Getting the painting wasn’t enough for Wang Daxia—he reached out for money. “This is a gift for Lord Lu. Lord Lu is my direct superior. Going empty-handed wouldn’t be proper—I should at least invite Little Lord Lu to a decent place for a meal.”
Really taking both food and gifts without any courtesy. Wang Qianhu asked, “What about your salary?”
Wang Daxia patted his flat money pouch. “My salary isn’t even enough for pocket money. Should I invite Lord Lu to a roadside stall for a bowl of wonton?”
“You wait for me.” Wang Qianhu went to the main room where Wu Shi was coaxing Wang Daqiu to sleep. The newly bought ice blocks in the room provided pleasant coolness. Wang Qianhu said in a low voice, “Take out one hundred taels of silver to use.”
Wu Shi managed the household accounts, and Wang Qianhu had to ask her for large expenses.
Wu Shi felt guilty and was startled, dropping the silk fan in her hand. “What do you suddenly need so much money for?” She had just filled the ice cellar, spending over fifty taels.
Knowing that Daxia and Wu Shi didn’t get along well, Wang Qianhu didn’t add fuel to the fire. “There have been many social obligations recently. I need it for use.”
Wang Qianhu was a steady man who wouldn’t spend money recklessly, much less do ridiculous things like keeping mistresses. Moreover, he was the family breadwinner and earned all the money. When he spoke up, Wu Shi couldn’t refuse.
Fortunately, her brother had returned one thousand taels—otherwise, she would really be struggling to make ends meet.
Wu Shi opened the chest and took out two hundred taels in bank notes for her husband. “Master can’t appear shabby when entertaining outside. With money in hand, there’s no panic in the heart. If there’s urgent need, surely you can’t have a servant run home to get silver? Master’s face is important.”
With his young wife being so gentle and considerate, Wang Qianhu was naturally delighted. He kissed the hand holding the bank note, then took it to his study. He immediately put away his smile, put on a stern face, and gave Wang Daxia a fifty-tael bank note. “Take this for now.”
A father knows his son—with Wang Daxia’s nature of spending money like water, he would certainly ask for money every few days for social expenses. Wang Qianhu didn’t dare give it all at once, fearing he’d waste it.
“Just this…” Wang Daxia was very disappointed. “A fine banquet would certainly be enough, but if I invite some singers and musicians for entertainment, plus tips, I’m a bit tight on funds.”
Wang Qianhu angrily scolded, “You’re inviting Lord Lu to dinner, not Zhu Bajie. Don’t think I don’t know—Lord Lu is a man who doesn’t approach women. Why would you need women for entertainment when inviting him? You’re inflating the numbers, deliberately extorting your own father.”
Wang Daxia’s little scheme was exposed by his father. He just wanted to squeeze more silver from his father—after all, who would complain about having too much silver?
Wang Daxia quit while ahead and ran off with the bank note.
“Stop right there,” Wang Qianhu said. “What’s wrong with you recently? You come home to sleep every day. The room I rented for you near the Embroidered Uniform Guard office is wasted—how many nights have you slept there?”
Actually not a single night. Wang Daxia had hidden his injury recovery from his father and had been staying at Lu Bing’s courtyard the whole time—because Wei Caiwei was there!
Similarly, Wang Daxia preferred to travel across the capital from south to north every day rather than sleep elsewhere because Wei Caiwei and Ding Wu lived in Tianshui Alley treating Chen Jingji. He would visit Wei Caiwei’s place every evening after returning home, lingering and reluctant to leave. Home was basically just a place to sleep.
Wang Daxia said, “I have a problem with beds—I can’t sleep well elsewhere. Let’s cancel the room rental.”
Unless Wei Caiwei also moved to the southern city—which was impossible.
Wang Qianhu said, “I already paid a year’s rent for you. What a spendthrift!”
Wang Qianhu’s mouth never had good words anyway. Wang Daxia was used to it—accepting humiliation with a smile, letting him scold as he pleased.
The next day, Wang Daxia went to the Embroidered Uniform Guard office. After roll call, Wang Daxia went to find Lu Bing and presented Tang Bohu’s “Autumn Wind Fan Picture.”
Lu Bing indeed liked it and couldn’t put it down.
He especially liked the poem Tang Bohu inscribed on the painting, repeating the line “Please look carefully at worldly sentiment—who among all doesn’t chase after wealth and power” several times, saying:
“Tang Bohu achieved success at a young age, becoming the top graduate of Yingtian Prefecture at a young age. His fame spread instantly as the foremost talent of Jiangnan. He thought he would surely succeed in the metropolitan examination, but unfortunately was implicated in the imperial examination fraud case and lost his qualification to take exams forever. Those who previously flattered him all distanced themselves. Having seen the fickleness of the world, he was reduced to selling paintings for a living. This poem is a reflection of his life experience. Good poem, good painting!”
Only then did Wang Daxia understand the meaning hidden in this seemingly simple poem. He frantically flattered, “So that’s what it means! At first I thought it might be a fake because I felt a great talent’s poem should be written so I couldn’t understand it. So this painting finding its way to Lord Lu is meeting its appreciator. In my hands, it could only be a pearl covered in dust. This is fate—this painting was destined for Lord Lu.”
Lu Bing didn’t accept gifts from just anyone, but today he really liked this painting—it struck right at his heart.
Lu Bing had been favored by Emperor Jiajing for over thirty years without his imperial favor waning, but he had always been clear-headed inside, knowing he would fall from grace someday, just like summer—no matter how hot, it would end eventually.
When autumn wind came, silk fans would become inappropriate and need to be stored away. Lu Bing felt he was like this silk fan and couldn’t put it down.
Moreover, Wang Daxia’s words were pleasant to hear. Lu Bing immediately hung the “Autumn Wind Fan Picture” on his study wall and said, “No reward without merit—tell me, what do you want?”
Wang Daxia chuckled, “I have a friend who was harmed by villains and lost his manhood, becoming physically disabled. He worked as a broker, but with his damaged body being mocked, he can no longer earn his living from this ancestral trade. He wants to serve in the palace but lacks connections. So I’ve come to ask Lord Lu.”
Lu Bing asked, “Has he studied? What’s his character like?”
Wang Daxia praised enthusiastically, “He lost his manhood saving a neighbor—his character is first-rate. He’s read more books than I have.”
“Originally his family was well-off when he was young. They hired a provincial graduate to teach him, intending to change his path and take the imperial examinations. Unfortunately, ten years ago during the Gengwu Incident, his family was from Ansu County in Northern Zhili, not in the capital. Their property was looted by Altan Khan’s army, their house burned, both parents died, and only his old grandmother escaped to the capital with him.”
“At that time the capital’s city gates were closed. It was Lord Lu who petitioned to open the gates and let the refugees in. Chen Ju survived and was saved, but his family fell into ruin. He had no choice but to put away his books and follow his ancestors’ broker trade to support his old grandmother. But his educational foundation remains—his calligraphy is excellent and he’s cultured.”
The Gengwu Incident changed the fates of more than just Wei Caiwei and Ding Wu’s family members.
Many ordinary people also suffered greatly, but because of their low status, their suffering was rarely known.
In the flames of war, the old grandmother who had become a refugee held little Chen Ju’s hand, desperately pounding on the city gates, pleading to enter the city.
Lu Bing petitioned the emperor to open the gates. Wei Caiwei’s father He Qianhu volunteered to join the suicide squad, going against the flow to cover the refugees’ rear. The entire suicide squad died.
Their lives had intersected at a certain moment.
After hearing this, Lu Bing gave Wang Daxia his calling card, saying, “Eastern Depot Director Mai Fu and I have an excellent private relationship. Have your friend take my card to seek shelter under Director Mai and acknowledge him as a godfather. Since he has an educational foundation, Director Mai will arrange for him to study at the Inner Academy of the Directorate of Ceremonial. Director Mai has many godchildren—the path is paved for him. Whether he can achieve success in the future depends on his own abilities.”
“Thank you, Lord Lu!” Wang Daxia was overjoyed and took the calling card. Having the Eastern Depot Director as backing exceeded his expectations for Chen Jingji.
Chen Jingji moved back to Machang Alley, insisting on settling accounts with Wei Caiwei and Wang Daxia for medicine and ice costs. He also returned the remaining silver to neighbors who had contributed money for the old lady’s funeral.
Machang Alley housed ordinary people for whom earning money wasn’t easy. Chen Jingji was frugal with himself but didn’t take advantage of others.
Wang Daxia gave him Lu Bing’s calling card, telling him to seek shelter under Eastern Depot Director Mai Fu.
Chen Jingji was infinitely grateful. “Great kindness needs no words of thanks—I will repay this someday.”
Finding palace connections wasn’t easy. In the previous life, Wang Daxia had used up all of Mu Baihu’s savings, buying his way in with money. After spending it all, Mu Baihu didn’t even have money for food and worked as an escort at Santong Security Agency to make ends meet.
In this life, Wang Daxia finding connections for Chen Jingji also came from using Tang Bohu’s painting as a gift—none of it was easy.
Chen Jingji secretly sold his mule cart and house at low prices, exchanging them for bank notes. Along with a “Farewell Letter,” he stuffed them through Li Jiubao’s door crack. Carrying a simple bundle, he left Machang Alley in the early morning to seek shelter with Director Mai, never returning again.
The Directorate of Ceremonial finally posted the results. Wei Caiwei’s name was on the list, ranking first. A small eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial brought a palace female physician’s badge with her name on it—if the palace summoned her, she would wear this badge when entering the palace.
Wei Caiwei gave a one-tael silver tip, and the little eunuch beamed with joy. “Congratulations, Doctor Wei.”
Ding Wu made chicken stewed with mushrooms to celebrate for Wei Caiwei. Wei Caiwei said, “Brother Ding, buy two more chickens and make a big pot. Wang Daxia will definitely come to freeload dinner today.”
At the Embroidered Uniform Guard office, Wang Daxia heard this good news from Lu Ying and his heart immediately soared. “I knew she would pass—the talisman from Wenchang Temple was most effective! I even got her a top fortune, guaranteeing high achievement! Lord Lu, can I leave the office early today?”
Lu Ying: “No.”
Wang Daxia sat restlessly like a monkey, constantly checking his pocket watch. Soon, Lu Bing’s personal guard came to call him, saying Lord Lu wanted to see him.
Wang Daxia went to Lu Bing’s study. “What does Lord Lu want with your subordinate?”
Lu Bing asked, “This is a year of capital evaluation—you know that, right?”
Capital evaluation was the assessment year for officials in both northern and southern capitals of the Ming Dynasty, occurring every six years. Officials of fourth rank and above were evaluated by the emperor; those below fourth rank were evaluated by the Ministry of Personnel.
Those who failed evaluation would be dismissed.
Wang Daxia said, “I’ve heard of it, but I’m just a small soldier—I don’t need capital evaluation.”
Lu Bing handed him a dossier. “Look at your father’s capital evaluation from the Ministry of Personnel for his position as Northern City Military Commissioner.”
Wang Daxia opened it and saw his father’s achievements over six years listed: extinguishing fires, clearing sewers, catching thieves, etc. His achievements were average. But in the conduct column was written the character “corrupt.”
Wang Daxia naturally knew the severity of this “corrupt” label. Regardless of achievements, if judged corrupt, it meant failing evaluation and dismissal.
Wang Daxia closed the dossier and said, “Lord Lu, I’m not defending my father, but while he has many bad habits, corruption isn’t one of them. It’s just normal social interactions. If he were corrupt, our family wouldn’t have maintained the same few shops and acres of land these years without adding a single acre or building. We’ve been living off our ancestors’ accumulated wealth, collecting rent. If he had other income, I would have dug it out and spent it long ago. Would I wait for him to save money? Impossible.”
This was indeed the truth.
Lu Bing said, “But the Ministry of Personnel received reports that your father has been lending money at high interest. As a court official, lending at high interest is strictly forbidden. Your father committed this crime during capital evaluation year with solid evidence—if this isn’t corruption, what is?”
Author’s Note:
To clarify, in the previous life Wang Qianhu’s downfall wasn’t because of this. In this life it’s because Wang Daxia offended Yan Shifan, and Yan Shifan wants to use the capital evaluation to target his father.
For readers who didn’t understand how Caiwei researched techniques in the last chapter, please check the comments section of the previous chapter. The comment section is full of talented people who explained it very clearly. I’m afraid of being locked, so I don’t dare write in detail. Recently I can only send ghost cars, haha.