Chapter 100 Mountain Home Hearth 100

Chapter 100: The Qin Family's Hearth

After celebrating his birthday, Qin Rongshi was packing his belongings, preparing to embark on a study tour with Mr. Lü.

As night fell, Qin Rongshi returned to his room after dinner to organize his travel bag. Liu Guyu followed him in, laden with various items.

"These few packets are the fruit candies I made for you—cherry, loquat, and bayberry flavored, all your favorites. But with the weather getting warmer, they won't last long. Eat them soon before they spoil."

"These are some travel provisions, enough for three days. Any more wouldn't keep well. You might not always be lucky enough to find a place to eat at mealtimes on the road, so these will tide you over. I've also prepared portions for Mr. Lü and Jixiang."

"And here's some money for you. I had Mother sew a few silver notes into your clothes with waterproof layers—each inner garment has one or two. I've also included some loose silver and copper coins. Take them all."

Speaking of silver notes, Liu Guyu, before his transmigration, had always thought they only came in denominations of fifty, a hundred, or a thousand taels. But in this ancient world, he learned that one-tael, five-tael, and ten-tael notes also existed. This time, he had prepared ten-tael notes.

…

Hearing this, Qin Rongshi frowned and took out the clothes he had already folded and packed. He felt each piece and indeed found the money hidden within.

He furrowed his brow, looking at Liu Guyu, and asked, "How much money did you prepare?"

Liu Guyu tilted his head and replied, "Four ten-tael silver notes, plus another ten taels exchanged for silver and copper coins."

Qin Rongshi's frown deepened. He tugged at the clothes, intending to pick at the stitches and retrieve the silver notes from the hidden layers.

He said, "I won't need this much money outside. If you give it all to me, what will the family live on?"

Liu Guyu quickly walked over and firmly pressed down on Qin Rongshi's hand, his expression stern. "Take it! It's different when you're away from home. You'll need money for food, clothing, and everything else. If you go to a big city, the expenses will be much higher than in our town!"

"Just take it with peace of mind. You know me—I'm not one to suffer in silence. If there weren't enough money left at home, I wouldn't have given you so much!"

Though he said this, Qin Rongshi had a pretty good idea of the family's savings. These fifty taels likely accounted for the bulk of it, with perhaps only half that amount remaining.

But Liu Guyu's stern face suggested that if he objected further, Liu Guyu would jump up and scold him for being ungrateful.

Qin Rongshi had no choice but to withdraw his hand and sit back silently.

Liu Guyu ignored him and began refolding the scattered clothes one by one. Qin Rongshi sat to the side, intently watching Liu Guyu's busy profile.

Outside, the sky had grown completely dark. The moon was deeply hidden behind thick clouds, without a trace of light shining through, and even the stars were invisible. It seemed tomorrow's weather would not be good.

With no light, only the occasional sound of the wind blowing from outside could be heard, along with the endless chirping of insects and croaking of frogs, making it seem lively despite the darkness.

The room was dimly lit, with only a half-burnt oil lamp on the table casting a yellowish glow, creating a large, mottled halo on the wall.

Qin Rongshi found scissors and trimmed a section of the wick. The flame immediately flared up, and the room instantly brightened.

Liu Guyu didn't notice. He was busy packing the food he'd brought into the satchel, talking as he worked. "Remember not to flaunt your wealth outside. Keep a low profile, and avoid going out at night. Nights can be dangerous…"

Ancient security was nothing like modern times; it was far from a society where doors were left unlocked at night. Thieves and pickpockets were everywhere. Liu Guyu never knew he could be such a worrier, wanting to say a thousand or ten thousand things, covering every bit of advice.

"Remember to write home often. You know how Mother worries—she needs to hear from you regularly to stop worrying."

"If you run out of money, write and let me know."

Though Qin Rongshi had been called a prodigy since childhood and acted older than his years, he was still only fifteen—an age where he'd be in middle school in modern times. This was his first long journey, so Liu Guyu couldn't help worrying more.

Qin Rongshi listened quietly without saying a word in reply.

He looked at Liu Guyu, admiring his handsome, clean profile, his thin clothes revealing a fair, slender neck—quite a pleasing sight.

But Qin Rongshi didn't linger on the view. After observing him for a moment, he shifted his gaze to the opposite wall.

Liu Guyu's shadow was cast on the wall, swaying with the flickering candlelight.

Suddenly, Qin Rongshi reached out and touched the shadow on the wall—from the face, to the neck, then to the hand…

He smiled faintly, his eyelashes lowered as if carefully tracing the shadow under his hand. His long, curled lashes cast a faint arc of shadow on his face in the dim candlelight.

"Why aren't you saying anything? Are you tired of my nagging… Erlang?"

Liu Guyu suddenly changed the subject, turning to look straight at Qin Rongshi.

Qin Rongshi's hand was still on the wall, caught off guard by Liu Guyu's sudden glance.

"T-two… Erlang? What are you doing?"

Liu Guyu's mind went blank. He felt there was something strange about Qin Rongshi's actions, but he couldn't pinpoint what it was!

Hearing Liu Guyu's voice, Qin Rongshi showed no guilt at all. He calmly pulled back his hand and turned to look at Liu Guyu again.

The flickering lamplight shone into his dark, ink-like eyes.

Those pitch-black eyes seemed to light up when they landed on him, as if all the candlelight in the room had gathered in them, shining like stars.

Liu Guyu suddenly fell silent, completely speechless.

"You…"

Qin Rongshi blinked, looking completely calm as if nothing had happened. He countered calmly, "What's wrong?"

Liu Guyu scratched his head, put down what he was holding, and made for the door. As he walked, he said, "Ah… it's nothing. Well, I suddenly feel sleepy. I'm going back to bed… You should rest early too. You have to travel tomorrow."

Then, Qin Rongshi watched as Liu Guyu walked out stiffly, unable to suppress a soft laugh.

As for Liu Guyu, he hurried back to his room, flustered, locked the door, and collapsed onto the bed, sprawled out.

But lying down, he felt restless, rolling left and right.

"Did I see that right? What's going on with that kid…"

"Hmm, must be my imagination!"

"He's only fifteen! What could he possibly understand!"

Liu Guyu lay in bed muttering to himself, rolling over as he spoke, then smoothing his hair. He continued,

"Hey, just scaring myself!"

With that, he rolled over again and hit his head on the bed frame.

"Ow—ouch, ouch, ouch—"

*

The next day, everyone gathered at a small pavilion by the official road to say their goodbyes.

Xie Baozhu and Li Anyuan had even taken half a day off specifically to see Qin Rongshi off.

"Though we may see you off a thousand miles, we must eventually part! Rongshi, drink this cup dry. When you return to Fushui Town, we'll reunite properly!"

The weather indeed was not good today. The wind howled fiercely, the sky was gloomy, and dark clouds hung like gray cloth—like a thin net holding a basin of rainwater, ready to burst and pour down at any moment.

Qin Rongshi, Xie Baozhu, and Li Anyuan stood inside the pavilion. Xie Baozhu was the tallest of the three, holding up a white cup filled with a clear, golden-yellow liquid that looked like fine wine.

As Xie Baozhu raised his cup to speak, he gulped a mouthful of wind.

After speaking, he elbowed Li Anyuan and said impatiently, "Raise your cup! Come on, raise it! Li Anyuan, raise your cup!"

Li Anyuan then lifted his cup.

The three cups clinked together with a crisp "ching" sound, and they all drank their contents in one go.

Xie Baozhu turned his cup upside down to show it was completely empty and added, "Before we part, I have a word of advice for you… May each of us strive on our own paths, yet share the same wind across a thousand miles!"

Qin Rongshi remained silent.

Seeing that Qin Rongshi remained silent, Li Anyuan took half a step closer, craned his neck, and whispered, "Don't pay him any mind. He's gone crazy memorizing farewell poems lately."

Xie Baozhu frowned, displeased. "Hey! Li Anyuan! I heard that! I heard you with both ears!"

Just then, Mr. Lü, who was already sitting in the mule cart, also grew impatient. He lifted the carriage curtain and shouted over, "Hey! You three kids, stop acting like adults! Hurry up and say your goodbyes, then get going! It'll rain if you don't hurry!"

Xie Baozhu pouted and muttered under his breath, "…Who's acting like an adult?"

Then, turning to Feicui, who was holding a porcelain pot, he whispered again, "This tea tastes a bit weak. Next time, add an extra spoonful of loquat jam!"

As he spoke, he pointed to the empty cup.

Feicui slumped her shoulders and replied flatly, "Oh."

From the cart, Mr. Lü called out again, "Xie Baozhu, you're not getting any younger. This year, you should take the *tongshēng* exam! In a couple of years, all your friends will be scholars, and you'll still have no rank! Your policy essays are improving—you make progress every time. If you try your best, you should be able to pass."

Xie Baozhu was surprised that the Headmaster still remembered him, a student ranked near the bottom. Overwhelmed and excitedly, he tugged at Li Anyuan's sleeve, both delighted and excited. "The Headmaster says I'm improving! See, I'm a genius! Hahaha!"

Li Anyuan wobbled from the shaking, getting dizzy.

Mr. Lü then turned to Li Anyuan, paused for a moment, and said, "Li Anyuan, your arithmetic is quite good. The *yamen* is currently recruiting calculators for land tax collection, and I recommended you."

"You'll receive one tael of silver and two *dou* of rice each month. After this, you won't need to take on odd jobs anymore. Just help with tax calculations at the government office. You'll earn money and get noticed by officials, which will benefit your future career."

Li Anyuan, still dizzy from being shaken, was stunned. He hadn't realized the Headmaster knew about his money troubles and his need to squeeze in time for odd jobs.

Deeply grateful, his face flushed red with emotion. He nodded repeatedly at Mr. Lü and stammered, "Thank you, teacher! Uh… I mean, thank you, Headmaster! I will always remember your kindness!"

Mr. Lü nodded and finally looked at Qin Rongshi. "Bid farewell to your family."

Qin Rongshi bowed his head slightly and turned to his family waiting nearby.

Cui Lanfang hurried over, looking Qin Rongshi up and down with tears welling in her eyes.

"Erlang, you must take good care of yourself out there. Remember to add more clothes when it's cold, eat well every day, and don't be stingy! Listen to your teacher and remember to write often."

Though mature for his age, Qin Rongshi found these reminders somewhat unnecessary, but a mother's worries know no bounds. Cui Lanfang couldn't help but repeat her advice.

Qin Rongshi listened patiently without annoyance and replied only after she finished, "Mother, don't worry about me. You should take care of your health. I'll send letters home every month, detailing everything."

Cui Lanfang wiped her eyes with her sleeve. She didn't dare speak again, as her voice was already choked with emotion, fearing she would break into tears.

Liu Guyu stepped forward to support Cui Lanfang, comforting her softly, "Mother, Erlang is going out to see the world. Don't be sad."

Hearing this, Cui Lanfang forced a smile and added to Qin Rongshi, "…Remember to write."

Qin Banban held her mother's hand, looking up at Qin Rongshi with reddened eyes. After a long pause, she said, "Second Brother… come home early."

Qin Rongshi didn't reply but reached out to ruffle his sister's hair.

Throughout, Liu Guyu remained silent. He'd already said his piece yesterday, and with Cui Lanfang here today, it seemed all necessary words had been spoken. He stood quietly watching.

Now, seeing Qin Rongshi's expression, he didn't look the same as yesterday… Perhaps he had overthought it!

Liu Guyu mused to himself.

Just then, Qin Rongshi took a large step back, cupped his hands in a formal salute, and bowed deeply. Finally, he said to Liu Guyu:

"Brother Liu, I entrust our household affairs to you."

As if that weren't enough, he lowered his gaze and added in a steady voice:

"I'll be back."

With that, he turned and walked toward the mule cart. With Jixiang's help, he stepped into the carriage. Soon, the two mules hitched to the cart began trotting, pulling the carriage onto the main road.

Xie Baozhu waved from behind, chasing after the cart for a few steps.

"Qin Rongshi! Don't worry! I'll help look after your family!"

No sooner had he spoken than Li Anyuan swatted him. Even the mild-tempered Li Anyuan couldn't help but glare and scold, "Xie Baozhu! I told you earlier! If you don't know how to speak properly, just keep quiet!"

Xie Baozhu shrank back from the smack but pointed at Li Anyuan playfully, like Bao Er, and laughed, "Hey! How dare you call me by my full name!"

Li Anyuan: "…"

After their squabble, though worry still lingered in Cui Lanfang's eyes, she couldn't help but chuckle at the scene.

Liu Guyu kept staring in the direction the mule cart had gone, until it was barely a speck in the distance.

He sighed, a strange bitterness spreading in his chest—like eating a rotten fruit, both sour and bitter.

He quickly pulled a loquat candy from his pocket, unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth. The candy was sweet, but the ache in his heart remained.

Hmm… how long was it again?

There's an exam in two years—he'll be back by then at the latest.

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Author's Note: Finally growing up (though not by much; when Young Qin returns, he'll be around eighteen). What follows will be exams, success, and then moving to the prefectural city.