I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 308 Wu Cheng'en: Shanyang is rich, but its wealth does not benefit the people!
Farmers tend to go to bed early.

At this moment, the stars fill the sky, and this village on the outskirts of Shanyang County is very quiet.

Shen Nian, Wang Jia, and Qi Hu stood inside the courtyard, while the rest of the plainclothes Imperial Guards stood outside.

at this time.

The three of them suddenly heard the sound of a cane tapping on the ground coming from inside the house.

Immediately afterwards, an elderly man with white hair and beard, dressed in a light blue long robe, walked out of the house leaning on a cane.

The boy stood beside him, supporting him.

The old man walked unsteadily, and upon seeing Shen Nian, he immediately knelt on the ground, even though they were still more than ten steps apart.

"This humble citizen, Wu Cheng'en... pays his respects to Grand Secretary Shen!"

Shen Nian quickly went over and helped Wu Cheng'en up.

“Mr. Wu, this is not an official residence, there is no need for formalities, please rise quickly!” Shen Nian helped the 77-year-old Wu Cheng’en to his feet.

"Grand Secretary Shen, without you, I'm afraid... I'm afraid... the journey to the West..."

Wu Cheng'en sobbed, tears streaming down his face, and was so moved that he wanted to kneel down before Shen Nian again.

Seeing this, Qi Hu quickly helped Shen Nian support Wu Cheng'en.

“Mr. Wu, we can’t keep bowing! I was passing through Shanyang County on a business trip and thought of you, so I decided to come and visit. Tonight, there are no officials or commoners here, only the author and readers of Journey to the West. How about we go back inside, have a couple of drinks, and chat?” Shen Nian said with a smile, then took out a handkerchief from her sleeve and wiped away Wu Cheng’en’s tears.

"Good! Good! Good!" Wu Cheng'en exclaimed excitedly, turning to the boy beside him, "Abao, hurry... hurry and go to the tavern ahead to buy some wine and meat. This old man wants to properly entertain our great benefactor. The money... the money... is in the wooden cabinet by the bedside!"

"No need, I've already prepared the food and wine!"

Shen Nian turned her head and looked towards the door, whereupon two Imperial Guards brought over wine and dishes.

……

A moment later, in the front hall of Wu Cheng'en's residence.

On a square table, six dishes were laid out, along with two jugs of wine.

Shen Nian invited Wang Jia, a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat, to sit down as well, and the three of them chatted and laughed.

Wu Cheng'en was a little awkward when he first sat down.

But when the topic of Journey to the West came up, he gradually opened up.

Young Abao sat outside the door, enjoying a plate of snacks that Shen Nian had given him, and was very happy.

……

And at this moment.

Inside the county government office in Shanyang County, just as Magistrate Jia Zhiyuan was preparing to sleep fully clothed.

A yamen runner knocked on his door.

"Your Excellency, Grand Secretary Shen's ship is docked at Qingkou Wharf tonight!"

Jia Zhiyuan slightly pursed his lips and said, "This county learned of this matter at dusk today, but Grand Secretary Shen had already declared that local officials were not allowed to board the ship to pay their respects!"

As the head of the county, Jia Zhiyuan would be the first to know if an official ship from Beijing docked at Qingkou Wharf.

"But... but just now, Grand Secretary Shen and his entourage went to the Sheyang Mountain family. Grand Secretary has come to our county, and the county magistrate did not pay his respects. Isn't that impolite?"

Bang!
The door opened, and Jia Zhiyuan, the magistrate of Shanyang County with a goatee, appeared at the door.

When did you arrive at the Sheyang Mountain village?

"About fifteen minutes ago!" the constable said.

"Quickly obtain the official robes of this county magistrate, and then prepare the carriage. This county magistrate must immediately pay homage to Grand Secretary Shen!" Jia Zhiyuan said excitedly.

Shen Nian forbade officials from boarding the ship to pay their respects and prohibited banquets from being held at the post station.

But now that Shen Nian has come to the territory of Shanyang County, it wouldn't be considered a breach of etiquette for Jia Zhiyuan to pay him a visit.

After Jia Zhiyuan learned that Shen Nian had bought Wu Cheng'en's manuscript of "Journey to the West" and written a preface for it, he would visit Wu Cheng'en every holiday.

When Wu Cheng'en was repairing the house, he even ordered several yamen runners to help.

The purpose, of course, is to hope that one day, when Wu Cheng'en meets or writes to Shen Nian, he will mention him or praise him.

Tonight, Jia Zhiyuan only wants to make an appearance in front of the Grand Secretary.

Because Shanyang County is adjacent to Qingkou Wharf and its commerce is prosperous, he, as the magistrate of such a wealthy county, has always had good performance evaluations and could not possibly be among the "redundant officials".

If he meets Shen Nian today and Shen Nian remembers him and he has a good impression of him, then his chances of promotion will be much greater.

Along the way, Shen Nian did not see any local officials, but he did see him.

What an honor that is!

Even if Shen Nian doesn't say anything, he will benefit immensely.

If he sees Shen Nian tonight, the prefect of Huai'an Prefecture will be much more polite to him in the future, and even the officials in Nanjing Prefecture will not dare to make things difficult for him anymore.

These people don't know if he can contact Shen Nian privately, or whether he counts as Shen Nian's person.

This is the value of local officials paying homage to cabinet ministers.

You might have latched onto a powerful figure, or you might be seen as someone who has latched onto a powerful figure.

This is also why Shen Nian was unwilling to meet with local officials.

……

Less than half an hour later.

The carriage of Jia Zhiyuan, the magistrate of Shanyang County, stopped outside Wu Cheng'en's courtyard.

When Qi Hu, a commander of the Imperial Guard, saw the lantern with "Shanyang County" hanging above it, he couldn't help but frown.

Jia Zhiyuan stepped down from the carriage and, upon seeing Qi Hu, immediately bowed.

"Your Excellency! I am the magistrate of Shanyang County. Knowing that Grand Secretary Shen is coming to our county, I have come to pay my respects. Please inform him of this!"

Qi Hu looked at him expressionlessly and asked, "Is there anything important to report?" "No! It's just that Your Excellency has come to our small county, and if I don't come to pay my respects, I'm afraid I'll be impolite!"

"Since there's nothing else, let's go back. The Grand Secretary doesn't appreciate such formalities!" Qi Hu said, straightening his back, his face still expressionless.

Jia Zhiyuan looked embarrassed, then rolled his eyes and said, "Then I will wait outside the courtyard!"

Qi Hu glanced at him but didn't say anything more.

If this were a post station, Qi Hu would have driven Jia Zhiyuan away long ago for daring to wait so brazenly. But since this is Shanyang County, Qi Hu no longer cares about him.

At that moment, Shen Nian and Wu Cheng'en were having a lively conversation.

Besides discussing Journey to the West, Shen Nian also learned about Wu Cheng'en's current living conditions.

After Journey to the West was sold, Wu Cheng'en's life underwent a dramatic change.

No longer needing to earn money by writing inscriptions or writing epitaphs, one can simply go to some teahouses in the county town to tell stories about Journey to the West and earn enough to make a living.

Wu Cheng'en had no children of his own. The young A Bao was once a beggar, whom he adopted and raised as his godson to take care of him in his old age.

Currently, apart from some businessmen who occasionally harass Wu Cheng'en, hoping he will sell the last surviving printed copy of Journey to the West in his family collection at a high price, Wu Cheng'en is living a relatively happy life.

At this time.

Wang Jia took out paper and pen and began to draw a portrait of Wu Cheng'en. When Journey to the West is reprinted, Wu Cheng'en's portrait will also appear in the pages of the book.

Shen Nian wanted the world to remember this witty, humorous, and imaginative old man.

……

Another half hour passed, and it was almost midnight.

The portrait was finished, and Shen Nian knew it was time to leave.

Shen Nian held Wu Cheng'en's hand and said, "Grandpa, it's almost midnight, we should go. Is there anything else you're unhappy about? If there's anything I can help you with, please let me know!"

Wu Cheng'en thought for a moment and said, "Grand Secretary Shen, there is something I'm not sure if I should say?"

"Please feel free to speak!" Shen Nian said with a smile.

Wu Cheng'en hesitated for a moment and said, "I have no difficulties in my life, but... but... although Shanyang County has become rich from the benefits of the canal transport, the benefits have not been shared with the people. Instead, the corvée labor has become heavy, and many people have been conscripted to work on the river. They are busy with the canal transport for low pay and are often bullied by the soldiers on the river!"

Shen Nian's expression turned serious.

As a hub for canal transport, this area had a large number of boats, requiring a large number of river workers and canal workers.

The transport of grain should have been entirely handled by soldiers, but in many cases, the labor service was actually provided to the local people, who were cheaper and more capable.

As for the payment, it is often handled covertly.

If the common people can get half of what they deserve, then those officers on the Caohe River will have a conscience.

The person in charge of the canal transport in this section was actually Ling Yunyi, the Minister of War in Nanjing.

“The old man has the common people on his mind and a broad vision. Leave this matter to me, I will definitely handle it well!” Shen Nian said.

Immediately, Shen Nian stood up and saw that the boy A Bao, who had also stood up at the threshold, was also standing up.

"Abao, what do you want to do in the future?"

Ah Bao's eyes darted around, and he said, "I...I...I want to be a boat captain!"

"Boat captain" is a general term used by people along the riverbanks to refer to boat owners who transport goods by ferry over short distances; they are also the hardworking, poor people at the bottom of society.

Shen Nian walked to the door, patted A Bao's head, and said, "If you ever encounter any difficulties in the future, come find me!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Cheng'en quickly said, "Abao, kneel down and kowtow!"

Wu Cheng'en knew how valuable these words were.

If Ah Bao were to fall into poverty and be unable to make a living in the future, Shen Nian could use this statement to find him a job that would allow him to survive and live a very good life.

Abao immediately knelt down and kowtowed.

"Thank you, Your Excellency! Thank you, Your Excellency!"

immediately.

Wu Cheng'en, A Bao, Shen Nian, and Wang Jia walked into the courtyard.

At this moment, Shen Nian saw a carriage outside the courtyard and also saw the three characters written on the lantern of the carriage: Shanyang County.

Qi Hu strode into the courtyard, cupped his hands, and said, "Grand Secretary Shen, Magistrate Jia Zhiyuan of Shanyang County has come to pay his respects."

"Let him in!" Shen Nian said with a smile. He was in Shanyang County, so it was only natural for the other party to come and pay his respects.

"Jia Zhiyuan, the magistrate of Shanyang County, pays his respects to Grand Secretary Shen. It is an honor for our county to have you grace our county with your presence so late at night!" Jia Zhiyuan knelt down and kowtowed, followed by two bailiffs who also knelt on the ground.

"Shanyang County, rise up!"

Shen Nian looked at Jia Zhiyuan and said, "I am here tonight only to meet with an old friend, and we will not discuss official business."

Shen Nian's words silenced Jia Zhiyuan, who wanted to boast about his achievements.

"Old Master Wu is getting old, so your county should take good care of him. Also, don't let too many businessmen bother him. The Journey to the West copy that Old Master Wu has can't be sold!"

"Your humble servant understands!" Jia Zhiyuan respectfully cupped his hands.

"Shanyang County, do a good job!" Shen Nian patted Jia Zhiyuan on the shoulder, then said to Wu Chengen, "Old man, don't bother seeing me off, we'll meet again someday!"

After saying that, Shen Nian walked towards the carriage.

At this moment, Jia Zhiyuan was very excited. Shen Nian's three words, "work hard," were enough to raise his performance evaluation to a higher level this year.

This is encouragement from the Grand Secretary.

……

Half an hour later, Shen Nian returned to the Qingkou Wharf water station, washed up briefly, and went to sleep.

The large ship will head towards Yangzhou early tomorrow morning.

(End of this chapter)