Chapter 198

Chapter 198

Soon after, Chen Qingyun returned with her two sons and Liu Changyi.

This was Wang Ying's first time meeting the twin nephews. They looked exactly alike; without careful observation, it was impossible to tell who was the older brother and who was the younger.

The older brother was named Pingping, with the formal name Liu Jin, and the younger was named An'an, with the formal name Liu Rui.

Wang Ying took out the gifts he had prepared in advance—two identical gold lock pendants. "We couldn't make it back for your full moon celebration, so we've been keeping these for you."

"Oh, brother-in-law, you shouldn't have spent so much. Quick, thank your uncle."

"Thank you, Uncle," the two children replied in unison, like a duet, which made Wang Ying laugh heartily.

Before long, Chen Rong and Lin Qiu arrived with their two children. After three years apart, Chen Rong had visibly aged; her hair had turned much grayer, and her posture was somewhat stooped.

She happily took Wang Ying's hand and said, "How did you all suddenly return? I didn’t hear your mother mention anything yesterday."

"We missed you, so we came back to see you."

Chen Rong laughed and gave him a light slap. "You’re just teasing an old woman like me. How could you busy folks find time to visit a silly old woman like me?"

Wang Ying chuckled. "We really did miss you, but there’s also another matter. Chen Qingyan has been assigned to Shanzhou as Vice-Prefect. He’ll be gone for several years, so we made a detour to Jizhou to see everyone first."

"Going so far away? You must take good care of yourselves."

"Don’t worry. Once we reach Jizhou, we’ll be closer to Brother Sui. Maybe we’ll even have a chance to meet."

Hearing this, Chen Rong’s eyes lit up. "Really? Then, could I make a couple of garments for him? If you happen to see him, please pass them along. If not, it’s fine."

Wang Ying nodded in agreement. "We’ll be staying at home for four or five days, so there’s no rush. Take your time."

"Good!"

It had been three years since Lin Sui left for the border. Although he wrote every year, everyone still worried about him—whether he could adapt to the climate there, or if the Marquis treated him well. After all the suffering he’d endured, it was time for him to enjoy some happiness.

After a while, Chen Qingsong also returned, not alone but accompanied by a young man.

This young man was about the same height as his younger brother, with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a very handsome appearance. He wasn’t wearing a *ge'er*'s robe but rather a man’s cross-collared short jacket, with his hair tied up high, giving off an energetic appearance.

Liu Changyi helped with the introduction: "This is my cousin Qin Xiao'er, also Qing Song’s fiancé."

Wang Ying stepped forward to greet him. "So this is the younger brother from Uncle Qin’s family. What a fine and talented young man."

Qin Xiao'er grinned. "I recognize you. I once went with my mother to your shop to buy ice drinks."

Wang Ying smiled. That was four or five years ago; back then, he would have been only eleven or twelve, just the right age for ice drinks.

The Qin young man was the complete opposite of Bai Shi. Bai Shi was introverted, shy, and didn’t like to talk, while Qin Xiao'er was a chatterbox who couldn’t stop once he started. When they were young, Liu Changyi even gave him a nickname: "Chatty Yellow Croaker."

But Chen Qingsong seemed to like it very much. The two of them huddled together, whispering and sharing secrets, more like two little kids than a couple, which amused Wang Ying greatly.

Their wedding was set for next year’s twelfth month. Unfortunately, it was unlikely they would be able to return by then, which was a real pity.

Cao Kun was the last to arrive. Recently, the Porter Guild’s business had been very busy, and he was so exhausted that he didn’t even have time to change his clothes, showing up covered in dust. Lin Qiu quickly fetched water for him to wash his hands and face, and finally, the whole family was gathered.

As everyone chatted about the upcoming trip to Shanzhou, Cao Kun, whose Porter Guild had business there, shared some insights: "The road to Shanzhou is easier to travel this season. Once it gets colder, it becomes difficult. It starts snowing there in October, and the snowfalls are heavy—sometimes the roads get buried, and it’s hard to tell the direction."

In ancient times, without navigation, heavy snow blocking the roads was very dangerous. If one took a wrong turn into the mountains or encountered bandits, it could cost lives.

"But our Porter Guild has a few experienced hands who are used to traveling the route to Shanzhou. Coincidentally, we have some goods to deliver there in a few days. Traveling with them would be safer."

Chen Qingyan raised his wine cup. "Then we’ll trouble you, brother-in-law."

Cao Kun quickly raised his cup in return. "Big brother, you’re too kind. There’s not much else I can help with—just this small favor."

Over the past few years, thanks to the support of his cousins, his business had flourished, and he had saved several thousand strings of cash—something he never dared to imagine in the past. He wasn’t good with fancy words, so he could only repay his family through actions.

The meal lasted until the end of the You hour. The children were all sleepy, and Wang Ying was exhausted too, having hardly slept well during the journey.

Li Shi had long since had the east courtyard cleaned and the *kang* heated. After seeing off the guests, the two of them couldn’t wait to take a bath and rest early.

The next day, they woke up to more social engagements. Chen Qingyan’s former classmates from the prefectural school heard he had returned and came to visit one after another.

Wang Ying, meanwhile, found time to visit Madam Qin, bringing her some specialties from the capital.

Qin Furong was still her cheerful self. When she saw Wang Ying, she warmly pulled him into the house to try the perilla leaf cakes she had steamed.

Perilla leaf cakes were a traditional delicacy in Jizhou Prefecture. They were made by grinding glutinous rice into flour, wrapping adzuki bean paste inside, and placing a perilla leaf underneath to prevent the cakes from sticking to the pot—hence the name.

Wang Ying hadn’t eaten these in a long time. He picked one up and tasted it. "Delicious! It tastes really good!"

"Lan'er, bring a food box. Pack all the cakes from the pot so he can take them back later to eat."

"How could I trouble you like this?"

"It’s no trouble. I made plenty this year—more than we can finish. Every year, I give some to each household. Yesterday, I heard from Chang Yi that you’re going to Shanzhou?"

Wang Ying nodded. "Yes, we’ll set off in a few days."

Madam Qin hesitated for a moment before saying, "If I remember correctly, the Prefect of Shanzhou, Feng Zhien, is an old friend of my elder brother. Let me go back tomorrow and ask him to write a letter for you to take along. It might help you get some support there."

"This... this is really too much trouble for you!"

Qin Furong didn’t seem to think it was a big deal. "We’re family, after all. When you’re away from home, we should help however we can."

Wang Ying was immensely grateful, though he knew he owed a great favor.

The next day, Qin Furong returned to her parental home and asked her elder brother about it. Qin’s elder brother was straightforward and immediately wrote a letter to his old friend, urging him to take good care of his nephew.

*

Time together always passes quickly, and soon it was time to leave. No one wanted to go. On the day of departure, Yuanbao hugged Li Shi and cried so hard he could barely breathe.

It was the first time the child had cried like this since growing up, and those around couldn’t help but tear up as well.

Li Shi, afraid the child would cry himself sick, held back her own sadness and said, "Good child, when you get to Shanzhou, write to your grandmother. I’ll write back too. Then I can see if your handwriting has improved, alright?"

Yuanbao nodded between sobs. "Okay, but Grandma, you must not forget."

"I won’t forget. Good child, don’t cry anymore. Your eyes are all red."

Chen Rong brought over a bundle and handed it to Wang Ying. "Qiu Er and I worked as fast as we could these past few days to make a few sets of clothes. There are two for Sui Er, one for Qing Er, and one for you."

"Why did you make one for me? I have enough clothes."

Chen Rong patted Wang Ying’s hand. "Auntie doesn’t have anything valuable to offer, only these sewing skills that are barely passable. I hope you won’t mind them."

"Don’t say that."

Chen Rong wiped the corner of her eye. "Take your time on the road, no need to rush. When you arrive, write to us so everyone can rest assured."

Wang Ying nodded, his voice choked with emotion, "Yes, I understand."

Chen Qingyan pulled his younger brother aside to instruct him, "With me gone, the family will rely on you. You're not a young boy anymore, so try not to worry Mother too much. If you encounter any issues you can't decide on, discuss them with your brother-in-law and your elder brother's husband."

"Mm, I understand."

"Then we'll be off."

Chen Qingsong's nose stung with emotion, but he managed a smile and waved, "Have a smooth journey!"

The three of them boarded the carriage, and as the wheels rolled forward, Wang Ying watched his relatives standing in place grow smaller in the distance. Once they turned the corner of the alley, they were out of sight. Feeling wretched, he hugged his son tightly, while Chen Qingyan wrapped his arms around both of them, patting their shoulders to comfort them.

After the carriage disappeared into the distance, Li Shi could no longer hold back her tears. Those around her, fearing she might cry herself ill, quickly helped her back inside.

This time, their departure from Jizhou was not with just two carriages; instead, they joined a caravan from the Porter Guild. Traveling alongside them were not only Chen Ju and Chen Zhandong but also the two Huang boys.

Over the years, they had grown from children into tall, sturdy young men and had learned martial arts. Wang Ying had specifically asked Er Shun to summon them and inquire if they wished to accompany the family to Shanzhou.

The two immediately knelt, kowtowed, and agreed. Their boss had saved their lives back then, and now was the time to repay that kindness. After bidding farewell to their martial arts master, Huang Baiguan gave all the savings he and his younger brother had scrimped together to him before setting off with Wang Ying and the others.

The journey from Jizhou to Shanzhou was about eighteen hundred *li*, traversing both land and water routes. Without delays, it would take approximately a month and a half to arrive.

Inevitably, such a long journey would involve a few days of delay, but reaching Shanzhou by the end of October would be considered fortunate.

Fearing Yuanbao would be miserable during the trip, Wang Ying took him into the Experimental Field early on. There, father and son spent their time—one reading quietly, the other recording cultivation data and writing a book.

During breaks at relay stations, Chen Qingyan took his son out to explore. The landscape of the northwest differed greatly from that of Jizhou; beyond the plains lay endless stretches of rolling mountains. It was autumn, with clear skies and faint clouds, and the leaves on the mountains had turned into a vibrant tapestry of colors under the changing weather—truly a scene of "autumn winds rising, white clouds flying; grass and trees yellowing, wild geese returning south."

There is no better education than traveling thousands of miles, and this journey was no exception.

Yuanbao gradually set aside his sorrow, growing increasingly eager about the prospect of arriving in Shanzhou.

The old team leader responsible for guiding the caravan had been to Shanzhou several times. Yuanbao took his snacks and went to ask the elderly man to tell him about Shanzhou.

The old man had a pleasant temperament and accepted the offered dried salted meat with a smile before slowly beginning his tale.

"There's much to say about Shanzhou. I've heard locals say it was originally inhabited by the Qiang and Rong peoples. Later, the emperors of the Han dynasty conquered the area, and it became Han territory. Even now, many villages still speak barbarian languages and do not intermarry with us Han people."

"Do the Qiang people look like us?"

"Not quite. Their features are more rugged, with curly hair, and men often have thick beards. Further west, around Longxi, you might even encounter the Dayuezhi people with yellow hair and blue eyes—they look like little devils..."

Yuanbao listened intently, chin propped in his hands. He had never seen foreigners before, and his anticipation for Shanzhou grew even stronger.