Chapter 37: Being a Father is Too Hard

Facing the expectant gazes of his three children, Zhao Mengcheng felt the difficulty of being a parent for the first time.

“Daddy, let me live in that room. I’m the youngest, and I’ll be scared,” Zhao Xin said, looking up with eyes full of trust.

Zhao Chun and Zhao Mao were not pleased. One said, “Little sister, men and women are different¹. As a girl grows, she must keep a distance from her father. You can’t always cling to him.”

The other added, “The two of us can squeeze together. It wouldn’t be bad for our little sister to have two rooms to herself.”

Zhao Xin huffed loudly. “I’m just a kid, I don’t understand, I don’t understand!”

Seeing that the three children were about to start an argument, Zhao Mengcheng made a decision. He asked his two sons, “Are you two sure you can live together?”

Zhao Chun nodded vigorously and then gave his younger brother a meaningful look.

Zhao Mao nodded reluctantly. It was better than giving up the room entirely.

Zhao Mengcheng raised an eyebrow and said with a smile, “In that case, Xin’er will stay in the room on the far right. You two will stay together in the room next to hers, letting your father enjoy the luxury of having two rooms.”

All three children were stunned.

Zhao Mengcheng continued, “It just so happens that our house doesn’t have a study. I plan to turn this room into a study. That way, it will be convenient when you want to read or practice your writing later.”

He didn’t give the children a chance to object. “It’s decided then. Fortunately, Zhao Chun and Zhao Mao have such a good relationship and are willing to share a room. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have the chance to have a private study.”

Zhao Chun’s eyebrows drooped, and he stammered without saying a word.

Zhao Mao saw through his father’s intentions. Though he was unhappy deep down, he still nodded obediently. “Alright then, as long as Daddy likes it.”

Only Zhao Xin was extremely dissatisfied. “I used to sleep with Daddy and Mommy. Before, Daddy said he needed to recover from his illness and made me sleep with my brothers, but now that Daddy is all better, why can’t I sleep with him?”

“Because our Xin’er has grown up.”

Zhao Mengcheng ruffled the little girl’s hair. “Because the current Xin’er isn’t the same as before. You can get up and dress yourself, wash up, and even help me with many chores. Such a capable Xin’er deserves to have her own room.”

Zhao Xin was dazed by the praise. “Is that so?”

“Of course it is.”

Zhao Mengcheng looked serious. “Look at the girls in our village. How many of them have their own rooms? It’s because our Xin’er is exceptionally outstanding that she gets to live on her own.”

Zhao Xin immediately forgot her previous desire to sleep together and said happily, “Dad, I will definitely keep my room tidy.”

“That’s the spirit. Come, let’s go look at your room and see what’s missing. I’ll get it for you later.” Zhao Mengcheng led his daughter inside.

Zhao Xin was no longer sad. She chirped away like a happy little sparrow. “Dad, I want to put a small table here and then a vase. That way, when I see flowers, I can bring them home and arrange them.”

“I can do that. I’ll make one for you.”

“Dad, can I paint on the walls? They look a bit plain.”

“What do you want to paint? You can do it yourself, or I can help you.”

Zhao Xin thought about it seriously and said she wanted to do it herself. Zhao Mengcheng praised her loudly for having such creative ideas.

Zhao Chun tugged at his brother’s sleeve. “I think our little sister is a bit silly. Dad is clearly tricking her, and she actually believes him.”

Zhao Mao replied, “She’s not silly. Look how happy Dad is.”

The materials used for the house were all-natural. After letting it sit for a few days, Zhao Mengcheng felt it was ready for them to move in.

On moving day, half the village came to help. Zhao Mengcheng didn’t even have to lift a finger. The pots, pans, and even the large water vat were all carried over together.

They came to help, but many were also there out of curiosity.

Those visiting for the first time couldn’t help but look around, and everyone agreed the house was excellent. “Once it’s all cleaned up, it’s really bright and spacious. Even with a few more people, there would be plenty of room.”

With Zhao Mengcheng’s permission, Liu Bingkun specifically went to try out the bathroom.

Wang Ming was tending the fire in the kitchen while Liu Bingkun washed his hands in the bathroom. Feeling the warm walls, he marveled, “This thing is really useful. You won’t have to fear the cold in winter.”

Once Liu Bingkun had seen enough, he came out and asked, “Brother, won’t it be very hot in the summer?”

“No, there’s a partition here. If you push it in, the fire wall goes out,” Zhao Mengcheng explained.

Liu Bingkun clicked his tongue in praise and said, “When I save up enough money, I’ll build one like this too. It’s much more comfortable than an old house. My house is so cramped that you can hear every little sound from the front and back.”

“Sure. Anyway, they’ve all learned how to do it. You can just find them to build it for you.” Zhao Mengcheng didn’t mind others learning the technique.

After sharing a hot meal, the villagers finally dispersed slowly, still feeling unsatisfied.

Liu Bingkun stayed behind until the end.

Zhao Mengcheng sent the children to wash the dishes. “Is something on your mind?”

Liu Bingkun smiled. “It’s about the taxes. In previous years, the officials would rush down to collect taxes as soon as the autumn harvest was over, fearing the people would run off. Why hasn’t anyone come this year?”

Zhao Mengcheng didn’t know the reason either. Because of the house construction, he hadn’t been to town in a long time.

Liu Bingkun added, “I don’t know where the rumors came from, but people are saying the Emperor knows we’ve suffered a disaster and is going to waive the taxes. They say we don’t have to pay anything this year.”

Zhao Mengcheng didn’t believe a word of it.

If the Emperor of the Great Zhou were that considerate of the people, the dynasty wouldn’t be on the verge of collapse.

“Do you believe that?” Zhao Mengcheng asked.

Liu Bingkun shook his head. “I don’t believe it, and neither does my father. But we can’t stop some people from thinking they’re clever and believing it. If this continues, I’m afraid even more people will sell their grain.”

“Brother, I know you don’t like getting involved in matters, but we can’t just watch everyone jump into a fire pit. If they have nothing to eat and come begging at our doors later, it will be a hassle.”

“My father’s idea is that since you have a good relationship with the Yamen, he wants to ask you to go and find out what’s really going on.”

Zhao Mengcheng agreed to this.

Early the next morning, he set out with Liu Bingkun and went straight to the County Yamen.

The Yamen Runner still remembered him and greeted him warmly, “Brother Zhao, what brings you here? Don’t tell me you’ve run into trouble again?”

“Can’t you wish me some good luck for once?” Zhao Mengcheng joked, handing over the items in his hand. “I made some bean curd skin and dried tofu myself. They aren’t worth much, just something for you to try.”

The Yamen Runner accepted them with a smile. “It’s been a while since I saw you. Dahu said you haven’t been to town lately.”

He lowered his voice specifically. “You don’t need to worry about the Wan family seeking revenge. They’ve left in disgrace. The whole family moved to Fengzhou Prefecture.”

Zhao Mengcheng had already learned of this from Cao Da, so he smiled and said, “Thanks for the reminder.”

“However, I came today hoping to see Lord Huang. Last time, he said my calligraphy was good but lacked a bit of strength. I’ve been practicing hard at home and wanted to ask for his guidance.”

The Yamen Runner shook his head. “Then you’ve come at a bad time. Lord Huang has gone to Fengzhou Prefecture again.”

Zhao Mengcheng was somewhat surprised. Lord Huang had just returned from Fengzhou not long ago. To go back again after only a few days was quite abrupt.

“It’s almost the end of the year. Is Lord Huang’s official business still so heavy?”

The Yamen Runner only said, “How would we know about the business of those above us? But Lord Huang’s expression was grim when he left.”

Zhao Mengcheng pulled him aside and secretly slipped him a small piece of silver. “To be honest, taxes are usually collected by this time of year, but there’s been no sign of it this year. The villagers are uneasy, so they asked me to come and inquire.”

The Yamen Runner took the silver and told him the truth. “I’ve heard whispers that Lord Huang sent a petition upward wanting to reduce or waive the taxes for the people this year, but there’s been no news back. I really don’t know anything else.”

Zhao Mengcheng’s eyes flickered. He suspected that Lord Huang’s repeated trips to Fengzhou Prefecture were likely for this very reason.

“Lord Huang is truly a father and mother official to Shanghe Town, wholeheartedly pleading for the people. Even if it doesn’t succeed, the people will remember him in their hearts.”

Zhao Mengcheng said a few more words before taking his leave.

Behind him, Assistant Magistrate Bai walked out with his son. He frowned when he saw Zhao Mengcheng’s retreating back. “Who was that? This is a restricted area of the Yamen; idle people are not allowed to approach.”

The Yamen Runner quickly lowered his head. “He’s one of the victims from the Wan San case. He came to thank Lord Huang.”

Assistant Magistrate Bai sneered. “Coming to give thanks with such cheap goods. He certainly has some nerve.”

The Yamen Runner didn’t dare say anything, only bowing and scraping.

Assistant Magistrate Bai didn’t think much of it and left with his son.

The Yamen Runner spat behind their backs. “The Wan family has fallen. What do you have to be so arrogant about?”

Young Master Bai saw that his father’s expression was poor and asked in a low voice, “Dad, Lord Huang isn’t here. What are you worrying about?”

Assistant Magistrate Bai sighed. “If I had known Wan San would cause such a mess, I shouldn’t have tried to win that argument back then. If I had sent word to the Wan family early on, maybe it could have been suppressed.”

“Dad, he brought it on himself by kidnapping and selling free citizens. How can you blame yourself?” Young Master Bai snorted.

Assistant Magistrate Bai sighed. “Your father only has the rank of a Juren. I relied on the Wan family’s connections to obtain this position as Assistant Magistrate. Now Lord Huang is an upright and decisive man. With the Wan family gone, how can he tolerate me?”

He had conflicts with the Wan family, but the two families were related by marriage after all. With the Wan family gone, he wouldn’t fare well either.

“You are an official of the imperial court, after all. Does he really dare to dismiss you on his own authority?” Young Master Bai was quite indignant.

Assistant Magistrate Bai sighed at his son’s naivety but didn’t want to explain further. He only said, “Forget it. I have operated in Shanghe Town for many years. I can only take things one step at a time.”

Young Master Bai comforted him. “Dad, Lord Huang has no one at all under his command. He even wants to recruit a country bumpkin as a Sub-official Clerk. He definitely won’t dare move against you for the time being.”

At the mention of Zhao Mengcheng, Assistant Magistrate Bai couldn’t help but think deeper. “This Zhao Mengcheng is not simple. Go and look into his background later. If he can be used by me, that wouldn’t be bad.”

Young Master Bai naturally nodded in agreement.

Zhao Mengcheng was pondering the matter. Liu Bingkun hadn’t dared to interrupt earlier, but once they left the yamen, he asked, “Brother, based on what the yamen runner said, is the tax exemption actually real?”

Zhao Mengcheng sighed and explained, “Don’t be happy too soon. Lord Huang’s intention is not the Imperial Court’s intention. He can submit a petition, but whether the higher-ups approve it is another matter entirely.”

After a pause, he added, “If everything were going smoothly, the approval should have come down long ago. Why else would Lord Huang have to rush to Fengzhou time and time again?”

Liu Bingkun said indignantly, “That old Emperor only cares about his own pleasure. He doesn’t care whether the people live or die.”

“Be quiet. Be careful someone doesn’t overhear you,” Zhao Mengcheng reminded him.

Liu Bingkun lowered his voice. “I’m not the only one saying it. Everyone is.”

“A single piece of jewelry the old Emperor gives to a concubine is worth a fortune. He spends all day building palaces, wasting labor and money. These annual taxes only increase and never decrease. If this continues, even with a harvest every year, the people’s lives will be hard.”

Zhao Mengcheng listened, knowing in his heart that the Great Zhou’s days were numbered. Right now, it was just increasing taxes and the people’s lives were still relatively stable, but this stability would soon come to an end.

This flood was merely the beginning.

Zhao Mengcheng actually hoped Lord Huang would succeed, at least to give the people of Shanghe Town a chance to breathe. Otherwise, this winter would be very difficult to endure.

Magistrate Huang, who was being pinned with such hopes, was currently waiting with an anxious face. Despite the cool late autumn temperature, he was still drenched in sweat.

“Little brother, when will Lord Qian be free? When can he see me?”

Every time he asked, the yamen runner only said, “Lord Qian is busy. Lord Huang, please wait a moment. I’ll bring you another cup of tea.”

Magistrate Huang had already drunk three cups of tea, yet there was still no word. His heart began to sink.

It wasn’t until sunset that the yamen runner finally said, “Lord Qian invites you in. Please follow me.”

How could Magistrate Huang not know this was a display of authority? He felt bitter in his heart but had no choice but to brace himself and walk inside.

At the thought that the two of them were once classmates but were now worlds apart, Magistrate Huang felt a wave of bitterness.

“This subordinate greets the Prefect². I wish you well, my Lord.”

Prefect Qian himself was quite polite, reaching out to help him up. “You and I were classmates. There’s no need for such formality.”

“My Lord, this subordinate…”

Prefect Qian pressed him down. “Sit. I know you’re anxious, but this matter cannot be rushed. Have a cup of tea and let’s talk slowly.”

Magistrate Huang’s face was bitter, and his heart was even more so. He took a sip of tea and nearly scalded his mouth.

“Look at you, always in such a hurry. Haste will ruin things,” Prefect Qian said, looking at him with a beaming smile.

At this moment, Magistrate Huang already knew that the tax exemption was likely not going to happen.

But he still held a final sliver of hope and asked through gritted teeth, “Prefect, has there been a reply to that petition?”

To his surprise, Prefect Qian directly pulled out a petition and tossed it in front of him. “Take it back.”

“My Lord!” Magistrate Huang’s face changed drastically.

Prefect Qian took a sip of tea. “Old Huang, I’m doing this for your own good. Back then, you were considered exceptionally talented and peerless, but look at you now?”

“You’ve fallen so low that you can only be a petty County Magistrate in Shanghe Town, yet you still haven’t fixed that mouth of yours.”

He set down his teacup heavily. “Or have you been away from the Imperial Court for so many years that you no longer know the trends in the capital?”

Magistrate Huang said in a deep voice, “The floods in Fengzhou are rampant, the people are displaced, and the crops are almost entirely lost. If the Imperial Court cannot exempt taxes and provide disaster relief, I fear there will be endless trouble.”

“Enough!”

Prefect Qian cut him off. “What flood? Fengzhou has been a land of fish and rice since ancient times, where the people are well-fed and well-clothed. How could a few days of flooding affect that?”

“But…” Magistrate Huang had seen it clearly on the way here. Compared to Fengzhou, the Shanghe Town area was actually considered lightly affected!

Prefect Qian looked at him coldly. “Huang Qing, the capital is in an uproar because of the Crown Prince’s matter. In these turbulent times, who dares to mention natural disasters and human calamities before His Majesty?”

“You should weigh your own bones³ to see if they’re heavy enough to crawl before His Majesty. Even if you did, do you not know His Majesty’s temperament? Do you truly think His Majesty would sympathize with the common people?”

Prefect Qian snorted coldly. “Today, I’m saving your life. I don’t need your gratitude. Go back early and collect the full amount of taxes.”

“My Lord, you absolutely must not!” Magistrate Huang cried out.

Prefect Qian had already picked up his tea to signal the end of the meeting. “I’ve suppressed that matter with the Wan Family. I’ve already saved you twice. Don’t be ungrateful.”

“Someone, see the guest out.”

Magistrate Huang was practically dragged out.

“My Lord, are you alright?” The attendant waiting outside was startled by the sight.

Magistrate Huang left the Prefect’s yamen in a disheveled state. Once in the carriage, he straightened his clothes and said with a dark face, “Return to Shanghe Town.”

“Your face looks unwell, and you haven’t rested properly after being exhausted for several days. Why don’t we…”

“I said go back. Right now, immediately.”

Magistrate Huang flew into a rage. The attendant didn’t dare disobey and drove back through the night.

Inside the carriage, Magistrate Huang’s expression had steadied, and his earlier disheveled appearance was gone, but his eyes were full of exhaustion.

Prefect Qian was right about one thing: he had been away from the capital for too long. He only knew the Wan Family had lost power, but he didn’t know the reason behind it. He had actually expected the Imperial Court to spare a hand to settle the people’s livelihoods.

He lifted the carriage curtain. Outside the window was Fengzhou, where the floodwaters had yet to clear.

Inside the Fengzhou Prefecture yamen, Prefect Qian dismissed Magistrate Huang, but his own expression was not relaxed. He quickly summoned someone. “How is the progress of this year’s tax collection? How many days until it’s fully collected?”

“My Lord, this flood came at an unfortunate time. Many places have lost their entire harvest. This subordinate, for a moment…”

Prefect Qian grew angry. “Useless!”

“Even if this year’s grain is gone, what about previous years? A single flood couldn’t possibly wash away more than ten years of accumulation.”

The scolded official complained inwardly, thinking that the high and mighty Lord Qian had no idea that many commoners had no surplus grain at home.

Although Fengzhou Prefecture was a land of fish and rice, it was not a paradise on earth. It was already not easy for the people to be fed and clothed; how could every household have savings?

It wasn’t that Prefect Qian didn’t understand, but that he didn’t want to understand, and couldn’t afford to. “The deposition of the Crown Prince is imminent, and the Second Prince has a chance to compete. At a time like this, Fengzhou cannot have any chaos.”

“Continue the collection. Otherwise, if the higher-ups blame us, we’ll all be in trouble.”

The subordinate could only agree.

Prefect Qian asked again, “Is there any movement from the Wan Family?”

“The first batch of children has been sent away, and they’ve been very well-behaved since. However, lately, more people are selling their sons and daughters, and the Wan Family has started purchasing those with good looks again.”

Prefect Qian frowned at first, then said, “Forget it. After all, the Crown Prince and the Empress are still there. I must give them some face.”

“Since it’s a legitimate business with signed and thumbprinted contracts, there’s no need to interfere too much.”

As soon as Prefect Qian gave the word, the Wan Family received the news and immediately went all out to purchase children.

The Wan Family of Fengzhou Prefecture was a colossus. Even if the Empress and the Crown Prince were in a difficult situation, they still occupied an entire street in the prefecture.

Now, everyone in Fengzhou knew that if they couldn’t survive, selling their children to the Wan Family would not only ensure the child never had to worry about food and drink again, but also provide life-saving silver.

At the most extreme, people would even lead their children to the door at the crack of dawn, forming a very long queue.

“Look at how easy it is. Even the Prefect won’t interfere now that he knows,” a member of the Wan Family laughed.

Another added, “We spend money to buy people, and the commoners then have silver to pay their taxes. This solves a huge problem for the Prefect. What could he possibly have to say?”

“That branch in Shanghe Town is laughable. A few children resulted in a murder case, and they were reported by some reckless County Magistrate, making the entire Wan Family lose face.”

At the thought of losing face because of a side branch and being harshly rebuked by Prefect Qian, and having to return any children without proper deeds of sale, the Wan Family members felt extremely resentful. They had never suffered such a grievance before.

If it weren’t for the Empress and the Crown Prince’s precarious situation, why would the Wan Family have given Prefect Qian that face?

The Wan Family in Fengzhou felt no sympathy for the side branch; instead, they kicked them while they were down. “Those from the countryside have seen nothing of the world. They think anyone with a regular face is a beauty. I couldn’t even bear to look closely at those girls they eagerly sent over. Too ugly.”

Among the girls called ugly was Zhao Xiaohua.

Taking advantage of Zhao Laoda’s injury and the urgent need for money, Zhao Xiaohua had begged Zhao Dasao to sell her, finally getting her wish.

Her heart was set on becoming an Empress. She wouldn’t cry, resist, or run away like the other little girls. By being obedient and submissive, she was sent to Fengzhou Prefecture within two days.

Upon entering Fengzhou Prefecture, Zhao Xiaohua originally thought she would immediately meet a benefactor and become an Empress.

To her surprise, once she arrived at the Wan Family in Fengzhou, she realized that the beautiful maids they purchased weren’t just one or two, but hundreds or even thousands.

The moment she was pushed through the door, she was drowned in the crowd, not standing out in the slightest. Forget about meeting a benefactor; a month had passed, and she was still emptying chamber pots for the maids who had status!

Endless laundry, endless chores, and sleeping on a damp, cold, lightless communal bed. She had to start working before dawn every day and could only rest in the middle of the night.

Over the next few days, Zhao Xiaohua lost a significant amount of weight.

Even worse, Zhao Xiaohua discovered that every few days, a few girls from her batch would go missing. When she indirectly tried to fish for information from the Matron in charge, the woman only smiled. “Them? They are beautiful, unlike the rest of you. They’ve gone to enjoy a life of luxury now.”

Zhao Xiaohua gritted her teeth, convinced that those who had been chosen were off to serve high-ranking nobles.

From that day on, she tried every trick in the book to please the Matron, hoping to be the next one chosen.

It was rare to see a girl who didn’t cry, fuss, or try to run away, and who was also sweet-talking and articulate. The Matron grew fond of her and looked out for her from time to time, but she never mentioned anything about picking her.

Zhao Xiaohua was incredibly anxious. In her heart, she cursed these old women for having no eye for talent, failing to recognize her heavenly beauty.

One day, another batch of girls arrived at the manor, each of them wearing a mournful expression and sobbing.

Zhao Xiaohua had already worked her way up to becoming a minor overseer. She lectured them with a cold face, “What are you crying for? From now on, you’ll have plenty to eat and warm clothes to wear. There will be plenty of time to enjoy yourselves. You shouldn’t be crying, you should be smiling.”

She held a bamboo whip, and if anyone dared to keep crying, she would lash out ruthlessly. The new girls trembled in fear.

In the courtyard, one Matron gestured with her chin. “A natural-born servant, that one. She knows exactly which way the wind is blowing.”

“She’s just a bit plain,” another commented.

The Matron laughed. “She’s not that ugly, just not particularly striking. If she wants to move up in the world, why stop her?”

“I’m not stopping her. It’s just that the people who come to pick girls don’t think much of her.”

While the two Matrons were whispering, Zhao Xiaohua stood still in front of a young girl, her expression very dark.

The little girl before her looked only four or five years old, about the same age as Zhao Xin. Like Zhao Xin, she was exceptionally beautiful, with snow-white skin, a pair of bright, lively eyes, a delicate nose, and a cherry-red mouth.

Even standing in the crowd wearing coarse hemp clothes, she stood out at a single glance.

Zhao Xiaohua’s face twisted with jealousy. She desperately wanted to raise her bamboo whip and lash the girl’s face to shreds, but she held back. She even forced a smile. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll take good care of you all.”

The little girl was sharp. Instead of warming up to her, she shrank back instinctively.

Zhao Xiaohua gripped her bamboo whip tightly as a malicious plan formed in her mind. She had managed to steal Zhao Xin’s good fortune, and she would never let another woman take her place as Empress.

In Shanghe Town, as rumors of tax exemptions spread further, more and more people could no longer resist the urge to sell their grain.

Qingshan Village was the exception. Most of the peddlers who came to buy grain returned empty-handed.

One day, Zhao Mancang suddenly returned with a man dressed as a scholar. Upon entering the village, they didn’t go home first but went straight to the Village Chief’s house, stating they wanted to buy grain.

Translator’s Notes