Chapter 68: Traveling

Chapter 68: Traveling

Meng Qing blew out the flame in the oil lamp and handed it to Du Min, telling him to put it back where he had taken it from.

Looking at the empty house, Du Min sighed, "Once I leave, the next time I come back to stay for an extended period will be for funerals and mourning."

Upon hearing this, a look of dejection flashed across Du Li's face. He had never imagined that the place where he was born and raised would not accept him.

Meng Qing closed the trunk, which contained not only her wedding dress but also three sets of old clothes from when she was a young woman. She didn't take them with her; she left the clothes and trunk in the room, so anyone who wanted them could take them.

"The food isn't ready yet, shall we go for a walk in the mulberry fields?" she asked the two of them. "How are the family's fields managed? More than two hundred acres, even Dad and my older brother can't possibly cultivate them all, can they?"

Du Min waved his hand, "Let's leave it for now and let them arrange it themselves. If I pass the imperial examination in the next two years, I will take charge of the land allocation when I return to my hometown."

Seeing that he had a plan, Meng Qing stopped asking.

"Where are you going? The food is almost ready," Li Hongguo asked proactively.

"Let's eat first," Du Min said.

Meng Qing went in to serve the rice. She glanced at Li Hongguo and said with a half-smile, "Sister-in-law, your big bamboo basket and carrying pole are still at my parents' house. I forgot to bring them back for you."

Li Hongguo's face tightened from the sting; she lowered her eyes and remained silent.

Du Ming's gaze swept quickly over the two of them. Meng Qing glanced at him and noticed the handprint on his face.

"What are you looking at?" Du Ming was annoyed by the stares and turned his face away.

Meng Qing smiled but didn't reply. She lifted the pot lid and scooped three bowls of rice from the pot, poured a spoonful of egg and cucumber soup into each bowl, added a few pats of fried egg, and took two bowls of rice out to eat with Du Li under the shade of a tree outside the courtyard.

"Your food is on the stove, go get it yourself," Meng Qing said to Du Min.

Li Hongguo watched Du Min come in and go out, then followed him out of the yard with her rice bowl in her hand. In her heart, she mocked him, thinking he was just a dog.

Du Mingsheng ate a bowl of rice sitting on the stool in front of the stove. He had just taken a bite when he noticed something dark in his peripheral vision. He turned his head and saw the old man standing menacingly at the door.

"Father, you're here? I was thinking of bringing this to you and Mother." Li Hongguo ignored his resentful gaze and spoke kindly.

Old Du wanted nothing more than to strangle her. His eyes swept around the kitchen and finally settled on the wood-chopping axe.

“Dad, let me remind you, from now on, you and Mom will depend entirely on Du Ming and me for food and drink. Whether we eat three meals a day or two, whether we have two dishes per meal or leftovers every meal, it will all depend on your behavior. I advise you to be sensible and not cause trouble.” Li Hongguo’s face turned cold. “Judging from your expression, I think you already know. Since you know, you shouldn’t provoke me anymore.”

"If you want to eat, come in and serve yourself. If you don't want to eat, go sit down," Du Ming stated his position.

Old Du was so angry that his face turned pale, but he was helpless. He only had one life left to threaten them, but he was unwilling to die. He could only give in and accept his fate.

Li Hongguo handed him two bowls of rice and instructed him, "Take one bowl to my mother and tell her to stop starving herself. If she gets sick from hunger, no doctor will come to treat her, and in the end, she will be the one who suffers."

Old Du left dejectedly, carrying his bowl.

Du Ming felt relieved, "Finally, I won't have to listen to his scolding and cursing anymore in my life."

Li Hongguo ignored him and went out with her rice bowl to find Qiaomei to bring her back.

When she returned with Qiaomei by the hand, there was no one in front of the door.

Meng Qing, Du Li, and Du Min left the village to take a walk in the mulberry fields. The thatched hut that Du Li had built had not yet collapsed, but the hollow haystack next to the hut had collapsed. The earthen pot and steamer on the stove had been removed by someone.

“Someone has slept here.” Du Li noticed a garment on the bed in the thatched hut that did not belong to him.

Meng Qing smiled and said, "I guess it's just some lovebirds from your village expressing their feelings here."

Du Min coughed lightly and walked away with his hands behind his back.

Du Li came out of the thatched hut and muttered, "Why don't we tear down the thatched hut to prevent those dirty, smelly people from messing around in my mulberry fields?"

“Okay, let’s demolish it. It’s a small matter if things get messy, but it would be bad luck if another murder happened here.” Meng Qing agreed.

"Don't scare me, how could someone die?" Du Li asked, glancing sideways.

“Adultery has always led to murder,” Meng Qing said, rolling up her sleeves and asking, “How do we dismantle it? I’ll help.”

Seeing this, Du Min also came to help.

The three of them spent half an hour dismantling the thatched hut, and then returned to the village. Du Min took Meng Qing and Du Li directly to the ferry to wait for the boat.

After a stick of incense had burned, a vegetable-carrying boat passed by. Meng Qing and Du Li boarded the boat, and as she left, she instructed, "Third brother, when you go to the city, remember to visit my house and let us know your whereabouts."

Du Min nodded.

Watching the ship depart, Du Min let out a long sigh of relief and turned to go home.

That evening, he went into the west wing and asked, "Where is the money in the house kept?"

Upon hearing this, Du Laoding quickly lowered his eyes; clearly, he didn't want to give him any more money.

"I only want the 120 strings of cash dowry that my second sister-in-law brought; I don't want the rest," Du Min declared. "You can't keep this money even if you don't give it to me; those two in the north room will also have their eyes on it. Why don't you take this opportunity to push all the blame onto me? If I take the 120 strings of cash, you can say that I've taken all the family's wealth."

Old Du thought for a moment, then pointed to the bed and then to the broken hoe behind the door.

“I’ll come dig tomorrow.” Du Min understood what he meant.

*

The next day.

Du Min called Du Ming over, and the two of them moved the old couple's bed and dug out two large wooden boxes under the bed. The two brothers worked together to lift the two boxes.

Du Min opened it and took a look; it was full of strings of copper coins.

"Is this the dowry that the second son's wife sent?" Du Ming asked.

“There should be more than that, there might also be some leftover money that the family has saved up over the years.” Du Min patted the dirt off his hands and said, “Brother, I’m taking these two boxes of money with me. I won’t interfere with the harvest of the family’s fields in the last two years. How much or how little they harvest is up to you.”

"Okay." Du Ming didn't dare to provoke him, so he did whatever he was told.

"Let me make this clear in front of my parents: if I pass the imperial examination and am appointed to an official position, I will provide them with a retirement fund of ten strings of cash a year, for as long as they live. I will provide the money, and you will provide the care. I will not interfere with whether this money is spent on them or on your family of four. Just one thing: you must not mistreat them in terms of food and clothing. I will ask my uncle to keep an eye on things for me." Du Min made his point clear.

"I understand what you mean. Don't worry, I will take good care of your parents and try my best to make sure they live to be a hundred years old." Li Hongguo knew that if Du Min became an official, what he feared most was observing mourning. This was good too. She and Du Ming could take care of the two old people at home, collect ten strings of cash a year, and rent out the paddy fields. They wouldn't have to farm and wouldn't have to worry about food and drink.

Du Min then looked at his parents, ignoring his mother, and said directly to Du Lao Ding, "Behave yourself and stop causing trouble. You have food, drink, and clothes, and you don't have to work hard anymore. You're already enjoying life. If you're not obedient and suffer at the hands of my elder brother and sister-in-law, I won't say anything even if I find out."

Old Du remained expressionless and unresponsive.

Du Min felt relieved to see him like this; finally, he had calmed down.

After settling things at home, Du Min went to visit his uncle and the village chief. He made all the necessary arrangements and then set off for the city with 120 strings of cash.

*

The Meng family.

The Meng family was eating when the goose in the front yard suddenly squawked loudly. Wang Zhou slid off Du Li's lap in a flash and ran outside.

Du Li put down his chopsticks and went to chase after him, but after taking only a few steps, he heard Du Min's voice.

"Little Wangzhou, quickly drag your goose friend away." Du Min was so choked by the goose that he couldn't get through the door.

Wang Zhou ran over, making "goose, goose, goose" noises. As soon as he got close, the four geese immediately ran away, honking loudly as if fleeing.

Du Min took out a handful of copper coins to pay the four helpers who were carrying the boxes. As Wang Zhou approached, he bent down and picked him up in one swift motion, saying, "You're really heavy."

"If you think it's heavy, then don't carry it. Every time we meet, you either complain about its weight or its size. It's clearly your fault for being useless." Du Li kicked the suitcase and asked, "What did you bring?"

"Your wife's dowry money." Du Min put down the boat and muttered, "It's really heavy, little chubby."

Du Li got angry. "Are you deliberately picking a fight?"

"Hey, aren't you three going to eat?" Meng Qing came out. "Put the boxes by the door and come eat."

Du Min glanced at Du Li and asked with amusement, "Are you really angry?"

Wang Zhou turned to look at Meng Qing, "Mother, Father is angry."

Du Li picked up Wang Zhou and said irritably, "Wang Zhou isn't fat at all. You're the one who's weak. You can't carry him, so you complain about him being fat every day. What a chubby little dumpling, that's an awful name."

Du Min locked the gate and followed him in, saying, "I didn't mean it that way. 'Little Fatty' is an affectionate nickname."

"Keep that nickname for your son," Du Li said dismissively.

Du Min laughed heartily, "If my son were growing up this well, I'd call him 'Little Fatty' every day."

Upon hearing this, Mencius' mother asked, "Third Uncle, do you want to get married?"

"Aunt Pan, do you want to introduce me to someone?" Du Min went to the kitchen to get his own bowl and chopsticks to eat, acting even more self-disciplined than he would at his own home.

“The girls I know are not good enough for you. If you want to get married, you should ask your teachers to introduce you to a wife,” said Mencius’ mother.

Du Min smiled and said, "There's no such thing as being a good match or not. I've found that a good personality is far more important than a good background."

"That makes sense," Mencius' mother nodded.

"Did a matchmaker come to your door? Brother Meng is seventeen, isn't he?" Du Min asked.

Meng Chun sighed, "Where did you get so much to say today? Can't even a meal shut you up?"

"A matchmaker really came to our door?" Du Min had just said it casually, but he didn't expect that his prediction would come true.

“Yes, just this morning,” Meng Qing replied. “But I don’t think it will work out. My younger brother told the matchmaker that he won’t stay in Wu County for long, and the girl will have to leave Wu County with him after marrying him.”

"You won't stay in Wu County for long? Where are you going? To open a branch in another county?" Du Min asked.

“They want to come with me. After you take up your post elsewhere, I will come back to pick up my parents and younger brother once I have a place to stay,” Meng Qing said.

Upon hearing this, Du Min lost his appetite and said enviously, "It's wonderful that your family can be reunited."

"From now on, we'll be counting on you to back us up," Meng's father said, half-jokingly and half-seriously.

"It's my honor." Du Min nodded. "I've risen to a position where I can support you all because my second sister-in-law was willing to lend a helping hand. Without her skills, I would never have had a chance to get ahead."

"This marriage was a good one; she got what she wanted, and you got what you wanted," Meng's father concluded.

“I got what I wanted,” Du Li interjected.

Du Min finished the last bite of his meal, put down his chopsticks, and asked sincerely, "Uncle Meng, Aunt Pan, I've always had a question: why are you so good to Meng Chun and my second sister-in-law? My second sister-in-law wanted to take all her family's wealth with her when she got married, and you agreed. She went back to her parents' home to rest during her pregnancy after the wedding, and you had no objections. She stayed at her parents' home with her husband and child for a long time, and you welcomed that too. Don't you have any demands on her? Don't you care about the gossip that her actions bring you?"

"What do the gossips of outsiders matter? Nothing is more important than my own child," said Mencius' mother.

Du Min was even more puzzled. "If my second sister-in-law's marriage fails, and her dowry of 120 guan is exchanged for a child, leaving her with no hope for the rest of her life, can you still accept her without any resentment? Won't you despise her?"

"I know what you want to ask. If it's really as you say, I feel more sorry for her, sorry that she can't find a good man. I don't despise her. Ultimately, we are merchants, of humble origins, and the court has cut off our path to advancement. When the child was still in my womb, I could imagine his life, just like ours, a life of commerce. Perhaps there is no hope, and therefore no expectation. So, the child and I can only do business, and business has only one purpose: to make money. It's all about making money anyway, so relying on the child who crawled out of my womb is not as good as relying on myself." Meng's mother looked at Du Min and said with affection, "Your parents' problem is not a common problem for all parents. Your parents are incompetent and have strong personalities, but you gave them hope, so they placed all their expectations on you, hoping to change their social status through you. With you, this golden phoenix, they no longer care for the two ducks that can only run on the ground, and even despise them."

“But they weren’t truly kind to me; they even wanted to destroy me,” Du Min muttered to himself.

“Because you’ve almost lost your status as their child. Your parents have placed too many bets on you. You’ve become their gamble for a comeback, no longer just their own child,” Meng Qing continued. “So I’m also reminding myself that I can’t place too many bets on you, nor on Wang Zhou. It’s better to place those bets on myself, and I’ll bear the consequences of my own wins and losses.”

Du Min recalled that last year when she scolded him, she said that she knew her marriage was full of calculations, dared to admit that she had acted dishonestly, and did not boast about it. She was willing to bear the consequences of her gamble. Now he heard similar words again, and her thoughts remained unchanged.

“I understand.” He nodded.

"Another lesson?" Du Li joked.

Du Min nodded emphatically and said with a smile, "Another lesson learned."

“What’s done to your parents is done. Don’t keep thinking about whether you were too ruthless, and don’t worry about what others think. Anyway, your Aunt Pan and I have no qualms or prejudices against you,” Meng’s father said.

"Let me make this clear first, your second sister-in-law didn't tell us about this. She only said that your parents have become mute, and we suspect that you were the one who did it." Meng's mother quickly explained, giving Meng's father a glare. "Drunk again? From tonight onwards, you're not allowed to drink anymore. Once you start drinking, you can't control your mouth."

Meng's father said sheepishly, "Fine, I won't drink anymore."

Du Min didn't know how to react.

"It's getting late, we should go to the paper horse shop to get to work," Meng Qing interrupted.

“Wait, Second Sister-in-law, I’ve brought your dowry of 120 strings of cash. Let’s return it to its rightful owner,” Du Min said.

Meng Qing was taken aback. She joked, "So generous? One hundred and twenty strings of cash, enough to buy a small two-courtyard house in Rujiaofang."

"I'm really reluctant to part with it. I thought about it all night before making this decision. Please accept it quickly, or I might change my mind if you tease me a bit more." Du Min was quite conflicted. This money had been his for two years, and it would be incredibly difficult for him to return it.

“It was agreed that this 120 strings of cash was for your travel expenses to the capital for the imperial examination. In business, this is a transaction. The marriage is done, and the deal is done. There is no reason to take the money back.” Meng’s father stepped forward to refuse the money. “Keep it safe. There will be many places to spend money next year when you go to Chang’an.”

Meng Qing nodded, "I appreciate your kindness, but you can keep the money."

"Am I serious?" Du Min observed the expressions on the Meng family members' faces.

Mencius's parents ignored him and went out to work.

"Wangzhou, do you want to come with your uncle? We're going to the paper horse shop," Meng Chun asked.

Wang Zhou squatted under the table feeding ants, completely ignoring what his uncle was saying.

Meng Qing reached out and pinched his ear, "Big-eared donkey, your uncle is asking you a question."

Wang Zhou covered his ears and crawled out, stammering, "My uncle said..."

“Let’s go to the paper horse shop.” Meng Chun reached out and took his hand. “Your grandparents have already passed away. We need to hurry and catch up with them.”

"Go quickly." Meng Qing gave him a push. "Take your goose with you. It's stinky to keep it locked up at home."

Wangzhou followed Mengchun. Du Min looked at his short, stocky, round body, and how he walked like a waddling little goose. He exclaimed, "Wangzhou is so cute."

"She's cute at this age, but she won't be cute anymore once she loses her baby fat," Meng Qing said. "Are you going to see Master Chen today?"

Du Min nodded, "He has already sent someone to look for me. If I go into the city and don't go to see him, wouldn't that make him angry? I'll go in a bit."

While he was still there, Du Li asked him to help carry the two boxes of money back to the backyard, where they were still kept in Meng Chun's room.

“If you get robbed, we won’t compensate you for the stolen money,” Du Li told him.

“I know,” Du Min nodded.

"I'm going to the shop," Meng Qing informed them. "Third brother, are you coming over to stay tonight? Should I leave the door open for you?"

“No need, I’m going back to the prefectural school to attend classes.” Du Min also walked out. “I’ll take a boat to the Chen residence now.”

*

"Master, Scholar Du has arrived," Steward Chen reported.

"Have you gone to inform the Gu family?" Master Chen asked.

"I sent someone away."

"Then wait for the Gu family to arrive, and then take them all to my study," Master Chen instructed.

Du Min had just finished a cup of tea in the outer hall when he heard hurried footsteps approaching. He looked up and saw Gu Wuxia's smug face.

"Brother Du, it's been a long time. How have you been?" Gu Wuxia said with a smile. "I heard about your good news and came to congratulate you."

Du Min stood up and greeted the man who came in after him: "Min greets Uncle Gu."

Gu's father nodded.

"Gentlemen, the master requests your presence." Steward Chen appeared at this moment.

Upon hearing the sound, Du Min went out, with Gu Wuxia a step behind him. He mocked, "You're quite good at keeping secrets, going to participate in the provincial examination without a word. Are you afraid someone will report you for being unfilial?"

Du Min's face was tense, and his expression was very unpleasant.

Gu Wuxia snorted, "You'll also taste what it's like to have your hopes dashed."

Butler Chen pretended not to hear the argument behind him and led the people straight to the study, opening the door to invite them in.

Master Chen was already waiting in the study. He glanced at Du Min's face and knew that Du Min probably already knew what was going on.

"Du Min, do you understand Gu Wuxia's purpose in coming here?" Master Chen asked.

"I don't know." Du Min wanted to make him say it himself, to see if he had the face to say it.

Gu Wuxia was about to speak when his father pressed his hand down, preventing him from offending anyone again.

Master Chen didn't miss the change in Gu Wuxia's expression. He was secretly annoyed and spoke without holding back, "When the news of your name being on the list spread, Gu Wuxia clamored to go to the government to sue you for filial impiety and to cut off your path to the imperial examinations. When I found out, I sent people to stop him. After several discussions, the Gu family proposed that you give up your status as a tribute student and not go to Chang'an to take the examinations this year. As long as you agree, all the grudges between your two families will be resolved, and the Gu family will no longer cause you any trouble in the future."

Du Min gritted his teeth and remained silent, his head bowed and saying nothing.

Master Chen stopped talking and took a couple of sips of tea.

The crisp sound of the teacup lid lightly touching the teacup made Du Min look up. He saw the smug expression on Master Chen's face and felt a strong sense of disgust and contempt. This Master Chen was nothing more than that; his actions were despicable and underhanded. He wanted to use him for promotion but dared not say so openly. And Du Min, a mere scholar in white robes, was being feared by a Master Chen? He dared to place a bet but dared not bear the risks; he was even less daring and decisive than a merchant's daughter.

"Will the Gu family cause me trouble again in the future? Will some Shi or Xing family suddenly appear?" Du Min asked.

Seeing that he had given in, Master Chen said sternly, "You are my student. You have suffered this loss today. I will use this matter to settle things for you, and no one will bother you again."

Du Min turned his face away, breathing heavily. Finally, he sighed and said, "An eye for an eye, I'll remember that. Thank you for your trouble, sir."

Master Chen looked at the Gu family father and son, "Are you satisfied now? From now on, he will have no more grudges against you."

"Yes." Father Gu led Gu Wuxia away.

“It’s better not to take the exam this year. You can gain some experience and take it again next year. If you pass, come with me to Chang’an, and I will introduce you to the examiners,” Master Chen promised.

Du Min thanked him with tears of gratitude, saying, "It is my great fortune to have met you, sir. Thank you for your promotion. If there is anything you need me to do in the future, I will do my utmost."

Master Chen was satisfied with his reaction. He pulled Du Min into a game of chess, and halfway through, he stopped and gave him the chess set, saying, "Practice your chess skills more often; don't just study books all the time."

Du Min gave a perfunctory reply, "If you have no other instructions, I will return to the prefectural school now. I also need to inform Dr. Xu that I am not going to Chang'an for the examination, and I will disappoint him."

"Okay, go ahead, Dr. Xu will understand."

Dr. Xu knew that Du Min was just there to make up the numbers in this exam. When he came to see him, he carefully observed Du Min's expression, but apart from being gloomy, he seemed to have no other emotions, neither indignation nor dejection.

"That's how officialdom is, dirty and ugly," Dr. Xu advised. "I have a friend who's going on a trip. Why don't you go with him? Go see the great rivers and mountains, broaden your horizons, and then come back."