Chapter 244: Farming a Real Official Position
Old Madam Luo hadn’t originally wanted to go to so much trouble either, but this was all taught to her by Nanny Du.
Receiving an imperial decree was a monumental event that brooked no carelessness. If they performed poorly in any aspect, breached proper etiquette, and let the people of the envoy delegation catch them in a blunder, the delegation would return to report it to the Emperor. It would be her eldest son’s reputation at stake, so she absolutely could not allow it.
After breakfast, the entire family checked each other once more for any oversights before following the village chief toward the ancestral hall.
Old Madam Luo and Old Man Wen walked at the very front. Wen Yao and Wen Di supported Old Madam Luo on her left and right, followed by the two daughters-in-law holding Wen Ying’s hands, with Nanny Du and Nanny Du behind them.
Behind Old Man Wen followed his three sons. Wen Xiuyi held Datou’s hand, and at the very back were the male offspring of the Wen family, led by Wen Jun.
As the group walked toward them, the villagers waiting beside the ancestral hall hurriedly cleared a path.
Looking at the members of the Wen family who had undergone a massive transformation today, they had to admit that they were truly different from them now.
The main doors of the ancestral hall swung wide open today, and even the red silks hanging inside the hall had been replaced with brand-new ones. Every single person in the village kept watch beside the ancestral hall; even the children who usually played and fooled around were perfectly quiet at this moment, not a single one daring to make a loud racket.
The village chief had sent people to wait over by the official highway, and before long, someone came running back, shouting as he ran that they were coming, they were coming.
Soon after, everyone caught the sound of gongs and drums.
The village chief was incredibly thrilled; this was the absolute first time in several hundred years for Gutong Village.
“Clear the way, everyone clear the way! Don’t block the road, all of you stand further back so you don’t startle the lords of the envoy delegation!” the village chief bellowed at the top of his lungs. Without needing him to say another word, the villagers consciously began to step back, yielding all the space at the entrance of the ancestral hall, and they also welcomed them at the village entrance.
As the sound of gongs and drums drew closer and closer, Old Madam Luo’s grip on Wen Yao’s hand tightened more and more.
“Grandma, relax a bit,” Wen Yao comforted the old lady. Driven by curiosity, she had long since forgotten what nerves felt like, only knowing that she could finally witness an ancient imperial decree. That was an imperial decree after all; taking it back would make it a national treasure-grade item.
Old Madam Luo didn’t want to be nervous either, but she had lived her entire life and encountered such a monumental event for the first time; how could she not be nervous?
Not only was she nervous, but the other members of the Wen family were also incredibly anxious, yet they could only grit their teeth and endure it.
The envoy delegation that came to proclaim the decree indeed carried a grand display. There were gongs and drums, and government soldiers clearing the way. A horse carriage traveled in the middle, flanked before and behind by quite a few guards riding tall, sturdy horses, with individuals carrying large banners at the rear. That display was truly as glorious and magnificent as could be.
Xun Feng was originally an imperial guard, but since he wasn’t on duty, he hadn’t changed into his uniform and was currently following quietly beside the Wen family.
Before long, the decree proclamation delegation ground to a halt at the village entrance. The door of the horse carriage swung open, and two people stepped out from inside.
One was Magistrate Chen whom they had all met before, and the other was a person with red lips and white teeth, wearing a small cap and holding a horsetail whisk.
Wen Yao stole a glance; this was an ancient eunuch.
Magistrate Chen and the eunuch alighted from the carriage, and the village chief quickly stepped forward to greet them along with the Wen family.
Just as the group was about to salute, they heard the eunuch speak, “May I ask which one is Mister Wen?” His voice was soft, low, and gentle, sounding quite mild.
The village chief quickly stepped aside, and Wen Xiuyi also emerged from behind Old Man Wen to salute.
“This student is he.”
The eunuch sized him up for a moment and returned the salute. “Prince Fu sends his regards to you, Mister.”
The single mention of Prince Fu served to tell Wen Xiuyi that this was one of their own, so there was no need to be too nervous.
Sure enough, the taut, tense heart suspended in Wen Xiuyi’s chest eased considerably.
Xun Feng smiled from the side. “Eunuch Gui, I didn’t expect you to be the one running this errand.” These casual words caused the heart of the village chief nearby to leap into his throat, and Magistrate Chen smiled along even more awkwardly.
Who would have thought that Eunuch Gui wasn’t angry at all? Instead, he replied with a smile, “Of course, this is an errand that this servant fought tooth and nail for against the other brothers.” After speaking, he scanned Xun Feng up and down several times, saying, “If the Commander saw your current appearance, a round of punishment would be unavoidable.”
Xun Feng shrugged his shoulders, completely unbothered; no one could control themselves in the face of delicious food.
With so many people watching around them, it wasn’t appropriate for the two to reminisce too much. Eunuch Gui cast a glance at Magistrate Chen.
Magistrate Chen understood instantly. “Ahem, is the place to receive the decree prepared?”
“It’s prepared, it’s prepared! My Lords, Honored Guests, please come this way, it’s right at our village’s ancestral hall,” the village chief replied hurriedly and respectfully.
Eunuch Gui flicked his horsetail whisk. “Then let us go to the ancestral hall.” After speaking, he nodded to Wen Xiuyi again. “Mister Wen, we will chat in detail later. Prince Fu had this servant bring a message for you.”
“Yes,” Wen Xiuyi cupped his hands.
The two returned to the carriage and arrived at the ancestral hall.
Once everything was fully prepared, Eunuch Gui respectfully presented a beautiful long box from the carriage. A little eunuch immediately ran forward from the side, respectfully accepting and holding it properly, making it convenient for Eunuch Gui to extract the imperial decree from inside.
The moment that bright yellow imperial decree came into view, led by the Wen family, everyone fell to their knees in unison.
Eunuch Gui’s gentle voice suddenly turned sharp, and he began to read.
Kneeling beside Old Madam Luo and leaning lightly against her, Wen Yao could feel the old lady’s emotions shift from the initial nervousness to the later excitement; she was almost unable to remain kneeling at this point.
Wen Yao quickly gave her a stealthy prop, shooting a meaningful glance at Old Madam Luo: You absolutely cannot fall at this moment.
Old Madam Luo pinched herself once, forcing herself to steady down.
Wen Yao stole another look toward Old Man Wen’s side; he was also being propped up by Wen Jun.
Fine, their situations were pretty much the same.
Before long, the reading of the imperial decree concluded. With a whole mountain of tortuous and varied words of praise, Wen Yao only managed to grasp a few meanings.
First, Wen Xiuyi was bestowed a minor official position, the lower seventh-rank Minister of Agriculture.
Second, using Yunwu Town as an example, Wen Xiuyi was to improve the common people’s method of planting to increase yields, within a two-year period.
Third, Wen Xiuyi was to vigorously promote the planting of potatoes, corn, and sweet potatoes, also within a two-year period. Two years later, it would be promoted nationwide. As for the seeds, their Yunwu Town would be used to stockpile seeds during these two years.
Fourth, the magistrate of Yunwu Town was explicitly ordered to cooperate fully and follow Wen Xiuyi’s arrangements. If any situation arose, Wen Xiuyi could directly write a memorial to be delivered into the capital, reaching straight to the celestial ear of the Emperor.
Although Magistrate Chen held the same rank as Wen Xiuyi now, the final condition instantly pulled a vast gap between the two. One had to report matters layer by layer, while the other could reach straight to the Emperor. The difference was astronomical.
Once the imperial decree was read, Eunuch Gui spoke with a wide smile, “Official Wen, receive the decree.”
Wen Xiuyi was someone who had seen great winds and waves after all, so he calmed down very quickly. He respectfully accepted the imperial decree and kowtowed heavily three times. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your profound benevolence.”
Looking at the imperial decree in his hands, Wen Xiuyi didn’t even know what he ought to say anymore. He had just been farming, so how did he end up farming a real official position out of it?
