Chapter 93 Du Min's Revenge
Gu Wuxia was no longer studying at Chongwen Academy. He was twenty-seven years old this year and had taken the provincial examinations four times, but had never passed. The year he studied the hardest was when news of Du Min's success in the imperial examinations came back. The moment he heard the news, he made up his mind to fight to the death. However, when he entered the examination hall that year, he was so nervous that his head was spinning, and he answered the questions terribly. In a moment of madness, he tore up the examination paper and was thus banned from taking the provincial examinations.
"No need." Gu Wuxia refused. He turned and left the school, silently walked out of the academy, and sat down on the stone steps at the ferry.
Gu Wudong arrived by boat. He saw Gu Wuxia at the ferry and breathed a sigh of relief. "Get up and come back with me."
Gu Wuxia shook her head in resistance.
"Don't cause trouble for the family. Because of you, your father went to the paper horse shop to speak to Sister-in-law Du Min. If you cause any more trouble, he might beat you to death." Gu Wudong gestured for the servants to escort him onto the boat.
Gu Wuxia struggled to run away, but the servants worked together to restrain him and forced him onto the boat.
"Big brother, I'm not causing trouble, I just want to say a few words to him," Gu Wuxia shouted.
Gu Wudong pretended not to hear and boarded the boat, which quickly left the ferry dock.
*
Jiayufang.
When Gu's father entered the Meng family home with lavish gifts, he saw Meng Qing and feigned ignorance, asking, "Isn't Magistrate Du here?"
"He's not here, he hasn't returned yet." Meng Qing glanced at the things the servants were carrying, and asked with a stern face, "Uncle Gu, what are you doing? Are you trying to frame Du Min for accepting bribes?"
"No, no, no, I'm here to apologize to him. Four years ago, we interfered and prevented him from going to the capital for the imperial examination, forcing him to take the provincial examination again the following year. We have realized our sins, and this is our apology." Father Gu didn't beat around the bush; he apologized directly. "Miss Meng, Magistrate Du was once my son's classmate. Due to various entanglements, our two families became enemies, which is truly regrettable. Today, he returns home in glory, while our Gu family has declined. This is retribution for us. Today, I've come on behalf of my son, hoping you can persuade him that it's better to resolve enmity than to perpetuate it. Can you let go of past grievances and stop causing us trouble?"
Meng Qing asked in confusion, "When did he say he was going to cause you trouble?"
“I didn’t say that. It’s just that the third brother met the eldest son of the Gu family at the ferry and asked him to pass on a message that he would come to thank them in a couple of days,” Du Li replied.
Meng Qing frowned slightly. She didn't believe that Du Min came to the Gu family's door to express his gratitude. Could it be that he still held a grudge against Gu Wuxia for having his servants put sacks over his head and beat him?
“I’ll talk to him when he gets back,” Meng Qing said. “Take all the things with him; he doesn’t need them.”
"This is just a small token of our congratulations to him..."
“Take it away, he doesn’t need this.” Meng Qing waved his hand.
Seeing her firm attitude, Gu's father dared not offend her, so he could only take the valuables he had brought with him and leave them intact.
Meng Qing went to close the gate, and then went back to the backyard to help pack her luggage.
"Mother, have you chosen a manager for the paper horse shop?" she asked.
"We've chosen Wu Darong. Do you remember him? He's the son of Manager Wu from the Mingqi Shop to the right of our Paper Horse Shop. He's clumsy; even after six years of apprenticeship at the Paper Horse Shop, he's still not as good as someone who's only studied for three. But he's honest and kind, so he's perfect for running the shop. If he doesn't understand something, his father can give him pointers," said Mother Meng. "Wenjiao and Shen Yuexiu are still working at the Paper Horse Shop. We pay them wages and let them train apprentices. They earn several dozen strings of cash a year, and they're quite happy with that. They have no plans to start their own business."
Meng Qing nodded, "I saw them when I went to the paper horse shop this morning. Wen Jiao has changed so much that I almost didn't recognize her. Shen Yuexiu looks the same as she did three years ago, she hasn't changed much."
Meng's mother glanced towards the door, then took Meng Qing's hand and whispered, "This girl, Yuexiu, wants to leave Wu County with us."
Meng Qing immediately understood, "She's taken a liking to Meng Chun?"
Meng's mother nodded. "This girl has mentioned to us two or three times that she wants to go with us to reopen the paper horse shop in another city. We all know what she means. Your father and I are quite satisfied. This girl is decisive and capable, and she's also good-looking. If Meng Chun can marry her, the young couple can both make paper offerings and get along well, just like your father and I. They can discuss things at home and in the shop together. Wouldn't that be wonderful? It's just that Meng Chun doesn't agree. When we ask him, he says he doesn't want to get married too early, but he's already twenty-one. What's too early?"
"I guess he doesn't like it," Meng Qing said.
“What’s this about liking or disliking him? He’s just a roughneck. How can he talk about romance and poetry like a scholar? Ordinary people live a life of daily necessities, down-to-earth living.” Mother Meng shook her head. “We’re just a merchant. We’ve made some money these past few years, but we can’t change our ways. We can’t be too ambitious. He listens to you. Go and persuade him.”
Meng Qing was pushed out by her mother. She stood under the eaves for a moment, then went into Meng Chun's bedroom.
"Sister, look how much money I saved during the three years you were away from home. Half of it is for you." Meng Chun proudly handed over the account book.
Despite not seeing each other for three years, the siblings showed no signs of estrangement. Meng Qing took the account book and looked through it, "You've saved over eight hundred strings of cash?"
“Yes, all the profits from the paper-made funerary objects I handled, after deducting costs, belonged to me; my parents didn’t take any. I’ll give you half, just like when you were at home, we’ll split it 50/50,” Meng Chun said.
Meng Qing shook her head, "I didn't lift a finger, why would I want a share? I don't want it."
“When I’m making paper funerary objects, I think of you. I think about how you would do it if you were at home. You were involved. Please take it, I’m begging you.” Meng Chun clasped his hands together.
Meng Qing was amused by him. She tossed the account book to him and casually asked, "Aren't you keeping it to get married?"
Meng Chun's expression immediately changed. "You traitor, didn't Mother send you?"
“I’m not here to advise you. I just want to confirm whether you have no feelings for Shen Yuexiu or if you have other concerns. I heard what my mother said, but I don’t agree with her. Although we are merchants and don’t have the eloquence of scholars discussing romance, we still have the right to choose the person we love. Right now, we don’t lack money or manpower, and you are only twenty-one years old. You don’t need to force yourself,” Meng Qing said.
Meng Chun fell silent. After a while, he still didn't say what was on his mind, only saying, "I don't want to get married and have children yet."
"What are the concerns?"
Meng Chun shook her head. "I have no concerns, I just don't want to. Du Min is a year older than me, and he's not married either. He's not in a hurry, so why should I be?"
Meng Qing was surprised. How did Du Min get involved? She thought for a few moments and tentatively said, "Du Min has many concerns when it comes to marriage. He not only has to consider whether the woman likes him, but also her family background. He has many things to weigh. You don't need to worry about these things. Just consider whether you like her or not. You can get married before him."
Meng Chun shook her head again, "Forget it, it's pointless."
Meng Qing couldn't figure out what he was thinking, and she was too lazy to ask. "Fine, whatever you want. We're leaving in a few days. Think it over. If you really have no feelings for Yuexiu, make it clear to her. Don't let her wait for you so stubbornly."
Meng Chun nodded.
Meng Qing went outside and saw smoke rising from the chimney. She walked over and asked, "Are you cooking so early?"
“I bought some ducks. I’ll make braised duck for you tonight. Didn’t you say that the ducks in Chang’an aren’t as good as those in Wu County? You should eat them a few more times this time you’re back,” Du Li said.
"You're so kind!" Meng Qing was very pleased. "Where's Wang Zhou?"
“They’ve gone to graze the geese by the river. Go and take a look,” Du Li said.
Meng Qing went out and went to the riverbank, where she found Du Min had returned. The uncle and nephew were sitting on the rocks by the river, watching the geese playing in the water.
"Third brother, you're back so early? I thought you had a banquet tonight?" Meng Qing walked over.
"I've already made a name for myself and achieved my goal of getting my head held high. If I stay any longer, someone will ask me for favors. I might as well skip this meal." Du Min chuckled.
Meng Qing chuckled, "As expected of you. By the way, an hour ago, Gu Wuxia's father arrived, bringing gifts to apologize. What? You still want to cause trouble for his family?"
"No, why would he think that? Didn't I mean to come and express my gratitude? Did Gu Wudong misinterpret my message?" Du Min said angrily. "How can this person not even handle such a small matter? I was even thinking of giving him a promotion."
Meng Qing hissed, "What are you saying?"
"Did you accept the gift from the Gu family?" Du Min avoided answering.
Meng Qing glared at him. "No, I'm saying you don't lack this little thing."
Du Min gasped dramatically, "Second sister-in-law, you've got quite the nerve! How come we don't lack anything?"
Meng Qing rolled up her sleeves and threatened, "Are you looking for a beating?"
Du Min laughed loudly and jumped up, hiding behind Wang Zhou.
“Speak like a human being,” Meng Qing said irritably.
Du Min looked at the sky and said, "Wang Zhou, drive the geese back. I'll take you and your mother to the Gu family's house for dinner."
"I'm not going. Your second brother made me some braised duck tonight," Meng Qing refused.
"If you're not going, I'll go myself." Du Min was worried that the Gu family wouldn't be able to get a good night's sleep tonight.
"Third Uncle, I'll go with you." Wang Zhou put his little hand in Du Min's hand and said to Meng Qing, "Mother, please help me take the goose back."
Du Min immediately led Wang Zhou away.
“Sigh…” Meng Qing said angrily, “They can’t even speak clearly, they’re all asking for a beating.”
Du Min had already run onto the bridge. He smiled at those below, took Wang Zhou's hand, and rode away.
Meng Qing sat under the bridge for a while, and after the geese had finished playing, she went back with the four geese.
At this time, Du Min and Wang Zhou had already arrived at Renfengfang by boat. The uncle and nephew swaggered into the Gu family's door empty-handed. When Gu's father heard that it was him who had come to visit, his heart skipped a beat.
Du Min was sitting in the living room drinking tea when he saw the three members of the Gu family enter. He glanced at Gu Wudong and scolded, "Brother Gu, how come you can't even handle such a small matter? I clearly told you that I planned to visit you to express my gratitude. How could you relay the message? You caused Uncle Gu to misunderstand my meaning and actually bring gifts to apologize."
Gu Wudong's face stiffened, and Gu's father was also baffled.
"I misunderstood what you meant, sir," Gu Wudong apologized readily.
After Gu's father sat down, he asked, "Lord Du, have I disturbed your sister-in-law?"
Gu Wuxia stared at Du Min and asked, "What do you want to do?"
"Thank you," Du Min said, handing Wang Zhou a piece of tea and snack.
"What are you thanking me for?" Gu Wuxia sneered. "Are you here to cause trouble? Is it because we stopped you from going to Chang'an for the imperial examination that year? Let me tell you the truth, we didn't report you at all. It was Master Chen who instructed us to put on a show for him. He didn't want you to go to Chang'an for the examination. I came to the academy today to tell you about this. Master Chen is not a good person. You should be careful around him."
"Wu Xia, shut up!" Father Gu scolded. Both Chen and Du were officials, and they couldn't afford to offend either of them.
Du Min smiled and said, "I know. I came here today to explain this matter. It was a play that Lord Chen and I put on. He intended to use you as a scapegoat, and use my decision to give up going to the capital for the imperial examination as a result, in order to appease the anger of the students in the prefectural school and prevent them from plotting against me behind my back. I was just taking the exam that year to test the waters. It was Lord Chen who told me to go and gain some experience. Who would have thought that I would pass the exam on my first try?"
When Gu Wuxia heard him say that, he was so angry he felt like he was going to vomit blood.
"What's going on?" Father Gu asked angrily. "Are you two putting on an act? Impossible. Who would pass the prefectural examination but give up going to the capital for the imperial examination?"
"Why did Lord Chen promote me? He planned to use the popularity of paper effigies to return to the capital and be reinstated, so I waited for him to finish his mourning period and return to the capital together." Du Min said apologetically. "In fact, it was just as he wished. We took a boatload of paper effigies to Chang'an. Taking advantage of the popularity of paper effigies, I passed the imperial examination and he was reinstated."
The three members of the Gu family fell silent. The father was furious. The Gu and Chen families were old friends. He and Chen Mingzhang grew up together and were classmates. Even if the Gu family had fallen on hard times, Chen Mingzhang should not treat his family like dogs.
“However, Lord Chen was framed by someone in the Ministry of Rites and was demoted to the position of Registrar of Households the year before last. He is currently in Runzhou. You are not aware of this news yet, are you?” Du Min added.
Mr. Gu raised his head. "Were you set up?"
“Yes, he was scheming against others, and they were scheming against him too,” Du Min said calmly. “He tasted the bitterness of being schemed against, so he reaped what he sowed.”
The three members of the Gu family realized something was wrong; Du Min's gloating was all too obvious.
"What is Brother Gu doing now?" Du Min asked Gu Wudong, ignoring their probing gazes.
"To manage the family's farmland," Gu Wudong replied.
"You've stopped studying? Do you still want to pursue a career in government?" Du Min asked.
Gu Wudong lowered his head in shame, "I have no talent for studying."
“I think you are quite knowledgeable, but perhaps your opportunity hasn’t come yet. You know I’m going to be the magistrate of Heqing County, and I need someone to run errands for me. You are good at practical matters, and you are proficient in accounting and farming. Would you be willing to work for me?” Du Min leaned forward and asked. “I got to this position by taking advantage of the trend of making paper funerary objects. Now that the trend of simple burials is very popular, you will definitely have the opportunity to enter officialdom if you are by my side.”
Gu Wudong felt no joy; instead, he was filled with fear: "What do you want me to do?"
Du Min tapped the table and said with a smile, "During the first year of Chen Mingzhang's mourning period, he disregarded the mourning regulations in the Tang Code that prohibited banquets and went out for a trip on a painted boat. Your family of three accompanied him that day."
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