WSMTATMC C71

Chapter 71

In the blink of an eye, it was already May. Yuanbao was over three months old, and now he had a new activity, besides eating and sleeping—he could turn over by himself.

At first, turning over was quite difficult. He would clench his tiny fists, his little face turning red from exertion, and only after using all his strength from feeding could he finally manage to flip over.

After a few tries, he figured out the knack: a swing of the little leg, a tilt of the little butt, and he would flip over easily, sending everyone into peals of laughter.

Madam Li treasured the child greatly, holding and doting on him. “Now that the baby can turn over, you can’t leave him alone. Otherwise, if you aren’t careful, he might roll right off the bed.”

Wang Ying replied, “No problem, tomorrow I’ll have a carpenter make a bedrail—if we pen him in, he can’t fall off.”

Chen Rong laughed, “You really are full of ideas. A rail is good. Three months, six months he’ll sit, seven months roll, eight months crawl—once he starts crawling, it’ll be impossible to keep him in one place.”

Lin Qiu’s belly was also growing; he was over six months pregnant, and during this pregnancy hadn’t vomited once—he ate with relish.

Madam Li commented, “Qiu’er’s having a good pregnancy—this child’s considerate.”

Chen Rong sighed, “I figure it’ll be a ge’er or a girl; it’s just how I was when I carried him.”

“It’s only Qiu’er’s first child. Boy, girl, or ge’er, they’re all the same. Flowers come before fruit, anyway.”

“I’m just afraid it will be like me—rejected by the Cao family in the end…”

Actually, Chen Rong hadn’t always favored boys over girls. At home, she had two elder brothers and a younger brother, and was the only daughter. With loving parents and protective brothers, she lived better than a princess.

But after marrying into the Lin family, she bore two ge’er in five years, and after having Lin Sui, she never conceived again.

Because of this, her mother-in-law often criticized her for not bearing sons, and as Lin family’s single line of descent, her failing became a family crisis.

At first, Chen Rong rebuked her mother-in-law, but over time her confidence faded, especially as neighbors also valued boys, which gradually reshaped her values.

She always felt guilty towards the Lin family for not having sons, so she tolerated a lot from Scholar Lin.

Lin Qiu listened to his mother with a look of sadness. His parents’ marriage had cast a shadow over both his and Lin Sui’s hearts.

Now, though Cao Kun treated him well, he feared that, given time, he too would become dissatisfied.

Wang Ying saw this and took Lin Qiu to the backyard. “Don’t mind what they say. Your Cao Kun is crazy about you—unless you give birth to a monkey, he’ll adore you no matter what.”

Lin Qiu was tickled and said with a smile, “I don’t think he’s that kind, either. If he dares to look down on me, I just won’t live with him!”

“Right! If he dares treat you badly, you can come run a shop with your sister-in-law. So what if you’re a ge’er? Ge’er can earn and manage a household too—not a bit worse than a man!”

This cheered Lin Qiu up. “Sister-in-law, get out some of Yuanbao’s smaller clothes for me. No need to make new ones and waste material.”

“Sure, I’ll pull them out for you to pick through—take whichever you like.”

Babies grow fast—almost changing every day. The little clothes made by Chen Rong and Madam Li were so numerous some never got worn before being outgrown, perfect to set aside for Lin Qiu’s child.

The two were going through the clothes when a sudden commotion sounded outside. Wang Ying stood up, “Sounds like someone’s here.”

Lin Qiu said, “Could it be Cao Kun back already?”

Both hurried to the front courtyard, stopping short in surprise at the sight of several constables—they were scared, expecting trouble.

Madam Li and Chen Rong looked equally puzzled and stood aside, not knowing the meaning behind such a big display.

Soon a carriage pulled up at the gate, and two bailiffs helped a pot-bellied official out—Longquan County Magistrate Feng Shiren himself.

He entered the courtyard, first paying respects to Madam Li and Chen Rong, who hastily knelt with fright.

“Please rise, both madams. This official is here to deliver joyful news today.”

“Joyful news?”

“Your son-in-law is Wang Ying, yes?”

“Yes…”

Madam Li called for Wang Ying, “Ying’er, come here. The magistrate has come with good news…”

Wang Ying stepped forward and knelt, “This humble subject greets the magistrate.”

“Please rise, Wang Langjun.” The magistrate made a gesture for him to stand. He explained the good news:

“Last year, Wang Langjun bred a high-yield strain of wheat and sent it to the capital, and also submitted a method for preventing spring cold in crops, which proved very effective. The court is rewarding you with one hundred taels of silver!”

“Thank you, magistrate, for your reward.”

Wang Ying’s face showed little joy as a tray with ten silver ingots (ten taels each) was handed over.

To most families, this was a windfall, but for the Chen family, it made little practical difference. What Wang Ying needed was not silver, but a chance to clear Qingyan’s name…

The magistrate continued, “Should you have more seeds or methods for agriculture, submitting them may bring even greater rewards.”

“Yes, sir.”

Wang Ying accepted the silver and stood. The magistrate seemed about to say more. Was there something else?

Sure enough, Magistrate Feng spoke again. “There is one more matter. I have heard that someone slandered you during the county exam?”

At this, Wang Ying immediately knelt and petitioned, “It’s true! Someone hid a crib note in a brush. I swear before Heaven I would not lie—please, magistrate, investigate with clear eyes!”

“Do you know who hid the cheat note?”

Wang Ying replied, “It was the scholar Zhang Shiqiu, who almost killed me last year!”

The magistrate thought for a moment. “So it was him—he’s already dead, and there’s no witness. What now?”

“You can verify the handwriting. The cheat note should be in court records. Compare it with Zhang Shiqiu and Chen Qingyan’s exam papers and you’ll see the truth.”

Feng Shiren nodded, “I will send men to investigate, and soon you will all have an answer.”

“Thank you, magistrate!” Wang Ying was moved to tears, and Madam Li and Chen Rong also knelt in gratitude. They only got up after the magistrate departed.

Madam Li clutched Wang Ying’s hand, “Does this mean Qingyan can go back to studying for the exams?”

“Not yet, but there’s hope!”

“That’s wonderful! Go quickly and tell the people at the manor!”

Wang Ying quickly stopped her, “Not yet—wait until the county completes its investigation. Otherwise, it might be a false hope.”

“You’re right. Smart thinking! We’ll tell him only when it’s certain.”

Actually, checking the handwriting was simple, but the follow-up would be slow and complicated, so it could be difficult to clear their name. After the county’s investigation, the results would proceed step-by-step: county court to the prefecture, then, if approved, up to the capital for final review before Chen Qingyan’s records could be unsealed.

When things reached the capital, often nothing more was ever heard.

That’s why Uncle Chen said only after getting transferred to the capital would he be able to try to exonerate Qingyan.

The civil service exams were so rigorous precisely to prevent cheating. Appointing the unworthy would harm countless people.

That the magistrate had revived the topic was because Wang Ying’s wheat variety and frost remedy had worked wonders, and the Grand Minister of Agriculture had spoken up for him to people in the capital with Liang Boqing’s help.

When a word came down from the capital, even a county court would treat it as law. The magistrate came in person to leave a positive impression—after all, Chen Qingyan might one day rise to high office, and he wanted the connection.

After the officials left, Wang Ying kept his excitement to himself, carrying on his life as usual.

At the end of May, a letter arrived from the capital for Old Master Liang, and Wang Ying took the chance to return to the manor.

The weather was getting hotter—soon it would be time to start selling ice pops at the shop.

They’d always produced them at the manor, and this year was no different, so Wang Ying also went to check how the crops were doing.

The weather was fine. On the way, Wang Ying saw that the millet in the fields along the road was just shooting, likely replanted in March, and wouldn’t be ripe until late July at the earliest.

Nearing Chen family’s manor, he finally saw fields tinted yellow with wheat, heavy heads bowing the stalks.

In a good year, wheat was ready to harvest by the Dragon Boat Festival. This year, with a late spring, everything matured late, and as June approached, people were just beginning to harvest.

He met many familiar faces working in the fields along the way and simply got off his cart, greeting everyone.

“Young Master’s husband is here!”

“Oh, we haven’t seen you in half a year! Are you well?”

Wang Ying smiled and nodded. “Quite well. I had a baby at the start of the year.”

“Why didn’t you bring the little master to see us?”

“It’s too hot. When it’s cooler, I’ll bring him out for everyone to meet.”

Wang Ying had wanted to bring Yuanbao, but Madam Li refused. With the heat, even adults were uncomfortable outside; it would be miserable for the baby. Better to leave him home in the care of the nannies.

The further into the village, the more people gathered. Everyone had missed the young master’s husband.

Aunt Liu said, “Do you know, except for our manor, all the other villages’ winter wheat totally failed this year!”

Wang Ying replied, “I’d heard some of that.”

“Luckily, you gave us advice in advance. Otherwise, we’d have only had one crop this year.”

Sister Zhang said, “It’s not only us who pressed the wheat seedlings. Meng Village and neighboring Zheng Village had families who copied us.”

“Tell you what—the Zheng villagers tried pressing and irrigating wheat, and the growth was good. But just a few nights ago, someone set the field on fire. The whole lot, gone overnight!”

Wang Ying was shocked. “Someone actually did that? That’s too vicious!”

“Exactly. The smoke was so heavy, you could see the glow half the night. Just think—in a flash, all their winter’s labor burned to ash.”

Aunt Liu spat, “Such evil people! They’re forcing others into ruin!”

Because of this, people in Chen Manor didn’t sleep well at night anymore—every family had men guarding their fields for fear of sabotage.

As they approached the manor’s gate, the crowd dispersed. Ershun stopped the cart and knocked.

Inside, Old Master Liang’s voice called out.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me, Wang Ying.”

Liang Boqing hurried over and opened the door. “Little Wang, you’re here! Where’s Yuanbao?”

“It’s too hot—I didn’t bring him.”

The old man’s smile instantly dropped away; he didn’t even bother with pleasantries, just turned and walked inside, disgruntled.

Wang Ying couldn’t help laughing. How quickly the old folks change faces!

Footnotes:

1. The “pressing wheat seedlings” method is an agricultural technique for protecting winter wheat during sudden temperature drops. 
2. Jin (斤) – Traditional Chinese weight, about 500g or 1.1lb.