Chapter 44 It turns out I was the unlucky one: Shen Wanqing took her son-in-law back to her parents' home, eating and drinking from morning till evening, until Shen Hongshi returned home from his official post...
Shen Wanqing took her son-in-law back to her parents' home. They ate and drank from morning till evening. It wasn't until Shen Hongshi returned home from his official duties and the whole family sat around a large table for dinner that the father-in-law and son-in-law, who were not very familiar with each other, entered the study one after the other.
"Why didn't your second uncle come himself?"
He's afraid you'll take advantage of him.
Shen Hongshi was very careful and cautious in his official duties and personal conduct, but that applied to outsiders. As for his own son-in-law, before the marriage, it was because he had the intention of climbing the social ladder by marrying into the Hesheli family. But after the marriage, he considered him half a son-in-law and treated him as an outsider. That would be foolish of him to push him away.
"You're just a kid, he's not afraid I'll take advantage of you if he pushes you over here."
Wuyi Mountain is famous for its Gongfu tea, which uses exquisite teaware and has a meticulous brewing process. It emphasizes slowness and appreciation. Shen Hongshi lived in Fuzhou for many years and went from being unaccustomed and impatient to enjoying tinkering with it. Even after returning to Beijing for several years, he still often plays with it.
There aren't many officials in Beijing whose hometown is in Fujian. When they do come, they mostly try to integrate into the city, even changing their accents. They're generally reluctant to deal with the hassle of Kung Fu tea.
Whether they liked it or not, Shen Hongshi wasn't one of them. He prepared a complete set of Gongfu tea utensils in his study, and he would take out the tea set to enjoy with his superiors, colleagues, guests, friends, and even juniors he respected.
This was the first time Yu Lang had seen it. Watching Shen Hongshi's hands fly up and down, washing the teaware, boiling water and scalding the cups, and finally brewing the tea, he poured boiling water on the outside of the teapot. When Yu Lang finally received a small cup of tea from Shen Hongshi, his eyes widened.
"That's settled then."
"Huh?! Huh?!"
While brewing tea, Shen Hongshi slowly explained the plan he had been thinking about for the past two days to his son-in-law. Unexpectedly, the silly son-in-law was so engrossed in brewing tea that he didn't listen to a word he said.
“This position was already decided for your second uncle. Getting a position as a grain transport commissioner isn’t incredibly difficult, but it’s not easy either. I’ve pulled strings and managed to secure a stable position in the capital for the current commissioner, Lord Qian, until his retirement. Now it’s too late to replace him.”
Shen Hongshi shook his head, clearly feeling helpless about the current situation. If this matter had been exposed half a month earlier, he wouldn't have been left with no room for maneuver.
"If that's the case, then it's a win-win situation." Although he said that everyone was happy, Yu Lang's expression was quite the opposite. Shen Hongshi couldn't help but shake his head and laugh. It was good that his son-in-law was protective of his own and knew what was going on, but he was still young and couldn't hide his feelings. He would wear his displeasure on his face as soon as he was unhappy.
"Don't worry, it's not easy to hold your position in the grain transport commissioner's office. Your second uncle came to me not to ask for the commissioner's help, but to ask for my connections."
"I'll be frank with you today. Most of the people I left in Fuzhou back then have been eliminated. Your second uncle should understand the principle of 'a new emperor, a new court.' My only backer in Fuzhou now is that man, but he only recognizes me and not others. He can't count on him to curry favor with me right now."
Shen Hongshi has been operating in Fuzhou for many years and is now in charge of the Fujian Provincial Administration Commission. Everyone thinks that Fuzhou and even Fujian is his stronghold. Otherwise, He Yi would not have insisted on the position of Grain Commissioner of Fuzhou.
Now that Shen Hongshi was telling him that his connections in Fuzhou were all scattered, Yu Lang stared blankly at his father-in-law for a long time before letting out a loud burp: "You've set a trap for my second uncle all along."
The two families were to be in-laws. One family was interested in the other's powerful family, hoping to secure a real job through marriage. The other family was interested in the other's auspicious surname, believing that marrying into the family and having children would broaden their future prospects.
Who would have thought that the Hesheli family, seemingly prosperous on the outside, was actually embroiled in internal troubles, dragging on and on over who was in charge of the household. The position of the grain transport commissioner, which Shen Hongshi seemingly casually threw out, was actually the best position he could arrange with great effort. Once there, he would have to help Shen Hongshi expand his territory and reclaim everything that had been lost.
“Father-in-law, aren’t you afraid that my second uncle will find that he can’t make any progress in his new post and then come back to cause trouble for you?”
"I gave him the position of the grain transport commissioner, so why is he causing me trouble?"
Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse. Those who were removed by Shen Hongshi in Fuzhou were all key figures, but most of the older people under him were still around. They wouldn't risk their lives for He Yi, but they would keep an eye on He Yi for Shen Hongshi.
If he wanted to turn around and bite the Shen family, before He Yi could use the surname Hesheli as a banner, Shen Hongshi would have a hundred ways to make him unable to open his mouth again.
There was no need to say such things to his son-in-law. He Yi was his second uncle, and even if there was no affection between them, they were still connected by blood. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sat in his study today.
"Isn't the position of the Grain Transport Commissioner good enough? It's just a matter of putting in some effort; he'll adapt quickly. We're related by marriage; even if we're angry, we'll trust him more than outsiders once he's calmed down. There's no need to worry about him."
Such is the nature of officialdom; there are no true friends or brothers. Disciples, former subordinates, mentors, and students often betray and attack each other when it matters most. Why are those loyal ministers and righteous men remembered for eternity? Because they are few and far between. If loyal ministers and capable generals were everywhere, how could dynasties have risen and fallen to this day?
The father-in-law before me had thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a magnificent beard. A man from Liaodong, he was robust and sturdy, more like a military general than a scholar. Only his eyes gleamed with a sharp light, as if he could see right through people with a single glance.
"You really care about your second uncle. Bringing Jiyun back today, is there really nothing else?"
After being glanced up and down by Shen Hongshi, Yu, who had originally wanted to put on airs and save face in front of his father-in-law, became completely obedient and honestly told Shen Hongshi everything that was more important about his visit to the Shen family that day.
The father-in-law and son-in-law chatted endlessly in the study in the front yard, while the women in the back yard gathered around the newly appointed housekeeper of the east courtyard of the Hesheli family, teasing her.
Shen Wanqing had been forced to drink quite a bit by her sisters-in-law that night, and now she was leaning on Xu Shi's shoulder with a flushed face. Whenever one of her sisters-in-law spoke, she would turn her head and stare at her with wide eyes, it was unclear whether she understood what she was saying or not.
"Jiyun, how come you don't even know how to shirk your responsibilities? You've only been married a short time and you've already taken on this arduous task. You'll be exhausted in the future."
The one speaking was the eldest sister-in-law, Helan. The Shen family, like the Hesheli family, had separated but did not live separately. However, Xu was shrewd and Helan was capable. Apart from living together, the two families kept everything else very separate.
Except when guests come during holidays or when there is something special to eat, my two cousins will bring their wives and children to the second house to eat together. They even eat separately in the kitchen, let alone share monthly allowances and food and clothing expenses.
There's no such thing as "fair" or "unfair" relations; even though the two families live under the same roof, they don't have any major conflicts. Even if they bicker, it's fine after three to five days. Helan, the cousin-in-law, has always had a good relationship with the second family. Now, before Qin, the sister-in-law, has even spoken, she's already asking questions.
She had heard about the discord between the east and west branches of the Hesheli family, but she felt that since the two families had already separated, what was there to be afraid of? According to her personality, she should relax and enjoy herself for a few years, and it would be best to have two more children during these years. By the time the children are older, Shen Wanqing will have been living in the Hesheli family for many years, and it wouldn't be too late to take over the affairs of the east branch then.
These words clearly indicate that she is living a very comfortable life. After all, they are both second aunts. Xu Shi, as the second aunt, only helps He Lan Shi every now and then, unlike Shu Mulu Shi, who is much more difficult to deal with.
"Sister-in-law, I have great ambitions, why should I let others control me?" There are some things Shen Wanqing doesn't need to say to others, but there are some thoughts she needs to say early on under the influence of alcohol, so as to pave the way for the future.
“I didn’t marry into their family to be a concubine. The family is in my own hands. Tomorrow I will follow my mother’s example, buy land and property, and start a caravan and boat business to go to Liaodong and the coastal areas. I will become a money-making machine.”
Shen Wanqing had long wanted to send people to Liaodong and Fujian herself, partly for business and partly to scout out potential destinations. In case she was implicated by the Crown Prince and exiled, she would either be sent to the infamous Ningguta or south to Yunnan, Guizhou, or the Qiongzhou islands.
There's no way to deal with Yunnan and Guizhou for now; once you're there, it's fate, and there's no point in struggling. The Shen and Xu families have been operating in Fuzhou for many years, and with Shen Wanqing's uncle and her older sister Shen Wanyun in Liaodong, Shen Wanqing has to make sure she gets things going in those two places beforehand.
"You little brat, behave yourself! A few sips of wine and you've gone too far, forgetting who you are. A money-grubbing rake? How dare you talk to your own mother like that? You little rascal!"
It is said that people speak the truth when they are drunk. Xu's mother and her sisters-in-law did not think anything was wrong when they saw their usually quiet little sister acting like this. On the contrary, Xu's eyes reddened, and she felt that she had neglected her little girl too much over the years and did not know that her daughter had such great ambitions.
"Mom, wait for me. Once I've sorted things out at home this year, we can work together to earn money next spring, okay?"
Shen Wanqing knew when to stop. She glanced around the room and, finding no one suspicious, said no more. She then leaned back against Xu's shoulder softly and repeated the same things to reinforce Xu's memory.
"Okay, okay, whatever you say. It would be great if our family produced the richest person in the world someday."
While coaxing her daughter, Madam Xu sent someone to the study in the front yard, instructing her to return quickly if her son-in-law finished his business, otherwise her daughter would be out of control.
That night, they stayed in Shen Wanqing's old room again. Shen Wanqing was helped back by her maid. She was not drunk before, but she was exhausted from making a fuss all night. She wrapped herself in a small quilt and fell asleep on the daybed not long after.
"You're back. How was it? What did my dad say?"
Chen Wanqing dozed off on the daybed, still fully clothed, and only woke up groggily when she heard the door open. Her limbs were weak and she didn't want to move, so she lay on her side on the daybed, hugging the blanket, watching Yu Lang walk towards her.
"Your second uncle has long since fallen into your father's trap. He was chosen by your father as a pawn, and now he has no way to back out."
Yu Lang carefully explained Shen Hongshi's plans to Shen Wanqing, and Shen Wanqing listened attentively but still couldn't help but yawn.
This kind of thing is quite common. In my old workplace, it was the case that a capable leader would trick a young master with connections but not much of a background into going to a remote branch office to act as his henchman.
Once you've gone, there's no going back. Even if you're cursing people in your heart, you still have to cooperate. If you all improve together in the future, then all the unpleasantness from before won't matter. If you can't make it, then there's no point in talking about unpleasantness; everyone should just go their separate ways.
"You knew about this beforehand, so why aren't you surprised at all?"
"How would I know? I just know that my dad had a nickname years ago, but now that he's old, nobody mentions it anymore. I'm telling you, but don't tell anyone else."
"What? I promise I won't tell."
"Fox, Shen the Great Fox."
Shen Hongshi was not a despicable person, but he was always very cunning. But thinking about it, it makes sense; how could an ordinary Han Banner family have accumulated such a fortune to this day? He couldn't possibly be an honest man.
"You've been talking about this for so long?"
"No, actually I came here today for something more important that I haven't told you before."
Shen Wanqing didn't want to move, so she pulled back a corner of the quilt to let Yulang lie down and then covered him up again. The two of them slept on the narrow couch with their heads touching and talked like that.
"What is it that you couldn't tell me beforehand?"
"It's not that I didn't want to tell you about the task assigned by the Crown Prince, but I wanted to ask my father-in-law first so I would have a better understanding before telling you."
"Look at how you're smiling, it must be something good."
The mere mention of the Crown Prince made Shen Wanqing's heart leap into her throat, and seeing Yu Lang's refreshed appearance, Shen Wanqing felt her heart race.
"The Crown Princess will most likely be decided soon." Yu Lang repeated what the Crown Prince had told him that day, "His Majesty doesn't like us Manchu noble families and meritorious officials. He always feels that we are corrupting the Crown Prince. We all know that."
The Shi family was not a typical Manchu clan. Their ancestors were originally Manchus with the surname Guarjia. During the previous dynasty, they led their clan to migrate to Liaodong and changed their surname to Shi.
Shi Wenbing's grandfather led his clan to surrender and were incorporated into the Han Army Banner of the Plain White Banner. Later, Shi Wenbing's father submitted a memorial explaining that his family originated from the Manchus, and his clan changed back to the Manchu surname Guarjia.
However, since most of the people under his family's command had been Han Chinese over the years, it was impossible for them all to be reorganized into the Manchu Plain White Banner. As a result, the Shi family became a Manchu family under the Han Chinese Plain White Banner.
In this way, they were naturally different from these old Manchu families and could not get close to them. The Shi family was the emperor's staunch direct descendant. Shi Wenbing's father, Shi Huashan, married the daughter of Prince Yu, Dodo, which meant that Shi Wenbing had half of his bloodline from the Aisin Gioro family.
Within the Manchu bannermen, they were the Guarjia clan; outside the Han bannermen and the Eight Banners, the Shi family had been Han Chinese for many more years. Shi Wenbing first served as the Governor-General of Jiangnan and later as the General of Fuzhou, wielding considerable power throughout the south. To say that Kangxi didn't genuinely care for his son by choosing such a Crown Princess for him is to be a lie.
"Shi Wenbing has to return to the capital this year. The Shi family's situation is a bit special; they haven't been to the capital for many years. Now that His Majesty hasn't publicly announced the selection of the Crown Princess, the Crown Prince can't make any moves. He didn't know that I had married you, and since my father-in-law was the prefect of Fuzhou and had a close relationship with General Shi, he gave me this job."
The Shen family's involvement was essentially acting as servants to Shi Wenbing. Any inconveniences or shortcomings in the Shi family's return to Beijing would be handled by the Shen family. Shen Hongshi already had connections with Shi Wenbing, so his presence wouldn't attract attention.
If the Crown Prince had any messages to convey to the Shi family, Yu Lang could relay them through the Shen family, which would be more discreet and safer. So, whether it was fate, destiny, or a joke, the Shen family, Shen Wanqing, and Yu Lang were all connected to the Crown Prince's faction and the Crown Princess's family.
It's not up to him now. Yu Lang and the Hesheli family are too closely tied to the Crown Prince. According to Yu Lang, when Shen Hongshi was the prefect of Fuzhou, his backer was Shi Wenbing. When Shen Hongshi was able to excel in logistics when Kangxi took back Taiwan, it was also because of Shi Wenbing's help.
Even after Shen Hongshi was transferred back to the capital to serve as an official, the two sides maintained contact. General Shi Wenbing of Fuzhou was Shen Hongshi's backer, and Shen Hongshi was Shi Wenbing's mouthpiece in the capital. The Shi family also stood behind the Xu family and all of their businesses and merchant ships.
Therefore, once Shi becomes the Crown Princess, the one who is truly deeply involved with the Crown Prince's faction is not Yu Lang, this member of the Hesheli branch, but herself and the Shen family.
Once Shen Wanqing understood this relationship, a larger and more elusive ambition suddenly arose in her at this moment: she must let the Crown Prince ascend the throne! Otherwise, she would truly have no way out.
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Black Thursday continues; I'll try to post two updates tomorrow.
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