Chapter 606: Chapter 606: Farewell, Liu Family Village
The door shut with a "bang," and Ah Wang scratched his head in frustration, uncertain why his goodwill in delivering medicine had offended Qin Yao.
Never mind, he’s not one to overthink. The medicine’s been delivered, it’s late, time to sleep.
There’s still one day until departure.
In terms of personnel, Qin Yao had delegated all village affairs. She also bid farewell to the workers at the stationery factory. Yin Le had resigned from the cafeteria, ready to head to the Capital.
Liu Ji returned home in the evening, having secured the necessary travel documents. Da Lang Brothers and Sisters packed what they needed into the Divine Power Book Box.
Si Niang wanted to bring her zither, so Qin Yao specially added a wooden slot on top of the carriage, just enough to place the zither.
For long-distance travel, they prepared a map, reinforced the carriage, and each family member had two pairs of shoes for replacement.
They bought two more horses; Qin Yao and Liu Ji would each ride one, while Yin Le would drive the carriage carrying the four children.
Regarding finances, Qin Yao converted all her silver into portable money notes for convenience, leaving only fifty taels with Yin Le for managing food and lodging on the road.
With everything set, the night before departure, the six of them did a final check for anything forgotten.
Liu Ji looked at his stuffed book box and nodded heavily, "I’ve packed all the new clothes, so in the Capital, I won’t embarrass you."
Qin Yao: Silence is my native language.
The four siblings of Da Lang carefully checked their book boxes again. The most important items were packed, and they reported in unison to their mother, "Mother, we’re all set!"
Qin Yao nodded, then turned to look at Yin Le.
Yin Le had few belongings; her hidden weapons were on her person, and she simply rolled two sets of clothes into a bundle.
"Master, I don’t have much, I’ve packed it all," Yin Le reported earnestly.
Qin Yao also checked her luggage. She used an old-style mother-of-pearl lady’s box, which contained personal daily items and a change of clothes.
The rest were a wooden box for the Yanyue Saber and a set of bows and arrows intended to hang inside the carriage for easy access.
Under the carriage, a metal rod was stashed, and she carried a lightweight dagger and slingshot on her person.
"I’ve packed everything as well," Qin Yao announced to everyone.
Next, all eyes turned to Mrs. Li.
Mrs. Li took out two bulging oilcloth bags and told everyone she had packed five umbrellas, a tent, a small army iron pot, seven wooden bowls, a mix of seasonings in bamboo tubes, and ready-to-eat dry snacks and pastries into these bags.
These would be loaded onto the horses, ensuring they wouldn’t fear rain or rough camping along the way.
However, observing the recent weather, Mrs. Li worriedly noted, "During the Qingming season, it rains a lot. This journey may be mostly rainy days, so don’t rush."
Qin Yao and the others nodded in understanding.
The sky was dark. After a night’s rest, they’d depart early the next morning for the most bustling place under the heavens.
Thinking of this, not only did the children at home feel excited, but even the usually calm Qin Yao couldn’t help but toss and turn in bed with quiet anticipation.
Drifting into slumber, she opened her eyes to find it was already dawn.
Qin Yao sprang up from bed, quickly dressed in a light spring shirt sewn with money notes, tucked the dagger and slingshot into her belt, and pushed open her room door.
She paused at the door, studied the room she’d lived in for four years thoroughly, and then closed the door with a smile.
Liu Ji and his sons were already up, loading their book boxes onto the carriage, stacking them one by one, and tying them onto the extended platform at the carriage’s rear door.
Five book boxes were lined up neatly at the back of the carriage.
Qin Yao’s lady’s box and Yin Le’s little bundle were placed under the small table inside the carriage, leaving enough room for the four Da Lang siblings to sit and lie.
The newly-bought horses from Ah Wang were very gentle, and Liu Ji had never ridden any horse other than Old Huang. After loading the luggage, he took the chance before breakfast to lead the horses around, getting familiar with them ahead of time.
Along the way, he fed the horses well, letting them eat as much as they could.
Once they left, only dry bean dregs would be available for meals.
Ah Wang seemed reluctant to see them leave; instead of eating breakfast, he grabbed a hoe and headed to the fields. No matter how Yin Le called him, he refused to come back for breakfast.
"Oh~" Yin Le sighed helplessly, looking at the figure heading to the fields, "At least let’s have one last family meal."
Sanlang had just said goodbye to his playmates in the village and hopped excitedly into the courtyard, hearing Yin Le’s comment. He frowned and seriously gestured for silence with his finger.
"Senior Sister Le, Aunt said not to mention ’last’ before a long journey, it’s bad luck."
Yin Le raised an eyebrow, tapping the little one’s round forehead, "Got it!"
"You don’t pay this much attention to your studies, yet you remember these things so clearly."
Sanlang made a face and dashed off, rushing into the house to find his seat at the meal table, waiting obediently for breakfast to start.
Liu Ji helped Mrs. Li set the dishes on the table, glanced outside the courtyard, then looked back at Qin Yao squatting by the door sharpening a knife, "Dear, is Ah Wang really not coming with us?"
"No."
Unwilling to give up, Liu Ji continued, "Won’t you persuade him? What future lies here? The Capital is much better..." He could be my assistant, running errands; even if he didn’t do anything, just having him stand by for appearances would be good.
He was now a full scholar; how could he travel without a decent servant?
Qin Yao abruptly lifted her head with a sharp gaze. The sound of the knife sharpening was audible, "If he doesn’t want to go himself, do I have to tie him up and take him?"
Liu Ji squeezed out a smile and awkwardly changed the subject, "Dear, let’s eat. If we delay any longer, we’ll miss the hour."
Qin Yao stared at him for two seconds, making him fidget nervously, before rinsing the knife in water and standing up.
She dried the knife and placed it in the box, calling Yin Le to store the wooden box inside the carriage.
Once Yin Le finished and returned, they began their breakfast.
When away, the greatest longing is for a home-cooked meal. The six of them knew that after leaving today, they wouldn’t get a decent meal for at least half a month, so they ate their fill.
Having filled their bellies, the sun had climbed over the hills.
The family of six thought it’d still be rainy today, and they burst into laughter.
The heavens had truly favored them!
Qin Yao and Liu Ji rode at the front on horseback.
The children happily clambered into the carriage; Yin Le sat on the shaft, whipped the horses, and followed behind.
Relatives from the old house came to see them off as the serene Liu Family Village slowly disappeared behind Qin Yao’s family.
The couple turned back to look at the fading figures and buildings and farmland.
They turned back again, suppressing a hint of reluctance in their hearts, with some expectation, heading towards Sheng Country’s most prosperous Eastern Capital.
