Chapter 159 I'll listen to my second sister-in-law

Chapter 159 I'll listen to my second sister-in-law

Meng Qing looked around and was glad that Yin Caiwei wasn't in the front yard, otherwise she would have been furious to see Du Min's actions.

"Third brother, your second brother and I are going to my parents' house for dinner tomorrow. You can come over after lunch, but go alone." Meng Qing called out to him, "I want to talk to you."

"Okay." Du Min's hope was immediately rekindled.

That evening, the family ate a peaceful meal, and no one mentioned Du Min's promotion again.

*

The next day, Meng Qing told Yin Caiwei that she was going back to have a meal with her parents and would return in the evening.

Yin Caiwei felt envious, "It's so nice to have your family living nearby."

“Heqing County is not far from Luoyang, so you can go back to your parents’ home often. Have your third brother take you back, and then come back after you drop him off,” Meng Qing said. “Next year, when you go to Huaizhou, it will be even farther from Luoyang, and it will be more difficult for you to go back to your parents’ home.”

Yin Caiwei was intrigued. "I'll ask Du Min for his opinion in a few days."

“Alright, you two should discuss it properly.” Meng Qing encouraged Yin Caiwei to reduce her emotional dependence on Du Min. She encouraged her, “You’re in charge at home. There’s no mother-in-law around. You can do whatever you want, go wherever you want, and do whatever makes you happy.”

Yin Caiwei gave a bitter smile. She had no in-laws, but she had her own parents. She was worried that her parents would be concerned about her going back to her parents' home to stay for an extended period.

Meng Qing noticed the unusual look on her face, but didn't press her for details. She had already shown her the way; whether she was willing to break free from these constraints depended on her courage.

"I'm leaving." Meng Qing waved.

Du Li carried the child and went out with her, taking her to the Meng family's house before going to see his rice paddies.

Meng's parents didn't know Meng Qing was coming back. The two elders weren't home; only Chen's housekeeper's wife, Aunt Li, and their two young grandsons were there. Wang's sister-in-law and their two older children had also gone to the paper horse shop to learn a trade and work.

Meng Qing was playing with her two children and Wang Chuan in the courtyard when they suddenly heard geese calling from the front yard. A little while later, Aunt Li arrived with Du Min.

"Madam, Lord Du is here." Aunt Li was about to take the two children away.

Meng Qing said, "Wait a minute, Aunt Li, you stay here and watch the child for me. I'm going to talk to his third uncle in the front yard."

Aunt Li took the sleeping baby from Meng Qing and Du Min away.

"My second brother isn't home?" Du Min asked.

“He went to check on his rice paddies,” Meng Qing replied. “Didn’t I tell you to come back this afternoon?”

"I couldn't sit still in the yamen, so I came over early," Du Min sighed. "Second sister-in-law, what do you want to tell me?"

“I advise you to think long-term,” Meng Qing said, pointing to the pavilion. “Go wait there, I’ll go get two bowls of herbal tea. Aunt Li’s herbal tea isn’t bitter.”

Du Min crossed the goose's territory and ran into the pavilion in one go. He pointed at the stubborn goose that was provoking him and cursed, "You stupid things, if it weren't for your master's sake, you would get beaten ten times a day."

"You just can't stand them, that's why they're hostile towards you." Meng Qing walked steadily through the flock of geese, carrying two bowls of herbal tea.

Du Min cursed, "Back in Chang'an, I even took them around the streets and alleys, and they never showed any hostility towards me then."

“They’re not stupid. They know they were living under someone else’s roof back then. How could they dare to act recklessly on your territory?” Meng Qing sat down. “Now that we’re in charge and have our own territory, they’ll definitely have to protect it. Whether it’s their former master or an acquaintance, they’ll have to be given benefits before they’ll treat us well.”

Du Min lifted his eyelids and glanced at her a few times. "Are you talking about geese?"

Meng Qing smiled, but instead of answering, she asked, "Have you come up with an idea?"

Du Min sighed softly, “What can I do? On one hand, there is a visible but winding and difficult road, and on the other hand, there is a road that shines with golden light but is not yet passable. I find it hard to choose. In fact, this is not the first time I have faced such a choice. Back in Chang'an, Minister Zheng wanted me to stay in Chang'an. One path he planned for me was to first go to the Hongwen Academy as a proofreader, hone my skills for a few years, and then follow his path to enter the Ministry of Rites. He once promised to leave the position that Chen Mingzhang had vacated for me, but I hesitated several times and refused.”

"When? How come I didn't know?" Meng Qing asked.

“On the night I returned to Chang’an with the Emperor, I got back very late. You, my second brother, and Wangzhou were waiting for me outside the door.” Du Min smiled, picked up his cool tea and took a sip, and said, “When I got to the alley entrance, I saw that scene and immediately decided to send you to the countryside and take you away from Chang’an.”

“You didn’t tell us.”

“Yes, the moon was beautiful that night, and I was just being kind. I didn’t want you to be burdened by my decision.” Du Min laughed.

"I won't appreciate it even if you say it today. It's too late." Meng Qing laughed.

“What a pity.” Du Min shook his head. “I feel that there is a will of heaven. Three years ago and this time, both times when I was about to step into the Ministry of Rites, the will of heaven pulled me away.”

Upon hearing this, Meng Qing knew that he had made a choice. "You are God's godson, and God favors you. If you had decided to stay in Chang'an three years ago, you would still be a mere scribe today, and no one in the world would know you."

Du Min could not deny it.

“Let’s go to Huaizhou.” He resigned himself to his fate. “It’s a pity that we’re going to hand over the huge benefits that the charity school will bring. If only I hadn’t told Prefect Yin, I would be in a bind now. If you hadn’t offered any advice, he might have gotten there first.”

Meng Qing shook his head. "Even if I don't tell him, I won't hold onto the Free School for long. The appearance of colorful paper effigies has greatly increased the school's profits. Not to mention others, do you think the officials in Luoyang don't know the school's value? It's because the Ministry of Rites and Minister Zheng are watching over it that no one is interfering. There's also a protective talisman you gave me. You're ruthless; you've even clashed with the Lu family of Fanyang and brought down their prime minister. At this sensitive time, if anyone takes the school away without your head-on approach, it'll be a hot potato. Officials of slightly higher rank than you won't dare take on this hot potato, and for powerful figures of much higher rank to take it on means clashing with other aristocratic families—it's not worth it."

"Ultimately, it's because the benefits of free schools aren't big enough," Du Min concluded. "If the benefits were great enough, even a sage would willingly step down from his pedestal..."

As soon as he finished speaking, a thought flashed through his mind. "Second sister-in-law, do you think the Sage also saw the benefits brought by the charity school... I think I've figured it out. The governor has seen the donation list of the Hundred Virtues Association. Do he and the Sage want to use me to use the money earned from the charity school to fill the hole in Huai Prefecture?"

Meng Qing pondered, "It really is possible."

Du Min slapped his head. "This whole situation is the result of my boasting! Oh God! It's not fate!"

Seeing that he had overturned his reasons for accepting his fate, Meng Qing told him to drink some herbal tea to calm down.

“Third brother, if the Empress Dowager also has this idea, doesn’t that mean Minister Zheng and she aren’t on the same side? If Minister Zheng is one of the Empress Dowager’s people, would she use the Ministry of Rites’ money to cover up the local deficits?” Meng Qing’s heart was pounding. She glanced at the geese playing in the water; they were relaxed, and there was definitely no one else around. She lowered her voice and said, “Minister Zheng probably has a problem with the Empress Dowager’s regency; he’s not someone she trusts.”

Du Min stared at her without saying a word.

"This is why I called you here today." Meng Qing stared at Du Min, carefully observing his expression, and slowly said, "Don't you think this is an opportunity for you to stand firm on your position? Are you a disciple of the Emperor or Minister Zheng?"

Du Min lowered his eyes. "Do I have that kind of weight?"

"Whether you have the weight to win depends on your choices. Empress Wu's father used his family fortune to fund the army when Emperor Taizu was conquering the country. After Emperor Taizu ascended the throne, the Wu family was able to change their status, and a merchant was granted a title and a marquisate. Now, there are countless merchants who want to use their family wealth to buy official positions, but who has succeeded? The Li family emperor sits on the throne above tens of millions of people, and they no longer care about their stinking money," Meng Qing said softly.

Du Min was startled by the implication in her words. He instinctively looked around nervously, afraid that someone might have overheard her.

Meng Qing picked up the bowl and slammed it down again. The geese heard the noise and cawed a few times, all looking towards the pavilion.

Du Min looked at the goose and then at her, "You're too bold."

"Your second sister-in-law is advising you to look at the long term. Choices are more important than effort. Don't spend twenty or thirty years painstakingly paving the way, only to find that the road leads to a cliff, a dead end," Meng Qing replied.

“But…” Du Min closed his eyes. If he understood her words correctly, the Wu family followed the founding emperor in conquering the world, but who did he follow? Empress Wu?

"How could you have such a thought? The Li family line is not extinct, and the Empress also has a son. How could the Li family's empire be changed to the Li family's surname Wu?" Du Min's teeth were chattering as he said this.

“But now the court is controlled by the female sage, and the official documents you submit are reviewed and approved by her.” Meng Qing snorted. “Du Min, women and men are the same. If you were in that position, and you held power for twenty or thirty years, when you were still young and strong, would you hand it over to your son?”

"No," Du Min answered without hesitation.

"Of course, it's not time for you to make a real choice yet. You just need to firmly uphold your position as a disciple of the emperor. You are a commoner official, and you should rely on the royal family, not a powerful clan." Meng Qing's tone softened again. "Heaven favors you. This opportunity is too good for you. You were carrying a brilliant plan to help Minister Zheng become prime minister and wanted to enter the Ministry of Rites, but a Cheng Yaojin appeared and intercepted you. You were unwilling, angry, and helpless, and had no choice but to change your master. You have found a new master and have not offended the old one. The old master even pities you. Isn't that heaven favoring you?"

Du Min wavered; in that case, the appearance of the governor had indeed saved him.

"If Minister Zheng adopts my suggestion and the Yishu (a private school) helps him ascend to the throne of prime minister, what use will you and I be to him? We will no longer be partners, and neither will you. You will only become a student and a subordinate. Without any benefit, how much will he help you?" Meng Qing continued to persuade, "The glory that paper effigies have brought to you, me, and him is coming to an end. You should no longer have any hope for paper effigies. You should choose another path for promotion. You are willing to endure hardship, do not crave luxury, and have experience in flood control. If you follow this path, it may be slower, but it will be more stable. If the day comes when Li and Wu are chosen, your political enemies will not be able to do anything to you. You will be fully armored and fearless of swords and spears."

Du Min was moved; he stood up and paced back and forth, feeling both nervous and excited.

“Once you arrive in Chang’an and enter the Ministry of Rites, your first enemy will be the Lu family of Fanyang. With Minister Zheng around, they won’t openly harm you, but they will force you to confront the imperial family and noble families of Chang’an. Do you dare to go alone to offer condolences? Do you dare to be as forceful as you were in Heqing County? If you do, you’ll lose your life; if you don’t, you’ll just drift along in the Ministry of Rites until you’re old and unproductive.” Meng Qing stated her considerations.

“Okay, I’ll listen to my sister-in-law.” Du Min made the decision on the spot without further hesitation.