Chapter 12

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But to Lin Qing'er's surprise, Wang Xian quickly put away his dejection and earnestly asked her for guidance on the correct pronunciation.

Lin Qing'er was very pleased to have something she excelled at. The official language of the Ming Dynasty, also known as Jianghuai Mandarin, was not as soft as Wu, not as harsh as Cantonese, and not as rough and simple as Northern Mandarin. As the official language of the Ming Dynasty, it was dignified and grand, and more elegant than the Central Plains Mandarin that had been influenced by the Mongol Yuan.

Scholars and merchants of this era had to learn the official language because the dialects varied greatly from place to place, especially in the south, where there could be several dialects within a single prefecture, sounding like bird language to outsiders. Only those who could speak the official language could communicate with the local gentry and officials.

In short, the official language was the language of the upper class. Without it, one could not enter the upper echelons of society.

The Lin family had a long tradition of learning, and Lin Qing'er spoke standard Jianghuai Mandarin. She was also fond of teaching, and Wang Xian had a high level of insight and studied very seriously, which gave Teacher Lin a great sense of satisfaction.

Thus, one taught and the other learned, and before they knew it, a day had passed. In the afternoon, the black-roofed boat arrived at Qianqing Town, twenty miles northwest of Shaoxing.

After docking at the wharf, Tian Qi went to the salt office in town to obtain the necessary permits. Although the salt fields were not prisons, the restrictions on entry and exit were almost as strict. Unauthorized entry was considered theft of government salt.

By the time it was dusk, Tian Qi had obtained the permits, but they could not visit that day. The three of them had to stay in town for the night.

It was so late that there were no sedan chairs available for hire at the wharf. Tian Qi had to say to Lin Qing'er, "Miss, help me get him to shore, and then we'll find an inn."

Lin Qing'er's face turned red, secretly blaming Uncle Tian for his lack of propriety. Men and women should not touch each other, so how could he ask her to help support him? But she couldn't say this aloud, so she endured her embarrassment and, with Tian Qi, helped support Wang Xian.

Wang Xian was half a head taller than Lin Qing'er. When he stood up, his arms naturally rested on her shoulders, as if he were hugging her.

Lin Qing'er's face felt hot, her heart pounding in her throat, and her feet felt like they were walking on cotton. She didn't know how she managed to help him onto the shore.

Fortunately, once on shore, Uncle Tian carried Wang Xian, so Lin Qing'er didn't have to help anymore. At the inn in town, they took two rooms, and Uncle Tian whispered, "Miss, I'll share a room with Wang Xiaoge."

Lin Qing'er was so angry she trembled. Was he suggesting she share a room with him?

The night passed without incident. The next morning, Uncle Tian said to Lin Qing'er, "Miss, wait at the inn for news. I'll go with Wang Xiaoge, and we'll be back by afternoon."

Lin Qing'er then realized that allowing two people to enter the salt fields was already the limit. She sighed inwardly, wondering what she was doing here.

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Tian Qi carried Wang Xian to the entrance of the salt fields outside the town. They first had their permits and travel documents checked at the gate. Actually, Wang Xian didn't have a travel document, but Tian Qi had paid a bribe, so it didn't matter. After being allowed in, they were led by a field worker into the vast Qianqing Salt Fields.

At first glance, the area was open and flat, with fields divided by paths, and people working in the fields, walking along the ridges, much like the rice paddies in the Jiangnan region.

Seeing the water wheels, the reed beds in the distance, and smelling the briny air, Wang Xian felt quite comfortable. Being carried, he didn't have to walk, which was certainly pleasant...

The field worker led Tian Qi through several salt fields, making Uncle Tian sweat and pant, before they reached a salt-drying area. The field worker asked a busy worker, "Where's Wang Tou?"

"He's resting in the reed beds," the worker replied, barefoot and bare-chested, holding a large rake, his skin tanned dark. He then called out, "Wang Tou, Mr. Qian is here!"

"Mr. Qian, what a rare guest..." A few men stood up from the reed beds, one of them a middle-aged man in his forties with a round face and thick lips, looking honest and kind. He was the father of the two brothers, Wang Xingye. He smiled warmly, "Come in and rest. This trip must have been quite a journey."

Mr. Qian's attitude toward him was clearly different from that toward others. He smiled, "Your son has come to bring you winter clothes."

"Uh..." Wang Tou saw Tian Qi and the bundle in his hand, and was momentarily stunned. Someone nearby teased, "Wang Tou, you have such a big son?"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Wang Tou glared at them and apologized to Tian Qi, "Old Seven, don't mind them. They're a bunch of convicts, their words are as foul as their breath." Compared to his wife, his father's reaction to seeing an enemy was much better.

Tian Qi smiled and turned his head, revealing Wang Xian's face, "Father, it's me..."

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The three entered the reed beds, where they found a hidden oasis. The salt workers had cleared a space, laid down thick reeds, and built a shelter, providing a place to rest from the wind and rain.

Wang Xian saw that in the best shelter, there was a low table with several porcelain bowls. The bowls contained fennel beans, mixed seaweed, drunken shrimp, pickled fish, and a jar of yellow wine. The chopsticks and wine cups scattered around indicated that his father had just been drinking and playing cards...

Wang Xian was speechless. Before coming, he had imagined all sorts of dire situations and was prepared for the worst. He had even been debating whether to shed tears, whether to cry silently or aloud. But now, with his mouth agape, he wondered, "Are you here for labor reform, or on vacation?"

Wang's father looked somewhat embarrassed. Seeing his son come to visit him while ill, and finding himself drinking and playing cards, he felt it was inappropriate. He could only chuckle, "Making the best of a bad situation, making the best of a bad situation."

He then carried his son and instructed a subordinate, "Quickly prepare some hot dishes to accompany Mr. Qian and Brother Tian." He had brought money with him and had a friend from his days as a criminal registrar, who was now a clerk here, so he had become the head of this area's kitchen and had never had to work in the fields.

However, he was good at getting along with people, so no one was particularly upset with him.

Everyone knew that if Wang Tou's son was carried in to see him, it was not just to bring winter clothes. There must be something to discuss, so they continued drinking, allowing the father and son to talk privately.

Wang's father carried Wang Xian to a secluded spot by the sea and, after a while, asked in a low voice, "How did you end up like this?"

Wang's father received a letter every month assuring him of his family's safety, so he was completely unaware that his son had nearly been beaten to death, that the family was in debt, and that his daughter-in-law had run back to her parents.

Wang Xian recounted the events of the past six months and said softly, "Mother probably thought that since Father is serving labor here, he can't help much and would only worry in vain."

"Ah..." Wang's father sighed, understanding his son's expression now.

He carried Wang Xian in silence to the seaside and found a large rock for him to sit on. Wang's father straightened up and sighed, "Your mother may seem smart, but she's actually a fool. If she had told me, I could have found a way to get her money." He glanced at Wang Xian, a fierce look in his eyes, "Who had the nerve to hurt my son?"

Wang Xian almost cried, thinking, no wonder Wang Er dreams of his father coming home. Having a father is truly wonderful...

"Speak!" his father urged.

"I don't know, but they were six burly men from another county," Wang Xian said softly, "but they are likely connected to the Zhao family."

"..." Hearing the name "Zhao family," Wang's father's eyes turned cold, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked. After a long pause, he sighed, "Why would the Zhao family want to kill you?"

"Because..." Wang Xian lowered his head, "I had someone write a petition to clear Father's name... Ow!" Before he could finish, he was hit on the head, tears streaming down his face as he quickly covered his head.

"You damn brat, do you know your place? Trying to overturn a case like that!" His father was so angry his beard stood on end. "If you weren't sick, I'd tear you into pieces!"

"Father, the magistrate's father is already dead in prison..." Wang Xian said, still holding his head, "and Lin Rongxing is to be executed in the fall."

"Ah..." Wang's father was immediately disheartened. Wang Xian's guess was spot on. When he endured severe torture to protect the magistrate, it was because he hoped the magistrate's father, the notorious and powerful Left Censor-in-Chief Chen Ying, would help him while saving his son. This choice was not wrong, but with Chen Ying's downfall, he had become a laughingstock.

Such is the fate of those who rely on others for their fortune.

"Father, you were wronged," Wang Xian said softly.

"Of course," his father sneered. "I never took ill-gotten money, for fear it would bring misfortune to you."

"Lin Xiucai was also wronged," Wang Xian added.

"Indeed," at this point, his father had nothing to hide, "he couldn't even kill a chicken, let alone a person."

"The woman's body wasn't his wife, but was killed by a wealthy family upstream!" Wang Xian continued.

"Really?" his father looked surprised, "How do you know?"

"The Ming Dynasty has a system of household registration and mutual protection. If a small family's member goes missing, it can't be hidden. Since Father investigated for so long and found no news, the victim must have been from a wealthy household."

"What else do you know?" his father couldn't help but look at Wang Xian differently. Was this still his son?

"I also know that the murderer, to avoid suspicion, secretly coerced the Zhao family to file a complaint, knowing that Inspector He and the magistrate had a grudge. If given the chance, he would do everything to ruin them!"

"Right!" his father slapped his son's thigh, "That's exactly what he planned!" He then sighed, "What good does it do to know? They used a direct strategy, and it's already set in stone."

Wang Xian winced in pain, "But Lin Rongxing's wife might still be alive!"

"What?" his father was shocked, "How is that possible?"

"It's very likely..." Wang Xian said solemnly, "I heard that Zhao Meiniang is a famous beauty."

"Beautiful, yes, but too promiscuous, that's why Lin Xiucai beat her," his father said with a lecherous grin.

"Now that everyone thinks she's dead and the case is closed, what reason does the murderer have to kill her?" Wang Xian said, "If he could hide one death, he can certainly hide another person living in the house..."

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