Transmigrated to the Northern Song Dynasty as a County Magistrate (GL) - Chapter 64

64: Longing for Reunion

As autumn yielded to spring, summer of the 8th Year of 1014 arrived. Contrary to expectations, Tian Qingyi received no news of the scoundrel Jiufang Xin’s demise—proof that even physicians’ prognoses weren’t infallible. Just as modern medicine, despite its advances, sometimes saw patients outlive dire predictions by years, so too had Jiufang Xin defied expectations.

Though anxious about Shi Wan and Ruoshui’s whereabouts since their Kaifeng departure—their complete disappearance gnawed at her—heaven seldom complied with mortal wishes.

Thanks to Qingyu and Zhou Ba’s diligence, the interim spy mission concluded flawlessly. No further assignments came, and Tian Qingyi maintained the original host’s tradition of sending copied calligraphy annually, avoiding Ma Zhusege’s suspicion.

The awaited message never arrived, but two years had passed without seeing her beloved. Busy workdays punctuated by countryside sketching made time fly—so much so that her three-year term ended before she realized it. The reassignment document stunned her.

Northern Song customs dictated county magistrates serve three-year terms, with promotion possible after two terms and three evaluations. Tian Qingyi had assumed officials were directly transferred post-term, never imagining she’d return to the capital for new assignments.

In letters, she and Yun Jingchu had planned to reunite in Huating after mourning ended around mid-July. With reunion imminent, excitement overshadowed her administrative oversight. Fearing they might cross paths unknowingly, she immediately dispatched an urgent letter to Kaifeng—which should arrive before Yun Jingchu’s departure if all went well.

Though merely two years apart, it felt like centuries. Upon receiving the documents, she plunged into handover preparations—inventorying supplies, archiving case files, closing pending matters. Her eagerness stemmed partly from homesickness, partly from wanting to reach Kaifeng before Yun Jingchu left—a dual safeguard against missed connections.

Xun Chang also received reassignment but would visit home first, while Tian Qingyi rushed to Kaifeng. As for Shang Yan—unless he contacted her, she wouldn’t mention him, though Xun Chang’s letters invariably did, noting Shang might depart later.

Registrar Li and Sheriff Wu had already completed their terms. Recognizing their competence and experience, Tian Qingyi had praised them extensively to the prefect, hoping for favorable evaluations.

Despite working overtime, handover took nearly half a month, bringing them to early July. The moment it concluded, Tian Qingyi departed—refusing even the customary farewell banquet from the incoming registrar.

News of her hasty exit spread quickly. The Pu family and other suppressed elites celebrated privately that very day, restrained only by fear of retaliation. Meanwhile, beneficiaries—especially the woman whose fair divorce ruling granted both compensation and child custody—regretted missing the chance to bid farewell.

Tian Qingyi cared little for such formalities. Though official funds covered farewell banquets, she saw no need—she wasn’t desperate for food or drink.

Yet at Huating’s border, she paused, gazing back at the county that had been her home for three transmigrated years. Modern life felt like a past life; her longing for Yun Jingchu now threatened to consume her like unchecked weeds.

Aspiring to mediocrity, she’d discovered her Red Flag upbringing made true indifference impossible. Justice demanded advocacy; the vulnerable needed protection. She couldn’t tolerate corruption or neglect.

Not that she considered herself particularly altruistic—merely performing a magistrate’s basic duties: fair judgments, standardized taxes/corvée, and implementing poverty relief policies (supplementing with personal funds when necessary).

Her sole strict measure mandated all residents—shopkeepers or not—maintain clean storefronts. Littering or spitting incurred fines or street-cleaning penalties. Now Huating outshone neighboring counties in cleanliness—no more encountering revolting phlegm on streets.

Inspection officials always left smiling, though Tian Qingyi cared little for evaluation results. She was, after all, just a salaried worker—fulfilling duties with clear conscience sufficed.

As a workplace novice, she’d once toiled obsessively for praise, unaware of money’s importance. Later, she realized superiors changed faster than romantic partners, always favoring their own factions. The epiphany? She exchanged labor for wages—nothing more.

Here, she neither curried favor nor deliberately antagonized superiors (unless unavoidable). Workplace diplomacy—speaking humans’ language to humans, ghosts’ to ghosts—was her forte.

After departing Huating, foul weather plagued their journey—intermittent rains slowing even boat travel. Eager to hurry, Tian Qingyi boarded whatever official vessel available—deep-draft ships one day, medium/small boats the next.

Normally fond of watching riverbanks from the prow, she now huddled below decks as storms intensified near Bian River. The tempest rocked even this seasoned traveler into queasiness—while Qingyu, Zhang Sancheng, and Zhou Ba (Northern landlubbers all) suffered worse. Only duty-bound Zhou Ba remained semi-functional, guarding outside.

Watching the raging waters, Tian Qingyi mused on abandoned plans. She’d once considered faking drowning during travel—but Yun Jingchu’s grief deterred her. Were she to “die” then reappear, how could she explain to Yun Jingchu and Fan Zhuzhu?

Life’s unpredictability had voided her strategies. Now, everything hinged on Shi Wan’s success—with hostages in Ma Zhusege’s clutches, every move risked collateral damage.

As waves mounted, even her strong swimming skills offered no survival guarantees. Nauseated, she willed the boat to hold.

Fortunately, heavy canal traffic provided refuge—their medium vessel sheltering beside a larger ship until docking. The storm stranded them aboard, vomiting until only bile remained. When clouds finally parted, revealing a stunning sunset, the weakened party disembarked at the nearest town.

Meanwhile, Yun Jingchu—equally eager for reunion—had departed early to surprise Tian Qingyi and inspect Hangzhou shops, missing the messenger. By the time Yuanqi at Yuzhu Residence received the redirected letter (unopened, per protocol) and sent pursuers, Yun Jingchu was already en route.

Unaware, Tian Qingyi rested one day before resuming travel—now overland due to lingering bad weather.