At Chaoyang Gate, Cheng Chi was discussing matters with Old Lady Guo: “…Lord Song wants me to go help River Governor Yang Shouchun manage river works. I’d hold the title of Deputy Director at the Ministry of Works’ Water Department, rank six lower grade, temporarily assigned to the River Governor’s office, with all appointments and dismissals under the Ministry of Works. I’ve thought it over carefully—rather than humbling myself to submit my credentials to the Ministry of Personnel begging them to find me a position, I might as well accept Lord Song’s arrangement and go to the River Governor’s office. At least they’ve invited me, and I’d start with a rank six lower grade position. Ministry of Works Vice Minister Zhang Hui is Lord Song’s student. For Lord Song to arrange things this way shows he’s put considerable thought into it.”
In the early days of the dynasty, the Yellow River posed less of a threat, so the court had the governor managing grain transport also oversee river affairs. When floods occurred, a special River Administrator would be temporarily dispatched to handle it, then withdrawn after completion. But since the tenth year of Yongchang, Yellow River flooding had grown increasingly severe. In the third year of Zhide, river management and grain transport were separated. The court established the dedicated position of River Governor, responsible for the Yellow River, the Grand Canal, and the Yongding River’s embankments and dredging. That Yang Shouchun was the first River Governor.
He and Song Jingran were from the same examination year.
Hearing this, Old Lady Guo couldn’t help but frown. The teacup in her hand didn’t move toward her lips for a long while. Instead she said, “If I’m not mistaken, the River Governor’s office isn’t in the capital, is it?”
Cheng Chi smiled and said, “It’s in Jining Prefecture in Shandong.”
Old Lady Guo’s brow furrowed as she said, “River management—you work yourself to exhaustion without anyone seeing what you’ve accomplished. When nothing goes wrong, all is peaceful and well. When something does go wrong, heads roll… Won’t you reconsider? Last time when Zheng came by, she mentioned the Ministry of Justice still has a Chief Censor position. Though it’s only rank seven lower grade, it’s a prestigious position, and transferring to the Six Ministries later would be simple. You don’t necessarily have to enter officialdom through river management. Once you’re labeled with this position, people will see you as Ministry of Works material. After managing rivers, you’ll move to organizing grain transport—your whole life will revolve around this. In my opinion, the gains don’t outweigh the losses.”
Cheng Chi said tactfully, “I’m not doing this for the sake of official position. Ever since Shaojin refused the Song family’s marriage proposal, I’ve felt too embarrassed to face the Song family. When Lord Song sees me, he’s still full of regret, constantly apologizing to me. Old Master Song also comes to find me every few days—if not inviting me for drinks, then for dinner… Right now Yang Shoushan is having a hard time in his position. He was also recommended by Lord Song. The two families have close ties—when one prospers, both prosper; when one suffers, both suffer. Since Lord Song has made this request, how can I refuse? No matter what, I should help Yang Shoushan stabilize the situation.”
Old Lady Guo didn’t yet know about Zhou Shaojin refusing Song Mu, so she quickly asked what had happened.
Cheng Chi selected the important parts to tell her.
Old Lady Guo remained silent for a long while.
She considered herself a calm and rational person. Her late husband had been decisive and strategic. As for these three sons she’d borne—she didn’t know whose temperament they’d inherited, but each was more devoted than the last.
Needless to say about the eldest. Second Son’s wife had been ill for so many years, yet he’d never even gone out drinking with courtesans. Fourth Son was even better—not only did he insist on marrying his niece, but for this girl whose prospects were still completely uncertain, he’d worked himself to exhaustion paying off debts!
Since it was like this, she said simply, “So you know you’re someone who needs to take a wife? Can you bear to leave her alone in the capital? Your eldest sister-in-law can’t see straight, but surely your eldest brother isn’t also blind? Once your engagement to Shaojin is announced, won’t your eldest brother know what schemes are in your belly? Will Shaojin have an easy time then?”
Cheng Chi laughed out loud.
Mother was just afraid that if he succeeded in river management and became a technical official, future promotions would be difficult. She even brought out Shaojin to persuade him.
The old lady was truly grasping at straws.
Cheng Chi blinked and said, “Didn’t you say you didn’t approve? This is the perfect excuse for me to nurse my broken heart and wander the world—go out and avoid things for a while!”
“You scoundrel!” Old Lady Guo set down her teacup and looked around for something to hit Cheng Chi with. “If it weren’t for you, would I be troubling myself with all this? Just thinking about having to go propose marriage to the Zhou family one day makes my face burn with shame. Who knows if the Zhou family will throw me out the door. My whole life I’ve always been upright and proper. I never thought that in my old age, I’d have to humble myself before others because of one worthless youngest son…”
“Mother, how can you say that!” Cheng Chi’s face was as thick as a city wall. Feigning fear, he quickly dodged to the side and said, “Isn’t arranging marriages for your children a parent’s responsibility?”
Old Lady Guo was exasperated and said, “I think Sixth Miss from the Fang family is quite good. Since you’ve left your marriage up to me, then let it be Sixth Miss Fang…”
Cheng Chi laughed heartily and deliberately said ingratiatingly, “Whoever Mother tells me to marry, I’ll marry!”
Old Lady Guo was furious beyond words. She couldn’t help but stand up and pummel Cheng Chi a few times, saying, “You still dare talk back to me!”
Cheng Chi then coaxed his mother: “I do this because I’m relying on you caring for me, aren’t I? Stop being angry. When you go propose to the Zhou family, I need to have made something of myself so the Zhou family won’t dare refuse you! Besides, others may not know, but don’t you? When it comes to managing rivers, I just happen to be good with numbers, so what Old Master Xu said I could grasp immediately. This time they say I’m going to assist Yang Shoushan in river management, but actually Old Master Xu is going too. Successfully managing the Yellow River has been his lifelong wish—he’s just borrowing my name. My real strength is still in mathematics. Before, I hadn’t been in contact with Lord Song, so he didn’t know. Later after I had dealings with Lord Song, I didn’t hide it, which is why Lord Song had me take a position at the Ministry of Works—to pave the way for future entry into the Six Ministries.”
When all was said and done, it was still for Zhou Shaojin.
Old Lady Guo said angrily, “You’ve already decided everything. Why are you even asking me?”
Cheng Chi pushed his mother back down to sit on the kang, while ingratiatingly massaging her shoulders and saying with a warm smile, “Mother, you’re the backbone of our family. When Father was alive, didn’t he also discuss everything with you? Now that I’ve encountered such a major matter, naturally I need to discuss it with Mother so I can feel confident!”
Old Lady Guo’s eyes immediately grew moist.
She’d been shrewd and capable her whole life, but in the end was deceived by her husband, who took the youngest son she’d labored ten months to bear and deliver with such difficulty, and handed him over to that old bastard Cheng Xu to train as some kind of hall master. If not for her son being clever and obedient, he would have long since become a martial brute. How could they be here today, mother and son discussing his entry into officialdom?
Thinking this, Old Lady Guo’s heart softened again.
Go to river management then!
What matters is having a clear conscience.
Since they’d wronged the Song family, they should properly repay this debt of gratitude.
As for Shaojin—who would have thought that at such a young age, she’d be so decisive.
No wonder when she’d tested her last time, she’d been so resolute. Turns out she’d already made her choice long ago.
This little girl wasn’t easy either…
She would consider it a debt owed to these two people.
Once Fourth Son’s position was settled, she’d send someone to the Zhou family to propose marriage.
Fourth Son was right too—once he had official status, the Zhou family would view him more favorably. This marriage might proceed smoothly after all!
Get married next spring. The year after, she’d have a plump grandson to hold… No, next spring Jiashan was getting married… Then set it for the end of this year… After all, Fourth Son was the uncle and older than Jiashan. There was no reason for an uncle to still be unmarried while his nephew married first…
As Old Lady Guo pondered this, her expression grew increasingly gentle as she said, “As for your eldest brother, don’t worry. I’ll talk to him. He wouldn’t dare disagree. Also have him go greet Lord Song and express thanks. Have him accept this favor from Lord Song.”
Cheng Chi always felt his eldest brother Cheng Jing was too easily swayed, too dependent on the Yuan family. There were some things he didn’t want to discuss with him. He also hadn’t told Cheng Jing about Song Jingran inviting him to enter officialdom.
He and Cheng Jing had always disagreed on how to bring glory to the Cheng family.
In Cheng Jing’s view, the Cheng and Yuan families were marriage allies and natural allies. Yuan Weichang was also the Grand Secretary. By both sentiment and reason, the Cheng family should follow the Yuan family’s lead.
In Cheng Chi’s view, precisely because the Cheng and Yuan families were marriage allies and natural allies, there was sometimes no need to be involved in everything personally. They could try befriending the other Grand Secretaries, finding opportunities to clarify their own position and demonstrate their governing principles, thereby shedding the identity of Yuan family allies and maintaining neutrality among the various Grand Secretaries.
Cheng Jing disagreed.
He felt Cheng Chi’s ideas were unrealistic, that he didn’t understand the value of necessities since he didn’t manage the household.
Cheng Chi felt Cheng Jing was burdened by empty reputation and lacked ambition.
Though the brothers hadn’t spoken these things openly, their actions already showed signs of divergence. It was just that out of consideration for Old Lady Guo, and lacking any opportunity to make this explicit, they hadn’t.
If Cheng Jing knew Cheng Chi had accepted Song Jingran’s help, Cheng Chi didn’t need to guess—Cheng Jing would not only vehemently oppose it, but would also ignore his explanations, presumptuously scheming and arranging what Cheng Jing considered the most advantageous position for his future. He’d also summon him for a scolding, telling him to have less contact with Song Jingran in the future. The relationship between Song Jingran and Yuan Weichang was somewhat tense. Getting too close to Song Jingran would make people think the two brothers were putting on an act, trying to please both sides without taking a stance… In the court, besides fearing choosing the wrong side, one also feared being a fence-sitter who swayed both ways…
Last time when Song Jingran recommended him for office, Cheng Jing had already summoned him for a scolding.
Thinking of this, Cheng Chi pursed his lips dismissively.
Cheng Chi knew about the rift between Song Jingran and Yuan Weichang.
Yuan Weichang was the Grand Secretary and famously skilled at managing relationships with all sides—he had too many relationships to balance. Song Jingran managed the Ministry of Revenue and was a renowned financial minister. Yuan Weichang inevitably had people ask Song Jingran for backdoor favors, requesting quicker or larger silver allocations for those provincial governors, former students, prefects and governors-general who came seeking his help. As a Grand Secretary himself, Song Jingran had his own character and temperament—he wouldn’t necessarily give face to Yuan Weichang every time. Over time, Yuan Weichang developed the idea of replacing Song Jingran, but couldn’t overcome the fact that Song Jingran was favored by the Emperor and understood His Majesty’s thinking. Moreover, Yuan Weichang handled this matter rather carelessly and Song Jingran found out.
From then on, the two had enmity.
Hearing Mother say to have Eldest Brother accept Song Jingran’s favor, Cheng Chi chuckled—naturally he was happy to see it happen.
Eldest Brother had gotten too close to the Yuan family. It was time to create some minor friction to make him reexamine the relationship between the Cheng and Yuan families!
So when Cheng Jing and Yuan Shi came to pay respects to Old Lady Guo, and Old Lady Guo brought up this matter, Cheng Jing looked at Cheng Chi with unconcealed astonishment. Cheng Chi picked up his teacup and slowly sipped his tea.