Chapter 97 (Combined Chapter)

Traveling north from Fujian, one would inevitably have to pass through Zhejiang, which was currently plagued by Japanese pirates. Everyone was traveling on one boat, and the government had also dispatched two or three additional boats for escort.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when the boat passed Jiaxing and arrived in Suzhou. Xiao Jingshi was in a hurry to get there before the waterways froze over, so he didn't let Miaozhen and the children get off the boat. He only took advantage of the resupply time to personally go off the boat to see Master Xiao and his wife, and they talked for a long time behind closed doors.

No one knows what was said, but after Xiao Jingshi left, the Second Master Xiao suspended his plan to open a new shop in the north and summoned his eldest son, Xiao Jingheng, back to manage the family affairs in his place.

At the same time, he acquired land and property in several unexpected locations, all of which he did himself without letting anyone know.

The boat travels quickly with the current, but against the wind, it takes three days and three nights to travel thirty miles by water. Now, because Xiao Bin is going to take the provincial examination, Xiao Jingshi intends to train his son. He entrusts his son with the drafting of documents and even his correspondence, letting him ask him or his advisor if he doesn't understand something.

Miao Zhen chuckled and said, "Isn't this a bit too early?"

"It's getting late. He's not a sheltered young lady. Why should I be so protective of him? A man should be more capable and shed his childishness so he can become more competent in the future," Xiao Jingshi said with a smile.

Miaozhen nodded: "I'm fine, I'm just afraid he'll mess things up for you."

Even for Sister Fu, Miaozhen didn't feel comfortable letting her work alone, because if she made mistakes before she was fully trained, it could harm people, and that's no small matter.

Xiao Jingshi held her shoulder and said, "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on things."

After passing Suzhou, they soon arrived in Yangzhou. Fu Yu's younger brother, Fu Ye, was transferred from Taizhou to Yangzhou as a commander. He held a banquet at a restaurant along the river. Xiao Jingshi could not refuse, so he took his wife and children off the boat.

Fu Ye remained unmarried. Although his marriage was not going well, he was an excellent official and a very good person, even more so than his brother. Xiao Jingshi, seeing that he was also a man of character, shared a few drinks with him, and the two chatted about local customs and traditions.

Because the two families were on good terms, there was no need to hide anything, and Lu Jie'er came with her father. When the girl was not speaking, she had a beautiful appearance. She wore a light blue jacket embroidered with peony patterns, a light red skirt with gold accents, and her hair was styled in a three-bun hairstyle with pearl hairpins.

Miaozhen quickly took off the bracelet from her wrist and gave it to her, then smiled and said, "Young lady, you're getting better and better."

Lu Jie'er is of marriageable age now. Fu Ye knows his daughter's temperament. If she marries into a high-ranking family, she will have nowhere to stand. Those families are ruthless and ruthless, and he, as her father, can't accept that. Looking for someone lower in status doesn't seem right either.

Today, the father and daughter originally intended to meet with old friends, but unexpectedly they met Zhao Ge'er instead, which was a pleasant surprise.

The scholar, not yet fifteen, wore a round-necked bamboo-leaf robe and a golden crown, looking dashing and spirited. Moreover, Zhao-ge'er was elegant in demeanor and gentle in speech; such a man was very attractive.

Even Miaozhen back then would have preferred to find a gentle and considerate husband.

Seeing that Lu Jie'er's face was flushed, and she was sitting upright and uncomfortable, Fu Jie'er seemed to have a feeling. They were all girls of about the same age, so naturally they all had some girlish thoughts.

But she shook her head; it was probably absolutely impossible for Lu Jie'er to marry into her family.

Her parents valued a person's character and talent more than their family background.

After the banquet, Fu Ye wanted to say something more, but Xiao Jingshi smiled and said, "We still have a long way to go. When we meet again in the future, I must treat you."

"Okay," Fu Ye said with a smile, having already planned to ask his elder brother to help with the marriage arrangements.

He knew, of course, that he didn't have enough influence, but his elder brother Fu Yu was different. Back then, when he impeached several nobles, the credit all went to Xiao Jingshi.

Miaozhen came out of the restaurant, enjoying the fresh air. Although the wind was a bit chilly, she really liked the feeling of her feet on the ground. Just as she was about to board the boat, she saw a group of people also planning to take it. What a coincidence! It turned out to be Zhang Shihua and Miaoyun, a married couple.

It turns out that after Zhang Shihua took office in Wanzhou, his mother passed away not long after. Zhang Shihua returned home to observe the mourning period. Later, he was reinstated as the assistant prefect of Yangzhou and is now on his way to become the prefect of Dongchang.

"What a coincidence." Miao Yun looked at Miao Zhen with some disbelief.

Miaozhen laughed and said, "Yes, it just so happens that we live on the first floor, so you can stay on the lower floor. However, there aren't enough cabins, so you'll have to make do."

Miaoyun smiled and said, "This is also our fault."

Zhang Shihua certainly had a way of currying favor with his superiors, but the prefect of Yangzhou was an honest official. Zhang Shihua had many disagreements with him during his tenure and was even used against him. Although he had sided with Yan Song, he was just a pawn. He had paid a high price to come to Yangzhou to make a fortune. Everyone knew that Yangzhou was rich.

But his attempt to steal a chicken backfired. Fortunately, he has now moved to Dongchang Prefecture, which includes Liaocheng and Linqing, both located along the Grand Canal, and these are lucrative positions.

Zhang Shihua secretly resented Xiao Jingshi for impeaching him before, but on the surface they acted like good brothers. Xiao Jingshi felt disgusted, drank his wine indifferently, and didn't interact with him much.

Unlike Zhang Shihua, Miaoyun's father passed away two years ago. Although she has children, she often feels lonely. Now, seeing Miaozhen, she is very affectionate, bringing many snacks and side dishes, and she herself comes over to talk about the past.

Miaozhen was taken aback when she heard about her uncle's passing: "Why did he leave so soon?"

Actually, it's not considered early. Miaozhen will be thirty-two by the New Year, and her father, Xu Erpeng, is fifty. Not to mention her uncle, who is also in his fifties.

But perhaps Miaozhen herself didn't really realize her age, and was somewhat dazed when she heard about her uncle's death.

Miaoyun said, "I had a few people take care of him, but he became uncomfortable and insisted on opening a shop. I also had someone give him money. He worked very hard at the small shop, leaving early and returning late. One day, he drank too much wine and got up early, and then he suddenly passed away."

"Alas, so I haven't suffered much."

Most people are afraid of getting old, so some compromise with their children when they get older, thinking that their children will support them in their old age. But in reality, old age is very pitiful, and it has nothing to do with whether you have children or not. If you can take care of yourself, that's fine, but if you can't, it's very tragic.

Miaozhen wished she could die suddenly, free from the torment of illness.

Miao Yun was taken aback by what she heard. This explanation was novel, but it seemed to make a lot of sense.

"How is Second Uncle? How is things at home?" Miaoyun seemed very concerned about Xu Erpeng and his wife.

Miaozhen said, "My father is not like that. A few years ago he served as an official in Suzhou Prefecture, and now he is a county magistrate. Both of his younger brothers are already married."

Miaoyun was surprised that her second uncle could become an official, and found it hard to believe. "Your family is getting better and better."

“Every family has its own troubles.” Miaozhen thought that if it were before, she would definitely not say anything about her father’s official position or the family’s situation, because she could not protect them. But now, hiding and being too low-key and too forbearing might not be a good thing.

Miaoyun originally thought that the gap between the second branch and the Xiao family was widening, just like herself. She couldn't even wear mourning clothes when her father passed away. Unexpectedly, her second uncle became a county magistrate. Even if he couldn't advance further in the future, people would still say that her sister was the daughter of an official. Even Miaozhen's children wouldn't be ashamed of their in-laws.

Look at how Zhang Shihua married off the daughters of high-ranking officials to his eldest son; he valued their status.

In fact, Miaozhen didn't think these things were very important. She had been married into the family for so many years and had so many children. Why would she care about these things?

As always, Miaoyun showed no disdain for the poor official who later boarded the official boat. She not only gave him cloth in private but also treated him with great courtesy.

Even Fu'er said, "Mother, Madam Zhang really seems very generous."

"Yes." Miaozhen didn't want to say anything more.

Miaoyun felt much better after helping the person. When she returned to her cabin, she saw her daughter coming over and smiled, saying, "You've come very early today."

"I embroidered a handkerchief and wanted to show it to my mother," Zhang Yan said shyly.

The child's marriage had been arranged long ago; the groom was the son of a lecturer in the Hanlin Academy. Zhang Shihua was prepared to give his daughter a dowry of tens of thousands of strings of cash, and they were just waiting for her to get married in two years.

Miaoyun was originally from Suzhou. Her mother was especially skilled at needlework, and Miaoyun herself was also very knowledgeable about needlework. As she spoke, she began to give instructions.

Zhang Yan said, "Mother, I originally thought my needlework was pretty good, but I didn't expect that the eldest daughter of the Xiao family was even better. When we first met, the sachet she gave me smelled wonderful. I asked her what kind of fragrance it was, and she said it was an ancient recipe that she just mixed randomly."

"She's just like her mother, always keeping things to herself." When Miaoyun asked where her second uncle was an official, Miaozhen didn't say at all, as if she was afraid Miaoyun would find out.

Zhang Yan didn't understand her mother's meaning.

Then Miaoyun asked, "Did you know that the Xiao family's daughter is engaged?"

Zhang Yan shook her head: "I don't know about that."

Miao Yun thought she had heard Zhang Shihua say that Xiao Jingshi impeached several nobles, which shocked the court and the public. That's why Xiao Jingshi was so quick. However, the Marquis of Yunjian was restored to his title, and it was difficult for civil officials to fight against the nobles. Don't be fooled by the fact that civil officials usually hold great power. Back then, it was the nobles, such as the imperial son-in-law, who advocated for the emperor's journey from Anlu to the capital.

Although Xiao Jingshi's family had considerable property, they were not a family of officials for generations, so they might not be able to withstand the pressure.

But Miaoyun wouldn't say these things to them, so she could only ponder for a while.

Then, Zhao Ge'er spoke to Miao Zhen, mentioning Lou Qiongyu: "Sixth Aunt is not as kind to us as she was when we were in the capital. She treats me indifferently, as if she's afraid I'll surpass Miao Ge'er."

“The only person she can rely on now is Miao-ge’er, so she must be very afraid of being surpassed by someone else. Actually, it’s not like she’s only on good terms with us in the capital. She knows that your fifth aunt and seventh aunt are talking behind my back, but she’s still on good terms with everyone. I guess she doesn’t want to offend anyone,” Miao-zhen said.

Miaozhen couldn't comment on Lou Qiongyu's way of dealing with people, but if you treat others this way, they will definitely treat you the same way. If you don't act sincerely, they certainly won't act sincerely either.

“Mother, actually Father and Sixth Uncle have a good relationship,” Zhao Ge’er said.

Miaozhen laughed and said, "That's because they are brothers. Your sixth aunt and I only became acquainted because we both married into the Xiao family. We don't really have any relationship. It's enough to just keep up appearances. Now that you're older, you should understand that there aren't many things that are taken for granted between people, including between parents and children."

Zhao Ge'er was a thoughtful person, and after listening to Miao Zhen's words, he fell into deep thought.

After passing the imperial examination and becoming a scholar, Zhao Ge'er went to Fujian alone. His father asked him to help with paperwork, and his mother gradually handed over household affairs to him, treating him almost like an adult.

He didn't really want to take on so much responsibility, but he had no choice but to face it.

Because his mother taught him to face everything from a young age.

Seeing her son lost in thought, Miaozhen got up and instructed Xiaoxi, "Since we bought a lot of vegetables yesterday, have them cook more for lunch. We've been on the boat for so long, and we're already tired of fish and meat."

No matter how wealthy people were in ancient times, the things they could enjoy were limited. Miaozhen felt that she often ate preserved and pickled foods in the cabin, which made her complexion turn yellow.

Xiao Xi said, "Yes, I'll go down and give the order right away."

"Yes, that's good then," Miaozhen said with a smile.

Being a matriarch is not easy. You have to worry about everything, from your children's food, clothing, and health to helping your husband with all his affairs. After returning to her room, Miaozhen felt quite tired.

She leaned against the couch, pretending to doze off. After a while, she heard footsteps. She opened her eyes and saw that Xiao Jingshi had returned. She was about to get up when Xiao Jingshi quickly stepped forward and pressed her down.

"Just lie down, I see you have some dark circles under your eyes."

Miao Zhen blushed and said, "Don't say anymore."

For some reason, she wanted to be intimate with him for several days in a row, and he naturally accepted her advances without hesitation. However, she couldn't handle the consequences and needed to rest more.

Seeing her like this, Xiao Jingshi took a small stool and sat down next to her, looking at his wife with a half-smile: "I really appreciate that you think of me like this."

Seeing that he was going to bring this up again, Miaozhen covered her face with her hands. Lately, when she had nothing to do on the ship, she often read storybooks. Some of these storybooks contained explicit descriptions that made her feel lewd. And since there was a man next to her, she did that.

Enough of these storybooks, she should throw them far away, so she can live a more peaceful and detached life.

So, she coquettishly tugged at Xiao Jingshi's hand and said, "It's all those storybooks' fault. From today onwards, I won't read them anymore. Aren't you tired?"

"I'm not tired. As long as I'm with Zhenzhen, I'm not tired at all," Xiao Jingshi said softly.

Miao Zhen thought he was three years older than her, in his prime, with handsome features and a strong, robust physique. She couldn't help but laugh and said, "My father found me a husband who is as handsome as Pan An, as talented as Cao Zhi, and who dotes on me. I must have done something really good in my past life."

The couple chatted affectionately for a while, and then Xiao Jingshi led Miaozhen to the bed. They lay down side by side and soon fell asleep.

When she woke up again, it was already dusk. Miaozhen got up and had her maid comb her hair and dress her again. She then called Xiao Jingshi to get up. Soon after, Fujie came over, and her two sons also arrived. On the table were several seasonal vegetables, including stir-fried cabbage with vinegar, stir-fried dwarf cabbage, and stir-fried black cabbage with garlic. There was also steamed pork with rice flour, pigeon soup, braised beef, and side dishes such as stir-fried pickled mustard greens with pepper and shredded pork, as well as tenderly stewed egg custard.

These dishes aren't fancy, but they all suit their taste perfectly. In particular, when their mouths feel bitter, eating some green vegetables makes them taste even better than usual.

Fu Jie'er whispered to Miao Zhen, "I think that Miss Zhang's clothes cost almost thirty taels just for casual wear. Isn't the Zhang family from a poor background? How come they are so wealthy?"

Officials in the Ming Dynasty did not receive high salaries. The Xiao family was wealthy because Xiao Jingshi himself was quite rich, and Miaozhen also provided generous medical fees. Even so, Fu Jie'er, who helped her mother manage the family business, felt that her family was not as well-off as the Zhang family.

Miaozhen then recounted how Zhang Shihua had been impeached by Xiao Jingshi. At that time, they were still young at Xuanda University and didn't know about these things.

Sister Fu was puzzled. With so many officials watching and so many people in the government offices, how did they manage to embezzle all this money?

Just like in her family, everything has to be accounted for.

The boat sailed smoothly and soon reached the shore. The Xiao family switched from waterway to land. Steward Sun and his page made arrangements in an orderly manner. Steward Sun was sent by the family and might be assigned to their branch of the family after the division of property. The page was a clever man who did not overshadow Steward Sun. The two worked together very well.

When subordinates are united, those at the top benefit.

Jinan was the capital of Shandong Province. In addition to the prefectural government office, there were also the Provincial Administration Commission, the Military Commission, and the Provincial Surveillance Commission. Xiao Jingshi had worked in both the Provincial Surveillance Commission and the Provincial Administration Commission, so he knew roughly how they operated.

He had originally thought he would be promoted to the capital or to the position of circuit intendant; he hadn't really considered becoming a prefect. After all, if he had been more accommodating back then, he might have been able to stay in the Hanlin Academy. But now that he had become a prefect, the head of a prefecture, he had to do his job well.

Although Governor Lu is a good person, regardless of personnel transfers, he still needs to maintain good relations with his superiors.

There's no need to tell Miaozhen about these things; he'll take care of them himself.

Winter was already quite cold, but fortunately the Jinan Prefectural Government Office was quite magnificent. It was said to have been moved from Yunshu Street to the former site of Kaiyuan Temple on the east side of the west lane of the county in the ninth year of the Chenghua reign. Before they could take a closer look, they were ushered into the inner courtyard.

The living quarters consisted of two courtyards, with an additional side courtyard and a garden at the back.

The main house had five rooms in total, with a flower hall in the middle, a kang (heated brick bed) on the west side, and a bed on the east side. It had been a long time since she had slept on a kang, so Miaozhen hurriedly had someone light it and sent more people to tidy up.

Satin quilts, silk quilts, and thick cotton mattress pads all need to be put away.

The master clerk and Xiao Qing and his wife lived in the first courtyard, while the brothers Zhao Ge'er and Zheng Ge'er lived in the second courtyard. The east wing served as a study, the west wing as a pharmacy, and the daughter lived in the three attached rooms at the back.

The maids were very quick and efficient, and soon the place was tidied up. The prefectural magistrate and his officials held a welcome dinner for Xiao Jingshi, and the food was brought to their back room. Miaozhen ate with the children.

“Winters in the north are colder than in Fujian, so you should wear the fur coats and cotton-padded coats you prepared,” she advised.

Zhao Ge'er laughed and said, "My son has been in Suzhou all these years and has long forgotten what it's like to sleep on a kang. He forgot for a moment and sat down on the head of the kang, only to get burned badly."

There are also many rules about sleeping on a kang (heated brick bed). Miaozhen, who had lived in the capital for several years, explained them to the children.

Zhengge'er was already very sleepy and wanted to go to sleep after finishing his meal. He was the youngest and it was the first time he had left his parents to live in another courtyard. Miaozhen was a little worried, but she couldn't get up. So she said to Xiaoxi, "The food in the kitchen is very good. Take a tael of silver to reward them and tell them that they have worked hard."

After Xiao Xi left, Miao Zhen gave Zheng Ge'er's maid many instructions.

When they arrived in Shandong, it was already the end of the twelfth lunar month, and the government offices were mostly closed. Xiao Jingshi had no choice but to take advantage of the New Year to get to know the officials of the provincial and judicial offices. He also visited the Prince of De's residence in Jinan.

The husband is in charge of external affairs and the wife is in charge of internal affairs. Miaozhen has been invited to several banquets by the wives of the prefectural magistrate and the two sub-prefects.

The Assistant Magistrate of Jinan Prefecture is forty-five years old this year. His surname is Kou, and he is from Wucheng, Zhejiang. He is said to be a shrewd and capable man, and his wife is also a kind and well-mannered person.

Kou Tongzhi's eldest brother was a tribute student of the prefectural school, similar to his father, and was now serving as a county magistrate in another region. His second brother was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), and even his youngest brother was a Jinshi. They could be considered a scholarly family, with a tradition of poetry and propriety passed down through generations. Madam Kou had three sons and one daughter, especially her youngest daughter, Xue Niang, who became close friends with Fu Jie'er at first sight.

Miaozhen liked the girl very much when she saw her. Someone was asking about her eldest son's marriage. She didn't want a family of high-ranking officials. If her future daughter-in-law was good-natured, virtuous, beautiful, and from a decent family, that would be perfect.

During the New Year, when everyone was indulging in rich, meaty, and fishy foods, Sister Fu personally made some digestive soup for her new friend, Xue Niang, saying, "Don't underestimate this recipe. No matter how sick you are from all the rich food and alcohol, you'll feel better after eating it. This is our family's secret recipe."

Kou Xueniang was both beautiful and adorable, with a pair of big, expressive eyes. After hearing what Fu Jie'er said, she replied, "I'll take it back and cook it for my father later."

"Don't rush, the adults certainly won't be leaving so soon," Sister Fu said with a smile.

The two talked in the room. Although Miaozhen had taken a liking to Kou Xueniang, she couldn't make a decision right away and still needed to observe her carefully. So for now, she treated her like a close friend, and only sent Bitao and the others to deliver some snacks once.

However, Xiao Jingshi had a different opinion on his son's marriage. He said to Miaozhen, "During the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth of the first lunar month, I took Zhao Ge'er out to socialize. Governor Liu took a great liking to Zhao Ge'er and asked me if he was married. I had a feeling that he was implying something. So I had someone inquire about it. Governor Liu does have a daughter. Although she is not born to his first wife, she is still very virtuous, eloquent, beautiful and capable."

"Since she is the daughter of the governor, shouldn't she marry better?" Miaozhen asked curiously.

Xiao Jingshi laughed and said, "That's not how it is. Governor Liu is a fairly upright official. He passed the imperial examination at the age of nineteen and has been an official for twenty years. He is not yet forty. He has an eldest daughter who married into a powerful family in the capital. Therefore, he does not have such high requirements for the marriage of his younger daughter, so he came to our family."

Previously, it was said that there were no candidates, but now that we've arrived in Jinan, two suitable candidates have emerged.

Originally, she wanted to find a match for her daughter first, but with Fu Ye interfering, she had to prioritize her eldest son. If only these people were medicinal herbs, they could be directly matched to the right ailment; but people are just people, the most complex thing.