In the Years When I Was a Father

Chapter 46: Strict Father in Ancient Times (3)

After Qi Xiuwen went out, Qi Sheng planned to check on his younger son’s schoolwork.

The ten-year-old little boy spoke with such precision and seriousness that he resembled a little old man.

“Father, this is the homework I did at school the day before yesterday. Please give me your guidance.”

Qi Sheng looked over the child who sat upright, with lowered eyes and a solemn demeanor. His fair face paired with a tender voice made him look irresistibly adorable. Qi Sheng suppressed a smile and examined the work carefully: “Mm, not bad. You’ve made progress!”

The child beamed with joy, though he tried to maintain his composure, and responded seriously, “It is all thanks to Father and my teacher’s excellent instruction!”

Qi Sheng raised a hand to cover the smile tugging at the corner of his mouth and put on a stern tone: “Studying is like rowing a boat upstream—if you don’t move forward, you’ll fall behind! As long as you understand the need to study diligently every day, that is enough. But since today is a rest day from school, I’ll give you a day off—use the time as you please.”

The child’s eyes widened in surprise. He hadn’t expected not only praise from his father but also permission to rest for a day. Unable to hold back his joy, his eyes curved into delighted crescents. “Thank you, Father!”

After Qi Sheng left, Qi Xiuli dared to excitedly run to his mother, Lady Liu, and acted coquettishly: “Mother, Father praised me just now and even said I could rest today!”

Lady Liu lovingly patted her precious son on the head: “Mm, my son is so hardworking—of course your father is pleased. Have a good rest today, but remember to study well in the future and earn honor and titles.”

The child nodded obediently, then couldn’t help but ask, “Then… Mother, can I go out to play today? I want to go to East Street to find Qin Yu.” Qin Yu was Qi Xiuli’s classmate. He came from a merchant family and, though not as academically gifted, was very knowledgeable and had traveled to many places with his merchant father. Qi Xiuli admired him greatly. Unfortunately, his own father disliked him wandering around and rarely allowed him to leave the residence.

Lady Liu looked at her pitiful son and softened. Thinking that since her husband had already permitted a day off, there was no harm in letting the child play a little. If the master of the house got angry, she could take the blame—it would only be a scolding. She really didn’t want her son to grow up to be as strict and rigid as his father.

Lady Liu tapped her son’s nose playfully: “Go ahead, but take Ping’an with you and be careful while outside.”

Qi Xiuli cheered joyfully, though he was still a little worried about his father.

Lady Liu chuckled at the sight: “I’ll speak to your father. Don’t worry.”

So when Qi Sheng was buried in paperwork in his study, he was soon greeted by his beautiful concubine.

Lady Liu prepared tea beside his desk. After serving him, she remained silent, quietly standing by to help grind ink.

Qi Sheng enjoyed the rare moment of being attended by a gentle and sensible woman and, seeing how considerate and quiet she was, didn’t say anything and returned to his work.

By noon, when it was time for lunch, Qi Sheng had mostly finished handling his affairs. He looked at the woman still fanning him and asked, “Where’s Li’er? He has the day off today. Why isn’t he by your side keeping you company?”

Lady Liu smiled faintly: “I’m still young. I don’t need him sticking by me. Though it’s a rest day, Li’er has always been well-behaved. He’s probably with his classmate right now, discussing their studies.”

Qi Sheng raised an eyebrow: “Oh? Then when he returns, I’ll have to ask what insights they’ve come up with.”

Lady Liu’s expression didn’t change. She continued smiling and said, “They’ve only read a few books—what insights could they possibly have? Besides, didn’t you grant him a day off? Why test him again all of a sudden?”

Qi Sheng didn’t press the issue further and pretended to agree: “Hmm, then we’ll let him off for today.”

When the chili peppers had matured, Qi Sheng collected the seeds for storage. Now that it was August, it was the perfect time to plant them again. Qi Sheng was delighted and specially allocated a portion of the Qi family’s vegetable garden for the task. He invited Zhang Mama, a seasoned hand at farm work, and subtly guided her on how to plant the peppers. Though they were considered exotic now, they were just another kind of vegetable.

Zhang Mama planted the chili peppers with some anxiety and made several trips to the garden each day. Fortunately, a month later, the seedlings were growing well, and she finally relaxed and tended to them with care.

Since it was currently the agricultural off-season, Qi Sheng gave it some thought and then instructed the local yamen officers to notify the village headmen: within ten days, they were to report updated household registrations, population numbers, and the status of cultivated and uncultivated land.

As soon as the news spread, the next day, all the local gentry of Yuping County came to visit.

Qi Sheng’s move was an obvious signal to the people that regular taxation was about to resume. The people didn’t dare refuse to pay but begged the respected local gentry to intercede with the county magistrate, asking at least for a delay until the soybean harvest.

The gentry must have discussed it beforehand and sent Representative Liu to speak with Qi Sheng.

After making his salutations, Liu asked, “My lord, may I be so bold as to ask: is the tax to be collected at the standard rate this year?”

Qi Sheng nodded, offering no further explanation.

Though the others had already guessed as much, they couldn’t help but sigh.

Liu continued, “My lord, I speak on behalf of the people of Yuping County. We are grateful for the compassion shown by the court and yourself in recent years. However… though the harvest has just come in, after setting aside what’s needed for each household, many still struggle to make ends meet. I humbly beg on their behalf—could the tax collection be postponed until after the soybean harvest?”

Qi Sheng thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. In fact, this was something he had already planned. He was well aware of the people’s circumstances. Though things had begun to improve, once taxes resumed, many would once again struggle to get by from one meal to the next.

The visitors were about to take their leave, feeling their goal accomplished, when Qi Sheng suddenly said:

“Everyone, though Jizhou has had relatively stable weather these past two years, our Yuhping County still hasn’t achieved food security for all. Have you really never thought about how to help the people here escape this cycle of hardship?”

The gentry all smiled bitterly. Yuhping was remote and poorly connected. Its people lacked the business acumen of places like Jiangsu and Zhejiang. For now, they could only hope that the heavens remained kind for a few more years, just so they could catch their breath.

Qi Sheng didn’t say much more. He had originally planned to use this opportunity to discuss road construction with the gentry, but since the chili peppers were still in the cultivation phase and hadn’t shown any tangible results, no one—no matter how influential he was in Yuping County—would willingly listen to him just yet.

Still, his remarks sparked private discussions among the gentry. Many assumed the magistrate would soon roll out new policies. However, it wasn’t until October that they finally learned what Qi Sheng had in mind.

A few days later, Qi Xiuwen returned home and first came to pay his respects to Qi Sheng.

Qi Sheng, seeing his eldest son looking much more mature and composed, asked, “Well? Have you made any progress during this time?”

Qi Xiuwen had indeed gained much insight during his journey, and now with the joy of seeing his parents again, he eagerly shared all he had seen and learned.

Qi Sheng listened silently, occasionally nodding, which gave Qi Xiuwen a sense of reassurance.

That evening, Qi Xiuwen came alone to the study.

“Father.”

Qi Sheng looked at his bowing son, intrigued. “What is it? Something you want to say?”

Qi Xiuwen replied, “You asked me to think about how our county might alleviate poverty. On my journey, I observed many things. Our county lacks wealthy merchants, and few people engage in external trade. There’s very little flow of goods—some essential items are even more expensive here than in the richer counties. After much thought, I realized the main reason we have so few merchants is, first, the poor roads—making travel inconvenient. Naturally, merchants are reluctant to come. Second, we lack tradable goods. Crops like wheat and soybeans are barely enough for locals’ consumption. There’s too little surplus to trade. Small caravans can only sell here; they have nothing to buy. And since buyers are few, there’s little incentive.”

Seeing Qi Sheng nod in approval, Qi Xiuwen continued: “Currently, the few essential goods sold in our county are managed by a handful of families. But their operations are very limited, mostly within two neighboring counties. And the goods are mostly brought in from Jizhou Prefecture. In my view, this is like a water source—if it doesn’t flow continuously, it becomes stagnant and lifeless.”

Qi Sheng was pleased his son had identified the root issue. “Indeed. Then what do you propose we do?”

Qi Xiuwen responded, “After much reflection on the road back, I think our most urgent need is to build more roads. Currently, only two main roads leading to the county town can accommodate carriages. I believe we should build more.”

Qi Sheng challenged him, “Road building is a good idea, but the government’s budget is limited. Though some wealthy merchants in the county might contribute, their help would be modest. So then—how do we proceed?”

Qi Xiuwen scratched his head. “I’ve thought about this too. During my travels, I met a family with very little land. To feed everyone, they raised a lot of poultry and livestock. Their life was better than some landowners. Though some families in Yuping raise animals, it’s mostly for their own consumption. What if we encourage households—especially large families with little land—to scale up livestock farming? The government can take the lead, convince some merchants to handle collection and sales, and provide a new source of income for the people.”

Qi Sheng nodded in satisfaction, realizing his son had indeed been thinking seriously about solving real problems. He couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion—if his eldest son became an official one day, he’d be capable even without external support!

Qi Sheng walked over, patted his son’s shoulder with pride, and praised, “Very good. I’m truly pleased you’ve come up with this.”

Qi Xiuwen was deeply moved. Since he first failed the imperial exam, his father had not praised him again—until now.

Qi Sheng continued, “Let’s wait a bit on this idea. The busy farming season is upon us—people will be tied up with the autumn harvest and won’t have time. You’ve worked hard during your journey. Take a few days to rest, and in three days, submit a written summary of your insights to me.”

It had been a long time since Qi Xiuwen had received such affirmation from his father. He was overjoyed and cheerfully accepted the task.

By mid-October, the wheat had been fully sown. Except for a few who had gone out to find work, most people in Yuping County had free time again.

Qi Sheng had some freshly harvested chili peppers picked and used in cooking, marking the first time the Qi family tasted chili in their meals.

Madam Liu, who had always preferred stronger flavors, was delighted at the taste. “My lord, what is this dish? The flavor is so unique! It’s spicier than ginger or garlic, but even more delicious!”

Qi Sheng told them how he had acquired the chili peppers.

Lady Wang exclaimed, “My lord, no one’s even tried this before, and you’re feeding it to the family?”

Qi Sheng waved it off casually. “Nonsense. I had people test it long ago—it’s perfectly safe.”

No one doubted him. The Qi family wasn’t known for preferring bland food, so the addition of chili was well-received all around.

Qi Xiuwen’s eyes lit up—using chili as a seasoning would surely attract many. People in the south especially love bold, spicy flavors. Chili was delicious and bound to be popular!

After lunch, Qi Xiuwen followed Qi Sheng to the study.

“Father, did you plan from the beginning to promote chili peppers as a major crop?” Qi Xiuwen asked. He suspected that his father, who hadn’t yet enacted policies on livestock or road building and now suddenly introduced chili to the family, had already mapped things out.

Qi Sheng nodded. “Yes. From the moment I learned of this vegetable, I began planning. Yuping County will be the first to grow chili. Since it hasn’t been widely cultivated yet, its rarity will add value—and help our people earn extra income.”

Qi Xiuwen, thrilled, continued discussing plans with Qi Sheng well into the afternoon, reluctant to leave the study.

A few days later, Qi Sheng invited the gentry and wealthy merchants of Yuping County under the pretense of discussing official business.

No one knew what the matter was, and many were uneasy. When they arrived at the county office, they saw four soup pots already set up, each heated over a charcoal stove. The broth inside was a deep reddish color, with some red strips floating in it. The crowd was puzzled—was the county magistrate inviting them for a meal? But setting up pots like this didn’t seem very refined!

At that time, hot pot was mostly popular in the military for its convenience and flavor, but to those who considered themselves cultured, it was a bit too vulgar for formal occasions.

Qi Sheng sat at the head of the hall, sharing a table with the assistant county magistrate and the clerk. He signaled the servants to start serving the dishes. The broth was ready, and upon seeing this, Qi Sheng picked up a plate of prepared mutton slices and poured them into the pot.

Seeing the magistrate himself begin, the others followed suit. Once the meat was cooked, Qi Sheng said, “Everyone, I’ve recently come across a unique ingredient. I wanted to share it with you all today.”

The guests cupped their hands in thanks, curious about the new flavor. They used communal chopsticks to pick up some of the meat, dipped it into the sauces in front of them, and took a bite.

Those with a stronger taste for spicy food immediately loved it, and without caring for decorum, one of them asked, “My lord, what did you put in this? It’s incredibly delicious!”

Even those who couldn’t handle spicy food were intrigued. These men were no fools—something this unique was surely a treasure.

Qi Sheng didn’t answer right away and just let them enjoy the meal.

As everyone ate, sweating profusely, their curiosity burned even hotter. They were dying to know what exactly was in the pot.

It wasn’t until after the meal, when the tables were cleared and tea was served, that Qi Sheng satisfied their curiosity.

One person asked, “My lord, is this chili easy to grow? And what’s the expected yield?”

Qi Sheng answered all their questions patiently, then took them to visit the chili garden in the backyard.

“With this batch, we should be able to harvest a good amount of seeds. Once divided, we can dedicate two mu (approx. 0.33 acres) to focused cultivation. That should yield enough for every household in Yuping to get some seeds.”

Seeing the plants full of fruit, everyone was delighted, their eyes gleaming with greed, more excited than if they had found gold.

Now that Qi Sheng had fully piqued their interest, he invited them back to the main hall and shared his thoughts. “Yuping is poor and remote. If we want to develop into a prosperous county, we must all work together. What do you gentlemen think?”

Everyone, still fixated on the valuable chili, calmed down and listened seriously. They figured Qi Sheng was going to ask them for something. But thinking back to the chilies, they were impressed by Qi Sheng’s selflessness. With chilies like these, every household in Yuping could be making extra money in a few years.

The richest merchant in the county, Mr. Shen, flattered Qi Sheng for a while before pledging his loyalty. “My lord is right. It’s the county’s good fortune to have a magistrate who cares for the people like this. The Shen family has some modest means and is willing to serve at your command.”

The other merchants and local gentry also expressed their willingness to assist.

After a round of mutual compliments, Qi Sheng shared his plan.

“Road construction?”

“Our lord truly thinks for the people!”

“Indeed, our county should’ve repaired the roads long ago. It takes great foresight to propose this!”

Everyone supported the idea. Initially, they thought Qi Sheng would ask for donations. But then they remembered the exclusive chilies and each started plotting how to make a good impression.

Qi Sheng sipped his tea and smiled. “I plan to build six more major roads leading into Yuping. But after my assistant did the calculations, we realized the cost will be quite high. I don’t wish to take advantage of you or have you suffer silently. As you’ve seen today, the seeds from this year’s crop will allow us to cultivate two mu of chili. However, we haven’t decided who will sell them. Since you all have connections and experience, I thought I might pre-sell a portion of the chilies to you. What do you say?”

The crowd was overjoyed. Instead of just donating money, they could gain access to such a rare commodity? It was a huge win. Chilies were scarce, and if sold in the capital or the wealthy Jiangnan region, especially to nobles and officials, they could name their own price!

An eager merchant, Mr. Wang, asked, “My lord, how much chili do you expect to produce? We’d like to offer our bids.”

Qi Sheng replied, “What you ate today was dried chili. It stores well and is easy to transport. Conservatively, each mu can produce 600 to 1000 jin (approx. 300–500 kg) of fresh chili. Once dried, that’s about 100 to 200 jin. This time, we expect to plant two mu, and by next summer, we should yield at least 200 jin of dried chili. I plan to pre-sell this amount. What do you think?”

Qi Sheng had quoted the most conservative figures. But to get the roads built, he had to let them taste success early on. He still had extra seeds in his personal store, and they were even higher-yielding than the ones planted now.

Of course, he wouldn’t give everything to the merchants. With chili being rare, he planned to first send a tribute to the higher-ups. The Qi family had no strong political backing, and he knew it would be hard to stand out through results alone, so sending rare gifts to the court would help him gain favor.

One couldn’t blame him for currying favor—it would look bad if he hoarded a valuable new crop and didn’t report it. Even if he had the county’s best interests at heart, it would tarnish his reputation.

He remembered how pepper was once as valuable as gold. Now that chilies were just as rare, they would surely cause a stir in elite circles.

The crowd sighed at how few chilies there were. Looking at the other wealthy merchants around them, they couldn’t help but marvel at the magistrate’s cleverness.

He managed to avoid the bad reputation of coercing people to donate, yet still achieved his goals. How had they not realized before that Magistrate Qi was so shrewd? Truly, those in power are never to be underestimated.