CH 73

Oftentimes when an official from the capital was assigned to an unsatisfactory external official position, they would usually delay their departure two or three months. Then, the Ministry of Appointments would naturally exchange if for a closer official position. But just as Cui Que began to wrinkle his brows, and hadn’t yet shown his intentions to decline, a director in the Bureau of Appointments asked, “Does Cui da-ren dislike Yunnan for being too remote, and the official rank of fourth-grade is not high enough?”

Naturally, Cui Que disdained this. To be sent to Yunnan was equivalent to having been exiled. As an official in the capital, he should not be sent to the border areas for no reason.

Besides, for land reassessments, it was not a good assignment to be in charge of managing the yellow registers. It would be bitter and weary work, and it was easy to offend powerful families. There were many different tribes and native chieftains. As a feudal official[1], he would be impeded at every turn and unable to do any real things. His position as a supervisor, a Left Assistant Administration Commissioner, was also merely supportive and auxiliary. He wouldn’t be in charge of civil administration or educational administration. Even if his son established a library, the political achievements would fall to the Provincial Administration Commision, how much meritorious service could be claimed for himself?

Without political achievements in hand, he wouldn’t be easily promoted. Was it possible that he would truly have to endure nine years in Yunnan? He was an orthodox official for ten years and now he was forty-years old, his body was not very strong. Could he still come back intact after nine years in a place like Yunnan?

He clenched his teeth and said: “It really isn’t because I disdain Yunnan’s remote location, but I am a person from the Zhili region [2] Based on precedent, I shouldn’t have been chosen for an official assignment in Yunnan.”

That director laughed: “Da-ren has implicated two cabinet elders to the point of self-impeachment, this is something that is also without precedent. When choosing the assignment, what point is there looking at precedents or not? To be honest, this Assistant Administration Commissioner was something the two Vice Ministers reluctantly vacated after bypassing the rules of selection for the sake of your diligence in the past. If you want to go, then go. If you don’t want to, then just keep your official status and idle at home. There is no shortage of Imperial College students and scholars who would love to go.”

No matter how bad Yunnan was, he would still be a fourth-rank official. If he didn’t go, he would be exempted from his current position and introspect at home while still keeping his official status. No matter which path was chosen, there were no future prospects in sight….

Cui Que came home with the documents in hand, currently worrying about whether he should go when someone from the outer courtyard reported that Xu-shi’s younger brother came over to make trouble.

Although the Xu Clan did not have high official postings, there were numerous brothers and son-in-laws. There were a few of them that could pass for as generous, but it would be troublesome if they made a fuss. Nowadays, Cui Xie was currently in Qian’an sweeping the tombs and offering sacrifices for their family’s ancestors as well as going through the procedure of transferring his student registration and tidying up family property……without him, the victim of Xu-shi’s persecution present, the Xu family would make even more of a fuss to derive benefit. It was possible that they may even threaten to file a lawsuit that Cui Que and Xu-shi had conspired about that library together.

He gave orders until the household was distraught with anxiety. Finally, he made up his mind and had the steward tidy up the residence and upon Cui Xie’s return, he would head to Yunnan.

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At this time, Cui Xie was currently at Jiaxiang Station offering sacrifices to his ancestors.

After returning to his hometown, he first went to see County Magistrate Qi and apologized for all the things that had implicated the elder these past few days. County Magistrate Qi did not blame Cui Xie and even generously said: “That Xu-shi is no longer your stepmother, what does her evil actions have to do with you? What’s more, the Emperor was wise and the officials were just and fair in judging the case, I have not felt any grievances.”

It had not only not adversely affected his promotion, on the contrary, it was a blessing in disguise. He had been marked down by the Ministry of Appointments and there may be opportunities to transfer to the capital in the future. As a jiansheng[3], he was satisfied with just being a magistrate for a lower county. Now, he had vast future prospects as a capital official waiting for him, how could be discontent?

Even his thin and slender stature was “big-hearted and serene”[4] and the wrinkles on his face seemed to have flattened out. A brilliant glow had also been born and the beard had been combed completely. Without any filter, he looked just as good as he did on the cover of the anthology.

Cui Xie said a few words of congratulations and informed the elder of the Imperial decree ordering him to study at the Imperial College, and that he had came back to transfer his status as a county student to the Imperial college.

The County Magistrate was also overjoyed for him, saying: “Presently, the brilliance of the Emperor has illuminated upon us and could not allow a child prodigy like you remain in such a remote place and be left behind. In the future, you have to be diligent in your studies, relentlessly take the examinations so you have no alternative, but to die as a gongjian[5].”

Cui Xie agreed and answered: “This student is determined to try hard in the Imperial examinations in order to live up to elderly da-ren’s great expectations.”

Right now, County Magistrate Qi was only waiting for his successor to arrive and then he planned on going to Shandong to take office there. Government affairs were currently not too vexing so he took the initiative to arrange for the transfer of Cui Xie’s student registration. Although the county’s military instructor and teachers felt it was somewhat of a pity that he could not remain in Qian’an to take the Imperial examinations, however, it was a local achievement that a shengyuan from the county had entered the Imperial College.

Cui Xie organized a banquet and invited the poor, but upright students and officials, who were full of delight as they ate.

After he concluded proper business, he took his personal eunuch attendant back to Jiaxiang Station to pay his respects to his ancestors.

Cui Yuan and Pengyan were still at the temple helping Cui Xie keep watch of the recitation of the Buddhist scriptures. The palace eunuch attendant from the capital was sent by Cui Xie back to the village to prepare dinner and their lodgings. He sat in a lotus position by himself in front of the grave, and burned a few pieces of ritual paper money in front of Liu furen and her original son, telling them: “Xu-shi has been divorced by Official Cui and the crime of trying to harm Cui Xie has already been revealed to the whole world. The Jinyiwei sentenced her to exile at Pinghai Garrison in Fujian and her son is to send her off. I have been admitted into the Imperial College and in the future, I still need to take examinations to become a juren and a jinshi. Just wait until I become an official, I will personally request a title for furen….”

The fire from the ritual paper money eventually extinguished, and he used a twig to flip over the yellow papers, rekindling the fire to burn the incompletely burned parts . Seeing that the ritual paper money had been just about completely turned to ashes, he stood up, bowed with a cupped fist salute and said his farewells: “I may not come here often in the future. During festivals, I will burn incense for you two in the ancestral hall in the capital, please let me give Liu furen a bow in place of your esteemed son.”

The winds blowing through the mountains were forceful, whirling to blast the burnt paper ashes into Cui Xie, covering his entire face. He flung his sleeves, treaded over to mount his horse and rode back to stay the night in the village at Jiaxiang Station. The next day, he went to the village to pick up Cui Yuan and his son.

The two had stayed at the temple and seriously kept watch of the monk reciting the Buddhist scriptures. Shopkeeper Ji had even sent a clerk over everyday to consult on the matter of printing the《Diamond Sutra》.

Prior to Cui Xie entering the capital, the young boss and the shopkeeper duo consulted with each other and disseminated quite a few scriptures to pray for blessings. When Cui Xie had arrived at the temple, Cui Yuan saw that he was in perfectly good condition and had even become a jiansheng at the Imperial College, so he prayed “Buddha”, “Bodhisattva”, “Guan Yu” and the “True Martial Great Emperor” once through and wanted to help him to make a votive offering.

Cui Xie couldn’t care less about the beliefs of the people of the Ming Dynasty, and just asked them to use the silver from the public accounts and not use their own money to fill in the deficiencies.

Cui Yuan, replied as if it was a matter of course: “Naturally I will need to spend the Young Master’s private coffers. Since I have been released from the Cui Residence, if I spend my money, the Gods and Buddhas will not remember the Young Master’s devotion and reverence otherwise.”

Cui Xie almost choked from Cui Yuan’s words and Pengyan hurriedly brought tea over asking: “Da-ge, will you take father and I to the capital? I still want to follow you to serve you.”

Cui Xie faintly shook his head: “You should be thinking of studying hard all day, why are you thinking of serving others? The past few days, I have been in the capital and haven’t been able to watch over you. Now that I have the time, it is just right that I ask you: Just what have you studied up to? Don’t tell me you read some gifted scholar’s newly published pedantic and philistine article again, that doesn’t count!”

Pengyan hung his head and unenthusiastically said: “I have been reciting scriptures for you these past few days. Once I return with you to the capital, I’ll just read whatever book you read.”

Cui Xie replied, “I am entering Imperial College and will live in a dormitory. Only after every five days can I take a rest, what will you study if you come along? Besides, it is inconvenient for you and your father to enter the capital.  What if the Laoye or steward sees you opening a shop and accuses you of coveting the Cui Residence’s property, what then? It would be better for you two to peacefully live here and wait until I become an official before entering the capital……”

Cui Yuan then reassured: “I might as well stay here, I am familiar with Shopkeeper Ji now and help print more books for the Young Master in the hometown and won’t make a botch of things. But Pengyan has always served as your manservant, how about you let him stay to attend to you? In the future, after painting《Three Kindgoms》or any other manuscripts, you will need someone to send it back to Qian’an. Sending them back with someone else is not as good as having it under his meticulous care.”

Looking at father and son, Cui Xie almost sighed aloud: “Pengyan is sixteen-years-old this year, you don’t teach him to study or be a shopkeeper, do you want to have him be a servant for the rest of his life. As a father, at the very least, you should change his name right?”[6]

Pengyan stood motionlessly in front of him, sticking his neck out in dissatisfaction: “I am not a studious person and can’t stand to study as if my life is on the line like you can. Take me back to the capital? I can go to our family’s shops in the capital as a clerk and I can gradually learn to be a shopkeeper and in the future, I will open a branch of the Peace of Mind Study in the capital.”

Rather than counting on this finicky bun, it was better to count on Shopkeeper Ji to open up the branches from Tongzhou all the way into the capital.

But, after all, Cui Xie couldn’t bear to part with this child and throw him away without supervision in Tongzhou. He exhaled a sigh and said: “I cannot take you back to the Cui Residence. If you want to come with me to the capital, you must first rent out a room and I will find you during my breaks.”

This kind of fee was too high and there wouldn’t be much usefulness by entering the capital. Cui Yuan was somewhat hesitant, but Pengyan came up with an idea and said to himself, “Then I will work as a clerk with Shopkeeper Ji first and during your breaks, I will come to the capital and find you. If you have any new paintings, I will send them home and also visit my father along the way.”

Cui Yuan also felt that this method was good and followed suit to persuade Cui Xie: “Which Shopkeeper didn’t first start out as a clerk? He is not afraid of hardship or tiredness, nor is he afraid of making a trip outside the hometown, both sides are still his own home. You can give him a proper name and have him properly learn things by becoming a clerk.”

If nothing else, Pengyan’s name, which was full of the flavor of a bookboy, should be changed.

Cui Xie flipped through《Erya》[7]in his mind and picked out the “Qi” character for him, “Qi” meaning to open or awaken[8]. Cui Yuan had been sold to become a servant of the Cui family as a child and couldn’t remember his ancestors’ surname and name. From now on, they could start on a new path and erect a new clan, as well as start their own business.”

“Cui Qi, Cui Qi….” Cui Yuan and his son read the name several times, extremely satisfied: “This is the name given by the Little Tertiary Winner anshou, in the future when the Young Master becomes the zhuangyuan, the top scorer, after the provincial, metropolitan and palace examinations, the name Cui Qi will be even more valuable.  We must write the origins of it into the family’s genealogical records!”

En, in order to be included in the genealogy records of Cui Yuan’s clan in the future, he had to work hard to become a jinshi!

Cui Xie asked the accompanying palace attendant to keep an eye on the recitations of the Buddhist scriptures and brought the father and son duo to tidy up the luggage so they could say their farewells to Teacher Lin and their neighbors.

Although Teacher LIn was unwilling to part with him, his student had become a shengyuan, and would have resigned from his academy anyways. But he was able to restrain his reluctant feelings and let Cui Xie go after a few words of guidance. Distinguished neighbor Zhao and their entire family had treated him as their blood and when they heard he was leaving, it was painful as losing a real grandson. He sat at the Zhao Residence for an entire afternoon to console them, only saying that there was still a chance to meet during the New Year Festival. Only then did the two elders take a turn for the better and asked servants to make all sorts of food for him to bring with him.

There were also his schoolmates from Teacher Lin’s academy and the xiucai who often read at Cui Xie’s residence who came to see him. He ate food from farewell feasts for several days, received a lot of poems and also composed two articles, and also sent out countless color-printed books.

The vacation granted to him by the Imperial College was finite, and he had been delayed for ten days and it could not be delayed any longer. Only then did he reluctantly part with everyone and dragged the books gifted to him from Prefect Wei and Assistant Grandpa Liu, the paints Colonel Xie had given him and then he brought Pengyan with him as he returned to the capital.

By the time he had entered the Cui Residence alone, Cui Que had already lost his patience waiting for his return: The Xu Clan harassed him every day and the Ministry of Appointments itched to take back this position of Assistant Administration Commissioner. Cui Que used to disdain Yunnan’s remote location, but even Yunnan’s inferiority had become a rare hope.

As soon as the eldest son came back, Cui Que hurriedly entrusted him with the family affairs, asked people to pack four or five carriages of luggage and paid the money for the moving papers. Bringing two new concubines and several family members, the wheels wheeled quickly out of the capital, and they began their travels to Yunnan to take up a  new post. Cui Xie took the remaining family members to send them outside the city walls. In the rear, there was a large carriage full of abandoned old concubines and their children, the compartment accompanied by piteous weeping and inconsolable sorrow.

After the carriages had entered the forest, Cui Xie went over and consoled them to restrain their tears. The son birthed by Wu-shi began to narrate in a grief-stricken voice: “Laoye took away all the money from the public accounts and only brought those two vixens with him to live a happy and prosperous life, disregarding the life or death of two elders and the rest of us! How are we going to survive the days ahead ah!”

…..

Official Cui, no, Assistant Administration Commissioner Cui was even capable of doing this kind of thing ah. At that time, he only allowed his eldest son to bring 30 taels of silver with him and fend for himself outside, now he has taken away all the money at home, leaving a whole family of old and young in the capital with nothing to eat. Why was Cui Xie not surprised at all?

Cui Xie coldly sneered, softly soothing the females: “Yiniangs, do not cry, with me here, I will not let my younger siblings go hungry. I will go back to the residence to see if there is anything worth selling and have them exchanged for silver. I will dismiss a few useless servants. Once we open a water source and reduce outflow[9], we can survive these times.”

He remembered that the Cui Residence had several storefronts so he simply picked one with a good location, he wrote it under Cui Yuan’s name and opened a branch of the Peace of Mind Study in the capital.

With him announcing his honest intentions and calculations in supporting his family, a few of the concubines and Second Young Miss , Yun-jie, for whatever reason, it seemed like they had been frightened by him. They immediately shut their mouths and no one dared to weep anymore.

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