Chapter 116: Chapter 115: Shrewd Calculations
The article written by Song Wei did not stay in the prefecture.
The chief examiner, Lord Liu, sent it back to the Capital as per Emperor Guangxi’s instructions.
The Emperor Guangxi, having just finished his official duties, sat at the Dragon Desk, holding his forehead with one hand, ready to settle down and listen carefully to what astounding piece of writing that little brat had produced, which almost scared the examiners to the point of wetting themselves.
Chu Feng unfolded the creased letter paper and began to read aloud.
He had just read two sentences when his face completely changed.
Song Wei’s article deeply delved into the corruption of governance, with an arrogant prose style and daring word choice.
His writing directly threatened the interests of the majority of officials and even subtly criticized Emperor Guangxi.
"Why don’t you continue?" Emperor Guangxi was intrigued, but Chu Feng’s voice came to an abrupt halt, which displeased him a little. He lifted his eyelids and glanced over.
Chu Feng’s hand holding the letter paper trembled slightly, "Your... Your Majesty, your humble servant does not dare."
"Coward!"
Emperor Guangxi scoffed lightly, took the letter paper from Chu Feng’s hand, and read it himself.
Chu Feng stealthily observed Emperor Guangxi’s expression.
He had expected the Emperor to be furious, but to his surprise, after finishing it, Emperor Guangxi tossed the letter paper onto the Dragon Desk, rubbed his throbbing temple with his hand, and only said one thing, "The little brat really dares to write!"
It sounded like anger, yet his gaze did not seem as if he intended to punish; instead, it carried an indescribable satisfaction.
As if an old father had finally found his long-lost son.
Chu Feng thought to himself: Your Majesty, you are truly indulgent.
If not for the Emperor’s suppression, if this article were to reach the ears of the Imperial Censors, Song Wei would have been in grave danger of execution along with nine relations!
The issue with the article was lightly brushed aside, and Emperor Guangxi asked Chu Feng, "Has the Imperial College received the recommendation letter from Ningzhou?"
Chu Feng nodded, "It arrived yesterday morning and has already been approved."
Emperor Guangxi nodded, "Then it seems it won’t be long before the little brat will be delivered to us."
Chu Feng couldn’t help but grumble inwardly: Surely you’re not planning to disguise yourself and join him, are you? Isn’t that just seeking thrills for no reason? What’s the issue?
——
After the autumn harvest, the fields lay fallow.
Song Wei pondered for a moment and decided to rent out all the family’s land except for some edges and corners for his mother to plant seasonings before he left.
Old Song, having worked all his life, never had idle hands. Suddenly, he didn’t need to carry a hoe to the fields every day, and he felt a bit out of place. He said to Song Wei, "Why not keep it? Your mother and I can still manage that little patch."
Song Wei disagreed, "Father and Mother have toiled all their lives; it’s time for you to rest. Second Brother’s family has so much land to manage, they’ll have their hands full. If you feel bored, you can help them look after the children to pass the time. But let me make one thing clear, you two must not help them with their farming; otherwise, it would be pointless to rent out this land."
"But your Second Brother’s family has so much land," Old Song said, "If we don’t help them, how can they finish the work?"
They are both his sons, and as a father, he always treated them equally.
"Third Son has a point," Granny Song interjected with a stern face, "When it comes to good food, they secretly enjoy it behind closed doors; but when it comes to work, they remember their parents. How can they be sons and daughters-in-law like that? Helping them with the children is fine since it’s not like I’m busy, but if they think I’ll work the fields, that’s never going to happen. They should give up on that idea early!"
After agreeing with the parents, Song Wei asked Song Fang to invite Song Erlang and his wife from next door and repeated what he had just said.
Song Erlang couldn’t make up his mind and secretly gave winks to his wife.
Erlang’s wife, however, was focused on the few acres of land Song Wei was about to rent out, calculating shrewdly, "Third Son, wouldn’t it be better not to rent out that land and let Second Sister-in-law’s family farm it? Your parents can eat with us. If Father and Mother need a few yards of cloth for clothes, or some money for medicine, we’ll cover it. Don’t worry, we will certainly ensure that they are comfortable."