The Daily Life of Farming and Raising Children in Ancient Mountain Residences

Chapter 258: Entering the Capital

It was inevitable that the news would spread. From Zeng Ziqian’s perspective, with the war finally over and everything in need of rebuilding, the primary task for the Da Qi was to ensure the well-being of its people.

If a method could make pigs gain eighty to ninety pounds of meat within six months, such a beneficial discovery was worth promoting. With the curved plow having already made Sang Luo famous across the provinces, Zeng Sanlang was eager to make her name known once again in the Da Qi.

This was not only a mark of his native Shezhou but also reflected the Da Qi’s new spirit, carrying significant political implications.

Although Sang Luo had not considered the broader implications, she understood the benefits. In ancient times, without a powerful family background, a good reputation was an excellent safeguard.

Realizing this, she cooperated, especially since the pigs she had experimented with were from August, and it was still early for them to be sold. She worried that the officials might not recognize the difference in flavor, so she mentioned it.

Concubine Fan’s eyes lit up: “Is that so?”

Sang Luo nodded: “Don’t you remember? In June, I had a pig slaughtered myself.”

Concubine Fan was thrilled. Nobles typically avoided pork due to its strong smell, preferring lamb. However, castrated pigs could eliminate that odor.

“That’s great! This will make the tribute even more interesting. I’ll discuss it with Sanlang when I return.” She added, “You’re quite good at keeping secrets.”

Sang Luo responded, “I didn’t know at the time. We only found out after eating it. I didn’t make a special trip to find out more. I thought we’d have more knowledge when the next batch of pigs was ready, but I didn’t expect it to become a tribute.”

She then asked Concubine Fan if she needed to prepare anything.

There was nothing specific she needed to prepare. Concubine Fan was only there to deliver a list, asking her to send the items to the state office on the 9th of November. The payment would be arranged by the office.

When Sang Luo heard November 9th, she was initially worried she might not have everything ready in time. However, after glancing at the list, she was relieved. The state office had selected honey, fermented tofu, meat floss, jerky, and vermicelli, each in sixty portions.

Most of these items were already in stock, and honey could be stored for a long time. The only challenge was the jerky and meat floss. The problem wasn’t making them fresh but sourcing good-quality ingredients.

For palace delivery, the ingredients needed to be of higher quality. However, the pigs bought from the officials were not large, and the castrated piglets were not yet three months old. The meat quality was subpar.

Previously, the pork sold in her shop was acceptable because the common people had never tasted uncured pork. With proper seasoning and processing, the difference wasn’t noticeable. But for the palace, she hesitated.

Concubine Fan, seeing Sang Luo’s concern, laughed: “Don’t worry. I have some at my estate. I’ll send it over shortly. Just find a butcher to prepare it.”

Sang Luo was surprised: “Castrated pigs?”

Concubine Fan nodded, smiling: “The livestock I brought from Taiyuan included both large and small ones. Initially, some of the smaller ones died on the way, so we replaced them with a new batch in Chenliu. The pigs from Taiyuan were much larger. When selling livestock, people often bought smaller ones due to price. I kept the larger ones at my estate, so I do have suitable ones.”

With that settled, Concubine Fan didn’t delay. She played with the children, gave each of them a small silver bracelet, and prepared to leave.

Sang Luo hadn’t expected to receive two pairs of silver bracelets. She was about to say something when Concubine Fan stopped her: “It’s a gift. They’re not heavy, just a token of good fortune. Don’t refuse; I’m not accustomed to these formalities.”

Sang Luo accepted with a smile and saw her off. Concubine Fan told her to return inside, as the children were in the house.

With Shen Ning and Xu Wenyin in the city and the four young girls having their own small businesses, Sang Luo didn’t need to search for help. She glanced around and saw Shen Tie, calling him over to ask him to fetch Zheng Dalang and his brothers from the neighboring village to help slaughter a pig.

—

In the winter of the fourth year of the Wuding era, the first winter of the Da Qi Emperor’s rule in the capital, Chang’an was bustling in November.

Starting in mid-November, carriages from various provinces arrived in the city. The Da Qi had its tribute system, and the people of the capital were quite familiar with it. Previously, local tributes were sent to the capital every October. This year, with the unification of the Da Qi and a three-year tax exemption, many provinces and counties, which had only recently been conquered, would send their tributes later.

Every day, carriages would either come from outside the city or from the docks, traveling through the Eastern Market to the nearby neighborhoods of the imperial city. There, the various provincial tribute offices, established since the previous dynasty, served as the residences for provincial officials coming to report and deliver tributes. The people of Chang’an could witness the lively scene at the Eastern Market.

Although the Da Qi was newly established, the provincial tributes were still presented with great care. The packaging was quite elaborate, and while the quantity and scale were better than those from the previous Da Qian dynasty, the quality of the tribute items and their presentation were never overlooked.

On November 23rd, the people of Chang’an, accustomed to such events, were surprised to see an unusual sight.

What was unusual about it?

Six carriages were clearly for transporting tribute goods, as indicated by the official uniforms of the lead figure and the guards. But what was being delivered?

Inside the six carriages were six wooden crates, and within the crates were six well-kept pigs that had traveled a long way!

Pigs!

While people had seen all sorts of rare and exotic tributes, they had never seen pigs being offered to the emperor.

As soon as this procession entered the city, the people on the streets stopped to gawk, laughing and whispering among themselves, creating quite a stir.

“Look at the color of the lead official’s uniform—seems to be of the sixth rank, a provincial governor’s historian? Which province is this from?”

“The pigs look well-fed, but don’t we common folk eat pork? Do the nobles eat pork too?”

Some idle onlookers joked with their companions, “Let’s follow and see.”

Many people followed alongside the carriages, eager to see the commotion. However, the procession did not head to the tribute office but went straight toward the imperial city.

Tributes were typically first inspected and received by the Ministry of Revenue before entering the palace. Once inside the imperial city, the common folk could no longer see the excitement. Nevertheless, with six live pigs entering the city, many officials and gatekeepers were curious and kept a close watch.

Live pigs entering the capital was unusual, and there was speculation about their purpose. The carriages stopped at the Ministry of Revenue.

Tributes?

Everyone was stunned.

Though the provinces were poor this year, it was unheard of to send live pigs as tribute. Which province was so clueless?

—

At the Ministry of Revenue, the official in charge, who had been busy recently, was surprised to see the new tribute. As soon as he saw the pigs, he was dumbfounded.

He thought, just like the gatekeepers before him, “Which province is this from? How could they be so clueless?”

He soon learned that the lead official was the provincial historian from Shezhou. The historian introduced himself with a smile.

Shezhou.

The Ministry of Revenue official remembered Shezhou. Previously, a farmer from Shezhou had presented a plow with a message wishing for a prosperous Chang’an, leading to the renaming of Jianye City to Chang’an. Later, the wife of the Shezhou governor, Fan, had sent grain, seeds, poultry, and livestock as tribute, receiving a third-rank honor.

As a result, the officials and families in Chang’an had been quite busy, and the countryside outside the city had benefited from it.

The Ministry of Revenue official observed the six fat pigs in the crates and noted that besides the officials, there were two experienced pig farmers with them.

Looking at the Shezhou historian, he was at a loss for words.

Upon learning that the Shezhou historian had introduced himself as Mr. He, the official asked, “Mr. He, is this the entire tribute from Shezhou this year?”

The emperor didn’t want to waste the people’s resources, but Shezhou seemed to be taking things too lightly. Was this meant to bolster the reputation of Mrs. Zeng? Was it really effective? Could it backfire?

Mr. He smiled and said, “Not at all. There are other tributes, but since transporting live pigs by water is inconvenient, I brought them ahead while my superior is bringing the rest by water.”

The official smiled and said, “Let’s inspect and register them then.”

“Thank you for your trouble.”

The Ministry of Revenue had a set procedure for inspecting tributes, especially for grain and livestock, which needed to be weighed.

The Ministry of Revenue official, who had probably never seen pigs up close before, couldn’t discern anything unusual. However, his subordinate, observing carefully, noticed something odd and was stunned: “These pigs… aren’t they complete? Missing something…”

The official looked at his subordinate and then at the area being pointed out but didn’t understand. He turned to the subordinate and asked, “What’s missing?”

The subordinate, with a strange expression, pointed to a smaller pig with its rear facing them and cleared his throat to indicate to the official: “Look at that, what’s different?”

The official turned and…

The shape—though he had never seen a pig like this before, he recognized the shape of those parts.

The Ministry of Revenue official’s eyes twitched uncontrollably, and he swallowed hard before looking at Mr. He: “Mr. He, what is the meaning of this?”

Mr. He replied, “Please don’t misunderstand. The pigs we’re offering are castrated pigs. Just register them as they are. My superior will explain the details at the New Year’s court.”

The Ministry of Revenue officials were speechless.

The subordinates waited for their superior to speak. The official, looking at the calm Mr. He, twitched his lips: “Register them as they are.”

Within two days, news about Shezhou’s tribute—consisting of a few pigs—spread among the three provinces, six ministries, nine temples, five supervision offices, and the various tribute offices in the capital. While only a few knew about the peculiarities of the pigs, it still caused a stir. Zeng Ziqian, bringing other tributes by water, had not yet arrived in the capital, but both he and Concubine Fan had made quite an impression in the capital’s official circles.

Arriving on the last day for submitting tributes, November 25th, Zeng Ziqian delivered several carts of tributes to the Ministry of Revenue. As he left the imperial city, he encountered many officials who recognized him. Some stopped to chat, with a few making remarks about the tribute pigs.

“Mr. Zeng has returned to the capital? Bringing tributes? I heard there are some fat pigs among them, the same batch Mrs. Zeng sent from Taiyuan earlier this year?”

The tone was teasing.

Zeng Ziqian, appearing not to understand the jest, smiled and cupped his hands: “Shezhou is poor and couldn’t provide anything precious. I apologize to my colleagues for this.”

Someone laughed heartily: “Don’t worry, Mr. Zeng. The emperor understands the situation of each province this year and won’t hold it against you. However, there may not be the same rewards as before. Be sure to reassure Mrs. Zeng when you return, so she doesn’t feel disappointed.”

Zeng Ziqian smiled and clasped his fists in response.