Chapter 77: Family Heirloom

Fang’s mother was actually a beauty when she was young. It was precisely because of this that she, coming from a poor family, could marry Fang Xiucai.

Perhaps due to enduring a lot of hardship since childhood, she couldn’t bear to see her daughters enjoy any comfort and showed no love towards them.

She used to constantly belittle her daughters, saying they were ugly. Not only that, but even if Fang Jinniang or Fang Xiuniang dressed up a little, she would accuse them of trying to seduce men.

Fang Jinniang was fine, but under Fang’s mother’s repeated insults, Fang Xiuniang became increasingly silent and appeared gloomy.

She always kept her head down in front of others and even covered half of her face with her hair. She wore loose old clothes, making it difficult for neighbors to get a clear picture of what she looked like.

Only Fang Jinniang knew that her sister was even better-looking than her, albeit a bit shorter… Their mother wasn’t keen on providing them with good food, and with Fang Xiuniang’s small appetite, she didn’t eat much during her growth years.

Fang Xiuniang threw herself into Fang Jinniang’s arms, and Fang Jinniang hugged her sister, feeling her heart softening.

She thought for a moment and said, “Xiuniang, you should leave with your sister.”

However, Fang Xiuniang shook her head. She didn’t want to cause trouble for Fang Jinniang.

After Fang Jinniang left home, Fang’s mother became angry every day. If Fang Xiuniang left with her, her mother would surely make a scene.

Previously, Fang Jinniang’s words had indeed frightened Fang’s mother, but now that Fang Jinniang’s marriage with Mr. Wang had fallen through, that trick couldn’t be used anymore.

Fang Xiuniang insisted on staying at home.

Fang Jinniang didn’t take Fang Xiuniang away in the end.

She didn’t know how much gratitude she owed to Jin Xiaoye and his wife. It wouldn’t be good to take Fang Xiuniang back now.

Moreover, although her mother wasn’t good to them, as long as Fang Xiuniang could still earn money, her life wouldn’t be too bad.

On the contrary, if she took Fang Xiuniang away… if her mother caused trouble, Fang Xiuniang, as a daughter, would have to go back home.

She didn’t want to die now, nor did she want Fang Xiuniang to die. They couldn’t afford to take such risks.

Fang Jinniang could only say, “Xiuniang, wait a moment. Sister will definitely find you a good family…”

“I don’t want to get married,” Fang Xiuniang said softly.

Fang Jinniang sighed and changed the subject.

Perhaps because she had caused a scene before, Fang’s mother didn’t dare to mistreat Fang Xiuniang too much now. Learning this, Fang Jinniang breathed a sigh of relief.

At this moment, with her head lowered, Fang Xiuniang asked Fang Jinniang some questions.

“I’m doing fine,” Fang Jinniang smiled and talked about what had happened these days.

While they were talking, Fang’s mother returned.

Seeing Fang Jinniang, Fang’s mother’s face darkened, but Fang Jinniang smiled at her and said, “Mother, Xiaoshu still has to go rowing. We’ll leave first.”

Fang Jinniang didn’t want to talk to her mother. Without much thought, she took Jin Xiaoshu and left.

After she left, Fang’s mother couldn’t help but curse. After cursing for a few sentences, she began to target Fang Xiuniang.

But after cursing for a few sentences, her voice suddenly stopped.

If Fang Xiuniang also ran away, who would earn money?

She could also do needlework, but only simple tasks. She couldn’t embroider and couldn’t earn much money.

Actually, these past few days, Fang’s mother had thought about going to the Jin family to cause trouble. As long as she denied having any intention of marrying Fang Jinniang to Mr. Wang, she could label Fang Jinniang as disobedient and unfilial.

But Fang Zijian was afraid that causing a scene would tarnish his reputation, so he didn’t allow Fang’s mother to stir up trouble.

There would be the county exam at the beginning of next year, followed shortly by the provincial and metropolitan exams. Fang Zijian wanted to pass the county exam in one go, then find a good teacher to study for the metropolitan exam. He didn’t want any disturbances at this time.

Thinking about this, Fang’s mother looked towards Fang Xiuniang.

In the past few years, Fang Jinniang and Fang Xiuniang had earned quite a bit of money, especially Fang Jinniang, who could earn thirty taels of silver in a year all by herself.

Fang’s mother actually had quite a bit of savings, but there were many places Fang Zijian needed to spend money in the provincial capital…

The sixty taels of dowry for Fang Jinniang had been squandered in vain!

She didn’t know if her second daughter had caught the eye of any wealthy suitors.

After leaving the Fang family, Fang Jinniang returned to Sister Wang’s house.

As a newlywed, whether it was Sister Wang or the women who came to do chores, they couldn’t help but tease her a little.

Fang Jinniang blushed but still did her work quickly and well.

As for Jin Xiaoshu… Now that he was married and considered an adult… he worked much harder. When he saw peddlers at the pier, he boldly approached them, asking if they wanted to buy his goods in bulk and even suggesting they place orders at the Jin Xiaoye Embroidery Workshop.

He wanted to earn more money so that his children could live a better life.

When he was a child, he could only watch others enjoy good food. He hoped his children wouldn’t have to endure the same.

Jin Xiaoshu was in a particularly good mood. He hadn’t removed the red paper from the bow of his boat, and whenever someone asked, he proudly proclaimed, “I got married yesterday!”

Anyone who heard would congratulate him.

Meanwhile, Hong Hui wasn’t feeling too good.

Ever since the book “County Magistrate Gou Punishes Zhang Chuqian” spread a few days ago, the commoners in Chongcheng County have started gossiping about him again!

Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do about it.

His ancestors had served as officials, but that was many years ago, and their connections have long since vanished.

Now he was just a scholar.

In Daqi, scholars could see officials without bowing, but this title was not very valuable and held no power.

Hong Hui had inquired and learned that the book was written by Li Qingzhi. After this incident, he harbored a desire for revenge and wanted to cause trouble for Jin Xiaoye, but someone was protecting Jin Xiaoye, so he didn’t have the opportunity to act.

Moreover, just causing some financial loss is too cheap for Li Qingzhi!

He wanted to ruin Li Qingzhi’s reputation and fortune.

Of course, this would take time.

Hong Hui went to visit Sun Juren again.

Sun Juren was not young anymore. Since Zhang Yunquan got into trouble, his health has been deteriorating. Recently, the rumors circulating had not only angered Hong Hui but had also worsened Sun Juren’s condition.

The fact that everyone in Chongcheng County regarded him as a villain… Sun Juren’s anger kept him awake all night.

Now, the only time he felt a bit better was when he cursed County Magistrate Gou, cursed the Zhu family, and cursed Li Qingzhi with Hong Hui.

Today, they cursed as usual, and then Sun Juren suddenly laughed, “That scoundrel is probably doing it for political achievements, mobilizing so many laborers to build the dock… His Majesty has always been sympathetic to the people, always saying he wants to reduce corvée labor, but he’s doing the opposite. I’ve already written to my friend in the capital city, reporting this scoundrel. My friend is a chess companion of the prefect, and the prefect has always loved the people like his own children. Once he learns of this, he will definitely despise that scoundrel…” Sun Juren referred to County Magistrate Gou as the scoundrel.

The government indeed conscripted laborers every year to repair roads and dig rivers, but that was necessary to ensure the smooth flow of land and river transportation.

County Magistrate Gou’s plan to build a dock was unnecessary, perhaps purely for his own political gain or to make money from it after its completion.

Chongcheng County was under Hexing Prefecture, and the current prefect advocated governance through inaction, favoring subordinates who caused trouble and wasted resources.

If the prefect learned that County Magistrate Gou had mobilized so many laborers to build the dock, he would certainly not be pleased!

Sun Juren couldn’t do anything to County Magistrate Gou, but if the prefect despised him…

Upon hearing this, Hong Hui was also pleasantly surprised.

This was indeed excellent news!

They discussed their plan based on this.

County Magistrate Gou was completely unaware that someone was plotting against him; he was still reading Zhu’s autobiography.

This book was really interesting!

Fortunately, although County Magistrate Gou enjoyed the story, he didn’t forget to handle official matters properly; he had done everything he needed to.

However, on the way back, he took out the book again and said to Zhu, “Old Zhu, you must treasure this book. In the future, it may become a treasure.”

“Sir, when I asked Nephew Li to write this book, I wanted it to be a family heirloom…”

County Magistrate Gou said, “Your autobiography is indeed suitable as a family heirloom, but the writing on it, that’s the real treasure. Li Qingzhi is still in his early twenties, yet his handwriting is already so good. In the future, his calligraphy will only improve, and by then, the value of this book will be immeasurable.”

County Magistrate Gou believed that Li Qingzhi had the talent to become a master calligrapher.

Although Li Qingzhi’s handwriting wasn’t at its best now, he was still young!

As long as he persisted in practicing calligraphy, in twenty years, he would become a master. By then, a book written by Li Qingzhi in his youth, with his writing improving over time… That book would definitely be valuable!

Zhu hadn’t thought of this before, but hearing County Magistrate Gou’s words made him suddenly realize it.

Next time he saw Li Qingzhi, he would definitely give him more money!

County Magistrate Gou had a high opinion of Li Qingzhi, and Zhu’s opinion of him became even more favorable.

Li Qingzhi, whom County Magistrate Gou believed would become a master calligrapher in the future, was still practicing calligraphy at the moment.

He possessed extraordinary abilities, far surpassing ordinary people in controlling his body, coupled with his highly developed brain… Every word he wrote was steady and beautiful.

Not only that, before writing, he had already planned the content and layout of the page, resulting in each page looking like a unified whole, which is very beautiful.

Ordinary people couldn’t do what he did.

After practicing calligraphy, Li Qingzhi put down his brush and went to the kitchen to cook, calling his three children over to tell them some anecdotes.

At this time, scholars and writers liked to use anecdotes in their conversations and writings. Perhaps to better understand various anecdotes, the Sun family compiled a book specifically for this purpose, collecting various anecdotes from ancient times to the present.

After reading the book, Li Qingzhi would narrate the stories from it to his three children. After finishing, he would then write them down in simple and understandable language for the children to read.

By reading these stories frequently, the children gradually learned to recognize words.

After preparing the meal, Li Qingzhi went out for a stroll, coincidentally heading towards the river dock to meet someone.

On the way, he encountered many people discussing the conscription of laborers, some even asked if he was going. Li Qingzhi replied, “With my poor health, I definitely cannot go. Xiaoye will surely help me with the payment.”

Hearing this, the villagers looked at Li Qingzhi with envy. They also didn’t want to go to build the dock, but unfortunately, none of them had a wealthy daughter-in-law to help pay for them.

Noticing that most villagers didn’t want to go to build the dock, Li Qingzhi said, “County Magistrate Gou is a good official. He surely won’t mistreat the people. This time, going to build the dock shouldn’t be too tiring.”

The stories about County Magistrate Gou, written by Li Qingzhi, had spread to the village. After some hesitation, the villagers nodded in agreement, saying, “Indeed, County Magistrate Gou is a good person.”

If they didn’t go to build the dock, they would have to pay one or two taels of silver. Most families could afford this, but they were reluctant to pay. Li Qingzhi believed that most villagers would go.

Oh, except for Yao Zhenfu next door. Yao Zhenfu definitely wouldn’t go.

Recently, Yao Zhenfu had been studying hard, planning to take the county examination. It was unclear whether he could pass.