Chapter 29: Visiting the Yamen (Seeking Collection)

  Time flies in the midst of busyness, and after tonight, it's time to start preparing for the sumptuous dinner on New Year's Eve. Under the influence of Confucian culture, people attach great importance to family values, and this strong sense of family and belonging has brought people together in unity across this vast country, which is also a remarkable contribution made by certain doctrines that constrain and govern people's thoughts like the Western Royal Academy.

  After having the reunion dinner, the whole family sat around the fire and chatted. When it was time to sleep, Zhang Lei lay in bed, his eyes wide open, staring at the darkness around him, with a bright moon hanging in the sky, a cold, quiet, and desolate atmosphere suddenly shrouded his heart on this festive day. I suppose that's what they mean by "missing loved ones even more during holidays".

  Nor did he know how his elderly parents at home would spend the day today, Zhang Lei was grateful that he still had several brothers, and in the years of his disappearance, he wouldn't make his parents feel lonely.

  "Alas, I should have been a dead man already. In the instant when I was hit by the car, I had already come to this realization. Now that heaven has given me another chance at life, I shouldn't be stuck in the past that can't be changed. Maybe there really are gods above, maybe it's really possible to travel through time and space, but none of that matters. Since I'm here now, I have a family too. So then, I'll use my knowledge accumulated over hundreds of years to make life better for the members of this family. Isn't that also a good deed?"

  Once the knot in his heart was untied, Zhang Lei's mood changed instantly. He let out a sigh, taking it as his last nostalgia for the past, and fell asleep peacefully, full of expectations for the new year to come.

  "Rustling sounds..."

  On New Year's Eve, people have to stay up late to see the old year out and the new year in. During this time, firecrackers are going off non-stop until after midnight when everyone finally stops. Zhang Lei, who was homesick for his life in the past, used this as an excuse to sneak into his room and sleep. However, he was still woken up early the next morning by the sound of firecrackers exploding right outside his window.

  Open the door, a faint cyan smoke mixed with the pungent smell of sulfur drilled into the nostrils. This was Zhang Baosheng's first thing to do after waking up and opening the door. Outside the gate, he lit a string of firecrackers, using the lively and enthusiastic sound to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, called "Opening Red". The red firecracker paper scattered on the ground, covering a thick layer, symbolizing that this year's life would be booming.

  "Wishing you a happy new year, good health, all the best and progress in your studies..."

  No matter what, at the beginning of the new year, as soon as you open your eyes and see someone, the first sentence is a blessing.

  For Zhang Baosheng, this year his family had an enormous wealth that he never dared to imagine before. He was overjoyed and for the first time gave both Zhang Chen and Zhang Lei a big red envelope with two taels of silver each.

  After washing up, they didn't rush to eat, but had to pay their respects to their ancestors first. In previous years, paying respects to their ancestors was just a matter of putting out a large bowl of plain rice, and at most adding a piece of fatty meat on top, lighting an incense stick, and that was it. But this year was different, with Zhang Lei's strong financial backing, the ceremony became much more grand. The three large bowls of braised pork belly had been prepared long in advance, placed on the long table under the ancestral altar, lit with three high-quality incense sticks, and a pair of large red candles were also lit. The three people each performed the ritual of three kneels and nine kowtows.

  The so-called three kneels and nine knocks of the grand ceremony is to first kneel down on both knees, with hands clasped together behind one's back and palms facing upwards placed on the ground in front. Then, bowing one's head, knock one's forehead against the back of one's hand three times. After standing up, repeat this process three times, which is the most noble ritual in the kneeling and worship ceremony.

  After knocking and bowing, three cups of fine wine prepared in advance are poured out at the same time under the shrine to worship the gods.

  After completing the tedious ancestral worship ritual, it was finally time for breakfast. Even eating breakfast has its etiquette, requiring an empty bowl and chopsticks to be placed on the upper seat, with some rice and dishes inside, which is for the ancestors to enjoy.

  Later, breakfast can be eaten, but before eating, you must drink Tusu wine, which is a medicinal liquor. In ancient customs, on New Year's Day, the whole family drinks Tusu wine to dispel unclean air. For this reason, Song Dynasty writer Su Shi's "除日" poem says: "Year after year drinking Tusu, I don't feel that I've passed seventy years."

  On ordinary days, when drinking wine, it is always the elder who is toasted first. However, when drinking tu su wine, it is just the opposite - one has to start with the younger ones. Probably because young people grow older day by day, they are toasted first as a way of celebration, while older people become less and less old year after year, so they are toasted later as a way of farewell.

  The dishes on the table are leftovers from last night's dinner, also known as "Nianyuerfan", which means having leftover food every year and not finishing it by the end of the year, implying that this year we're still eating last year's grain.

  After finishing this meal, the New Year's etiquette can be considered truly concluded. According to Zhang Lei's experience, from tomorrow on, he should start visiting relatives and friends. However, his current identity is extremely special, whether in conversation or in memories of past lives, there is no impression of having any relatives at all.

  Farmers have a short New Year's holiday, and they start working again on the third or fourth day of the new year, continuing to be busy for the new year.

  Compared to Zhang Lei, a commoner, officials or the wealthy are much more lively and busy. The Bai Yang family has been busy since the twelfth month, and on the eighth day of the new year, they even prepared Laba porridge and placed it at the door for poor beggars passing by to take freely. After the third day of the new year, when the officials in the government office started working, he also became busy. Early in the morning, he got dressed neatly and sat in a sedan chair heading towards the government office.

  Not long after leaving the house, I saw another street coming with a crowd of people. As they walked closer, I realized that they were also heading in the same direction.

  "Hey, isn't that Boss Bai? Happy New Year, happy New Year, wishing you wealth and prosperity." The person on the opposite side suddenly said as they walked closer.

  The white sedan chair had a white character on it, and acquaintances could recognize it at once. He lifted the curtain of the sedan chair and took a look outside, and suddenly smiled: "I thought who was it, turned out to be Old Master Yu, making a fortune in the new year, where are you going?"

  "Going to the county town for a visit, and you?" Old Master Yu said with a bow.

  "Ah, what a coincidence! I'm also headed that way. Why don't we travel together and keep each other company?"

  Yu Lao Ban still didn't know that Bai Yang and Zhang Lei had already signed the contract. Although he found it strange in his heart, he didn't think too much about it.

  The two arrived in the county town, but both rushed to the county government office. Old Master Yu thought that Bai Yang might be going to the government office to give gifts, after all, a big family like the Bai family had to maintain good relations with the officials.

  To avoid awkwardness, when they had only gone halfway, Mr. Yu said: "Mr. Bai, I need to go this way, so let's part ways here."

  "Alright, alright, Mr. Yu is welcome to go." Bai Yang said politely, secretly admiring Mr. Yu's sense of timing.

  Upon arriving at the yamen, the gatekeeper saw Bai Yang approaching and respectfully bowed his fist, calling out: "Master Bai."

  "Everyone, Happy New Year! During the Spring Festival, we will continue to work hard to protect our county and ensure that ordinary people live in peace. The credit is really great. This year, I came out on the third day of the new year and saw everyone, without any special preparation. Please accept this humble gift." Bai Yang gave a hint to Tang Hongzhi behind him. Tang Hongzhi immediately came over and handed each person a thick red envelope.

  Accepting the red envelope from Bai Yang, several people were delighted and the leader said: "As an official who eats imperial rations, guarding this county and letting the people live in peace and prosperity is a matter of course."

  Bai Yang nodded and asked: "Excuse me, is the magistrate in his office?"

  "Shall I send for him at once?" said the yamen runner with alacrity.

  "Then trouble you."

  After a while, the bailiff came out and said: "The magistrate has summoned us."

  Yan Zhi County was originally named Yan Jue, the county magistrate of Chaohu County. He took office in the fourth year of Chongzhen and was appointed as a tribute student. This is his first year in office.

  "Xu Jia Ying from the lower reaches of Chao Lake pays his respects to the Honorable Magistrate." As he walked into the main hall, Yan Jiao sat high up under a plaque that read "Clearly Investigating Every Detail", and Bai Yang bowed slightly before speaking.

  Yan Jue was just a scholar, and as a member of the literati class, he ranked first among the four occupations of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants. Moreover, he was appointed by the Emperor himself, so naturally, he felt superior to others. Although he knew that Bai Yang was a famous wealthy merchant in the nearby area, he didn't show much enthusiasm, but instead said calmly: "I've heard of Mr. Bai's great reputation in our county for some time now, and today I see that it's indeed well-deserved. May I ask what brings Mr. Bai here today?"

  The white boss waved his hand and immediately someone behind him brought out a delicate red wooden box that looked very heavy.

  "On this third day of the New Year, I naturally came to pay my respects and wish Magistrate Yan a year of continuous advancement and smooth career progression." Bai Yang said with his hands clasped together in respect.

  Yan's face broke into a smile as he heard this and said: "Alright alright, then let's take Old White's auspicious words to heart."

  "Whenever a new magistrate takes office, I present them with 10,000 taels of silver to aid in their governance. I hope Magistrate Yan will consider the well-being of our county."

  In this small box, there were both silver ingots and silver notes, totaling a full 10,000 taels.

  "I didn't expect Boss Bai to be so grateful. On behalf of the people of the entire county, thank you." Yan Jue said with an unchanged expression.

  Bai Yang didn't expect this kid to be so capable, originally the scout said that this person had a bookish air about him, but it turned out he wasn't an otherworldly recluse who didn't partake in worldly affairs. Thinking of this, she formed a plan in her mind.

  "Bai's achievements today are all thanks to the support and guidance of his predecessor, County Magistrate Shi, and the teachings of his fellow villagers. I believe that under the wise leadership of County Magistrate Yan, Bai will surely reach new heights."

  Yan Jiao said: "Mr. Bai is being polite, our county naturally has special treatment for those who have made contributions, this is a matter of course."

  Bai Yang's tone changed as he said, "In my humble opinion, I'd like to make a contribution to the villagers. Now that Xujiayuan has come up with this extraordinary object, if we can develop and promote it, not only will the people have more money to earn, but also more taxes to pay. That's why I've come to ask Magistrate Zheng for permission to let me take charge of developing this new object."

  "What did Old Master Bai say was the object, what exactly is it?" Yan Jue asked.

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