Chapter 113: 113. How do you know it won ‘t work if you don’t give it a try? (One more update)
Translator: 549690339
Early on the first day of the new year, Bai Xiaohu and Zhuzi came to visit Ning Jing and Su Liang.
Having learned the local customs from Lady Bai, Su Liang prepared candies and desserts in advance. Ning Jing exchanged some copper coins when he went to town last time.
Bai Xiaohu and Zhuzi happily ran away with their money and pockets full of treats after receiving their New Year’s gifts.
Not long after, Erniu and another child came to visit and received their New Year’s gifts and candies after saying some auspicious words.
Each child received ten coins, all the same.
Lady Bai had specifically instructed not to give too much.
So, on that day, Ning Jing and Su Liang sat at home giving out New Year’s money to the village children, wave after wave.
When no more children came, half of the copper coins were left in the basket.
Su Liang picked one up and handed it to Ning Jing, “New Year’s gift.”
Ning Jing took it and handed Su Liang a copper coin, “New Year’s gift.”
Su Liang smiled and threw the coin into the basket, then got up and went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Ning Jing, however, put the copper coin Su Liang gave him into his wallet.
They made dumplings together, a skill Ning Jing had learned early on, and one he was much better at than Su Liang.
Su Liang cooked a few dishes, and after eating, they took Bai Xiaohu, Zhuzi, and Erniu to go for a hike together.
It was also the local custom to climb a mountain and look into the distance on the first day of the new year, symbolizing achieving new heights in the coming year.
On that day, Su Bai announced the plans to build a school in Kaichun Village, where children could study for free. The preliminary plans and budgets were ready, Su Liang had already handed over the startup funds and a year’s worth of backup funds to Su Bai, the teacher had been hired, and the location had been chosen.
The villagers were excited, and Lady Bai repeatedly praised Su Liang as the lucky star of their village.
The Bai family had originally planned to send Bai Xiaohu to school next year, but even with their savings, they still couldn’t afford it, as they also needed to find a bride for Bai He. Their living situation was still tight.
Little did they know that Ning Jing and Su Liang had already arranged everything, but had never mentioned it before.
Old Bai said that they kept quiet for the villagers’ sake, as it was important to treat everyone equally. If they gave special treatment to Bai family’s two grandsons, it might easily arouse envy and jealousy among the villagers.
Now there were even gossipers who said behind their backs that the Bai family had gained a lot of money by ingratiating themselves with Ning Jing and Su Liang.
They only took a break for a day, and on the second day, Ning Jing and Su Liang’s life resumed its previous rhythm.
The military exams would begin in early February, and although Ning Jing had said that Su Liang’s chances of being among the top three were not a big problem now, he had always been very strict about teaching her martial arts and supervising her training.
On the third day, the manager of the Ning family arrived according to Ning Jing’s instructions before the new year, and they began to pack their belongings to take them to the capital.
A lot of gifts from friends had to be left behind, as it was not safe to keep them here, and they did not know when they would return. They might not even stay in the village for a long time after their return.
The former owner’s belongings and Su Liang’s books, as well as some clothes they would wear, were left behind for her to take with her.
Ning Jing also left a suitcase.
All the other things were sent away in advance.
Su Bai had told the villagers that Su Liang would leave on the fifth day. On the fourth day, she brought the prepared medicine and visited several patients in the village for follow-up examinations, leaving prescriptions, and gave some instructions on what to pay attention to.
The ledger recorded the patients who had bought medicine on credit. Many of them had repaid their debts before Su Liang left, but there were also some who hadn’t or didn’t want to. Su Liang didn’t chase them for payment but entrusted the ledger to Su Bai instead. Any money collected would be used as funds for the school.
On the fifth day, after breakfast, Ning Jing and Su Liang sent all the leftover food to the Bai family.
Old Bai had prepared a whole bag of baked sweet potato chips for Ning Jing to take. Lady Bai also got up early to steam a basket of dried green bean meat buns for them, which Su Liang had said were delicious the last time. All the leftover dried green beans were given to Ning Jing, saying that they might not be able to eat such things in the capital. He also took a jar of pickled radish from the Liu family.
Before leaving, Su Liang stood in the courtyard, looking at the first home she had after crossing to this world, feeling reluctant to leave.
At first, the courtyard was empty and deserted, but now every corner bore traces of their life.
The snowman made before the New Year had not completely melted yet, and its original shape was still visible.
“Will we come back?” Su Liang asked Ning Jing.
Ning Jing answered, “I will.” Su Liang nodded, “I will too!”
“Let’s go.” Ning Jing called Su Liang.
Su Liang took one last look, waved to the courtyard, locked the front door, got Into tne carnage, ana sat next to Ning Jlng.
The carriage slowly moved away from the gate.
The Bai family were all standing on the bridge to bid them farewell, Lady Bai’s eyes red, reminding Ning Jing to take good care of Su Liang.
“Ning Ge, Sister Su Liang, will you come back?” Bai Xiaohu asked with a creased brow.
Su Liang nodded, “We will.”
Zhuzi burst into tears, clinging to Su Liang’s legs, unwilling to let her go.
After coaxing him for a while, Zhuzi was finally taken away by Mrs. Liu, saying sulkily, “I will study hard and take the exam in the capital when I grow up so I can see Ning Ge and Sister Su Liang again!”
Ning Jing said solemnly, “Good. I’ll wait for you.”
Many villagers were at the entrance of the village to see Su Liang and Ning Jing off, giving them many foodstuffs. These gifts were not valuable, but they were full of heartfelt good wishes.
Su Bai also told Ning Jing to take good care of Su Liang.
As they watched the carriage leave, the sun was just rising in the east. Su Bai sighed, “I hope they have a safe and smooth journey.”
The carriage arrived in Feiyan Town, where Hu Er was already waiting.
He was cured and looked much younger, having given up the gambling business to work in legitimate businesses with the help of the Wan Family.
“Both of you are bound for success in the capital,” said Hu Er with a full smile, and he had Xiaoliu bring Su Liang and Ning Jing gifts – a box full of books he had collected using his old connections.
Knowing that Su Liang and Ning Jing were no longer short of money and wouldn’t care for other gifts, he had put much effort into obtaining these books.
Su Liang was very happy and thanked Hu Er. Then, they continued their journey.
By the time they reached the county town, Su Liang had already flipped through all the books given by Hu Er, merely checking out what was inside.
Most of them were miscellaneous books of various types, and a considerable number of them were not available through legitimate channels. Among these, there were two rather sinister books on poison techniques, badly damaged, but most of the content was still legible.
After reaching the county town, they didn’t stay there. Instead, they headed towards the capital city, leaving Bei’an County behind.
They took turns driving the carriage along the way, just as before.
The capital city of Qian Country.
Nian Jincheng and Lin Bojun were sent to the south by royal decree before the new year, and the situation was tense but the two countries had not yet gone to war.
On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Xing Yusheng had intended to accompany Qin Yujin to the temple to pray for blessings. He also wanted to ask for his grandmother’s blessings.
But before they could leave, they received news that Bei Jingwang had entered the capital city!
Xing Yusheng was first stunned, and then overjoyed, “Really? Where is he now?”
“He just entered the city gates!” the servant who reported the news said.
Xing Yusheng had not received a reply to the letter he sent to his grandmother, and his heart had been hanging ever since, not knowing what his father was planning.
There had been no news before, and suddenly he arrived in the capital city. With some calmness, Xing Yusheng realized that the people from Bei Jingwang Mansion must have secretly traveled to the capital and kept a low profile, or they would have encountered danger along the way.
No one knew whether the emperor could tolerate the Xing Family.
Although the Vassal Kings were not allowed to enter the capital without a summons, if one voluntarily gave up their territory and kingship, they would be no longer a Vassal King and would not have to abide by this restriction.
With that in mind, Xing Yusheng finally let go of his worries and hurriedly ordered Qi Jun to prepare the carriage. He wanted to pick up his grandmother.
“Master, the prince will have to go to the palace first. The Xing Family doesn’t have a residence in the capital city…” Qi Jun reminded Xing Yusheng that with so many people in the Xing Family, he couldn’t just bring his grandmother to the Qin Family and leave the others unattended.
Xing Yusheng frowned, “You go find an inn and book it.”
“Yes!” Qi Jun went to do as he was told. His father worked for the prince’s mansion, and he didn’t leak any information before, probably to ensure their safety.
Both Old Master Qin and Qin Kang didn’t show up, so Xing Yusheng’s two cousins accompanied him to settle the people from the Xing Family.
“At least he has some brains,” Old Master Qin commented on his son-in-law, Bei Jingwang.
Duanmu Chen had returned to the capital city before the new year, but the results of the iron mine smuggling case were not made public. The voices blaming Bei Jingwang as the mastermind never ceased.
It was Su Liang who had conveyed the message to Xing Yusheng, who then informed Old Master Qin without telling anyone else.
In the residence of the Fourth Prince, Duanmu Chen heard that Bei Jingwang and his family had suddenly arrived in the capital city, and he was initially surprised and then laughed, “The favor I sold to Su Liang hasn’t been in vain after all. If they arrive here after the new year, it should be before the Lantern Festival. How is the preparation of the mansion going?”
Chang’an sighed, “The mansion is ready, but we haven’t found all the fruit trees that Young Master Ning requested.”
“Why haven’t you found them yet? What if they arrive and there are things missing? Where would my face go?” Duanmu Chen snorted.
Chang’an hurried to find the trees.
Xing Yusheng met his grandmother, who was in good spirits and laughed, telling him not to worry and praised the talents of the two Qin Family young masters.
Bei Jingwang went to the palace, and Qi Jun booked an inn where the people from Bei Jingwang Mansion temporarily settled down.
When it was just his grandmother and Xing Yusheng left, she asked him who had given him the information in the letter.
Xing Yusheng told the truth, it was Su Liang.
To his grandmother’s surprise, she sighed, “That girl is really kind. I later heard that she and Ning Jing only had a fake marriage and were actually siblings. They will be in the capital city soon, won’t they? When the time comes, you should pursue her earnestly. As long as she is willing, your grandmother will arrange it, regardless of her background, for you to marry her as your main wife.”
Xing Yusheng held his forehead, “I can’t.”
His grandmother frowned, “Why? Don’t you like that girl very much? Your grandmother likes her too. The Xing Family is not what it used to be – peace is the most important thing now.”
Xing Yusheng sighed, “I’m not good enough for her.”
“Who says that?” his grandmother was not pleased to hear this, “How do you know it won’t work if you don’t give it a try? Your grandmother will definitely support you!”