Transmigrating to the Qi Family - Chapter 191

Pei Che is actually quite satisfied with his transfer back to Liangjing. His transfer follows the path of earning a promotion through achievements, and he hasn’t requested any specific position in advance. Being assigned to the Ministry of Revenue is likely a courtesy extended by the Ministry of Personnel, out of consideration for his uncle.

It’s quite amusing when you think about it. Rumors of his death have spread so widely that when he reported to the Ministry of Personnel today, the official handling his case looked at him in horror, as if to say, “Aren’t you supposed to be dead?” 

The formalities are only completed after the official is thoroughly convinced Pei Che is alive. Even then, the man seems eager to send him away as quickly as possible.

After handling his paperwork, Pei Che stops by to visit his uncle. While his uncle doesn’t believe the rumors about Pei Che’s death, he has still been somewhat worried. Seeing him in person, he pulls him aside and asks about his well-being for quite some time, even reminding him to visit his grandfather when he has the chance. The Feng family has made sure not to let their patriarch, Feng Jianshan, catch even the slightest wind of the rumors. Naturally, Pei Che agrees. Even if his uncle hadn’t mentioned it, he already plans to visit in the next couple of days.

After leaving the Ministry of Personnel, Pei Che goes to the Ministry of Revenue. A similar scene unfolds there as well. Pei Che finds it a bit exasperating—apparently, clarifying that he isn’t dead is going to become a regular part of his introductions for the foreseeable future.

The Left Vice Minister of Revenue treats him with reasonable courtesy. After personally showing him around the office, the vice minister leads him to his assigned room and instructs the other officials to guide him once he officially takes office.

There are several Deputy Ministers of the Ministry of Revenue, each responsible for different areas. As a newcomer, Pei Che doesn’t have the luxury of choice. The only tasks available to him are related to civil affairs.

To others, this is the least desirable position in the Ministry of Revenue—it involves little money, lots of work, and minimal recognition. But for Pei Che, it’s exactly what he wants. He is troubled about how to gather information on Zhao Wei, and this assignment presents the perfect opportunity.

That morning, he subtly tests his grandmother about it, but she claims not to know anyone by that name. Liangjing is a bustling metropolis with an immense population inside and outside the city walls. Searching for someone named Zhao Wei among so many people is like looking for a needle in a haystack. He can’t launch a large-scale search either—if he alarms Zhao Wei and causes them to flee Liangjing, he might never uncover the truth.

Now that he’s in charge of the household registration records, he can search directly. Although the records are extensive, if he diligently combs through them, he’s bound to find this person one day.

After hearing Pei Che’s analysis, Jiang Miao agrees that this position isn’t bad after all. Besides, Pei Che doesn’t need money, so he doesn’t have to deal with financial matters, which could lead to trouble if any mistakes are made.

“Oh, by the way, does this mean we’ll be living here from now on?” Jiang Miao suddenly asks.

Pei Che sees that Jiang Miao shows no signs of displeasure and says, “The Ministry of Revenue is just a quarter-hour’s walk from the Duke’s Mansion, so it would be more convenient to live here. But of course, if you’re not comfortable, we can move back. Anyway, I will live wherever you live.”

Jiang Miao smiles and replies, “Do you think I’d say you stay here while we live over there?”

Pei Che puts his arm around Jiang Miao and teases, “You’ve never thought that way?”

“Of course not,” Jiang Miao protests. “Marry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog. Wherever you live, I’ll live too. Even though I prefer the other place, for the sake of your work, we’ll stay here.”

Jiang Miao once commuted four hours a day just to save on rent by living in a cheaper area. After a few months of enduring it, he realized life is too short to work so hard at the expense of quality of life. Now that Pei Che has the means to live closer to work, can he still seriously consider moving to the outer city?

“Ah Miao, you’re so considerate. I’m truly moved as your husband,” Pei Che says with exaggerated emotion, earning a playful scolding from Jiang Miao for his theatrics.

As the two are talking, there is a knock on the study door. Jiang Miao gets up, straightens his clothes, and opens the door.

“Master Jiang, someone from the Duke’s Manor has come with a message. The Duke requests the heir’s presence.”

“Do you have to go?” Jiang Miao turns to ask.

Pei Che replies, “Tell them I’ll head over right away.”

“Yes.”

“Are you really going?” Jiang Miao asks, concerned. He doesn’t trust those people and worries about Pei Che being mistreated.

“Don’t worry, they are not that brave,” Pei Che reassures him, knowing exactly what Jiang Miao is worried about.

“Then go quickly and come back soon. We’ll wait for you to eat together,” Jiang Miao says.

Under Jiang Miao’s slightly worried gaze, Pei Che nods with a smile and then heads to Rongfu Hall, the main courtyard of the Duke’s Mansion.

After the old Duke passes away, Grandmother Pei no longer wants to live there. The place holds too many cherished memories, and every tree and blade of grass reminds her of him. Not long after she moves out, Pei Shiyuan and his wife eagerly move in. To them, living in Rongfu Hall is the true mark of being the family head.

When Pei Che arrives, Pei Shiyuan is pacing inside the room, looking agitated. Hearing the knock at the door, he quickly opens it and greets him with a broad smile. “Ah Che, you’re here!”

“If you have anything to say, just say it directly. No need for all this pretense,” Pei Che says, unwilling to play along with the farce of a loving uncle-nephew relationship.

Pei Shiyuan’s smile stiffens. He doesn’t expect the always courteous and polite Pei Che to skip even the formalities today.

“Ah Che, you’ve misunderstood. What I said to your grandmother earlier—it was out of necessity,” Pei Shiyuan hurriedly explains.

Pei Che gives him a mocking glance. “Out of necessity?”

Pei Shiyuan replies, “Of course. These past few days, Liangjing has been rife with troublesome rumors, all centering on you. Your second uncle was afraid that your grandmother might hear them and become upset, so I went to her courtyard first thing in the morning.”

Pei Che let out a cold laugh. “Since you knew Grandmother hadn’t heard the rumors, why go out of your way to stir things up?”

This question is clearly something Pei Shiyuan has anticipated. Without hesitation, he answers, “Here’s the thing—rumors have always been a mix of truth and falsehood, and no one can say for sure what’s real or not. We thought that if there was any truth to it, we ought to inform Mother so she could decide what to do early on. If it was false, then it’d be a relief for everyone. Who could’ve expected Mother to faint because of it? It’s such a regrettable misunderstanding.”

“Oh, so deciding what to do was just a cover? The real aim was to provoke her, wasn’t it?” Pei Che doesn’t buy their nonsense for a second. “When Grandmother fainted, Second Aunt immediately demanded that Granny Gao hand over the keys to Grandmother’s storage room. I’m sure your Second Aunt simply couldn’t stand those things remaining in Grandmother’s possession.”

Pei Shiyuan’s smile grows strained, but he keeps up his shameless pretense. “That’s absolutely not the case. Your Second Aunt has served your grandmother for many years; how could she be so short-sighted? Ah Che, you’ve been away from the manor for a long time and might not know, but the servants here are an audacious and lazy lot. If they take advantage of your grandmother’s fainting to secretly steal something, that would be terrible. That’s why your Second Aunt wants to safeguard the keys for her. She’s always been straightforward in her words, which may have caused a misunderstanding.”

Pei Che chuckles softly. “So, by your reasoning, I should be grateful for Second Aunt’s thoughtful intentions?”

Pei Shiyuan quickly latches onto the opening and says, “Gratitude might be too much, but we certainly hope this matter doesn’t create resentment between us. Now that you’ve been reassigned to Liangjing, we’ll be seeing each other every day. How can we let this incident disrupt the peace of the household? If word gets out, people will think that our Duke’s Mansion has no rules. Don’t you agree, Ah Che?”

Looking at Pei Shiyuan’s shameless expression, Pei Che finds himself momentarily speechless. Jiang Miao’s words echo in his mind—when someone has no shame, they’re truly invincible.

Still, since they haven’t actually done anything substantial and it’s all just talk, there isn’t much he can do about them for now. Pei Che decides to put the matter aside for the time being. Once his grandmother recovers, he’ll consult her and plan the next steps.

“Well, since Second Uncle puts it this way, I won’t say any more. Let’s consider this matter a misunderstanding,” Pei Che says.

Pei Shiyuan immediately smiles and says, “I knew Ah Che has always been someone who sees the bigger picture.”

Pei Che has no desire to continue conversing with him. After a few perfunctory remarks, he takes his leave.

…

There are still two days before Pei Che officially takes office, and during this time, they are so busy that their feet barely touch the ground. First on the agenda is visiting Elder Feng. The old man, having reached an advanced age, spends most of his days at home since retiring from court.

Upon hearing that Pei Che and Jiang Miao are coming to see him, Elder Feng is overjoyed and orders a chessboard to be prepared, declaring that he will thoroughly enjoy a few matches with them.

When they left Liangjing, Elder Feng’s chess skills were no match for theirs. However, in recent years, chess has become wildly popular throughout the city. After countless games against skilled opponents, Elder Feng’s chess abilities improve rapidly, and now he rarely meets his equal.

When Pei Che and Jiang Miao arrive, they exchange pleasantries and inquire after Elder Feng’s health. Elder Feng then asks Pei Che about his governance in Cangzhou, offering a few pointers after hearing his account. He soon orders the chessboard to be brought out.

They play for hours in the morning. In the afternoon, they board a carriage and return to Jiangjiawan. Jiang Miao’s second uncle, who hasn’t been to Liangjing recently, is naturally unaware of the city’s rumors. When he sees Jiang Miao and the others, his reaction is pure joy. He can’t stop commenting on how they look thinner and darker, his concern evident in every word.

That evening, the whole family gathers in the courtyard for a reunion dinner. With laughter and cheerful conversation filling the air, the atmosphere is one of harmony and happiness, lasting well into the night.