Chapter 69
The banquet hosted by the county magistrate today was a private banquet, held in the main side hall of the official residence behind the government office. In order to prevent Lu Shang and his wife from feeling restrained, he even dismissed his servants and only kept his wife and children with them.
Jiang Wanning and Qu Heng had met before, but both of them had important matters to attend to at that time and had not had time to reminisce. When they met again today, without the important matters such as natural disasters and prisons, they both felt a sigh of emotion.
Qu Heng had known about Jiang Wanning's whereabouts for more than half a year, and had also heard a lot of information about her. For example, the nameless private school, although not as famous as other academies, had always had a very good reputation among some wealthy families. Especially last year, more than a dozen candidates were admitted to the imperial examinations, and it was also well-received by some high-ranking families and officials in Songxi County.
Normally speaking, a woman, especially a former criminal, opening a private school like this would inevitably lead to disputes. However, with the presence of Qu Heng, in the first few months of this year alone, he secretly helped to fend off several groups of people who came to inquire.
Qu Heng had watched Jiang Wanning grow up, and now he looked at her like his own daughter. He felt both proud and relieved. "I've heard from teachers before that the Second Young Lady is very knowledgeable. Now I see that her reputation is well-deserved."
Jiang Wanning was slightly embarrassed, and after a modest response, she couldn't help but ask, "How has Uncle Qu been these past few years? And Auntie, I haven't seen her in a while since we parted ways in the capital."
Qu Heng's wife's surname is Yu. She is also from the capital. She and Qu Heng grew up together. Later, they got married. Jiang Wanning also attended their wedding banquet and was quite close to Yu Shi.
Although Xiao Yu's feelings for the Jiang family were not as deep as Qu Heng's, she was filled with emotion when she saw Jiang Wanning grow into such a beautiful young lady. She couldn't help but stand up from her seat, sit at the long table on the right, and wave to Jiang Wanning, motioning her to sit over.
Jiang Wanning was stunned for a moment, subconsciously glanced at Lu Shang, hesitated for a moment, whispered something, and finally stood up, walked quickly to Xiao Yushi, and knelt down beside her again.
In just a few breaths, the two of them were holding hands and talking to each other sweetly.
Only Lu Shang was left looking forward and to the left, not knowing what to do for a moment.
Until the county magistrate in the main seat chuckled and said, "This Mr. Lu... scholar, can you count how many insects and ants there are in Qinglu Lin Academy?"
A trace of confusion flashed across Lu Shang's eyes, but he soon stiffened his body. He looked over in disbelief and met Qu Heng's smiling but shifty eyes. He finally realized that when the county magistrate went to the academy to give lectures, he thought he was hiding his absence, but in fact, he was seen by others and remembered clearly.
"..." No matter how shameless Lu Shang was, he now wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Jiang Wanning and Xiao Yu on the opposite side just looked up at them, and perhaps because they were interrupting their conversation, they stood up hand in hand.
Xiao Yu said, "My husband, please chat with Master Lu. I'll take Wan Ning to the back for a walk."
As they spoke, the two of them walked around the long table and turned to leave.
Lu Shang was shocked: "..." Help! Don't leave me alone!
Jiang Wanning could not hear the cry in his heart, and she believed that Uncle Qu was a kind person, so she was not worried about leaving him alone to face it. When she passed by him, she did not even give him a glance. Instead, she went to the door and called the two young ladies who were accompanying her on both sides, and left the side hall chatting and laughing.
So only Qu Heng and Lu Shang were left in the room.
Everything was just as Jiang Wanning had imagined. Qu Heng saw that Lu Shang was always picky about his son-in-law, but he also knew that without his protection and support, the Second Miss might have faced an undetermined fate. So, apart from the initial two teasing remarks, he treated him kindly afterwards.
It was Lu Shang's first time facing an old friend from the Jiang family, and he was indeed nervous at first, but he managed to calm down during the questions and answers. He might not be very talented, but he might have achieved some success in running Lu's Logistics in a few years. As for how he treated his wife, there was nothing to say. He always said whatever he wanted, and no one could find any major fault with him.
Later in the conversation, Qu Heng took the initiative to mention the righteous deeds of the merchants in Fucheng and Tangzhen during the severe drought. "I reported your good deeds to His Majesty several months ago. Besides the public recognition, there is another privilege that I think will be useful to you."
"May I ask..." Lu Shang was curious.
Qu Heng said, "It's nothing. Your Majesty noticed that many of these merchants had scholars in their families. Logically, if they entered the imperial court in the future, they would have to completely separate themselves from their family businesses, including your logistics team. However, Your Majesty felt that anyone willing to donate half of their property to help the people in need was definitely not a profit-seeking person. Therefore, His Majesty allowed the sons of these merchants to continue to participate in their family businesses after entering the imperial court, so that officials and businessmen can work together."
Lu Shang was shocked. He never expected such a big surprise to hit him.
Qu Heng added, "But don't be too happy. His Majesty has made this exception. While it's a commendation, it requires careful consideration. Currently, there's no precedent for court officials engaging in business. In the future, whether it's you or anyone else's family doing this, we'll all be subject to regular monitoring by His Majesty. Anyone found colluding with businessmen or abusing power for personal gain will be severely punished."
These warnings failed to dampen Lu Shang's excitement. He stood up and bowed to Qu Heng, "Thank you, sir, for your kind words on our behalf. To be honest, I recently told Aning that I wanted to focus on my studies. I made the decision so hastily that I hadn't considered what to do with my business after high school. Who would have thought that you, sir, would have freed me from all worries?"
Lu Shang was not naive enough to think that the emperor had proactively mentioned the privileges of such officials in doing business, and Qu Heng was most likely involved.
Qu Heng didn't deny it. He just opened his mouth and then laughed, "Don't call me sir anymore. Just call me Uncle Qu like the Second Miss."
"I originally thought that since the Second Young Miss is teaching and has produced so many successful candidates, who knows, one day she might send one of our own family members to the imperial court. It's already difficult for outsiders to serve as officials in the capital. If you lose the business you've painstakingly built for years, wouldn't it be even more difficult to gain a foothold in the capital? This unexpected combination of circumstances has actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise."
Lu Shang bowed again: "Thank you, Uncle Qu, for making plans for my husband and me."
"There's nothing to thank me for. Back when I was an official in the court, I accidentally offended someone, and it was you who helped me through many things. Only then did I find a new way out. Outsiders only thought that I was exiled from the capital because I was far away from the political center, but they didn't know that it was precisely because of leaving that place that I had the opportunity to benefit the people. For example, in Songxi County, apart from the imperial envoys sent by the higher-ups, who can suppress me?"
Lu Shang looked up at him and happened to see the genuine joy in his eyes.
Before sunset, the couple said goodbye to the county magistrate and his family.
Mrs. Xiao Yu gathered a large bag of the good things she had collected in recent years and insisted on giving it to Jiang Wanning. She had heard that Jiang Wanning had opened a private school and had previously taught enlightenment to the children in the neighborhood, so she even thought of sending her two daughters there.
Her two daughters were not very old, one was seven years old and the other ten years old. Qu Heng had been in charge of their enlightenment before, but later he was busy with government affairs and gradually neglected the children's homework. Now that there was a more suitable person, Xiao Yu naturally did not want to miss this opportunity.
Jiang Wanning readily agreed: "My private school hasn't started yet. Since Auntie doesn't mind, I have no problem with it. I'll come and pick you two up after everything is arranged."
"No, no, it's already a trouble to you, why should I ask you to run back and forth? When you have made arrangements there, just send someone to tell me. When the day comes, I will send them over myself." Xiao Yu clapped her hands, her face full of joy.
Qu Heng only just learned of his wife's decision, but he knew Jiang Wanning's abilities very well, so he did not make any unnecessary comments.
On the way home, Jiang Wanning's face gradually became lonely, and her mood was a little low. After being questioned two or three times by Lu Shang, she finally said: "I haven't seen Uncle Qu and Auntie for many years. Since old friends can see each other again, then what about my parents and brothers..."
Lu Shang's heart tightened, and he couldn't say anything to reassure himself. He could only offer some temporary comfort: "Brother Zhan and the others have been gone for over a year. Let's wait a little longer, there will definitely be good news."
Jiang Wanning nodded slightly, as if she believed what he said.
In the blink of an eye, it was the twelfth lunar month. Two heavy snowfalls occurred in the entire Songxi County. The goose-feather-like snowflakes covered the ground, which was like a blessing for the land suffering from severe drought.
The imperial court sent agricultural officials to travel through the affected counties, starting from Songxi County, to help the people manage their fields and maximize the harvest next year.
It was only then that Lu Shang realized that Qu Heng's opening of the granary to release grain was an unauthorized act without the court's permission and he should have been held accountable. However, the emperor, mindful of Qu Heng's prompt action in saving many civilians and minimizing the losses caused by the natural disaster, not only did he not hold him accountable, but he also rewarded him and declared that officials across the country should learn from him.
The Lu Lin Academy’s opening date is set for the seventh day of the first lunar month, and the Wuming Private School does not plan to start classes before the New Year.
Lu Shang was not idle at home either. He gradually regularized his daily routine, picked up the fitness exercises that had been put aside for a long time, and reasonably arranged the business of the logistics team and his studies for exams, ensuring three hours of study time every day.
Jiang Wanning had a rare chance to relax, and seeing him making progress, she felt even happier.
In the morning, when Lu Shang was taking care of his business, she would go to Grandma Lu's yard to look at the flowers and plants, or go to the small garden at the back to read books and paint. As the saying goes, a new emperor appoints new ministers. After a few years of the new emperor's reign, many political affairs have changed. In the past two years, there have been reforms to the imperial examination system and great disasters. The content of the special examination will probably be affected by them.
What Jiang Wanning needs to do is to understand these things clearly in advance so that she can give answers when students ask questions in the future.
In the afternoon, when Lu Shang was studying hard, she usually would not disturb him. Only when Lu Shang asked for help would she give him some pointers. This guidance was different from the direct answers in the private school. It was more about guiding Lu Shang's thinking and letting him figure out the answer himself.
In a blink of an eye, it was the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month. The couple prepared a festival gift and personally delivered it to the county magistrate's office.
The two of them had lunch at the county magistrate's house before leaving, but they happened to run into a messenger delivering a letter at the door.
The messenger handed the letter to Jiang Wanning, then asked Lu Shang for the reward, said some auspicious words for the New Year, and then continued to deliver the letter to the next house.
Jiang Wanning looked at the wrinkled letter paper, and for some reason, her heart began to beat violently.
Lu Shang said, "Let's go inside and talk."
But Jiang Wanning couldn't walk at all. A strong premonition told her that she must read the contents of the letter. She didn't say much, but her fingertips trembled as she touched the letter three or four times before opening it. When she opened it, there were only a few scribbled words inside -
I have lived up to the trust placed in me and have embarked on the return journey with my master and mistress.
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