Chapter 61 Wanshan Academy (1)
Meng Guanqi and Li Xiaoxiao returned to the carriage. Magistrate Meng soon finished his conversation with Tang Xuezheng and returned to the carriage: "Let's go. We need to reach the post station before dark to rest, otherwise we'll have to camp in the wilderness."
This post station was built a few months ago by Magistrate Meng in conjunction with the neighboring Donglin County. Neither county is close to Lin'an City, and it takes a whole day for a carriage to travel there. If one sets off after noon, one can only sleep in the wilderness. To solve this problem, Magistrate Meng and Magistrate Tang of Donglin County jointly funded the construction of this post station, which is located at the crossroads of the two counties, providing lodging for travelers between the two counties and Lin'an City.
The group arrived at the post station before sunset, rested for the night, and returned to Biyang County at noon the next day.
Magistrate Meng returned. Liu looked haggard and was still anxious about the news that had spread throughout Biyang County about her accidentally pawning the gold necklace. She was unaware that the news had already reached Lin'an Prefecture and had been revealed by Li Jingli in front of all the officials in Lin'an Prefecture.
After helping Magistrate Meng change his clothes, she stammered, "Husband, I don't think there are any good young men in Biyang County. How about we wait until next year, after Qi'er passes the imperial examination, to make plans for Liniang's marriage? Once he passes, there will definitely be more families proposing marriage to us. Then we can find a good match for Liniang. If that doesn't work out, I'll ask my sister-in-law to help keep an eye out. I don't know how long we'll be staying here, so Liniang, please don't mention going back to your family in this county..."
Magistrate Meng looked down at his haggard wife and suddenly felt a pang of sadness. The family was struggling so much, yet she had never mentioned that she was short of money, even though she had pawned her dowry. He deserved to be ridiculed by Judge Lu in public.
He was an illegitimate son, and Liu was an illegitimate daughter. Both of them received monthly stipends from their families and had never had a day in charge of the household. Suddenly, they were to take charge of the family's food, clothing, housing, and transportation. It was understandable that she did not manage it well.
The family fortune he received after the division of property was already meager, and he used most of it to buy grain to help the refugees. Then he was fined his salary, and even the income from his official land was confiscated. Mao Neng from the capital would collect political articles and exam papers once a month and send them to Biyang County, which cost a huge sum of tens of taels of silver each time. Liu never complained.
Liniang's maid also ran off with the jewelry and fabrics that Liu had spent a lot of money on. Replacing them would be another huge expense. The family had no income, yet the monthly expenses were so enormous. Even if Liu had three heads and six arms, she couldn't possibly manage everything.
He's the one who made her suffer.
He knew that Liu was definitely worried about the gold necklace, but he didn't intend to bring it up in front of her.
He dismissed those around him, gently embraced Liu, and comforted her while holding her hand, "It's alright, let's wait until Qi'er passes the imperial examination. Anyway, Liniang is still young, she'll only be thirteen next year..."
Her husband embraced her in broad daylight. Even though it was in their own room, Liu was still blushing with embarrassment. They had been married for a long time, so why would he suddenly do this?
With her cheeks flushed like a young girl's, Liu asked, "At Aunt Luo's place—"
Magistrate Meng said, "If I speak to her, she will not dare to object."
Liu felt as sweet as if she had drunk honey. After enjoying the warmth of the couple's embrace for a while, she seemed to remember something: "The New Year is only a month away. Although our family has separated, we can't forget to send New Year's gifts to the mansion. The things Mao Neng sent should arrive in a few days. I'll ask the escort agency to send them then—"
Magistrate Meng interrupted her, saying, "I will prepare the New Year's gifts for the household; you don't need to worry about it."
Madam Liu was taken aback: "Master, this—"
Magistrate Meng said, “It’s inconvenient to travel to and from Biyang County. The escort agency probably won’t arrive in the capital until after the New Year. We’ll have to ask them to deliver things to Lin’an Prefecture as a transit point, which is too much trouble. In a few days, I plan to have Qi’er visit Wanshan Academy in Luzhou to pay a visit to Headmaster Gu. He’s my classmate, and his family is in the capital. Every year, they send servants to the capital to deliver New Year’s gifts. Wouldn’t it be more convenient for me to ask him to deliver them as well?”
Liu was delighted; this was certainly good, saving a lot of travel expenses. However, she asked, "Why does my husband want Qi'er to go to Wanshan Academy to pay respects to the headmaster? Is it just to deliver a festival gift?"
Magistrate Meng said, "No, I want Qi'er to go to Wanshan Academy next year."
Madam Liu was taken aback: "Hasn't Qi'er been learning quite well by your side? Why did he have to run so far away to Luzhou? And he'll be competing next year, so he'll have to rush back to Lin'an—"
Anxiety flickered in her eyes: "Did something happen during the few days you were in Lin'an Prefecture?" Meng Guanqi had been in Biyang County for almost a year. If Magistrate Meng had intended to send him to Wanshan Academy, he would have done so long ago. The fact that he only brought it up now, almost at the New Year, suggests that something must have happened in Lin'an Prefecture that she was unaware of.
Magistrate Meng, of course, would not tell her what had happened. He simply smiled and said, "It's not a bad thing. It's just that Tang Xuezheng of the prefectural school strongly invited Qi'er to join the school, but Prefect Song and I have different political views. He is narrow-minded and has no capacity for tolerance. I was afraid that Qi'er would be affected, so I simply told Tang Xuezheng that he would be going to Wanshan Academy after the New Year to enroll, thus declining Tang Xuezheng's invitation."
Headmaster Gu of Wanshan Academy was a fellow graduate of Magistrate Meng, and was the top-ranked candidate in the second class of the imperial examinations. After working as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy for several years, he was transferred to the Ministry of Revenue as an assistant minister for three years. Later, he resigned from his post and returned home on the grounds that his parents were old and needed to be taken care of. He then established Wanshan Academy in Guiyuan Mountain, Luzhou, and personally taught students. In just seven or eight years, he taught dozens of candidates for the imperial examinations and seven or eight candidates for the highest degree. His reputation spread far and wide, and many families came to seek his teaching. Magistrate Meng had a past relationship with Headmaster Gu, and it was just right to use the name of Wanshan Academy to shut up Tang Xuezheng.
However, Luzhou is nearly 500 li away from Lin'an Prefecture. Meng Guanqi has never been so far from home before, and Liu Shi is extremely reluctant to part with him.
Magistrate Meng smiled and said, "Madam, please don't be reluctant. Although Gu Henian is of a detached nature, he has extremely strict requirements for accepting students. Although Qi'er has my personal letter, I cannot guarantee whether he can pass Brother Gu's test. If he fails, he will naturally have to return to my side to continue his studies."
Madam Liu was displeased again: "Chess is naturally intelligent, how could the teacher not like him? Master, please don't discourage him and make him hide his head and follow the doctrinal path again."
Magistrate Meng quickly replied, "Alright, alright, I won't say anything. You should pack Qi'er's bags first. Luzhou is nearly 500 li away from Biyang County, and it will take almost ten days to travel back and forth. The sooner he sets off, the sooner he can return for the New Year."
Magistrate Meng still didn't mention why Tang Xuezheng suddenly insisted on inviting Meng Guanqi to the prefectural school. Liu Shi suppressed her curiosity for the time being and decided to call Li Xiaoxiao over after Magistrate Meng left to ask what had happened in Lin'an Prefecture.
Following Magistrate Meng's instructions, Li Xiaoxiao downplayed the seriousness of the matter: "Lord Song hosted a banquet at Chunfeng Tower, and we could only wait outside. We had no idea what had happened..."
Liu asked Meng Guanqi about it again, and Meng Guanqi reassured her, "There's nothing special, it's just that Prefect Song still ignores Father."
Liu sighed, "What should we do about the fact that Prefect Song is so hostile towards our family?"
Meng Guanqi said, “Mother, there’s no need to worry. He looks down on us, and I look down on him too. We’re just colleagues with differing political views. Once his term is over, he’ll probably be transferred somewhere else. What does that have to do with our family? There’s really no need to worry about such a person.”
Madam Liu said with concern, "If it weren't for his constant targeting, you would have been studying at the prefectural school long ago. With him around, even though Tang Xuezheng personally invited you, your father was still worried and insisted on sending you to Wanshan Academy, which is 500 miles away. Although Headmaster Gu is very knowledgeable, if something happens, the family will be too far away to help."
Meng Guanqi's eyes sparkled like stars: "Father, are you really going to send me to Wanshan Academy to study?"
Seeing that her son didn't understand her worries at all, Liu felt a little sad: "Would I lie to you? It's just that you've never been so far from home before, and I'm worried..."
Meng Guanqi's eyes revealed longing: "If Mother is worried, just let Xiaoxiao and Asheng accompany me. If I can really pass Headmaster Gu's test, I will definitely write home often..."
Two days later, Magistrate Meng summoned Meng Guanqi to the study in the outer courtyard. He was carrying two bundles, and pointed to one of them, saying, "Inside is a letter I wrote to Headmaster Gu, as well as two paintings. When you meet Headmaster Gu, give him these things, and he will surely reply. If you can pass his test, you can officially go to Wanshan Academy to study after the New Year. If you don't pass, you can stay by my side."
Meng Guanqi clenched his fist: "Father, I will definitely pass Headmaster Gu's test."
Magistrate Meng smiled slightly: "Gu Chuanlu is arrogant and conceited. You will probably suffer a bit if you go there. His scholarship is superior to mine, and he has been teaching and educating people for many years. His research on the imperial examination is far better than mine. Moreover, all the students of Wanshan who are accepted into his tutelage are exceptionally talented. You must not underestimate him."
Meng Guanqi respectfully agreed.
Magistrate Meng pointed to another bundle and said, "This bundle contains New Year's gifts to be sent to our family and the Meng family. You should also give it to Headmaster Gu, and he will send someone to deliver it back to the capital."
Meng Guanqi's mind raced as he recalled the events at Chunfeng Tower: "Did Father write a letter to the clan chief?"
Magistrate Meng nodded: "Indeed. In fact, all the officials of Lin'an Prefecture witnessed Lu Weifu's plot to harm you that day. Powerful families have their own intelligence networks. I'm afraid that before this letter was even sent from Luzhou, the clansmen had already heard the news. The clan head will definitely send someone to handle this matter. Whether I write this letter or not doesn't really matter, but it's one thing for them to hear it from others, and it's another thing for them to witness it firsthand. The Lu family father and son will not get away with this. Don't take this to heart. I'll take care of everything. You just need to focus on the provincial examination next year..."
Early the next morning, a carriage drove out from the backyard of the county government office and headed north. The driver was Zhao Jian, and the carriage carried Meng Guanqi, Li Xiaoxiao, and A-Jian.
Biyang County is located in the south and has a relatively mild and warm climate. Since the beginning of winter, there have only been a few heavy snowfalls. However, as you travel north along the official road, the snow accumulation on the road increases and the weather becomes colder.
Traveling in winter is not easy. Li Xiaoxiao, Asheng and Zhao Jian took turns driving the carriage. They encountered rain and snow several times along the way, and it took them seven or eight days to reach the foot of Guiyuan Mountain.
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