Chapter 503 - 190: Salt Transport Judge (Part 3)
Chapter 503: Chapter 190: Salt Transport Judge (Part 3)
Chen Song quickly intervened, "There’s no need. Your mother and I will only be here a day or two before we move out."
Chen Wanqing and Mrs. Zhao both grew anxious.
"There’s a perfectly good place right here. Where would you move to?"
"Please, don’t treat us like strangers," Mrs. Zhao said. "This house was bought by Qing’er; Jing didn’t contribute a thing. It’s only right for you to live in your own daughter’s house."
Seeing their misunderstanding, Chen Song was about to explain, but Xu Su Ying cut in. "It’s not that we’re trying to be formal," she said. "The government office promoted your father. The Lord Prefect thinks very highly of him and has even assigned us a courtyard home."
Chen Wanqing, Mrs. Zhao, Xiang’er, and all the nearby maids and old servants were completely stunned.
"Is it true?"
"How could it be fake?"
Xu Su Ying was beaming with pride. She grinned at her daughter and said, "We came here this time for good. We’re not going back; from now on, we’re staying in the Prefecture. Your father performed a great service while suppressing the bandits, so the Lord Prefect specially selected him to come to the Prefecture and promoted him to Salt Transport Judge."
"A Salt Transport Judge? What rank is that?"
"It’s an official Sixth-Rank position. It deals with salt. The duties include supervising salt transportation, managing tax collection, and maintaining market order. It’s a cushy job. But it’s a position that easily breeds corruption. The Lord Prefect must have seen that your father isn’t the type for petty, crooked dealings, which is why he transferred him here to help."
Chen Wanqing never imagined her father would become a Sixth-Rank official just like that.
’Back then, her father was just a common man, struggling to make ends meet. He had to go to the docks every day to haul heavy sacks, working himself to the bone just to feed the family.’
’And yet, all because he caught an escaped prisoner, her father’s career took off. First, he was a constable, then a county magistrate’s assistant, and now he was a regional Sixth-rank Official.’
’Her father was truly incredible!’
’His luck was simply unbeatable.’
’Of course, it wasn’t all just luck. His own ability was the main reason for his step-by-step transformation!’
Chen Wanqing was genuinely happy for her father.
There was a chasm between the common folk and the government clerks, and another between the clerks and the true officials. Furthermore, officials of the Seventh Rank or higher could rightfully be called court-appointed officials—this was yet another chasm to cross...
’Her father had crossed every one of these chasms to get to where he was today. To say it again: her father was truly amazing!’
Chen Wanqing then asked her mother, "Where is the house the Lord Prefect granted you? Is it close to here?"
"Not too close, but not too far. It’s on Xinghua Alley. They say it belonged to a disgraced official. It was confiscated and never put up for sale, but this time it was awarded to our family."
When Chen Wanqing heard it was a residence with three courtyards, her heart settled.
’A three-courtyard residence was quite large, more than enough for the whole family.’
’But why did Xinghua Alley sound so familiar?’
’Thinking harder, she realized—doesn’t Mr. Yin live on Xinghua Alley?’
Leaving her parents to settle into the courtyard, Chen Wanqing turned and instructed CuiYa to arrange for a meal to be prepared.
CuiYa replied, "The old madam has already given the order. I just went to the kitchen to relay the instructions. The food will be served shortly."
Before the food arrived, Chen Song quickly washed up, changed his clothes, and prepared to head out.
Chen Wanqing saw this and quickly stopped her father. "What are you doing? Even if it’s urgent, you should at least have a bite to eat before you leave."
"I can’t. My colleagues and I agreed to meet at the Prefectural Magistrate’s Office after we’d freshened up. We’re going to pay our respects to the Lord Prefect together."
"Father, who did you come to the Prefecture with? Where are they now? Why didn’t you invite them to stay here with us?"
"They’re my colleagues—your Mr. Qi, Mr. Wang, and a few constables from Shun’an County. We’ve been through life and death together. Since we were all promoted to the government office here, we came together. There are too many of them; your house couldn’t fit them all. Besides, they’re all men, so it wouldn’t be proper for them to stay here. They’re at the Golden Jade Restaurant. We agreed we’d go pay our respects to the Lord Prefect after we all freshened up."
Hearing this, Chen Wanqing said no more.
But she was genuinely delighted that Mr. Qi, Mr. Wang, and the others close to her father had also been transferred to the Prefecture.
’No matter what positions they were assigned, at least they were all in the Prefecture. With them around, Father could meet them for a few drinks and to swap stories in his spare time. And if any trouble arose, he would have people to consult. This was a good thing.’
’When Jing and De’an were on leave from their duties, she would have to arrange a dinner at home, set up two tables, and invite all the elders over for a meal.’
Chen Song left in a hurry, and Chen Wanqing turned back into the courtyard. By then, her mother had already finished washing up and was lounging on a chaise, basking in the sun.
"That brat De’an certainly knows how to enjoy himself," her mother commented. "There’s even a chaise in here. I don’t have to ask to know he’s living the good life."