Chapter 106 Let's have another child...

Chapter 106 Let's have another child...

Master Lu sighed deeply.

"What about me?" Lu Wensi asked. He thought to himself that he was the one who started this whole thing, and it would only cause trouble if other people from the clan got involved. It would be better to let him handle it.

“Let my uncle do it. With your reputation, the others will certainly not be willing,” Master Lu said, deliberately slapping him in the face.

Du Min seemed oblivious. He sized up Lu Wensi and asked, "Is he as his name suggests?"

"...My uncle was the teacher of our Lu clan school before he went into mourning," said Teacher Lu.

“It is I, Du, who has benefited.” Du Min’s expression immediately changed. He said in a pleasant tone, “Then please ask Master Lu to come to the government office to start classes in five days. How about a monthly fee of two strings of cash?”

Lu Wensi nodded.

"I'll see the two teachers out," Du Min said amicably, showing no trace of his previous thuggish demeanor.

Master Lu was speechless. After leaving the county government office, he looked at the stack of papers in his hand and resignedly went to the south city to find General Lu.

Du Min watched the two figures disappear into the distance until they walked out of the street where the county government office was located, and then he turned around and entered the county government office.

"Sir, there has been a funeral in Xuanyunfang. The deceased is a wealthy merchant surnamed An." The county constable chased after him from outside, handed him an invitation, and said with a strange expression, "This family sent a servant to deliver it, inviting you to come and pay your respects tomorrow."

Du Min took the invitation, which stated that his deceased father had passed away at 3:45 AM on the 22nd day of the 11th lunar month. He looked up and asked, "Is today the 22nd day of the 11th lunar month?"

The county constable nodded. "This man died two hours ago."

Du Min smiled, patted the invitation in his hand, and said, "This family knows what's good for them. Give the order that the constables who accompany me to the funeral tomorrow should change out of their black uniforms, be more amiable, and not look like they're looking for trouble."

“...Yes.” The county constable left.

Du Min walked briskly toward the government office. As he passed the office of clerks, Magistrate Sun met him and asked in surprise, "Sir, what brings you such joy? You've been in Heqing County for so long, and this is the first time I've seen you so happy."

Du Min handed over the post in his hand, saying, "The results of making an example of someone have been achieved."

Magistrate Sun glanced at the contents of the post and became happy as well. "Congratulations, sir, your wish has come true."

"It's still a long way from getting what we want, and we have to keep going with the mourning." Du Min knew that there was a tug-of-war that could last for two or three years or even longer, which would be a test for him and the other officials in the county government.

Magistrate Sun returned the invitation to him, and he said admiringly, "You will surely be able to suppress the extravagant funeral practices in Heqing County. I wish you a speedy promotion."

Du Min's smile faded, and he said seriously, "You'd better work hard for me. When I leave, I'll try my best to get you into my position."

Magistrate Sun immediately beamed with joy and bowed, saying, "This humble official thanks you for your promotion, sir."

Du Min patted him on the shoulder, and he strode away from the clerk's office.

"Second Sister-in-law! Second Sister-in-law!" Du Min shouted loudly as soon as he stepped into the government office.

Meng Qing hurried out of Wangzhou's house, "What are you shouting for? What happened?"

“I’ve taken care of your business matters. After noon, you can open the door and wait for the money to come in,” Du Min said smugly.

"How did you settle it?" Du Li asked curiously as she followed them out.

"It was thanks to the account books you recovered that I was able to get this done. I contacted the Lu family, and they will be the ones to take them to the charity school and the paper horse shop to purchase paper funerary objects. They have shown me goodwill, so I won't pursue the matter in the account books," Du Min explained. "There's another matter. We've also found the tutor for Wangzhou. He's Lu Di's cousin, Lu Wensi. He used to teach at the Lu clan school, so his knowledge must be quite good."

Meng Qing smiled and said, "Third brother, you're amazing."

Du Min's smugness grew, but he humbly said, "I was able to break the deadlock so quickly thanks to the support of my second sister-in-law and second brother, especially my second sister-in-law. The Yishu and Meng family's paper horse shop suffered serious damage because of me, but you didn't blame me. Not only did you not blame me, you also helped me. If it weren't for my second sister-in-law's decisive action in stopping the Wang family's funeral procession, I wouldn't have had the chance to make an example of them."

Meng Qing waved his hand, signaling him not to say such things. "Officially, your career is going smoothly, which is why I am able to make money. We are in the same boat and should share weal and woe. Personally, you are your second brother's own brother and my brother-in-law. We are family, and how can family members kick each other when they are down? The reason we are in this situation today is because you have the courage and means, and you are not afraid of bearing the infamy or offending people. It is because you, Du Min, are capable."

Hearing this, Du Min felt incredibly comfortable and lightheaded. He laughed three times and said, "I'll host a feast tonight. You, Uncle Meng, Aunt Pan, and Brother Chun should come back early so we can drink and celebrate."

“Okay,” Meng Qing replied.

"Where's Wangzhou?" Du Min asked again. "Isn't he home? We've been talking for so long and he hasn't come out."

"I'm folding paper," Wang Zhou called out through the door. "Third Uncle, come in."

Du Min went inside and saw a bed of paper scraps and clumps of paper of various shapes. He reached out to take them, but Wang Zhou stopped him urgently: "Third Uncle, don't touch them. If you change their positions, I won't remember what they are."

Du Min: "...What are all these things? Do you still need them?"

“I’m going to fold out a room. This is the roof, these are the beams and pillars, this is the door frame, this is the window, and this is a wall with a window…” Wang Zhou explained one by one.

Du Min's expression gradually became serious. He squatted by the bed and stared at the ceiling. When Wang Zhou wasn't paying attention, he picked it up and examined it carefully.

Wang Zhou was so angry that he shouted, "Mother!" Meng Qing came in and chased Du Min away.

"Second Sister-in-law, did you help him fold that roof?" Du Min asked, standing under the eaves. "I didn't see any glue marks. Was it folded from a single sheet of paper? How did you fold the tiles into that shape? Your skills have improved again?"

Meng Qing smiled and shook her head, saying, "I didn't fold it, Wang Zhou did. He folded all those pieces of paper, and only one was successful. Don't touch it, I can't touch it either."

Du Min couldn't quite put his finger on what he was feeling. Wang Zhou's skill at such a young age was truly remarkable, which should have been a cause for celebration. However, he was also a little worried that Wang Zhou might invest too much effort into this path and end up falling in love with it.

“Dr. Xu is good at painting, and Chen is fond of chess. It’s normal for Wangzhou to have a hobby in his spare time,” Meng Qing said. “He has no worries about making a living or finding teachers, so it’s normal for him to have the energy and inclination to pursue his hobbies.”

“Yes, yes.” Du Min realized, “It’s a good thing.”

Du Li came out of the house and waved to Meng Qing, "Come on, we should go."

"Third brother, your second brother and I are going to my parents' house for lunch. Wangzhou will stay home and have lunch with you," Meng Qing said with a smile.

Du Min clicked his tongue. "It's not like there's no food at home."

Meng Qing and Du Li ignored these words and walked away hand in hand. After a few steps, Meng Qing turned back and instructed, "Tell Wang Zhou that he cannot leave the government office alone, or he might get kidnapped by bad guys. If he wants to go to the charity school to find us, arrange for two trustworthy constables to escort him."

"Understood." Du Min waved to the dashing couple.

As they walked out of the government office, Meng Qing suddenly said, "Let's have another child once the charity school's business stabilizes."

Du Li quickly turned his head to look at her, and asked in surprise, "Really?"

Meng Qing nodded, "Really."

Du Li couldn't help but smile. In four more months, Wangzhou would be six years old, but in these six years, he and Meng Qing had slept together less than twice. During this time, she didn't want to get pregnant, and she was always anxious after each time they slept together. Seeing her like this, he gradually stopped mentioning it, and if she didn't mention it, he wouldn't want it either. Over the years, he suspected he could have become a monk.

"I hope this child comes later," Du Li wished.

Meng Qing also had this idea; it wouldn't be too late to get pregnant again in three or four years.

Upon arriving at Xingjiaofang, Meng Qing announced the good news to her parents that the paper horse shop was about to open. "The leisurely days are coming to an end. We'll be busy for a while. If nothing unexpected happens, we won't have much time to rest for the next three or four years."

When Mencius' father and mother realized that Du Min had exerted his power, an awkward expression flashed across Mencius' mother's face.

*

That evening, Meng's parents and Meng Chun went to the government office with Meng Qing. Du Min had already arranged a banquet. In addition to the Meng family, Gu Wudong's family, as well as County Magistrate Sun, the Registrar, the County Commandant, and the clerks of the Six Ministries were also invited.

Once everyone was present, Du Min raised his wine cup and said, "Thank you all for your support over the past two months. I would like to offer you all a toast, bottoms up!"

The others raised their wine cups and drank it all in one gulp.

"I raise a glass to you, sir. Your arrival in Heqing County has brought us here, and thanks to you, we can finally hold our heads high for once." Magistrate Sun raised his glass.

Du Min raised his cup to drink with him, to prevent others from coming to drink with him as well. He then changed the subject: "I plan to set up a primary school in the government office. The teacher will be Master Lu Wensi from the Lu Clan School. If you have children in your family who need to start their education, send them to the government office. They don't need to pay tuition."

When Meng's mother saw this, she turned to Meng Qing and said, "Du Min is really different from before."

Meng Qing nodded, "He is capable and talented, and he will surely achieve great things in the future. Mother, you have chosen to leave Wu County with him, so don't back down so easily. There is no such thing as a risk-free gain in this world."

"Yes," Mencius' mother nodded, "I won't interfere in your affairs anymore."

Meng Qing put a chicken leg on her plate and said, "My mother is a thousand times better than his mother. She knows she's wrong and dares to admit it. That's very good."

Mencius' mother couldn't help but laugh, "You just have a silver tongue."