Chapter 124 Buying a Dyehouse

Chapter 124 Buying a Dyehouse

Meng Qing jogged out of the post station to meet up with Du Li and Meng Chun. The city magistrate had already arrived. She explained apologetically, "My third brother held me up when I came out. He had something to discuss with me."

"What is it?" Du Li asked, picking up the conversation.

Meng Qing glanced at him approvingly and said, “Lord Chen is dying, he only has a few days left. His children and grandchildren are in Chang’an, and his wife is in Runzhou. No one can come within three to five days, and there is no old servant to handle the funeral arrangements. After much thought, my third brother decided to have his apprentice take his place in handling the funeral arrangements. To avoid Lord Chen’s remains being left to languish in the mortuary, he decided to carry the coffin back to Heqing County, and wait for Lord Chen’s son to arrive before they carry the coffin back to their hometown.”

Du Li almost lost control of his expression. He said with a blank face, "Really? Oh, oh! That's good. It completes the master-disciple relationship between the two of them."

The magistrate looked on with admiration, saying, "Lord Du is kind and filial, and has the spirit of Zigong. He is truly admirable."

“This is what he should do as a student,” Meng Qing said modestly on Du Min’s behalf. “He stopped me because he wanted us to hurry up and work with him to procure a batch of complete paper effigies for Lord Chen.”

The magistrate was increasingly surprised, "Lord Du can even make paper effigies of funerary objects?"

Meng Qing nodded, "He learned from us when he was in Chang'an. He also contributed to the Buddhist verses and sacrificial offerings for the Emperor's Fengshan ceremony."

"Is there anything that Lord Du can't do?" the magistrate exclaimed in amazement. "He is learned and talented, loyal and righteous, knowledgeable in politics and skilled in craftsmanship. He is truly remarkable."

Du Li glanced at Meng Qing again and again. Was this her idea? If Chen Mingzhang knew that Du Min planned to use his funeral to gain a reputation for being both loyal and filial, he would probably be so angry that he would come back to life.

"Sister, why don't you and my brother-in-law go with the magistrate to look at the shops, while I go to buy the things needed to make paper-mache funerary objects?" Meng Chun asked. "Let's go to both places to avoid wasting time."

“Okay.” Meng Qing nodded. “Hire two donkey carts to come along and buy everything.”

"I know, don't worry about it," Meng Chun said, nodding goodbye to the city magistrate before leaving first.

“Let’s go too. Let’s settle on the shop as soon as possible so as not to delay the magistrate’s important business,” Du Li said.

Meng Qing nodded and asked the mayor to get into the car first.

Du Li helped Wang Zhou onto the donkey cart, and then helped Meng Qing up. He sat in the carriage and said to the driver, "Old man, you can walk now."

After the donkey cart left, Du Min walked out of the post station with his hands behind his back. He looked around, secretly pleased, and quickly left.

The family reunited near dusk. Du Min was the last to return to the post station. When he entered the courtyard, Meng Chun and Du Li were splitting bamboo strips, Meng Qing and Wang Zhou were dyeing tung oil paper, and Magistrate Zhao was also busy grinding ink.

"So, have you found a coffin yet?" Meng Qing asked.

Du Min nodded, "The coffin, burial clothes, pallbearers, and monks to chant sutras have all been found, but the location for setting up the mourning tent has not yet been determined."

“We’ve also found some shops. We’ll go to the yamen tomorrow morning to settle accounts and complete the deed. How about we set up the mourning hall in one of the shops? Two of them are in the funerary objects shops in the East and West Markets, and the other is in the funerary objects shops at the foot of Baima Temple Mountain,” Meng Qing said.

"Were the shops at the foot of Baima Temple also bought?" Du Min asked.

"Yes, it was bought under the name of the Ministry of Rites." Meng Qing said with some regret. Only by bringing up the name of the Ministry of Rites would Baima Temple be willing to sell its private property.

"Then let's settle on a shop at the foot of Baima Temple Mountain?" Du Min asked.

Meng Qing nodded. She had chosen to buy the shop at the foot of Baima Temple Mountain as a second choice because she had to take care of Chen Mingzhang's funeral. Although the shop could not be registered in her name, the location was excellent, with many dignitaries passing by, and the paper offerings would be seen by more people.

After the matter was settled, Du Min went back to his room to pack his bedding, as he was going to keep watch at the pharmacy that night.

"Lord Du, I plan to return to Heyin County tomorrow morning. Would you like me to pass on a message to Magistrate Sun?" Magistrate Zhao asked, knocking on the door.

“I’ll write a letter, can you take it back for me?” Du Min said.

“Alright.” Magistrate Zhao walked in, placed the ceramic plate he was carrying on the table, which contained the ink he had ground.

Du Min sat down and picked up a pen to write, but stopped halfway through. He hesitated between keeping the coffin in the government office for a month or digging a pit for burial.

“Third brother, Wangzhou won’t be going back with you this time. You’ll be carrying the coffin all the way back, and he’ll inevitably be scared if he goes with you.” Du Li walked in. “I’ll send him back after you hand over Lord Chen’s coffin.”

Du Minyou made a decision: he would first bury Chen Mingzhang's coffin, as there was a primary school in the government office, and he couldn't frighten the children.

“Alright.” Du Min turned around and said thoughtfully, “Tomorrow I will visit Prefect Yin. His family should also have a tutor. I will have Wang Zhou study at his family’s clan school for a month.”

"Your marriage..."

"I know," Du Min said, already aware of the situation.

Upon hearing this, Du Li stopped asking questions and went out to continue his work.

Du Min quickly wrote a letter, and after the ink dried, he packed it up and handed it to Magistrate Zhao. Then he left with his bedding roll.

Upon arriving at the pharmacy, Du Min found only a doctor on night duty and two apprentices. He asked, "How is Lord Chen's condition today?"

The doctor shook his head. "In the afternoon, Prefect Yin brought two doctors. Both doctors examined him and advised him to prepare for the worst."

"Prefect Yin has been here?"

"Yes, Prefect Yin, inquire about the reason for Lord Chen's worsening condition," the doctor said, his eyes lowered.

Du Min sighed, "There's nothing we can do. It's probably fate. We can't blame you."

The doctor remained silent.

“I’ll be guarding the medicine shop tonight. You can continue doing what you need to do and don’t need to worry about me,” Du Min said.

The doctor replied, "There's nothing much to do. Lord Chen's injury shouldn't be aggravated. He doesn't need his dressing changed anymore. He just needs to be given ginseng soup twice a night."

Du Min nodded, carrying his bedding roll into the medicine shed. As soon as he entered, he heard the faint, labored breathing. He glanced at it, then closed the door behind him and chose to sleep on the floor in the place furthest from the bed.

The room smelled unpleasant; the dying gasps and unconscious cries of pain echoed in the silent night, sending a chill down Du Min's spine. He lay down with his back to the bed, feeling something approaching him. After a moment of stiffness, he resignedly turned to face the dark figure on the bed. He stared, unable to sleep, and tried to distract himself by thinking about how to arrange Chen Mingzhang's funeral. The more he thought, the more awake he became. He sat up, pondered for a while, and decided to pay someone to publicize the story of Chen Mingzhang's son carrying the coffin in his place.

The thought that he would benefit from Chen Mingzhang's death made Du Min fear nothing. He lay down contentedly, closed his eyes, and began to drift off to sleep.

He woke up twice during the night, and the last time he woke up, it was already broad daylight. Du Min rolled up his bedding and placed it on the bench. He went to the bedside to check on the person, and seeing that he was still breathing, he left reassured.

When Du Min returned to the post station, Magistrate Zhao had already left. Meng Qing, Meng Chun, Du Li, and Wang Zhou had also started working. After washing up and having a simple meal, he joined in.

When the sun was high in the sky, he stopped making bamboo hoop and said, "Second sister-in-law, second brother, I have to go to the county government office. I may not be back for lunch. If there is any news from Lord Chen, please send a messenger to find me."

“Okay.” Meng Qing nodded.

Du Minchao beckoned to Wang Zhou, "Come with me, I'll find you a place to study today."

Wang Zhou jogged over and took his hand. "Let's go."

The uncle and nephew went out together and walked for half an incense stick to reach the county government office. After being announced by the yamen runner, the two passed through the front of the yamen and arrived at the government office.

"My lord, I've come to bother you again." Du Min entered the study and spoke in a very friendly manner.

"About Lord Chen? I heard about it from the magistrate." Prefect Yin gestured for him to sit down. "You've come at the right time; I was just about to send someone to find you. The day Lord Chen had his accident, you said he was embroiled in a lawsuit? What lawsuit? Was his appearance in Luoyang because of this lawsuit?"

Du Min looked troubled. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "You'll find out sooner or later, so I won't hide it from you. He's on his way to Chang'an because someone accused him of holding a banquet during his mourning period, and the Ministry of Justice has summoned him."

"A banquet to mark the mourning period? Is this true?" Yin Mingfu leaned forward.

Du Min sighed and frowned, saying, "They say that death settles all debts. If he dies, there's no need to pursue the case any further. I still want to leave him with some dignity. Whether it's true or not, it doesn't seem to matter much. Sir, could you please not pursue the truth? Report his death from injury to the court so that he can still be buried according to his official rank."

Yin Mingfu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He had been overly suspicious. He had always felt that Du Min's attitude towards Chen Mingzhang was a bit strange. Du Min repeatedly called Chen Mingzhang his mentor and acted considerately, but he showed almost no sign of grief. Even when Chen Mingzhang's injuries worsened, Du Min didn't seem to seek treatment from another doctor. It could be said that he was considerate but not thorough, thoughtful but heartless. Now it seemed that Du Min was willing to consider Chen Mingzhang's posthumous reputation, which didn't seem like he had a grudge against him.

“You meant well, I understand. How about this, I’ll pretend I never heard you mention this.” Yin Mingfu pulled out a blank official document and wrote: “Chen Mingzhang, the military advisor, caused a fire at the Luoyang East Post Station after knocking over a boiler while drunk, resulting in severe burns that ultimately led to his death.”

"Thank you for your kindness, Magistrate Yin." Du Min bowed.

Prefect Yin nodded. He wrote down the cause and result of the case in detail, then put down his pen and stamped it with his official seal.

After Du Min finished writing, he continued, "Your Excellency, I have another request."

"explain."

“This is my nephew, named Wangzhou. He will turn seven next March and has been attending school for a year. He originally came to Luoyang with me to go back to school, but I plan to escort the coffin back to Heqing County, and he would inevitably be afraid if he came with me. After discussing it with his parents, we decided that he and his parents should stay in Luoyang until Lord Chen's funeral is settled, and then I will come to pick him up.” Du Min explained the situation. “It’s not good for him and his parents to be dealing with paper effigies and funerary objects in the free school for more than a month. I was thinking that perhaps you have a tutor or a clan school in your family, could you let him study here for a while?”

Yin Mingfu looked at Wangzhou, who stood up, took two steps forward, and stood properly under the table, bowing respectfully. "Junior greets Your Excellency, Mingfu."

Du Min watched his actions, a smile unconsciously appearing on his lips.

Yin Mingfu did not miss Du Min's expression. He smiled and said, "My youngest child is thirteen years old and studies at the prefectural school. There are no tutors in the government office. However, my eldest son dropped out of the Sifang Academy two months ago and has been idle these days. So I let him take on the role of an elementary tutor."

Du Min gasped, "This is too much trouble for Young Master Yin. Is he preparing for the provincial examination next March? This can't be delayed."

Yin Mingfu waved his hand, "He's been studying for over ten years. How much of his studies could he miss in a month or so? Besides, he can't possibly do only one thing year after year. After being appointed to an official position, everyone has several things to do. He's just teaching a student who's just started learning. If he can't even handle this, he can stay by my side and run errands for me."

Du Min stood up and thanked him, "Thank you so much."

"I thank you, Magistrate, for your kindness in taking care of me. I'm sorry to have troubled your family," Wang Zhou said clearly.

"This lad is quite poised and generous," Yin Mingfu praised. He glanced at Du Min and said meaningfully, "Call him Grandpa Yin instead. Perhaps we can have more contact in the future."

Du Min's heart skipped a beat. He stepped forward and shamelessly asked, "Sir, when can I change my form of address?"

Yin Mingfu looked at him with a smile.

Encouraged, Du Min eagerly asked, "When I come to pick up my nephew next month, may I bring a matchmaker with me?"

"Oh? So that's what you're planning?" Yin Mingfu glanced at Wang Zhou.

Du Min admitted with a forced smile, "Yes, sending Wang Zhou to study here was the pretext for my visit."

Yin Mingfu was pleased and said, "Don't leave at noon, come back to the government office with me for lunch."

Du Min happily exclaimed "Hey!"

Before lunch began, Du Min saw Madam Yin, who had come with Madam Yin. The two exchanged a glance, and he hurriedly lowered his eyes to greet her.

Madam Yin glanced at him a few more times, scrutinizing him thoroughly before leaving satisfied.

The two met briefly, and the marriage was tacitly agreed upon.

When Du Min left in the afternoon, he left Wangzhou at the government office. After leaving the county government office, he strolled around the streets before heading to the governor's mansion.

"My lord, Lord Du requests an audience," the servant announced.

"Please invite them in," said Governor Zheng.

A moment later, Du Min entered the study and said, "This humble official greets Your Excellency the Prefect."

"Please rise." Governor Zheng stood up, walked around the table, and got down. "Du Min, I have failed to properly educate my daughter, and you have suffered injustice."

"My lord, please don't say that. I don't feel wronged at all. Although I am not destined to be with the noble lady of your household, I am already content to have gained your and the Minister's favor. This is a great honor for me," Du Min said confidently.

Governor Zheng patted his shoulder and said, “You are a reasonable person, no wonder the Minister cares about you. It’s just that I have a hard time explaining to him. He asked me to take care of your marriage, but I messed it up and even made you swear a solemn oath never to marry a woman from the Zheng family.”

Du Min looked ashamed and lowered his head, saying embarrassedly, "It's embarrassing to say, but it was my vanity that got the better of me. I was questioned with disdain by a maid, and I couldn't save face, so I blurted out nonsense. Fortunately, only I and two servants knew about it, so it won't spread and tarnish Zheng's reputation. If it had caused a big mistake, I would have been willing to die."

These words soothed the slight dissatisfaction in Governor Zheng's heart. He vowed never to marry a woman from the Zheng family, a statement tinged with contempt and disdain.

"That's enough. It's not meant to be between us, so let's not force it," Governor Zheng said. "When you get married in the future, I will give you a big gift as compensation."

Du Min smiled and said, "In that case, I am the one who has gained the most."

"Is Chen Mingzhang dead?" Governor Zheng changed the subject. "When are you going back to Heqing County? Don't actually plan to stay here and play the role of a dutiful son and grandson."

"He's not dead yet." Du Min sat down, and when the topic came up, he abandoned his reserve and asked bluntly, "Sir, did you cause his injuries to worsen?"

Governor Zheng smiled faintly, neither denying nor admitting it.

"I cannot return to Heqing County for the time being. I plan to stay here until he passes away, lay his body in state for three days, and then carry his coffin back to Heqing County for burial on behalf of his son. Once his son arrives, they will then carry the coffin back to their hometown," Du Min instructed.

Governor Zheng frowned.

“Paper-made funerary objects need a proper purpose to gain fame in Luoyang, and Lord Chen’s funeral is a perfect opportunity to showcase this,” Du Min said with a smile. “Besides, don’t you think it’s a commendable thing for me, as a student, to help carry the coffin?”

Governor Zheng's brows relaxed, and he raised his hand to clap his hands, "You always manage to open my eyes."

"I would also like to ask you to perform a play. Once the mourning hall is set up, I would like you to come and pay your respects. With your presence, the funeral will have more weight, and the paper offerings and funerary objects will attract more attention, making it easier to open up sales channels." Du Min had his eye on Governor Zheng.

“Alright,” Governor Zheng agreed. Looking at Du Min with admiration, he said, “I will give you a big gift then.”

"Give it to me?" Du Min asked, puzzled.

"Yes, I'll give it to you. You'll know in a few days." Governor Zheng nodded. "If there's nothing else, go back and keep watch over him. I have other things to do."

Du Min got up and left.

Over the next two days, rumors circulated in the city that the iron-headed magistrate had been keeping vigil all night to take care of his mentor. At the same time, news of the Heqing County magistrate being imprisoned by General Lu for suppressing lavish funerals also spread in teahouses and taverns. Later, someone came forward to testify that Prime Minister Lu had resigned and returned to his hometown to retire because of this case.

Du Min's name spread throughout Luoyang overnight, but opinions on his reputation were mixed.

Just when the news was at its peak, Chen Mingzhang passed away. Du Min invited a coroner to dress him in his burial clothes, tidy his face, and put him in a coffin at the pharmacy. Afterward, the coffin was carried by porters to a shop at the foot of Baima Temple Mountain.

After receiving the letter, Prefect Zheng instructed his staff to spread the news that Du Min would escort the coffin back to Heqing County as a disciple, thus fueling public opinion.

By the time Du Minteng was ready to spend money to hire storytellers to build a good reputation for him, his reputation for loyalty and filial piety had already spread throughout the streets and alleys.

Governor Zheng was moved by Du Min's respect for his teacher and his gratitude, so he led the officials of the governor's office to offer condolences.

Upon hearing this, Prefect Yin also led the clerks from his office to offer condolences.

Upon hearing the news, scholars and literati, to demonstrate their respect for filial piety and the way of teachers, followed suit and went to offer their condolences.

At the foot of Baima Temple Mountain, visitors flocked in like clouds.

The sky was overcast, and the white lanterns hanging outside the shops swayed in the wind, while the candlelight inside flickered, casting ethereal shadows that fell on the brass paper horses beneath, making them appear as golden as gold.

Two brass paper horses stood on either side of the shop, next to which were standing wreaths. The paper money used to weave the wreaths rustled in the wind, attracting the attention of passersby.

Upon entering the mourning hall, two paper figures, each the same height as a person, stood on either side of the door. They wore black melon-shaped hats, black jackets, and black trousers, and their faces were complete with facial features. At first glance, they were somewhat frightening.

Further ahead, there was another pair of standing wreaths near the coffin. Underneath the coffin were knee-high paper offerings of three kinds of animals, and behind the coffin was a paper sedan chair.

Du Min, dressed in mourning clothes and a mourning cap, knelt before the coffin, his face taut with grief, while inwardly counting how many people had come to pay their respects.

Governor Zheng came, Prefect Yin came, the postmaster and his men came, the doctor and his apprentice from the pharmacy came, the doctor from the Luoyang Prefectural School came, the doctor from the county school came, the official from the Ministry of Rites who had worked with Chen Mingzhang came, and the rest were unnamed literati and scholars, as well as wealthy merchants and pilgrims passing by.

The body lay in state for three days, and Du Min's knees swelled from kneeling. Fortunately, his kneeling was not in vain, as the funeral attracted 362 worshippers, 187 of whom inquired about the paper offerings.

Three days later, Du Min, with his stiff and swollen knees, helped the coffin down the mountain. Du Li and Meng Chun, along with hired porters carrying paper effigies, followed behind. The group took a detour around half of Luoyang City, showing the paper effigies to the people of Luoyang. Just as they were about to step out of the city gate, fourteen paper effigies were set on fire inside the city gate.

When the four standing wreaths came into contact with the fire, the flames instantly turned into a sea of ​​fire, and the folded paper money detached from the wreaths and flew up, like leaping petals burning in the air.

The brass paper horse and the paper sacrificial animals imprison the flames inside. The scarlet flames, entwined with thick smoke, struggle to break free of their restraints, melting the brass horse skin layer by layer. Sparks of fire leap out and instantly engulf the outline of the animals.

Inside the city gate, silence lingered for the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, until Du Min led the coffin out of the city, at which point the noise gradually spread.

Taking advantage of the popularity of paper effigies, Meng Qing and Du Li went to Yin Mingfu and asked him to have his yamen runners help them post notices recruiting apprentices.

This time, Meng Qing and Meng Chun selectively chose people with relevant skills to become apprentices. After they had enough apprentices, the three of them began to teach them and sold any finished products they had.

*

On this day, a dazed merchant came to the door to donate money to order paper horses, paper sedan chairs and paper figures. He requested that the paper figures be made in different colors, that the paper horses be entirely purple, that the paper sedan chairs be made in a bluish-green color, and that the paper figures be red on top and black on the bottom, or red on top and blue on the bottom.

"I can't ride a horse or sit in a sedan chair while I'm alive, I can't wear red or purple, and after I die, no one will care. Make me colorful paper effigies for the dead, the brighter the colors, the better," the merchant said angrily.

"It might not look good," Meng Qing said.

"I don't care if it looks good or not, as long as it's not black, white, or brown, I'll be happy. Or are you afraid to do it? If you do it according to my requirements, I'll donate another hundred strings of cash," the old man said. "Isn't your charity school run by the Ministry of Rites? You are from the Ministry of Rites, what are you afraid of? The horse and sedan chair have already been made, so if we're talking about violating regulations, it's already violated them," the merchant said.

Meng Qing thought for a moment and agreed, "Okay, I'll do as you ask."

The merchant arranged for someone to deliver one hundred strings of cash as a donation the next day.

After receiving the money, Meng Qing went down the mountain to find a workshop that did dyeing business, but the dyeing workshops with a wide variety of colors and accurate shades had no shortage of business and were unwilling to cooperate with her at all. No matter how much she pleaded, they were only willing to sell her a few buckets of dye.

In the evening, Meng Qing went to the county government office to pick up Wang Zhou to go home. She happened to run into Magistrate Yin, who was coming off duty. She asked him, "Your Excellency, there are no regulations in the law regarding paper effigies and funerary objects. Does that mean I can do whatever I want without violating the rules?"

"Logically, that's how it should be. What are you planning to do?" Yin Mingfu asked.

"Make colored paper funerary objects, such as purple paper horses and red paper figures."

Yin Mingfu chuckled, "If you really want to break the rules, you can just stop now. Nobody cares right now, so go ahead and do it."

Meng Qing patted Wang Zhou's head and said, "I'm just worried that it will affect Wang Zhou."

“The responsibility lies with the Ministry of Rites. The Ministry of Rites has a supervisory duty. If the higher-ups really disagree, it’s because the Ministry of Rites failed in its supervisory duties.” Yin Mingfu shook his head. He pondered for a moment and said, “In my opinion, paper effigies are meant to be burned. Once burned, they’re gone. They don’t require digging separate tombs and occupying land like pottery and lacquerware, nor do they confuse social status like clothing. So how can they be considered against regulations? As long as the free school can bring the people above the benefits and fame they want, no one will interfere. Even if they do, the Ministry of Rites can smooth things over for you.”

Hearing him say that, Meng Qing's only worry disappeared. She asked Du Li to go back to Heqing County to get money. She wanted to buy a dyeing workshop, produce colored paper herself, and then supply it to various free schools, thus winning over the offerings at the funerals of merchants, landlords, and gentry in various places.

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