Chapter 5: Family_2

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"Heh..."

Luo Su's face turned pale. She had understood that she and her husband would still have to buy a house in Capital City for Chen Qing. How many years of tofu would they have to grind to afford that?

Just thinking about it turned Luo Su's pale face a shade of iron blue. As she was about to explode, Chen Qing, who had been eavesdropping at the door, quickly coughed lightly: "Mother, I'm back!"

"Young Master Qing?" The elderly lady's face lit up with surprise, not bothering to continue bamboozling her silly eldest daughter-in-law as she rushed over and grabbed Chen Qing: "Why have you lost so much weight? My child, you must have suffered..."

The sister-in-law behind rolled her eyes. Didn't she feel sorry for her eldest son, who went out to make deliveries before dawn? To anyone who didn't know, Chen Qing, with his delicate and tender looks, might be mistaken for a young master pampered by a wealthy family. Where did he look like he had suffered?

"Young Master Qing is back?" Because of her mother-in-law's previous statements, the sister-in-law lacked the enthusiastic expectation for the return of this lord, an Imperial Scholar, and said with a feigned smile: "I heard from Mother that you've made quite a success of yourself, planning to take an official position in Capital City?"

Seeing his sister-in-law's look of near outrage, Chen Qing silently chuckled to himself. After being away so long, his old mother's skills at painting pie in the sky remained as impressive as ever. She still thought to pull one over on his sister-in-law. If it were the modern day, she'd definitely qualify as an entrepreneurial talent...

"Not at all, not at all... Staying in Capital City isn't as simple as just wanting to stay. This time I've been assigned a County Magistrate position in the north, and I'm just here to take the family there with me."

"County Magistrate? In the north?" The sister-in-law hadn't quite grasped the situation, but the old lady was already expressing her astonishment.

"My son, I heard from the messenger that you were an Imperial Scholar, second class. How...how come you didn't manage to stay in Capital City? Did you offend someone?"

To ensure that Master Huang didn't hold back, Chen Qing's mother didn't spare any effort in sending gifts to Master Huang's family. She also heard plenty from Master Huang about the imperial examinations. According to him, the new dynasty was short on officials. Even if Qing'er only became a jinshi of the same rank, he would likely be sent to some picturesque place as an official. If he made it to second class, he'd likely stay in the capital.

"Mother..." Chen Qing quickly explained: "This examination session was a special grace exam, opened by the Emperor to replenish officials in the north. Apart from the top class, nobody could stay in the Capital!"

"Oh, how could this happen?" The elderly lady stomped her foot in anxiety, muttering non-stop: "If I had known, I should have listened to Master Huang and had you wait for the next session. It's all your elder brother's fault. After waiting for so many years, what's the rush?"

Listening to this, the sister-in-law almost had steam coming out of her ears. It was a good thing she had persuaded her own damn husband not to continue listening to his mother; otherwise, the whole family would have ended up toiling away to afford this young uncle's house in Capital City!

Chen Qing also gave a wry smile of helplessness and quickly tried to reassure his mother: "Mother, what's so good about staying in Capital City? It's full of officials like sesame seeds and green beans, all of whom are trouble we can't afford. With the meager salary, we can't even afford to rent a house. Being sent to a county, your son will be the top authority there. Whatever he says goes. Isn't it better for us to live in a spacious magistracy?"

"What's good about that?" The elderly woman gave her son a sideway glance: "There are plenty of benefits to being in Capital City, though we may suffer for a few years, the good days come later!"

The sister-in-law rolled her eyes upon hearing this. Now, the talk of 'good days to come' just made her want to hit someone...

Chen Qing, still with a smile on his face, comforted his mother for a long while before turning to his sister-in-law: "Sister-in-law, where are Brother Yong and Er Ya?"

The sister-in-law had given birth to a son and a daughter for the family and had suffered so much for her studies over the years. She had been enticed by the old lady's grand promises, but what the Chen Family owed her was real. Let alone anything else, just the dowry swindled by the old lady was enough for Chen Qing to pay back... He would need to make it up to her properly in the future.

"Brother Yong and his father went to deliver goods early in the morning. Er Ya and Elder Sister Hui are in the room doing embroidery," the sister-in-law said, pursing her lips in response.

Chen Qing was taken aback. Er Ya was only a few years old, yet she was already doing embroidery?

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Such a young girl, studying every day, I don't even know if she's ruined her eyes…

Chen Qing sighed in his heart and hastily said, "Elder sister-in-law, pack up and go straight to the wharf to find big brother. Tell him not to deliver the goods today and to come back quickly for a reunion meal. Tomorrow morning, we will set out for my post!"

"That soon?" The old mother was startled, "But I've just finished making tofu in the courtyard…."

"Sell it cheaply to Aunt Lyu next door." Chen Qing said with a smile, grasping the old mother's calloused hands reassuringly, and settled her down to continue, "The North is urging us on urgently; we cannot afford any delay. The sooner we take office, the sooner we can get acquainted. Once there, you won't have to grind tofu anymore. Mother, if you get bored, you can look after the county mansion's backyard and turn it into whatever you like. Haven't you always admired the pond of koi at Master Huang's place? We can raise a pond of our own too!"

The old woman's eyes lit up at the mention of raising koi, but still reluctantly said, "Is there really no way to stay in the Capital City?"

"There's no staying..." Chen Qing chuckled, shaking his head. If it had been earlier, he might have been more ambitious, sought to remain in the Capital and progress into the Six Ministries. Now, he had absolutely no such ideas; the things he had designed had a habit of gravitating towards prosperous places, and both the Royal City and the Qian Dynasty Tiandu were disaster zones. Right now, the farther he could stay from them, the better.

"Tell sister-in-law to have Er Ya and Brother Yong pack up as well." Chen Qing turned to his elder sister-in-law, "Once we're there, I'll arrange for Brother Yong to attend the county school. The child started his studies late, but no matter, I will personally tutor him when I'm free. Our family must produce another Imperial Scholar!"

"Yes, yes, yes!" The elder sister-in-law's eyes crinkled with joy. Although their family had suffered greatly while supporting Chen Qing through his studies, if it were for her own son, she would bear any hardship!

"Er Ya is still young; we'll bring her over and slowly teach her proper manners. If it really doesn't work out, I'll find a governess to raise her properly. At any rate, we must find her a reputable and good family to marry into."

"Where... Where is there a need to hire a governess at such great expense?" The elder sister-in-law quickly rubbed her hands together, embarrassed yet tempted. Having suffered for so many years, she didn't want Er Ya to experience the same hardships. A daughter is a piece of her own flesh, and naturally, she hoped for her to have a better future….

"It won't cost much!" Chen Qing laughed, "Big brother and sister-in-law have been helping me out for so many years, and I've always kept it in my heart. Rest assured, with me, Chen Qing, around, I won't let your family suffer any injustices again…."

"Those words..." The elder sister-in-law's eyes teared up, "We're all family; saying these things just makes us strangers."

A heavy burden in her heart finally lifted at her younger brother-in-law's promise. That wicked old lady had fooled her into working like a horse for many years, with nine out of ten words being false, but there was one truth—Young Master Qing was not an ungrateful person!

With that thought, all the grievances evaporated in an instant. After waiting for so many years, she finally saw the better life the wicked old lady had spoken of…

"You all will set off tomorrow morning by waterway. The Imperial Court has assigned guards to escort you. With their credentials, you may directly move into the county residence. Be frugal with the household money for now; everything else can wait until I join you…."

"You… Aren't you coming with us?" The old mother and the elder sister-in-law asked in surprise simultaneously.

"Ah…" Chen Qing laughed, "The superiors have assigned me some tasks. Once I finish here, I will immediately rush to join you. Don't worry, just get settled there first."

"My child…" The old woman looked at Chen Qing with uncertainty, "What tasks are so important, more so than taking office?"

"It's nothing big, just short of hands, assisting a senior official with some tasks." Chen Qing continued to reassure his mother with a smile.

But in his heart, he was increasingly determined. The good days for his family were on the horizon, and he wouldn't allow anything to threaten them!