Yi Shuyuan did not wait until the day after tomorrow to leave. By dawn the next day, he had already packed everything and was ready to set off for the Yuanjiang County seat.
He had little luggage: only the wooden box with its chipped red lacquer and a few changes of clothing. He was truly traveling light.
Yi Shuyuan believed that if he lacked anything like sheets or bedding, a word with the County Registrar would get it sorted out. Even if the county office had none, getting an advance on his wages—or simply borrowing from someone—should not pose much of a problem.
Today, Yi Shuyuan did not have Yi Yong'an accompany him. He was no child, after all, and since he knew the way, there was no need to make the young man travel all that distance there and back.
The calls of chickens and dogs already carried through the village in the early morning, but few people were out and about.
The family saw him to the courtyard gate, while Yi Baokang and his son Yi Yong'an accompanied him all the way to the edge of the village.
"All right, no need to see me any farther. Go home."
Yi Shuyuan turned to urge father and son to head back. Yi Baokang glanced behind him, then took a pouch from inside his robe and pressed it into Yi Shuyuan's hand.
"Elder brother, even if you've found work, how will you get by before payday without a coin to your name? It isn't much, but take it!"
Yi Shuyuan neither refused nor offered any polite platitudes. He nodded and accepted Yi Baokang's money pouch.
"Uncle, don't forget about us! Come home often!"
Yi Shuyuan was amused by Yi Yong'an's reaction.
"Yong'an, I'm hardly going far away. The county seat isn't going to sprout legs and run off. If you miss me, just come find me. Do you remember what I told you?"
Yi Shuyuan winked. Yi Yong'an immediately remembered his uncle's promise to treat him to a hearty meal, and his face lit up with a smile.
"Uh, just me?"
"Bring as many people as you like, so long as your uncle can afford to treat them! All right, take care. Yong'an, remember to help your father more."
"I will!"
With that, Yi Shuyuan departed amid Yi Baokang and Yi Yong'an's parting reminders.
After walking about a li, Yi Shuyuan opened the pouch and looked inside. There were several dozen copper coins and two fingernail-sized pieces of silver-a considerable sum for the Yi family.
Without Yi Yong'an weighing him down, Yi Shuyuan traveled much faster than last time. It was still well before noon when he reached the outskirts of the county seat.
Since he had arrived earlier, Yi Shuyuan saw more people entering the city gate than on his previous visit. Some farmers carried goods on shoulder poles, and there were even ox carts loaded with wooden tubs of fish kept alive in fresh water.
Anyone selling vegetables, river fish, and the like naturally had to arrive early to start trading.
On his first visit to the Yuanjiang County seat, Yi Shuyuan had been somewhat cautious. This time, he felt much more relaxed-well, at least until he reached the county office.
Following the crowd into the city, Yi Shuyuan did not wander about, but headed straight toward the county office.
The same two men were on duty at Yuanjiang County's side gate. Yi Shuyuan was quite recognizable, and after the County Registrar's instructions, they had been keeping a particularly close watch lately. They spotted him approaching with his bundle on his back from quite a distance.
"Isn't that Mr. Yi?" "Looks like him to me!"
"Stay here and keep watch. I'll go over!"
The runner who had escorted Yi Shuyuan into the county office last time gave his companion those instructions, then left his post and hurried toward Yi Shuyuan. The closer he came, the more clearly he could see him, and before he even reached him, he was already clasping his hands in greeting as he walked.
"Mr. Yi, I thought we'd have to wait until tomorrow. Here, let me carry that for you!"
"No, no, it's not heavy at all."
Yi Shuyuan hastily declined. He was only a clerk, not an official; he could hardly let a little courtesy go to his head.
The two quickly reached the county office and made their way inside, heading for the same room as before. Before they arrived, the runner called out his announcement.
"County Registrar, sir! Mr. Yi is here!"
Last time, Yi Shuyuan had only been shown in after Wu Minggao gave permission. This time, Wu Minggao hurried out to meet him, clasping his hands as soon as he stepped through the door.
"Your early arrival has truly set my worries to rest, Mr. Yi. I was afraid you might not come! Had you failed to arrive tomorrow, I would certainly have gone to West River Village myself to find you!"
Yi Shuyuan dared not slight such a welcome and hastily returned the greeting.
"I wouldn't dare keep you waiting, County Registrar. There was nothing much to do at home, so I came a day early. If it's convenient, could you have someone show me where I'll be working? And, well, where I'll be staying..."
Yi Shuyuan still hoped to get settled as soon as possible.
"Quite right, Mr. Yi. Please follow me."
As he spoke, Wu Minggao looked at the runner beside him.
"Go and make the preparations for me. Check that the bed, bedding, and everything else are ready. If anything is missing, attend to it at once!"
"Yes, sir!"
The runner hurried away.
Yi Shuyuan began to catch on. With him, Wu Minggao spoke simply as "I," but before the runner, he adopted an official's authoritative manner. It seemed he really did hold Yi Shuyuan in high regard. Good thing he had put some effort into his calligraphy that day!
"This way, Mr. Yi! We'll first look at the archive, and I'll also explain the different parts of the county office."
"Oh, sorry for the trouble, sir!"
Yi Shuyuan followed Wu Minggao. He did not know under what circumstances a County Registrar would personally act as a guide, but it clearly was not common.
Only after venturing farther into the county office did Yi Shuyuan realize that its workings were far more complicated than what he had learned from television.
After watching so many shows about the imperial family and high court officials, one might think this was merely a tiny county office. But for the people of Yuanjiang County, it was the very sky above their heads.
The county office's organization was no simple matter either. It had sixty or seventy rooms of varying sizes and was organized into three squads and six departments: the court attendants, guards, and constables, alongside the personnel, revenue, rites, military, justice, and works departments. Yuanjiang County was not a strategically important military location, so its military department existed only on paper, but that still left five functioning departments.
The runners who guarded the city gates, stood in court shouting "Majesty!", investigated and arrested criminals, watched the jail, and performed other duties all seemed much the same in television dramas. In reality, they belonged to different divisions, and Yi Shuyuan counted as a member of the rites department.
Of course, the county office had limited funds and provisions at its disposal, so none of its divisions could have many staff. When they needed to help one another, those distinctions were not drawn too rigidly.
Wu Minggao explained all this as they walked. As they passed certain places, clerks and runners within the office caught sight of them, and some could not help privately wondering who this man was to merit a personal tour from the registrar.
The farther Yi Shuyuan went into the office, the more he understood the weight carried by the word "official."
In his previous life, many people had never even heard of a County Registrar; perhaps only a county magistrate barely "qualified" to register in their ears. Here, however, only four people in the entire county office were true officials with formal ranks, government appointments, and salaries: the magistrate, the deputy magistrate, the county commandant, and the County Registrar. Everyone else was a clerk or runner, recruited and paid by the county office itself.
"Here we are. This is the archive, where you will be working from now on. All four treasures of the study are provided!"
Wu Minggao led Yi Shuyuan into a spacious, well-lit room. Numerous shelves stood inside, filled with all sorts of books. On a writing desk in the middle lay the four treasures of the study, and the brush stand actually held six brushes of different sizes.
Standing to one side, Wu Minggao gently stroked his beard and watched Yi Shuyuan's reaction, thinking, I put quite some effort into arranging all this. It should be pleasing enough to the eye.
Yi Shuyuan, however, showed no particular reaction. He merely looked around before turning back to ask a question.
"Uh, County Registrar, if I remember correctly, the notice said you were hiring two people. Where is my colleague? Have you not found anyone yet?"
Wu Minggao's smile grew a little awkward. After considering it, he decided to tell the truth.
"Actually, after your visit, I had the notice taken down. I hope you can compile the county gazetteer on your own. Please forgive me!"
After seeing Yi Shuyuan's handwriting, how could Wu Minggao possibly want someone else to assist him? Would that be helping? It would be making a mess of things! A gazetteer for my distinguished Yuanjiang County could be a treasure. Why give its writing two different faces?
Yes, a treasure-that was exactly what Wu Minggao had in mind. Others struggle to obtain even a single character by a famous calligrapher, while my entire Yuanjiang County Gazetteer will be full of them. Isn't that impressive?
At the thought, Wu Minggao could not help smiling, floating on air.
Seeing Wu Minggao stroking his beard and smiling after his explanation, Yi Shuyuan said nothing more. Working alone was fine. Earning all the money himself would be nice too, though it might get a little dull.
"In that case, I'll begin working here today."
Wu Minggao also came back to his senses and pointed to the writing desk as he added another remark.
"If you need anything else, please be sure to tell me. I will do my utmost to arrange it for you!"
"Certainly!"
Yi Shuyuan clasped his hands in respect. Talent really did receive preferential treatment!
PS: Qidian has now introduced a reader correction feature. You should be able to flag typos somewhere around the chapter comments section. Authors can see them in their dashboards and choose whether to make corrections. Keep an eye out for it!
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