Watching Wu Xianglao depart, Jinyi spoke up. "Deputy Village Head Lin, draft an announcement and post it — the village is paying to exempt everyone from their corvée labor this year. Tell the people to set their minds at ease and focus on their work."
"As long as you're a resident of Taoyuan Village, the village will cover the cost of your annual corvée exemption every year going forward. Not a single coin out of your own pockets."
"Understood, Village Head. I'll see to it right after the meeting." Lin Xuejin wrote the matter down in his notebook, his heart quietly glad.
In the days he had spent at Taoyuan Village, he had felt it clearly — the way the village looked after its people. It was a goodness that accumulated drop by drop, little by little, and from it grew the contentment he saw on every villager's face.
When he had first left the capital to serve as prefect, he had carried with him the conviction that a man holds office but once in a place, and so must use that time to benefit the people under his care. He had laid careful plans for their welfare — only to find himself checked and obstructed at every turn. After years of effort, those who had gone hungry beneath his administration were going hungry still.
He had left officialdom in low spirits, resigned to the belief that this was simply how his life would end. He never expected that his accidental arrival at Taoyuan Village would kindle in him a second spring — that he would once again catch a glimpse of the hope of realizing his ideals.
By his reckoning, the villagers' incomes were only middling at best — enough to keep their stomachs full, no more — and yet every single face here wore a smile.
The meeting concluded. Lin Xuejin drafted the notice and posted it.
A few villagers passing by gathered around. "Deputy Head Lin, what does it say? Is something good happening again?"
Lin Xuejin had always been reserved to the point of coldness with officials and merchants, but toward ordinary folk he was warm and easy. It was the way he had been raised — he believed these were the very foundation upon which the dynasty stood.
He had seen it before, in other places: villagers watching a posted notice from a distance, fearful as if it were a crouching tiger, waiting for someone else to explain it. Afraid, yet unwilling to leave — because they needed to know what it said. You had to find out whose turn it was to be devoured.
But here, whenever a notice went up, the people crowded around at once. And the first thing out of their mouths was always: *Is it more good news?*
Clearly the villagers had faith in Taoyuan Village's committee.
Lin Xuejin smiled. "Come, let me read it to you all. When you've heard it, pass the word along to everyone else."
He read it through, and sure enough, the villagers lit up with excitement.
"The master is truly a great benefactor! Exempting us from corvée labor — that work is brutal. Not only are you paid nothing, you have to bring your own grain."
"That's right. One round of corvée, for people like us, is like walking through the gates of hell and back."
"Deputy Head Lin, thank you — you and Village Head Jinyi and the master are all saints. I'm going home to set up a longevity tablet for each of you."
Lin Xuejin couldn't suppress the smile spreading across his face. He cleared his throat. "Go on, go tell your family and friends the good news — oh, there are more people coming over. You there, yes, you — the village has a notice up. Come here and let me read it to you."
When he had first become deputy village head, he had found the whole business of reading announcements rather foolish. Surely anyone with a few characters under their belt could manage it — why should he be the one? So he had written out the notices and handed them off to some half-grown boy who knew his letters.
But today he read it again and again.
Until his throat had gone somewhat dry.
As long as it was a Taoyuan Village notice, he was willing to read it aloud for everyone, every single time.
Work ended, and he walked home — not far at all. He had never liked riding in a carriage. He preferred to make his way to and from the office on foot, watching Taoyuan Village change, little by little. He loved that feeling. He loved how the villagers he passed would greet him with open, cheerful faces, and how he could smile back.
"Master, you're home." His attendant knew when he finished work and had the door open and waiting.
"Mm. Home."
*Good heavens — that proud, aloof master of mine actually responded to me. And with a smile, no less. I feel strangely blessed.*
"Master, we've been waiting for you — come to the table, dinner's ready."
"Master, what's gotten into you today? What are you so happy about?"
"Ahem — nothing in particular. Let's eat, let's eat."
He glanced at his daughter and young son, both eyeing the dishes on the table with barely restrained longing. After a moment's thought, he said, "Let's do away with so many of the old rules at home. The children are starving. From now on, if the food is ready, just start without me. There's no need to wait — what if I'm held up by official business?"
"That said," he added, "if there are guests, we observe the proper customs. That still stands."
"Ha — fine. You're the head of this household, we do as you say. But honestly, you've changed quite a bit lately, haven't you."
Lin Xuejin paused, then asked thoughtfully, "And would you say it's a change for the better or for the worse, my dear?"
"I couldn't say better or worse exactly — but it feels good."
"Then that's all I need to know. Now let's eat. Here — Mengxuan, this drumstick's for you. Yunyi, this is yours."
After dinner, Lin Xuejin retired to his study. He brewed a cup of tea from the leaves Jinyi had given him, and settled in to savor it while paging through a rather unusual book.
"*Ah — bo — ci — de...*"
His eldest son, Lin Yunxuan, knocked and entered. "Father, I have something to ask."
"What is it? Go ahead."
"Father — the prefectural examination this year. Do I need to go back for it?"
Lin Xuejin blinked. He was right — how had he forgotten something so important? They had set out from the capital before the new year, intending to travel for a few months and return before the examination.
"Of course you should — Xuan'er, what are your own thoughts on it?"
A vivid, spirited figure flashed through Lin Yunxuan's mind. He hesitated. "Father... I don't think my chances of passing this year are very good. Perhaps I should skip it this time?"
"All right. Your father respects your choice."
"Burying yourself at home over books day after day isn't the answer anyway."
"Here's what I think: I'll find you something to do. Master Zhao says that reading ten thousand books is no match for traveling ten thousand li — that's just the general idea. Work serves the same purpose."
"I will follow whatever Father arranges."
"Taoyuan Village Primary School is finished. It opens in a few days."
"Your father is serving as its headmaster."
"The school expects to need nine teachers. I would like you to take a post there — but the decision is yours."
"You have spoken, Father. I would not dare refuse."
"Good. Then I'll give you a head start. Come here and look at this book."
The next morning, Lin Xuejin arrived at the office, reached into his cabinet, and took out a notice he had written some time before. He carried it to the posting wall and pasted it over yesterday's corvée exemption announcement.
"Deputy Head Lin, another notice already? More good news?"
"Ha — yes, more good news today. And not just any good news — great news. Go fetch as many people as you can. I'll read it to you all. It will exceed your wildest expectations."
Everyone trusted that Deputy Head Lin wasn't the sort of man to toy with them. If he said so, it had to be something truly wonderful.
A crowd gathered — a glance told you there were well over a hundred people.
Lin Xuejin cleared his throat and read in a carrying voice:
"In three days' time, Taoyuan Village Primary School will open. All official residents of Taoyuan Village may enroll free of charge."
"Those who pass the required examinations will receive a daily stipend of two wen — paid out the same as wages, every ten days. As long as you remain within Taoyuan Village, you may continue receiving it indefinitely!"
When he finished, a hush fell over the crowd. Many people were trembling.
One man, his lips quivering with barely contained longing, asked, "Deputy Head L-Lin... do you mean to say... my child could go to school from now on? And it won't cost anything?"