Board a boat to Hangzhou
With Hua Shan's order, Shi Wenbing and his family began packing their belongings and selecting the family members who would accompany them. The brothers Fu Dali and Qingde were to attend official schools and would not go with them, leaving their education to the care of their grandfather and uncle. Their servants remained intact, and Xiluo Te specifically instructed their wet nurses to carefully monitor their daily lives.
Those who would be taken away were the attendants of Shi Wenbing, his wife, and their two daughters. Shi Wenbing would decide who to hire for official duties, while Xiluo Te would be responsible for the household servants. Shi Wenbing's writing servants would be taken with him, four of whom would be taken away, leaving two to look after the household. Xiluo Te's two maids, four second-class servants, and two first-class servants would also be taken away. Shuxian and Shujia's wet nurses and teaching maids would also be taken away, and each of them would also have two older servants to take with them. Xiluo Te decided to take Shi Wenbing's concubines with her, so each of them would also have a maid.
Xiluo's charioteer, Shi Wenbing's accustomed cook, the tailor who made clothes for the eldest wife, the reliable male servant who served as steward... the servants who were currently on call numbered over thirty, and that was after streamlining. Among them were several families' relatives. Sewing woman Aunt Wu and charioteer Wu Da were a couple with children. They left their son in Beijing to serve the young master, and took their seven-year-old daughter with them. And so on.
For Shujia, who had grown up in this family and whose knowledge of the living conditions of aristocratic families before traveling through time came from "Dream of the Red Chamber", this was still a very simple arrangement. Don't you see that Jia Baoyu, a boy, had more than ten or twenty girls serving him - not counting those who washed his clothes, cooked for him, made his clothes, and accompanied him when he went out?
The success or failure of a family isn't measured by its nouveau riche or its extravagant display. It's not about a master commanding dozens of servants, nor is it about a superiority determined by the fact that their maids are "more precious than ordinary ladies." True aura lies in the master's ability to command the entire situation, whether the servants are cunning or disciplined, whether they react with a touch of urgency or possess a clear understanding. Thirty or so servants, scattered throughout the mansion, gathered their belongings with remarkable composure. They appeared a bit hurried, but there was no sign of fumbling around like a headless fly. As they packed up, there was virtually no damage, and no theft was detected.
As for Lady Xiluo, she took her clothing and bedding with her, along with some jewelry. She also took along large antiques and other valuables, all of which were registered and sealed away. Lady Xiluo was a proper Countess, and her carriage had strict regulations. Making one in Hangzhou wouldn't be convenient, so it seemed she'd have to take it with her. She also had to take along the ceremonial guards that Shi Wenbing had been given, as was his rank as Vice-Governor. These were all to be displayed for official appearances in Hangzhou, so they were naturally taken along.
Shujia didn't know about other people's things. Her own belongings, including clothes, accessories (she was young and didn't have any complicated jewelry yet, mainly necklaces, lockets, small bracelets), and daily necessities, were all handled by the maids. After Xiluotai nodded, they packed them up. Her own request was to take the few books and pens she had learned from studying with her. Xiluotai thought for a moment and said, "Okay. As for Mr. Jiang, your father will talk to him later. Whether he goes south with you or stays. Regardless of whether he stays or not, you will continue your studies in Hangzhou, so it wouldn't be bad to review. I don't know if we should hire another tutor. I'm afraid it will be difficult to find one who understands Mandarin in Hangzhou..." She began to talk to herself.
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Shi Wenbing took the time to meet with Mr. Jiang. This was his daughter's academic teacher, not his son's, so he treated him with a bit less respect. Through the conversation, Shi Wenbing got to know Mr. Jiang's character. Overall, he wasn't a mean person. Perhaps he had a slight motive for taking advantage of his position by teaching at his home, but he did his job well. He reviewed his two daughters' homework and tested their memorization and comprehension. He thought Mr. Jiang was a decent teacher, especially since he was fluent in Manchu, which was quite rare.
When Shi Wenbing mentioned Mr. Jiang's future plans, Mr. Jiang said, "The Meng family thinks highly of me, and I want to continue doing this job," and smiled a little embarrassedly, "Jiangsu and Zhejiang have been places where literature flourished since ancient times. It will be of great benefit to students if they can go there to broaden their horizons." It's just like you go to school in the southeast coast and take the college entrance examination together with Tibetan students. It's because of the teaching quality.
The imperial examinations of those days were supposedly nationwide, but admissions were not uniform. Ever since Zhu Yuanzhang established the eight-legged essay system for selecting scholars, to balance educational standards between the north and south and prevent regional dominance in the imperial court, the system was divided into southern and northern rankings, along with a middle ranking based on the area surrounding his hometown of Fengyang. By the Qing Dynasty, the middle rankings were abolished, but the practice of allocating places by region remained. This is similar to the quota system in each province. If you were unlucky and born in the wrong place, and if you filled out the wrong application form, you'd still end up in a second-rate, flimsy school with a score of 600. On the other hand, if you were lucky enough to be born near the emperor, you could get into the Imperial University of Peking with a score of 500. Therefore, the optimal path is to settle in a place where it's easy to pass the exam and study in a competitive environment; this will significantly improve your chances of success.
Shi Wenbing nodded in understanding and asked, "Is everything settled at home, sir?" Mr. Jiang said hurriedly, "Everything is ready. The emperor is so gracious that the house damaged by the earthquake last year has been repaired with the reward money. The stipend given by the government is enough to support the family business." Shi Wenbing smiled and said, "In that case, I feel relieved." He also officially assigned the servant who usually served Mr. Jiang when he came to the government to teach to be his book boy, and sent another servant to take care of his daily life.
It was a hassle, but packing everything up only took two days, including arranging the boats. Well, they were traveling by water this time, not by land at all. Yang Guang's Grand Canal was a great use of it! Boats have plenty of space, so they can carry far more than carriages, and there's no need to worry about taking care of horses. Well, it seems horses do need to be taken care of, too—Shi Wenbing and his group also brought several horses, including his beloved mount, Xiluo's carriage horses, and others.
The imperial edict was issued in March, traveling all the way from Shengjing to Zhili. Shi Wenbing received it, handled the transaction in Zhili, and then returned to Beijing. Once in Beijing, he had to register with the relevant authorities (a mysterious department unknown to Shujia) and obtain new seals and official documents. This was all official business. Then, he returned home, said goodbye to friends and family, packed his luggage, and discussed matters with his father, brothers, and wife. By the time he set off, it was already early April.
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The Grand Canal is one of the world's longest, largest, and oldest canals. It runs from Beijing (Zhuo County) in the north to Hangzhou (Yuhang) in the south, passing through Beijing and Tianjin and the provinces of Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. It connects the five major water systems of the Haihe, Yellow River, Huaihe River, Yangtze River, and Qiantang River. Its total length is approximately 1,794 kilometers, and its history spans over 1,500 years. It is divided into four sections: the Yongji Canal, the Tongji Canal, the Han Canal, and the Jiangnan River.
Thanks to exam-oriented education, Shujia was well-versed in the Grand Canal—in writing, of course. So when Xiluotai instructed her to bring plenty of Rendan pills and told Shuxian and Shujia to put a refreshing mint in their small purses: "Take it out if you feel dizzy on the boat," Shujia asked, "Mother, should we take the boat?" Xiluotai replied, "We can go along the canal. It's a straight line and we'll arrive there. It's the easiest way." This passage naturally came to Shujia's mind.
That's right, the Grand Canal is directly accessible. It's much easier than other options.
Early in the morning, Shi Wenbing and his wife and daughter bid farewell to Hua Shan. They spread out prayer mats on the ground and kowtowed earnestly. After the masters finished, the servants kowtowed outside the doorway. The two stewards, Zhang Lu and Fu Hai, led the way, kneeling in the corridor. The rest, men and women, knelt on opposite sides of the courtyard. Hua Shan said, "I've given you all the instructions I need to give you. I won't say anything more. Be careful on the road and take my letter to your fourth uncle." Shi Wenbing agreed, turned back, and kowtowed three more times. Xiluo Te hurriedly knelt with her daughter.
Fu Dali and Qingde, brothers who had asked for leave from school earlier, were also there. They knelt together and begged, "Father, please let your son take you, your mother, and your sister to Tongzhou." Hua Shan said, "Let's go together." Only then did Shi Wenbing, his wife, children, servants, and luggage, depart for his new post.
The Shi family boarded the ship at Tongzhou Wharf. Shi Wenzhuo took half a day off to personally see his brother and his wife off. Several carriages were used. Xiluo's carriage carried her and her two daughters. Once they reached the destination, the horses were unloaded and loaded onto the ship, along with the luggage, carriages, and people. The maids and servants carried their own small belongings in four other carriages, and another four carried more personal luggage and bedding, all escorted by male servants. Some servants also followed the carriages on foot.
Shi Wenbing and his brothers, along with Fu Dali and Qingde, rode on horses. Shi Wenbing, a third-class earl, was supposed to have a full set of ceremonial attendants: four golden sticks, one apricot-yellow umbrella, two large and small green fans, and ten flags and spears, leading the way. They had a smooth journey to Tongzhou. Before boarding the boat, Shi Wenbing said to Shi Wenzhuo, "I'm going south. My father is getting old, and your nephew is still young, so I'll leave everything to you." Shi Wenzhuo replied, "I'll do my best, brother. But if anything happens, who else can I discuss it with except my father and nephew?"
Shi Wenbing lowered his head and thought for a while: "Your nephews are not very sensible yet, you are flattering them. I think that if there is a big event at home, it is just that my father refuses to go to Yongxing, and the ministers or the departments of the Council of State are planning to punish him. My father has no defeat in the army, and the master may not be really angry. There is nothing else worth worrying about. If there is really something, then go to the Prince of Yu's Mansion. Although we are not very close over the years, we have been in contact." Shi Wenzhao wrote it down carefully.
Shi Wenbing added, "Brother Wenying from my fourth uncle's family has gone to Shengjing with the emperor. When he returns, we can discuss anything." Shi Wenzhuo grinned and said, "Hmm."
Fu Dali and Qingde's eyes welled up. After all, the damned Three Feudatories had meant their children had barely seen their grandparents. Eight years! Even for children still in their formative years, their childhood memories were completely blurred. The imperial court's propaganda portrayed the Eight Banners soldiers fighting on the front lines as incredibly impressive. In their minds, their grandparents held a particularly lofty image. Upon meeting, their grandfather, a true hero, felt somewhat embarrassed, while their father, back home, perfectly lived up to the legendary image of a tall, great, and perfect figure. They couldn't help but feel proud of their fathers.
Originally, Shi Wenbing was in Zhili, very close by, and both brothers had wanted to follow him for training. But now, with a single push from Master Kang, he had slid down the Grand Canal like a slide, over four thousand miles away. Their hearts overflowed with longing, and they couldn't help but feel sad.
Shi Wenbing didn't scold them, saying men shouldn't cry easily. He simply said, "Wipe your tears when you get home. Don't let your mother see them." Then he explained in detail that they should study hard in the official school, that they were growing up and would soon become adults, that their grandfather was old, and that they were little men now and should help their uncle take care of the family. He praised them, praised them, and made demands, until the two brothers were completely obedient.
Shi Wenzhuo saw the opportunity and whispered, "Brother, it's time to set off." Fu Dali and Qingde said goodbye to Xiluote again. The three of them cried bitterly last night. Xiluote cried especially hard and her eyes were still red. Fu Dali reluctantly said, "Don't worry, mother. We are at home. It is father and mother who are the guests." Qingde pursed his lips, as if he could hold back his tears. Shuxian and Shujia also felt sad and watched silently without saying a word. Fu Dali held on and said to his two sisters, "Be obedient." Seeing that they nodded, he stepped aside.
The Shi family's trip was quite large, employing three large ships. The first was Shi Wenbing's official vessel, carrying him, his staff, servants, and guards. Mr. Jiang also boarded this vessel with his two assigned servants. The middle ship was occupied by Xiluo Te, her daughter, and her maids. Shi Wenbing also assigned Zhang Lu, one of his accompanying stewards, to escort the ship with four male servants. The last ship was relatively unoccupied, housing only the escorts, who primarily stored the horses and looked after Xiluo Te's carriage and other bulky luggage.
The big ship gradually went away until it was out of sight, and then Shi Wenzhuo took his nephews back.
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