Chapter 72: The County Magistrate Arrives

Chapter 72: The County Magistrate Arrives

On the third day of celebrations, a few scholars in blue robes arrived at the Yan residence, and among them was Fang Mutian, who had failed the exam.

He kept his head down as he walked into the courtyard, as if scared of running into someone he knew.

Since they were from the same town and had gone to the prefectural capital for the exams together, folks in and out of the family couldn't help comparing him to Yan Fengan.

Fang Mutian had been stewing at home for days, but today he finally made himself come to the Yan residence to congratulate Yan Fengan.

He'd seen Yan Fengan's talent and hard work with his own eyes—passing the provincial exam was no small feat, and nobody got there without putting in the work. He was disappointed in himself, but he didn't feel any jealousy.

He didn't have anything valuable to give, but he remembered winning some writing supplies at past literary meetups, so he picked out a nice one and brought it as a gift.

Yan Fengan invited him to sit at his table and handed him a cup of wine during the meal, asking, concerned, "Brother Fang, what do you plan to do now?"

"I don't know either," Fang Mutian stared at his cup, looking dejected, his frustration and sadness with nowhere to go.

Yan Fengan asked further, "Are you going back to the academy?"

Fang Mutian shook his head. "No. My family's spent so much on my studies over the years, they're just about tapped out. Since I didn't pass this time, I can't afford to wait another three years. I want to find a job first, make some money, and improve things at home before thinking about anything else."

His older brother and sister-in-law had been arguing with his parents the last few days. They hadn't said his name, but it was obvious who they were talking about.

He was already twenty. If he kept depending on his family, his brother and sister-in-law would resent it, and he'd be ashamed of himself too.

Yan Fengan understood where he was coming from. Of everyone who'd gone to the exams together, he and Fang Mutian had the least money. For folks like them, staying at the academy forever just wasn't realistic.

Seeing the worry on Fang Mutian's face, Yan Fengan couldn't help sighing for him. He patted his shoulder and said, "As long as you've made up your mind, that's what counts. Even if you don't go back to the academy, you can still study and write at home—that counts for something. Take three years to work on yourself, and maybe you'll pass next time. If you run into any trouble, come find me anytime."

Fang Mutian nodded and mumbled a low "okay."

When he left, Yan Fengan gave him some books and his own notes and essays, telling him to take them home and look them over—they might come in handy.

Fang Mutian wasn't lacking in knowledge, but he lacked a certain spark when it came to tackling essay topics, and his nerves were a problem. Under too much pressure, he'd get shaky and panic—Yan Fengan had seen it with his own eyes.

For essays lacking flair, Yan Fengan could gladly give advice, but his nerves were something nobody else could fix for him.

He could only hope Fang Mutian would spend these three years working on his mindset, facing his fears, and getting past that hurdle.

After the three-day feast was over, the stream of well-wishers slowly dried up. The exam and the feast had cost the family a pretty penny, so Yan Fengan, knowing his parents were stretched thin, took a hundred taels from the gift money and gave it to them.

He had other plans for the rest, so he had Wen Xi hold onto it.

Now that Yan Fengan was a juren, social obligations were only going to pile up, and as his husband, Wen Xi would have to learn how to handle all that.

The silver was easy enough, but the bolts of silk and fine porcelain had Wen Xi stumped.

After thinking it over, he realized that with the family's new status, wearing rough cloth at home or when entertaining guests just wouldn't do anymore.

He picked out the mid-grade silks and gave them to Chen Lanfang and Li Wan to make new clothes for everyone, while he and Yan Fengan got the finer stuff.

With these clothes, they'd have more confidence at banquets thrown by the local gentry in town.

He didn't touch a single bolt of the fine fabric from the Lin and Lu families, saving it all—not just for embroidery, but for gifts and favors down the line.

Porcelain wasn't as practical as cloth, so Wen Xi and Yan Fengan picked two nice vases for the main hall and put the rest in storage.

Several shopkeepers had also sent bracelets and hairpins. Wen Xi couldn't wear them all himself, so he gave some to his mother and both sisters-in-law.

Receiving beautiful fabrics and jewelry, Li Wan and He Jin, who had given so much selflessly to the family, felt an indescribable happiness.

After enduring so long and working so hard for their third brother all these years, they had finally seen this day arrive.

After distributing everything, Wen Xi gathered the remaining gifts and packed them into three full chests.

Though the tidying took considerable effort, the thought of how much silver those items were worth made the labor feel worthwhile.

Yan Fengan saw the joy in his family's eyes, and watching Wen Xi handle everything so comprehensively without needing any prompting, he gained even greater appreciation for his husband's capability and charm.

A few days after the feast, yamen runners from the county office arrived at the Yan residence early in the morning, announcing that the magistrate would personally deliver a plaque to Juren Yan before noon. They instructed the family to sweep the courtyard, prepare an incense table, and wait at home in advance.

When wealthy households and country gentry had come, Yan Shichang and the others could remain composed, but upon hearing that the magistrate himself was coming, the entire family fell into a panic.

Being country folk, they rarely had dealings with officials in their lifetime—how could they not be flustered at the sudden news of a county magistrate's visit?

The courtyard had been swept that morning, but Yan Wangchun grabbed a broom and swept it again anyway. Chen Lanfang also fetched some neighbor women who helped with cooking to prepare a proper midday meal for the magistrate.

Once everything was arranged, the whole family changed into clean new clothes and stood at the courtyard gate, waiting for the magistrate's arrival.

As noon approached, the sound of gongs echoed from the village entrance. The people of Daoxiang Village had experienced this before—at the sound of gongs, they all knew it was for the Yan family.

They thought about following to watch the excitement again, but seeing that this time it was county officials, everyone was too frightened to approach. They merely cracked their doors open and stole a few glances.

From their furtive vantage points, they couldn't see clearly, but they spotted two runners carrying a plaque at the front, wrapped in red silk that gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight.

Behind the runners was a troupe of musicians—some beating drums, others playing suonas, creating a lively, festive clamor.

At the rear came a sedan chair. For runners to escort and clear the way, it must surely be the magistrate himself.

The villagers watching were stunned: even the county magistrate had come in person.

The Yan family truly was different now!

The grander the occasion, the calmer Yan Fengan became. As a juren, he was not required to kneel before county officials. When the magistrate stepped out of the sedan chair, he merely stepped forward and offered a cupped-fist salute.

"Student Yan Fengan pays respects to Magistrate Li."

The magistrate waved his hand and said with a smile, "Juren Yan, no need for such formality. I've come today specifically to deliver this plaque to you. It's not easy for our county to produce a juren—this plaque is both your honor and the pride of our entire county."

Yan Fengan replied respectfully, "This student is grateful for the court's grace and for your honor's kind regard. Please, come inside."

Under Yan Fengan's guidance, Magistrate Li crossed the courtyard and entered the main hall. Standing in the center, he looked around, then waved to the men carrying the plaque behind him: "Bring the plaque up and hang it."

Two runners stepped forward and hung the plaque steadily on the central wall.

When the red silk was unveiled, the golden characters "Wen Kui" (Literary Champion) were revealed.

Gazing at that plaque, Yan Shichang couldn't help but straighten his back. With a plaque bestowed by the court, his son's status as a juren was now thoroughly confirmed.

Yan Fengan lit a stick of incense and bowed solemnly three times before the plaque. Reaching this step, he had done justice to the Yan family ancestors.

After the plaque was hung, Magistrate Li had the clerk beside him bring forward twenty taels of official silver and a fine inkstone.

"A few days ago, when your household held its celebration banquet, I was occupied with other matters. Today, I'll make up for that gift—congratulations, Juren Yan."

Yan Fengan accepted the gifts, expressed his thanks, and invited Magistrate Li to stay for a meal.

Magistrate Li still had matters to discuss with him, so he didn't rush off. After sitting in the seat of honor and sipping some tea, he asked casually, "Juren Yan, how old are you this year?"

Yan Fengan said, "I'm twenty-two."

County Magistrate Li smiled. "Only twenty-two and already a successful candidate in the provincial examination—quite an achievement at your age." He remembered that when he'd passed the exam himself, he'd been almost thirty. He asked further, "What are your plans from here—will you keep aiming higher in the exams, or seek an official post?"

He'd probably get asked this kind of question a lot from now on, and Yan Fengan had long prepared his answer: "I'm completely wiped out from this exam. If I had to travel to the capital for the next round, I don't think I could handle it, physically or mentally. I want to stay in this county and do something real for the folks here."

"Oh? What kind of real thing did you have in mind?"

Yan Fengan said, "Besides being a bit better at book learning than most, I don't have any other talents. I thought I'd stay in the county and teach a few students. Ten years of hitting the books isn't easy, and I want to help students who can't find their way or have gone down the wrong path. If they can learn something from me, that'd be my good fortune too."

County Magistrate Li listened and slowly nodded. "That's a good way to think."

Their county hadn't produced a successful candidate in years. If Yan Fengan hadn't come through this year, they'd probably have been shut out again. As the local magistrate, not having anyone worth bragging about from the county for so long had been a bit of an embarrassment.

"The county school still needs an instructor. If you're willing, I can recommend you for the position."

Getting a job at the county school would be a safe, respectable route, but for Yan Fengan, it was hardly the best choice.

He'd worked so hard to pass the provincial exam specifically to avoid being bossed around and having to kowtow to other people. If he went to the county school as some lowly eighth-rank official, with people breathing down his neck all day, he might as well grit his teeth and take another shot at the capital exams.

He thought for a moment and said to County Magistrate Li, "I really appreciate Your Honor's kindness, but I'd like to try opening my own school."

County Magistrate Li raised an eyebrow, glancing around their home, and said, "Opening your own school isn't easy. Students, a building, money—you've got to worry about every little thing. Can you really pull that off with your family's situation?"

Opening his own school was certainly far more difficult than teaching at the county school, but by the same token, it offered far more freedom. No rules, no restrictions—he could teach whoever he wanted, however he wanted.

Of course, he didn't dare say all that outright, so he picked what he could say: "I can manage. I don't plan to start big—even taking just three or five students would do. If I teach well, that's my skill. If I teach badly, that's on me. Whatever goes wrong, I'll bear full responsibility and never drag anyone else into it."

"Hmph, you've got some nerve."

Though his words were tactful, County Magistrate Li had been young once and could see through the courteous exterior to the untamed pride beneath.

Yan Fengan smiled helplessly. "What nerve? It's just being young, stubborn, and stuck in my ways. Don't be fooled by my bold talk now—if I ever hit a dead end, I'll probably have to swallow my pride and come crawling back to Your Honor for help."

Seeing that he played no tricks before him and that every word came from the heart, County Magistrate Li straightened his sleeves and said, "Very well, since you put it that way, I won't press you. If you run into trouble down the road, Candidate Yan, just come to the county office and say the word. As long as you genuinely want to help these students, I can't guarantee much else, but there'll always be a spot for you at the county office."

Yan Fengan bowed solemnly. "Thank you, Your Honor."

County Magistrate Li was considered a rare good official in the eyes of the local people, and with his assurance, Yan Fengan had a safety net.

The county office staff had a simple meal at the Yan household, and in the afternoon, the whole group headed back to town in a big crowd.

Earlier, when Wen Xi had been pouring tea for the magistrate, he'd overheard him mention something about the county school instructor position. Once the house was quiet, he asked, "Husband, are you really going to become an instructor at the county school?"

Yan Fengan teased him and asked in return, "Guess whether I agreed or not?"

Wen Xi thought for a moment, then shook his head. "I guess you didn't agree."

Yan Fengan hadn't expected him to guess right on the first try, and asked him, "Why do you guess that?"

Based on his understanding of him, Wen Xi said, "I just don't think you're the type to enjoy being bossed around."

His husband wasn't the rebellious sort, but he'd always acted according to his own will. If he entered the county school and had to answer to officials above him every day, Wen Xi felt he wouldn't be happy.

A smile spread across Yan Fengan's face. "No one knows me better than my little Xi. Indeed, I don't want to be constrained by others. If I went to the county school, my status as a successful candidate would give me some say, but I'd have almost no power to make decisions. If I run my own private school, I set all the rules myself—who I teach and how I teach, no one can interfere. The only real difficulty might be the initial cost of setting it up."

"No need to worry—we have money now." Wen Xi linked his arm through his, smiling with a hint of pride. "Although we gave Mother a hundred taels, combined with what I'd saved before, we should have around two hundred sixty to seventy taels in total. That should be more than enough to rent a courtyard in the county town, shouldn't it?"

The couple's private savings were all managed by Wen Xi, and Yan Fengan rarely asked about them. He hadn't expected Wen Xi to have saved so much, and he couldn't help but exclaim with delight, "That's more than enough. Rest well for the next few days, and in a few days we'll go to town together to look at properties."

Author's note:

I'll save the baby for the extra chapters—I want to wrap up the main story soon.