Chapter 114

Chapter 114

The two conversed at Deputy Prefect Wang's residence until noon. Deputy Prefect Wang insisted they stay for a meal, and Old Liang, not wanting to offend him, remained with Chen Qingyan.

Coincidentally, Deputy Prefect Wang's sons also arrived, so they all dined together.

His eldest son, now thirty-four, held a sinecure at the prefectural office, being only a *xiucai* (a qualified scholar).

The second son, also in his thirties, was mentally slow (intellectually disabled) and now worked as a jailer. Just hearing him speak made it clear he was different from ordinary people. During the meal, he brought up how interrogations were conducted in prison, describing the scenes in such gruesome detail that it ruined everyone's appetite. Wang Yi was so incensed he threw his chopsticks.

"If you don't want to eat, get out!"

The second son wanted to yell back at his father, but the eldest pulled him away by the arm. The third and fourth sons were too frightened to even breathe loudly and followed them out.

Such incidents happened almost every time the whole family ate together. If it weren't for the New Year, Wang Yi usually wouldn't let them come home to avoid embarrassment.

"Liang Boqing, please excuse this. My third son is a bit slow..."

Liang Boqing was also shocked. He remembered meeting these children years ago and thought they were merely dull, never expecting they'd turn out like this.

Now he understood why his old friend, despite his age, was still so eager and busy thinking about climbing higher. If he didn't strive for power, the family would fall apart after he was gone.

"Ah, you've had a hard time all these years."

Because of this incident, the meal ended unhappily. When Deputy Prefect Wang saw them off, he arranged to meet another time for a proper drink.

On the carriage ride back, Chen Qingyan frowned, looking unusually silent.

"What's on your mind?"

"I'm thinking about how to start Yuanbao's education."

Liang Boqing was taken aback, then burst into laughter. "He's only two years old. What kind of education? He can't even hold a brush properly."

"I only have this one son. I just want to plan well for him so he doesn't stray from the right path in the future."

"Don't worry. You can tell a child's future from the age of three. Yuanbao is smart and sensible. He won't give you and Wang Ying any trouble."

"Thank you for your kind words. I hope so."

You never understand parental love until you have your own child. Since having Yuanbao, he finally grasped the meaning of "parents who love their children plan deeply for them."

Tomorrow was New Year's Eve. All the New Year's goods had been prepared at home. The store was closed for the holiday, and the whole family gathered to enjoy the reunion.

*

Early in the morning, snowflakes began to fall, adding to the festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival.

Yuanbao had already put on his new clothes—a red jacket with a front opening, layered with a bright yellow vest embroidered with auspicious clouds and *ruyi* heads.

The outfit was made entirely of silk, soft and smooth to the touch, padded with a thick layer of new cotton. It was lightweight and warm.

The embroidery on the jacket was done by Fang Ling. Li Shi wasn't skilled at needlework; she could manage simple clothes but not detailed embroidery.

In previous years, Chen Rong had helped with this, but this year, though Third Aunt wasn't around, Fourth Aunt had come. Coincidentally, Fang Ling was also excellent at needlework and volunteered to embroider Yuanbao's clothes.

Once dressed, Mutou and Chunsheng took him out to play.

"Be careful not to get his clothes wet."

"Alright, we will."

The servants also had new jackets made. Though the fabric was ordinary coarse cloth, the cotton inside was thick and substantial.

The Chen family had always been kind-hearted. Since Old Master Chen's time, they had never mistreated their servants. Now that life was getting better, Wang Ying would never mistreat anyone. He had prepared cotton jackets, pants, and thick cotton shoes for everyone early on.

Wang Ying also changed into his new clothes. His outfit was bought directly from the clothing store, with only the sleeves altered to fit perfectly.

The clothing stores in the prefectural city were different from those in towns—not only were there more styles, but the variety was comprehensive. Almost anything one could think of could be bought there.

The slate-blue robe with a diagonal front and fitted waist was the most popular style for young gentlemen nowadays. With his hair tied up in a silver crown, he looked particularly tall and spirited.

Chen Qingyan hugged him from behind and kissed his cheek through the bronze mirror. "A Ying is so handsome."

"Sweet-talker."

"Not at all. I'm just telling the truth."

Wang Ying turned around, holding his chin with both hands to examine him. "I think you're the one getting more handsome. I'm afraid once you pass the imperial exams, someone might snatch you up as a son-in-law."

Chen Qingyan laughed. "Nothing like that would happen."

"Isn't that how it goes in the operas? A poor scholar passes the exams, gets noticed by a wealthy family's daughter, and marries into wealth and power. Then, to avoid complications, he secretly has his former wife killed."

"Where did you hear such operas?"

"Never mind where. Just tell me if it's possible or not."

Chen Qingyan pulled Wang Ying down to sit and said seriously, "I've never heard of such a thing, and it's unlikely to happen in the Wu Dynasty. For one, unless a scholar ranks in the top tier, those in the second tier can at most become a seventh-rank Compiler in the Hanlin Academy. Promotion would take forever. Worse, if they offend someone, they could be demoted, dismissed, or even have their family properties confiscated, exiled, or executed..."

Wang Ying took a deep breath. His husband hadn't even started the exams yet, and he was already worrying about his future official career.

"So, influential families would never marry their children to such people. Why would they target a poor scholar when there are better matches? Merchant families might, but abandoning a wife to marry a merchant's daughter would harm one's career and invite disgrace. Probably no one would dare do such a thing."

"I was just saying it casually. You didn't have to take it so seriously."

Chen Qingyan said, "Of course I take it seriously. I take every word A Ying says to heart."

Wang Ying found it a bit cloying but felt warm inside. "I understand. I won't tease you like that again."

The two went to the east room together. Li Shi and Qing Yun were stringing copper coins. It had been a tough year, and everyone had followed them through so much. They planned to give the servants more New Year's rewards.

In previous years in their hometown, they would give servants an extra half-string of coins at year-end. This year, Li Shi took ten extra taels of silver from her private savings, planning to give each person a full string of coins.

Wang Ying and Chen Qingyan also sat down to help string the coins. One string was a thousand copper coins, heavy and substantial when strung together.

Soon, Chen Qingsong also came over. "Mother, why are you stringing so many copper coins?"

"It's New Year. We're giving everyone some rewards to buy food and clothes."

"Wouldn't it be easier to just give them broken silver?"

Li Shi said, "You don't understand. Silver is valuable, but a tael is only as big as a thumb. It feels light and insignificant in hand. Copper coins feel more substantial and are easier to spend."

This was the wisdom of the ancients; they understood the servants' mindset better.

Once the coins were mostly strung, Chen Qingyan went out to call all the servants in. Uncle Chen, aside from this string of coins, Wang Ying would also give him extra money privately.

Then came Aunt Chen and Granny Zhang, who took care of Yuanbao, followed by Chen Ershun, Ma Zhandong, Tian Ju, and Chen Fang, each receiving a string.

The two children from the Huang family received a string each. Mutou and Chunsheng naturally couldn't be left out—they also received a string each.

After distributing the money, Huang Baiguan suddenly pulled his younger brother forward and knelt down, kowtowing as he said, "Master, we cannot accept this money. You have taken us in and provided us with food and shelter—how could we possibly take your money as well?"

He was a sensible child. Wang Ying raised his hand to signal them to rise. "After the New Year, Huang Baiguan will be thirteen years old. Although your father sent you to me, you are not my servants, so I haven’t given you any work. Today is a good opportunity to ask: what are your plans for the future?"

Huang Qianguan looked up at his brother. Huang Baiguan mustered his courage and said, "I plan to take my brother to a martial arts school to train. Once we’ve completed our training, we will stay by your side and the Second Young Master’s side to assist, just like Uncle Chen Guang..."

Wang Ying raised his eyebrows in surprise; he hadn’t expected the brothers to have such plans.

At present, they couldn’t contribute much around the residence. Even tasks like looking after Little Yuanbao were handled by Mutou and Chunsheng, leaving them with little to do. If they continued to stay without contributing, they would eventually wear out their welcome. It was better to find their own path.

A few days earlier, Huang Baiguan had heard that a martial arts school in the city was recruiting disciples. They would provide food and lodging and even pay ten coppers a month, but in exchange, graduates would have to work for the school for three years before they could leave.

He thought this suited him and his brother. Without any means to earn a living, learning martial arts would allow them to find work elsewhere even if they didn’t end up serving the Chen family.

Wang Ying said, "Since you’ve made up your minds, after the New Year, I’ll send you to a martial arts school in the prefecture. However, training is arduous. I wonder if you can endure the hardship."

The two children kowtowed and said, "You needn’t worry, sir! We can endure any hardship!"

The flood had taken their family but failed to break their spirit. Wang Ying regarded them with newfound respect.

"These are the lucky money from the matriarch. Take them."

Li Shi nodded. "It’s impolite to refuse the gifts of an elder. Take them." Only then did the two children pick up the coins and obediently withdraw.

As for Liang An, who had come with Old Liang, and Chen Guang, the attendant sent by Chen Jing, they weren’t technically servants and shouldn’t have received gifts. But Wang Ying treated everyone equally and prepared a string of cash for each of them.

Liang An was no longer young, about the same age as Uncle Chen. He beamed upon receiving the money. "There’s even one for me?"

"Just for good luck. May Liang Boqing have health and prosperity in the New Year."

"Please, don’t say that. Just call me Liang An, like the master does."

"You deserve it. You’ve taken great care of my husband and two younger brothers along the way. This is a small token of my gratitude. Please don’t refuse."

"Alright, then I’ll accept it."

When giving the money to Chen Guang, he said nothing, merely nodding as he took it.

He was a man of few words, reserved and reluctant to interact with others. Coupled with his formidable martial arts skills, Wang Ying always kept his distance, wary of provoking this ancient version of an elite guard.

After distributing the gifts to the servants, the elders began giving presents to the younger generation.

Old Liang, as the eldest, started by distributing gifts. Aside from the two bolts of brocade given to Deputy Prefect Wang, the remaining six bolts were distributed one to each person; not even Little Yuanbao was left out.

The brocade was extremely valuable, typically costing around three hundred strings per bolt, and it was often scarce. Everyone accepted the gifts and bowed to the elder to wish him a happy New Year.

Next was Li Shi, who was more practical. She gave each person a red bag containing a small silver piece weighing five taels.

Little Yuanbao was too young, so Wang Ying accepted the money on his behalf.

Finally, it was Fang Ling’s turn. She had a servant bring in a wooden box filled with items carefully selected by the couple.

"Next year is the imperial examination. All three of you must work hard. These finest inkstones were specially sought out by Brother Jing, wishing you success in acing the exam."

The three of them received the heavy inkstones and expressed their thanks one by one. Don’t underestimate these inkstones—to the uninformed, they might look like ordinary black stones, but connoisseurs would recognize them as made from dark stone mined from the Kunlun Mountains in the northern borderlands. Not only were they extremely difficult to extract, but they were also exceptionally hard. It took a craftsman a year to carve just two of them.

Liang Boqing looked at the inkstone and said, "This is a fine item. If I had gotten one back then, the things that followed might never have happened."

Wang Ying had already learned about Old Liang’s past from Chen Qingyan. Back then, his deceitful half-brother had swapped his inkstone, which had a hidden compartment containing pre-written cheat sheets.

Being framed by one’s own family was truly something hard to guard against.

After giving gifts to the three, Fang Ling brought out a set of *Hetian* jade jewelry for Qing Yun. *Hetian* jade was a specialty of Shanzhou, and its price varied greatly depending on the quality.

The set gifted by Fourth Aunt was clearly of the finest quality—smooth and delicate white jade, including a hairpin, a pair of bracelets, and a jade pendant.

When it was Wang Ying’s turn, Fourth Aunt with a sly smile brought out a box. "This is a gift specially prepared by your fourth uncle. A Ying, guess what it is?"

Wang Ying shook his head; there was no way he could guess.

Fourth Aunt slowly opened the box, revealing half a box of seeds.

There were about four or five types mixed together, but this was no challenge for a student of agriculture. He immediately recognized some of them as chili seeds!

"Where... where did these come from?"

"When your fourth uncle was stationed in Laizhou, he met many overseas merchants. These were brought back from overseas. We didn’t know how to plant them, so we thought of giving them to you to try."

The gift delighted Wang Ying. He carefully accepted it and expressed his thanks.

Little Yuanbao, who had been waiting nearby, still hadn’t received his gift. Pouting, he whispered, "Did Fourth Grandma forget about Little Yuanbao?"

Everyone burst into laughter. Fang Ling quickly picked him up and kissed him. "How could I forget my dear grandson? Fourth Grandma prepared this for you."

She brought out a large jar of milk candies, a local specialty of Shanzhou, handmade by local herders. They were creamy and rich, and especially loved by children.

Amid the laughter and joy, the New Year was welcomed.

Author’s note: The imperial examination is about to begin.

By the way, Fourth Uncle is not a time traveler, but he does have a remarkable talent—knowing exactly what people like.