Wang Youxin had spent years alongside Jiang Zuowu, diligently currying favor. With his encouragement, Du Heng could have been led into corruption. It was clear that Wang Youxin and Jiang Zuowu had long been partners in vice.
Now that Du Heng had opened a crack, he intended to uncover everything.
He made Wang Youxin recount all of Jiang Zuowu’s illegal acts in the county over the years. It turned out that receiving money as gifts for birthdays or festivals had long been commonplace.
Jiang Zuowu, never satisfied, had also leveraged his position at the county school to demand exorbitant gifts. Students who could not pay, even if qualified, were barred from schooling. Tutors were chosen not by merit or virtue but by the size of the gift, ranked accordingly.
Worse, when managing the county’s commerce, he raised tariffs on foreign merchants by twenty percent, pocketing the excess silver.
The Household Office was effectively powerless; county governance was almost entirely under one person’s control. No wonder the county officials had long lived in fear.
Upon receiving the information, Du Heng immediately ordered Ma Yingfan to investigate Jiang Zuowu thoroughly.
Being an outside-appointed official, Jiang Zuowu had acted only through his position. Now stripped of power, his old influence was gone. Ma Yingfan quickly collected evidence, and each piece corroborated the charges—there was not a single false accusation.
Du Heng’s anger could not be contained. Qiuyang County was poor, its education neglected, its few scholars struggling. The internal corruption had contributed inescapably.
He promptly submitted all evidence to the prefectural office. Soon, the deputy prefect had made a ruling.
With irrefutable proof, Jiang Zuowu was found guilty of malfeasance, corruption, and abuse of power. He was demoted and sent back to his home jurisdiction. The thousands of taels he had embezzled over the years were returned to Qiuyang County’s public treasury.
The decision was posted on the county bulletin board, causing a stir. Students previously denied entry due to lack of gifts wept with relief upon seeing justice done. Commoners, who had long endured Jiang’s oppression, celebrated joyfully.
Du Heng, keeping his promise, did not punish Wang Youxin for reporting Jiang Zuowu. Once Jiang departed, Wang Youxin took his wife and children back to their village to live quietly.
Du Heng then promoted the diligent former Instructor to the position of Tutor, reorganized the county school, reassessed the qualifications of tutors, and ensured students’ academic merit determined their place—restoring integrity to the school.
With Jiang Zuowu as a warning, any future officials would think twice before acting recklessly.
Looking at the formerly empty accounts now holding six thousand taels of silver, Du Heng felt a measure of satisfaction.
He summoned the ceremonial clerk and distributed the owed salaries to officials for the past two months, the monthly stipends for scholars, and resumed recruitment for civil servants. With funds temporarily sufficient, all necessary positions could now be filled.
“Finally, one matter settled.”
After completing the administrative adjustments, Du Heng felt greatly relieved.
He did not immediately return home but instead left the county office, walking through the streets.
Qiuyang County had two main thoroughfares, Tiandi and Xuanzhuang Streets; the county office opened onto Tiandi Street.
In the surrounding villages, the corn harvest had begun, making the town livelier than before.
“Du Heng, greetings!”
“Greetings, Magistrate!”
Walking along the street, Du Heng was pleasantly surprised by the number of townspeople greeting him warmly. Though he had rarely come out before, this was the first time he had received such cordial attention.
He knew why and felt a deep sense of fulfillment, replying to each greeting with warmth.
Curving his lips, Du Heng picked up a large winter melon from a roadside farmer, tapped it lightly, and carried it home slowly.
“Coming back from the office so early today?”
Qin Xiaoman had just finished his afternoon nap and had gone to the kitchen to boil water for bathing when Du Heng returned. In this heat, washing twice a day was never too much.
He had just tossed firewood into the stove when he saw Du Heng. Squinting, he stood up. “The water’s just starting to heat.”
Du Heng put down the winter melon and said, “Jiang Zuowu’s matter has been settled. I finished work early today.”
“What’s wrong with your eye?”
Seeing Qin Xiaoman rubbing his left eye, Du Heng gently took his arm.
“Probably some dust from chopping wood got in it.”
“Tasks like this can be left to the servants. Why do you do them yourself?”
Qin Xiaoman replied, “I’m fine. Once the household chores in Qiuyang County are done, all I need to manage are meals. My cooking isn’t good; the kids refuse to eat what I make. Hiring a cook has left me with even less to do.”
Du Heng saw the reddened eye, streaked with tears as if tied with a red thread. Despite the irritation, hearing a hint of grievance in Qin Xiaoman’s voice made him feel a pang of concern.
“I’ve been busy with county affairs and have neglected you,” he said softly.
“I wasn’t saying that! I’m not some delicate little husband who can’t survive a day without my spouse hovering over me.”
Du Heng chuckled lightly. “Does your eye still feel irritated?”
“Hm,” Qin Xiaoman lifted his chin, looking up at Du Heng. “Blow on it for me.”
Of course, Du Heng obliged.
Qin Xiaoman’s tears streamed in the breeze, sliding down his cheeks with a slight itch, yet he kept his eyes fixed on Du Heng.
The man before him was close now; his refined features came into sharper focus.
Du Heng had elegant brows and a high, yet delicately shaped nose—not the coarse, broad features of a rough man, but balanced and refined, with an air of both charm and sophistication.
Yet his gaze was always soft, his demeanor scholarly and upright, quietly commanding respect.
“All right, feeling better now?”
Du Heng asked again, seeing no trace of discomfort, but Qin Xiaoman didn’t answer immediately. “Hm?”
“Nope, it’s gone.”
Du Heng reached up and wiped the tears from Qin Xiaoman’s face. “What are you thinking about, staring off like that?”
Qin Xiaoman smiled, eyes half-closed. “Nothing… just looking at you.”
“You always like looking at pretty things.” Du Heng pinched the tip of Qin Xiaoman’s ear. “If I had been plain-looking back then, would you have brought me home?”
“I’m not heartless,” Qin Xiaoman replied. “Even if I did, I’d have shoved you back in the ditch. What could I do with a man who couldn’t lift a chicken?”
“…You heartless thing.”
Du Heng wrapped Qin Xiaoman into his arms. Though both of them were sweating in the heat, it didn’t matter. He rested his chin on Qin Xiaoman’s shoulder. “Not good-looking, huh? I’m getting old.”
Having been busy with official duties, dark circles had formed under his eyes, and stubble grew quickly, but he was hardly aged. Qin Xiaoman’s eyes widened at the teasing tone. “You haven’t even reached thirty yet—old? Really?”
“Old… the kids are already four or five.”
Qin Xiaoman arched an eyebrow. “Old and weak? Then I guess your strength isn’t what it used to be either.”
“That’s impossible. Give me a hoe and I could work two acres without trouble.”
“Really?” Qin Xiaoman suddenly hugged Du Heng’s neck, leaning close to whisper in his ear. “Let me see.”
Du Heng glanced at the open patch in the garden, clear in the daylight. “In broad daylight, yes.”
“I want it.”
Qin Xiaoman looked straight at him.
His straightforward words, unaccompanied by flushed warmth in the ears, sent a jolt through Du Heng’s chest.
“The water’s just boiled in the pot—perfect for a scalding wash.”
Du Heng scooped Qin Xiaoman up. Alone now, with no one else around, the teasing had left him all decorum outside the office: “If the water’s hot and we rush, half a moment and it’s over before you’ve even started. Can you handle that?”
Qin Xiaoman bit Du Heng’s jaw lightly in reply.
Since arriving in Qiuyang County, the office had been a hotbed of intrigue. Qin Xiaoman had to act stern at times, but Du Heng never interfered with his role.
Two months had passed without them really being close. Though not like their early newlywed days, where it happened almost every three days, the mix of chores and official duties had reduced their frequency, but the desire had not faded.
The sudden intimacy felt like a drought finally met with rain, difficult to separate from.
The heat in the tent rose like a steamy sauna. Qin Xiaoman kicked aside the pale-green canopy for ventilation, leaving only a single mosquito net. The dim shadows resembled the illustrations in a private manual—blurred faces, entwined forms.
…
That night, the couple felt refreshed and in high spirits.
Du Heng, having neglected the two children for a long time, decided that after sunset, when the air cooled, the family of four would go to the tavern for a meal.
Du Heng and Qin Xiaoman had been frugal back home. Even after moving to the county, they seldom ate out. The children were delighted at the prospect of dining out together.
On the carriage ride, Chengyi and Danze chattered excitedly about what they wanted to eat.
“I want two iced sweet dumplings, lots of syrup, fragrant pears, and winter melon.”
“And bean yellow cakes, soft and sweet.”
Qin Xiaoman rubbed Chengyi’s belly. “You’ve already eaten plenty of winter melon at home. Can you really eat all that at the tavern?”
“I can!” Danze answered loudly before Chengyi could. Watching Chengyi count with his fingers the dishes to order, his eyes sparkled. He opened his mouth wide, “If my brother can’t finish it, Danze will eat it!”
Du Heng couldn’t help laughing and lifted Danze into his arms. “You’re so gentle with your brother, but why are you so fierce outside?”
Recently, Qin Xiaoman had visited Ma Yingfan’s house, spending time with the Ma family while looking after the children.
The Ma family’s second child, slightly older than Danze and almost three, could play alongside Qin Xiaoman’s children.
When Ma’s child gave Chengyi his little ball and tried to ride the large rocking horse together, Danze stubbornly pushed him aside, sitting in the middle and forcing the older child off.
The Ma child cried loudly.
Du Heng couldn’t make sense of it. Neither he nor Qin Xiaoman were particularly robust, yet their son had such a formidable physique.
Danze had always been unusually strong. Du Heng had thought it was because Chengyi was gentle and balanced him out, but outings proved otherwise. Compared to boys his age, Danze was taller by half a head, muscular without excess fat, and an unstoppable force of energy.
From then on, who knows how high he’d have to jump.
The carriage stopped at Baishan Eatery on Anping Street, said to be the busiest tavern in the county.
Du Heng led the children inside during the evening rush. The noise from within reached them even outside, with the waitstaff darting about without pause.
Du Heng and Qin Xiaoman didn’t hurry, waiting for a clerk to greet them. The clatter of abacuses at the counter cut sharply through the din, a surprisingly attention-grabbing sound.
He tilted his head slightly, noticing that the young accountant at the counter moved his fingers so fast it was dizzying. A large stack of accounting sheets brought by a clerk was tallied and recorded in an instant, then handed back.
“Jiang, your accounting skills seem sharper than ever. Faster than some old accountants who’ve worked for decades.”
“I’ve been practicing my arithmetic, learned some clever tricks, so the calculations go quicker,” the young accountant replied.
“Jiang, you’re already top-notch, and yet still striving to improve.”
The young man, Jiang, tilted his head as he chatted with the customer. “The notice at the county office said they were hiring two clerks. I thought I’d try my luck.”
“That’s a good job—working at the office, drawing a government salary, close to the county magistrate. Even if the pay isn’t high, it’s better than struggling for petty coins elsewhere.”
“Exactly. If I succeed, my parents will be thrilled.”
Before the conversation could continue, another voice cut in.
“Jiang Qi, you haven’t even passed the lowest-level exam, and you’re hoping to work in the county office?”
“If it were just a matter of serving as a sedan boy or fan attendant, you might have a chance, but our magistrate is frugal and doesn’t recruit such people. Yet you aim to be a clerk—do you know your own limits, or are you just going to make the county a laughingstock?”
The man Jiang had been talking with pulled back a smile and greeted the interrupter politely. “Scholar Wei.”
Wei lifted his chin and tapped the counter. “Did you call me? Focus on tallying these accounts properly.”
The young accountant, flustered but knowing he couldn’t fight a commoner, replied, “Scholar Wei is right.”
“What are you staring at?”
Qin Xiaoman nudged Du Heng. “The clerk asked where you’d like to sit.”
Du Heng came back to himself, calm once more. “It’s a bit inconvenient to dine with the children here. Do you have a private room?”
“Yes, upstairs—please follow me.”
The family of four went upstairs.
Du Heng handed the menu to the children. Chengyi eagerly ran over and pressed his head close to Du Heng. “Father, which one is the iced sweet dumplings?”
“This corner with the four characters—‘Bing Su Yuan Zi’—that’s it.”
Du Heng handed the menu to a clerk. “One portion each of West Lake vinegar fish, stir-fried fresh meat, roasted lamb, and green seasonal vegetables. What summer drinks and desserts do you have?”
“We have four platters in total: one with soup cakes, one with cold locust leaf noodles, one with sweet bowls, and one with iced fruit pillows.”
Du Heng said, “Can you replace the soup cakes with iced sweet dumplings?”
“Done.”
Du Heng looked at Qin Xiaoman. “Is that all right?”
“Yes, anything more and we wouldn’t finish it.”
Chengyi and Danze, seeing the order complete, ran gleefully around the private room.
Once the door closed, Qin Xiaoman relaxed. “Chengyi’s almost five. I see children from wealthy families that age already reading and composing poems. Though he’s still young, and we have the means, he should learn to read and observe proper conduct.”
“I had planned to teach him myself, but with my duties, I don’t have enough time. So he’s still learning what I taught him last year in Luoxia County.”
Du Heng lifted the tall-standing Chengyi. “I do want him to study. Before, I thought he was too young to focus and wanted him to play, but now nearly five, he can gradually start learning.”
Since the family had entered official life and gained some status, the children would naturally need proper education.
Even if they weren’t mocked for being illiterate, having some knowledge would be a skill to carry through life, reflecting good upbringing. To cultivate a scholarly household, descendants must be taught well.
Though Du Heng and Qin Xiaoman were virtuous, one from the countryside and one from a merchant family, neither knew as much etiquette as a multi-generational official family. A tutor would be needed.
“Does Chengyi want to study?”
Chengyi nodded. “Father bought me iced sweet dumplings, so I do.”
Du Heng tapped the little one’s nose. “You greedy little thing.”
Qin Xiaoman asked, “Shall we send him somewhere, or hire someone to teach at home?”
Danze sat cross-legged at the table, smashing a peanut with his palm, then carefully separated the pieces to give to Chengyi.
Hearing Qin Xiaoman’s words half-understood, he rolled to his feet, blocking Chengyi. “You can’t send my brother away!”
Qin Xiaoman laughed at the little strong boy, looking fierce like a tiny watchdog. “You’re too young to study for now. When you’re as big as your brother, you’ll have to go learn too.”
Du Heng lifted Danze into his arms. “Good tutors are hard to find, even harder to find one to teach your son and daughter. Whether they go out or someone comes here, we must see if we can find the right person.”
“Yes,” Qin Xiaoman added. “When I visited the Ma family, I mentioned it. They hadn’t planned on tutoring their children, nor did they know where to find someone for ours.”
The county town was small, lacking many resources, and Autumn Sun County was even more so—a place where those who could live comfortably and prosper were exceedingly rare.
“No matter. Since this is settled, I’ll keep a careful watch on it,” Du Heng said.
Qin Xiaoman nodded. They didn’t speak further; despite the eatery’s business being good, the dishes arrived fairly quickly.
Soon, steaming hot dishes were brought to the table, along with the children’s favorite summer cold treats. The hot and cold foods filled the table.
Chengyi could now handle the monumental task of eating by himself, feeding Danze as he went, without Du Heng having to intervene.
Danze, mouth wide like a barrel, swallowed whatever was fed to him. “Brother puts the vegetables I don’t like into Danze’s mouth.”
Du Heng watched the children with amusement and let them eat on their own. He picked out a piece of fish drizzled with sweet-and-sour sauce, carefully removing the bones, and placed it on Qin Xiaoman’s plate.
Qin Xiaoman ate without hesitation, finishing the fish, and pushed the plate back toward Du Heng.
After the rest day, Du Heng’s first task upon returning to the front office was to oversee the clerks who had come for the examination. That morning, the weather had turned foul—thunder rumbled early, and by dawn rain poured, streaming from the eaves.
Du Heng lived close enough to the office that he didn’t even need an umbrella, while other officials arriving from outside were somewhat soaked and disheveled.
The examination had originally been planned for the stone courtyard, but with the flooding, it was moved to the second hall.
Du Heng didn’t need to act as chief examiner himself, but he summoned the heads of departments with vacant positions to assist in the evaluation.
Those arriving included some from well-off families, but most were commoners.
As the time drew near, the examinees lined up outside the second hall, wiping rainwater from their clothes. Everyone looked a bit bedraggled, but still tried to maintain some dignity for the examination.
“Not started yet?”
“Just in time; names will be called shortly.”
A helpful bystander added, casting a glance at a latecomer, a young man dripping wet as if he’d fallen into a pond, each step leaving a waterprint, pant legs soaked to the knees.
The youth bent over, wringing out the water from his clothes in streams.
“Did you fall into a pool? How are you so drenched?”
“I came from the village this morning. The rain was heavy and the road muddy; my shoes were half-covered in mud. I thought it better to jump into a roadside ditch and clean myself than muddy the office floor. Besides, it’s warm enough and I’d be soaked either way.”
The officials glanced at him, shaking their heads.
“Jiang Qi, Wei Bai, Chen Yuanlin… eight people enter for the exam.”
Those called drew a quiet breath and followed the clerk inside.
Du Heng observed the eight seated examinees and had the clerk distribute the test papers.
The papers weren’t long—half were questions related to Autumn Sun County, the other half arithmetic problems.
Du Heng had the ceremonial clerk supervise, then collected the completed papers for a brief oral examination.
In less than a quarter of an hour, Jiang Qi, almost completely dry despite his drenched clothes, returned with his answers.
Du Heng scanned the answers, said nothing, and looked at the young man, asking him to introduce himself.
Jiang Qi, wet through but composed, gave a formal, polite self-introduction, slightly embarrassed under the magistrate’s upright gaze.
Du Heng jotted notes in his book. “What books have you read?”
“Ah?” Jiang Qi had seen that the notice for clerks didn’t require any degree, so he’d assumed he didn’t need scholarly credentials. Hearing the question made him slightly disheartened. He considered mentioning his most respectable studies, but Du Heng added, “Tell me everything you’ve read; no need to hide anything.”
Jiang Qi inhaled. “I have studied the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art, frequently read the county gazette, and some miscellaneous books on water management, astronomy, mountains, and landforms…”
In the Imperial Court, civil examinations valued the Four Books and Five Classics; other texts were considered miscellaneous, and reading them excessively could be mocked as frivolous. His voice trailed off as he listed them.
Du Heng made a few notes, then said, “Since you’ve studied the Nine Chapters, I’ll ask you a few questions.”
He casually posed arithmetic problems tied to daily life, expecting to test the young man’s skill. In moments, Jiang Qi responded correctly without hesitation.
Du Heng was slightly impressed, though he didn’t show it.
“All right, you may leave and wait for notification.”
Jiang Qi had no confidence in his performance, thinking he should quietly return to his small accounting work. He knelt respectfully, carefully backed out, and at the door heard:
“During summer, also be careful of chills. Go change into dry clothes promptly.”
Jiang Qi paused, then felt warmth in his chest. “Thank you for your concern, sir. I will take care of myself.”
As he left, he bumped into the next examinee, Scholar Wei. “You came out fast. Looks like the magistrate didn’t question you much.”
Jiang Qi didn’t reply, and hurried on.
By afternoon, the skies cleared, and the oral examinations concluded. The examinees gathered outside, talking among themselves.
Jiang Qi happily fidgeted with his abacus at the eatery’s counter. People noticed his nimble fingers and leaned over to ask, “Bookkeeper Jiang, you went to the exam today too, right? How did it go?”
Jiang Qi was about to speak, thinking to praise the magistrate’s kindness, when someone else, who had also gone to the exam and was having tea in the eatery, loudly interjected:
“Our county magistrate truly understands the common people. Today I got my clothes soaked for the exam and worried I’d embarrass myself before him. Unexpectedly, the magistrate didn’t blame me at all and even reminded me to keep healthy and avoid catching a chill.”
“You see? Our magistrate cares about even such trivial matters. At home, my wife wouldn’t have even asked once.”
The whole table laughed, cracking sunflower seeds and joking, “Maybe it’s because the magistrate sees you’ve grown older and it’s not easy on you anymore.”
Everyone joined in the laughter.
Hearing this chatter, Jiang Qi felt his words stuck in his throat again.