Another day.
Early morning.
Minister Dong got up and took a stroll in the courtyard with his Old Wife.
As the Minister of Works, unlike leaders of other departments, he sometimes still had to be involved in various engineering operations. Although in recent years, the main projects had become building houses, courtyards, theaters, waterside pavilions, hot spring baths, bathhouses, and more for the Emperor...
He still liked to take a walk every day.
To exercise a bit.
A good physique was the foundation of being an official.
If one's body wasn't in good shape, they could only retire early, lacking the vigor even to argue with others.
This morning.
There was a rosy dawn, the sky red at the horizon.
It didn't seem suitable for a long journey; with the morning glow now, the sky might become overcast later.
Minister Dong was dressed quite thickly, with a white fur scarf wrapped around his short neck.
Madam Dong had a long neck and fair skin, looking like a gentle lady, her whole demeanor as soft and mild as a white dough.
However, at this moment, she also wore a sorrowful expression.
Minister Dong also had a worried look.
They had always been concerned about E'e's nature, having raised her to be naive and carefree.
But when their daughter was wronged, neither of them had thought about marrying her into a high-ranking family.
They chose to betroth her to Young Master Tong, the son of Vice Minister Liu, Minister Dong's subordinate.
The two families had a good relationship.
Young Master Tong had grown up with E'e, childhood sweethearts with an innocent friendship.
Although Young Master Tong didn't seem to be a genius in studies, he had a gentle personality, little ambition, and was very good to E'e. While not the best match, he should at least be a good one.
Minister Dong felt that with his own status to back her, his daughter wouldn't suffer after marriage.
Who could have imagined that she would endure endless grievances even before getting married?
They had always treated Young Master Tong like their own child. When he said he wanted to travel and study, Minister Dong thought it was a good idea - to see the world, broaden his horizons, gain experience - very good indeed, and even sponsored him generously for the trip.
But this journey resulted in him bringing back an Adopted Sister.
Minister Dong had met that Adopted Sister; his wife and daughter combined were no match for her.
That Adopted Sister looked like a young girl, but her every move was like that of a concubine in the imperial harem, as if she had years of experience in palace intrigue.
Minister Dong decisively took on the blame and broke off the engagement.
In these times, it was usually the woman's side that was criticized for breaking off an engagement.
Even if there was something unclear with the Adopted Sister, it shouldn't lead to breaking off the engagement, right? Wasn't it normal for men to have three wives and four concubines? People gossiped behind their backs that Minister Dong was bullying others.
Minister Dong felt that being criticized was better than losing one's life.
In the past, he had thought the Liu family was honest and unpretentious.
But now looking at them, not quickly driving away such a bewitching woman, but recognizing her as an adopted daughter - they must have lost their minds.
Who knew that because of this fairy-like Adopted Sister, Vice Minister Liu had become arrogant.
Previously always obedient to Minister Dong, recently he had begun to pay lip service while disobeying in secret.
Perhaps he had always been two-faced, but it just hadn't been noticed before.
It was good not to be in-laws with such people.
Minister Dong felt the broken engagement was for the best.
Fearing his daughter might feel uncomfortable in the capital with all the rumors, Minister Dong let her go out for a trip.
His daughter said she wanted to see the surging rivers and watch the sunrise over the river.
Minister Dong remembered his daughter had previously said she wanted Young Master Liu to accompany her to watch the sunrise over the river.
Hearing his daughter's request, the old father's tears nearly fell.
Alright.
Go and see.
He sent many people to accompany her on the trip.
But then...
A servant ran back saying the young miss had fallen into the water.
They thought E'e might have become despondent and attempted suicide.
Heartbroken and devastated.
At this point, Minister Dong wanted to go to the Liu family and slaughter that fickle little beast Young Master Tong.
But that very day, his daughter was found and brought back.
After returning, his daughter seemed extremely happy.
She said that in a while, a handsome young man would come riding a tall horse to marry her.
She had given her fish pendant to him as a token.
Minister Dong and Madam Dong nodded and said okay.
They told her to rest easy at home.
In reality, Minister Dong was extremely worried.
He thought his daughter might be possessed, or that the fall into the water had damaged her brain.
She said someone had saved her, a very handsome young man, and she had given the fish pendant to him.
But Minister Dong thought the fish pendant might have just fallen into the water.
His daughter described the place where she woke up.
Houses, grassland, and a great river - Minister Dong sent people to search, but they couldn't find anything.
Fortunately, his daughter didn't seem to have been violated or traumatized.
It might be a case of hysteria.
Hysteria after falling into the water.
Some people claim to have seen the underworld after falling into water.
Minister Dong and his wife were extremely anxious.
Seeing their daughter happy every day, waiting for someone to come and propose marriage.
They didn't dare to burst her bubble.
Worried that if they did, the girl might be shocked.
The servants said that when they brought her back, there was no handsome young man as the young miss described, just an honest and simple fishing family.
But now the young miss was happily at home, already starting to prepare her wedding clothes, and counting her dowry every day.
Seeing this broke Minister Dong and Madam Dong's hearts.
In their minds, they cursed Young Master Tong thousands of times.
Yet they had to cooperate with their daughter in preparing the dowry and wedding clothes.
What if no one came to propose marriage?
It worried Minister Dong to death.
...
After breakfast at home.
Minister Dong went to his office to work.
On his desk was also a copy of the detailed rules and regulations.
It wasn't circled in red.
Not because he didn't have two hundred taels.
But because he didn't want to.
He had quarreled with Minister Lu eight hundred times already.
Minister Lu was petty; if he was going to hold a grudge, he would have done so long ago.
But Minister Lu was also very clever; he knew someone had to do the work.
The position of Minister of Works was thankless, and it wasn't easy to replace.
After all, although Minister Dong grumbled every day, both the aesthetics and craftsmanship of the buildings he constructed satisfied the Emperor.
Minister Lu wouldn't easily move someone who could help the Emperor get things done.
So Minister Dong wasn't afraid of old Lu; he just wouldn't spend money to buy it, he'd memorize it himself, so what?
But he wasn't in the mood to memorize either.
Now when he looked at any colleague, he thought, could this one be a potential in-law? Could that one be a potential in-law?
He evaluated everyone first to see if they were suitable to be in-laws.
These days.
Meng Qingshe, who had become inflated with all the money people were stuffing him with, was truly inflated.
He usually didn't like to wander around various government offices.
He always felt that civil officials were gloomy and unpleasant to deal with.
Now he was actively wandering around various government offices.
He might have misunderstood civil officials before.
The civil officials were actually very nice.
Proactive and enthusiastic, they didn't even need him to open his mouth.
He had originally thought he would need to carry a package under his arm, go up to the civil officials, and whisper, "Want the key points?"
If they nodded yes, he would then secretly open the key points in a corner, let them verify the goods, see if they were genuine key points.
After verification, then it would be a hand-to-hand exchange of money for key points.
But it wasn't necessary.
He just had to wander around their offices, and they would enthusiastically and generously give him money, not at all shy or hiding the private matter of looking at key points.
So Meng Qingshe became inflated.
He even dared to set foot in the Ministry of Works, which he usually didn't like to visit.
Minister Dong of the Ministry of Works had a very bad temper.
Loud voice.
His way of speaking sounded like scolding, always grumbling.
Even when wandering, Meng Qingshe didn't like to wander to the Ministry of Works.
But sometimes he was willing to come over.
Because the weapons made by the craftsmen here were very useful.
His Green Dragon Blade had been improved with the help of the craftsmen here.
Big and sharp, with good sound effects, when shaken it made a piercing noise, causing enemies to surrender without a fight.
For this, he had specially thanked old Dong, sending him two roast ducks.
Old Dong was happy to accept, saying his daughter liked to eat them.
Meng Qingshe swaggered up to old Dong.
Seeing the detailed rules and regulations on his desk, his stern expression, sighing from time to time, he instantly understood.
Business had come to him.
"Old Dong, don't sigh, my in-law has highlighted the key points, do you want to buy them? Never mind, you're a good person, I'll highlight them for you directly, no need for you to pay, just don't tell others."
Minister Dong came to his senses and looked at Meng Qingshe.
"In-law? What in-law?"
He now had a conditioned response to the word "in-law".
He had previously pulled strings for Meng Qingshe, having craftsmen make weapons for him, because old Dong thought Meng Qingshe's son was not bad, well-educated, and without bad habits.
Unfortunately, his daughter was already engaged, and he couldn't have his cake and eat it too, but surely it was allowed for him as a father to look at other families' talented young men?
Now hearing Meng Qingshe say "in-law".
He remembered that Meng Qingshe's good son was already married, and had reportedly fathered twins at once. Meng Qingshe had broadcast this all over the court, even the birds on the roof of the court knew about it.
Other people's good sons were already fathers.
To think that his own daughter had developed hysteria, wanting her lifesaving benefactor to come and marry her.
Oh, the sorrow that filled Minister Dong's heart when he thought about it.
"My in-law Vice Minister Jiang, ah, he's such a good person. Most importantly, he's handsome and talented, honest, simple-minded, and hardworking. My mother-in-law is also wonderful, knows how to manage a household. That's why their daughter, who is now my daughter-in-law, is so well-raised. Her culinary skills are unbeatable. In the few days she's been with us, our whole family has gained several pounds because her food is so delicious. And my two grandsons, they're growing up chubby and fair-skinned..."
As Meng Qingshe chatted with others, his old habit kicked in, and he veered off to talk about his two grandsons.
Seeing the blank stare in old Dong's eyes, he felt a bit embarrassed and steered the conversation back on track.
"My in-law, that man is really good, easy to get along with. He even knows how to highlight key points..."
Minister Dong suddenly grasped Meng Qingshe's hand and asked enthusiastically, "Does our in-law have any sons? How old are they? Are they married yet?"
...
