The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 213 Erecting bluestone tablets, all with blunted edges.

Next to the house of the old master Shusun Tong, there was a room used for grinding tofu.

Heng first changed out of his clothes and hung them on the rack next to him. These were new clothes that his father and mother had sent over, and he couldn't let them get dirty.

Then he changed into coarse cloth clothes before lighting the stove.

Grinding tofu is a very time-consuming task; it usually takes until late at night, and the tofu can only be eaten the next morning.

However, Zhang Jing and Heng were used to sleeping in the tofu shop, and it was quite warm there with a stove lit.

Heng sat by the stove, and after eating his fill, he felt the warmth of the stove and said, "It's been a while since I've seen Grandpa."

Zhang Jing pushed the stone mill and said, "Lord Pinyang must be very old."

"I don't know how old he is either," Heng said in a low voice. "I don't want to go back to the palace; I want to see the old man more."

Zhang Jing thought for a moment and said, "We'll grind tofu tonight and go first thing in the morning."

"The old master won't let me go out in this heavy snow." Heng gazed at the falling snowflakes and fell silent once again.

The stove was still being searched for, and the water on it was steaming. Heng was asleep not far from the stove.

It was getting uncomfortably hot inside, and Heng heard Brother Zhang Jing snoring.

Heng was woken up by the heat. He opened the door and let the cold wind outside blow on him for a while, which made him feel much better and the sweat on his body subsided.

Not long after, Zhang Jing also woke up, looking at the slightly brightening sky, where snow was still falling.

Because it was warm inside the boiler room, several small dogs from the village gathered around and then huddled by the stove.

Zhang Jing perked up and looked at the heavy snow outside, saying, "This snow is really heavy. I've never seen such heavy snow in my life."

Heng said in a low voice, "Brother Zhang, let's go to Pinyang."

Hearing what the young master said, Zhang Jing nodded and said, "Alright, I'll go with you."

Disobeying the old master's admonition will be punished. Heng looked at Brother Zhang's expression and it seemed that he was not afraid of the old master's punishment.

Actually, the old master's punishment wasn't too severe. At most, he would grind more tofu. Even if he didn't let Brother Zhang eat, he could secretly send him some food.

Heng knew that the old master would never punish him; most of the time, he would only punish Brother Zhang.

Therefore, Heng would help Brother Zhang when he was being punished.

The two have been working together like this for two years and have developed a great rapport.

This year, Heng will be nine years old. Looking at the snow falling all around him, he misses his great-grandfather even more.

It has been two months since I last saw him, and I have not heard from him, which makes Heng very uneasy.

Zhang Jing tested the depth of the snow; his calves were already submerged when he stepped in.

The snow was still falling, and the wind felt like knives cutting into my face.

The young man and woman packed up and, taking advantage of the Qin army's rest, left Jingye County and headed towards Pinyang County.

The Qin soldiers guarding the village entrance did not see the young master and Zhang Jing leave.

However, the Qin army on the mountain saw two figures in the heavy snow, and after walking a distance, the two figures left long footprints.

Shusun Tong was still resting with his eyes closed when a muffled voice came from outside the door. It was the garrison general reporting through the door.

"Master, the young master and Zhang Jing have headed towards Pinyang County."

Upon hearing this, Shusun Tong remained lying on his side, without opening his eyes, and sighed, "Protect them from a distance, and let them do as they please."

"Yes."

Knowing he couldn't stop the young master, Shusun Tong did his best. Going out in this heavy snow was very unsafe, but the child couldn't be protected all the time.

Shusun Tong tacitly allowed the two to leave, but planned to punish them after they returned.

Pinyang County used to be the suburbs of Liyang City. After several constructions, this suburbs grew to a certain size and became a county.

This is the present-day Pinyang County. After Wang Jian returned victorious, he established Pinyang as his fiefdom. He did not build a city wall for his fields and houses, and refused all rewards and treasures. He only asked for the fields and houses.

Braving the wind and snow, Zhang Jing wore a straw hat and raincoat, his body covered in a thick layer of snow, making him look almost like a snowman.

He didn't know how long he had walked. Heng trudged through the snow, and could only make out the road by looking at the houses around him.

When the two arrived outside Pinyang County, they saw many soldiers coming and going.

Zhang Jing asked, "Is there usually so many troops surrounding Pinyang County?"

Heng shook his head and said, "Normally, even if there's just one more Qin soldier hanging around in front of the old man, he'll find it very annoying."

The two returned to the foot of a low slope, and Zhang Jing asked, "Did the Duke of Pinyang lose something important and send the army to arrest him?"

Heng shook his head and said, "The entire Pinyang County is the old man's fiefdom. What kind of bandits could there be?"

Zhang Jing scratched his head and asked, "Then what should we do?"

Taking advantage of the Qin army patrolling far away, Heng led Zhang Jing and quickly entered the county. The snow was not so deep near the county.

As he ran, he said, "Brother Zhang, the old lady doesn't like having soldiers around. Normally, she won't bother Pingyang County if there are no soldiers around."

Zhang Jing asked, "Has something happened?"

Heng said, "There is only one possibility for so many troops to be here."

He paused, his cheeks flushed red from the cold wind, and then said, "It's because a very important person has come from Xianyang."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jing followed a step behind, pondering the young master's words.

Finally, the two ran through a narrow alley, passed a cluster of houses, and saw the warm lights in the windows of each house.

Finally, the two reached the main road of the county. Heng stopped and looked towards his great-grandfather's house. He saw a carriage parked in front of the house, and a man wearing a cloak got out. It was clearly his father.

As soon as Fusu got out of the carriage, he was about to help his wife who was still standing behind him when he saw his son standing not far away. He gave Tian An a look.

Tian An smiled and said, "Young Master, General Zhang."

Heng stepped forward, puzzled, and asked, "Father, have you come to visit the old master?"

Wang Tang'er looked at her son with a smile, took Heng's hand and said, "Why are you here?"

Heng realized that his father had not replied, and that even his mother had come to Pinyang County this time. He felt increasingly uneasy, but still said, "I miss my great-grandfather."

Wang Tang'er brushed the snow off her son's shoulders, took off his straw hat, straightened his clothes, and said, "Let's go see Grandpa."

"Brother!" Young Master Li also got off the carriage.

"Brother!" Heng smiled and took his hand.

Tian An looked at the two brothers with smiles on their faces, but their smiles were not happy, because today was not a day to be happy.

Heng noticed that after Brother Zhang arrived, soldiers from the army were talking to him, and he also saw Brother Zhang's gaze frequently looking over at him, a gaze filled with worry and sadness.

No one told her what had happened here. Heng just held her younger brother's hand, her eyes constantly observing, trying to glean some clues from the adults' expressions, and trying to find out what had happened.

Heng then saw his parents enter the old man's house.

Until Grandpa came out of the house and stood in front of the two of them.

Wang Ben said, "Let's go see the old man." Hearing this, Heng led his younger brother Li into the house and saw the old man lying on the couch. Beside the old man were his parents and many other people he didn't recognize.

When Wang Jian saw the two children, he simply smiled and nodded, without saying a word, and then closed his eyes.

Suddenly, the sound of crying came from inside the house. Heng saw that many adults were crying, and his white-haired grandfather was outside giving instructions. Everyone here was very busy.

As night fell, Heng sat outside with his younger brother, watching the people coming and going, and their mother and grandfather talking.

Seeing the two boys sitting together, Wang Ben stepped forward and said, "Heng, you'll be nine years old this year?"

"Yes, Heng is eight years old this year."

"I heard from the old master that you are doing very well in your studies."

"Heng is not good at studying. I am the dumbest of the old master's disciples."

Four-year-old Li said, "I want to learn too."

Wang Ben sat on the stone steps with his two children. The snow had finally stopped, but it was getting colder. He said in a low voice, "Your great-grandfather used to see his deceased brothers often."

Heng frowned and asked, "Why?"

"Your great-grandfather fought for half his life. Many of his good brothers died on the battlefield. After returning, he often said that he was talking with his old brothers outside. But where in the county are his old brothers? Who else can live as long as him? The best time of his life was when he was playing with the young master."

Heng finally burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably.

Young Master Li was still young. Although he was unaware of his elder brother's feelings and had only met his great-grandfather a few times, he still felt that he should be sad.

Wang Ben patted the child's back and said, "But your great-grandfather has been content all his life. He has to thank your father for giving him such a good old age."

Some of his white hairs fluttered wildly in the cold wind, and Wang Ben's beard was also white. He continued, "After I destroyed the State of Qi, your great-grandfather wouldn't let me lead troops anymore. He himself led a large army to attack the State of Chu. The prince ordered people to paint his conquest of the six states on the murals of Xianyang Palace, recording his great-grandfather's achievements."

Heng wiped away his tears and continued listening.

"The emperor gave your great-grandfather the highest-standard mausoleum, even exceeding the bounds of ritual. It was a mausoleum on the scale of a feudal lord, with a blue stone tablet erected on top."

"Your great-grandfather said that all weapons that enter his mausoleum should be blunted. From now on, the Wang family will no longer command troops, and Wang Li has been ordered to resign from his military post."

Heng didn't understand any of this; he only knew that he would never see his great-grandfather again.

The funeral lasted for three days, and even after the old man was buried, Heng still felt very sad.

Wang Tang'er spoke at length to her son, urging him to continue his studies in Jingye County and become someone who would not disappoint his grandfather in the future.

Heng has always been a very sensible child. He understands what he's saying, but he really can't bear to part with his great-grandfather.

Half a month later, Heng stayed in Pinyang County to observe mourning, and Zhang Jing stayed with him the whole time.

However, the person who was mainly observing the mourning period was the old man's grandson, Wang Li.

Heng Ping had never met Wang Li before, and when he first met Wang Li, he thought he was a very rigid person.

Heng disliked Wang Li, but still left Pinyang County and returned to Jingye County.

Everything in Jingye County remained the same, and Zhang Jing stood before the old master with his head bowed.

Heng stood before the old master, head bowed, silent.

Shusun Tong watched as his two disciples cursed him for a full quarter of an hour, until the old man got thirsty and drank a large pot of water.

Finally, Zhang Jing was punished by being forced to grind grain for a day and was not allowed to eat.

Heng knew that the old master's punishment would be neither too lenient nor too severe.

At night, just as it was time for dinner, Heng brought over a bowl of noodles and two flatbreads.

Zhang Jing was still inside, pulling the millstone. It was the season of ice and snow, and he was sweating profusely. The thick rope tied around his arms to pull the millstone had left several red marks.

However, this is nothing to Brother Zhang Jing; it's a minor matter.

Heng ate a pancake by himself, then put down the other pancakes and said, "Brother Zhang, let's eat."

Zhang Jing grinned, and seeing that the young master had closed the door, he began to eat.

Every time they were punished by the old master, the two of them cooperated in this way.

While eating the pancake, Zhang Jing noticed that Heng was reading a book.

Since the passing of Master Pinyang, I have been reading a lot these past two days and studying more diligently than ever before.

Zhang Jing glanced at it; the young master was still looking at documents from Xianyang.

With noodles in his mouth, Zhang Jing asked, "What kind of document is this?"

Heng replied, "This is a document about the recent promotion of officials. It lists the officials' achievements. A county magistrate named Xiao He has been promoted to county magistrate."

Zhang Jing scratched his head with the hand holding the chopsticks and said, "This Xiao He... haven't we met before?"

Heng shook his head and said, "There were so many people taking the exam back then, it's impossible to remember them all."

Zhang Jing nodded while chewing noodles, then stuffed another bite of pancake into his mouth.

The flatbread was thick and fragrant, with a golden-brown exterior and a beige interior. One bite and the aroma of wheat practically burst from your nose.

This document records the many achievements of Xiao He, an official, in governing Jingyang County.

Under Xiao He's governance, Jingyang County paid twice as much land tax as in previous years, actively recruited people to enter the pass, doubling the population, and actively developed water sources and built schools.

The once impoverished Jingyang County became much wealthier in that year.

Looking at the young master's serious expression, Zhang Jing, who was eating a pancake but couldn't understand the scroll, rested for a while after finishing his meal and then continued to pull the millstone.

After the snow had mostly melted, Heng and Zhang Jing went to Pinyang County to pay homage to the Duke of Pinyang, and also went to Jingyang County.

Zhang Jing said, "If we go to Jingyang County now, we probably won't be able to make it back in time. We'll probably have to spend the night there."

Heng said, "It's quite nice that the old master has given me the chance to not study today, and I can come out and have some fun."

The two went to Jingyang County, with two disguised Qin soldiers following far behind, protecting them in the shadows.

In fact, they knew in their hearts that with Zhang Jing protecting the young master, even a large army in Guanzhong might not be a match for Zhang Jing. Most importantly, the young master would definitely be able to escape unscathed.

With Zhang Jing, a man of superhuman strength, protecting him, the young master can roam freely in this pass.

When the two arrived in Jingyang County, they did not see Xiao He, but instead met Cao Can, a local clerk.

"We are disciples of the Grand Master, and we've come here to inquire whether Magistrate Xiao is in town?"

Cao Can was looking at the documents when he said, "Magistrate Xiao has gone to Shanglin Garden."

Heng countered, "What is Magistrate Xiao doing at Shanglin Garden if he's not in Jingyang County?"

"They say that Du Shuichang has returned from Longxi."

"Du Shui Changlu?"

……

P.S.: There's one more chapter, I'll post it later, in about half an hour.

(End of this chapter)