Transmigrated to the Northern Song Dynasty as a County Magistrate (GL) - Chapter 42

42: The Two Discuss Going on a Trip Together

“Of course, I prefer the money you gave me. So, I won’t spend it unless it is absolutely necessary. My salary isn’t much, but since I earned it myself and it comes every month, I don’t feel bad spending it.” Afraid that Yun Jingchu might think she didn’t like the money she had given her, Tian Qingyi quickly explained with a smile, genuinely meaning what she said.

“As long as you like it. I gave it to you to use—no need to hold back. Just let me know when it’s spent, and I’ll give you more.” An official like Tian Qingyi, who openly admitted with a smile that she loved the money her wife gave her, was probably the only one in the entire world. She didn’t even worry about being called a freeloader, leaving Yun Jingchu at a loss for words to tease her further.

“Great, seems like I won’t have to worry about money in the future. Just as my mother said, marrying you really is my good fortune. To keep this fortune going and to make you happy, I’d like to take you to the seaside once the weather cools down a bit. What do you think?” Tian Qingyi suggested after swallowing a bite of a chilled dessert.

Since arriving in Huating County, Yun Jingchu had only gone out once and hadn’t left the house since. According to Qingyu, she either played chess alone, read books, or arranged flowers in the backyard. Worried that Yun Jingchu might be bored, Tian Qingyi had specifically asked Clerk Li and others about fun places nearby.

Clerk Li and the others mentioned that Huating County was traversed by the Song River, with many vertical tributaries along its north and south banks, locally called pu. Between these pu were horizontal connecting channels called tang. The transportation hub of Qinglong Town by the Song River and the seaside were both suitable for leisure trips.

Unfortunately, the two places were in completely opposite directions, so they could only visit one at a time. Having never seen the ancient sea before, Tian Qingyi was quite curious and suggested the seaside first, completely forgetting that she herself had never felt bored staying alone in the backyard.

Qingyu was startled upon hearing this but quickly masked her reaction, though doubts once again arose in her heart. Before the Second Lady arrived, the Second Young Master rarely even stepped out the door, let alone went on trips.

Yuanqi, however, was delighted. She had been slightly worried that the Second Lady might feel stifled staying indoors all the time. Now that the Second Young Master was taking her out, she could tag along too. Though they hadn’t gone yet, she was already looking forward to it.

Since arriving in Huating County, Tian Qingyi had been busy with official duties. What little free time she had was spent entirely on painting and studying the plants in the backyard. She had even sketched some plant specimens, noting down their names, properties, and care methods.

Though she recognized some ornamental plants herself, after consulting the gardener, she realized their names were different, and the care methods were somewhat outdated compared to modern scientific approaches.

“Why not go to Qinglong Town instead? I’ve heard it’s quite bustling, with Koreans and Japanese often coming by sea to trade. It should be more entertaining than the seaside.” Though Yun Jingchu rarely went out, she knew just as much as Tian Qingyi—sometimes even more, such as the prices of rice, spices, and tea. The one time she had gone out was precisely to survey market conditions.

“Alright, then we’ll go to Qinglong Town first and the seaside afterward. Clerk Li mentioned the sea is blue and stretches endlessly. I’ve also heard Suzhou isn’t far from here. When the Ghost Festival comes and I have three days off, we could visit Suzhou too.” Tian Qingyi had no preference between Qinglong Town and the seaside.

Once the idea of traveling took root, it became unstoppable. Before even setting off on the first trip, she was already planning the second and third. It wasn’t that Tian Qingyi disliked traveling—it was just that after many trips, she found cities largely similar, while natural landscapes were uniquely captivating.

Ancient times lacked modern skyscrapers and concrete. Most buildings were no taller than two stories, roads were either dirt or paved with stone, greenery was everywhere, the air was fresh, and the sky was as blue as the sea. But how blue was the sea, really? What did the places she had once visited look like now?

Claiming she wasn’t curious or didn’t want to see for herself would be a lie. If possible, Tian Qingyi wanted to travel with Yun Jingchu to all the famous mountains and rivers of the world. Unfortunately, ancient transportation was inconvenient, so she’d settle for visiting whatever was within reach.

Seeing Tian Qingyi’s eager expression, Yun Jingchu almost didn’t have the heart to dampen her spirits. She remained silent, simply staring at her until Tian Qingyi, snapping back to reality, grew uneasy. Had she remembered wrong? That couldn’t be—she had even asked Zhang Sancheng and others about days off and made a rough holiday calendar. This month, aside from regular breaks, there was a one-day solar term holiday and a three-day Ghost Festival break. She couldn’t have misremembered!

Without thinking, Tian Qingyi voiced her thoughts aloud. Yun Jingchu sighed and explained, “You didn’t misremember the holidays. The mistake was forgetting that you’re not allowed to leave Huating County unless it’s official business.”

Only then did Tian Qingyi recall this rule, which Zhang Sancheng had mentioned before but she had completely forgotten. This place had three seven-day holidays a year, several three-day holidays, and dozens of one-day holidays—no such thing as “make-up work days”—yet she couldn’t even leave Huating County? What was the point of life?

She enjoyed staying home, but that didn’t mean she disliked traveling. Now, unless something unexpected happened, she’d be stuck in Huating County for at least two or three years. With only so many places to visit in one county, even if she went somewhere new every long holiday, she wouldn’t have enough destinations to last three years!

Seeing Tian Qingyi finally remember this and sulk, Yun Jingchu softened. “It’s fine. When I travel, I’ll write to you about everything I see.”

“Where are you going?” Tian Qingyi asked, shocked, her sorrow forgotten. She had assumed Yun Jingchu came to Huating County to stay with her permanently—especially since they had confirmed their romantic relationship.

Without hesitation, Yun Jingchu replied, “I plan to go to Hangzhou in autumn for the spice trade. If all goes well, I’ll also open a spice shop in Qinglong Town to cater to locals as well as Korean and Japanese traders. I’ve heard they’re fond of spices too.” The business opportunity she spotted in the government bulletin was the relaxation of the state monopoly on certain incense medicines. Some fragrances were no longer restricted, meaning more foreign merchants would bring spices to Hangzhou’s maritime trade office.

Even domestic maritime traders would likely import more spices. Spices had always been in high demand, whether sold in the capital or Hangzhou. She wasn’t aiming for a one-time or short-term venture, so going to Hangzhou in person was necessary.

Moreover, business couldn’t rely on empty talk. Now that she had sufficient funds, brought along some helpers, and gained a bit of experience—and with no elders in Huating County to restrict her—this was the perfect time to take action. If she didn’t seize this opportunity, she’d feel she had wasted all the business books she’d read and betrayed herself.

Before meeting Tian Qingyi, her sole dream was to become a great merchant, earn vast wealth to prove herself, and take revenge on the Yun family. Now that her revenge was set in motion and she had found a lifelong partner, why shouldn’t she pursue her dream?

She had pondered this deeply, searching for reasons to abandon her ambitions, but none fully convinced her. So she decided to follow her heart. As for whether Tian Qingyi would agree, she didn’t overthink it—she instinctively believed her partner would support her.

Though parting with Tian Qingyi pained her, for the sake of her dream, she was willing to endure the heartache. She believed they would spend their lives together eventually; a little separation was just a minor test.

“I don’t know much about the spice trade, but Xun Chang is from Hangzhou. I’ll write to him for advice. If he has insights or connections in that field, your trip could be smoother, and I’d feel more at ease. If you run short on funds, you can use mine.” Tian Qingyi fully supported Yun Jingchu’s business venture, though she hadn’t anticipated it earlier, assuming Yun Jingchu only wanted to manage their affairs in the capital.

She also subconsciously believed that, given the choice, Yun Jingchu would never leave the capital—let alone come to Huating County—since neither business conditions nor other aspects could compare to the capital. Yun Jingchu had left her personal maid, Baoqin, in the capital, likely to better oversee shops and estates there while managing things remotely from Huating.

“Alright, if needed.” Yun Jingchu replied with a smile after finishing her perilla drink, her joy overflowing. Though she had expected Tian Qingyi’s support, hearing it first hand—especially with offers of help and financial backing—filled her with indescribable happiness.

In the capital, she had managed the household finances, and in Huating, she continued to do so. No one knew Tian Qingyi’s financial situation better than her. Since she had brought ample funds for business, she likely wouldn’t need Tian Qingyi’s money. Still, touched by the gesture, she accepted gracefully.

After chatting for a while and reading some miscellaneous books, the two went for a nap. When Tian Qingyi woke up and saw Yun Jingchu still asleep, she dressed quietly and headed to the central hall. Instead of diving straight into work as usual, she first wrote a letter to Xun Chang.

If Xun Chang had connections in the spice trade, that would be ideal. If not, she still wanted to learn about Hangzhou’s spice market—especially the conduct of the head of Hangzhou’s maritime trade office. If he was excessively corrupt, the entire office would be tainted, and she’d advise Yun Jingchu to pursue a different venture.

As the Ghost Festival approached, Huating County was suddenly hit by rain—sometimes heavy, sometimes light—that had been drizzling for two days straight. The summer heat had cooled considerably, leaving Tian Qingyi feeling refreshed. During breaks, she pulled Yun Jingchu into their room or the Cuiguang Pavilion to watch the rain, play chess, or read, living quite contentedly.

By the third day, the rain showed no sign of stopping. Seeing Tian Qingyi still returning punctually for meals and rest as usual, Yun Jingchu grew worried. When Tian Qingyi suggested another round of chess, she declined: “I’m not in the mood today.”

“Why the sudden gloom? If Yuanqi or the others upset you, just punish them. If it’s me, how can I know what I did wrong unless you tell me?” Tian Qingyi asked, puzzled, unable to figure out the reason.

“I know you enjoy watching the rain, but things are different now. The autumn harvest is near, yet the rain won’t stop. If it continues, this year’s yield could suffer, and who knows how many will be forced to sell their land or children.” Yun Jingchu gazed at the rain curtain under the eaves, her worry palpable, as if disaster loomed.

Though Yun Jingchu knew little about farmland yields in Liangzhe Circuit, she was familiar with the estates near the capital. Yun Changliang had acquired much of that land through underhanded means and natural disasters. When harvests failed, small farmers fell into debt, borrowed at exorbitant rates, and eventually lost their land.

With the court doing nothing to curb land annexation, the rich amassed more and more acreage—some owning hundreds of mu, others tens of thousands—while the poor grew destitute, left with no choice but to move to cities and become laborers.

“If that’s all, don’t worry. Yesterday, I discussed this with Clerk Li and made arrangements. Besides guiding locals on drainage, we’ve prepared contingency plans. As a last resort, we’ll harvest early. If flooding occurs, we’ll report to the court for disaster relief. Until then, we’ll do everything possible.” Tian Qingyi started confidently but grew hesitant, unsure when the rain would end.

Seeing her genuine concern, Yun Jingchu couldn’t bring herself to criticize further. She patted Tian Qingyi’s hand encouragingly. “Since preparations are made, just follow through when the time comes. Overthinking won’t help. How about a game of chess?”

“Sure! Yuanqi, fetch the board!” Tian Qingyi perked up instantly, as if her earlier worries had vanished. “Yes!” Yuanqi hurried off, delighted.

Watching the two, Yun Jingchu’s expression softened. Though Tian Qingyi had never won a game against her, she kept playing relentlessly. Whether she truly loved chess or just enjoyed playing with her, Yun Jingchu didn’t mind either way.