Di Ming

Chapter 187 What a great act of filial piety!

"A distinguished guest?" Madam Wang's eyebrows shot up, her rolling pin wielding like a sword. "I've been married to you for forty-two years, and I've only been away for a little over a year. And you call me a distinguished guest?"

"Qi Yuanjing, are you going to divorce your wife?"

"Oh dear!" Qi Jiguang stamped his foot. "Madam, you misunderstand! What I meant was that you are a distinguished guest... Ah, no, that's not it."

After forty-two years of marriage, how could he truly sever ties with Wang?
Wang snorted coldly, stepped forward, brushed the snow off Qi Jiguang, examined his complexion, and said:
"You silly goose, you're all better now."

"I was determined to wait until you died before I came back, and never see you again while you were alive. But I couldn't resist the persuasion of some people who talked to me for months, so I had no choice but to come back for the New Year."

Upon hearing this, Qi Jiguang recalled the expressions on Zhu Yin and Ning Caiwei's faces when they saw him off, and immediately knew that it was Zhihu's doing.

This adopted son is truly filial.

Madam Wang's expression softened somewhat, and she said, "Such a large mansion has no New Year's goods! The warehouse is so poor it's like a rat's den, and I still have to use my own savings to buy New Year's goods!"

Originally, Wang had decided never to see Qi Jiguang again. She planned to return to pay her respects and attend his funeral after his death.

She was the daughter of a military family. She married into the Qi family at the age of sixteen. Because she loved to practice martial arts, she was punished by her mother-in-law a lot in her early years, which damaged her health. She could not have any more children after giving birth to only one daughter.

Qi Jiguang secretly took several concubines behind her back. Although she resented it, she endured it. She had to follow her husband's lead; life had to go on, and the Qi family couldn't be without an heir.

However, in order to support his troops and achieve great deeds, Qi Jiguang actually took out private debts!
She tried countless times to persuade Qi Jiguang, even joining forces with several concubines with whom he had a strained relationship, to urge him not to sacrifice personal interests for public good.

Was resisting the Japanese invaders right or wrong? Yes. Was serving one's country right or wrong? Yes.

But you can't use your own family fortune to pay for it. You have to pay for soldiers' pensions, you have to pay for supplies, and you have to pay for bribing the powerful.

What else could this be but a spendthrift?
The Ming Dynasty was so vast, and the emperor was so wealthy. How could you possibly ruin your family's fortune? The Ming Dynasty belonged to the Zhu family, not your Qi family.

However, this man was heartless and did things his own way.

He eventually rose to the rank of first-grade official, yet he was burdened with enormous debts—a truly bizarre situation. All of his family's ancestral assets, including fields, shops, treasures, and fine horses, were sold off completely.

In the end, it still wasn't enough to pay off the debt; after all the squandering, they still owed 30,000 taels of silver. The once grand mansion of the Junior Guardian was now empty and desolate, like a haunted house, with concubines dismissed and servants sold off.

He became a renowned general, but the Qi family fell into dire straits. After he was dismissed from office and stripped of his salary, they were left without rice to cook and went hungry!

He himself was guilty of a crime, and it also prevented several of his sons from entering officialdom. They were all grown up and had nothing to do, so no one dared to marry off their daughters to them.

What's even more unbearable is that those creditors who kick you when you're down come to your door every few days to demand repayment. How can you live like this?

If she doesn't take her dowry with her, won't it just end up in the hands of the creditors? When Qi Jiguang dies, there won't even be money for his burial!

But a few months ago, someone approached him, saying they were sent by Qi Jiguang's adopted son, to persuade him to go home. That person came several times, patiently and tirelessly trying to convince him to go home for the New Year.

But she decided to leave after the New Year to avoid being humiliated by creditors again.

She's been back for over half a month, and the creditors haven't come to her door even once. Have they suddenly become kind?
When asked, Qi Baoguo didn't know what was going on either.

Looking at his wife, whose hair had turned gray, Qi Jiguang felt a sense of loss, recalling their deep affection for each other in the past. His once beautiful wife had faded with time.

He took his wife's hand and said with deep concern, "I wronged you back then, and now I regret it. Please..."

Wang shook off his hand, her eyes slightly red, and said:
"Hmph, if only you had known this would happen, why did you do it in the first place? To act like a loyal minister and end up like this is truly laughable! Let me tell you, I'm still leaving after the New Year! Otherwise, my creditors will be bothering me every day, and I'll be furious!"

Thinking of those creditors, Wang's mood soured again.

Qi Jiguang pointed to the carriage behind him and laughed, "Why should we fear creditors pressing us for repayment? There are four thousand taels of gold in this carriage, enough to pay off our debts and even leave us with some left over."

Over the past year, Qi Jiguang had also received tens of thousands of taels of war spoils. Zhu Yin was very considerate and converted all the tens of thousands of taels of silver into gold, which Qi Jiguang then transported back.

"Four thousand taels of gold?" Madam Wang stared wide-eyed in disbelief. "Qi Yuanjing, where did you get four thousand taels of gold? Why are you trying to fool me!"

The Qi family was indeed a large and wealthy family back in the day, living a life of luxury. They had certainly owned tens of thousands of taels of silver before.

But that's ancient history. Now, they're heavily in debt, not to mention tens of thousands of taels, they don't even have a few dozen taels left.

The old man has been dismissed from office and stripped of his salary. Where did Zhang Juzheng's "followers," who are now being pushed around by everyone, get four thousand taels of gold? Did they rob and plunder?

She rushed to the carriage and saw two chests inside. Upon opening them, she was struck by their gleaming gold – they were indeed gold!

She alighted from the carriage, dismissed the others, and then lowered her voice to say:

"Qi Yuanjing, where did you get so much gold? Don't bring any more trouble to the Qi family! It's fine if you lose your head, but don't drag your children down with you!"

She knew her husband was incredibly strong, capable of robbing and plundering, and also had the audacity to do so. If a wealthy but unscrupulous person ran into him, he might very well rob them under pressure from debt.

Qi Jiguang laughed and said, "It's all luck, really. I saved someone back then, and now he's a wealthy merchant in the south. To repay me and because he admires my character, he gave me four thousand taels of gold to pay off my debts. I have no official position now, so accepting it wouldn't be a bribe, would it?"

"Oh, if Madam says it shouldn't be accepted, then I'll return it to him."

Lady Qi stared intently into his eyes, her face darkening. "Nonsense! Are you trying to fool me? Do you think I'm out of my mind? I know you perfectly well! How could you obtain this gold so easily? Merchants are all about profit; who would give you four thousand taels of gold? This is gold!"

"Tell me, was it a robbery?"

"Alas..." Qi Jiguang sighed, his expression bitter, as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself.

Wang sneered, "Did I guess right? Do you think I'm senile?"

Qi Jiguang was a master of military strategy, and he always used military tactics to deal with his wife. Of course, he knew that his wife would not believe him, so this first statement was a feint.

The second explanation was the reason he prepared it for his wife.

Qi Jiguang looked troubled. "To tell you the truth, this gold was given to me by Zhihu. His family is extremely wealthy, and this gold is a gift from him. Although four thousand taels of gold is a lot, it is nothing to Zhihu."

"I didn't tell you before because I was afraid you wouldn't believe I had such a filial adopted son. To be honest, no one would believe this story if I told them, so I made up the previous version. If you don't believe me, ask Baoguo; didn't I adopt a wonderful son?"

"Serve the country! Serve the country!"

Wang immediately thought of the person who had persuaded her to come back for the New Year.

She said she was sent by her husband's adopted son. Could it be that adopted son?

That adopted son was named Zhu Yin, and he had previously stayed at the Qi residence. She had heard about him from Qi Baoguo as soon as she returned. Baoguo said that Zhu Yin respected her husband very much and immediately brought him silver as a sign of respect upon arrival.

So, is this really true?

Wang was immediately convinced. She didn't believe the merchant was so generous, but she believed in fate.

Qi Jiguang continued, "However, this matter must not be publicized. I am a criminal, and people say I am a remnant of Zhang Taiyue's faction. If people find out about my relationship with Zhihu, it will implicate him."

“Zhihu is now an eleven-year-old top scholar in the imperial examination, a child prodigy of the Ming Dynasty, with a bright future ahead of him. I am his godfather, and you are his godmother. We cannot publicize this relationship and hinder his future.”

"It's him?!" Madam Wang exclaimed in surprise. "Zhihu is that Zhu Lang from Jiangzuo? Even in Dengzhou, we've heard of him! He's your adopted son?"

"Everyone says he is the youngest top scholar in the history of the Ming Dynasty, a reincarnation of the God of Literature, and an auspicious omen for the country."

Qi Jiguang, beaming with pride, said with a smile, "That's right, it's him. I really do have a special connection with Zhihu..."

Madam Wang nodded. "Then accept the gold. This matter must not be made public. You've been branded as a remnant of Zhang Juzheng, and the emperor still hates you. Don't let anyone know about your relationship with Zhu Yin. Actually, it was your adopted son who sent someone to persuade me to come back for the New Year."

Qi Jiguang looked extremely gratified. "I knew it was him. Although he is called an adopted son, he is like a biological father to me. I never thought that I would be able to have such a good adopted son at the age of sixty."

What Qi Jiguang was most satisfied with about Zhu Yin was not Zhu Yin's filial piety, but Zhu Yin's ability.

Although Qi Jiguang said he had a special connection with Zhu Yin, he didn't mention the Jinghai Army. He wouldn't utter a word about things he shouldn't, not even to his wife and son.

Their ignorance of these things is precisely what benefits them.

"Father!" Qi Baoguo ran over excitedly. "Father is back! For over a year, I thought Father was too afraid to return to Dengzhou!"

Qi Jiguang glared and said, "Nonsense! You think I dare not return? What do I have to fear!"

Qi Baoguo dared not retort, but thought to himself, "Father, you're just afraid to go back, aren't you? You said you were going south to visit old friends, but you were actually hiding from your creditors. Father, do you know how your creditors are cursing you now? They call you a cowardly general, a debt-shirking commander, and a debt-avoiding junior magistrate!"

He was unaware that his father had brought back four thousand taels of gold. He thought to himself, "Now that Father is back, once the news gets out, the creditors will come knocking, demanding repayment. Will we even be able to celebrate the New Year? Especially the Kong family; their demands are like wolves and tigers." "Quickly, come inside!" Wang Shi said, ordering the carriage to be driven into the inner courtyard to unload the gold.

"Father, this is..." Qi Baoguo was surprised and puzzled when he learned that it was four thousand taels of gold.

Qi Jiguang said in a low voice, "This is a tribute from your brother Zhihu. You should learn from him. Everyone calls me 'Father.' How does he show filial piety? How do you show filial piety?"

Qi Baoguo: "..."

Dad, am I even your father? I have no money, how can I be filial? This family fortune, did I squander it all?
"Enough!" Madam Wang couldn't stand it any longer. "What are you saying, you old bastard! With a father like you, how can they possibly take care of you?"

Qi Baoguo almost cried upon hearing this. His stepmother had spoken a fair word.

Father, did you hear that?
In fact, even Qi Jiguang's three sons harbored a lot of resentment towards him.

The second son simply ran away from home and went to his uncle's house with his mother, where he did not return for three years.

Because his father was such a spendthrift. Even the Qi family members no longer associated with the direct line and lived their own lives.

Apart from his uncle's family, the rest of the Qi family ignored their father. This was understandable; their father owed money to the clan, and they didn't come to collect it, but simply cut off all contact—that was already quite kind of them.

Now that my father no longer contributes money to subsidize military expenses, surely this four thousand taels of gold won't be squandered again?

Madam Wang personally sealed the treasury and said, "Qi Yuanjing, you can no longer touch the gold in the house. You must get my permission first. If you don't listen, I'll leave immediately and never see you again, even if I die."

Qi Jiguang laughed and said, "Very well, we will do as Madam wishes."

Actually, he also had a stack of ordination certificates that could be used as money. They were lightweight and easy to carry, and were worth five hundred taels of silver.

As soon as he entered the room, Wang helped him take off his coat, saying, "It's hot on the kang (heated brick bed), take off your mink coat."

Qi Jiguang shuddered and quickly said, "I'll take it off myself, I'll take it off myself..."

Wang's judgment was incredibly sharp. How could she possibly comply? With doubts in her heart, she immediately reached for the ordination certificate inside her mink robe.

"Well, Qi Yuanjing!" Madam Wang raised her eyebrows. "What is this? You've been hiding so much money! You're so old, what are you doing carrying so much money?"

They said they would take everything, leaving nothing behind.

When her husband was rich, he kept actors, drank wine and women, entertained guests, and bought fine horses and swords. He was a spendthrift.

This old man shouldn't have too much money on him.

Qi Jiguang sighed and could only let it be.

"Dad's back?!" A familiar voice called out, and then a tall young man walked into the house.

It was the eldest son, Qi Zuoguo.

Qi Zuoguo was actually the third son. But because his two older brothers died young, he became the eldest son.

Qi Zuoguo was already twenty years old. He had practiced martial arts since childhood, was proficient in riding and archery, and was well-versed in military books. He could be considered a son of a military family. At the age of fifteen, he was granted the position of centurion.

Unfortunately, not long after, due to his father's dismissal and punishment, he was implicated and stripped of his position as a centurion, and has been without official rank or post ever since.

"Your son greets Father." Qi Baoguo bowed calmly. "Father, are you feeling much better?"

Qi Baoguo also harbored resentment towards his father. It wasn't that he resented being implicated by his father, but rather that his father disregarded the family.

Disregarding one's family for the sake of the court is one thing, but if it earns the court and the emperor's approval, then it's worth it.

What can be exchanged for?
It was the downfall of the entire Qi family and the stripping away of their hereditary fourth-rank official positions!
Not only was the family deeply in debt, but they had also lost their hereditary title passed down for generations. Had his father been worthy of the Ming Dynasty, but had he been worthy of his ancestors?

But Qi Baoguo was a filial son. No matter how much resentment he harbored, he was still a son in front of Qi Jiguang.

"Get up, the ground is cold." Qi Jiguang helped his son up, feeling guilty again.

Zuoguo will be twenty-one years old next year, but he is still not married!

The engagement was broken off a few years ago.

Of course, it was also because of his own actions.

Nowadays, no one in the Qi family dares to marry off their daughter!

"Father," Qi Zuoguo said with a hint of doubt, "I heard in the city that you have paid off all your debts. Is that true? Where did you get the money for a debt of thirty thousand taels?"

"What?" Qi Jiguang was taken aback. "Payed off? I just returned to Dengzhou today and haven't even seen the creditor yet. How can I be talking about paying off the debt?"

Wang suddenly said, "It's really strange. I've been back for more than half a month, and not a single creditor has shown up. I was wondering about that before. Didn't they come to our door every few days? The Kong family is especially pressing us."

Qi Baoguo also exclaimed "Eh," "Yes, it's been a long time since any creditors have come knocking. I thought Father was about to be reinstated, so they wouldn't dare come anymore."

"I understand now." Qi Jiguang smiled bitterly. "It was Zhihu! He secretly paid off the debt without my knowledge!"

"It's Brother Zhihu again?" Qi Baoguo was speechless. "That's a debt of thirty thousand taels of silver!"

"Adding four thousand taels of gold, that's equivalent to giving Father seventy thousand taels?! What a great act of filial piety!"

He was truly ashamed of his own lack of filial piety towards Zhu Yin.

He didn't actually know that the four thousand taels of gold weren't a gift from Zhu Yin, but rather "spoils of war" that his father had received as a share of the spoils. However, the debt of thirty thousand taels of silver was indeed paid off by Zhu Yin.

"What filial piety!" Madam Wang nodded and said, "In that case, it really is Zhihu's doing. Your prodigy adopted son... sigh, I don't know what to say."

Qi Jiguang was deeply grateful to Zhu Yin for sending someone to persuade his wife to return home and for secretly paying off their debts.

This adopted son is truly filial; it's remarkable that he's so thoughtful and considerate at such a young age.

"The dumplings are ready, let's eat first!" Overjoyed, Mrs. Wang couldn't help but smile.

"Eat! Eat!" Qi Jiguang rubbed his hands together, his face flushed.

Everyone sat down at the table, and steaming dumplings were served, bringing back the long-lost family atmosphere.

Overjoyed, Qi Jiguang felt even more hungry and longed to drink to his heart's content.

But Wang did not do as he wished. After eating only a few dumplings, she looked up and said:
"Yuan Jing, today in front of the children, I'm not trying to criticize you, but you can no longer be blindly loyal to the court. But behind closed doors, I'll boldly say something outrageous: the current court is not worth your blind loyalty!"

"The emperor is no wise ruler either; he's cruel and ungrateful, unlike a sage emperor. He's not worth his ministers sacrificing their families, going through hardships, and serving him like beasts of burden..."

"Madam, you..." Qi Jiguang frowned, instinctively wanting to reprimand her, but he was speechless.

"What did I do?" Wang put down her chopsticks. "There are no outsiders here, why can't I say? Why don't you be righteous and report me to the authorities, saying I've slandered the emperor and father, and have me arrested and beheaded!"

"Throughout history, what great general, or one who is blindly loyal to a foolish ruler, has ever had a good end?"

"Qi Yuanjing, get your act together! Don't be so stubborn until you die!"

“If you ever have a chance to rise again, you must not squander your family’s wealth. Think of the Qi family, think of your son.”

"Father," Qi Zuoguo put down his chopsticks, "Mother is right, this court is not worth your heartfelt devotion. Now that our hereditary titles are gone, our Qi family owes the Ming Dynasty nothing!"

"Father owes debts to many people, but he owes nothing to the court or the emperor!"

Hearing the complaints from his wife and son, Qi Jiguang wanted to refute them, but he didn't know what to say.

He could only sigh and say, "You all insist on forcing this old man to abandon his loyal ministership!"

"Enough, enough, let's not talk about this anymore. I won't be as passionate as before. I've dedicated my life to the court, so let me do something for my family in the end."

P.S.: I'm very busy today, so I'll stop here. Thank you, and goodnight! The story of Qi Jiguang ends here for now. Don't call him a simp; after all, they were husband and wife for forty years. Qi Jiguang's transformation was a long process, so we can't rush it.

(End of this chapter)