Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 541: Impressive
Jiang Shaohua showed some tolerance to the elderly: "Just bear with it for a few more days."
"It’s the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, and Old Madam Xue doesn’t seem to have any intention of setting off back home. It looks like she will be spending the New Year at the Prince Mansion," Chen Jinyu murmured, "I’ve never seen anything like this, hanging around during the New Year and not leaving."
Jiang Shaohua glanced at her with a smile: "It’s fine to grumble in front of me, but don’t say anything in front of Old Madam Xue. We don’t want to upset her."
Chen Jinyu sighed: "I’m really just upset on behalf of my mother. My mother has never been wronged at home, but now Old Madam Xue is being so nitpicky all the time, and my mother has to grin and bear it."
After all, the bond between a mother and her daughter is flesh and blood. Private complaints are one thing, but seeing one’s own mother enduring grievances is something Chen Jinyu couldn’t tolerate.
Jiang Shaohua expressed some helplessness: "As the saying goes, a guest is a guest, especially an elder with high standing; even though I’m a Commandery Princess, I cannot easily show displeasure."
She was unwilling to deal with Old Madam Xue face to face, so handling Old Madam Xue naturally fell upon Mrs. Yao.
Chen Jinyu, full of ideas, rolled her eyes and suddenly had a plan: "For the year-end banquet, invite Old Madam Xue to the banquet and have her sit at the table with our female officials. When the time comes, we can give the Lady a good lesson and show her the prowess of Nanyang County’s female officials."
Jiang Shaohua chuckled silently: "You go ahead and arrange it!"
...
In recent years, the year-end banquet at the Nanyang Prince Mansion has become the most anticipated event for all subordinates and County Magistrates.
The magistrates of the fourteen counties, from the beginning of the year to the end, only have these few days to gather and socialize at the Prince Mansion in Nanyang County.
"County Magistrate Chen, it’s been a year, and your demeanor is more impressive than ever!"
"County Magistrate Ma, still vigorous despite aging, and this year, with a granddaughter-in-law newly added to the family, looks more radiant than ever."
"I heard that in Ye County this year, the production of silk doubled, making a lot of Silver. Every household has surplus grain. This is all thanks to County Magistrate Cui!"
Bowan County, Biyang County, and Ye County have maintained the top three positions. County Magistrate Chen, County Magistrate Ma, and County Magistrate Cui received attention and focus from everyone as soon as they entered.
County Magistrate Chen is humble, County Magistrate Ma is old but shrewd, whereas County Magistrate Cui has changed significantly over the years. His former elitist arrogance has been worn away, now calm and steady, greeting and laughing with other magistrates.
Nanyang County continuously absorbs displaced persons, enriching its population. Nowadays, population and land are the greatest assets. With manpower, wilderness can be cultivated, grain can be grown, and the barren land can be revitalized.
Ye County primarily focuses on mulberry planting and cloth weaving, with many empty lands left untilled. Now, the population has doubled, no shortage of people to farm, last year’s harvest was bountiful, and the Taiping Grain Warehouse is overflowing. Not only is there no need to buy grain, but there’s surplus to contribute towards military provisions.
Of course, County Magistrate Cui’s achievements don’t stop there; the scale of the academy in Ye County is expanding, particularly the Women’s Academy. Nowadays, many daughters of wealthy merchants and officials from Jingzhou Prefecture study at the Women’s Academy, which has brought profound influence to Ye County.
Ye County today boasts high-status for women, with open-minded practices, regarded as the pinnacle of Da Liang.
At this moment, an extremely thin, black-skinned, unattractive man walked in.
County Magistrate Cui’s gaze swept over, immediately stepping forward with a cupped hand to greet him with a smile: "Brother Cai has finally arrived."
It was none other than Li County’s County Magistrate Cai.
County Magistrate Cai returned the greeting with a smile, before he could say a few words, other magistrates had already gathered around.
Indeed, Ye County is the wealthiest, but the first County Magistrate of Nanyang County undoubtedly falls on County Magistrate Cai.
County Magistrate Cai has held his post for five years. What was once the third last, Li County has now become the most populous and agriculturally rich large county in Nanyang County. Last year, Li County’s abundant harvest was enough to supply the Personal Guard Camp with food for a year. In other words, just the grain produced in Li County could support an entire army.
What an astonishing political achievement!
Moreover, County Magistrate Cai has a stellar reputation, highly cherished by the common people, and greatly trusted by the Commandery Princess. County Magistrate Cai’s ways of settling displaced persons and developing wasteland have already become exemplified practices among other magistrates.
Even County Magistrate Cui is fully convinced and genuinely admiring of County Magistrate Cai’s work.
Besides the magistrates of the fourteen counties, today’s special attendees included the head of the Tang Family, Tang Xianzhong. Grandmaster Tang, who labored tirelessly to promote new grain, was extensively praised. Tang Youyin also works in the Household Department of the Prince Mansion, favored and promising. Magistrates are observant and amiable toward Tang Xianzhong.
When a group of female officials walked in, everyone had already become accustomed, and warmly greeted them.
Among the female officials, both Li Ying and Cui Wenxiu come from prestigious backgrounds, while Sun Zelan comes from an apricot family; even Kong Qingwan, is the direct daughter of the Kong Family in Lu County. Although they haven’t taken the Imperial Examination, their talents are comparable to that of the Advanced Scholars who serve as magistrates. Each of them has honed their expertise in their respective fields.
For this reason, everyone showed the female officials considerable respect and hospitality, sincere and not feigned.
Jiang Shaohua and Old Madam Xue arrived last, witnessing this very scene upon their entrance.
Old Madam Xue was astonished, blurting out: "There are so many women officials in Nanyang County?"
Jiang Shaohua exchanged a glance with Chen Jinyu, smiling subtly: "By next year’s year-end banquet, Sixth Sister Xue will be among them."
Old Madam Xue: "..."
Chen Jinyu had been waiting for this moment, casually remarked: "The female officials in Nanyang County have all undergone formalities with the Ministry of Personnel, having official documents. Although my housekeeper rank is not high, it’s a Standard Seventh Rank. Miss Sun is also a Standard Seventh Rank Medical Officer. Master Li, Mr. Cui, and Mr. Kong are Standard Eighth Rank. Sister-in-law will start next year, beginning from Ninth Grade. The salary is consistent with that of the County Magistrates of the fourteen counties."
Old Madam Xue was once again stunned: "There are even official documents? How could the court agree?"
Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly: "I have repeatedly submitted memorials for this matter. Initially, the court didn’t agree. However, in recent years, Nanyang County has contributed many military provisions, and the promotion of new grain has achieved great success. When I submitted memorials again, the Ministry of Personnel finally nodded."
It’s an age-old truth: the one who takes favors is obligated to offer favors.
Jiang Shaohua was generous in contributing military provisions, and in return, just asked for official documents for a few female officials; salaries came from the Nanyang Prince Mansion, and the court’s important ministers gave their tacit approval.
Next, the officials each took their seats.
Jiang Shaohua and Chief Historian Chen sat at one table, the female officials sat at another, with Chen Jinyu originally at the head. Today, Chen Jinyu specifically invited Old Madam Xue to sit at the head seat.
Old Madam Xue received numerous surprises today. The female officials sitting together, discussing their respective responsibilities, appeared vibrant and energetic, their confident and high-spirited demeanor was indistinguishable from the county magistrates and subordinate officials.
Could women truly become officials?
And achieve accomplishments equivalent to men?
After the banquet concluded, the profoundly impacted Old Madam Xue went to see Sixth Sister Xue.
