Chapter 117

The five-year comprehensive evaluation subjected local officials to a meticulous and rigorous assessment across eight categories.

During Du Heng’s five-year tenure as magistrate of Qiuyang County, registered rural households increased from the original twelve villages and three hundred sixty households to four hundred fifty households. Urban households grew from four hundred to five hundred twenty.

In total, the population rose by two hundred ten households.

In the category of population growth, he received an Excellent rating.

As the population increased, large tracts of wasteland were reclaimed. Through encouraging agriculture and improving cultivation, more than five hundred additional mu of farmland were developed. After three years, these became fully registered fields.

In the category of land reclamation and allocation, he received an Excellent rating.

With population and land expansion, tax revenues rose from barely ten thousand taels to one hundred thousand taels.

In the category of fiscal management, he again received an Excellent rating.

Beyond household registration, land, and taxation—the three principal metrics for local officials—there were five additional assessments: grain transport and waterworks; bandit suppression and litigation; education and civil examinations; supervision of subordinates; and public order.

Over the past years, Du Heng had constructed waterworks, repaired official roads, suppressed bandits, and purged corrupt officials. Except for education and the examination system, where achievements were comparatively modest and rated Good, all other categories were rated Excellent.

Moreover, his annual reviews over these years had consistently been outstanding.

“Well? Well?!”

By the time the results of the grand evaluation arrived, it was already the twelfth lunar month.

Before reassignment, local officials were permitted one return trip home. Since the evaluation concluded, Du Heng and Qin Xiaoman had been waiting anxiously for the official results.

No matter where the next post lay, assuming office would not occur until after the Lantern Festival the following year. Thus, the young couple hoped to receive the appointment letter as soon as possible.

The earlier the result arrived, the sooner county affairs could be handed over and they could return to Luoxia County to celebrate the New Year.

“Why is the document so long this time? There are even multiple pages!”

Qin Xiaoman stared at the itemized entries, which seemed determined to record every detail of the past five years.

He disliked dense text. After scanning without spotting the final verdict, he grew impatient and urged Du Heng to turn the page.

Du Heng smiled helplessly. “Can I not savor these five years a little? Fine, fine—I’ll turn it.”

After the page listing the eight assessment categories came a fresh sheet.

Based on the comprehensive evaluation of eight official performance criteria, the Ministry of Personnel hereby determines as follows:

Du Heng, Magistrate of Qiuyang County, during five years in office, effectively regulated land records and household registrations, governed with diligence and integrity, and achieved outstanding political accomplishments.

By unanimous decision of the Ministry of Personnel, he is hereby promoted to the position of Prefect of Xijiang Prefecture. He shall assume office on the first day of the third month of the coming year. He shall not delay or neglect this appointment. By Imperial Decree.

“Prefect!”

Qin Xiaoman skimmed the dense official language and seized upon the two most important words. Tugging at Du Heng, he asked eagerly, “What rank is a Prefect again?”

“Fourth rank.”

“Up two ranks all at once?!”

Du Heng smacked his lips thoughtfully. “I am a little surprised myself. I had originally expected to be appointed as a Tongpan or Tongzhi, transferred to a slightly wealthier prefecture. That would have made my career path much steadier.”

“Maybe His Majesty thinks you built latrines exceptionally well and wants to promote you to Prefect so you can推广 them to every county.” Qin Xiaoman laughed and gave Du Heng’s hand a playful slap. “You are getting a bargain and still pretending to complain!”

Du Heng squeezed Qin Xiaoman’s hand lightly. “Stop making fun of me.”

Qin Xiaoman swatted his hand away. “So where exactly is this new post in Xijiang Prefecture?”

“It is not too far from our Jintuan Prefecture—closer toward Suzhou and Hangzhou. From Luoxia County, it takes a little over half a month to get there.”

Relief spread through Qin Xiaoman’s heart. “If everything is settled, then let us prepare to go home.”

Du Heng closed the official document. “All right. It is time to leave.”

……

“This little wooden rocking horse has to go. The cuju ball and the colored silk ball—pack them together too.”

“Are you even taking the sheets from when I first learned to draw those little orchid strokes?”

When they heard that they could return to Luoxia County for the New Year this year, Dan Ce and Cheng Yi were overjoyed. In the blink of an eye, five years had passed. During the New Year holiday, their father’s leave was always short, and the family could not bear to split up just so someone could go home for the festival. Because of that, they had not gone back all these years.

When they first came to Qiuyang County, Dan Ce had only been two or three, and Cheng Yi barely five. Counting it up, they had actually spent more years in Qiuyang County than in Luoxia County.

But their birthplace was still their roots. They had childhood playmates there, great-uncles who let them ride on their shoulders, elders who treated them warmly. Even though their memories in Qiuyang County had grown richer and more colorful, they had never forgotten their native home.

The two little fellows knew that once their father took up his new post, they would have to leave sooner or later. Eager to return, they began packing their belongings in advance so everything could be brought home together.

Dan Ce finished packing his things in less than two hours. He did not have much—just several wooden Guan Yu broadswords he had played with since childhood, a little red-tasseled spear, and various odds and ends that boys liked to fiddle with.

He tossed everything into trunks. To his surprise, the assorted items filled two large chests. He had thought he owned quite a lot, but when he dusted off his hands and wandered into his older brother’s room, it was like comparing a small witch to a great one.

Cheng Yi had already packed three large trunks. The once neat and cozy room was turning into a heap of miscellaneous goods.

“I have put away all the practice sheets from when you first learned to write. Since we are going home, we should bring everything back.”

Dan Ce sighed. “It is not like I am some great calligrapher whose characters are worth money. Why take up trunk space with those?”

Cheng Yi pinched the tip of Dan Ce’s nose. “I think you write very well.”

“All right, all right. You have been packing for half the day. Come have a cup of hot tea and rest.”

Cheng Yi was afraid the servants might pack something away without him noticing, so he refused to step away for tea. Having no choice, Dan Ce carried the cup over and held it to his brother’s lips.

“If we had known we were going back, we should have declined all those things Yun Duo sent earlier. Now we have to haul them home.”

“Yun Duo meant well.”

“You always have a reason, Brother.”

Du Heng and Qin Xiaoman saw the bustle of people going in and out of the children’s rooms and poked their heads in for a look.

“How is the packing going?”

“Father, when are we leaving? Has the official document arrived?”

Du Heng rubbed Dan Ce’s head. His younger son was already up to his waist.

“It has. I have discussed it with your little father. We will set out in two days to return home. It often snows in Luoxia County at the end of the twelfth lunar month. If we run into snow with all this luggage, it will be hard to travel. The weather is good these days, so we should move quickly.”

“That is wonderful! I actually hope it snows. I have not seen snow in so long! When we get back, I am going to build eight snowmen in the garden with Brother!”

Dan Ce jumped up in excitement.

Qin Xiaoman and Du Heng both laughed.

“Fine. You can build eight hundred if you like. Do as you please!”

After Du Heng finished handing over official duties and packing up the household, everything was ready by the sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month. They planned to depart early on the eighteenth.

On the seventeenth, local gentry and prominent households who had dealings with the county office came to bid farewell.

Feng Xiaohu clung to Dan Ce and cried until snot bubbled from his nose. Dan Ce heartlessly poked the bubble with his wooden broadsword.

The two had planned to fight another three hundred rounds before parting, but when Cheng Yi caught sight of Xiaohu’s tear- and snot-smeared face like a little tabby cat, Xiaohu burst into even louder sobs before the duel could begin.

On the eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, before dawn had fully broken, the inner residence of the county yamen was brightly lit. The luggage was loaded and ready. Du Heng and Qin Xiaoman each carried a drowsy little one still heavy with sleep.

The morning wind carried a chill as they quickly boarded the carriage.

Du Heng glanced back at the Qiuyang County yamen, unchanged for five years, standing silent in the faint whitening dawn. That main gate, through which he had passed countless times over those five years, stood behind the ceremonial gate, seeing off one county magistrate after another.

He fell into a brief reverie until a gentle pat touched his shoulder.

Du Heng smiled faintly and lowered the curtain. “Let us go.”

The carriage wheels began to turn, rolling slowly over the bluestone street where only breakfast stalls sent up white steam into the cold air.

“Sir…”

“Sir!”

Suddenly, calls rose one after another.

Du Heng and Qin Xiaoman exchanged a glance and quickly lifted the carriage curtain. Near the city gate, the once quiet street was now crowded with people.

Common folk stood holding bolts of cloth and bundles of cotton, braving the wind—who knew how long they had been waiting at the gate.

“Stop the carriage.”

Du Heng hurriedly called for it to halt, lifted the curtain, and stepped down.

The townspeople lining both sides of the road immediately knelt, raising the items they had brought.

“Sir, please accept these small tokens from all of us and take them with you!”

“What are you doing? Please, everyone, get up!”

“If not for your integrity and upright leadership, sir, Qiuyang County would still be a land of bandits and corrupt merchants. How could we have the peace and prosperity we enjoy today?”

“I have served as magistrate of Qiuyang County. It is my duty to ensure that the people live stable and peaceful lives. All of this is what I ought to have done. Now that I see Qiuyang County thriving and flourishing, I can leave for my new post with peace of mind.”

“Please, everyone, rise. Rise!”

Du Heng stepped forward and helped up the townspeople kneeling in front.

“From now on, live your lives well.”

“I set out early and did not publicize the day of my departure because I did not wish to part from you all in tears. I did not expect that you would still come.”

“Smile, everyone. The New Year is almost here—these are fine days. I am happy for you that Qiuyang County now has hope ahead. You should also be happy for me on my promotion.”

The elders at the front wiped their eyes, smiling through tears. “What you say is true, sir. There is no banquet in this world that does not end. Qiuyang County has grown prosperous, the people live in peace and contentment, and you have been promoted to a higher post. These are all joyous occasions. We should indeed be celebrating.”

Behind him, Qin Xiaoman held the children’s hands, looking at the familiar and unfamiliar faces alike, his heart stirred and softened.

When his father was still alive, he had once spoken of such scenes—of upright officials departing while the common people came to see them off. Not because of rank or authority, not out of fear or obligation, but entirely from the heart.

Whenever his father spoke of it, his eyes had shone with longing and admiration. As a child, Qin Xiaoman had not understood; he had only thought his father’s gaze unusually profound.

He had never imagined that one day his own husband would become the kind of good official his father so often spoke about.

Qin Xiaoman patted the two little ones on the head. “All right. Back into the carriage.”

Du Heng turned for one last look. “Everyone, go home now! Go on! The mountains are high and the roads long. I will not linger in sentimental farewells and stir up sorrow.”

He drew in a steady breath and turned back to the carriage.

“Sir, may your journey be smooth!”

The wheels began to turn once more. The townspeople followed step by step.

“Peace and harmony!”

Du Heng waved from the window. “I will remember it all. Go back now!”

Dan Ce and Cheng Yi were fully awake by now. Seeing the people behind the carriage wiping tears as they waved goodbye, their hearts grew heavy.

After watching for a while, the tender-hearted Cheng Yi suddenly threw himself into Dan Ce’s arms, burying his face and unable to bear the sight any longer.

Once they left the city, they had thought it would grow quiet—but to their surprise, villagers from the surrounding hamlets were already waiting along the official road.

“Sir, travel safely!”

“May you always be in good health!”

Every mile or two, there would be another group of a dozen villagers—some smiling with blessings, some with tears soaking their collars.

Only when they were nearly beyond the borders of Qiuyang County did the well-wishers finally cease.

Du Heng’s eyes reddened slightly. The twelfth month wind was bitterly cold, yet his heart burned warmly.

These five years in Qiuyang County had not been in vain.

His heart brimmed with emotion, yet he had never felt as open and unburdened as he did at this moment. He could not help but wrap an arm around his husband and his two children.

“No matter where we go from here, as long as our family is together, there is nothing to grieve.”

The carriage rolled toward the depths of green mountains.

Thus began another journey through rivers and peaks.

—End of the main text.