Chapter 175

It took only 10 short days from the decision to leave until the actual departure.

Jiang Sheng sat in the carriage, quietly looking at this land that had raised her, with a heart full of reluctance to leave.

When they left the dilapidated temple at the village entrance she was reluctant to leave, when they left Xieyang County she was still reluctant, but after all it was still within the realm of Anshui Prefecture.

This time going to Fengjing, it meant completely leaving the land she was attached to.

The young girl sighed, her gaze sweeping from the front to the back of the carriage, everywhere were people bidding farewell.

The first to catch her eye was her Eldest Brother Xu Mo, the youth stood tall and straight, becoming more steady and composed as he aged, without any loss of composure even at this moment of parting.

Standing opposite him was the equally outstanding Brother Fufeng, 10 days of rest had allowed him to recover a little, and now there was a touch of sadness in his eyes as he looked at Eldest Brother.

"You are going on a long trip, who knows how many years before you can return," Wang Fufeng lowered his slender neck, "Fengjing is prosperous and bustling, dazzling flowers blind the eyes. I fear Brother Xu will forget the elegance and simplicity of Anshui Prefecture."

"Brother Fufeng's words are too heavy. Anshui Prefecture is the place where Xu Mo grew up, it is Xu Mo's hometown, no other place can compare," Xu Mo knew he was upset about his broken health, and could only try to comfort him, "Don't worry, just take the medicine Fourth Brother gave you, and in the future I will describe all the splendor and scenery I see in Fengjing in my letters to you."

"These beauties of the Dayu Dynasty that you cannot witness yourself, I will see them for you."

Wang Fufeng turned his head away to hide his loss of composure.

What virtue or ability did he possess, that not only was he fortunate enough to get acquainted with these six siblings, but to also have a place in their hearts and their thoughts.

But there was no denying that this feeling of being cared for felt wonderful.

Perhaps some people never enjoy their parents' favor in their lifetime, but as long as they can meet a kindred spirit, this life is not in vain.

Wang Fufeng turned his head back, the loss of composure once again concealed, as he quietly gazed at Xu Mo who was destined for greatness in the future, with all the emotions in his eyes replaced by blessing.

I bless you, my light.

If Eldest Brother's farewell was melancholy, the atmosphere changed when it came to Second Brother.

Zhang Qiquan rolled up his sleeves and patted Zheng Ruqian on the shoulder, smiling, "Kid, you've got prospects, taking your business all the way to Fengjing." Zheng Ruqian quickly waved his hands in modesty, "I'm not there yet Uncle Zhang, but don't worry, give me a year and I will surely gain a foothold in Fengjing!"

"Good, good kid, you've got ideas," Zhang Qiquan's eyes were full of encouragement, "I'm betting on you."

Zheng Ruqian grinned from ear to ear, not forgetting to instruct Wang Xiaosong, "Leave the roast duck business in Anshui Prefecture to you, don't worry about manpower, fire whoever needs firing, promote whoever needs promoting, your boss has money!"

Completely ignoring the fact that the whole family only had 500 taels left.

Wang Xiaosong's eyes brimmed with tears, "Boss, wait for me in Fengjing...you must wait for me, and help me take care of my little sister too."

Moving on to Fourth Brother, the mood was much calmer here.

Of all the female doctors at the Wen's Clinic, other than Wang Xiaozhu, not a single one was willing to go with him to Fengjing.

No wonder, they all had families, how could they bear to leave their homes.

But Wen Zhiyun was unbothered, and even had the mood to joke, "Have to recruit female doctors again when we get to Fengjing."

Wang Xiaozhu's eyes were red, "What about the clinic here? With no one to restrain them, what if the female doctors cause chaos?"

"It won't be left with no one to oversee things," Wen Zhiyun's expression was unchanged, unconsciously touching the medical book in his arms, "Doctor Wu said he will come by regularly to check."

It was just that Wu Suowei's nature was unrestrained, and he hated farewells, so he was unwilling to show up at the city gates to see them off.

Wen Zhiyun tried looking for him in the crowd, but didn't see anything, he could only lower his head dejectedly, clutching the medical book in Doctor Wu's own handwriting even tighter.

Finally looking to Fifth Brother, Jiang Sheng's mood stabilized.

Chang Yan was sitting on the other side of the carriage shaft, legs bent, chin propped on his knees. He sat there alone, with neither friends bidding farewell nor people accompanying him.

He just sat there forlornly looking at the massive city, the sadness and melancholy in his pretty eyes accompanied by a touch of nostalgia.

Finally...going back.

Unexpected yet reasonable.

If not for Wang Yuyao's relentless pressure, they would not have left so early.

But as long as Xu Mo still needed to take the imperial exams, they had to go to Fengjing.

A city so prosperous that even servants wore fine cotton robes, yet filthy on the inside, with intrigue taken to the extreme.

The complete opposite of Anshui Prefecture's tranquility and simplicity, yet fatally attractive, drawing countless people to exert all their efforts heading there, only to leave in disarray.

This was Fengjing.

This was the capital.

After Zhang Xianglian and Liu Cui finished their reluctant farewells, raising their heads to look at the sky, Liu Cui was shocked to realize, "It's getting late." Zhang Qiquan also reacted, urging the children, "Either leave tomorrow, or hurry up and go now, otherwise it'll be dark before we can find an inn to stay the night." Xu Mo sighed, bid farewell to Wang Fufeng with cupped fists, then got into the carriage.

It wasn't that they were unwilling to remain on this land, but the Wangs were coming back today. With Wang Yuyao's personality, she would surely stir up trouble as soon as she returned.

Rather than that, it was better to avoid her and leave early.

"Brother Xu, don't worry, I won't allow Wang Yuyao to enter Fengjing before she is married," even through the carriage curtain, Wang Fufeng's voice was sonorous as he made his promise.

Zheng Ruqian pulled the reins tight, raising his horse whip, ready to leave anytime.

Yet he didn't flick it down.

"Why aren't we going yet, Second Brother?" Wen Zhiyun stuck his head out in puzzlement.

Zheng Ruqian was looking towards the eastern gate, as if waiting for someone.

After about a dozen breaths, a dusty youth arrived, driving a carriage. When he saw Zheng Ruqian on the carriage, he waved vigorously, "Brother Zheng, have a good trip!"

Just that one sentence used up all the strength he had left after rushing about for over 10 days.

Zheng Ruqian chuckled, finally flicking the horse whip down.

The horse neighed loudly, carrying the children leaving their hometown, galloping away swiftly.

Wang Mingyu walked to stand behind Wang Fufeng, his eyes gradually growing moist, "Master, will they come back?"

Wang Fufeng raised a bitter smile, "If they don't come back, you can go to Fengjing."

At least, you still have the chance.

The people seeing them off lingered by Anshui Prefecture's eastern gate, reluctant to leave for a long time, until the carriage disappeared into the distance, no longer visible to the naked eye, before dispersing in groups of two or three.

The city had lost five children, yet still operated on peacefully as always.

The woman who bought half a catty of meat and picked vegetables, the man who counted his copper coins after finishing work, and the student leaving school with a book bag, they all had smiles on their faces as they headed towards home.

Shopkeeper Hao finished clicking his abacus beads, letting out a soft sigh, "They left, left for bigger places to develop, and more opportunities too."

"Who left?" Jiang Chengyuan leaned over, "Shopkeeper Hao, how do you know I'm leaving?"

Shopkeeper Hao raised his head, somewhat surprised, yet also unsurprised.

The wealthy young master of the Jiangs in Fengjing, how could he keep staying in the poor backwater of Anshui Prefecture, it was about time for him to return too.

"Is Young Master preparing anything?" he asked.

"Get me more of the cured meats here, especially the sausages," Jiang Chengyuan instructed, "Grandmother and little sister will definitely like them."