Chapter 95: As Long as It's Useful

"No," Qing Jingzi replied with clenched teeth.

He had gotten himself into this damn place and still didn’t know how to get out—how could he possibly drag his sect brothers into this mess?

Bing Wengu sighed regretfully. "The pay and perks here are actually decent."

Qing Jingzi insisted, "My whole temple’s wiped out—I’m the only one left."

"Very well." Bing Wengu shrugged, not one to push. "Cong Lin, arrange a room for the Reverend in the back offices for now."

"Yes, sir." Cong Lin hadn’t expected Bing Wengu to remember his name. Being called upon directly, he was so thrilled he’d die for him on the spot. "Reverend, follow me."

Not done yet, Qing Jingzi turned to Nan Jinping before leaving, pointing at her and declaring, "I’ve got real talent—I can tell *he’s* a *Shuang Er*, your husband."

Nan Jinping had dressed as a man that day to avoid unnecessary trouble while participating in the recruitment. Qing Jingzi didn’t recognize her, and none of the officials there had spilled her identity, so he assumed no one knew.

Bing Wengu showed no reaction. "Every officer in this prefecture knows."

Qing Jingzi shut his mouth hard, as if he wanted to say more but held back for some reason.

After Qing Jingzi and Cong Lin left, Bing Wengu said, "Everyone, get back to it. I have official business to attend to, so I’ll dip out first."

"Sir! Sir!" Gou Dan suddenly called out.

The village head, alarmed, clamped a hand over Gou Dan’s mouth and offered Bing Wengu an ingratiating smile.

"Sir, the kid’s just yapping."

Gou Dan wriggled like a caught fish in the village head’s arms. Bing Wengu said, "This young man seems to have something to say to me. Let him speak."

The village head had no choice but to release him, shooting him frantic looks—but Gou Dan didn’t notice.

Gou Dan’s eyes lit up when he stared at Bing Wengu. "Sir, I just heard the offices need skilled farmers. My mother is a damn good farmer—her crops pull bigger yields than anyone else’s in our village. Sir, can my mother come work here?"

The village head’s stomach dropped. He had known Gou Dan would bring this up and hurriedly explained, "Sir, the kid’s talking out his ass. Please don’t take him seriously."

"I’m not talking out my ass!" Gou Dan retorted loudly. "Village Head, didn’t you once praise my mother as the top farmer in the region? People from other villages even come to ask her for advice!"

The village head grew anxious. "It’s true your mother is good at farming, but since when do women get yamen jobs? That’s a man’s job!"

Gou Dan stood his ground. "But the sir said anyone skilled in farming can come! My mother puts every man in the region to shame!"

The village head looked exasperated, as if reasoning with a stubborn child. "Fine, I can’t argue with you."

Gou Dan huffed. "You don’t get to decide—the sir does! Sir, can my mother work here?"

The village head tugged at Gou Dan’s sleeve in frustration. "Why won’t you listen? When we get back, I’ll tell your father how bold you’ve been—he’ll give you a good beating!"

At the thought of his father’s fists, Gou Dan flinched.

"Is your mother truly that skilled at farming?" Bing Wengu asked.

"Very skilled! She’s the top farmer in the region!" Gou Dan glanced nervously at the village head but answered firmly.

The village head sighed in resignation. Bing Wengu turned to him. "Is what this young man says true? Is his mother really the best farmer in the area?"

The village head wanted to deny it, but the truth was undeniable. "Yes, Madam Han is indeed the most skilled farmer—even the men in the region can’t match her. But she’s a woman..."

Bing Wengu raised his head to interrupt the village chief, slightly raising his voice so everyone present could hear clearly, "My yamen recruits people regardless of gender—be it women, men, or Shuang Er (a gender identity in this setting). What matters is ability. If someone is capable, what does it matter if they're a woman or a Shuang Er? I will employ them. If someone is incompetent, even if they’re doubly endowed, they’re still good-for-nothing! And I won’t hire them!"

As Bing Wengu finished speaking, the surroundings fell into complete silence. The people present looked around, baffled.

Some farmers showed no reaction—after all, they were struggling to survive, so whether women or Shuang Er in their families worked outside or not made little difference. Some men, though incompetent themselves, clung stubbornly to backward notions, insisting that women should stay indoors and never step outside. Most simply went with the flow, accepting whatever the authorities dictated without independent thought or opinion.

Bing Wengu casually pointed to a yamen officer and said, "You, go to this boy’s village and urge Madam Han to attend. If she has time, make sure she comes for the recruitment. If she passes the assessment, her monthly pay will be two guan (strings of cash), with food and lodging provided, two days off per month, and new clothes each season."

He deliberately reiterated the benefits in front of everyone—both for those present and especially for the village chief.

If Madam Han could earn praise from men in such a male-dominated society, her farming skills must be extraordinary. It would be a true shame if she missed this opportunity due to ridiculous notions like "women shouldn’t show their faces" or "it’s improper." So Bing Wengu emphasized the benefits—even before the drought, such terms were unheard of, let alone now. He was confident no household would refuse.

First, secure the talent. As for retaining them later, Bing Wengu believed that once they experienced his terms, they wouldn’t leave even if driven away.

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.

Before the drought in Ji County, farmers working odd jobs earned only thirty copper coins a day—no meals, no breaks, and wages paid daily, often with only a few days of work per month. But here, under Bing Wengu, there was steady work, food and lodging, and seasonal clothing.

The farmers’ eyes gleamed with greed. One immediately shouted, "Planting crops? I can do that too! What farmer can’t? I’m definitely stronger than some frail woman—can I sign up?"

Voices of agreement rose around him. Bing Wengu ignored their underlying disdain for women and Shuang Er, simply stating, "Everyone can apply."

The crowd charged forward like a stampede, leaving other recruitment stations deserted.

Bing Wengu stood quietly, watching the frenzy, then signaled the yamen officers to restore order. The officers drew their sabers, asserting authority with loud reprimands, and soon the farmers lined up obediently for assessment.

Gou Dan hesitantly piped up, "My lord, can my mother still join?"

"Of course. I’ll send an officer to invite her now."

Gou Dan quickly offered, "I can guide them!"

Bing Wengu nodded. The village chief then said, "My lord, I should go back with them. Villagers are timid—I’m afraid Gou Dan might not explain clearly, and the officers might intimidate the villagers."

"Agreed."

Meanwhile, Nan Jinping oversaw the testing. Being an expert farmer himself, he had prepared relevant questions based on Bing Wengu’s requirements. The officers now quizzed applicants accordingly.

"Continuous farming depletes the land, reducing crop yields. How would you address this?"

Nan Jinping avoided simple questions like distinguishing good seeds—any farmer knew that. They sought skilled candidates, so the questions were slightly challenging.

A dark-skinned man, clearly a seasoned farmer, answered, "Nothing works. Try fertilizing with compost—everyone does that."

Nan Jinping asked a few more questions, but the man’s responses were always "nothing works," relying on the same old ways without innovation. He was eliminated.

The man protested, "What did I say wrong?"

Nan Jinping calmly countered, "Nothing wrong. But what you know, everyone knows. We need people with innovative thinking."

The man scoffed, "What do you, a Shuang Er, know? Stay in the women’s quarters where you belong! How dare you test proper men!"

Having overheard Qing Jingzi expose Nan Jinping’s identity earlier, the man scorned Shuang Er due to their low social status. Publicly dismissed without a convincing reason, his pride wounded, he snapped in fury, speaking in a fit of rage.

"I..." Nan Jinping was about to gently persuade when Bing Wengu already crooked a finger at the yamen officer beside him and said, "Guards! Give this reckless fool who dares insult an imperial-en titled husband two strokes of the rod!"

Immediately, two yamen officers with broadswords stepped forward to seize the dark-skinned man, pressing him to the ground as he trembled in fear.

"My Lord, my Lord, you favor your husband too much. I merely spoke a few truthful words. You cannot punish me for that," the dark-skinned man cried out in terror.

Bing Wengu gazed coldly at him. "I shall properly explain to you what crime you have committed to deserve this punishment."

"My husband is an imperial-en titled official of the eighth rank, personally conferred by His Majesty—a genuine titled husband. To insult him is to insult an imperial-en titled official. According to the laws of Dayong, the penalty ranges from flogging to imprisonment. Now, I give you a choice. Which shall it be?"

The dark-skinned man lost all color, as if only now realizing that the dual-gendered individual before him was not some village boy he could casually order about. This was the County Magistrate's husband.

"My Lord, my Lord, I was wrong! I beg for your mercy!" the man immediately pleaded.

But Bing Wengu coldly declared, "Proceed with the punishment!"

The yamen officers began the flogging. Though only two strokes were administered, they struck with full force, leaving the man screaming in pain on the ground.

Bing Wengu's gaze was icy as he swept it over the crowd. "My husband shares the same official rank as I. To disrespect him is to disrespect me, and the punishment shall be the same."

The crowd fell into dead silence. No one dared look down on Nan Jinping anymore; instead, their eyes held only reverence.

Miao Shi, who had been present, quietly approached Nan Jinping and whispered, "Persuade your husband to tone it down. This isn’t such a big matter. Today, this man was simply unlucky to have offended the one he cherishes most. Had he insulted your husband himself, he likely wouldn’t have suffered this beating."

Nan Jinping nodded in agreement. "Bing Wengu, I understand your feelings, but this isn’t necessary."

Bing Wengu, overhearing their exchange, explained, "Husband, it’s not entirely for your sake—it’s also for mine. We’re a unit. If you are belittled before others, it diminishes my authority. If I do not command respect today, how can I govern Ji County?"

"Moreover, you’ve spoken of changing this world toward gender equality. Now, with Ji County struggling to feed themselves, it’s the perfect time to elevate the status of women and dual-gendered individuals. When people are starving, who cares about gender? By consciously raising their status now, they won’t notice. By the time they realize, women and dual-gendered individuals will already hold economic power, making reversal impossible."

When it came to serious matters, Nan Jinping refrained from further persuasion. Miao Shi, listening in, felt her son-in-law’s motives were mixed, but as he was now the county’s ruler, she dared not interfere.

The assessments resumed, and when Nan Jinping rejected applicants, no one dared protest.

Meanwhile, the village head and Gou Dan returned to the village with the yamen officers, delivering the news and delighting the Zhao family.

Gou Dan jumped with excitement before Han Niangzi, proudly saying, "Mother, it was I who recommended you to Lord County Magistrate! Village Head Uncle didn’t want me to speak, but I did anyway!"

Han Niangzi tenderly stroked Gou Dan’s face, her heart swelling with pride. She could imagine how frightened he must have been, yet how bravely he had spoken up for her. For a child to go so far—how much he must care for her.

"Why didn’t you recommend me?!" Gou Dan’s elder brother immediately protested.

Grandmother Lü chimed in, "Exactly! You should’ve recommended your father—he’s a man!"

"But Mother is clearly better at farming!" Gou Dan shouted.

"You don’t know anything!" Lü shooed him away like a fly, then pleaded with the yamen officer. "My Lord, the child speaks nonsense. How could a woman hold office? Send my San Lang instead—he’s a man!"

The yamen officer glared coldly at Lü. "The Magistrate’s orders are clear: so long as one has true skill, be they woman or Shuang Er, they shall be employed! Those without skill, even with male parts, are worthless! No use!"

Lü was stunned. "But—"

"No buts," the officer snapped impatiently. "We’re here for Han Niangzi. Decide now—will she come or not? If not, we leave."

Lü, unwilling to miss out on the pay, pressed, "What about the recruitment—can my San Lang go?"

"Anyone can apply—even you."

Missing the sarcasm, Lü waved dismissively. "What could an old woman like me possibly do?"

In the end, the group that ended up traveling together included the village chief, Gou Dan, Han Niangzi, and Zhang Sanlang.

By the time they arrived at the government office, the hiring process was almost over.

Nan Jinping noticed Han Niangzi first and called her forward, repeating the same questions he had asked the sun-weathered man earlier.

Han Niangzi replied, "Human and livestock manure can be used as fertilizer to enrich the soil."

Nan Jinping pressed further, "Do you know how to compost?"

With the advancement of agriculture, composting wasn’t a big deal anymore, but at this time, it was still considered a specialized technique.

Han Niangzi answered, "Yes, I do."

She then explained the composting process in detail, proving she was a seasoned hand.

Nan Jinping proceeded to ask more in-depth questions and finally inquired, "Aside from composting, what other methods do you think could increase crop yields?"

"By saving seeds from the best-yielding plants."

"Do you think intentionally crossbreeding high-yield seeds could produce even higher-yielding plants?" Nan Jinping asked.

Instead of dismissing it as nonsense, Han Niangzi’s eyes widened in amazement after hearing a brief explanation. "It’s actually possible!"

Most of the farmers just scratched their heads, unsure of what Nan Jinping and Han Niangzi were discussing. Some barely understood and dismissed it as pie in the sky.

By this point, Nan Jinping was thoroughly satisfied with Han Niangzi. He glanced at Bing Wengu, who had been listening in, and Bing Wengu declared, "Han Niangzi, report to the government office tomorrow."

Han Niangzi was thrilled she’d made the cut and immediately seized the opportunity to express her gratitude. "Thank you, my lord! I won’t let you down!"

Zhang Sanlang, seeing his wife chosen, elbowed his way in and said, "My lord, I am this woman’s husband. Since she’s been selected, shouldn’t I be as well?"

"She is she, and you are you. It’s none of your business," Bing Wengu replied coldly.

"My lord, you may not know, but everything this woman knows was taught by me. I can do everything she can, and even better!"

Gou Dan, hearing his father’s barefaced lying, wanted to refute him loudly but couldn’t. He chewed his lip, fuming.

He couldn’t understand why his father wouldn’t be happy for his mother’s good fortune and instead had to make an ass of himself. What if he angered Lord County Magistrate and ruined her chance?

"Oh, is that so? You can do everything your wife can?" Bing Wengu’s sarcastic tone immediately signaled to Nan Jinping, the Nan family, the Bing family, Zhao Weihai, Chu Hongyu, and others that he was about to go in for the kill.

Sure enough, the next moment, Bing Wengu laid into him, "Then your wife can pop out babies—can you? If you truly excel at everything she does, surely you’ve popped out more babies than her? How many have you birthed? Why not demonstrate right here for me and the villagers? If you succeed, you won’t even need to work in my office—just the spectators’ tips will keep you in rice and wine forever!"

The crowd howled with laughter. Zhang Sanlang flushed red. "B-but, Your Honor, what are you saying? I’m a man—how could I pop out babies?"

"Didn’t you just claim you could do everything your wife can? If she can pop out babies, why can’t you?"

"I—I—"

"Enough stammering. If you want to stay, take the test. Pass it, and you’re in."

Zhang Sanlang had no choice but to take the exam. He parroted Han Niangzi word for word where he understood her answers and butchered the bits about crossbreeding, which he barely grasped. Unsurprisingly, Nan Jinping showed him the door.

Some farmers with good memories repeated Han Niangzi’s answers verbatim, but without true understanding, they folded under cross-examination or when the questions were phrased differently.

One farmer protested, "We may not know now, but farming’s no rocket science. Show us the ropes, and we’ll pick it up!"

"Oh, really? Then why don't you go tell the doctors at the clinic that treating illnesses is no big deal—just show me once and I’ll get it? Or tell the carpenters that woodworking isn’t difficult—just show me once and I’ll master it?"

Bing Wengu sneered again, "Wake up and smell the coffee. In every trade, where do you find employers who first recruit people, feed them well, pay them a monthly salary, and then personally teach them? If I recall correctly, that’s what we call apprenticeship. Not only must they serve their masters tea and water, but they must also take care of them till they die and even pay tuition to learn skills."

Bing Wengu’s words left the farmer who had spoken earlier turned beet red, wishing he could vanish into the ground on the spot.

Turning, Bing Wengu spotted Bing Silang and gave him a look. Like a well-trained dog at his master’s glance, Bing Silang immediately came running.

"Brother, what do you need?"

"Hold onto that kid, Gou Dan."

Without even asking for a reason, Bing Silang agreed at once, "Got it, Brother."

Bing Wengu hadn’t found all the talent he wanted, but those he did recruit were top-notch people, leaving him quite satisfied as he departed.

It finally dawned on folks that although the government jobs offered generous salaries, not just anyone could qualify. Even farming required knowledge that others didn’t possess.

As their excitement cooled, some tried to find manual labor they could handle, only to discover that the no-skill jobs—those anyone could do—had already been filled.

Those who had been blinded by greed and missed their chance were left kicking themselves.

Gou Dan, who had lost his opportunity because of his mother, was bummed out. But thinking of her success, he perked right up.

"Told ya you were the best!" Gou Dan said with a smile.

Han Niangzi patted his head. "I should be thanking you. If not for you, I wouldn’t have been chosen. But I also owe you an apology—if I hadn’t been in the way, maybe you would’ve found work today."

"It’s not your fault, Mother," Gou Dan quickly shook his head.

Bing Silang approached. "Gou Dan, I have a job here. Do you want it?"

"Yes!" Gou Dan answered immediately.

"Aren’t you going to ask about the pay or how hard the work is?"

Gou Dan shook his head. "Hard work doesn’t scare me. Just feed me and I’m good."

Bing Silang grinned. "Alright then, let’s sign the contract. You’re hired."

Zhang Sanlang blurted out instinctively, "Hire me instead! A kid like him can’t possibly do better than me."

Bing Wengu shot him a glance. "The magistrate—my actual brother."

That single sentence terrified Zhang Sanlang into silence, not daring to utter another word.