Chapter 119 Encountering Chen Mingzhang in Luoyang

Chapter 119 Encountering Chen Mingzhang in Luoyang

The matter was settled, and Magistrate Zhao invited Du Min to have a meal at the county office, but he declined, saying, "I'm taking my nephew to the foot of Beiman Mountain to visit his maternal grandparents."

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Zhao remembered something and said, "I have already arranged for the yamen runners to post the notice for the free school to accept students. Perhaps someone will sign up today. I will go and take a look."

Du Min couldn't think of a reason to refuse, so she could only go out with him.

The two men, along with Wang Zhou, traveled by oxcart to Beiman Mountain. Upon seeing them, the people who had been lingering near the county government office searching for Du Min's whereabouts immediately became serious.

When the oxcart reached the vicinity of Beiman Mountain, the already hurried funeral procession on the road, upon seeing them, suddenly dispersed like ants before a rainstorm, with some of the people carrying the burial goods breaking away from the procession and running towards the mountains ahead.

"Lord Du, when you are promoted and leave, your name will be known far and wide in Beiman Mountain!" Magistrate Zhao said with a smile.

Du Min smiled but didn't say anything.

The oxcart arrived at the gate of the school. Wangzhou jumped off first and said, "Third Uncle, I can see my parents. I'm going in first."

Du Min nodded and said to Magistrate Zhao, "We don't plan to stop the funeral procession today, so let's not stand outside and scare people. Let's go upstairs."

"Alright," Magistrate Zhao nodded.

Inside the free school, Meng Qing and her servants were examining the skills of the applicants. When the two entered, she simply nodded in acknowledgment and continued with her own tasks.

Du Min looked around, then led Magistrate Zhao upstairs, and came down to greet Meng's parents. Du Li, Meng Chun, and Wang Zhou were also at the Paper Horse Shop.

"Uncle Meng, Aunt Pan, are you not taking on apprentices this year?" Du Min asked.

“We have enough manpower. This year we only took in four apprentices for three years. From now on, we will take in four every year, and release a batch after they have completed three years.” Meng’s father continued, looking at Du Min’s forehead, “The scar is healing quite quickly, and the scar has faded a lot.”

Du Min touched his forehead and said, "The medicine that Governor Zheng sent is quite effective. By the way, Second Brother, I'm going to the Governor's Mansion in Luoyang with Magistrate Zhao in a few days. What are my Second Sister-in-law's plans? When will she leave? We can go together."

“We can do it a couple of days earlier or later, it all depends on Wang Zhou’s opinion. Your second sister-in-law said this morning that she wants him to sleep with us for a few more nights.” Du Li looked down at Wang Zhou.

Wang Zhou smiled happily.

"Hey! You're so old, and you're still sleeping with your parents? Aren't you ashamed?" Du Min pinched his cheek.

Wang Zhou leaned his head against his father's waist and smugly hummed, "I'm willing, and my parents are happy too!"

Meng's father, mother, and Meng Chun were all amused by him.

“Then we’ll set off in three days, on the eighth day of the eighth lunar month,” Du Min decided. “Wang Zhou will come with us then, and I’ll bring him back when I return.”

Du Li looked at Wang Zhou, "Is it okay?"

Wang Zhou nodded.

“I’ll go tell Magistrate Zhao.” Du Min turned and left, but after taking a few steps, he turned back and said, “Second Brother, arrange for a servant to buy two meals and send them up.”

"Okay." Du Li agreed, and handed the boat to Meng's mother. "Mother, keep an eye on him and don't let him run away."

Mencius' mother nodded. The place was almost entirely filled with funeral processions, with people dressed in mourning clothes coming and going. Coffins were everywhere, and the atmosphere was not good. If they bumped into something, it would be terrible.

Du Li went to buy two meals and personally delivered them upstairs. He asked Du Min if he had anything else to do in the afternoon. "Nothing else. After you finish eating, take Wang Zhou back immediately. This is not a good place."

Du Min said "Oh," and after finishing his meal, he urged Magistrate Zhao to come downstairs. He called Wang Zhou, and the three of them left in an oxcart.

Magistrate Zhao: "..."

So you're saying he came all this way just to get a meal?

Upon arriving at the Heyang Bridge ferry, Du Min and Wang Zhou disembarked. Before leaving, they agreed: "Lord Zhao, let's meet here at the end of Chenshi (7-9 AM) on the eighth day of the eighth lunar month?"

"Okay, I'll wait for you to come over."

*

Three days later.

Du Min entrusted the affairs of the county government to Magistrate Sun, and he and Meng Qing left the government office early in the morning to cross the river to Heyin County to meet Magistrate Zhao.

Magistrate Zhao was waiting on the other side of the river. He had arranged three carriages, and as soon as they arrived, he immediately invited them to get in.

Meng Chun hesitated, then looked at Meng Qing, who handed him the boat and said, "Take your uncle with you."

Meng Chun was led by Wang Zhou to sit in the carriage. Looking at the chestnut horse pulling the carriage, he was filled with indescribable feelings. He had made countless paper horses by hand, but he never thought that he would have the chance to ride in a carriage in his lifetime.

“I thought I would only be able to ride in a horse-drawn carriage after I died,” Meng Chun murmured to himself.

Wang Zhou heard this and sat in his lap, whispering, "Uncle, when I become an official, I'll drive the carriage to your house, and we'll close the door so you can sit wherever you want."

Meng Chun smiled faintly, "Uncle was just saying it casually. It's not like horse-drawn carriages are the only means of transportation. Donkeys and oxen can also pull carts, and I can ride in a donkey cart or an ox cart."

Wang Zhou could tell he wasn't very happy, and not knowing how to comfort him, he remained silent.

Heyin County is more than 120 li away from Luoyang. It would take three days to travel by walking and donkey cart. However, by switching to horse-drawn carriage, the carriage could be in Luoyang County by nightfall after setting out in the morning.

On the ninth day of the eighth lunar month, Du Min and his party arrived in Luoyang before noon and stayed at the post station to rest.

"Lord Du, do you have any other plans? I'll arrange for someone to deliver the visiting card to the governor's office right away," Magistrate Zhao asked.

“Okay.” Du Min nodded, then turned around and delivered a visiting card to Prefect Yin.

After the visiting card was delivered, by evening, officials from the governor's office summoned the post station and told them to wait in Luoyang for two days, as Governor Zheng had important business to attend to and would not have time to see them until two days later.

Upon hearing this, Du Min took advantage of the break to visit Yin Mingfu with his elder brother and sister-in-law.

Upon hearing the purpose of the visit, Yin Mingfu agreed without hesitation.

"These paper-made funerary objects should have been sold in Luoyang long ago, but due to unforeseen circumstances, it's been four years late," said Yin Mingfu with regret.

"Yes, if things hadn't gone wrong back then, I would have been working under you, Your Excellency, long ago," Du Min replied.

Yin Mingfu shook his head. "If I had really taken you back then, you wouldn't have such a bright future today. You're destined for officialdom, and there's no stopping you. I heard some news that you might not know: Prime Minister Lu has resigned and returned to his hometown to retire. You managed to bring down the prime minister in one fell swoop, and you've shaken up the entire Lu family of Fanyang. That's quite remarkable."

Du Min was surprised, "I really haven't heard of this."

"I only found out yesterday. The news came from the governor's office, so it can't be false," said Yin Mingfu.

Du Min looked at Meng Qing and Du Li, his joy barely concealed. They had really pulled off a big heist, which would be a magnificent milestone in his career.

Yin Mingfu stared at Du Min. He was so young, talented, and shrewd. He even had paper effigies to pave the way for him, and he had also managed to get close to the Zheng family of Xingyang. His future looked bright!

"Lord Du, you're not married yet? Have you arranged a marriage?" Yin Mingfu was tempted. This man couldn't be his subordinate, but it would be great if he could be his son-in-law or nephew-in-law.

"Not yet." Du Min understood what he meant.

"Have you considered getting married?" Yin Mingfu asked again.

Du Min nodded thoughtfully, “My family background is humble, and I was afraid that other girls would suffer with me. Before I was successful, I did not consider getting married and having children. Year after year, it was delayed.”

Yin Mingfu stroked his beard and nodded. "Have some tea and some snacks."

Meng Qing and Du Li watched silently from the sidelines. Yin Mingfu looked to be nearly forty years old and probably had a grown daughter. He was likely interested in Du Min as a son-in-law. Du Min also seemed interested. It was quite possible that the two of them would become father-in-law and son-in-law.

“Madam Meng, my wife enjoys going out shopping. She knows exactly where the best places in Luoyang are. Since you’re considering the location of the academy, why don’t you have her accompany you out for a stroll?” Yin Mingfu said, looking at Meng Qing.

Meng Qing knew that this was a proposal to have the women discuss marriage arrangements, and she readily agreed, "Then I'll trouble you, Madam. I'll be staying at the post station for the next few days. When you wish to go out, please arrange for someone to deliver a message."

Yin Mingfu nodded, and then promised, "I will instruct the city magistrate to keep an eye out for good shops."

"In that case, I won't go to the broker."

"Yes, no need to find a broker. The city magistrate will find a shop for you. Do you want to buy or rent?"

“Buy, three shops, and they need to be far apart.” Of the three shops, one is Meng Chun’s paper horse shop, and the other two are free schools. Meng Qing only has enough money left to buy one shop. She plans to use the public account to buy another one, and if she can free up her funds by the end of the year, she will use her private account to pay off the public account and convert the third shop into her private property.

Yin Mingfu noted it down, "I will pass on the instructions."

Meng Qing thanked him.

"Nothing urgent today, right? Stay for dinner." Yin Mingfu looked at Du Min.

Du Min did not refuse.

Yin Mingfu instructed his servants to prepare a feast. Not long after, Madam Yin arrived. She glanced at Du Min a few times, and then asked Meng Qing to leave.

Meng Qing seemed oblivious to what the other person meant, answering whatever Madam Yin asked.

"My parents are alive, but they are old and can't bear the hardships of travel, so they didn't come with Du Min to take up his post... There are three brothers, and there is an older brother. The older brother and his wife are honest and don't like to go out, so they discussed that the eldest brother's family would stay in their hometown to take care of their parents, while my wife and I would come with the youngest brother so that he wouldn't be alone without anyone to take care of him..." Meng Qing explained the situation at home.

After chatting for most of the hour, Madam Yin finally let Meng Qing go.

After leaving the government office, Meng Qing asked, "Third brother, are you interested in this marriage? Have you met the daughter of Prefect Yin?"

“No.” Du Min shook his head. When talking about his marriage and his future wife, there was no joy or expectation on his face. He only analyzed the pros and cons: “Prefect Yin and I are both disciples of the Emperor. He recognized the hidden value of paper-made funerary objects four years ago. He is a talented and insightful person. Moreover, he is not a despicable person like Chen Mingzhang. His official position is above mine. He is willing to marry his daughter to me. What do I have to complain about?”

“Hmm…” Du Li stopped. “I saw someone… Third brother, Chen Mingzhang is looking at you.”

Du Min was startled, feeling a sense of absurdity, as if he had encountered a ghost in broad daylight.

Chen Mingzhang was drinking tea in a teahouse. After paying for the tea, he strode towards Du Min.

Du Min quickly composed himself and stepped forward to greet him, "Lord Chen, what brings you to Luoyang?"

"You don't know?" Chen Mingzhang stared at him inquisitively.

"You've been transferred to Luoyang?" Du Min feigned a normal reaction. "When was the transfer? Which government office are you working for now?"

Chen Mingzhang stared at him for a long while, momentarily doubting his own guess. Could it really be that Du Min was behind it all? But he really didn't believe that the Gu family would ruin him over some trivial rural conflict.

"Lord Chen, what's wrong?" Du Min asked curiously. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I heard about your deeds in Luoyang. You're really bold to offend the Lu family of Fanyang." Chen Mingzhang withdrew his gaze.

Du Min smiled slightly. He didn't mince words and said frankly, "I have powerful backers."

“Gu Wuxia accused me of holding a banquet during my mourning period in Chang’an. The Ministry of Justice summoned me. You need to have your powerful backer settle this matter.” Chen Mingzhang stared at him. “Du Min, if I am accused of being unfilial, you will be accused as well. You are doing very well in the officialdom now. You don’t want to ruin your future, do you?”

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Author's note: See you tomorrow night at 8 PM.