Chapter 54: Strict Father in Ancient Times (End)
In just two years, Qi Sheng completely revitalized Ningzhou.
For the sustainable development of Ningzhou’s economy, Qi Sheng had early on issued decrees to carefully protect the local fruit trees and forests, to avoid a future where the people had no wild goods to harvest. He also encouraged everyone to plant walnuts and chestnuts to increase the yield of mountain produce.
Now, many new shops had opened in every county and town across Ningzhou. They not only sold daily goods, cloth, and silk, but even brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. With extra money at hand, and under Qi Sheng’s guidance, the people of Ningzhou began to value their children’s education.
Ningzhou had officially stepped onto the right track. With little to do now, Qi Sheng, accompanied by his youngest son and guided by Xie Yun, who was familiar with the local terrain, took to exploring the mountains and rivers.
“Master, be careful underfoot. This way, please.”
Ahead of them, Xie Yun carefully led the way, offering reminders when they passed steeper areas.
When they finally reached the mountaintop and took in the breathtaking view, Qi Sheng felt that the effort of climbing had truly been worth it.
At that moment, Qi Xiuli was bubbling with excitement, looking around eagerly. Though he usually behaved modestly and politely outside, now he was as gleeful as a child.
Qi Sheng shook his head and let him be. About to get married, yet acting even more childish.
Qi Xiuli giggled, and seeing that the tea set was already prepared, thoughtfully began brewing tea for Qi Sheng. Qi Sheng then turned his eyes to Xie Yun, who stood respectfully nearby, and couldn’t help but try to persuade him again: “Xingzhi, with your talent, whether through the civil service exams or by joining the military, you could easily carve out a bright future. Why insist on…”
Xie Yun smiled and said, “Master, are you once again disdaining my meager abilities, thinking me unworthy to stay?”
Qi Sheng was helpless. Seeing that Xie Yun had already made up his mind, he said, “Sit down. The view here is excellent—why not enjoy a drink?”
Qi Xiuli chimed in, “Brother Xie, come sit! Try the tea I brewed!”
Xie Yun answered and sat down. As he gazed at the floating tea leaves, his thoughts drifted far away.
Once, he too had been a dutiful son, basking in his father’s affection. But when his father, a humble schoolteacher, punished a favored illegitimate son of the former magistrate, those people secretly framed them with false accusations.
Father and son did everything they could to clear their name, but it only led to his father’s brutal death and forced Xie Yun to flee far and wide.
By chance, he studied martial arts under a security escort master for several years. Eventually, Xie Yun returned to Ningzhou and avenged his father. Yet he could never return to those years when his father was alive, nor fulfill his father’s wish: “My son is intelligent. With time, he will surely pass the imperial exams and become a distinguished and loyal official!”
Xie Yun drained his cup of tea in one gulp. Father, your son has failed your expectations. But now, serving under the nobleman you admired most, I hope I have not entirely let you down.
Qi Xiuli, seeing Xie Yun gulp down the tea, scolded, “Brother Xie, you’re supposed to savor tea!”
Xie Yun put down his cup and smiled, “Then pour me another. This time, I’ll drink slowly.”
Qi Xiuli glared at him but obediently poured him another full cup.
Three more years passed. Except for Qi Sheng, whose position remained unchanged, his eldest son Qi Xiuwen had now been promoted to a Fifth-Rank Court Physician. His son-in-law had successfully passed the provincial exam. His youngest son had also passed the provincial exam a year ago. Even Madam Wang had been granted the honorary title of a Fourth-Rank Madam.
One day, after Qi Sheng finished handling official business, he brought two attendants with him to a secluded, elegant pavilion to enjoy tea and play the zither. He had just started indulging in some leisurely arts when a servant rushed over.
Qi Sheng raised an eyebrow. What major event could there be now?
The servant, beaming with excitement, approached and said, “Master, an envoy has arrived from the capital—you are summoned to receive an imperial edict!”
Qi Sheng was surprised but quickly rode back home.
After receiving the imperial decree and sending off the smiling eunuch who had congratulated him, Qi Sheng was still a bit confused.
The title: Right Assistant Minister of Revenue, a prestigious position second only to the Minister himself—some even called it the successor’s seat! He, a mere Fourth-Rank local official, had been promoted two full ranks and was now a high-ranking court official!
Qi Sheng frowned, realizing that his journey to the capital might not be an easy one. Still, he wasn’t afraid. Whatever came, he would meet it head-on.
Madam Wang, on the other hand, was overjoyed. Seeing how Liu Shi had her son by her side for filial devotion every day, Madam Wang, though the legal mother of Qi Xiuli, had always felt a little distant. Now, she would finally reunite with her own son—nothing made her happier.
Qi Sheng’s departure caused a sensation in Ningzhou. When their group left, the townspeople escorted them for miles, bidding farewell with deep affection.
Inside the carriage, Madam Wang and the other family members were filled with pride. Watching the ever-calm Qi Sheng, Madam Wang felt a bit dazed. She had once thought she would live her whole life tucked away in little Yuping County. Who would have thought that in just a few short years, life would change so drastically? His rapid rise seemed almost touched by divine favor.
Perhaps she stared at him too long, for when his bright, dark eyes opened and looked back at her, Madam Wang gently smiled. No matter how much he had changed, he was still her husband and the father of her children.
At the city gates of the capital, Qi Xiuwen had brought his wife and children to wait in advance. Qi Xiuwen now had three sons. The youngest, just four years old, was at the age to begin basic education. In his tender little voice, he asked, “Daddy, why aren’t Grandfather and Grandmother here yet?”
Qi Xiuwen picked up his youngest son and replied, “Soon. Do you still remember the poem I taught you last night?”
“Yes, yes! ‘The grass on the plain, it withers and thrives year after year…'”
The little one proudly recited the poem he had just learned, clearly waiting for praise. Qi Xiuwen laughed, delighted by the display. His second son, now six, joined in and praised his younger brother warmly: “Bao’er is so smart!”
But the little boy was not pleased. In his sweet, milky voice, he said, “I’m a big boy now! Teacher says to use my proper name!”
“Yes, yes, our Bao’er is a big boy now.”
The two little ones bantered like miniature adults, and their joyful scene brought bright smiles to Qi Xiuwen and his wife.
After waiting for about the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn, Qi Xiuwen finally saw the Qi family’s carriage approaching. He set his youngest son down, straightened his clothes, and prepared to pay his respects the moment Qi Sheng stepped out.
“Enough, no need for so many formalities. You’ve been waiting quite a while, haven’t you?”
Qi Xiuwen shook his head, feeling both relieved and happy as he looked at his parents, who seemed largely unchanged.
They didn’t linger long at the city gates. The group boarded their carriages and returned to the Qi residence, where Qi Xiuwen formally paid his respects to his parents with his wife and children.
Qi Sheng looked at the three little ones standing neatly before him and, overjoyed, patted each of their heads and praised them warmly.
At the side, Madam Wang was so overwhelmed with emotion that she could hardly contain herself. Looking at her three clever and adorable grandsons, she felt her life was finally complete.
Now Qi Sheng had entered the age of “ear順” (around 60 years old, a time when one listens calmly). In his fourth year after returning to the capital, a new emperor ascended the throne, and Qi Sheng was promoted to Minister of Revenue. Qi Sheng and the new emperor had an excellent working relationship, and within three more years, Qi Sheng had completely reformed the salt tax system, ensuring that no citizen of Da Sheng would ever again worry about the price of salt.
Three years ago, seeing that his eldest son had already risen to become the Left Vice Minister of Personnel, Qi Sheng submitted his resignation not long after the imperial edict came down. Unfortunately, because the state treasury was flourishing under Qi Sheng’s management — and the emperor’s private coffers were also well-filled — the emperor was extremely reluctant to let him go. Qi Sheng had now submitted his resignation four times.
Looking at yet another resignation memorial from Qi Sheng, the emperor felt a sharp pang of pain. Where else could he find a Minister of Revenue who was both excellent at managing money and completely incorruptible?
Thinking about the two luxurious palaces he had just begun to fantasize about building, the emperor stared at the memorial in his hand with intense frustration.
He couldn’t help but compare his comfortable reign with the “bitter and difficult” lives of his predecessors. Past emperors, including the founding emperor and his immediate successors, had always been cautious not to appear extravagant, fearing the people’s backlash. They dared not undertake grand construction projects for fear of being criticized for luxury while their subjects suffered.
After his ascension, the new emperor initially tested the waters by subtly suggesting he would like a small summer palace outside the city. As expected, the censors advised against it, but Qi Sheng, instead of opposing him outright, prepared a thorough feasibility plan.
Over a year, the emperor anxiously waited, worried about public resentment. But when the summer palace was completed, there was barely any backlash, and in fact, many people’s livelihoods had improved because of the construction project. Satisfied, the emperor secretly investigated and found that the state treasury remained robust — thanks to Qi Sheng.
Of course, Qi Sheng wasn’t one to indulge every imperial whim. After occasionally allowing a few “small” luxuries, he would quickly turn the conversation back to urgent state needs — repairing the Yellow River embankments, rebuilding crumbling roads in Yu Province, and so forth. Over time, a tacit understanding developed between sovereign and minister: the emperor would limit his requests to one every few years.
But ever since Qi Sheng first tendered his resignation, the emperor had stopped proposing grand projects. Even so, Qi Sheng remained determined to retire.
The chief eunuch standing nearby couldn’t bear to see the emperor so distressed and softly advised, “Your Majesty, there’s no need to worry. Now that both of Qi Sheng’s sons are officials at court, Qi Daren likely just wishes to avoid attracting too much attention.”
The emperor, of course, understood. If only Qi Xiuwen were an official, it wouldn’t have been such a big issue — father and son both serving was not uncommon. But now that even Qi’s second son had returned to the capital and entered government after six years posted elsewhere, the Qi family had three members in important court positions. It was, inevitably, starting to attract notice.
In the end, the emperor had no choice but to accept Qi Sheng’s resignation. He also reluctantly gave up his dreams of building two more luxurious palaces. Qi Sheng had already fulfilled many of his wishes over the years — it was time to let him go.
At the Qi residence, when Qi Xiuwen and Qi Xiuli heard that their father had once again resigned, they were filled with guilt. But Qi Sheng was completely unconcerned.
“With you two supporting the family, it’s enough. I’ve worked hard for years — why shouldn’t I finally retire and enjoy old age properly?”
Qi Xiuwen and Qi Xiuli knelt silently at Qi Sheng’s feet, heads bowed in remorse. Qi Sheng found it painful to see and lightly kicked Qi Xiuwen.
“I heard you punished Qing’er with the family rod while I was away?”
Qi Xiuwen respectfully replied, “That unfilial child has no interest in studying for the imperial exams. Instead, he’s obsessed with tinkering with trivial matters. I lost my temper and disciplined him.”
After speaking, Qi Xiuwen looked a bit aggrieved. In his youth, had he dared to neglect his studies like that, their father would have beaten him to death.
Qi Sheng helped both his sons up and sighed.
“Back then, I was too fixated on success and treated you too harshly. If I hadn’t seen you, covered in wounds, kneeling miserably in the ancestral hall, perhaps I’d never have realized my mistake. Now, Qing’er simply has different interests — why force him so harshly?”
Qi Xiuwen’s eyes grew slightly moist, though he still said firmly, “I have never blamed Father. I’ve always followed your teachings and tried to be lenient with my own children. But as the eldest grandson of the Qi family, how can Qing’er be allowed to pursue only what pleases him?”
Qi Sheng patted his shoulder.
“Qing’er is obedient enough. He has even passed the provincial exam. As for his hobbies, I’ve reviewed his work — some of his ideas are quite good. If he succeeds, he could serve the country and bring honor to our family in ways the imperial exams cannot.”
Seeing Qi Xiuwen still hesitant, Qi Sheng continued, “I’ve already secured him a position in the Ministry of Works. Since he enjoys it, let him do it. After all, your younger brother has the scholarly talent to continue our family’s academic tradition.”
Qi Xiuwen, seeing this, finally gave up resisting. He loved his eldest son dearly and rarely scolded him. His recent harshness was simply from fear that his son’s waywardness would disappoint their father. Now, seeing how much his father doted on the boy, he felt a twinge of envy — though he was grateful too.
Qi Sheng lived to the age of seventy-five. In his lifetime, he saw his eldest son rise steadily into the Grand Secretariat, his youngest son reach the third-rank officialdom, and his eldest grandson progress from an unknown low-level official in the Ministry of Works to the indispensable Left Vice Minister of War. He witnessed his grandson’s inventions become the most advanced weapons of the Great Sheng Dynasty. He watched all his descendants live out their different destinies.
At last, fully content, he closed his eyes and passed away peacefully.