing and denied with a red face, “I was never anxious.”
“Ai yo, forget it. Your mother was also a young lady once.
In short, now you know how good your parents are to you, right? You know your parents have far sighted vision, right?
Such a husband cannot be found even with a lantern. The wife of a perfect score top metropolitan examinee, perhaps even the wife of a top scholar. How many women in the world have such good fortune? Girl, you have good fate. Once married you will be an official’s wife. It is destined to be this good fortune, enough to make all the women in the world envious.
It is just that after you form a family, where you will live is a problem. If we continue to let you live in the east courtyard, I am afraid it will not look good on the young master in law’s face, making it seem like he is marrying into the family. He is someone who will move in official circles later and also cares about face. It is not good to let people gossip. Your father back then could not let go of that breath.
If we let you move out, then we must start looking in advance. A suitable good residence is not easy to find.
Ai, if you move out I will not feel at ease again. Look at you, you do not understand anything, cannot take care of your husband, and do not know how to manage a household.
Also, with his future official colleagues coming and going, there is still a lot you need to learn.
I think in the future I will have to run between both sides enough. This whole big family is already enough for me to worry about, and I still have to continue worrying about your household. I think I was born with a tiring fate. Forget it. Who told you to be my daughter? Shiheng’s family no longer has anyone, and your father is busy. For the household matters on both sides, if I do not worry who will?
There is already a big hurdle right in front of us. From preparing to organising your marriage, we cannot let the two of you young ones feel wronged in any way. Then it can only be me who feels wronged. Ai, your father is also big hearted. I am afraid I will worry until my heart breaks…”
Zhong Ruo Chen could only lower her head with a red face. Her thoughts could not help following her mother’s endless chatter and she imagined the scene of living with that man she had secretly seen before. She also wondered what he would look like after putting on official clothes.
Wen Ruo Wei sat there half leaning on the table, one hand supporting her head, tilting her head to look at the roof. Occasionally she stuck her little finger in her ear to dig, and occasionally she secretly sent a contemptuous look to her mother.
Just as she was extremely bored and counting her fingers as if telling fortunes, bang! Wen Jianhui suddenly slapped the table, giving her a fright.
She looked up and saw her mother pointing at her and scolding angrily, “Look at you, do you still look like a young lady? You have no proper sitting posture, no proper standing manner. When you go out people can tell at a glance that you have no upbringing. Which proper family with any standards could marry someone like you? If you want to marry into a good family like your sister, that would be the next life. You are punished to embroider another flower tonight.”
Along with scolding her daughter, she stood up and left, still chattering in her mouth, “How come no one has come to pass on words. Why has the tailor not come yet. This household cannot do without me supervising.”
“I, I, I…” Wen Ruo Wei stretched out one index finger, wanting her mother to see the several blood pricks on her finger from doing needlework.
Wen Jianhui had no mind to pay her any attention, pushed her hand aside and walked quickly away.
Wen Ruo Wei, with her hand stretched out, choked with silent speech. A face full of grief and indignation gradually appeared. She flung her hand and said, “Old woman with a pile of nonsense. You all have happy events, only I am the unlucky one. Who did I provoke?”
After venting a couple of sentences, her shoulders drooped, her head hung down powerlessly, and she swayed to the doorway like a hanged ghost. She lifted the skirt behind her and directly sat on the threshold, both hands propping up her chin, pouting with an unhappy look.
Not long after, Zhong Ruo Chen came behind her, pushed her shoulder once, “Wei Wei, get up. Later if mother sees you sitting on the threshold she will scold you again.”
“Scold then, scold then. As long as you all are happy it is fine.” Wen Ruo Wei said resentfully, then suddenly her expression changed. She propped her chin with a very melancholy look, “Sister, you are marrying such a person, a top metropolitan examinee on the tribute list, and moreover a perfect score top metropolitan examinee that is rare in a hundred years. In a few days he is very likely to be the top scholar as well. We are blood sisters. You suddenly raised the standard of marriage so high. What am I supposed to do in the future? I do not want my future husband to be a head shorter than yours. Mother will definitely make comparisons and say this is good and that is not good. I will not be happy.”
Zhong Ruo Chen was stunned. If she had not said it she really had not thought in that direction. Only after hearing this did she realise that it would be almost impossible for her sister to find someone whose conditions reached the standard of her own future husband. She then held her sister’s shoulders from behind and comforted her gently, “It will not be like that. Wei Wei will definitely find a better ideal husband in the future.”
Wen Ruo Wei muttered with longing, “Mm, definitely. My future husband, in civil matters he will have the talent of a top scholar, in martial matters he will be a peerless hero…”
Cao residence.
Amidst the servants’一路 bows and attention along the way, Xu Fei returned to his own courtyard. As soon as he entered the hall, he saw Cao Xinggong sitting upright while Chong Er stood with hands at his sides in front of him.
Xu Fei immediately paid respects, “Uncle, you have returned.”
Cao Xinggong smiled, “No choice, there were matters early in the morning. Now it is still in time to congratulate you. Ai…” His gaze looked up and down with satisfaction, “Our Cao family has also produced a tribute scholar. The little stubborn bull from back then has actually become a tribute scholar. Truly good.”
Xu Fei quickly said, “It is all thanks to uncle…”
Cao Xinggong raised his hand to stop him and tilted his head to signal to Chong Er, “You go out first.”
Chong Er bowed slightly, lowered his head, and walked past Xu Fei dejectedly without any expression at all.
Xu Fei immediately felt somewhat surprised. Had he been scolded by uncle? He immediately inquired, “Uncle, did Chong Er make you unhappy? If there really is any fault, I hope you will be magnanimous. This lad Chong Er is really not bad. He is sensible and diligent…”
Cao Xinggong listened patiently to his string of praises, then changed the topic, “I heard that Liezhou top provincial graduate ranked thirteenth on the tribute list. A few days ago he even took the initiative to come to our house and played with you for a day. Today you went out with him?”
Xu Fei said, “Yes, his name is Zhan Muchun. We had arranged before the results were posted to go and see together today. Your nephew could not go back on his word.”
Cao Xinggong waved his hand slightly, “I do not mean to blame you for going out to wander around. Since he is a fellow townsman from Liezhou and from the same session, and since you are playing together, you should interact more. Remember, only those who can play together count as friends. Otherwise any talk of friendship is empty. This Zhan Muchun is not bad. You can interact more with him. For expenses in this regard you can directly go to the accounts room to withdraw. Do you understand what I mean?”
Xu Fei nodded, “I understand.”
Cao Xinggong said, “I heard that on that day someone else came to our house, that Ah Shiheng you owed money to. I heard he actually passed the top metropolitan examination this time, and it is a top metropolitan examinee rare in a hundred years.”
“Yes, today I even specially looked at the articles he wrote.” When Xu Fei said this he could not help scratching his face, “Uncle, a person like this could actually pass with a perfect score as top metropolitan examinee. I really cannot believe it. The things he wrote, no matter how I look they do not seem like something he wrote.”
Cao Xinggong gave an “oh” sound, “What do you want to say?”
Xu Fei said, “Could he have cheated as well? I still understand this person. It really does not look like something he wrote.”
Cao Xinggong said, “You understand him? If I had not found out that he lives in the Zhong residence, some matters you would probably continue to misunderstand. What do you understand about him? You knew the exam questions in advance. If I let you do it freely, are you certain you could take the perfect score top metropolitan spot?”
“Uh…” Xu Fei immediately stammered.
Cao Xinggong patted the chair armrests with both hands, “Xu Fei, it is inevitable to have jealousy, but do not let jealousy affect normal judgment.”
“I… uncle, I really am not jealous of him.”
“Enough. There is no need for us to argue. One generation has one generation’s matters. People like us will grow old sooner or later. The family will sooner or later be handed over to you young people. I just want to tell you some principles.
For this kind of metropolitan examination, even if cheating, no one would dare to cheat to produce such results. Only someone with a sick brain would do that. What about the palace examination? Do you think that Ah Shiheng is the kind of person stupid to the extreme?
Although I am not a proper scholar like you, I still understand some principles. For articles like the ones you do, there is no absolute best in literature. Even if you knew the exam questions in advance, you may not be able to produce a perfect score, let alone four subjects with perfect scores.
So, Xu Fei, you have to admit that this Ah Shiheng still has quite a lot of talent. Moreover, some matters you know more clearly than others. You personally experienced the Liezhou Wen Hua Academy. Before the word puzzle was even given, he was already planning to take first place. How much confidence does that take?
The result you also saw. Was there any examinee from the entire Liezhou who could even look up to his back? Even that top provincial graduate Zhan Muchun was far behind him, right? Comparing with this metropolitan examination again, does it still not explain the problem? Everyone has reason to suspect he cheated, but Xu Fei, you alone should not.”
Xu Fei was spoken to until he felt somewhat ashamed. He was also woken up by the words. He cupped his hands and bowed, “Uncle’s lesson is right. Ah Shiheng is indeed a person who hides his depths.”
Cao Xinggong said, “So, you were originally friends. There is no need to keep brooding over some small money matters. Everyone has shortcomings. Staring at other people’s shortcomings and not letting go, that is the biggest shortcoming, and one will not achieve much. Moreover, between friends, besides interacting more, one must also value credit. What is promised must be done. Do you not think so?”
Xu Fei felt there was more to his words and waited in confusion for what followed.
Cao Xinggong, who had been talking about principles, suddenly smiled slightly, “I remember you said that you once promised Ah Shiheng that as long as Ah Shiheng passed the metropolitan examination, you would give Chong Er to him. Is that true?”
“…” Xu Fei immediately fell silent. He finally understood his uncle’s intention in saying all this. After coming back to his senses he quickly said, “Uncle, Chong Er is after all a living person. It is not good to treat him like an object and give him away. Otherwise how would Chong Er feel? Moreover at the beginning it was indeed because the situation was special, to save his life, so it was just going through the motions. And Ah Shiheng himself did not want it, so…”
Cao Xinggong sat there and clapped his hands once to interrupt, “That is not important. What is important is that you made an agreement with him.”
Xu Fei shook his head, “Uncle, Chong Er has after all followed me for these years, and he is really good, hardworking and diligent. If I change to someone else I will not be used to it.”
Cao Xinggong’s expression sank slightly, “If you are not used to it then get used to it. Do I like kneeling to others?”
Xu Fei immediately became flustered and lowered his head.
“This is the capital. You want to establish yourself here. Today you must change this habit of yours.
I have paid attention to the people around you. Chong Er is good. He really is not bad. Precisely because he is good, he is worthy to be given as a gift. Do you want to send someone lazy and gluttonous over to make people dislike him?
Remember, only by giving good things will people feel it is good. The things that can stay by someone’s side and make them always feel good are even better.
Knowing Ah Shiheng when he was still unknown is your advantage. He is worth interacting with more. It will benefit your future official career.
This matter is settled like this. Tomorrow you take Chong Er with you. I will instruct Old Wei to accompany you to the capital government office. After changing his slave registration to Ah Shiheng, you then take him to the Zhong residence to pay a visit. Personally go to the door to fulfil your promise and personally give Chong Er to him. Have you heard my words?”
Xu Fei said dejectedly, “Your nephew has remembered. I will go find Chong Er later to explain clearly.”
Cao Xinggong said, “No need. You also said he is a person, not a gift. As the master you should know to cherish old affections. I will be the villain. You are also forced helplessly by me. Before you came, I had already spoken clearly with Chong Er. He can only agree. You do not need to say much more. The monthly wage for Chong Er cannot be stopped. You still have to give it regularly every month, and you must give double. The money will be withdrawn from the accounts room. Alright, today is your day of great joy and worth celebrating. Tonight the whole residence will hold a banquet to celebrate for you.” He stood up, patted Xu Fei’s shoulder and left.