Chapter 235 May our days become more and more prosperous...

Chapter 235 May our days become more and more prosperous...

Meng Chun choked, then looked at Du Min and said with disdain, "Why are you everywhere?"

"Wipe your tears before you talk to me." Du Min also looked at him with disdain. He scrutinized Meng Chun and said unhappily, "Actions speak louder than words. Such a heavy favor, it wouldn't be right if you didn't kneel down and kowtow a few times."

"Shut up, do you have to make everyone like you?" Yin Caiwei thought to herself that he always had something to do with her, and he was really annoying.

Meng Chun let go of his hand, and Meng Qing, thinking he was really going to kneel, instinctively grabbed his arm to stop him from kneeling down.

“I won’t kneel.” Meng Chun pressed down on Meng Qing’s hand. He faced Du Min and deliberately said, “My relationship with my sister is like her relationship with Wang Zhou and Wang Chuan. There’s no need for us to kneel.”

Du Min's face contorted with rage, but he calmed down in the next instant. "Indeed, you don't need to kneel."

This was his unique way of expressing gratitude. Meng Chun and Wang Zhou Wang Chuan were connected to Meng Qing by blood, but being too close created a barrier between them. They loved and respected her, but they did not admire or appreciate her. Only admiration and appreciation could make someone willingly bend their knees and kneel down in devout worship.

"There's no need to kneel anymore, your kneeling is meaningless." Du Min convinced himself and became happy again.

Everyone present looked at him with strange eyes.

Du Min pretended not to see it. He snatched the official document from Meng Chun's hand, looked at it, clicked his tongue a few times, and said with a mix of sourness and envy, "You're really lucky, kid. You've gotten the kind of favor that only relatives of the emperor can enjoy."

Meng Chun glanced at Meng Qing, then snatched back the official document and said, "I'll go back and tell my parents the good news."

"You should say a few words to set the tone, but don't make Dad so happy he faints," Meng Qing reminded him with a smile.

"Sis, aren't you coming back with me?"

Meng Qing hesitated. To be honest, she was worried that her father would get so excited that he would kneel down before her. "I still have something to say to Du Min. I'll go back tomorrow."

"Then I'm leaving?" Meng Chun said excitedly.

Meng Qing waved.

After taking a few steps, Meng Chun turned back and said loudly, "Chun'er thanks the best sister in the world."

Meng Qing's eyes welled up with tears. She seemed to have returned to more than twenty years ago and saw Chun'er chasing after her, calling her "sister." Now, both of them had gotten what they wanted.

"Meng Qing is the best older sister in the world, she's the most amazing!" Meng Chun strode forward and shouted loudly.

The guards of the governor's mansion all looked over when they heard the noise.

Meng Chun ignored him and quickly left the governor's mansion, running as soon as he stepped out the door.

"Huh? Uncle?" Wang Zhou rode back and saw a familiar figure from behind.

"Is that my uncle?" he asked the guard.

"It seems so," the guard replied cautiously. "Young Master, shall I go after them and take a look?"

Looking towards the direction of the governor's mansion, Wang Zhou spurred his horse to trot. When he arrived at the gate of the governor's mansion, he dismounted and ran quickly into the mansion.

"Young Master, why are you running? What happened?" Lin Canjun asked as he stood at the window of the public room and saw Wangzhou.

Have my parents come back?

"I'm back."

Wang Zhou felt a sense of relief. He slowed his pace and arrived at the backyard of the governor's mansion. He heard Xi Mei's laughter, and his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.

"My brother is back." Wang Chuan was the first to see the person walk in, and he excitedly went to greet him. "Brother, I have good news for you. Uncle has become an official and is no longer a merchant."

Wang Zhou was surprised and looked at Meng Qing.

"It was Mother who got it for my uncle." Wang Chuan walked up to Wang Zhou, blocking his way, and said with a grin, "Brother, you're the best older brother in the world. Can you get me an official position someday?"

Du Min burst out laughing, "Du Wangchuan, you know how to slack off."

Wang Zhou spun his younger brother around on the shoulder and pointed at Du Min, saying, "The best third uncle in the world is over there. Go and beg him."

Du Min raised an eyebrow, seizing the opportunity to ask, "Am I the best third uncle in the world?"

Wang Chuan nodded emphatically, since he had never met anyone else's third uncle.

Du Min was satisfied. "When you grow up, your third uncle will get you an official position."

Wang Chuan beamed with joy and immediately moved closer to Du Min.

Wang Zhou walked up to Meng Qing and said, "I ran into my uncle when I came back. He was running and didn't see me."

"He was in a hurry to go back and tell your grandparents the good news," Meng Qing said. "You were startled, weren't you? Did you think something had happened at home?"

Wang Zhou smiled.

“We’ve successfully persuaded Prime Minister Zheng, and all the firepower has been diverted to him. Our lives will gradually become more stable, so don’t worry too much,” Meng Qing said. “I spoke with Prime Minister Zheng, and he agreed to act as our intermediary to persuade the former Minister of Works to take you as his apprentice. There’s a high chance that it will work out. You should make some preparations now. Once we hear from him, we’ll go to Luoyang, and after you become his apprentice, you can study at the Imperial Academy.”

Wang Zhou remained silent.

“Your father and I will often visit you in Luoyang,” Meng Qing said.

Wang Zhou immediately smiled.

Du Min clicked his tongue again, "Wangzhou, you're fourteen years old and already studying at the Imperial Academy, yet you still can't leave your parents? When I was your age, I had already made my own decisions about which academy to attend, and your grandparents never had to worry about it."

“Yes, some people are thirty-one years old and still can’t live without their parents. I’m just like them.” Wang Zhou mocked him.

Yin Caiwei burst out laughing.

“You don’t take after me, you probably take after your father, he was also a loving father and mother.” Du Min shook his head.

"Are you going to get a beating today?" Du Li couldn't stand him anymore; he really knew how to rub salt in the wound.

Du Min looked at Xi Mei and said, "Open your biased eyes. This is your second uncle's true face."

Xi Mei was so busy listening to this person and that person that she was completely confused and couldn't tell who was right and who was wrong. She held her face and chuckled.

"Third brother, if Prime Minister Zheng finds a master for Wangzhou, shouldn't you take this opportunity to go and thank him, and perhaps reconcile?" Meng Qing brought up serious matters. "Are you still planning to get back together with him?"

Du Min nodded. “Whether he is willing to forgive me or not, I am going to apologize in person. At the very least, I must show some respect. I still want to get close to him. If I reconcile with him, it will also mean that he is close to officials from humble backgrounds, which will further exacerbate the rift between him and officials from aristocratic families.”

"He said if you dare to come to his door, he will make you lose face in Luoyang." Meng Qing relayed Prime Minister Zheng's words, "He finally severed ties with you, it won't be easy for you to get back on his good side."

“There will be an opportunity. As long as the benefits are big enough, he will compromise.” Du Min was completely convinced of this.

"Then you should patiently wait for your opportunity," Meng Qing said.

"Wangchuan, Ximei, you are not allowed to tell anyone what you heard today," Du Li reminded them. "Not just today, but you must not spread anything about the family, and you must not tell anyone who asks."

"I know," Wang Chuan knew.

Xi Mei nodded in agreement.

"Alright, everyone disperse. Those who need to go on duty should go on duty, and those who need to study should go to study," Meng Qing said. "Oh, by the way, Third Brother, don't forget about Ren Wenqiu. Give him an answer."

"I know." Du Min didn't intend to interfere anymore. Ren Wenqiu's going astray and disappearing was intentional, but being knocked unconscious wasn't staged. Let the governor of Zhengzhou investigate and see who they can find out about.

Wang Zhou got up and beckoned the two younger ones to go to the school, saying, "Come on, let me check your homework."

“I’ve finished all the homework you assigned.” Wang Chuan remained calm and took Xi Mei’s hand as they followed.

"Caiwei, wait a minute." Meng Qing went back into the house, then came out again with a thick letter in her hand. "Your mother asked me to bring this back."

Before Meng Chun arrived, Yin Caiwei had already learned from Meng Qing that her parents had moved back to Luoyang. She accepted the letter, thanked him, and left happily.

The footsteps in the courtyard had just left when Meng's parents and Meng Chun arrived again. The two elders had red eyes, clearly having been crying.

"Qingniang...you are truly remarkable." Mother Meng was delighted. "You have accomplished what so many men could not do. You have brought glory to our family. Our ancestors have accumulated great merit."

Meng's father nodded repeatedly, "Meng Chun is a lucky boy, and your mother and I are lucky too. We have accumulated good karma for generations to have such a promising daughter."

Meng Qing breathed a sigh of relief; the scene she had envisioned—her parents thanking her on behalf of Meng Chun—did not happen.

"Say no more. You two have no more worries now. You only have one task: to live to be a hundred and make money for us siblings," Meng Qing said.

"We'll live to be a hundred years old, your mother and I will live to be a hundred and twenty," Meng's father said happily. "I'm twenty years older than you, and your mother is twenty years older than Meng Chun. You two will live to be a hundred with us."

"Okay." Meng Qing smiled.

“There’s hope for the future,” Meng’s mother said, wiping away her tears. “It’s wonderful that your descendants won’t have to suffer the injustices you endured.”

“We haven’t suffered any injustice. We’re living a wonderful life, so don’t feel sorry for us.” Meng Qing glanced at the sky and said, “There’s still more than an hour until dark, so we still have time. You guys go back and prepare the banquet. Tonight, we’ll go with Lao San’s family to celebrate with Meng Chun and stay there tonight.”

Mencius' parents were busy and didn't have time to sigh. The two elders took Mengchun and left in a hurry.

At the banquet that evening, Meng's father brought up the matter of Meng Chun getting married, saying that since Meng Chun could no longer handle business, he should not marry a merchant's daughter.

“During the few days I was in Xingyang County, Wang Bu Shang whispered in my ear about my marriage plans. He seemed to be interested in giving me his youngest daughter and said that he would use the paper mill he bought from me as a dowry,” Meng Chun confessed. “At the time, I was thinking about leaving myself a way out and making more money to leave to my children and grandchildren, so I didn’t refuse.”

"Have you seen that girl?" Meng Qing asked.

"I've met her." Meng Chun lowered her head in shame. "She's only eighteen."

"You're twelve years older than that girl?" Du Min clicked his tongue twice, his meaning unclear.

Yin Caiwei placed a piece of food in his bowl with her chopsticks. Du Min looked over, and she said with a fake smile, "Don't just drink, eat more food."

Du Min took a deep breath. She really knew how to push her luck, using her pregnancy as an excuse to control him relentlessly.

He politely picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of food, and shut his mouth.

"What are your thoughts?" Meng Qing asked. "Twelve years is too big of a difference, but it's also hard to find someone close in age. Last year, I inquired for more than half a year, and many of the merchant girls over twenty were already married. Most of the single ones were still observing mourning or were delayed by the mourning period. It was rare to find someone of suitable age, but you complained that you didn't find them attractive. Now, by expanding the scope to include peasant girls and daughters of officials, there are more choices. However, daughters of officials are basically the sisters or daughters of county magistrates or registrars. Girls from these families don't have to worry about getting married. If they ignore the age difference and marry you, it's just to get on my good side with Lao San, just like Wang the cloth merchant's scheme. As for peasant girls, I can introduce you to the sisters of scholars, but that means you'll have to support your brother-in-law and brother-in-law."

“Being a little older isn’t a problem. Once you’ve married her, treat her well and don’t be two-faced. That’s more important than anything else,” Yin Caiwei said. “In my opinion, there’s not much difference between being seven or eight years older and eleven or twelve years older.”

"Marry someone you like," Mencius' mother said. "You can decide who you marry. Just live a good life with them and don't regret it."

“I’m just worried about causing trouble for my sister and Brother Du,” Meng Chun said.

“Wang Bushang is a fairly upright person, and Dr. Xu is on good terms with him, so you can tell he’s a good person. This kind of person knows how to conduct himself and won’t easily ask us for help. He’ll use his connections wisely,” Meng Qing analyzed to him. “Besides, as long as you know how to conduct yourself, I won’t be in a difficult position. I trust you.”

The others looked at Du Min, who said, "You are my second sister-in-law's own brother. If you ever need my help, it is my duty to assist you."

Meng Chun picked up the wine pot and poured a cup of wine. He raised the cup to Meng Qing and, amidst the surprised looks of the crowd, said, "I toast to Du Min's second sister-in-law."

Meng Qing laughed out loud, then raised her wine glass and invited Du Min, "Third brother, let's have a toast together."

Du Min was extremely satisfied.

Wang Chuan picked up the cup of honey water in front of him and said, "Brother, Xi Mei, let's share one cup among the three of us siblings."

Upon seeing this, Du Li picked up his wine glass and said, "Sister-in-law, since they won't include us, let's have a toast with my parents."

“Okay.” Yin Caiwei also picked up her honey water and said with a smile, “It’s always so lively eating at Uncle Meng and Aunt Pan’s place.”

After drinking separately, they drank together again. Ten people, young and old, raised their glasses together, and Meng Qing gave a toast: "May our lives become more and more prosperous."

"cheers."

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Author's Note: There should be one more update tonight.