Manbao just let out a sad sigh, "Reading, that’s all."
Madam Tang laughed and asked, "What book are you reading to be so diligent?" She glanced slyly at County Magistrate Yang, "You weren’t coerced into forced labor, were you?"
County Magistrate Yang, holding Tang Dalang in his arms and giving him a piece of pastry from the plate, had a smiling face, as if he wasn’t concerned about what they were discussing.
Manbao said, "I read all sorts of books, Madam Tang. Is this your first visit to Luojiang County?"
Madam Tang gave Manbao a reproachful look, knowing that she was putting her off, but seeing her face so cheerfully unconcerned without a hint of guilt or embarrassment, she knew Manbao had a thick skin and it probably would be hard to get anything out of her. She could only follow Manbao’s lead to change the subject, "Yes, it’s my first time. Will you take me out for a walk tomorrow?"
Madam Tang was not one to waste time and pester needlessly. If one route was blocked, she would not pursue it.
Manbao, who had intended to introduce her to a few places, immediately paused and then turned to say, "Actually, the most entertaining place in Luojiang County is the County Governmental Office. All other places are quite ordinary, far inferior to Yizhou City, so I think there’s no need for you, Madam Tang, to go out at all."
Madam Tang, "...Don’t fool me, what’s so fun about the County Governmental Office?"
"The garden at Lord Yang’s house is really beautiful, the best one in all of Luojiang County."
Madam Tang asked, "Is it more beautiful than my garden?"
Manbao told the truth, "No, it can’t compare."
Madam Tang then huffed and asked, "What about compared to the Ji Family’s?"
Well, it certainly couldn’t compare to that either.
Ms.Cui, who was nearby, laughed and gave Madam Tang a gentle push, "Cousin, you must find my place modest."
Madam Tang then playfully complained, "Who is this for? It’s for both of us. They always keep us in the dark, not showing you this or telling you that. It irritates me so much that just thinking of Tang Zhihe’s face makes me angry."
With the conversation having come this far, Yang Heshu had no choice but to stand up and apologize profusely, "I’m constrained by official duties, please forgive me, sister-in-law."
"Enough, I would like to blame you, but since my sister is here, it wouldn’t be right to break a jade vase just to kill a mere mouse."
County Magistrate Yang didn’t mind being compared to a mouse and bowed with a smile.
Everyone calmly enjoyed a welcoming banquet, and when Manbao, Bai Shan, and Bai Erlang returned to their own guest residence, they were extremely well-behaved, bidding farewell politely and walking demurely back along the path. As soon as they entered their own quarters, the three of them let out a collective sigh of relief.
Manbao said, "I feel like Madam Tang is like a hen that couldn’t catch any bugs to eat, so terrifying."
Bai Erlang, "I always felt like she was about to burst into flames."
Bai Shan, "Luckily she held herself back."
After exchanging glances, all three shivered simultaneously and then said, "Let’s continue with our work in the study tomorrow. It’s too dangerous outside."
The next day, Madam Tang also wandered around the study, only to find the doorkeeper Wantian utterly heartless, refusing to let her in, so she had to leave in a huff.
Ms.Cui hurried to comfort her.
Madam Tang tugged at her hand as they spoke in the garden, sighing, "How could I not know that they have important matters to attend to? But as husband and wife are one entity, having sent me here and now planning to send me back to the capital, it is obviously a matter of life and death. He tells me nothing, and I can’t even sleep peacefully at night. He doesn’t trust me, yet he trusts the three children with the knowledge. How could he be sure that I would be more likely to leak the information than they are?"
Ms. Cui was momentarily stunned and asked, "Cousin, are you going back to the capital?"
Madam Tang paused before nodding, "I am to return to the capital to tend to the sick."
Of course, this was just an excuse, which Ms. Cui understood immediately, and she, too, began to worry, "I’ve just married my husband and it is improper for me to pry too deeply into his official affairs, but you and your husband seem to get along so well, hasn’t he told you anything at all?"
"Exactly, that’s why I’m so troubled. Even before, when he seized lands from the hands of the Prince of Yizhou, he didn’t keep it a secret from me. Now, I have no idea what is being so tightly concealed."
The two looked at each other, both cloaked in worry.
County Magistrate Yang was completely indifferent to all this; he simply had people guard the study. Other than Manbao and the other two, nobody else was allowed inside.
Manbao and the others worked overtime every day, and with the help of County Magistrate Yang, they finally managed to organize the account books and calculate various figures.
County Magistrate Yang, upon reviewing the calculated data, couldn’t help but slap the book and praise them: "Worthy students personally taught by Mr. Zhuang, you truly did well."
All three of them puffed up with pride.
Manbao had also prepared a chart for him, "I noticed that the figures fluctuate greatly, so I put together a chart for you to review."
County Magistrate Yang took a look and his smile gradually faded. He turned to examine the iron calculations Bai Shan had done, his expression growing increasingly grave, "This matter cannot be delayed. Quickly make copies of these few account books. I need to take the originals with me."
The three said, "...There are so many, do we have to copy them all?"
County Magistrate Yang slapped one on the shoulder and said earnestly, "I believe in you."
The three of them slumped their shoulders; they didn’t want his belief, truly.
Calculating was somewhat interesting, but copying was utterly joyless.
These were only account books, not some unread articles that could be enjoyed and appreciated while copying.
County Magistrate Yang had already sat down at the desk and said, "Make copies of the organized materials too. I’ll have to send everything else to the capital."
Bai Erlang’s scalp tingled and he clutched his stomach, "I, I have a bit of a stomachache."
Manbao responded, "I have needles, and the storeroom has medicine. Do you want acupuncture or medicine?"
Bai Erlang put his hand down, slumped back down at the table, and sulked, "I don’t want either!"
Seeing this, County Magistrate Yang couldn’t help but flash a smile. Addressing Bai Shan and Manbao who were still standing, he said, "There will be many more difficult tasks in the future. This is the simplest of them. Do you think investigating a case is that easy?"
The two also sat down, sighing as they took out blank papers to copy the account books, and while grinding ink, asked, "Lord Yang, is this why you don’t like investigating cases? I heard County Magistrate Tang say that your background is even better than his, and you also had better examination results, but you didn’t go to a larger county and instead, you came to our lesser county."
Yang Heshu continued to copy the account book and laughed, "I dislike the scheming and strife of human hearts. In larger counties, like Guo County, there is a governor or military commissioner above you, and if you’re unlucky, there could even be a princely governor. As soon as you wake up, there are endless things waiting for you. If that were the case, I’d rather stay in the Hanlin Academy; why would I risk suffering elsewhere?"
"My reassignment was driven by a desire to see the state of the common people. My aspirations differ from those of Tang Dalang. He wishes, like Lord Tang, for a world without wrongful cases, whereas I simply wish for abundant grain and full granaries, for all under heaven to have enough food to fill their stomachs and clothes to warm their bodies," he stated.
Unable to withhold applause, Manbao exclaimed cheerfully, "That’s a great aspiration, very similar to mine. Of course, Tang Dalang’s is good as well."