Chapter 60: "Does the County Government Recruit Female Officials?"

Just as she was getting bored, the woman she had chatted with the day before came over again. The two chatted for a while, when suddenly a commotion arose from the side.

The woman clicked her tongue and said, "See him? This is the Yang Erlang I told you about yesterday!"

Following the woman's words, Meng Yuanxiao looked curiously and saw a fat man dressed like a peacock, followed by several servants, swaggering over.

I vaguely remember Meng Yuanxiao, the Second Brother Yang, as mentioned by the woman.

According to the woman, the Yang family had a large business and were among the wealthiest families in Songxi County.

Yang Erlang was a notorious playboy in Songxi County. He spent his days teasing cats and dogs, annoying everyone, but he never did anything particularly bad.

Upon seeing her from afar, Yang Erlang's eyes widened in disbelief, and he immediately grinned from ear to ear, leading his men toward her.

Seeing the people swaggering over, Meng Yuanxiao's eyes darted around, and he immediately had an idea.

She glanced across the street instinctively and saw her second brother there, which reassured her. After thinking for a moment, she winked at him, signaling him not to rush over.

Yang Erlang swaggered over and sat down, nearly crushing the small stool with his bottom.

"Oh, young lady, you've been working hard selling paintings here. Would you like to paint a portrait of your brother?"

Yang Erlang's hair ornament gleamed with gold, and his fat, greasy face was full of malicious smiles. After speaking, he reached out to touch Meng Yuanxiao's hand.

Meng Yuanxiao dodged the question, then replied with a smile, "Alright, twenty coins per sheet. Do you want a realistic or impressionistic one?"

Yang Erlang was stunned. "You even have to divide them into these categories?"

Meng Yuanxiao then realized that this person was stupid and foolish.

“Yes,” she said earnestly, “realism is about depicting your appearance, while freehand style is about capturing the spirit rather than the form, focusing on your charm.”

Yang Erlang chuckled and said, "Freehand style, then let's go with freehand style."

After saying that, he raised his hand and smoothed his neatly combed sideburns. "What kind of charm does my brother have, young lady?"

Meng Yuanxiao did not answer. Instead, she raised her hand and pointed behind Yang Erlang, "Please step back a bit."

Yang Erlang reluctantly moved back a bit. Meng Yuanxiao glanced at him a few times, picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and finished the work in one go. He quickly put the brush down and exclaimed, "Done!"

Yang Erlang moved back with a smile, and when he saw the drawing on the paper, he was immediately stunned.

"You, you..." Yang Erlang's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he pointed at Meng Yuanxiao, too angry to speak.

Meng Yuanxiao looked completely innocent. "Didn't you want to paint freehand?"

Isn't this exactly what freehand brushwork is all about?

Yang Erlang was so angry that he jumped up and down. A curious servant craned his neck to see what was drawn on the paper, but Yang Erlang slapped him on the head and knocked him away.

The small stool beneath him wobbled and couldn't support him any longer, so Yang Erlang fell to the ground with a thud, letting out a painful "Ouch!"

The servant hurriedly helped the man up, just as a crowd gathered to watch the commotion. Yang Erlang, humiliated, burst into tears.

He tore the portrait to shreds with his chubby fingers and roared, "Smash this lousy stall for me!"

Upon receiving the order, the servant immediately rolled up his sleeves and rushed forward.

Meng Yuanxiao was startled and immediately shouted "Second Brother!" before jumping away with lightning speed.

Meng Zheng, who was across the street, had already rushed over. Seeing her second brother, Meng Yuanxiao's eyes immediately reddened. Pointing at the servant who had just shoved her, she cried, "Second brother, he hit me!"

Meng Zheng raised his foot and kicked the servant hard, "You blind fool, how dare you bully my little sister!"

Yang Erlang had many men, so Meng Yuanxiao kept his distance, wiping away tears as he shouted, "Help! Yang Erlang is beating people! Call the authorities!"

Meng Zheng was skilled in martial arts and had spent several years in the military camp, while Yang Erlang and his servants were nothing but fools. Even when they faced Meng Zheng alone, they couldn't gain the upper hand.

Just now, Yang Erlang was still very arrogant, pointing at Meng Zheng and ordering him to be beaten up. Now he was dumbfounded and his momentum weakened.

He tried to slip away, but Meng Yuanxiao spotted him.

How could she let Yang Erlang go and call for help? On a whim, she kicked a stone at the foot of her foot towards Yang Erlang.

Yang Erlang was clumsy and stumbled when a stone rolled in front of him. He let out a scream and fell to the ground, landing face-first in the mud.

"Ouch, I'm so hurt!" Yang Erlang lay on the ground, unable to get up for a long time.

He spat out the black mud in his mouth with a "pui" sound, pointed at Meng Yuanxiao, and cried and cursed, "You little vile woman, how vicious! Guards, this is too much! Report this to the authorities!"

The academy was just across the street from the county government office. There was chaos on this side, and soon several yamen runners with knives at their waists rushed over.

Meng Yuanxiao immediately ran to the yamen runner, tears streaming down his face, and said, "Brother runner, please help me! I was writing letters and making paintings here when Yang Erlang came over and smashed my stall without warning. He even had his men beat me and my brother!"

Yang Erlang finally got up from the ground. He limped over, his fat body swaying, and pointed at Meng Yuanxiao, baring his teeth in anger, "You shameless little woman, it was clearly you..."

Meng Yuanxiao: "What about me?"

Tears were still welling up in her eyes, and before Yang Erlang could speak, she said aggrievedly, "Brother constable, how could I, a mere young woman, possibly bully him?"

Yang Erlang nearly fainted from anger, "You, you..."

The head constable glanced at the unharmed Meng Yuanxiao, then at the disheveled Yang Erlang, and then at the few people still fighting nearby. He waved his hand and ordered, "Take them all away!"

Meng Zheng kicked away the servant who was still pestering him and pulled Meng Yuanxiao behind him. "They're the ones who smashed my little sister's stall and bullied her. My little sister and I don't need to go, right?"

Meng Yuanxiao: "Second brother, if we don't go, how will the officials at the county yamen handle the case?"

Meng Zheng: "..."

He knew his little sister was up to no good.

The group was taken to the county government's courtroom.

Magistrate Tang, in his early twenties, was fair-skinned and handsome. He sat upright behind his desk, listening to the various sophistry offered by the men below.

Meng Yuanxiao said, "Your Honor, please investigate. I make a living by drawing portraits and writing letters for people on the street. Yang Erlang asked me to draw his portrait. Who knew that after I drew his portrait, he started to cause trouble, had my stall smashed, and even beat my brother and sister!"

After saying that, she forced out a few tears.

Yang Erlang got impatient, pointing his chubby finger at her, "You're spouting nonsense..."

"How could I be spouting nonsense?" Meng Yuanxiao said. "Did you want me to draw your portrait?"

"..."

Did I draw it for you?

Yang Erlang grew anxious, "What you drew is clearly... is..."

Meng Yuanxiao: "What did I draw?"

Yang Erlang found it hard to speak, his hands trembling with anger, and he pointed at Meng Yuanxiao for a long time without being able to utter a word.

Just then, the portrait that Yang Erlang had torn up was pieced back together and handed to Magistrate Tang.

Upon seeing the portrait before him, Magistrate Tang's face flashed with a strange expression.

The county constable peeked over and burst out laughing at the first glance.

The courtroom was a solemn place, so the county magistrate quickly suppressed his smile, coughed lightly, and whispered, "Sir, the painting is indeed lifelike."

The others below were all covered in dust and dirt, only Meng Yuanxiao was perfectly fine.

Her almond-shaped eyes were fixed intently on Magistrate Tang behind the desk. Magistrate Tang wasn't blind; how could he not notice?

He had someone take the assembled portrait down and show it to Meng Yuanxiao, then asked her, "Is this the portrait you drew of Yang Erlang?"

Meng Yuanxiao glanced at the portrait and said, "Yes, sir."

She remained expressionless, but Meng Zheng, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but twitch his lips when he caught a glimpse of the portrait.

Magistrate Tang looked at her and asked, "Why did you paint people like this?"

Feeling he had the upper hand, Yang Erlang immediately said, "Your Honor, this woman deliberately painted me ugly in an attempt to provoke me and start trouble!"

Meng Yuanxiao felt wronged. "My lord, Yang Erlang kept asking me to paint a freehand portrait of him. I did, but not only did he refuse to pay me, he also bullied me like this. Please, my lord, do me justice!"

Yang Erlang was so angry that his face turned red. "How shameless! The drawing is so ugly, and you still have the nerve to ask for money!"

Meng Yuanxiao: "It's not that my painting is ugly, it's that you are ugly."

One sentence nearly made Yang Erlang die of anger.

Meng Yuanxiao didn't feel guilty at all. Seeing that Yang Erlang was about to be made to cry again, she was about to say something to annoy him again when Meng Zheng stopped her.

Meng Zheng winked at her, the meaning was clear: tone it down and stop bullying this idiot.

Meng Yuanxiao blinked, obediently shut her mouth, and then looked at Magistrate Tang with a wronged expression, "Lord Tang, just tell me, is my painting lifelike or not?"

Magistrate Tang's lips curled up almost imperceptibly.

Meng Yuanxiao's almond-shaped eyes lit up, and her heart suddenly settled down.

As she was about to speak, a voice suddenly rang out from outside the courtroom: "Lord Tang, this young lady is indeed unreasonable. She sits outside our academy all day long, showing no regard for our rules and regulations. It's utterly disrespectful!"

A crowd of onlookers gathered around the courtroom. The one speaking was the academy's steward, who had also come to watch the spectacle.

Magistrate Tang looked out of the courtroom: "Oh? You're also going to sue her?"

Before the steward could answer, Meng Yuanxiao blinked and asked, "Uncle, may I ask what the rules are of your academy?"

After saying that, she looked up at Magistrate Tang and said, "Lord Tang, the other day when their academy was recruiting teachers, I went to apply, but this old man insulted me and said that women are not allowed to set foot in the academy, and the academy does not want female teachers."

"Lord Tang, I have a question. The imperial court has decreed that women can take the imperial examinations and serve as officials. Now that there are female officials in the court, is there any rule in Songxi County that prohibits women from attending school and becoming teachers?"

Her clear eyes stared intently at him. Magistrate Tang paused, then asked, "On what basis do you apply for the position of tutor?"

Meng Yuanxiao: "My lord, their notice says that they are skilled in painting. I am not talented, but I am quite confident in my painting skills."

Yang Erlang scoffed, "Ha, based on that ugly thing you drew?"

Meng Yuanxiao pouted, "I told you, it's not that my drawing is ugly, it's that you're ugly."

Yang Erlang choked, then pointed at her angrily, "You just wait!"

Meng Yuanxiao wasn't afraid of him at all. Without blushing or skipping a beat, she looked at Magistrate Tang at the head of the table and said, "That's right. In the entire capital... who doesn't know how skilled I am at painting?"

After saying that, he proudly declared, "One of my paintings can sell for fifteen taels of silver!"

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Tang paused, glanced at the portrait in his hand, and then looked up, subtly scrutinizing Meng Yuanxiao a few times.

He asked, "You say you're a skilled painter, but do you have any proof?"

He then waved the portrait in his hand, "That doesn't count."

Yang Erlang was stunned for a moment: "My lord..."

Magistrate Tang glanced at him, and Yang Erlang immediately cowered.

Meng Yuanxiao: "If you don't believe me, sir, I can paint a picture for you to see right now!"

She blinked and said deliberately, "What I am best at is drawing portraits."

After saying that, she looked earnestly at Magistrate Tang with her almond-shaped eyes. Meng Zheng tugged at her from behind, but she ignored him.

Magistrate Tang stared at her for a moment, and when Meng Yuanxiao couldn't help but bring it up again, Magistrate Tang suddenly nodded and stood up from behind his desk.

"In that case, Miss Meng, please come with me."

Meng Yuanxiao's eyes lit up. "If my painting truly satisfies you, then could you grant me permission to enter the academy as a teacher?"

Magistrate Tang said, “The academy is a place for teaching and learning, and it cannot be treated lightly. If you really have some ability, then so be it. But if you are just bluffing and trying to disrupt the academy, I will not let you off easily.”

"..." Meng Yuanxiao couldn't help but swallow.

Although she was confident, she was still somewhat afraid as it was her first time standing in court.

It was one thing for her to fool around with Yang Erlang earlier, but who would have thought she would be so bold? Meng Zheng immediately pulled her behind him, saying, "Little sister was just showing off for a moment..."

Before he could finish speaking, Meng Yuanxiao interrupted him, "Lord Tang, I will go with you."

After saying this, he didn't dare to look at his second brother, and braced himself to follow Magistrate Tang out from behind the courtroom, all the way into a torture chamber.

The interrogation room is not like the main hall. Although it is daytime, there are only some files piled up inside, but it feels gloomy when you go in.

Although Meng Yuanxiao was bold, he couldn't help but feel apprehensive.

Magistrate Tang glanced at her and asked, "Are you scared?"

"No." Meng Yuanxiao immediately shook his head, then forced a smile and asked, "Lord Tang, why did you bring me here?"

She asked the question knowing the answer already, and Magistrate Tang sat down beside her. "Didn't you yourself say that your painting skills are superb?"

After saying that, he turned to the clerk and ordered, "Bring the person in."

The official agreed and quickly brought in an old man.

The old man bowed and stepped forward, saying, "Greetings, Your Excellency!"

Magistrate Tang nodded. "Describe the criminal's physical characteristics again."

The old man agreed, frowned, and pondered for a while before describing the man's appearance in detail.

After hearing his explanation, Meng Yuanxiao realized that what the woman had said yesterday was indeed true. The man the old man was talking about could probably be found among eight out of ten people on the street.

Having just made such a boastful statement, he couldn't help but feel a little guilty now.

Magistrate Tang glanced at her and asked, "Did Miss Meng understand?"

Meng Yuanxiao blinked, feigning surprise, and asked, "Lord Tang, do you want me to draw a portrait of that criminal?"

Magistrate Tang nodded. "Yes."

Meng Yuanxiao looked troubled. "But according to what the old man said, that person's facial features are really nothing special."

Magistrate Tang said, "Isn't Yang Erlang the same?"

Perhaps thinking of the portrait of Yang Erlang, his expression was somewhat strange at first, then the corner of his lips curled up, "I think your portrait of Yang Erlang is truly unique. Although it is a bit ugly, it is indeed lifelike."

Meng Yuanxiao: "...You flatter me, sir."

Having already made that boast, we have no choice but to bite the bullet and go for it; otherwise, we can't just let Magistrate Tang deal with us.

Although Meng Yuanxiao was confident that Magistrate Tang wouldn't really do anything to her, she still couldn't help feeling nervous.

After a moment's thought, she followed the old man's instructions and sketched the man's face in her mind, creating a blurry image.

He then focused on a few easily overlooked details, carefully inquired about them from the old man, and then picked up his pen to try drawing them.

He drew three portraits in a row. When he got to the third one, the old man's cloudy eyes lit up. Pointing at the person in the portrait, he said excitedly, "Make the eyebrows thicker and higher over here. Just now, you reminded me, young man, that the criminal's right eyebrow seems to be higher than his left, and the chin should be a little shorter..."

Following the old man's instructions, Meng Yuanxiao slightly altered the portrait and made a new copy.

The old man slapped his thigh and exclaimed happily, "Sir, that's it! The criminal's appearance was so ordinary that I couldn't remember him very well, but after seeing this portrait, I remembered him! That's it!"

Meng Yuanxiao couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, put down his pen, and looked at Magistrate Tang with a smile.

She looked so smug; if she had a tail, it would probably be wagging long ago.

Magistrate Tang got up, stepped forward, stared at the portrait for a while, and then asked the old man to check it. After that, he ordered someone to take the portrait down, make several copies, and post them everywhere.

After the old man left, only Meng Yuanxiao and Magistrate Tang remained in the torture chamber. Only then did Magistrate Tang look at Meng Yuanxiao.

His eyes were scrutinizing, and Meng Yuanxiao's heart tightened slightly, but she couldn't help but ask, "Lord Tang, have you fulfilled your promise to this woman?"

Her almond-shaped eyes were full of eagerness. Magistrate Tang sat down and said, "When have I ever promised you anything?"

Meng Yuanxiao: "..."

Yes, she was careless; Magistrate Tang hadn't agreed to anything she asked for.

She couldn't help but feel a little annoyed, and her pretty little face fell a bit.

Magistrate Tang looked at her and suddenly said, "Speak, what is your purpose in deliberately provoking Yang Erlang, causing a scene in court, and coming to see me?"

Meng Yuanxiao: "..."

She knew her little tricks wouldn't fool Magistrate Tang. He'd only let her come to the torture chamber and go through all this trouble because he vaguely guessed her background, was suspicious, and was just going along with it to see what she was up to.

However, since she had actually drawn a portrait of the murderer, she felt more confident.

"My lord, I am simply unwilling to accept this and would like to ask you to make a decision."

"Do you really want to become a teacher at the academy?" Magistrate Tang asked.

Meng Yuanxiao nodded without hesitation, "Yes!"

After a moment's consideration, Magistrate Tang said, "It's not that I don't want to make the decision for you, but the teachers at the academy must be well-versed in the classics and historical texts before they can act."

"I don't know how well you've studied, but even putting that aside, I'm new here, and there are many things in Songxi County that I can't decide on at the moment."

Meng Yuanxiao: "..."

Just as she was feeling somewhat discouraged, Magistrate Tang smiled and suddenly said, "However, there is a vacancy for a clerk in the county office. If Miss Meng is capable, she can give it a try. I cannot make decisions about the academy, but I can decide on the clerk position in the county office."

Meng Yuanxiao was taken aback, then her almond-shaped eyes immediately lit up. "Lord Tang, is the county government recruiting female officials?"

Magistrate Tang chuckled and said, "Who was it that just now said in court that the imperial court had decreed that women could take the imperial examinations and become officials? However, clerks are not considered officials."

Meng Yuanxiao naturally wouldn't mind; she immediately beamed, "Thank you, Lord Tang!"

Her eyes were bright and she couldn't hide her joy. Magistrate Tang smiled and reminded her, "Even a clerk has to pass the exam first. You're not the only one who wants to take it. The county government will hold a unified exam in ten days. I will personally grade the papers. If you can't stand out, I can't help you."

Meng Yuanxiao: "...Oh."

Her eyes darted around. "Lord Tang, considering I helped you draw the portrait of the criminal today, could you please make an exception for me?"

Magistrate Tang smiled but remained silent. Meng Yuanxiao became anxious and blurted out, "Magistrate Tang, the Yang family is not to be trifled with. If I cannot enter the county government office, Yang Erlang will surely cause me trouble."

Magistrate Tang did not respond to this. Meng Yuanxiao pursed his lips and waited for a moment before saying, "Lord Tang, Yang Erlang is so domineering. He must have done a lot of evil deeds on a daily basis. And those servants around him who bully others by taking advantage of their power, Magistrate Tang, you should teach them a lesson so that they will not dare to bully others again."

"So Miss Meng knows fear too?" Magistrate Tang asked.

Meng Yuanxiao: "..."

She awkwardly touched her nose, opened her mouth as if to speak, but then belatedly realized that she had overstepped her bounds.

She almost mistook Magistrate Tang for her brother Tang, but she had no connection with him, so why would he help her?

In front of Cui Xintang, she always said what she wanted directly, because her brother Tang would never refuse her if he could do it.

Not everyone is like Brother Tang, who will indulge her without restraint.

In the days since arriving in Songxi County, Meng Yuanxiao has been having a great time and has long forgotten about Cui Xintang.

Thinking of him suddenly now, I feel a moment of disorientation.

"Is there anything else, Miss Meng?" Magistrate Tang asked.

Meng Yuanxiao snapped out of her reverie and quickly composed herself. After a moment's thought, she asked, "Lord Tang, what subjects will be tested? I will prepare diligently when I get back."

Magistrate Tang did not hide anything from her and revealed some information to her.

Meng Yuanxiao carefully noted it down, and then, remembering something, she couldn't help but ask, "Lord Tang, aren't you afraid that the murderer in the portrait has already escaped from Songxi County?"

Magistrate Tang, holding a teacup in his hand, glanced at her with an ambiguous expression.

Meng Yuanxiao blinked, completely unaware that she had said something wrong.

Magistrate Tang waved his hand: "You don't need to worry about this."

After saying that, he called someone in and took her out.

When Meng Yuanxiao followed Magistrate Tang to the prison, the trial was still going on in the courtroom, with the county constable continuing the proceedings.

When she came out of the interrogation room, the case was already closed. According to the law, those who cause trouble in the street are fined two hundred coins each and then locked up for a few more days.

The steward of the Yang family rushed over, paid more fines and made some bribes, and took the person back.

When Meng Yuanxiao came out of the county government office, Meng Zheng was shouting in front of the office that he wanted to go in and find her, but was stopped by the bailiffs.

Seeing her come out, Meng Zheng breathed a sigh of relief, immediately pulled her over, and raised his hand to grab her ear.

Before his hand could even touch her, Meng Yuanxiao shrank his neck and cried out, "Second Brother, it hurts!"

Meng Zheng, however, refused to let her have her way. He grabbed Meng Yuanxiao's ear and gritted his teeth, saying, "What? You still remember I'm your second brother? You're really asking for trouble. You dare to scheme against your second brother. Don't you care about your second brother at all?"

Meng Zheng was genuinely angry. "Who is Yang Erlang? And aren't you afraid that he'll actually arrest you and lock you up in the county government for a few days?"

"Second brother, I was wrong, please let go, it hurts!" Meng Yuanxiao begged for mercy as his ear was being pulled.

When Meng Zheng angrily let go of her, Meng Yuanxiao immediately giggled and hugged her second brother's arm.

"Second brother, it's because you're here that I knew you would protect me. I wouldn't dare to do this if you weren't here!"

Meng Zheng: "...Stop trying to fool me."

Meng Yuanxiao: "Don't worry, Second Brother, I know what I'm doing."

After saying that, he leaned closer and whispered, "I have Brother Tang's keepsake and his handwritten letter. Even if Magistrate Tang doesn't know Brother Tang, he must have heard of Brother Tang's name and recognize his handwriting. He certainly wouldn't dare to touch me."

"At worst, he'll report me to Brother Tang, and Brother Tang will arrest me and take me back," she said nonchalantly.

She's destined for great things. If Magistrate Tang is truly the kind of mediocre and incompetent official he is, then there's no point in her staying in Songxi County.

Meng Zheng sneered, "That guy surnamed Cui seems to know you quite well."

I know Yuanyuan won't behave.

"Speak, what did Magistrate Tang ask you to do just now?"

Meng Yuanxiao recounted what had happened in the torture chamber. After listening, Meng Zheng was so angry that his face turned green, and he barely managed to restrain himself from beating the man up in the street.

"Are you afraid that your second brother will give me a break? That criminal, no one else can draw him, but you can. And you even went to him to draw him. Aren't you afraid that Magistrate Tang will think too much and you'll end up in trouble?"

“I’ve thought of that,” Meng Yuanxiao said dismissively, “but if Magistrate Tang didn’t suspect me, he wouldn’t have kept me in the county office!”

If she's not allowed to stay in the county government office, how can she be a female official?

Fearing her second brother would beat her, she quickly smiled and took his arm, coaxing him softly.

"Second Brother is absolutely right. We should really go out and see more of the world. There are so many handsome young men in the world, and Magistrate Tang is no less good-looking!"