157 – Bangyan and Tanhua¹

After Uncle Fu sent Qian Shi and Li Shi out, he hesitated outside the door with an expression that he had something to say but could not say it.

Lei Tie frowned, “Steward Fu, what’s the matter?”

Qin Mian looked at him with suspicion.

Uncle Fu bowed his head as he pleaded guilty, “Forgive me, Eldest Master. During these days, there are some gossips in the village – the workers employed by the vermicelli workshop and the winery are people in the village, but none of Eldest Master’s brothers are hired… The Second-gongzi’s wife is a little uneasy, and the Third-gongzi’s wife seems to have some complaints.” In any case, the Eldest Master and his brothers were blood-related brothers. For a servant like him to speak of these words would seem as if he was sowing discord, so he had hesitated.

Qin Mian said nothing. His mind remained unchanged. He didn’t want to be directly involved with any of Lei Xiangren, Lei Xiangyi, Lei Xiangli, and Lei Xiangzhi in business. If they had been arranged in the workshops, would they be treated as relatives or workers? Nevertheless, it was not surprising for the villagers to gossip about it. In their opinion, relatives were more reliable than outsiders, so it was unreasonable not to draw in one’s brothers.

“The villagers don’t know about the charcoal burning?” asked Lei Tie.

Uncle Fu said, “As soon as your servant, I, heard those gossips, I had someone released the news that Little Master had given them [the Lei siblings] the secret formula of charcoal burning.”

Lei Tie said, “You find an opportunity to talk with Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli. If they want to do a small business, we can lend them money. Don’t say anything superfluous.”

Qin Mian heard it and nodded to himself, It’s a good idea.

Uncle Fu also understood, “Your servant will go now.”

After Uncle Fu left, Qin Mian gave Lei tie a look of appreciation.

Lei Tie took the opportunity to put his arms around his wife’s waist. He would not allow anything that might embarrass his wife.

Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli lived next to each other. Both brothers were there. Upon seeing Uncle Fu, they welcomed him in.

“Steward Fu, did Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law have something to tell us?” asked Lei Xiangli.

Uncle Fu said with a smile, “Third-gongzi and Fourth-gongzi, our Eldest Master sent this servant to ask what you plan to do in the future. If you want to do some small business, our Eldest Master said that he can lend money to the two gongzis.”

Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli understood as soon as they heard that. Lei Tie and Qin Mian would rather lend them money to do business than let them get involved in the processing yard. They certainly had some discomfort in their hearts, feeling that they were not as good as outsiders in their Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law’s minds. But on the second thought, they could understand why Lei Tie and his wife did that. Even the teeth would bite the tongue sometimes, not to mention between people? If brothers were less involved in each other’s interests, their relationship would last longer. Besides, an upright person should be grateful and content with one’s lot. For a long time, did Qin Mian and Lei Tie take little care of them?

Thinking so, the two brothers were relieved and told Uncle Fu that they had to think about it carefully. If they decided to borrow money, they would visit Leisurely Farmhouse in person.

As for Lei Xiangren, the two brothers ignored him as if nothing had occurred in their minds.

……

Qin Mian started to expand his family’s business as he had planned. Because there were going to be a cooking competition in a month, he only started on the beverage shop for the time being; he added various kinds of pastries to sell in the beverage shop, including sweet and salty ones, such as candied jujube pudding, sweet-scented osmanthus jelly, red bean cake, crisp-fried rolls, egg cakes, custard tarts, puddings, biscuits, and so on. Many of the varieties could be made into different flavors with different fruits. In particular, egg cakes and biscuits could be made into different shapes, such as stars, moon, animals, flowers, and the likes. As soon as the new products were launched, “Glimmer of Paradise” had once again caused a sensation in Zhaoyang County.

Yuanyuan, Manman, and Lei Tie were always the first to enjoy these new varieties. Yuanyuan and Manman even shouted out in happiness every day.

The two little boys were now over three years old. Qin Mian and Lei Tie no longer kept them at home. As long as they completed their daily learning tasks, either Qin Mian and Lei Tie, or their servants would take them out to play with other friends of similar age in the village.

Yuanyuan and Manman were likable and smarter than their peers. In a group of small friends, they were quite popular.

Qin Mian designed a cute waist bag for the two children and had Aunt Fu and the other women make two of each color with different animals embroidered on them. Every time the boys went out to play, they fastened their waist bags and filled them with all kinds of wonderful snacks. The two little boys were also generous and often gave the snacks to other little friends.

A few days later, the good news that Lei Xiangzhi and Huo Sirui respectively scored Bangyan and Tanhua spread to Green Mountain Village like the wind. The officers from the Capital personally escorted them back to Green Mountain Village.

Lei Xiangzhi was appointed by the Emperor as the seventh-ranked Junior Compiler², joining the Imperial Hanlin Academy and taking office within two months; Huo Sirui was appointed by the Emperor as the seventh-ranked Magistrate of Chong’en County, taking office within three months. The real power of a Junior Compiler was obviously less than that of a County Parental Officer³. On the surface, Lei Xiangzhi’s official position was not as good as that of Huo Sirui. However, Lei Xiangzhi was employed in the Capital. Relatively speaking, he had more opportunities to be promoted and more convenient to develop interpersonal relations than Huo Sirui.

By the way, Zhuangyuan was Zhao Xianzhi. The Emperor really liked him, so the Emperor directly appointed him as a fifth-ranked Reader-in-waiting⁴ of Imperial Hanlin Academy.

Magistrate of Zhaoyang County, County Aide, and County Officers all came to Green Mountain Village in person to congratulate Lei Xiangzhi. Seven of the rich and influential families in the county all sent presents.

Having both the son and son-in-law with great prospects, Du Shi and Lei Daqiang were in the limelight in Green Mountain Village for a while. The people who were not envious of the couple could be counted on one hand. The villagers secretly made a joke that the most correct thing Du Shi and Lei Daqiang had done in their life was to have a pair of twin children.

Lei Xiangren and Zhao Shi regretted that they split from the family for the sake of 100 silver taels and shamelessly moved back to the old house, which they described euphemistically that they should cultivate a good relationship with the fifth brother before he took office. It was unknown what Lei Xiangzhi said to them, but the next morning, the husband and wife moved back to their own house.

After three days the old house had entertain guests at the banquet, Qin Mian and Lei Tie only sent people to deliver the gifts while they themselves didn’t show up.

Two days later, the Lei Xiangzhi couple and the Huo Sirui couple both made an appointment to come together to Leisurely Farmhouse to thank Qin Mian and Lei Tie. Huo Sirui returned the previous 50 taels of silver and gave Qin Mian, Lei Tie, Yuanyuan, and Manman each a lavish gift. So did Lei Xiangzhi.

Qin Mian asked about the result of the poisoning case with concern. It turned out that it was the work of the gamblers. The local authority was reasonable and fair – they compensated each of Lei Xiangzhi’s group of five with 50 taels of silver.

Chong’en County was more than a month’s drive away from Zhaoyang County. In two days, Huo Sirui and Lei Chuntao would leave. At present, both Dean Huo and Madam Huo were still not old; they could take care of themselves. Moreover, they so wanted to have a grandson, so they supported Lei Chuntao to follow Huo Sirui to take office.

Lei Xiangzhi also would leave for the Capital in a few days. The Imperial Hanlin Academy originally provided special dormitories for junior officers, but they were all in a unified layout and were not big, which were more suitable for single people. Du Shi and Lei Daqiang had long wanted to follow their youngest son to live in ease and comfort, so they decided to go to the Capital together. Where Lei Daqiang went, Wei Shi naturally didn’t want to be left behind. Therefore, Lei Xiangzhi wanted to go to the Capital ahead of time.

The Lei Xiangzhi couple and the Huo Sirui couple had lunch at Qin Mian’s home and sat down for a while before leaving together.

Lei Tie sent them out.

Lei Xiangzhi deliberately lagged behind the other three and said to him in a low voice, “Eldest Brother, going to the Capital this time, Father and Mother want to buy a residence in the Capital and then settle down. Actually, before I came back, I already asked Eldest Brother Yuan to help me rent a small residence. Entering the Capital is just a beginning, but they think things too simply. I didn’t want to spoil them, so I lied that I only had enough money to rent a house. I’m afraid they’ll come to you and Eldest Sister-in-law again, so I’m telling you first that I’ll trouble you and Eldest Sister-in-law to bear with Father and Mother for a few more days.” In fact, Lei Xiangzhi didn’t have the nerve to speak honestly. When he told Lei Daqiang and Du Shi that he didn’t have any money, they asked him to borrow from Lei Tie and Qin Mian, but he refused. That’s why he was worried that Lei Daqiang and Du Shi were not reconciled and would come to their door in person.

Lei Tie lightly nodded.

Sure enough, as Lei Xiangzhi had expected, Lei Daqiang and Du Shi came to Leisurely Farmhouse in the afternoon. The guard at the gate didn’t let them in. The couple probably thought that since they were going to leave Green Mountain Village soon, they were not afraid of losing face, so they simply made a big ruckus. After calling out Lei Tie and Qin Mian for a long time without any response, Du Shi went as far as to secrete outside the gate. Lei Daqiang then pointed out, word by word, that Lei Tie was unfilial.

Qin Mian instructed Lei-Qin Le to refute Lei Daqiang’s words, word by word. Lei-Qin Le was a clever person. He scolded them without using obscene words, making Lei Daqiang and Du Shi angered and fled in disorder. The couple’s reputation in Green Mountain Village was thoroughly rotten.

Qin Mian sympathized with Lei Xiangzhi and hoped that he wouldn’t be implicated by Du Shi and Lei Daqiang in the future.

Two days later, the Huo Sirui family left Zhaoyang County and went to Chong’en County. Qin Mian and Lei Tie went to see him off.

Another two days later in the old house, all that should be sold were sold and all that should be packed were packed. In the end, only a house and a few mu of land were left.

Before leaving, Lei Xiangzhi and Li Shi went to Qin Mian’s house again, saying that they would invite them to the Capital City after settling down.

Lei Xiangzhi entrusted the old house to Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli and the land was rented to them for planting. He took Li Shi, Chongchong [his son], Lei Daqiang, Du Shi, Wei Shi, Qingqing [Wei’s daughter], Du Shi’s maid Xiao-Cui, and Wei Shi’s maid Xiao-Xi to leave Green Mountain Village for the Capital.

Qin Mian and Lei Tie didn’t want to see Du Shi and Lei Daqiang at all. Therefore, the two didn’t see them off.

Without Du Shi and Lei Daqiang, Qin Mian felt that the air in Green Mountain Village was a bit fresh. In the past, he didn’t want to pass by the old house, and so he never passed in front of their gate. Now though, he felt so very comfortable to take whichever road he wanted.

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Footnotes