Chapter 140 My Uncle is Coming to Luoyang...

Chapter 140 My Uncle is Coming to Luoyang...

Meng Qing took the letter and carrier pigeon from Yin Caiwei. She unfolded the note on the spot, read it, and then went to find Prefect Yin. Minister Zheng had mentioned in the letter that he had instructed the Ministry of Rites officials stationed in Luoyang to handle the matter. However, she could not enter the capital to find the Ministry of Rites' office, so she could only ask Prefect Yin to go there for her.

After reading the letter, Prefect Yin did not refuse and personally went to the Ministry of Rites to inquire about Meng Qing's situation. When he left the Ministry of Rites, he had a stack of letters in his hand, stamped with the official seal of the Ministry of Rites, and below the seal were two lines of text: "The Qingniao Paper Craft Academy is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites. We request that local governments cooperate with the Academy to promote the use of paper crafts."

The stack of papers contained twenty sheets. After receiving them, Meng Qing took out eight sheets and distributed them to the eight people in charge of establishing schools in other prefectures and counties. At the same time, she withdrew the remaining money from the accounts of the two free schools in Luoyang and distributed it. After paying the fare, she immediately arranged for them to set off with the servants and apprentices she had brought from Heqing County.

With the management of the Luoyang Free School handed over to the manager, He Bian, Meng Qing was not idle either. She continued to recruit apprentices willing to work in other places and managers willing to rent shops in other places to build schools. While she and Du Li were busy screening and assessing applicants, they were also busy teaching the newly recruited apprentices to make paper offerings. Every few days, they would also visit the free school, the paper horse shop, the dyeing workshop, and the bamboo workshop to inspect the apprentices' and workers' skills in splitting bamboo, dyeing paper, and making paper offerings.

After a busy month, it was time to return to Heqing County to visit the family. Du Li went out to hire a carriage, while Meng Qing packed her luggage at home. Suddenly, she heard someone knocking at the door. She went to the front yard and asked, "Who is it?"

“Madam Meng, it’s me, He Bian.” He Bian spoke up. “There are two men who claim to be from your hometown, a father and son. One is named Gu Yun, and the other is named Gu Wuxia. Do you know them? They are waiting outside the neighborhood right now.”

Meng Qing went to open the door. "It's someone I know. I'll go see. Did they go to the charity school?"

"Yes." He Bian handed her the account book and said, "Madam Meng, please wait a moment. I've been thinking about something these past two days. The apprentices' skills are becoming increasingly proficient, and they're making paper-mache funerary objects at a faster pace. This month's income is five thousand strings of cash more than last month. I'm thinking of using this money to buy two more free schools in the neighboring Henan County, hoping to open them at the beginning of next year. What do you think?"

Meng Qing was pleased that he was taking the initiative to develop the business, but regretted that she could no longer register the purchased shops in her own name. She nodded and said, "Okay, you can start looking for shops in your spare time. The school will cover the expenses incurred. Once you find a shop, come to me for the money."

He Bian breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed he would be able to take first place in next year's winter market competition.

Meng Qing locked the door and walked out of the neighborhood with him. As they approached the entrance, she saw two figures standing against the wall. They were dressed in bulky winter clothes, but were thin and looked frail and dejected.

Gu's father and Gu Wuxia also saw Meng Qing. Gu's father took two steps forward, and he pretended to be obsequious and timid, saying ingratiatingly, "Madam Meng, it really is you! Heaven has mercy, and we, father and son, have met a fellow villager. We came from out of town, but we were robbed on the way, and our luggage was stolen. Now we are penniless and unable to return home, so we can only come to you for help to find a place to stay for a few days."

"Alright, you can come back with me to stay here." Meng Qing dismissed He Bian and took the Gu family father and son to see the neighborhood head. After exchanging greetings, she led them home.

Du Li had just returned after drinking a cup of tea when he heard voices. He came out of the kitchen and asked, "Where are you going..."

Before he could finish speaking, he saw two unfamiliar faces. After a moment's pause, he recognized Gu Wuxia.

"These are Gu Wudong's father and brothers," Meng Qing introduced.

“I remember you; you’ve been to Dujiawan,” Du Li said to Gu Wuxia.

Gu Wuxia silently lowered his eyes.

"Is it convenient to talk here?" Mr. Gu stopped pretending to be obsequious and straightened his back.

"Let's go inside and talk, it's cold outside," Meng Qing said.

Du Li carried the charcoal brazier from the bedroom into the living room and sat down next to Meng Qing.

"Did you really get robbed on the road?" Meng Qing asked.

“No, the ship back to Suzhou will stop at Luoyang Ferry for almost ten days. We thought Luoyang wasn’t far from Heqing County, so we wanted to go see Wudong. After disembarking, we encountered a funeral procession with paper offerings and other funerary objects. We inquired and learned that you had opened a free school in Luoyang, so we wanted to find you to ask about the situation,” Gu’s father explained. “Is Wudong still in Heqing County? Can we go find him?”

Meng Qing thought for a moment and said, "We're going back to Heqing County tomorrow. You two can come with us."

“Okay,” Mr. Gu agreed.

“I’ll hire another carriage,” Du Li said.

Meng Qing nodded.

"Thank you for your help," Mr. Gu said politely as he stood up. "We'll go with you."

Du Li nodded; he was also worried about leaving Meng Qing alone at home with them.

"You don't need to prepare any food. I'll buy it from the restaurant when I get back," Du Li told Meng Qing.

"Okay." After they left, Meng Qing went back to her bedroom to continue packing her luggage.

Half an hour later, Du Li returned with food and the Gu family father and son. The four of them ate their meal in a somewhat silent manner, after which Du Li led the two to the guest room to rest.

*

The next day, the four of them left Luoyang in two carriages and arrived at the county government office of Heqing County at noon on the third day. After getting off the carriage, Du Li did not enter the government office, but went directly to another carriage, intending to take the Gu family father and son to the residence of Gu Wudong's family.

The carriage hadn't gone far when a loud sound of hooves approached. Du Min, standing on horseback, saw Meng Qing's back as he was about to enter the door, and he called out.

The carriage stopped not far away, and Du Li got out of it. He turned back and asked, "Gu Wudong's father and brothers have arrived. Do you want to meet them?"

Du Min waved his hand, indicating that he had nothing to talk to them about and they were not worth his hospitality. He said, "Take them directly to Gu Wudong's place."

After hearing this, Du Li sat back in the carriage and signaled the driver to drive.

The carriage started moving again, and the window was pushed open from the inside. Gu Wuxia leaned out and saw Du Min, dressed in a fur coat, dismount from his tall horse. His slender figure stood beside the black horse, looking noble and elegant.

Du Min noticed the gaze fixed on him, but he pretended not to notice. In the biting cold wind, he took off his cloak, revealing the official robe beneath the fur coat, and deliberately and slowly adjusted his sleeves.

"Third brother, what are you doing? Aren't you cold?" Meng Qing asked.

Du Min pretended not to hear, and once the carriage disappeared from his sight, he quickly put his fur coat back on and led his horse over.

Meng Qing glanced at him a few times before realizing what he meant, and then gave a meaningful "Oh".

Du Min laughed heartily, shamelessly.

Meng Qing shook her head. She walked into the government office and shouted loudly as she entered, "Where's Wang Zhou? Come out and greet him quickly, your mother is back!"

Wang Zhou rushed out of the study and jumped up with joy when he saw Meng Qing.

Meng Qing smiled; it seemed he wouldn't cause any more trouble this time.

Wang Zhou happily circled around Meng Qing. After a while, he remembered someone else, "Mother, where's my father?"

"I sold him on the way," Meng Qing blurted out.

"How much did you sell it for?" Du Min asked as he entered the room after tying up his horse.

"One hundred strings of cash."

"So valuable?" Du Min clicked his tongue twice.

"It was just a coincidence. We came across a caravan on the road, and there was a young master sitting in one of the carriages. The young master didn't have a father, so they bought him to be their father," Meng Qing said with a laugh.

Wang Zhou snorted a few times, "If you sell my father, then I won't have a father anymore?"

"You should also go and buy a father on the road," Du Min laughed heartily.

Wang Zhou rolled his eyes.

"Go and keep watch at the front office. If anyone who looks like your father passes by, drag them in and make them your father," Du Min told him, sending him out to play.

Wang Zhou glanced at him inquisitively a few times, and seeing that his mother didn't object, he went out.

"Second sister-in-law, what's going on between Gu Wuxia and his father?" Du Min asked casually.

Meng Qing repeated Gu's father's words and concluded, "The two of them are quite cautious; they don't dare let outsiders know about your relationship."

Du Min nodded and said, "The letter from Chang'an has arrived. Minister Zheng was a little unhappy about your donation to the Yishu, but he didn't criticize you. In his letter, he urged you to speed up the promotion of paper-made funerary objects. It seems he is eager to use this matter to get promoted."

"Don't worry about it, let him say what he wants, I'll do what I want," Meng Qing said calmly.

Du Min smiled and said, "The Emperor approved my petition for plaques for the funerary objects shops in the two counties. Did you see it when you crossed the river? There was a two-zhang-tall banner standing on the east side of Heyang Bridge. In addition to the banner, the funerary objects shops in the two counties and Qingniao Paper Craft School each received a plaque, which has already been sent over."

Meng Qing shook her head, "I didn't notice, I'll go check tomorrow."

"As for the matter of merchants donating official positions, Minister Zheng rejected it. In his letter, he stated that if there was a shortage of funds for the construction of the dikes, we could ask the court for money. He warned me not to have any ideas about selling official positions." Du Min said, mentioning the last piece of news. "I will show you the letter after we have eaten."

Meng Qing sighed.

Voices came from outside the hall. Wang Zhou pulled Du Li in by the hand and said triumphantly, "Mother, I bought my father back! I didn't spend a single penny."

"What are you saying?" Du Li couldn't understand a word.

"Everyone's here. I'll have the servants set the table." Du Min got up and went out.

Du Li sat down and asked, "What did you say to Wang Zhou?"

"He didn't say anything." Meng Qing glanced at Zhou.

Wang Zhou's eyes darted around, he smiled mysteriously, and said nothing more.

Du Li sized up the mother and son, and Wang Zhou couldn't help but laugh. He whispered in Du Li's ear, "My mother said she sold you for a hundred strings of cash."

"You think highly of me? I can sell for a hundred strings of cash?" Du Li looked at Meng Qing.

“In my heart, you are worth this price,” Meng Qing said.

A dry cough sounded outside the door, and Du Min walked in, clutching his chest. "I'm so sick of this. I don't need to eat lunch anymore, and I've completely lost my appetite."

The servants followed and brought in the dishes and rice. Du Li said, "Just set out three sets of bowls and chopsticks. Your magistrate has no appetite and doesn't need to eat."

Du Min ignored him and went straight to the dining room.

After the meal, Du Min went to the front office to handle official business, Wang Zhou went to the school for class, and Du Li and Meng Qing went back to their room to rest.

*

The next day, Meng Qing went to the charity school to check on the business. When he returned in the evening, he met Gu Wudong and his father who came to visit.

Du Min served tea and asked, "Where is Gu Wuxia?"

“He caught a chill and felt unwell, so he didn’t dare to go out,” Gu Wudong explained. “Lord Du, my father came to report to you on the follow-up of that case. When news of Lord Chen’s death reached Chang’an, the case accusing him of filial impiety came to nothing and failed to remove him from office.”

"Debts are settled with the dead, I won't pursue it any further," Du Minyan said insincerely.

"Then... can Wu Dong still get your promotion?" This was what Gu's father was worried about. Although they had filed a complaint in the capital, Chen Mingzhang had not been disgraced, and he was worried that Du Min would be dissatisfied.

Du Min looked at Gu Wudong and said, "I originally planned to tell you this next year. I intend to have you return to Wu County next year to take the prefectural examination and test your knowledge. Since your father is here, you can consider going back to Wu County with him and reuniting as a family earlier. I've thought about it, and it's a good thing to go back early. When you get home, find a tutor to help you consolidate your knowledge of the classics and poetry, and then take the prefectural examination next autumn. If you pass the exam, come to my place on your way to the examination, and I will give you a letter of recommendation."

Gu Wudong hesitated. "Sir, do you think I have a chance of passing the provincial examination?"

“The Mingjing exam isn’t difficult; it just requires rote memorization. Put in the effort and don’t give up. If you can’t pass it in one year, try two; if you can’t pass it in two years, try three. You’ll eventually pass it once,” Du Min replied. “I still have three years left in my term in Heqing County. After that, I will go to the capital to report on my duties. Think about it. If we can arrive in Chang’an together in three years, I will personally take you to visit the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Wudong felt much more at ease.

"How about letting Wudong stay by your side to study for a few more years?" Father Gu felt that three years was too long and there would be too many changes, so it would be better to let Gu Wudong stay by Du Min's side.

Du Min waved his hand, "He's been with me for a year, and I've taught him everything I can. He's also quite familiar with the affairs of the government office. He won't learn anything more if he stays any longer. He should focus on his studies. If he passes the exam next year, he should go to the capital to take the exam as soon as possible. What's the point of wasting two more years? Fifty is too young to become a Jinshi, and thirty is too old to become a Mingjing candidate. At his age, he's already at a disadvantage among Mingjing candidates. If he delays any longer, he might fail the exam because of his age."

"I'll listen to you," Gu Wudong said without hesitation.

Du Min nodded, "If you have any questions, you can write to me."

Gu Wudong bowed deeply and led his father out of the study.

Two days later, Gu Wudong and his family quietly left Heqing County.

Shortly after Gu Wudong's family left, Meng Qing and Du Li took six apprentices to Luoyang. Upon arriving in Luoyang, she handed the six over to He Bian, instructing him to set up a new free school and then assign the six to be their teachers.

In the following month, Meng Qing and Du Li selected forty-seven apprentices and sixteen managers, thus concluding the year's recruitment efforts.

On the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, Du Min brought six cartloads of goods to Luoyang to deliver New Year's gifts to his father-in-law's family. Meng Qing and Du Li accompanied him back to Heqing County.

Meng Chun was busy with his paper mill business and didn't come back, so Meng Qing brought his parents and four geese to the county government office to celebrate the New Year with them.

Just after the New Year, letters from Dr. Xu and Master Konghui arrived.

“Dr. Xu said he would keep an eye on the Chen family’s situation. If the Chen family were to sell slaves, he would buy the Chen family, including Steward Chen,” Du Min said. “After the first month of the lunar calendar, I will send him another letter to invite him to my wedding.”

Meng Qing unfolded Master Konghui's letter, read its contents, and smiled, "My uncle is coming to Luoyang!"

Meng's father was overjoyed, "When are you coming?"

“He was ready to leave when the letter was sent. Judging by the days, he might have already arrived, or if he hadn’t, he would be soon,” Meng Qing said.

Upon hearing this, Meng's father said, "When are you going back to Luoyang? I'll go with you."

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Author's Note: There will be another update at 12 o'clock.