Luo Qingci nodded. “That’s right. When the time comes, we’ll erect a merit stele at the academy gates and inscribe the names of everyone who donated. This will benefit future generations, and it will also ensure that your family’s name is remembered.”
“Besides the academy in the county seat, you can also donate to build academies in the villages. If you fund an entire academy yourself, it can be named after you, so that every student who studies there will remember your name.”
Yu Wen was dumbfounded. He had never imagined that such a thing was possible. This was true immortality.
Luo Qingci’s voice continued, “Now that we’re building bridges and roads, you can donate toward individual sections as well. A stone stele will be erected for those donations too…”
Yu Wen emerged from the government office of Denggao County. The scorching sun struck him, jolting him fully awake.
Only then did he remember that he had just donated nearly thirty percent of the money he had earned from selling his land.
He couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Sure enough, people loved wealth—but they loved fame even more. He was no exception.
Just then, he heard someone call, “Brother Yu!”
He turned around and saw a tall, slender man smiling at him.
It was Song Teng of Pingrong County—the very man Commandery Governor Luo had mentioned as the person who donated to build Pingrong County’s academy.
Yu Wen hurriedly cupped his hands. “Brother Song, what brings you here?”
Song Teng laughed heartily. “I just came to take care of a few matters.”
Yu Wen immediately understood what he meant and smiled in congratulations. “I heard that you donated to build Pingrong County’s academy. Congratulations, congratulations.”
Song Teng waved his hand. “It was only an expansion. Nothing worth mentioning.”
Pingrong County already had an academy, but with education now open to everyone, the old academy was no longer large enough and needed to be expanded.
Denggao County also had an academy. However, it possessed a harbor and would be a key city for future development.
After discussing the matter, Jiang Jin and the others felt that the academy’s current location did not fit with the city’s future plans. They had decided to choose a new site and rebuild it.
Yu Wen’s expression was complicated. “Brother Song, you’re truly courageous.”
Song Teng smiled bitterly. “We’re already quite fortunate. The other counties of Daqing were conquered by the Jiao Army, leaving nothing behind. What else could we do?”
“Besides, the princess hasn’t treated us unfairly. The price she offered for our land was low, but at least I can rest easy now. I no longer have to worry about the Jiao Army storming into the city at any moment and taking my life.”
Daqing Commandery had seven counties. Lu You had suffered defeat after defeat, and now only three counties remained.
If Princess Jinyang had not taken over Daqing, it was hard to say whether those remaining three counties could be defended. Most likely, they couldn’t.
That was why Song Teng had accepted the situation so quickly. The moment he heard the news, he had set off for Denggao County without hesitation.
He had great confidence in the princess. After all, Princess Jinyang had conquered the entirety of Fengzhou in little more than two years. If even such an achievement could not inspire trust, then there was no one in this world who could.
There was another reason he had accepted so readily: the Song family was hardly a distinguished clan. To put it nicely, they were a minor aristocratic household. To put it bluntly, they were merely a merchant family with some history.
His land was nothing compared with the Yu family’s, let alone the great aristocratic clans. Giving it up was painful, but compared with his life, he considered it insignificant.
Yu Wen sighed. “You’re right, Brother Song.”
Then, remembering something, he asked, “Have you deposited your money in the bank?”
Song Teng stroked his beard. “I just came from there.”
He sighed with emotion. “The princess truly is a remarkable woman. With banks now available, doing business will be much more convenient for us in the future.”
That was what he said, but he still didn’t dare deposit all his money in the bank. He had only put in a small amount to test the waters.
Since Daqing was still, at least on the surface, under Lu You’s rule, the various plans were progressing slowly. For now, the only bank had opened in Denggao County; the other two counties had not yet begun construction.
Yu Wen felt ashamed. “Speaking of which, I haven’t even visited the bank yet.”
Song Teng laughed. “I only deposited one hundred guan. Tomorrow, I’m planning to go to Fengzhou and test the bank’s promised cross-regional withdrawals.”
As exchanges between Fengzhou and Daqing grew increasingly close, he had heard about many things happening in Fengzhou.
Because he had pledged allegiance ahead of time and donated to build the academy, Luo Qingci had granted him certain privileges and arranged new household registration papers for him.
He was now officially one of the princess’s subjects and could travel freely through most areas of Fengzhou.
Yu Wen’s eyes lit up. “Why don’t we go together?”
He had wanted to visit Fengzhou as well and look for business opportunities. Now that his land was gone, he could only turn to trade in the future.
The sun was sinking in the west. After finishing work, Sun Xi and the others carried a sack of grain home.
Sun Yuan’s face was full of excitement. “They said we’ll be paid tomorrow. Once I get my wages, I’m going to buy some cloth and have new clothes made.”
Sun Xi was smiling too. “All right. I’ll have new clothes made for you.”
Sun Yuan giggled. “I wonder if Elder Brother has finished work yet. I still have so much to tell him.”
Zhu Yan watched them with undisguised envy. After a moment, she lowered her head, hiding the loneliness in her eyes.
Sun Xi was very perceptive. Sensing Zhu Yan’s dejection, she took her hand. “Don’t worry. Once the princess takes Punan Commandery, you’ll be able to return to your village and have a look.”
Zhu Yan nodded firmly. “Mm. I know. There’s no need to rush.”
Sun Yuan took hold of her other arm. “Exactly. We’ve already endured this long. The most important thing now is to stay alive and live well.”
After they returned home, Sun Xi and Sun Yuan cooked a pot of porridge and waited until the sky was completely dark, but Sun Bu still did not return.
The two sisters were disappointed, and a faint worry began to creep into their hearts.
Sun Xi bit her lip and comforted her sister. “Let’s eat. Abu must be very busy at the military headquarters.”
Sun Yuan gave a small “Oh.” Looking listless, she accepted the bowl Sun Xi handed her and ate by the light of the moon.
They couldn’t afford an oil lamp and had no choice but to eat their evening meal in the dark.
The other women sharing their room had already finished eating. They were reclining comfortably beneath the eaves, gazing at the crescent moon, which was missing a piece from its center.
“You two are really lucky to have found your family.”
Sun Yuan comforted her. “You’ll find yours too.”
The woman gave a bitter smile, her voice soft and mournful. “I won’t. They’re all gone.”
Sun Xi’s hand paused in midair. She truly knew nothing about the other women’s circumstances.
Their former lives had been too difficult. They had rarely spoken to one another, let alone shared their troubles.
Sun Xi opened her mouth, but only after a long moment did she say gently, “Women can now be the heads of their own households. A woman can live well on her own, too. From now on, if anything happens, we can support and help one another.”
Sun Yuan chimed in, “That’s right. We women can earn money and grain now. As long as we’re not lazy, we can certainly build a good life.”
The other women in the room joined in, as though they were encouraging one another—and themselves.
On that pitch-black night, they all felt a rare warmth and a glimmer of hope.
The sisters had just finished eating when they heard a familiar voice.
“Elder Sister, Yuan!”
Sun Xi and Sun Yuan brightened and turned around at once. They saw Sun Bu’s tall figure slowly approaching.
“Elder Brother, you’re done with work?” Sun Yuan ran over and took hold of Sun Bu’s arm.
Sun Bu nodded. “Mm. I’ve rented a place for you two. Come with me.”
Sun Yuan’s face lit up, but then she thought of the women sharing their room and felt reluctant to leave. They had not spoken much to one another, but they had endured the hardest days together.
The other women, however, took the news in stride. They congratulated the sisters one after another on their new home.
Sun Bu gently told them the new address. “We’ve moved to Yunzhu Alley Two. You can come find them there in the future.”
