Chapter 13: The Pavilion Posthouse

Wang Ge's reputation for skillful weaving spread throughout the village in a single day. If a farmer’s child can’t study, can’t they at least learn a trade? If one cannot become an official, can they not at least become a craftsman? Moreover, the young woman of the Wang household had already made a name for herself! With such proximity, Wang Shu and the youngest son of the neighboring Zhang family, Zhang Cang, were the first to become her apprentices. Zhang Cang was Zhang Cai’s younger cousin, a year younger than Wang Shu. The Zhang household owned two ox carts, and once Wang Ge carefully taught Zhang Cang, they even saved the cost of hiring labor to transport the woven goods to the courier station.

Just as Old Wang had worried, the villagers indeed went to the town to inquire about the matter, and when they returned, each wore a peculiar expression. Many neighbors began to whisper among themselves, “In the future, only believe half of what Second Brother Wang says!” Yet, no matter what was said, it was an undeniable fact that Wang Ge, a young girl, had risen above her peers in the village! It was also true that as long as children were diligent, they could help their families pay field rents and lighten their labor burdens!

In the midst of the village’s joyful atmosphere, only Yao and Little Jia, the two jealous sisters-in-law, ground their teeth in envy. Meanwhile, Wang Ge found herself at ease, for with the county examination two months away, she no longer needed to worry about household duties. Her aunt had the sisters-in-law rotate chores daily—chopping wood, washing clothes, cooking, delivering meals, fetching water—working them like donkeys, and every day, their aunt would scold them for being clumsy. It was enough to drive one mad!

Time slipped by, and April arrived, bringing the days of corvée labor. According to the township officials, this round of service would last fifty days, with assignments to dig canals or repair the city walls.

At such times, every household was shrouded in anxiety—not so much for their young men suffering and toiling outside, but for fear that something might go awry. The Wang family felt the same. Last year, Third Brother had gone and returned utterly exhausted. This year it was Second Brother’s turn, but if he left, who would accompany Ge to the county examination next month?

To make matters worse, Old Wang’s back pain had flared up again, leaving him leaning against his bed with sighs.

Wang Ge saw what was troubling her grandfather and said, “I’ll go to the examination myself.”

“How can that be?”

Granny Jia hesitated. “Maybe... I could go with you?” It wasn’t that she was unwilling—she’d simply never traveled far and was worried that she’d be more of a hindrance than a help to her granddaughter.

Wang Ge smiled and reassured her, “Grandfather, Grandmother, don’t worry. The township sends officials to look after us. I won’t be traveling alone. Besides, the examiners said each craftsman could bring at most one family member, which means it’s not necessary to have a companion.”

“But you’re still a child, and a girl at that!”

“Grandfather, don’t let those words reach the village. When I took the craftsman’s test, two of the examiners complained that I was too old—nearly failed me right there!”

Granny Jia was alarmed. “You’re only ten! If they really failed you just for your age, there’d be no justice in the world!”

Old Wang sighed, “Let me think about it a bit more. If my back improves by then, I’ll take you myself.”

As the family discussed and fretted, not one suggested having Third Brother Wang accompany Ge.

On the fourth day of April, a major crime took place in Duoyi County. The county magistrate was found murdered at home. His wife had died unexpectedly while burning incense outside the city in March. Their daughter, Jiang E, had cried for justice for her mother, believing she was murdered. Yet the magistrate buried his wife in haste. And now, less than a month later, the magistrate himself was dead, and his daughter had disappeared.

A court official murdered, his family’s fate uncertain—the reason must be swiftly uncovered, reported to the court, and announced to the people.

Originally, this case was utterly unrelated to the young Huan Zhen. But unexpectedly, the Huan family of Longkang recommended a collateral relative to serve as the new magistrate of Duoyi County. Huan Zhen, ever restless and bored with life in the capital, learned of this and immediately convinced his friend Wen Shizhi to join him. Under the pretense of studying criminal investigation, the two set off at full speed for Kuaiji Commandery, where they joined the commander's son, Wang Tian, and together hurried to Duoyi County.

Later, the three tricked their retinue and galloped off, singing with abandon, thrilled by the wind and dust in their faces—feeling every bit the wandering knights of old.

What they didn’t know was that their “discarded” retinue had split into three groups: one took shortcuts ahead to scout for bandits, another followed behind ready to assist in case of trouble, and the middle group had the hardest task—catching wild animals, starving them for two meals, beating them half to death, then releasing them along the boys’ route for them to “accidentally stumble upon” and hunt.

On the evening of April twenty-fifth, just before sunset, the three young men entered Duoyi County, left their horses at the forest edge, changed into old linen clothes, affixed their fake travel passes, and walked to the county courier station ten miles from the city to lodge.

“We’re really leaving our horses here? Isn’t that a bad idea?” Wen Shizhi glanced back every few steps, already regretting bringing his beloved little red horse.

“Enough whining!” Huan Zhen grabbed his friend’s shoulder and quickened his pace. He had already sensed their retinue close behind—who would dare to steal their mounts? They’d have to be tired of living!

Among the three, Wang Tian was the youngest and most carefree. He could get into trouble three hundred and fifty days out of the year, and his elders had long since worn themselves out disciplining him. He even hoped to cause a big enough stir this time for his friends to share in his punishment! Ha!

The Duoting Courier Station covered a vast area. Wang Ge, gazing at the outer wall, guessed it to be over six meters high. At its center stood a watchtower, with corner towers at each of the four corners—part fortress, part manor.

She had arrived so early because only one neighboring household was traveling to the county lately—if she didn’t hitch a ride with them, she’d have to walk for days. When she left, her grandfather’s back pain still showed no sign of improvement; on bad days, he couldn’t even turn over in bed. So besides the upcoming apprentice contest, she was determined to earn some money and buy good medicine from the county pharmacy for her grandfather.

The station guard checked Wang Ge’s travel papers meticulously, just as the examiner had warned. “A new craftsman this year? Passed at such an age? Hmph, follow the path along the wall to the east!”

Once again, Wang Ge was looked down upon for her age. With a sigh, she adjusted her basket, tucked her travel pass away, and entered the main gate.

Ahead stretched a broad avenue running north to south, wide enough for three ox carts to travel side by side, but unfortunately, this led to the “Courier Quarters,” reserved for officials or wealthy merchants—not a place for her. She had to follow the path along the wall to the “Sojourner Quarters,” where ordinary travelers could eat and sleep for free.

Wang Ge was content—she didn’t see the Sojourner Quarters as a slum, or as a sign of discrimination against commoners. On the contrary, what a beautiful idea—to provide a shelter from wind and rain for those forced to leave their homes.

A quarter of an hour later, the three boys also headed for the Sojourner Quarters, each wearing a long face. The station guard had confiscated Huan Zhen’s slingshot, Wen Shizhi’s horsewhip, and Wang Tian’s bamboo hairpin, claiming the items didn’t match those listed on their passes.

“Scoundrel! Abusing his authority!” Wang Tian’s hair had come loose and he kept tucking it behind his ear.

“It was deliberate harassment. The group of officials ahead of us barely got checked,” Wen Shizhi grumbled, wishing he’d never brought his beloved tiger-striped whip.

Huan Zhen declared, “That’s why we young men must travel often—how else can we know the world if we only hide at home?”

At that moment, Wang Ge was reflecting that even humble folk had their own ways to survive. The man leading her to her quarters was a hunched station hand in his forties, who explained things with great familiarity: “Each day, help feed the pigs and sweep the manure into a pile; split and stack any wood you can manage; the jars in front of the house are important—fill them as much as you can; don’t damage any fixed furnishings, doors, or windows; don’t light fires or build stoves without permission; meals are twice a day, collect them at the main kitchen—breakfast at dawn, supper at dusk, don’t be late; after nightfall, don’t wander the grounds.”

As he opened the gate, the smell of manure hit him, and he remembered to add, “Pig feed is also collected at the main kitchen.”

The main house in this courtyard had only one room, facing south, with two large earthen jars on each side of the door, each with a lid. On the west side stood a pigsty connected to the latrine; on the east, a grass shed covered a pile of logs, along with an old axe, a whetstone, a carrying pole, two wooden buckets, and a pig feeding trough.

Though the chores technically belonged to the station staff, Wang Ge was to stay for several days and dared not refuse. “Yes, sir. I can do all these things.”

The station hand grunted in satisfaction.

While he was in a good mood, she quickly asked, “Sir, is it safe for a young girl like me to stay in this remote courtyard? I mean, what if someone comes at night…” She played up her timidity, hesitating as if too scared to continue.

“Besides your bedding and a basket of grass, there’s nothing to steal! And anyway, anyone bold enough to steal from a courier station gets an extra charge! Just bolt the door at night, you’ll be fine!”

“Yes, sir.” Wang Ge sighed inwardly, realizing their lines of communication were completely misaligned.