Chapter 109 Luckily, your second sister-in-law is on my side...
"My lord, Lord Du, hurry up! The funeral procession is about to cross the bridge!" shouted a spectator who loved a good show.
"Make way! Make way for the adults!" shouted one of the onlookers who was running after Du Min.
Du Min: "..."
He felt the wound on his head hurt even more.
The few people blocking the front of the funeral procession saw Du Min's figure. The leader shouted that the officials were coming and immediately slipped away, disappearing into the crowd in the blink of an eye.
Du Min approached the funeral procession. He looked around and saw several familiar faces in the crowd. He slowed down.
Du Li squeezed next to Du Min, pretending to examine Du Min's injury, and said quickly, "This funeral procession is from another county. The family is surnamed Lou, and they are probably from a prominent family with considerable influence. Also, this funeral procession was deliberately stopped. They've been stopped for about half an incense stick's time. Your second sister-in-law said it's very likely a scheme by the Wang family. Be careful. If you stop and detain them today, it will involve investigations in both counties. If you can't stop them, you'll lose face in Heqing County, and your established authority will be affected."
Du Min quickly racked his brains. The Lou family wasn't one of the Five Families and Seven Clans; it was likely a local family from Henan. He had a guess in his mind. As he approached the funeral procession and saw the faces of those dressed in mourning clothes, his guess was confirmed: the Lou family, the He Lou family, a Xianbei noble family during the Northern Wei Dynasty.
"So you're the magistrate of Heqing County?" The middle-aged man at the head of the group had a high nose and deep-set eyes, and a stern expression. He stared at Du Min with anger but no words. "Do you people from all of Heqing County want to be local tyrants? You're blocking the bridge and the road. I won't argue with you now. You disperse the crowd and let us take the funeral up the mountain first. After the funeral, we'll go to the governor's mansion in Luozhou and have a good talk with him."
Seeing his posture, Du Min knew that he had to take the initiative today and find a handle on the other party's violation of the rules, otherwise he would be in the wrong and he would be the one who failed in his governance.
"Your Excellency, please calm down. Since last year, our county has been cracking down on extravagant funerals. The specifications of funerals and the types of burial goods must strictly adhere to the regulations in the Tang Code. Before the new year, there was a family in our county that violated the regulations. They were a collateral branch of the Wang family of Taiyuan. The eldest son of the deceased was imprisoned for violating the regulations, and his status as a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) has been revoked. The Prefect has already approved the case." Du Min said calmly, "I wonder what your relationship is to the deceased? Judging from your demeanor, you are also an official, so I suppose you are aware of the Emperor's decree advocating for simple funerals. I apologize for the offense today, but the funeral procession must be inspected by us when passing through this area. If there are no violations, we will allow it to pass immediately."
"I am the Prefect of Luozhou, and the person inside the coffin is my father, who was the Prefect of Bozhou before his death," Prefect Lou revealed his identity.
The Prefect of Bozhou, a third-rank official, was to be accompanied by ninety funerary objects and fifty pallbearers. Du Min recited the corresponding funeral specifications in his mind and breathed a sigh of relief. The Lou family's funeral procession had violated the regulations.
"Get out of the way!" Lou Sima glared angrily.
“The funeral is against regulations. Only fifty pallbearers are allowed at the funeral of a third-rank official. I glance at the procession and there are more than a hundred pallbearers in the procession, aren’t there?” Du Min waved his hand to signal the yamen runners to block the road. “It’s easy to cross the bridge. You leave the extra pallbearers and burial goods behind, and we will clear the way immediately.”
"You! You ignorant brat, do you even know the Lou family?"
“I know, they are nobles of the Northern Wei Dynasty, who submitted to the Han people during the Sui Dynasty. Your Excellency, the current emperor’s surname is Li, not Yuan. If I may remind you, you should obey the authority of the family you eat from.” Du Min broke out in a cold sweat.
Master Lu, who was standing to the side, was so frightened by these words that he broke out in a cold sweat. He stared at the scene nervously, thinking, "Is Du Min really courting death?"
Lou Sima's expression changed drastically, and the people behind him also changed their expressions, each one filled with rage. Suddenly, a young man took off his mourning cap, rushed out, and punched Du Min to the ground.
"What are you doing!" Du Li rushed forward without thinking, and the two immediately started fighting.
Meng Chun rushed out from the crowd to help.
Du Min, clutching his bleeding nose, got up. Seeing that Du Li and Meng Chun were at a disadvantage, he immediately ordered five constables to break up the fight.
"Lou Sima, are you determined to seize the bridge and cross it?" Du Min asked in a gruff voice.
Are you determined not to give way today?
Du Min spread his hands, showing the blood on them. "Is this your way of showing your sincerity in wanting me to make way?"
"Alright." Lou Sima nodded, then waved his hand, "Someone, call it over."
Upon hearing this, Meng Qing immediately organized the students of the free school to help. "Those who step forward today will receive one string of cash, and the injured will receive an additional two strings of cash. I will cover their medical expenses."
Upon hearing this, onlookers immediately rushed to ask, "Will we get paid if we help out?"
Meng Qing nodded.
Suddenly, onlookers swarmed forward from both sides of the funeral procession, trampling down and throwing the funeral banners of the Lou family into the river.
"Stop! Stop! Stop!" Lou Sima hurriedly shouted.
Du Min quickly shouted, "Stop! Stop!"
The two groups quickly separated.
Meng Chun helped Du Li back behind Du Min; among the group, the three of them were the most seriously injured.
Master Lu squeezed through the crowd, acting as a peacemaker: "Lou Sima, distinguish between what is more important and what is less important. Lord Du, the dead should be respected, so let's talk things out and not cause trouble."
"I caused trouble? Who started it?" Du Min looked at Du Li's injuries and became angry as well. "Hey you, you're not leaving now. You assaulted the magistrate. You'll be coming back to the county jail with me for a while."
"Alright, I've got it." Lou Sima nodded with a dark face. "Magistrate Du, is it? We'll meet again someday."
Du Min's heart tightened.
"What do you mean by 'there's plenty of time'?" someone suddenly interrupted.
Du Minyu Guangzhong was startled by a splash of crimson. He turned his head and saw an official wearing a crimson robe behind him, followed by a county magistrate dressed in the same robe.
"This is the Vice Minister of the Chancellery, acting as the Governor," Magistrate Zhao of Heyin County introduced.
"Magistrate Du Min of Heqing County greets Your Excellency, Vice Minister." Du Min immediately bowed in greeting.
"Lou An, the Prefect of Luozhou, greets Your Excellency, the Vice Minister." Prefect Lou then bowed his head in greeting.
“Are you the son of Governor Lou? During your period of mourning, you allowed people to commit violence, assaulted the county magistrate, and violated regulations by giving your father a lavish funeral. I will report all of this to His Majesty upon my return to the capital,” said the Vice Minister of the Chancellery.
Lou Sima understood the governor's stance and gritted his teeth, swallowing this bitter pill.
Du Min stood up and asked, "Your Excellency, will you arrange for people to inspect the burial goods yourselves, or will I lead the inspection?"
Lou Sima glared at him through gritted teeth. He turned around angrily and led his men to the rear of the funeral procession to discard the extra fifty loads of burial goods.
"Make way," Du Min ordered. After the funeral procession left, he instructed five yamen runners to guard the bridgehead. "Once the funeral procession comes down the mountain, you take Magistrate Lou and the man who attacked me to the county yamen."
"Your Excellency, Lord Zhao, please come to the county office to talk." Du Min then hurriedly invited the two colleagues who had suddenly appeared.
The Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat glanced at him, and he nodded and followed him away.
Even after the excitement subsided, the onlookers remained. Dozens of onlookers who had helped in the fight blocked Meng Qing's path, eager to get their money.
"Please help me stop those five men in brown jackets and black trousers ahead," Meng Qing said. "I'll add twenty coins for each of them."
Upon hearing this, more than a dozen people rushed out. In just a few moments, the five ringleaders who had blocked the road and caused trouble were brought back. Meng Qing beckoned to two yamen runners and said, "Tie them up and lock them in the county jail. We'll interrogate them when Lord Du has some free time."
"Why are you locking us up? Who are you? I'm going to report you to the authorities!" the captured man shouted defiantly.
"I misspoke. I meant to invite you back to receive your commendation." Meng Qing lightly slapped her lips and said loudly, "If it weren't for your good deeds in stopping the funeral procession from another county today, Lord Du wouldn't have had time to come and arrest you. You are role models for the people of Heqing County. Let Lord Du make a name for you and encourage everyone to learn from you."
The constables immediately understood that these five people were probably sent by someone to cause trouble, and the two constables took them away.
Meng Qing breathed a sigh of relief. She led a group of people to the charity school to distribute reward money. Apart from Du Li and Meng Chun, only three people were injured. There were a total of sixty people who went to help, including apprentices. She distributed sixty-six strings of cash.
"How are you feeling? Is your body still aching? Let's go to the clinic." Meng Qing walked over to Du Li and Meng Chun and squatted down.
Du Li waved her hand, "It's nothing serious, just a few punches on my back, I'll be fine in a couple of days."
Meng Qing pressed on the corner of his mouth, and he cried out in pain.
"Father, Mother, you two watch the shop. I'll take them to the clinic to get their injuries checked," Meng Qing said.
Father Meng nodded, “Go ahead, you don’t need to come back after you go back, we’ll keep an eye on things here.”
After the three left, Meng's mother sighed, "It had only been a short while since things calmed down, and now trouble has arisen again."
"Nothing should happen. That so-called vice minister seems to be a high-ranking official. With him backing Du Min up, those who are dissatisfied in and around the county should all shut up," said Meng's father.
*
“Cousin, half of Governor Lou’s funeral procession has been seized by Du Min. He won’t give face to anyone. You’d better accept your fate and prepare everything according to the law. Don’t violate the regulations for the funeral. If you think the scale is too small, you can prepare a few more cartloads of paper offerings and funerary objects.” Master Lu returned to the Nancheng Town General’s Mansion to act as an intermediary.
Lu Zhen gave him a cold look, "Didn't I tell you not to come? Why are you here again?"
Master Lu remained silent.
"Get out of here." Lu Zhenjiang urged him to leave again, making it clear: "My affairs are none of your business. If I don't come looking for you, don't come looking for me."
Master Lu looked embarrassed and quickly got up and left.
*
Inside the county government office.
Du Min changed out of his blood-stained clothes and went into the outer study. He said sincerely, "Today, thanks to the intervention of the Vice Minister, otherwise Commander Lou would not have let this go."
Seeing that the old wound on his head had not healed and that there were new wounds on his face, Vice Minister Li shook his head and said, "I am here on the behalf of Minister Zheng to give you some support, so that you don't lose your life in Heqing County. Has your attitude towards handling affairs always been like this since you took office? Always going head-to-head with people?"
Du Min smiled wryly, "I would like to try a softer approach, but someone has to be willing to give me face first."
“Lord Du has been in office for less than half a year, and I have already heard of your illustrious reputation in Heyin County. Your methods are truly remarkable, and I admire you greatly,” Magistrate Zhao replied.
Du Min chuckled twice. "Lord Zhao, are you sure it's a reputation for prestige and not a reputation for plague?"
Magistrate Zhao chuckled.
"The methods can be forceful, but not indefinitely. There must be a balance, lest someone, cornered, resort to desperate measures to harm you," Vice Minister Li offered a simple reminder. He then stated the main purpose of his visit: "The Yellow River flood season is approaching, and you should focus your energy on the flood issue. Lord Du, Lord Zhao, what are your views on the Yellow River floods?"
Magistrate Zhao lowered his eyes, his face deep in thought.
"Recently, I have been patrolling the north bank of the Yellow River daily with my constables. Firstly, to drive away the people and livestock living near the river, and secondly, to monitor the water level. I have reviewed records of Yellow River floods from the past five years, and without exception, whenever there has been a torrential downpour upstream for more than a month, flooding occurs here. Each time the water recedes, the riverbed rises. I believe that dredging the silt along the banks during the dry season is a mediocre measure and will not solve the problem. To truly resolve the flooding, we should dig tributaries and divert water into the canals during the Yellow River's high-water season."
"My lord," Du Min said eloquently, "have you ever been to Wu County? The city is crisscrossed by waterways, and houses are built along its banks, yet Wu County rarely suffers from floods. There is an outer moat outside the city walls, and an inner moat inside. When the outer moat floods, the inner moat diverts the water, which then flows into the hundreds of waterways within the city, distributing the pressure layer by layer. Therefore, even during the rainy season, Wu County is free from floods." He continued, "Heqing County, and even the counties along the Yellow River, could emulate Wu County's layout, digging tributaries and canals. This would solve not only flooding but also the irrigation problems of the people, and could even create paddy fields in the heart of the Central Plains."
"Do you know how many people there are in Wu County? And how many people are in Heqing County? Magistrate Du, you haven't even overseen the land distribution yet, have you? Every man who is twenty-one years old is entitled to one hundred mu of land. In recent years, there hasn't been any land left to distribute in the entire Luozhou. You still want to seize the people's farmland to dig rivers and canals? If you really have such a plan, you'll really be buried here." Vice Minister Li shook his head, thinking to himself that this magistrate was truly young and arrogant.
Du Min's face stiffened; he had indeed overlooked this issue.
“According to you, this plan is estimated to take ten years to implement. Can you guarantee that every county magistrate will be able to take over the mess left by his predecessor?” Minister Li continued to question. “The idea is good, but it is almost impossible to implement.”
"It was my oversight," Du Min said dejectedly.
There was a knock on the study door, and Meng Qing poked his head in. "Third brother, the wine and dishes are ready. Should I have a servant bring them in? It's almost noon."
“Alright.” Du Min stopped talking. “Minister Zhao, let’s eat and chat.”
Vice Minister Li nodded.
Du Min went out to call someone to bring water, and took the opportunity to return to the government office, asking, "Second sister-in-law, where is my second brother? Where is Meng Chun? How are their injuries? Have they seen a doctor?"
"I went there, and the doctor said it's all bruises, nothing wrong with the internal organs or bones," Meng Qing replied softly, gesturing towards the room with her chin. "Your second brother and my younger brother are both in bed, and Wang Zhou is taking care of them."
Du Min was puzzled. Why was he still lying in bed? He went to Wang Zhou's room to take a look and happened to catch Du Litian shamelessly pretending to be sick to trick Wang Zhou into feeding him water.
Wang Zhou carefully fed his father a spoonful of water with a wooden spoon, and gently wiped his father's mouth after he finished.
"Nephew, my arm is a little numb," Meng Chun called out, lying on the inside of the bed with his legs crossed.
"I'm full." Du Li saw Du Min and awkwardly pushed away his spoon.
Wang Zhou immediately put down his bowl, climbed onto the bed, and began massaging his uncle's arm.
Du Min watched coldly, "You two have no shame."
"Your guests have left?" Du Li avoided his question, and he dismissed him by saying, "Your second sister-in-law has arrested five troublemakers for you. Go and interrogate them when you're free."
Du Min snapped out of his daze and quickly walked outside.
Meng Qing followed, "Third brother, I'm thinking of opening another free school in Heyin County. Could you sound out the magistrate's attitude?"
Du Min glanced sideways, "So soon you're opening a second free school?"
"Yes, thanks to you, the reputation of paper-made funerary objects has been established. We can take this opportunity to open a second and a third shop."
Du Min nodded. "Are you going out again this afternoon?"
“I will stay at the government office. If he is willing to see me, send someone to call me.”
"OK."
As she approached the outer study, Meng Qing stopped. She sat down outside the clerk's quarters and happened to run into County Magistrate Sun, who was bringing the prison warden with him.
"Lord Sun, Warden, have you two had lunch?" Meng Qing greeted them.
Magistrate Sun nodded. "Is Your Excellency still entertaining distinguished guests?"
“Yes.” Meng Qing looked at the warden and asked, “Have the five people arrested this morning been interrogated? Who is behind this?”
The warden glanced at Magistrate Sun, who remained smiling and composed. He obediently replied, "They are servants of Wang Kunlun's household, acting on the orders of Wang Erlang. Madam Meng, they are now insisting that they are imitating your actions and are acting as pawns for Magistrate Du..."
"Oh? They want to lock me up too?" Meng Qing asked.
"Yes." The warden nodded. "Wang Kunlun's steward has come to demand the release of the prisoner. I've come to discuss with Lord Sun whether or not to release him."
“Release them. The mastermind behind this has been revealed. That will give you an idea, sir,” said Magistrate Sun.
"Wait, I have a plan." Meng Qing interrupted, raising her eyes and smiling, "The two constables who brought back people this morning are incompetent. They can't even understand what I'm saying. I clearly said I wanted to invite these five kind people back to receive a reward, so why are they locked up in jail?"
“This…” The warden frowned.
"Lord Sun, on behalf of Lord Du, post a notice and make a banner to commend the Wang family and their servants for their repentance and active upholding of the court's decrees." Meng Qing, harboring a bellyful of wicked schemes, said with a wicked smile, "Warden, quickly bring the righteous men in the prison back to the front office. Don't let the steward go either; serve them the best tea and food. Is the county magistrate in the office? Arrange for him to organize a ceremonial guard, to beat drums and carry the banner to clear these righteous men's names and personally escort them back to the Wang family."
Magistrate Sun turned his back and laughed, "You're going to drive the Wang family crazy."
"Are these five servants slaves, or are they servants hired by the Wang family?" Meng Qing asked again.
“They are all slaves,” the warden replied.
"These righteous men have been degraded to be slaves and servants. It would be better to let them go back to their old ways and allow them to make a living. The government can hire them as odd jobs in the county government and have them guard the Heyang Bridge to check the passing funeral processions," Meng Qing suggested.
"Brilliant, truly brilliant." Magistrate Sun smiled and cupped his hands in admiration. "I admire Lady Meng's ingenuity."
"Sir, shall I make the arrangements immediately?" the warden asked.
Magistrate Sun waved his hand, "Go ahead and make the arrangements. I'll start writing the commendation notice right away."
Meng Qing savored her wicked trick, and imagining the look on the face of the mastermind behind it when he heard this good news, she couldn't help but laugh out loud.
The door to the outer study opened, and Du Min and Magistrate Zhao followed the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat out. He went to the front office to pick up a few yamen runners, and together with the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, they went out to inspect the Yellow River.
Seeing that they had left, Meng Qing didn't need to wait any longer. She returned to the government office, dragged Meng Chun and Du Li out of bed, and the three of them, along with Wang Zhou, went out to see the excitement.
Whether it was at the behest of Magistrate Sun or his own idea, the county constable, carrying the commendation plaque, led the Wang family's steward and five servants on a half-circle tour of Heqing County, spreading the Wang family's reputation for goodness and righteousness throughout the city, before finally arriving at Shangxianfang, where the Wang family lived, at dusk.
When the commendation notice was delivered to Wang Erlang, the county magistrate stepped forward and demanded the indentures of five servants.
The contracts were destroyed, and the five servants were released and returned to civilian life. They were hired as menial laborers in the county government. When this news came out, the five men were overjoyed, as if they had been hit by a pie from the sky. They were so happy that they almost went crazy. On the spot, they pointed to the sky and swore to guard the Heyang Bridge with their lives.
Wang Erlang was so angry that he fainted. He cursed loudly at home all night, and the next day he secretly went out to the General's Mansion in Nancheng Town.
*
Three days later, the Lou family's funeral procession came down from Beiman Mountain. As they crossed the bridge, they happened to meet the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, accompanied by Du Min and Magistrate Zhao, who were inspecting the Heyang Bridge.
Thinking of the yamen runners and servants guarding the North Bridge, the Vice Minister of the Chancellery asked, "Lord Du, what do you intend to do with Magistrate Lou?"
Du Min, understanding the implication, asked, "What insightful opinion does Your Excellency have?"
"Before he was in mourning, he was the Sima of Luozhou, while Heqing County was under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Luozhou. If the Governor of Luozhou asked you for the man, would you give him to him or not?" the Vice Minister of the Secretariat asked.
"Here you go." No matter how tough Du Min was, he valued his life. The Lou family was a local power that had lasted for three dynasties. Lou Sima was not like Wang Kunlun, a country gentry without any official rank. If he locked people up, it wouldn't be like an old patriarch coming to his door to ask for their release.
"Hand the man over to me, and I'll take him to Luozhou. I'll have the governor of Luozhou reprimand him, and then both of you can back down, and we'll call it even," said the Vice Minister of the Chancellery.
Du Min agreed.
So Lou Sima and his two sons stayed in the Heqing County prison for two days before leaving with the Zhongshu Shilang.
Du Min, accompanied by his yamen runners, escorted the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat across the Heyang Bridge.
"Lord Du, please wait." The Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat got into the carriage left in Heyin County. "Lord Zhao, you don't need to see me off."
As the carriage departed, Du Min and Magistrate Zhao stood watching it go.
"Lord Du, would you like to visit my county office?" Magistrate Zhao asked politely.
“I am interested in the mountain road leading from Heyin County to Beiman Mountain. Would Lord Zhao be willing to accompany me to take a look?” Du Min asked.
Magistrate Zhao squinted and joked, "Could it be that Lord Du is already too busy with the affairs of Heqing County? Does Lord Du also want to curb the extravagant funeral practices in Heyin County?"
"That depends on whether Lord Zhao is willing to join forces with me." Du Min said, gazing at the distant mountains with his hands behind his back, "I'm also thinking of Lord Zhao. Heqing County and Heyin County are only separated by the Yellow River. At the end of the year, the Ministry of Personnel will inevitably compare the two counties. Given the current development momentum of Heqing County, if Lord Zhao does nothing, I'm afraid the assessment will only be below average. You have been serving in Heyin County for four years now, haven't you? If you can't get promoted next year..."
The smile on Magistrate Zhao's face faded. Compared to Du Min, he was likely not going to be re-elected and might be transferred to a remote county.
Du Min wasn't in a hurry to get a reply. He pointed to the busiest place across the river and said, "What does Magistrate Zhao think of paper effigies? Paper effigies are very popular in Wu County, Chang'an, and Heqing County. I heard from my second sister-in-law that the people of Heyin County often visit the free school and paper horse shops. Why don't we let paper effigies come to Heyin County to test the waters for you?"
"I heard that the Qingniao Paper Craft Academy is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites?" Magistrate Zhao asked.
“Yes, the Yishu Academy carries the mission of bringing paper effigies and funerary objects into every household.” Du Min nodded.
“Alright.” Magistrate Zhao agreed. “There are many inns and restaurants at the foot of Beiman Mountain. Recently, a murder occurred at one of the inns, so it was sealed off. Have your second sister-in-law come to the Heyin County government office to get the money to buy it back.”
Du Min didn't want to spend money to buy it; he asked if there was a place like an abandoned granary.
Magistrate Zhao sized him up a few times and said, "Go back and ask your second sister-in-law."
Du Min crossed the bridge to ask Meng Qing, who was more than willing. "The land at the foot of Beiman Mountain is very valuable. If it weren't for you acting as a go-between, I would have begged and pleaded and still couldn't buy it."
"But even if you buy it, it won't be yours..."
“How can it not be mine? I bought it with my own money, not with the charity school’s public funds. Once I buy it, it becomes my property, and the charity school will have to pay me rent every year.” Meng Qing smiled. “This is another way for me to legitimately make money through the charity school.”
Du Min then changed his tune, "I'll also get you a piece of land in Heqing County to build a house, and you can move the free school there?"
Meng Qing refused, saying, "Let's talk about it later. Building a new house is too much trouble, and it's not as valuable as the shops at the foot of Beiman Mountain."
“If your second sister-in-law doesn’t want it, I will,” Du Li interjected impatiently. “Third brother, I want to buy a few acres of land nearby, but my household registration is from another place. Do you think I can buy it? If I can’t buy it, renting it is also fine.”
"What do you want the land for?" Meng Qing asked in surprise.
“I want to farm a few acres of land. If I don’t farm, I’ll forget how to take care of crops. I’ll farm some land and raise some poultry, not to make money, but just to have something to do. When it gets cold, if my third brother still needs to go to the countryside to comfort the elderly, I can donate grain, meat and vegetables,” Du Li said enthusiastically.
“Aren’t you going to help my second sister-in-law? She’s going to open a second free school. If you don’t help, how can she manage on her own?” Du Min disapproved. “If you’ve forgotten how to farm, so be it. You won’t have to worry about food and drink even if you don’t have that skill in your life.”
Du Li gave a dry laugh, then quickly backed down: "That's right, I didn't think it through."
“It’s alright, I’m busy enough now, I don’t need your second brother to watch over me every day anymore,” Meng Qing said. “I’ve had this idea for the past few days, I want to buy about ten servants, they can follow me wholeheartedly to learn the craft, and I can take them with me wherever I go in the future, I won’t have to worry about not having any help.”
“Now that we’ve come this far, we’re no longer thinking about food and drink. I like money, Lao San likes power, even Wang Zhou can make the paper offerings he likes, and Du Li can do what he likes.” Meng Qing patted Du Li’s hand and said, “Go farm and raise poultry. If you want to do good deeds in the future, I can donate some money to you.”
Du Li immediately perked up, glaring at Du Min, "All you ever think about is your second sister-in-law. Luckily, she sides with me."
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