Lu Zhengheng, upon receiving it, was overjoyed, and also entrusted Zheng Yi to deliver to him a set of scholar’s four treasures and a few newly issued court books.
As for the other painting he intended to sell to Lu Zhengheng at a high price, Song Shi’an had already finished it at the beginning of the month. However, right now, Lu Zhengheng was preoccupied with the refugee situation, running around between coordinating grain with the county big households, submitting petitions to the court requesting disaster relief, and even writing letters to relatives in the capital who were officials to seek help. He was so busy that his feet barely touched the ground.
At this critical time, if Song Shi’an brought up “vulgar matters” like selling a painting or not, it would inevitably seem out of place, so this matter was temporarily set aside.
They would wait until after the famine was over to talk about it. After all, his body still hadn’t fully recovered, and he couldn’t go to Shaoxing Prefecture, so there was no rush for the money.
Jiang Chun turned her head and smiled at him sidelong but didn’t expose him. After all, if one could eat good food, who would want to gnaw on mantou?
Anyway, this foodie here couldn’t.
Jiang Chun found an unused coarse pottery jar, with a lid on it, took it outside to rinse off the dust with water, wiped it dry with a cloth, then filled it with soybean oil and brought it along.
Then, using the mule cart to carry Song Shi’an and the New Year gifts covered with wheat straw, they set off towards the town.
Heaven is vast, earth is vast, but maternal uncle is the greatest [a saying meaning maternal uncles hold a high position]. In ancient times, uncles already held a high status, and with this uncle Zheng Yi also often looking after Jiang Chun’s family, Jiang Chun didn’t hold back when preparing New Year gifts.
Two bolts of fine cotton cloth alone, with colors chosen as peach red and sapphire blue—both were rewards obtained from clocking in at the cloth shop previously.
Two jars of good wine bought from the restaurant.
Two packs of rock sugar.
Twenty sesame flatbread she had steamed herself, using lard, flour, chopped scallions, and salt as the filling.
For aunt and cousin-sister-in-law Peng, two pairs of stacked gauze flowers [堆纱花: decorative floral hair accessories], as well as a silver neck ring for little nephew Dou Ge’er, all of which were also rewards obtained from clocking in previously.
Of course, there was also a portion of her braised, fragrant pig offal.
Such a generous New Year gift—let alone in the whole of Hongye Town, even if brought to Hongye County, it would be considered quite respectable.
So, as soon as she arrived at the Zheng household, Zheng Yi scolded her: “Chun-niang, you’re really something, buying so much—what are you doing? Your uncle doesn’t lack these things, it’s just a waste of silver for nothing.”
Jiang Chun moved quickly to unload the things, while saying: “How can buying things for my uncle be called waste? I only regret that the times are bad now, I don’t dare to buy as much as I want, afraid others might take notice. Otherwise, I’d definitely honor uncle with even more.”
Aunt Qiu-shi busily came over to take the things from Jiang Chun’s hands, while chiding with a laugh: “Still want to honor him more? If you honor him more, you might as well hand over the entire household to your uncle.”
The dealings between Song Shi’an and County Lord Lu Zhengheng were tightly kept by Zheng Yi, not even telling his own wife Qiu-shi. So, Qiu-shi didn’t know that the Jiang family had made a big fortune.
Seeing Jiang Chun, this niece, bring such generous New Year gifts, she was so happy, feeling that her own husband hadn’t doted on her for nothing.
Upon learning that the niece’s husband was a vegetarian, and that Jiang Chun had brought soybean oil along herself, Qiu-shi didn’t feel offended. She hurriedly instructed her eldest daughter-in-law Qian-shi to use the soybean oil and specially prepare a few vegetarian dishes for him.
During the meal, Zheng Yi talked about the situation in the county, happily saying: “Our county lord is truly capable. No matter how many officials submitted memorials to the court requesting disaster relief, they were all ignored. But his memorial got the court’s attention, and before the New Year, they even sent an imperial envoy to Hongye County to provide disaster relief.”
Jiang Chun was surprised: “The court sent an imperial envoy to provide disaster relief?”
But the affected area was Yanzhou Prefecture. Even if the court provided disaster relief, they should have sent someone to Yanzhou Prefecture. Why come all the way to Qizhou Prefecture’s Hongye County?
So, it was that Lu Zhengheng, being from the Fanyang Lu clan, leveraged external forces to have the disaster situation reported to the heavens. The old emperor issued an order for disaster relief, and the officials below, caring only for appearances, came to Hongye County to help Lu Zhengheng?
As for Yanzhou Prefecture, the officials had no backing—who would care about them?
When questioned from above, they had their excuses ready: they’d say the refugees had all fled to nearby Qizhou Prefecture and Tai’an Prefecture. Rather than going to Yanzhou Prefecture for disaster relief, they might as well come directly to Qizhou Prefecture.
As for why not go to the prefectural capital of Qizhou Prefecture, but come to Hongye County instead?
Don’t ask. If you ask, the answer is: the refugees have all gathered in Hongye County, so naturally, they have to go where the refugees are the most.
The logic was practically airtight.
No wonder Song Shi’an looked down on this old emperor. Whenever there was a chance, he would make a few sarcastic remarks. This governance was truly not clear and bright enough.
At this moment, it was the same. Song Shi’an let out a cold snort: “The Censorate’s Chief Censor is from Consort Liu’s faction. Relying on Consort Liu’s favor, the Chief Censor, along with the censors under him, all hold office but do nothing.”
“This time, the censor in charge of disaster relief didn’t go to Yanzhou Prefecture, the actual disaster area, but instead came running to Hongye County to provide disaster relief—this is the most normal thing, it’s exactly the kind of thing they would do.”
Zheng Yi frowned slightly.
From the sound of this niece’s husband’s words, he clearly understood the court’s official factions very well and was even familiar with County Lord Lu Zhengheng from a prestigious family. He was obviously not some merchant’s son whose entire family had been confiscated and sold off for illegal salt dealings, as he had thought before.
Most likely, he was someone with a background.
He was curious to the point that his heart itched like a hundred claws scratching, wanting to dig to the bottom and get to the truth, but he didn’t have the guts. What if he accidentally asked something he shouldn’t ask, or learned something he shouldn’t know, and caused trouble because of it?
Although Zheng Yi was considered a figure in Hongye County, in front of an old fox like Song Shi’an, who had been in the officialdom for years, he was still too tender.
Song Shi’an had long seen through his thoughts but just acted as if he hadn’t.
Anyway, after another year and a half, everything should settle down. At that time, it wouldn’t be too late to reveal his identity to this uncle.
However, after the meal, while the womenfolk and the two cousin-brothers were helping clear the table, leaving only himself and Zheng Yi in the room, he still gave a little reminder.
“If uncle only wants the two cousin-brothers to follow you around in Hongye County, then so be it. But if you want them to go further and have greater fortune, you should let them properly study and learn how to read, do accounting, and manage the shop’s business.”
He would definitely take Jiang Chun and her father into the capital. Once they reached that place of riches and honor, Jiang He, as a father-in-law, couldn’t be running to the inner residence of the Song family, which was full of womenfolk, every day. Without manpower, Jiang Chun would be limited in everything she wanted to do.
But if there was a cousin-brother who could shoulder matters following them into the capital, handling errands outside for her, it would make things much more convenient.
In front of a prime minister’s gate, even a seventh-rank official is considered someone. Helping the future wife of the cabinet’s first assistant do things would not be considered a waste of their talents.
When Zheng Yi heard this, he couldn’t help but “hiss” and suck in a breath of cold air.
What’s this? Could it be that this nephew-in-law will have a chance to rise again in the future?
Could it be that he had heard some kind of news, and deliberately mentioned it to him just now as a hint?
Song Shi’an imitated Jiang Chun’s usual manner, extending his fair, slender index finger, pressing it lightly against his lips, and softly shushing: “Chun-niang has a quick temper and can’t keep things in her mouth. Uncle, you just listen to this and that’s it. Don’t tell her, so she doesn’t let something slip and get herself into trouble.”
Actually, even if Jiang Chun found out, it wouldn’t matter. He would just say he heard some wind from Lu Zhengheng that there might be a chance for the Song family to be rehabilitated. That would probably be enough to fool her.
But the fewer problems, the better. It was still more convenient to have Zheng Yi keep his mouth shut.
As an uncle, Zheng Yi naturally understood his niece’s temperament, and he immediately nodded his head like pounding garlic: “Nephew-in-law, don’t worry. I guarantee I won’t say a single word in front of Chun-niang.”
Zheng Yi happily rubbed his hands together, already calculating in his heart which scholar he should hire to come teach the two sons how to read and write, and which large household’s shop in the county he should send them to, so they could learn the skills of managing a shop.
Jiang Chun helped her aunt tidy up the dishes, washed her hands, and walked into the main hall. She saw Song Shi’an quietly holding a teacup and drinking plain water, while her uncle Zheng Yi sat there in a daze, his eyeballs rolling around like crazy, clearly turning over something in his mind.
She couldn’t help but laugh and teased: “Uncle, what good thing are you daydreaming about? Your eyes are spinning faster than a windmill in a gale.”
Zheng Yi shot her a look, snorted a laugh, and said: “You and nephew-in-law brought such generous New Year gifts, I was just wondering what I should give you in return, and you interrupted me. Fine, I think I won’t give you anything in return, so you two can go back empty-handed!”
Jiang Chun grinned and said: “Don’t, I see that the sugar triangles Cousin-sister-in-law steamed look pretty good. How about you pack me a few so I can eat them slowly when I get home?”
Qiu-shi walked in, smiling as she said: “Already packed them for you. I saw how you didn’t even glance at the mantou or baozi earlier, only staring at the sugar triangles and eating them nonstop, so I knew you loved them. I had Cousin-sister-in-law pack ten for you. Don’t say it’s too few—our family only steamed two pots in total, we can’t bear to give more.”
Jiang Chun stood up and pulled Qiu-shi to sit down, happily saying: “Auntie is the most thoughtful—one glance and you knew I love sugar triangles. Unlike my uncle, who’s racking his brains but still can’t figure out what return gift to give.”
Zheng Yi scratched his head and grinned awkwardly, like a fool.
Jiang Chun and Qiu-shi burst into laughter together.
Seeing Zheng Yi lost in thought, it was clear he had taken his words to heart. After drinking two more cups of “tea,” Song Shi’an took the initiative to suggest heading home.
Jiang Chun stood up and said with a smile: “Uncle, aunt, cousin, cousin-sister-in-law, we’ll head back first. After all the busy work today, you should also get some rest.”
“We’ll come see you again on the second day of the new year.”
In this region, there is a custom of visiting the mother’s family on the second day of the new year. Although Aunt Zheng was no longer here, Jiang Chun, as the stove-keeping niece, had to visit her uncle.
Of course, because Jiang He had not remarried, he didn’t need to accompany a new wife back to her family, so he would also come along to visit his brother-in-law Zheng Yi on the second day of the new year.
The Zheng family sent the two of them off. The return gifts they gave, aside from the sugar triangles that Jiang Chun liked to eat, also included two cured ducks, a big bundle of cured sausages, and a basket of crystal-skinned preserved eggs said to have been imported from Su Province.
Jiang Chun almost couldn’t help but laugh out loud on the spot with a “pfft” sound.
The heroine, Zhong Wenjin, made these preserved eggs, and they had already been sold all the way to Lu Province. As expected, business was flourishing!
- ••
On the way home, the sun was suddenly covered by clouds. As they approached Daliushu Village, the sky began to scatter down a fluttering, drifting heavy snow.
This was the first snow of the year.
It was already almost the New Year, and not a single snowfall had come—this had made the villagers anxious.
A timely snow foretells a bumper harvest. If there wasn’t even a single snow all winter, the wheat in the fields would, due to drought, partly wither and die, resulting in a large-scale reduction in yield.
Fortunately, it was finally snowing today. As long as this heavy snow could last for a full hour, the wheat still had a chance to be saved.
She cracked the whip, urging the mule to pick up speed, and rushed back home in a hurry.
As soon as the mule cart came to a steady stop, she “swooshed” and jumped down from the cart, unlocked the front door with a key, then returned to the front of the cart, reaching her hand out towards Song Shi’an, grinning mischievously: “Husband, do you want me to carry you inside?”
Song Shi’an shot her a glance, didn’t need her to help, lifted the hem of his outer robe, and nimbly climbed down from the mule cart himself.
Jiang Chun clicked her tongue, muttered in a low voice: “Once the body gets better, it’s different—getting on and off the mule cart, no need for me to carry you back and forth.”
Song Shi’an turned around, picked up a light bundle from the back of the cart, was just about to head inside, when he stopped in his tracks at her words. He let out a light snort: “You’re not happy that my body’s getting better? Back then, who was the one who kept nagging me to recover faster so we could fulfill our conjugal duties?”
“What do you understand?” Jiang Chun let out a sigh, full of melancholy and a sense of loss.
Of course she hoped his body would recover, so he wouldn’t be held back by his health, and they could truly be husband and wife.
But once his body really did recover, he probably wouldn’t rely on her for everything the way he did before.
Sure enough, everything has two sides—people can’t have it both ways. Just like the long river of history, you can only move forward, only look ahead.