Chapter 302: The Ones Exiled to Guanzhou

The paper used for testing the brush was the cheapest in the shop.

Having written on it herself, Yan Yu had a sense of its quality.

“Thank you, shopkeeper. I understand now. I’ll definitely practice diligently in the future.” She added, “This paper is whiter than the paper we make at home, and it feels a bit different to write on.”

“Does the young master’s family also make paper?” The shopkeeper was quite surprised.

“We do, but the color isn’t very nice. My father says it’s fine for our own use, but there are too many people in our family who write, so we often run out of paper. May I ask if you have any discarded paper here that you could sell to me cheaply?”

The shopkeeper initially thought she was trying to sell her family’s paper, thinking that as long as it wasn’t too bad and the price was right, it wouldn’t hurt to buy some. But after listening, it turned out she wasn’t selling; she wanted to buy…

“This waste paper… do you plan to dry it out and write on it again?” The shopkeeper asked hesitantly.

Some poor scholars indeed dried the paper thoroughly to reuse it until the ink marks became too thick to continue.

That couldn’t be right. Even if the Yan family had fled from famine, Registrar Yan was already working at the government office, and they had pooled some silver before…

“No, it’s to remake paper. Look, it ends up like this.” She pulled out a small notebook and showed the shopkeeper a few blank pages at the back.

The shopkeeper understood. It was to be pulped and remade, no wonder she said the color wasn’t good.

“There is some waste paper, but not much.” The shopkeeper signaled to an assistant to fetch it. “If the young master wants it, you can take it.”

“No, I must pay.” Yan Yu insisted, “The shopkeeper can sell it to me cheaply, but you must take the money. My family won’t just buy this once, and I’ll trouble you to save some for us in the future.”

“Well… alright, if that’s the case, I’ll charge you five copper coins. How about that?”

“If the shopkeeper thinks that’s fair, then it’s fair. I brought some copper coins.” Yan Yu placed five copper coins on the counter, looking expectantly at him.

The shopkeeper smiled and had the assistant organize it, stack it up, and tie it with a thin hemp rope.

When Yan Huaiwen returned, he saw Xiao Er happily running out with a stack of waste paper, smiling and calling out to him, “Uncle!”

His cold eyes immediately softened as he took the items from her hands, saying, “Get in the cart, let’s go buy the oil paper you wanted.”

Yan Yu swiftly climbed up, and while she did, Yan Huaiwen flipped through the waste paper she had bought.

After walking a bit, Yan Huaiwen finally spoke, “Xiao Er, how much did you spend on this waste paper?”

“Five copper coins,” Yan Yu replied crisply. “I calculated it, it’s not expensive. Besides, the paper here at the bookstore is used for brush testing, with only a few words written on it, so the paper made from it will be lighter in color and look much nicer.”

Yan Huaiwen didn’t comment on the price.

However, there was something he needed to point out.

“Do you know what the bookstore does with this waste paper?”

“They use it too? Are they also making recycled paper?” Yan Yu asked, eyes wide with curiosity.

“There are poor families who can’t afford good paper, so they cut the waste paper and use the blank parts. Paper with writing can also be used to paste walls and windows.”

Yan Yu: …

She thought using recycled paper at home was already frugal enough, but there were even more frugal ways.

Yan Huaiwen: “Compared to others, the bookstore owner is more willing to sell the waste paper to you.”

He stopped near a general store and tied up the ox cart.

“Next time, why not discuss with the shopkeeper about exchanging paper for paper.”

Yan Yu jumped down herself, “Uncle, do you mean using our homemade paper to exchange for this waste paper?”

“Yes. A few scattered sheets aren’t easy for the shopkeeper to sell and are mostly given to those scholars.

The depth of color, whether it looks nice, doesn’t affect writing.

People who buy waste paper, like us, just want more places to write.

It’s mutually beneficial and convenient for both sides.”

After finding out how much Yan Yu wanted, Yan Huaiwen paid and got the oil paper.

The two were about to return to the ox cart when they heard a commotion in the distance.

The sound of hooves, someone shouting to stop, and the cries of street vendors.

Yan Huaiwen reacted quickly, scooping Yan Yu up and briskly walking toward the ox cart.

Just as Yan Yu was about to tiptoe to see the commotion, she found herself instantly moved by her uncle, and when she came to her senses, she was already standing on the ox cart.

Conveniently, the view was better.

Yan Huaiwen held the ox, constantly soothing it, worried that their Sanbao might be startled.

Seeing the ox was calm, he finally looked over.

It was a constable on horseback chasing a man.

The man had his hands bound and was in a sorry state, with disheveled hair and tattered clothes, fleeing in panic, dodging among the street vendors’ stalls.

The constable behind him had a fierce look, relentlessly pursuing, his long knife drawn, slashing indiscriminately, knocking over the vendors’ stalls while missing the man.

Yan Huaiwen frowned, “Xiao Er, get down and wait by the ox cart. Don’t run around.”

Yan Yu obediently got off, hugging the ox’s leg, giving her uncle a reassuring look.

She watched as her uncle walked over, rolling up his robe with his right hand and placing it behind his waist, while his left hand unexpectedly blocked the fleeing man, kicking the wooden collar on him and sending him tumbling to the ground.

Impressive!

Yan Yu’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

Old Yan’s kick was so fast it caught everyone off guard, not just the man who was kicked, but her too.

Seeing the man fall, the surrounding vendors quickly grabbed their tools to hold him down, preventing him from getting up.

The constable reined in his horse, bringing it to a stop.

Dismounting, he rudely swung his knife at the helpful vendors, “Move aside, move aside!”

Yan Huaiwen’s eyes darkened, and he swung his robe to stand in front.

“Though Crouching Tiger is not the Capital City, there is still a prohibition against riding horses on the street during non-war times. This capital envoy, please show some respect.”

The constable hadn’t expected this person to be so perceptive.

He raised his knife, “Who are you to block me? This man is a criminal. Why are you standing in front? Are you an accomplice?”

Yan Yu cursed inwardly. As expected of someone from the Capital City, they were adept at making accusations.

“This criminal escaped with his shackles, adding to his crime.

However, the capital envoys have already handed over the documents to us in Crouching Tiger. The pursuit is no longer your concern.” Yan Huaiwen stood firm, unfazed by the blade.

As they spoke, the constables from Crouching Tiger arrived.

They first secured the criminal before greeting the two who were facing off.

“Constable Peng, this is our newly appointed Registrar Yan in Crouching Tiger.

Registrar Yan, this is Constable Peng from the Capital City, who came to escort the criminal. Haha, we’re old friends, we meet at least once a year. Come on, the criminal is caught, and the brothers have set up a table, waiting for you.

You, Old Peng, are always in such a hurry. Once the man is in Crouching Tiger, do you think he can escape? Just shout, and anyone on this street could take him down. Why did you have to chase him yourself…”

The capital envoy was dragged away, and the constables from Crouching Tiger quickly turned back to Yan Huaiwen, making eye contact and gesturing with a small bow.

Yan Huaiwen nodded at him, first thanking the vendors who helped, and then escorting the vendor who had been hit to the nearest clinic.

The vendor blushed, insisting, “No need, no need, I’m tough-skinned, it’s nothing, it just hurt for a moment, it doesn’t even hurt now. No need to go to the clinic, really.”

But under Yan Huaiwen’s insistence, he was taken to the clinic, where he was made to take off his clothes for the doctor to examine and given some ointment for bruises.

After settling the vendor back home, Yan Huaiwen seriously told the doctor, “Charge the medicine to Constable Li. I’ll remind him to settle the account.”

As Yan Yu led Sanbao to the doorway, she overheard her uncle’s words and was quite curious. “Uncle, why should it be charged to Uncle Li? It was clearly the constable from the Capital City who injured someone. Shouldn’t he be the one to pay?”

“The prisoner has already been handed over, so the responsibility of guarding falls to Crouching Tiger. They were negligent in their duty, allowing the prisoner to escape, causing a disturbance in the city and injuring someone. Shouldn’t they bear the cost of the medicine?”

By that reasoning, it indeed seemed justified.

…

“Was that your Household Registrar from Crouching Tiger just now? Quite arrogant, always talking about rules and regulations. What’s his background?” After a drink, Constable Peng’s hostility eased, and he squinted at the person beside him.

“Ah, scholars are all like that. Old Peng, don’t take it to heart. But what about the one who just escaped? What’s the story?” Li Tou smoothly glossed over the matter of Registrar Yan and refilled his cup.

Constable Peng downed his drink again, muttering about bad luck.

“You all know my men are the most disciplined. We only seek money, never other interests. But back in March, that fool Old Wang drank too much and offended a nobleman. He was punished by the magistrate, and his legs were crippled. His position was taken by someone who bribed the advisor and got assigned to me.

Hmph! That kid is no good, full of schemes. He saw the female relatives of the convict were attractive and caused trouble for the lady. Don’t go risking your life with him.”

Li Tou had known Peng for a while and understood that although Peng was greedy and harsh, he wasn’t one to go to extremes.

Li Tou said, “That kid is not one of us. If I’d known earlier, I wouldn’t have bothered getting him a doctor. Let him suffer to death.”

“But that kid who escaped, he sure is ruthless!” Li Tou clicked his tongue and said something all the men present understood, “I guess we can’t use him anymore…”

The men around the table continued eating and drinking, enjoying the lively atmosphere.

…

After this incident, Yan Huaiwen was worried and drove the ox cart directly to the Government Office.

Yan Yu followed her uncle through several twists and turns and surprisingly ended up inside the Crouching Tiger Government Office!

She was perceptive and remained silent.

The Crouching Tiger Government Office wasn’t exactly dilapidated, but it looked quite old.

From the outside, it wasn’t clear, but once inside, Yan Yu realized the office was quite large.

Yan Yu had an excellent sense of direction and quickly noticed her uncle seemed lost, wandering around the office. Fortunately, he knew to circle around the main hall. After circling for a while, he finally found the right place.

This was thanks to the wooden plaques hanging in each room of the office.

Judicial Office¹.

Her uncle went inside, and she waited at the door. When he came out, she followed.

She wasn’t intentionally eavesdropping, but Yan Yu’s ears were quite sharp.

This batch of prisoners sent from the Capital City to Guanzhou included officials and their families.

Commonly known as exiles.

She didn’t catch what crimes they committed, but she did hear that this batch of prisoners had a rough time. On their way from the Capital City to Guanzhou, they encountered a drought in the large provinces along the way. Food and water were scarce, the weather was hot, and many elderly and children died on the journey. Even many adults didn’t survive…

While feeling sympathetic, Yan Yu was also very alert. One person’s mistake could bring disaster to the whole family, a lesson to be remembered.

Yan Huaiwen had already noticed something suspicious about this batch of prisoners.

He just hadn’t paid attention to the numbers.

Given the severity of the drought, even if the court wanted to exile them, they would have postponed it. Forcing them to travel to Guanzhou during a drought must have been someone’s directive.

After reviewing the crimes and previous official titles of this batch, he understood.

The current emperor was aging, and no heir had been appointed. The princes in the Capital City were fiercely competing, and their officials were like mad dogs, openly attacking each other in court. Slander and impeachment had become routine.

These years were the most chaotic times in the court, and this wouldn’t be the first or last batch of officials exiled due to political struggles.

These people were deeply involved, and few were innocent. They must have been ruthless before to be treated so harshly now.

Upon seeing the official documents from the Capital City and comparing them with the current numbers, he frowned.

Magistrate Tian treated all exiles equally, sending them to the quarry to work.

Though the work was hard, they were provided with food and drink, and the quarry manager was instructed to keep them alive.

For these people, the Crouching Tiger quarry was the best place for them at the moment.

If they worked well, they could at least survive.

If a general amnesty were granted, they could return to being common citizens.

“Hit by natural and man-made disasters, they were just unlucky.” A colleague pointed out the one who had just escaped, “Do you know why he ran? He picked up a stone, hid it, and waited for the Capital City people to relax after the handover. Once they removed his shackles and were about to lock them up, he suddenly attacked, knocking one of them down and hitting him with the stone…

The incident happened so suddenly that no one was prepared, and he succeeded.”

Yan Huaiwen asked, “His leg shackles were removed, but his hand stocks were still on. Using force to hit someone would also hurt himself. Why?”

The colleague explained the reason to Yan Huaiwen.

“This man’s name is Zhang Xuan. He was previously the Left Supervisor of the Imperial Household Department. He himself wasn’t much, just implicated. His father, Old Master Zhang, was in the Ministry of Revenue’s Department of Expenditures…

In such a crucial position, few are clean. So many people and eyes are watching. Even a small mistake caught by someone means ruin. Moreover, hehe, officials in the Ministry of Revenue can’t withstand scrutiny.

He must have embezzled a lot; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been sentenced so severely.

Old Master Zhang hanged himself in prison, and Lady Zhang followed him. Among their children, besides a married daughter, there were two sons and a daughter.

Zhang Xuan was the second son. His brother, sister-in-law, wife, and sister… all died on the way.”

At this point, the Judicial Office clerk couldn’t help but feel pity, “Only he and two young children are left, both his elder brother’s. The older boy barely made it here, looking thin but still alright. The younger girl… she’s still feverish, and it’s uncertain if she’ll survive.

Zhang Xuan caused this commotion… sigh! Those poor children.”

(End of the chapter)

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Translator’s Notes

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1. Judicial Office: The ‘Xingfang’ (刑房) was the division of the local government (yamen) responsible for legal cases, punishments, and jails. It is the local equivalent of the Ministry of Justice. Yan Huaiwen visits this office to investigate the background of the exiles, as his role in the Household Room would naturally intersect with the management of new populations, even those arriving as prisoners. ↩