Chapter 161 Upon hearing these words, Prefect Yin...
Upon hearing this, Yin Mingfu relaxed. After replying to Du Min, he was vaguely worried that Meng Qing would change his plans because of Du Min's change of heart.
“I want to go to the Ministry of Personnel,” Yin Mingfu answered without hesitation. The free school was under the Ministry of Rites, which would receive a large sum of money. With so much money, people would be envious, and the other five ministries would try to divide it up. This money was a hot potato, and whoever held it was likely to suffer trouble.
“I have my eye on the position of Vice Minister of Personnel Evaluation,” Yin Mingfu added. “I will figure out the specifics of how to proceed. You just need to mention me briefly when you talk to Minister Zheng, so that he knows we are related by marriage, which will make it easier for me to visit him in the future.”
Meng Qing nodded, "Okay, I understand."
Yin Mingfu smiled and said, "Whether or not things go well, I will owe you a favor. In the future, if you need my help, no matter who it is, as long as you ask, I will do my best to help."
“Uncle Yin, since you’re so kind, I won’t stand on ceremony. I really do need your help with something,” Meng Qing said.
"Go ahead," Yin Mingfu said, feeling relieved by the straightforward nature of the transaction, which spared him the burden of excessive favors.
"Uncle Yin, I want to use my merit in offering a plan to gain a special favor from the Emperor, so that even without official rank, I can wear a crimson crown and gold and jade. This is the benefit I want to obtain from this matter," Meng Qing said.
Yin Mingfu looked at her in surprise. He didn't know whether to say she was not greedy or that she was shallow. After going through so much trouble, she only wanted this little bit of empty stuff.
“If Minister Zheng can use this plan to rise to the position of Prime Minister, he won’t refuse my request. If he personally petitions for the title, the Emperor shouldn’t reject it. But I’m greedy, hoping that the Emperor might be pleased and bestow upon me some kind of title like Lady.” Meng Qing looked embarrassed. “However, I know in my heart that at the beginning of the plan, before seeing substantial profits, my hopes were somewhat unrealistic. But in two or three years, when the Qingniao Paper Craft Academy reaches its peak profitability, I won’t be the one to be credited. I, the one who offered the plan, will become a marginal figure, forgotten by everyone. At that time, I hope Uncle Yin can mention my name to the Emperor and ask for a reward for me.”
Meng Qing didn't hide anything; she explained her intentions on the spot to avoid having to visit him again later and have to adopt a humble attitude when asking for favors.
Yin Mingfu laughed, "That's right. You've thought it through. But I still suggest you be a bit too demanding. Just tell Minister Zheng you want to wear the crimson crown and gold and jade ornaments. Don't talk about rank or no rank. His abilities are beyond our imagination. He might be able to get you some kind of honorary title. Even if the request isn't approved, you won't lose anything. I'll try to get you another title in a few years."
Meng Qing didn't quite agree. She shook her head and said, "If I bring 200,000 strings of cash and a plan to the capital, I can only get a fifth-rank lady title at most, right? It might even be lower, or I might get nothing at all. I'm greedy and have big ambitions. If I can only get one title for one thing, I might as well take a gamble and ask for an insignificant honor first. When things have reached their peak, I can then ask for a title. By then, I'll already be wearing the crimson robes. If I'm only given a low-rank lady title, will they take back the previous reward and make me take off the crimson robes?"
Yin Mingfu looked amazed. He thought about it and realized that Meng Qing's plan might actually work. Even if he couldn't be made a high-ranking lady, he could still be made a low-ranking lady. It was the same result, just a few years later.
“I was short-sighted,” he said.
Du Min smiled outwardly, but inwardly he was extremely pleased with himself. "See? My second sister-in-law's scheming is second to none."
Meng Qing smiled modestly, "When Uncle Yin requests an official title for me in the future, please don't hesitate to offer your praise."
"Certainly," Yin Mingfu agreed. "How about this, when you are talking to Minister Zheng, if there is a suitable opportunity, please put in a good word for me. I just realized that Minister Zheng is willing to entrust you with his path to promotion, which means he trusts you very much. One word from you in front of him is worth ten words from me."
Meng Qing laughed, “Uncle Yin, you think too highly of me and underestimate Minister Zheng. My ability to control the charity school only means that the charity school and paper effigies are just stepping stones on Minister Zheng’s path to promotion. He has many such stepping stones, but I was lucky enough to have the one I held in my hand play a crucial role.”
Yin Mingfu wouldn't listen, saying, "Anyway, just put in a good word for me."
Meng Qing smiled and agreed, "To be honest, I was inspired by Chief Secretary Yin to come up with this idea. I was thinking that if all the county magistrates could take the initiative to bring paper-made funerary objects and free schools back to their localities, I wouldn't have to worry about the development of these schools. That's why I thought of having the Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) waiting for their official appointments take charge of this matter. The Jinshi would have a place to hone their skills, the free schools and paper-made funerary objects would develop rapidly, and the court wouldn't have to worry about paying their salaries. It's a win-win-win situation. Oh, right, there's another benefit: paper-made funerary objects can also introduce Buddhist teachings and help spread Buddhism. The female saint reveres Buddhism, so she should be happy to see this."
Yin Mingfu stroked his beard, a thoughtful expression on his face.
“Father, you are highly regarded by the Sage, why not work hard to win his favor? Your appointment as the Vice Minister of Personnel Evaluation should be in line with the Sage’s wishes, right?” Du Min’s skin tightened as soon as he heard the words “female Sage.” He couldn’t help but try to find out his father-in-law’s position, since there are male and female Sages.
"I have served as the Prefect of Luoyang for six years, with neither merit nor demerit. How can I expect to be promoted? Besides, the position of Vice Minister of Personnel is highly coveted, and I have no ability to compete for it." Prefect Yin looked embarrassed, but he spoke the truth.
"Uncle Yin, the other connections you mentioned before were with the female saint, right?" Meng Qing asked specifically. "Don't hide anything from us. We've told you everything, so you have to tell us the truth too. Only when we understand each other can we leverage each other's strengths at crucial moments."
"Yes, you mentioned my name in this matter, which means I got some credit and have a legitimate reason to be promoted by the Emperor," Yin Mingfu explained. "You put in a good word for me with Minister Zheng, which means you cleared the way for me."
"Uncle Yin is a man of high moral character. You didn't report our plan on your own when such a good opportunity arose." Meng Qing admired him. If it had been Du Min, things would probably have turned out differently.
Yin Mingfu shook his head, "This is not the way of an official. People who behave like this are incompetent and mediocre officials. I don't even take credit for my subordinates' achievements, so why would I do something as despicable as stealing my son-in-law's opportunity?"
Meng Qing subconsciously looked at Du Min. Du Min was not the kind of person to take credit for his subordinates' work; she had misunderstood him.
"Is this settled?" Du Min asked. "If there are no further changes, I will deliver the letter and official documents to the postmaster now."
Meng Qing took out the letter she had written and handed it over. She had written five pages, and the envelope was bulging.
Du Min took it and got up to leave.
Meng Qing and Yin Mingfu had nothing more to talk about. She finished her tea and said, "Uncle Yin, I haven't visited my aunt yet. I need to go and chat with her. Please make yourself at home."
Yin Mingfu also got up, saying, "I'll go check on the repaired dikes and canals."
Yin Caiwei's older brother got up as well, and the three of them went out together.
Yin Caiwei and her mother were enjoying the cool air in the bamboo grove in the backyard, with Du Li holding the child beside them. Meng Qing went over and took the child, asking him to accompany Yin Mingfu and his son to the Yellow River to inspect the dike.
*
Inside the yamen, Du Min handed two sealed letters and an official document to Magistrate Sun, saying, "Please personally make a trip for me and deliver these things to the postmaster, so that he can arrange for the postmen to send them out as soon as possible."
"Yes," Magistrate Sun replied. He glanced at the official document and inquired, "Sir, is it something urgent?"
"See for yourself." Du Min smiled and said, "I promised that when I was promoted and left, I would let you take over my position."
Magistrate Sun unfolded the official document and found a word related to him. Overjoyed, he bowed deeply in gratitude, too excited to speak.
“I should be leaving next January. While I’m still here, you can gradually take over the things I’m in charge of. If there’s anything you’re unsure about, come and ask me.” Du Min patted his shoulder. “Lord Sun, I trust you, that’s why I’m willing to entrust Heqing County to you. Don’t let me down. The practice of extravagant funerals in Heqing County must not be reversed, and every aspect of the dikes and canals must be done properly.”
"I will certainly live up to your trust and appreciation," Magistrate Sun said firmly.
Du Min nodded. "Go and deliver the message."
Magistrate Sun bowed to him again before taking the official documents and letter and leaving.
Du Min returned to the government office and heard from the servants that his father-in-law and brother-in-law had gone out to inspect the dikes. He looked at the sun hanging obliquely in the sky, which was so hot that it would make people sweat. Since his second brother would accompany them, he decided not to go.
Hearing laughter coming from the backyard, Du Min went over and sat with them for a while. Afterward, he returned to his study, spread out paper, and wrote a letter. The next year or two would be a good time for bestowing official titles, and correspondingly, the number of people admitted through the imperial examinations would increase. If the students from Wu County who studied under the same teacher as him, Gu Wudong with whom he had made a promise, and Ren Wenqiu from Wen County in Huai Prefecture could seize this opportunity and pass the examinations, he could both repay his favors and win people's hearts.
When Du Min came out of the study, the evening glow replaced the blazing sun. He handed a stack of letters to the yamen runner before going out to find his father-in-law and brother-in-law.
Yin Mingfu still had official duties to attend to and could not stay in Heqing County for long. He stayed at the government office for one night and returned to Luoyang with his wife and children the next day.
Yin Caiwei also wanted to go back with them, but her parents wouldn't allow it. They both wanted their daughter to stay with him and develop a better relationship with him because their son-in-law was successful.
Having done everything they could, Du Min and Yin Mingfu patiently awaited a reply in the days that followed.
On the sixth day of the eighth month, a carrier pigeon fluttered its wings and landed on the roof of the Heqing County government office. Du Min smeared rice to lure the pigeon down, took the letter from the letterbox, read it, and said, "Second sister-in-law, Minister Zheng wants you and me to go to the governor's office in Luozhou."
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Author's Note: There will be another update at 12 o'clock.
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