Chapter 6, Substitute Inspection

My uncle once accompanied the grand master to Cangxi on official business. He came across a Han family ancestral hall and, upon seeing the generations of names that had been inscribed for hundreds of years, he felt as if he had discovered a treasure. He immediately changed his name to Yu Cai, and my three brothers and I became part of the Xiu generation. Even my father changed his name to Han Yu Gui. Perhaps some may mock him for recklessly claiming ancestry, but I understand that he intended to enrich the heritage of the Han family, hoping to elevate us to a scholarly lineage.

Han Xiufeng pointed to a couplet in the main hall and solemnly said: "Yong Da Zong Yuan's writings, Shan Lin Yu Xiu serves Ze Xiang; Learning leads to Si Jian Hui's continuation, Zhong Liu Deng Yun's family and country prosper. In fact, this is not a couplet, but the generational name of the Han family from Cangxi. My Han family has been landlords for generations, and we do not recognize a single character of the large script. In the past, when adding names for newborns, it was done haphazardly, calling them A Cat, A Dog, Big Baby, Second Baby, whatever came to mind."

My uncle aspires to great heights and often says that firewood is cheap in the countryside, but he fears that his descendants will be foolish. He worries that if the family settles in the countryside for too long, future generations will lack ambition. He also says that if one day the descendants of the Han family are able to achieve success, such as passing the imperial examinations and becoming a jinshi or a member of the Hanlin Academy, then not only should they return to the countryside to build a grand residence, but they should also construct a large ancestral hall

What does it mean to be lacking a foundation? Pan Changsheng asked curiously

Manager Pan had always envied those in official positions, and he sighed with longing: "To be an official for wealth over a thousand miles, not to mention the ten thousand taels of silver for a three-year term as a clean governor, even our magistrate in Baxian, being neither greedy nor wasteful, earns thirty thousand a year! Although the inspector is only of the ninth rank, and while not as esteemed as the officials in charge of the people at the state or county level, if one could fill the vacancy, these two thousand taels would indeed not be a problem for my capable nephews."

Manager Pan explained: "The number of registered clerks in the six offices of the county government is fixed, with one position for each clerk. If no money is offered, who would vacate their position?"

Han Xiufeng turned to look at him and said meaningfully: "Brother Pan, your family is wealthy and generous. Not to mention a ninth-rank inspector, even a fourth-rank magistrate could be easily donated by your family. However, if you want to secure the background of a candidate for the imperial examination and a ninth-rank substitute inspector, two or three hundred taels would probably not be enough; two or three thousand taels would be more appropriate"

There is no rush, please take your time to think. In any case, if I do not go to the Ministry of Personnel to offer my services, and do not fill the vacancies to become an official, remaining as I am now, relying on the government office as a mere bystander, I fear that my uncle's debt to you may never be repaid by our entire family in this lifetime

"This is the license for the donation of an official position; you have donated an official position!" Pan Changsheng recognized a few characters and was instantly dumbfounded upon looking at the document

Pan Changsheng pondered for a moment and then turned back to ask: "Han Si, since there is a vacancy in the yamen, and you can afford it, why not fill this vacancy?"

"Why?" the curious head of the guard asked.

Han Xiufeng patted the wooden box and smiled, saying: "Uncle Pan, I plan to go to the capital in a while to offer my services and participate in the Ministry of Personnel's selection. Could you grant me a few more years to make up for my shortcomings, become an official, earn some money, and then repay you the principal and interest of your money?"

"Manager Pan, to be honest, I only learned about this matter today." Head Constable Guan, fearing that the property deed and the license from the Ministry of Revenue for the donation of officials might be blown away by the wind, carefully placed them back into the box. He then raised his head and said: "Last year, the often lame man from the household department returned to his hometown, leaving a vacancy. The bottom line for that vacancy is only fifty taels! Having registered scriptures is certainly better than having unregistered ones. I asked Si Wazi if he had enough money; if not, should I help him gather some? In the end, he stubbornly refused to take on this vacancy. I even lost my temper over this matter, not realizing that he had already helped his son secure an official position through donations."

"In books, there are beauties like jade, and in books, there are houses of gold; isn't this the very principle?" Although Manager Pan is a creditor, he genuinely admires Han Yucai, who has passed away but indeed rose from humble beginnings.

"Indeed, however, the several dozen taels donated do not represent an official position; it merely signifies the donation of a candidate's status." Han Xiufeng then took out a "Receipt of Actual Collection" license from the Ministry of Revenue from the box and said slowly, "This is the one. This is the ninth-rank supplementary patrol inspector I helped my son donate in the twenty-ninth year of the Daoguang era. Lacking the ability to pass the imperial examinations, I could only donate for an official title, which can be considered a way to uphold the honor of the Han family. It is precisely because I have donated for an official status that even to this day, I remain merely a helper in the clerical work." Lacking the ability to pass the imperial examinations, I could only donate for an official title, which can be considered a way to uphold the honor of the Han family. It is precisely because I have donated for an official status that even to this day, I remain merely a helper in the clerical work.

Upon reflecting on how Han Yucai later turned a perfectly good home into this, Captain Guan couldn't help but exclaim: "He has ambitions higher than the heavens, yet his life is as fragile as paper"

It is easy to donate an official position, but difficult to fill the vacancy. Dear nephew, you must allow me to think this over carefully

Pan Changsheng never expected that Han Si, who usually kept a low profile, had quietly donated his background and even contributed an official position. He enviously glanced at the wooden box containing the Ministry of Revenue license and muttered, "A monitor only costs 45 taels, and a ninth-rank inspector is less than 200 taels; I can afford to donate for this official position too"

Brother Yu Cai indeed has ambitions that reach far and wide, it is truly a case of unfulfilled aspirations leading to an early demise, what a pity, what a pity! One can tell that Manager Pan's words come from the heart

"Those with accomplishments cannot serve as clerks, let alone hold an official position." Han Xiufeng did not wish to further explain the rules of the yamen, returning to the topic of repaying debts: "Manager Pan, you dared to lend two thousand taels to my uncle at that time because you believed that my uncle, having been appointed by the Zheng Tang of Bishan as the old master of finance, would be able to earn back this sum. Unfortunately, my uncle was not fortunate and encountered a short-lived county magistrate. However, your money has not gone to waste; although my uncle is no longer here, the Han family still has me. If I can fill the vacancy of the inspector, how much silver do you think I could earn in a year? Could you help me repay my uncle's borrowed money along with the interest?"

Han Xiufeng nodded and took over the conversation: "However, the road to the imperial examination is fraught with difficulties! That scholar, having failed the exams repeatedly, found it hard to support his family through teaching alone. With the help of a fellow from the same year, he concealed his background and secured a position as a clerk in the local government office in East Sichuan. The pile of documents he needed to transcribe was as high as a mountain, and at his advanced age, he lacked the physical strength to complete it. Thus, he thought of my uncle. My uncle not only worked diligently but also had a beautiful hand in small regular script. Initially, he assisted as a helper, and later, he was recommended by his colleagues to become the manager of the workshop in the Ba County government office. The pile of documents he needed to transcribe was as high as a mountain, and at his advanced age, he lacked the physical strength to complete it. Thus, he thought of my uncle. My uncle not only worked diligently but also had a beautiful hand in small regular script. Initially, he assisted as a helper, and later, he was recommended by his colleagues to become the manager of the workshop in the Ba County government office.

Han Xiufeng seemed not to have heard, and with a hint of guilt, he said: "My uncle has no children, and my three elder brothers are illiterate, so I can only place the hope of glorifying our ancestors on my shoulders. Unfortunately, in my childhood, I was ignorant and only knew how to play, not understanding his good intentions. Although I studied for a few years and recognized some characters, I was unable to achieve any academic distinction. Thinking about it, I truly feel ashamed of him and of my ancestors."

"Compared to my uncle, I have not worked hard enough." Han Xiufeng sat back in his seat and, as if performing a magic trick, took out a document sealed with the official stamp from a box and carefully placed it in front of everyone: "Just now, Uncle Pan asked me how, after so many years of service in the government office, I could possibly not save any silver? Uncle Pan is right; after working in the government for so many years, if I haven't saved a few hundred taels, I, Han Si, would be even more ashamed in front of my uncle."

"Fourth Child, do not blame yourself; achieving fame and success is not an easy task. Moreover, you have already worked very hard and shown great determination." The head of the guard patted his arm, his eyes filled with affection.

The clerk is not an official, does not receive a salary, nor does he have any allowances for meals. He must provide his own paper, pens, and candles needed for copying official documents. However, the office has its own outdated practices; whenever there is a lawsuit, there are fees for paper and pens, registration, presentation, purchasing approvals, issuing documents, attending cases, court fees, site inspections, case closure, and interest... Although he does not have the same authority as an official, my uncle has managed to establish a family fortune over the years as a clerk.

Han Xiufeng fell silent for a moment, then suddenly turned around and asked: "Uncle Guan, Uncle Pan, do you two know why my uncle did not build a house in the countryside back then, but instead came to buy this courtyard?"