That day, Duan Yan told Madam Lin to buy some fresh vegetables and meat for the house. He had intended to invite Tax Officer Qin over for a meal after he got off duty.
Who would have thought that when he went to the government office to look for him, he would hear that Tax Officer Qin had spent most of the previous day rushing about in the streets. He had only just returned to the office when his eyes rolled shut and he collapsed at the entrance, frightening everyone there half to death.
They hurriedly carried him inside and summoned a physician. The diagnosis was that he had been overworked for days on end and suffered a buildup of internal heat; overcome by the summer heat, he had fainted.
Naturally, he had not come in to work that morning.
“Then you should prepare some things and pay him a visit.”
After Song Fengsui heard the news Duan Yan had brought back to the residence, he immediately ducked into the medicine room. He selected several packets of his own specially prepared heat-relieving medicine and put them into a box, then added a box of ginseng as a presentable gift.
“This Tax Officer Qin is rather rare indeed—a man who truly gets things done. And he still managed to succumb to heatstroke.”
Duan Yan said, “Didn’t I tell you that Registrar Ma, the one at the government office who handled the paperwork, caught some filthy disease? His funeral rites were held only a few days ago.
“Ever since he fell ill at the start of autumn, he hadn’t been able to handle any of his duties. Tax Officer Qin has been doing all his work for him. The tax work after the autumn harvest was already heavy to begin with, and he had to take on another man’s duties besides. How could he not work himself into heatstroke?”
“Now that Registrar Ma is gone, haven’t they assigned anyone else to fill the post?”
Duan Yan replied, “I haven’t heard of any new arrangement yet. I don’t know how Kong Youhua intends to handle it.”
Then he added, “Since I couldn’t invite him over for dinner but the vegetables and meat have already been bought, I might as well cook them and take some over to him.”
Song Fengsui looked at the gifts he had prepared for Duan Yan. They did show consideration, but how could they compare to personally making soup and stewing meat for the man?
“That will do. Just don’t cook the mutton or black-bone chicken. Those are rich, warming foods; eating them will only aggravate the excess internal heat.”
Duan Yan asked, “Then what should I make?”
“Cook a porridge with lotus leaves and lotus seeds to clear the heart and reduce internal heat. If that seems too plain on its own, stew some lean meat with American ginseng as well, to restore his qi.”
Duan Yan nodded and prepared the two medicinal dishes as instructed.
Later that evening, Duan Yan carried the food and gifts to the Qin residence.
Tax Officer Qin lived in an alley in the south of town. Cui Xi answered the door. Duan Yan recognized him; the boy was often at Tax Officer Qin’s side, and Duan Yan had seen him many times. Cui Xi naturally recognized Duan Yan as well.
On hearing that he had come to visit Tax Officer Qin, Cui Xi did not even bother to announce him. He simply led Duan Yan straight inside.
“Cui Xi, what have you been fussing about outside? Why does it smell so strongly of meat?”
Tax Officer Qin was reclining on a cool couch inside, sucking thoughtfully on a sugar-preserved plum. Finding the room stuffy and hot, he had thrown open the doors and windows. In such a tiny house, the slightest scent was enough for him to catch at once.
After drinking medicine and resting for most of the day following yesterday’s heatstroke, his body had long since begun to feel better. He was merely staying home and deliberately avoiding the government office. He was nursing some resentment toward Kong Youhua.
“Who says sick people have a dull sense of smell? You noticed me before I even spoke.”
Tax Officer Qin lifted his chin and looked over. “Duan Yan?”
“What brings you here? How did you find the time?”
“I heard from the people at the government office that you were ill, sir, so I came to see you. Are you feeling any better?”
“It wasn’t anything serious. Two doses of medicine and I’m already feeling much relieved.”
His eyes fixed on the food box in Duan Yan’s hand. “Which restaurant did you buy these dishes from? I’ve never smelled anything like this before.”
Though Tax Officer Qin was already a man in his thirties, he had a mouth that loved good food. Whenever he was at work, there were always a few fruit candies tucked into his sleeve. Whenever no one was paying attention, he would peel one and pop it into his mouth.
In the years he had served in Rock Town, he had eaten his way through every restaurant, stall, and food stand in the town.
“I didn’t see any place outside selling medicinal dishes, so I made a pot of heat-clearing porridge and a qi-restoring soup myself.”
As he spoke, Duan Yan set down the food box and began lifting the lids for him to see.
At this, Tax Officer Qin sprang up from the cool mat in one swift movement. He hurriedly shoved his feet into his slippers and was at the table in an instant.
When he saw the lotus-leaf and lotus-seed porridge and the American-ginseng stewed meat—foods perfectly suited to clearing heat and nourishing the qi—his appetite, already good, improved several degrees at once. In the summer months he had little taste for rich meat, and after heatstroke, when his qi was depleted, he disliked greasy fare even more. The fresh, clean scent of these dishes made him immediately reach for a spoon and chopsticks.
“Well now, you’re quite the lad. You can cook too?!”
Tax Officer Qin took a few mouthfuls of porridge, then sampled the stew. His eyes narrowed halfway in pleasure. A hot soup and a good meal—there was truly nothing more comforting.
Duan Yan made himself at ease as well, sitting to one side and drinking the tea Cui Xi had brought. “It’s no great skill. I only tinker with such things when I have spare time. If you find it agreeable, Commissioner Qin, I’ll bring over some of my better dishes next time, to go with your wine.”
Unexpectedly, after hearing Duan Yan’s thoughtful words, Tax Officer Qin felt warmth spread through his heart as he ate the hot porridge and soup. Yet all at once, a pang of melancholy rose within him as well.
Setting down his chopsticks, he said to Duan Yan, “I’ve been serving here for nearly five years now—longer than Kong Youhua has. He’ll be transferred after this year, yet I have no idea when I’ll be able to move on.”
It was difficult for a minor official in a small place to secure a transfer. Without connections, there were no shortage of low-ranking officials who remained in one place for the greater part of their lives.
Tax Officer Qin had become quite capable in handling affairs in Rock Town. It was not that he dreamed of being transferred to some blessed and prosperous land; he simply wished to serve somewhere closer to home.
His voice was full of desolation. “Serving in this remote place alone can feel terribly lonely. My husband is wonderful at making soup, but I haven’t had any of his cooking in two years.”
Lately, Duan Yan had also noticed how quiet and lonely this little courtyard was. Seeing Tax Officer Qin miss his family, he could not help asking, “Why not bring your family here? This place may not compare to home, but surely it would still be better than having the whole family live apart in two different places.”
“How could I not want that? But where is life ever so conveniently arranged?”
The Qin family lived in the direction of the provincial capital. Originally, the Qin couple had not wanted to live apart either. But their two children needed raising and educating, while their only son was studying. Someone had to look after his daily needs and keep an eye on his studies.
The entire family could, of course, move to his post, but Rock Town did not even have a respectable school. If they came here, how was the boy supposed to continue his studies and prepare for the civil examinations?
“When you have a family and children of your own, you’ll have no end of worries too. You’ll always want your children to have a good future.”
Duan Yan sighed sincerely. “Commissioner Qin, you have put so much thought into your family.”
“It is precisely for their sake that I must take proper care of my health.”
Tax Officer Qin sighed. “When Registrar Ma first fell ill, I had already spoken to Commissioner Kong. His official duties could not simply be left unattended. Commissioner Kong said I should work harder and take them on for a while, and that if Registrar Ma’s condition did not improve, he would submit a report to the higher authorities.
“A reply came from above a few days ago. They said they were stretched thin as well and had no suitable official available to dispatch here for the time being. We would have to wait until spring next year, when they made transfers in a batch. Until then, the town would have to make do with a temporary replacement.”
Though he was grateful that Duan Yan had come to see him at such a time, Duan Yan had, after all, been promoted by Kong Youhua. It would not be appropriate for him to criticize Kong Youhua in front of him, so he merely said tactfully:
“Every sort of official business has been busy lately. Commissioner Kong will also be transferred at the start of next year, and naturally has many matters concerning that transfer to attend to. That has only added to his workload, and for the moment, he has had no time to find a suitable person to fill the vacancy.”
Duan Yan was no fool. Naturally, he could hear the implications in Tax Officer Qin’s words. Tax Officer Qin had gone to Kong Youhua several times, urging him to find someone to take care of the registrar’s duties, but Kong Youhua had been busy pulling strings everywhere to secure his transfer and had no time for the trivial matters of the yamen office.
And now Tax Officer Qin had been worked to the bone. He was still lying at home today, refusing to go to the office.
Duan Yan deliberately said, “Is there no suitable person in the town office? Surely, if all else fails, you can find someone appropriate in a town this large?”
“There are mostly martial men in the office, as you well know. They haven’t the learning to handle clerical work. Besides, this is the busiest stretch of the year, with all sorts of trivial affairs piling up. Without some experience, no one could easily take on the job.”
Tax Officer Qin explained the matter in detail to Duan Yan as well. “Think about it. If we brought in someone with poor education and weak arithmetic skills—someone who understands nothing and can do nothing—who would have the patience to teach him during the busiest time of the year? He’d spend all day tugging at people’s sleeves, asking this and that, and wouldn’t he only be creating more trouble?
“If it were winter or summer, when the office had less to do, it wouldn’t matter. We could guide him along and he’d gradually learn the ropes.”
As he spoke, he sighed again and put another piece of stewed meat into his mouth.
When he had gone to Kong Youhua to complain, the man had simply thrown the matter back at him: “You go and find someone. You understand the registrar’s duties, so you must know who would be more suitable.”
Tax Officer Qin was already weighed down by a mountain of administrative affairs. Where would he find the time to search properly for someone? Not only had the matter remained unresolved, but he had been saddled with yet another task. How could he not suffer?
Duan Yan carefully studied Tax Officer Qin’s harried expression and ventured, “I do know someone who would certainly be capable of serving as registrar, but it’s not easy to say.”
Tax Officer Qin’s eyes lit up. “Who? Hurry up and tell me. We’re only speaking of this privately. Even if it’s inappropriate, it won’t cause any trouble.”
Only then did Duan Yan say, “Someone from the Song family.”
Tax Officer Qin was momentarily puzzled. Which Song family? Then he suddenly remembered something, and his expression turned grave.
He set down his chopsticks and cast a sidelong glance at Duan Yan. “You haven’t hidden that little scheme of yours very well. Although I’ve never made inquiries about the Song family, I’ve heard a thing or two about your amorous affairs.
“You often associate with the Song family’s young master. Wanting to do their family a favor is understandable enough, and shows some loyalty. But what sort of status does the Song family have? How could they be summoned to the office to perform official duties? Wouldn’t that go against the rules?”
Seeing that Tax Officer Qin’s attitude was not entirely unfavorable, Duan Yan continued, “It’s true that I associate with the Song family, and it’s also true that I wish them well. But I hope to make the best use of their abilities, too.
“Commissioner Qin, think about it. The members of such a learned and well-informed family—tell me, which one of them couldn’t handle a registrar’s duties? Leaving such talent unused and making them bury themselves in the fields would be a waste. And they might not even be good at farming.”
Tax Officer Qin fell silent. Because of the Song family’s status, his instinct was to feel that the suggestion was inappropriate. But after thinking it over, he realized that Duan Yan was right. Any of the men in the Song family could surely handle this sort of work.
“In any case, they would only be filling in temporarily. It isn’t as if they were being formally appointed as officials. Once someone is transferred here from above, we’ll naturally do as required.”
Duan Yan said, “They would only be brought in to relieve the immediate crisis. The Song family could also receive a salary and use it to get through the winter.”
Tax Officer Qin hesitated for a while. Out of caution, he still said, “I can’t decide this matter on my own. I’ll have to see what the town inspector’s attitude is.”
That was precisely what Duan Yan wanted: for Tax Officer Qin to raise the matter with Kong Youhua. He had learned from Tax Officer Qin about the office’s urgent need for manpower. If he had rashly gone to Kong Youhua himself to ask for a favor on behalf of the Song family, he might have aroused suspicion and ruined everything.
Thus, he said no more and instead refilled Tax Officer Qin’s teacup.
After returning home, Duan Yan did not conceal what had happened at the Qin residence that day and told Song Fengsui everything.
“This is indeed a rare opportunity.”
Even so, Song Fengsui could not help feeling worried. “It’s not certain yet that the position will fall to us. But if we’re truly fortunate enough to get it, I don’t know whether appearing so prominently and working in the office might invite trouble.”
“It’s only a temporary post, not a proper appointment,” Duan Yan said. “If the office is willing to employ them, they certainly won’t let outsiders know.”
Duan Yan had no certainty of success. He would never send the Song family straight into danger.
War was drawing near. Once the world outside descended into chaos, the government might not even continue to exist. With everyone struggling merely to protect themselves, who would still have the time to concern themselves with the identity of disgraced officials?
At that point, in this small place, keeping one’s head down might instead invite bullying.
Song Fengsui had previously pointed out to him how important it was to have someone with authority in the office. If they could take advantage of this rare opportunity to place a member of the Song family there, they would have one of their own on the inside, making it much easier to stockpile supplies. And once someone from the family entered the office this time, Duan Yan would never allow the Song family to be forced out again. In the years of war and disaster to come, the town of Yan would need someone with authority to lead it if its people were to survive in peace…
Naturally, he could not tell Song Fengsui any of this yet. For now, he could only speak of the immediate benefits.
After considering the matter for a while, Song Fengsui said, “Even though nothing has been decided, we should still discuss it with Father and Second Uncle in advance.”
“That goes without saying.”
Duan Yan said, “If Elder Brother and your uncle disagree, then no matter how rare this opportunity is, we can only abandon it. If they agree, then even if it doesn’t work out this time, we can find a way to wait for the next opportunity.”
The two of them settled the matter and returned to the village.
Duan Yan personally accompanied Song Fengsui home to discuss it with the two elders of the Song family.
Song Fengsui had thought that his father and second uncle would refuse. He was already secretly considering how to comfort Duan Yan afterward. Unexpectedly, after the group had spoken for a while, he heard his father say, “If it can be done, then naturally it would be a good thing. Whether you send me or Xue Mu is fine. There’s only one thing: Xiao Duan, you mustn’t make too great a sacrifice for our sake just to bring this about.”
Duan Yan readily agreed.
Seeing Sui Sui’s attitude, he had originally thought it would take considerable effort to persuade Song Wushen. He had not expected things to proceed so smoothly.
Perhaps people who had spent a long time in official positions understood the benefits of taking charge again without needing much explanation.
Song Fengsui, however, frowned to himself. After the conversation ended and he had seen Duan Yan off, he asked, “Why did Father agree? Didn’t you say before that we mustn’t draw attention to ourselves and should avoid standing out?”
Song Wushen glanced outside. Seeing that no one was around, he closed the door.
“We’ve been here for so long, yet not a single word has come from outside. Your grandfather sensed that something was wrong long ago, and now your second uncle and I are growing uneasy as well.
“If we get the chance to work at the office, it may be easier to establish contact with the outside.”
Song Fengsui’s heart tightened.
Recently, Duan Yan had been buying and stockpiling grain without regard for the losses, other people’s opinions, or their attempts to dissuade him. Now his father and second uncle had also changed their former cautious attitude and were willing to take the risk of stepping into the open…
All of this stirred a sense of unease in him.
No one had said with certainty that something terrible was about to happen, yet every sign seemed to be conveying precisely that message.
He did not know whether it was all merely coincidence, or whether his worries were truly justified.
His heart was restless, filled with the feeling that a storm was about to break.
The next day, Tax Officer Qin indeed went to see Kong Youhua and broached the matter of the Song family.
Kong Youhua cast a sidelong glance at Tax Officer Qin’s face, which had taken on a sallow cast, even his lips lacking much color. Seeing him in such a state, Kong naturally could not bring himself to lose his temper. He merely set down the brush in his hand on the brush rest with considerable force.
“I’ve been terribly worried about you being ill. I know you’ve been working yourself ragged lately, so I even drafted a recommendation to the higher-ups, intending to have you commended. But you… Have you worked yourself stupid from exhaustion? Do you really not know what sort of people the Song family are?”
Tax Officer Qin spoke with his eyes half-closed. “I’ve searched high and low, but there simply isn’t anyone else suitable to take over the post. I truly have no choice.
“Look at me—I’ve been ill these past two days, yet I haven’t even dared to rest properly. There’s no one to handle the official business, and in just two days it’s piled up as high as a mountain. All I can do is look to the Song family. If you think that’s inappropriate, then find me someone else who’ll be easy to work with.”
Qin’s words were not particularly pleasant, but after several years of working together, he had long since seen through Kong Youhua. No matter how nicely Kong had spoken before, and no matter how deferential Qin had been, it had never moved Kong to take any real responsibility.
In the past, Qin had simply been too easygoing and too willing to let others take advantage of him. When Kong had first taken up his post, Qin had arrived before him and helped arrange no end of matters. Kong had privately showered him with sweet words, thanking him again and again, even promising to help him secure a good posting. Yet now that Kong’s term was nearly over and he was about to leave, all he could still offer was the same empty lip service.
This time, Qin had thrown caution to the wind and shamelessly acted like a scoundrel. He no longer expected Kong Youhua to truly recommend him to the higher-ups or secure him a better posting. All he hoped for was that, before Kong left, he would appoint someone capable of taking a share of the duties on his hands. That alone would be cause for celebration.
Seeing Tax Officer Qin looking utterly unconcerned, as though he feared neither boiling water nor death, Kong Youhua frowned. He had never seen the man behave like this before. What had gotten into him?
Then Kong reconsidered. Perhaps Qin really had been overworked these past few days and had grown resentful.
His eyes shifted. He had spent a great deal of effort recently cultivating connections and smoothing the way. At long last, the matter of his transfer had begun to show some promise. He could not very well allow some unexpected trouble from below to arise just as he was about to leave.
“Look at you. You’re an old hand in the office—how can you still throw a child’s tantrum? They say people are especially ill-tempered when they’re sick, and it seems that’s truly the case. The Song family is a hot potato. You suddenly want to toss it over to me—how could I not be startled?”
Kong Youhua put on a pleasant expression and coaxed him in a gentle voice. “Registrar Ma has left, and fortunately you’ve been keeping all those duties in order. I’m grateful for that, truly. I know how difficult things have been for you, and I admit I’m at fault for failing to find someone capable to come help you sooner.
“But the Song family… They aren’t people one can involve oneself with lightly. Give me another couple of days to think it over, and I’ll give you an answer. In the end, whether we use someone from the Song family or not, I guarantee I’ll arrange a suitable person for you.”
Tax Officer Qin did not put much faith in Kong’s honeyed words. “Old Kong, we’ve worked together for several years. There’s no need to say anything else. We’re both officials, and I know you’re busy pursuing your own future at this critical juncture. But for the sake of all these years of friendship, please settle the matter as soon as possible.”
With that, he said no more, merely flung his sleeve and left.
Kong Youhua watched him walk away, then angrily slammed the register of documents onto the desk.
What had he gotten from the Song family to make him dare recommend them in the first place? And now they were being so overbearing on top of it!
Kong Youhua was vexed as well. He refused to grant Tax Officer Qin’s wish and turned his thoughts toward finding some learned local gentleman from the town to take over the post and make do.
Unexpectedly, before he could put that plan into action, he received a letter from outside. His attitude changed all at once.
