Chapter 164
The Da Xia Dynasty had a law: officials could not serve in their native registration district. Therefore, he was transferred to become the County Magistrate of Huanhe Town.
Huanhe Town was separated from Xingling Village by two prefectures. When he wrote letters home, he never mentioned Gu Daya. He only asked Brother Jiang to bring his parents over. However, Old Master Jiang and his wife had labored for most of their lives. They were now advanced in age, and their bodies were often unwell. They could hardly endure the hardships of a long journey. Furthermore, they found it difficult to leave their homeland, fearing that if they left, it would be nearly impossible to return. For these reasons, they did not agree.
Old Master Jiang and his wife told him to take Gu Daya with him. After all, they were husband and wife, and the two should be together, how could they live apart?
In his written reply, Jiang Zhengxu refused. He argued that since he was serving his official post far from home and could not fulfill his filial duties personally before his parents, and since Gu Daya was his wife, she should perform them on his behalf.
It wasn't until Old Master Jiang and his wife passed away that Brother Jiang sent someone with a letter for Jiang Zhengxu, telling him to either return himself or send someone to bring Gu Daya over.
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That day, Old Master Wu said: "I know your feelings for Huiniang. I once thought of bringing you two together as well, but it's a pity you were fated to meet but not destined to be together. You are already married, and she has already wed. Now, it's even more so... You should forget her!"
"Teacher..."
"For men, having three wives and four concubines is often normal. I do not oppose your affair with Zhang Huaini. But this girl is not as she presents herself. I observe that she does not seem like a good or kind person. I still believe Xiao Xiao's death is not unrelated to her." Xiao Xiao was Gu Daya's son. Old Master Wu had met him a few times. He was a child with a bit of a chubby, honest-looking face, very open-hearted, and always smiling when he saw people.
He said: "There are some things I should not say. I thought you were already a grown man and would naturally understand some matters. But after all these years, I observe you have not yet come to your senses. Favoring a concubine and neglecting the wife has never been right since ancient times. Gu Daya was your wife from your youth. When you were away studying in the past, she guarded your home for you, served your parents, and supported your studies by working in the fields. You did such labor when you were young, so you should understand the hardship involved. She has fully fulfilled all her duties towards you. But how have you treated her? She is your principal wife, yet you let Zhang Huaini manage the household finances. I once asked you why you did this, and you brushed me off with the reason that she is a rustic country woman, ignorant of etiquette and unable to understand accounts. You have no affection for her, but you ought to give her the respect she is due."
As the principal wife, Gu Daya had her authority over the household usurped by a concubine. This was no different from slapping Gu Daya in the face.
Old Master Wu: "You once told me before that Zhang Huaini's eyes and eyebrows greatly resemble Huiniang's. I did not see it. But even if they are similar, she is ultimately not Huiniang. Huiniang was pure and kind-hearted. Zhang Huaini... she is too greedy. Her ambition is written all over her face, clear for everyone else to see, except for you."
Jiang Zhengxu's eyes trembled. He remained silent for a long time.
He remembered the look in Old Madam Wu's eyes, full of disapproval, whenever he took Zhang Huaini to the Wu residence during festivals in previous years.
Old Master Wu and Old Madam Wu only greeted him and did not give Zhang Huaini even a glance.
Zhang Huaini would complain to him, feeling wronged, and he had only thought that Old Madam Wu looked down on her for being a concubine. Now, thinking back, it wasn't that they looked down on concubines, but that they looked down on Zhang Huaini.
"I know you want to help him." Old Master Wu took a sip of tea, ignoring the awkwardness on his face. "But this Zhang Huaiwen is truly malicious. Fang Zichen has no enmity or grievance with him, yet he acted like this. Where there is a first time, there will be a second. Keeping this kind of person, if he enters officialdom in the future, I fear he will become a cancer, harming the common people."
His latter words seemed to carry a double meaning.
Jiang Zhengxu knew he was admonishing him.
If today he could shield a criminal for the sake of a concubine, what about in the future? Would he then knowingly fail to punish evil?
His ability to transfer from Heyang Town to Fu'an Town was entirely due to Old Master Wu's support. Old Master Wu could help him advance, but could also push him down.
Jiang Zhengxu suddenly asked: "Why is Teacher helping Fang Zichen?"
Old Master Wu replied: "He has a life-saving grace towards me."
"So it was he who saved you last time, Teacher!" Jiang Zhengxu said.
"It's not just that, either." Old Master Wu looked at him and said directly: "That lad wrote to Yi Ger, saying..." Reaching this point, Old Master Wu paused.
"Yi Ger, your Brother Fang is in trouble. Someone covets my good looks and drugged me. But your Brother Fang is upright and kind, respects the old and cherishes the young, is handsome and dashing, and is blessed by heaven. I finally turned danger into safety. The dangers and hardships involved are too much to tell. Having known me for several months, you should know that I hate evil as much as I hate an enemy. As soon as I recovered a little, I wanted to bring the villain to justice. But this person's identity is mysterious and puzzling. However, justice has long arms, and through my unremitting efforts and in-depth investigation, going through many twists and turns, I finally identified the criminal suspect. The suspect is that old bastard Landlord Jia's daughter. I want to report to the authorities and seek justice. But the Jia family is powerful. I heard our County Magistrate is forty-three this year. I'm afraid he's old and his mind isn't clear, susceptible to bribes and shielding criminals. So, go and talk to your grandfather, ask him to help me, alright? If this succeeds, I will surely thank him heavily."
Fang Zichen seized the opportunity to boast and brag about himself.
After Yang Mingyi finished reading this letter, he sent it, unaltered, to Old Master Wu.
Old Master Wu glanced over the letter and felt that having lived such a long life with deep experience and broad knowledge, having seen all kinds of people, he had... never before encountered someone so shameless.
Since the letter mentioned Jiang Zhengxu, Old Master Wu couldn't speak too bluntly.
He had originally thought Fang Zichen was being overly cautious. Jiang Zhengxu was someone he had personally mentored. Although he sometimes pretended not to understand things he clearly did, when it came to being an official, he still maintained a reputation for being upright and honest.
But since Fang Zichen had written, he naturally had to make the trip to express his thanks as well. When he arrived in Fu'an Town and learned the matter involved Zhang Huaiwen, he knew there would be trouble. Yet, at that time, he still trusted Jiang Zhengxu. It wasn't until Jiang Zhengxu announced the adjournment of the court session for a day that Old Master Wu became disappointed in him.
Meals should be eaten while hot, and cases should be handled promptly. Delaying, waiting for the Zhang family to act, would mean that in an instant, both witnesses and material evidence would disappear.
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