Chapter 134
"Eighteen is not too late."
“Our family isn’t wealthy. If he gets married after achieving official rank, the wife he marries will definitely be very different from the ones he married before.”
Wen Shi was very clear about his situation; he was realistic, and he didn't hold back when talking to his wife.
Yingxiang lay down again. In her heart, she felt that eighteen was too early, but she couldn't be out of touch with the times. However, starting a family and building a career was the opposite of what she thought, which was more in line with her ideas.
"It's too early to talk about this now. Let's go to sleep first, and we'll talk about it when the time comes."
Wen Shi closed his eyes, and in the pitch-black room, the two quickly fell asleep. The days passed by in an orderly and peaceful manner, which was not necessarily unhappy.
Spring goes and winter comes, year after year, and in the blink of an eye, Wen Leqian is eight years old.
The year had just passed, and the family of three still lived in the same place. The difference from before was that Yingxiang had saved more than three thousand taels of silver in the past two years.
She focused on the few shops and estates she owned, without opening any new ones, and managed to keep things in order. The family of three didn't have any major expenses.
Years have passed, but the family lives happily. Except for holidays, they don't go to Ping'an Village, and they don't have any major worries.
Lately, she's been thinking of looking for a place to live. She can't live here forever, and the rent over a year isn't cheap. She can't afford a big one, but a small one would be enough for her family of three.
After she told Wen Shi, she didn't expect Wen Shi to tell her not to rush.
Firstly, he didn't have enough money, although he could exchange it later, but Wen Shi felt it wasn't necessary to go through that trouble. Secondly, his future was uncertain.
“My wife, I have been working at the Hanlin Academy for five years now, and I may not stay here in the future. Now is not the best time to buy a house.”
There was nothing to hide from his wife when he heard the news.
Five years is a significant milestone for officials. Generally, officials will be transferred after serving in one place for five years.
If you do well, you might get promoted to a better position; if you don't do well, it's hard to say—you might be transferred to another position or demoted.
Last year, Wang Tanhua and his family had already left the capital. Before they left, Wen Shi even had a meal with him.
Although he was transferred to another post, he was promoted one level as is customary.
This year, he felt that he was unlikely to stay in Beijing and would probably have to leave, so there was no need to buy a house. It was hard to say when he would come back, so he might as well keep the money in hand first.
He doesn't need to worry about things at home; the family is doing fine, and everyone has their own things to do.
Even if he stayed in the Hanlin Academy and was promoted, it might not be a good thing for Wen Shi. He really wanted to go to those powerful departments to gain experience. The Hanlin Academy was full of tedious things, but in the end, there were no important matters, so it didn't really train him.
If he had stayed here his whole life, he would have been quite successful if he had reached the rank of Grand Secretary. But frankly, he wouldn't have achieved much; at most, he would have just changed allegiances.
Five years have passed in a flash, and he has already turned thirty. If things continue like this, it will not be of much benefit to him in the future.
"If you're going to another city, should we take the kids with us?"
"For the sake of his future, he must stay in the capital."
When Wen Shi said this, his tone was very firm.
“His family is all here and can help take care of him.”
Wen Shi's words made sense, and Yingxiang couldn't help but feel worried if he really had to be sent to a post outside the capital.
All she could hope for was divine intervention, but things ultimately turned out the way she didn't want them to.
After the Hanlin Academy compiled the statistics, it sent them, along with the suggestions from the Grand Secretary, to the Ministry of Personnel. The Ministry of Personnel reviewed them but made few changes.
A group of people are going out, but the Grand Secretary still wants to keep Wen Shi, who is a very capable worker and is known for his meticulousness.
The Ministry of Personnel didn't hold Wen Shi accountable either. After all, he wasn't an important figure. But when the memorial was finally sent to the emperor and he was about to affix his seal, the emperor read it once and circled Wen Shi's name with his pen.
"Su Qing, release him as well."
According to convention, Wen Shi was a second-class Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) and served as an editor for five years. If he were to be sent out, it would be similar to what Wang Tanhua (third-ranked scholar) did before. He would be sent to a local area to serve as a sixth-rank county magistrate. The local vacancies were already full, but it wouldn't be difficult. He could simply switch with one of the other candidates. In the end, the official appointment documents hadn't been issued yet.
"yes."
The Minister of Personnel took the memorial back to rewrite it and prepared new appointment documents. He found a local county magistrate and simply swapped positions with Wen Shi.
For these people, the best place to go after leaving the Hanlin Academy is actually the Six Ministries, but without connections and money, it's very difficult.
Wen Shi was fortunate to have a decent superior who was willing to promote him and said a few good words to the Ministry of Personnel in an attempt to keep him. If nothing unexpected happened, he would be promoted and continue to stay in the Hanlin Academy.
But now that the emperor has spoken, he is the most powerful.
After the Grand Secretary received the news, he remained silent for a long time. However, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing, as it was still a promotion.
That day, he went to find Wen Shi himself.
"News has come from the Ministry of Personnel that His Majesty values you highly and has sent you to a remote area for training. Go back and pack your things, and do your best to achieve something as soon as possible. In the future, as the local official in charge of the people, you must love the people like your own children."
When Wen Shi heard this, his expression remained unchanged, but he was definitely not in a good mood.
He originally thought that it would be best to go to one of the Six Ministries, and going to any department within the Six Ministries would be a pleasant surprise, but in the end, he was unsurprisingly transferred to an outside post.
Words are spoken by people. The Grand Secretary spoke very tactfully, but how could he not understand? This was ultimately the Emperor's decision.
Wen Shi was feeling a mix of joy and sorrow. Thinking of his wife and children, he couldn't help but feel a little lost.
"Thank you very much, sir. I will never forget your care and guidance over the past few years."
"It's also because you're smart and capable."
Before leaving, the Grand Scholar patted Wen Shi on the shoulder, took the child home, but Wen Shi didn't seem very happy, and the child didn't say anything either.
When Yingxiang returned home, she noticed something was off. After asking a few questions, she learned what had happened.
"My lord, is there no way to turn this around?"
I always thought that Wen Shi's path was smooth, and Ying Xiang naturally assumed that no matter where he went in the future, he would never leave the capital.
But the unexpected happened suddenly.
Wen Shi glanced at her and nodded.
If he doesn't go, then he can only resign from his post. There's no other way, and obviously he won't do that. He's come this far with great difficulty, and this isn't a major setback. If he resigns, then he'll truly be nothing.
“My wife, I’ve thought it over. Since it’s a posting to a distant place, we’ll be separated for the next few years. You and the child will stay in the capital.”
Wen Shi had been thinking about this matter ever since he received the news.
Clearly, Yingxiang prefers the capital city; no matter how prosperous the region, it can't compare to this place.
We definitely can't take the child out; his future is more important. As he grows older, he'll make many friends, and nothing in the local area, whether it's the academy or the people he can meet, compares to this place.
Wen Shi also pondered and struggled for a long time. After much deliberation, he made this decision, which was good for his wife and children. If he went out and worked hard for a few years, he might not necessarily be unable to come back.
Hearing this, Yingxiang felt heartbroken. She looked at the man in front of her, who remained silent as always, but he was indeed thinking about her and her son.
They had been married for so many years and had never been apart. She trusted his character, but it was never good for a couple to live apart for a long time.
“Husband, I’ll go with you. We can return the house later. I’ll make arrangements for the shop and the estate. It should be fine.”
Closing the door was out of the question; she had worked so hard to get things up and running.
"As for Leqian, let him study hard in the capital."
The Wen family wouldn't mistreat their child, after all, they're all counting on Wen Shi. Wen Leqian isn't young anymore; he's grown up quite a bit and isn't incapable of standing on his own.
Wen Shi glanced at his wife, his eyes showing some emotion.
“I know what you’re thinking, my husband. You should work hard after you go. I have some capital now, and maybe it will only take five years. Nothing is insurmountable. I won’t be idle either.”
Yingxiang made her decision anyway; when things came to this point, she couldn't back down.
"It might not be five years, it could be ten years before he comes back."
That's the truth.
"Ten years? Then I have even less to worry about. The child is grown up and successful. He can make his own way in the world. As parents, we can't accompany him for a lifetime. Over the years, under your and my guidance, he has become very sensible and has his own ideas."
If we consider the lifespan of people in ancient times, the couple is far from young, and their child is not young either. In a couple of years, people will come to their door to find them wives.
"Although we are far apart, we can still communicate, especially since Xiao Wu and the others are here."
"Let's do as you suggested. Let's find him a suitable academy to live in first, and get things done as soon as possible so he can leave in peace."
Wen Shi ultimately did not refuse. As the saying goes, "A couple who grow up together will be companions in old age." When it really came to this, he still very much wanted his wife to be with him.
If you go alone, to put it bluntly, you'll be all alone.
The Grand Secretary already knew that the document would be delivered soon. It was still light out, so the two of them immediately got up.
If you receive a document from the Ministry of Personnel, you must respond within the specified time; the time will only become more pressing, so you must be quick.
Ping An Village
Old Man Wen and Mrs. Liu were helping with the planting in the fields when they saw Wen Shi and Ying Xiang coming from afar and saying they had something to do, so they hurried back.
He's currently troubled by two things: his youngest son's marriage and his third son's career.
Upon arriving home, Wen Shi immediately spoke to his parents.
"Third brother, you will be the county magistrate in the future."
Liu was somewhat excited, but after hearing what was said, she was no longer so happy. Although she had been promoted, she was going to a very far place.
She was reluctant to leave, and Old Man Wen, though he didn't say anything, was probably thinking the same thing.
The hall fell silent. Madam Ma and Xiuyu understood what was going on: there was a lot of work to do in the fields, and neither Brother Wen nor Brother Si had returned.
"Third brother, if you leave, what will happen to the children?"
After a long pause, Old Man Wen spoke first.
"His future is important, so he will definitely stay here to study."
"And what about your wife?"
“She’s with me, but she’ll handle things at the shop herself.”
"Where are your mother and me?"
“If you want, we can come together, but the journey will be tiring and we won’t be able to come back for several years. We also won’t have the time. If you don’t want to, then you can continue to stay here.”
Wen Shi didn't say much, but he made himself very clear, and Old Man Wen obviously already knew what was going on.
"Then you and your wife can go without worry. Let the child come and stay here. His second uncle can pick him up and drop him off every day. Also, there will be someone to look after him here. Don't worry, your mother and I will definitely take good care of your son."
"Sister-in-law, don't worry, I'll be there too, and I can help."
Xiuyu also spoke up.
The whole family is counting on Wen Shi right now, and she doesn't want anything to go wrong.
"Third sister-in-law, I can also help you take care of the children."
Madam Ma quickly spoke up, and Yuqin followed suit without hesitation.
Wen Leqian is not a three-year-old child; he knows everything and has studied for many years.
"He's getting older, and I'm planning to send him to an academy. He'll only come over during holidays, but you all need to make sure he studies hard."
After Wen Shi finished speaking, he looked at Wen Leqian standing not far away. Now Wen Leqian finally understood why his parents had suddenly returned and why they hadn't been very happy along the way. It turned out that this was the reason.
His father got promoted, but he had to take up a post in another city, so he couldn't stay with him to study, and his mother was also leaving.
In the future, he would live with these family members—no, he would live in the academy. Thinking about this, he wasn't so happy, but he wasn't an ignorant child either.
After studying for so many years, he knows that his parents are doing it all for his own good.
It's easy to take him out, but other places can't compare to the capital, and the teachers are very different. Wen Shi doesn't approve of hiring someone to study at home for the child, as that would be even worse for him in the future.
Some experiences are necessary; after all, his life hasn't even begun yet.
He is already taller than Yingxiang and will continue to grow. He is not afraid of living alone in the future, but it is impossible not to feel sad when he thinks about being separated from his parents.
At night, Yingxiang held her son's hand and talked to him a lot. Although she was reluctant, she had no choice but to consider the reality of the situation.
"Mother, don't worry. In two years, I will learn to ride a horse and then I can go wherever I want."
"I'll come visit you during the Chinese New Year holiday."
It would be even better if my son could excel in both academics and martial arts. I strictly supervise his studies, but he also goes to martial arts schools in private to learn boxing when he has free time. He goes there for a day during his ten-day holidays.
Yingxiang never objected; she saw it as a way to help the child get stronger and more physically robust.
He didn't neglect his studies, and Wen Shi didn't say anything, which meant he tacitly agreed to it.
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