Chapter 16: Magistrate Meng is back.
Magistrate Meng has made such a huge mess; it's definitely time for him to come back and deal with it.
As the carriage passed through the city gate, a large crowd of people gathered there. It was midday, and the sun was blazing. The displaced people listlessly sought refuge in the shade beneath the city gate, waiting for the daily distribution of porridge.
The city gates were heavily guarded, and refugees were not allowed to enter or leave at will.
Upon seeing the county magistrate's carriage, the head constable on duty, Shi, lit up and quickly stepped forward: "Sir, you're back?"
It has been seven or eight days since the last rice delivery, and there are only a dozen or so bags of grain left in the granary.
Magistrate Meng lifted the curtain of the carriage and stepped down. He was a refined and handsome middle-aged scholar with a fair complexion and no beard. He was tall and slender, but his eyes were dark and bluish, probably due to fatigue from the journey and lack of rest.
Magistrate Meng glanced at the refugees gathered by the city gate, his worry deepening. As he walked into the city, he asked Constable Shi, "Shi Yi, what's the situation outside the city? Is the population still increasing?"
Officer Shi said, "Because there is only one bowl of porridge a day, and the rain has stopped in the last few days, many people have gone back to their hometowns. But there are still thousands of people gathered at the city gate. Sir, you have been gone for so long, have you managed to get any grain?"
Magistrate Meng sighed, his brow furrowed with worry: "In the past two weeks, I have visited the magistrates of Ding'an, Linjiang, and Jinqu counties, but they are all willing but unable to help. Last year and this year, each county has suffered from varying degrees of drought and flooding, and taxes cannot be collected, so they cannot fulfill their superiors' tasks. They simply cannot lend a helping hand..."
Officer Shi asked, "Did you go to Prefect Song's office in the prefectural city to urge him on this matter?"
Magistrate Meng was even more worried: "My first stop on this trip was Lord Song's residence, but after waiting for two days, Lord Song still hasn't seen me."
Officer Shi didn't want to go back with him. What a mess! His superiors didn't care, his colleagues wouldn't help, and Magistrate Meng's trip was completely pointless.
Head Constable Shi stopped in his tracks: "Sir, eight days ago, the eldest son sent 3,600 catties of coarse rice, which barely kept the city gates from receiving a bowl of porridge a day. But after eight days, there is less than seven days' worth of food left. If the prefectural city and other county magistrates are unwilling to help, then I ask you to decide what to do next as soon as possible. I have other matters to attend to, so I will not accompany you back."
Without waiting for his response, she turned and left.
Magistrate Meng was left all alone on the street.
A hint of disdain flashed in the eyes of the driver, Yu Dayong, before he finally drove the rickshaw over after a long while: "Sir, please get in the rickshaw, let's go back."
Magistrate Meng shook his head: "You should go back first. It'll be almost time for Chess Boy to finish school. I'll go find him."
Upon hearing that his son had delivered over three thousand catties of coarse rice to the county government, Magistrate Meng wanted to inquire about the matter. Moreover, his son was already a scholar, and perhaps the father and son could meet and discuss their future plans together.
Upon hearing this, Yu Dayong drove back home.
The county school was located on the west side of the county town. Magistrate Meng arrived in just over a quarter of an hour. He didn't go in but stood at the entrance and waited for a while. The students came out one after another, and Meng Guanqi immediately saw Magistrate Meng waiting on the opposite side.
His eyes lit up, and he hurried forward to bow: "Father, you're back?"
When Magistrate Meng saw his son, who was as handsome as an orchid and a jade tree, a look of satisfaction flashed in his eyes. He smiled slightly and helped him up, saying, "I just arrived and thought I'd come and pick you up."
Meng Guanqi glanced behind him: "Since Father has come all this way, why is there no coachman in sight?"
Magistrate Meng disagreed: "I wanted to take a walk, so I told him to go back first. Let's talk as we walk."
Meng Guanqi readily agreed, handing the book box to Asheng who was following behind him, while walking alongside Magistrate Meng.
Magistrate Meng recounted his experiences over the past ten days in a low voice, and finally sighed: "Qi'er, do you think it was really wrong of your father to take in these refugees?"
Meng Guanqi said, "Father only couldn't bear to see people displaced and homeless. His act of taking them in and giving them porridge stemmed from a deep love for the people. What's wrong with that?"
Magistrate Meng said, "But the Prefect refuses to see me, and the county magistrates of other counties refuse to help me. The disaster relief funds from the imperial court have not yet arrived, and the county granary is already running out of food. The refugees outside the city continue to flock to us. I am now in a difficult situation..." As he said this, he coughed a few times, and his face turned pale instantly.
Meng Guanqi quickly helped him up, her heart aching.
My father was an illegitimate son. He developed a non-competitive nature while living in the mansion. Even after passing the imperial examination and becoming an official, he followed the doctrine of the mean and remained inconspicuous. Unexpectedly, he was promoted to the position of principal of the Ministry of Personnel and gained real power. However, he offended people and was found to have made a mistake, so he was demoted to Biyang County. He had to make decisions in everything, but his superiors did not support him and his subordinates refused to support him. Beset by internal and external troubles, how could he not suffer?
Meng Guanqi only regretted that he was too young and only had the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations), so he could not help his father solve the problem.
Meng Guanqi didn't know how to break the current situation. After talking with Constable Shi, he knew that the distribution of porridge at the city gate must not be stopped, otherwise the refugees outside the gate would riot, and the situation would be even more difficult to control. If it was not handled properly, Magistrate Meng, as the head of the county, would be the first to bear the brunt and would definitely be guilty of a serious crime.
He thought for a moment and said softly, "Father, can we ask Grandfather for help?"
Even if Grandfather cruelly separated their family, Father is still his son. Grandfather has been an official for many years, and although he has retired, he still has many connections in the court. If he were willing to give Father some guidance, Father might be able to get through this difficult time.
Magistrate Meng paused, a bitter look flashing in his eyes. Hadn't he also sought advice from his father? But his father's reply was cold and stern, rebuking him for taking it upon himself to open the granary to relieve the refugees. Now that he had gotten himself into trouble, he was trying to drag the Meng family down with him. He was utterly disloyal and unfilial, completely lacking the behavior of a son. His father stated that he had already separated from the family and that the Meng family would have no say in the future, and that he should stop writing to the Meng family.
Magistrate Meng was so angry that he spat out a mouthful of blood on the spot.
Being reprimanded so harshly by his father was extremely humiliating, and he dared not mention it in front of his son. He could only sigh and say, "Your grandfather is far away in the capital. He can't help you now. How can I disturb his peaceful retirement? I'll have to find a solution myself..."
Meng Guanqi was speechless. Apart from his grandfather, he couldn't think of any other way to solve this problem. The grain in the county granary was running low. If they couldn't find a way to completely solve the problem, their family would have to continue to pay out of their own pockets to cover the shortfall.
But where would their family get so much money to make up for it? Originally, the division of the family property by illegitimate sons depended entirely on the attitude of their grandparents. It was impossible for them to share the family's assets equally with their legitimate uncles and aunts. The fact that their family was able to receive 100 acres of land in the suburbs of Beijing, a shop, and 1,500 taels of silver was already considered a favor from their grandfather.
Meng Guanqi had never seen his mother's internal accounts, but in the past six months, his family had experienced many unexpected changes, including being demoted, taking up a new post, recuperating from illness, and having to pay out of his own pocket to dismiss the clerk and servants. He also had to make up for the county government's insufficient funds and grain, so the expenses must have been considerable.
Now there's another bottomless pit that his father dug himself, and if the daily porridge supply outside the city is stopped, leading to a riot among the refugees, his family will be punished in no time...
Must we really send them all away? If we send them away, the expense will be eliminated, and his father will only need to replenish the grain in the granary as soon as possible. In that case, the crime would be less serious...
Magistrate Meng suddenly remembered what Constable Shi had said: "Qi'er, Shi Yi said that you sent more than three thousand catties of coarse rice to the county government office the other day. Was that your mother's idea?"
Meng Guanqi was taken aback: "No, it's not—"
Magistrate Meng asked in surprise, "No? More than three thousand catties of coarse rice costs more than ten taels of silver, which is no small sum. Where did this money come from? Your monthly salary?"
Meng Guanqi suddenly remembered Li Xiaoxiao and the words she said while patting his shoulder as she drove the oxcart. He thought for a moment and then explained the whole story: "It was a servant in our kitchen..."
Upon hearing this, Magistrate Meng felt even more distressed than relieved: "Human trafficking is clearly a serious crime; they should be arrested, tried, and imprisoned. Yet, because of me, they cannot be arrested. Qi'er, I am guilty!"
Meng Guanqi felt as if his heart was being torn apart. He supported Magistrate Meng and said, "Father, since this has already happened, let's think of a solution together. I don't believe there's really no way to resolve this. You should go back to the manor and rest for a while, and then we can discuss it further..."
Exhausted, Magistrate Meng simply nodded upon hearing this and remained silent.
When Magistrate Meng returned home, his backyard was filled with joy.
Madam Liu hurriedly instructed Yingchun to fetch water from the kitchen for the master to wash up, and personally brought him newly made clothes: "These are newly made by me. The fabric is light and breathable, perfect for summer."
Magistrate Meng nodded wearily and closed his eyes to rest.
Granny Qi came in and winked at Madam Liu: "Aunt Luo is here."
Madam Liu glanced at Magistrate Meng, who was resting with his eyes closed, and said unhappily, "Tell her that the master is tired and is resting, and let her go back first."
Granny Qi bowed and agreed. After leaving the room, she said to Aunt Luo and Meng Liniang who were waiting on the side, "Aunt and Miss, please go back first. Master has been traveling and is tired. He needs to rest after washing up. Please come back tomorrow."
Aunt Luo looked disappointed: "Is the master alright?" But she continued walking forward.
Granny Qi stood in front of her without making a sound: "The master has his wife serving him, so please go back and rest, Madam."
Aunt Luo was blocked from entering, so she could only glare at Granny Qi resentfully before turning to Meng Liniang and saying, "Then we'll come back tomorrow to pay our respects to the master and mistress."
Yingchun rushed to the kitchen: "Mama Mao, Master is back. Madam ordered water to be carried over for him to wash up..." She glanced at the kitchen: "Where's Xiaoxiao? She's not here?"
Mother Mao quickly looked out the window behind the kitchen and saw Li Xiaoxiao tethering the cow in the cowshed she had just built a few days ago. She called out, "Xiaoxiao, Master is back. Quickly go with Yingchun to take water to Master."
Li Xiaoxiao said "oh" and went to the well to wash her hands. Mama Mao had already scooped the hot water into the wooden bucket. Yingchun wanted to help her lift it, but she waved her hand and let her walk by herself. She easily lifted a bucket of water with one hand and followed behind her towards the main house.
Although she had seen it many times before, Yingchun still couldn't help but marvel at her strength. The wooden bucket alone weighed nearly ten pounds, and when filled with water, it weighed fifty or sixty pounds. She carried it empty-handed without it wobbling or spilling any water. Yingchun was almost dying of envy.
Li Xiaoxiao only recently learned that there were rules in the manor that maids like her who worked in the kitchen were not allowed to enter the master's room without permission. If she brought something, she would leave it at the door and have someone from inside take it in.
This world is so poor and backward, it doesn't even have a light bulb, yet people are divided into different classes. It's unbelievable.
However, she had no interest in entering the lady's room, so she put the bucket down at the door and turned to leave.
Yingchun quickly stopped her: "Wait a moment, Granny Qi just went to the front yard to find Steward Zhao after receiving instructions from the master. I can't carry this bucket of water by myself. Let me inform Madam first, and then you can carry it in with me."
Li Xiaoxiao had no choice but to wait at the door.
The main room wasn't large, and since she had recovered from her injuries and her hearing and eyesight were sharp, Liu's soft sobbing could be clearly heard:
"Sir, we have neither money nor food, what should we do?"
A note from the author:
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