Chapter 275: Chapter 111 Farewell
Gu Chengyu watched Mrs. Lv busily attending to matters, his heart filled with a touch of sadness. The ancient saying goes, "When sons travel a thousand miles, mothers worry!" Perhaps this is the moment it describes?
Mrs. Lv wiped a tear from the corner of her eye with a handkerchief. Xiao Bao had gone out before; examinations took several days. But this time, she just couldnât hold back her tears.
Gu Chengyu felt troubled as well, perhaps realizing that soon he would not be able to frequently accompany the elders. Going to the Prefecture to study is truly the beginning of something new.
Mid-Autumn has passed, and the weather seems to have cooled down a bit. Now, with the early morning sky, Gu Chengyu sat in the carriage feeling a slight chill.
They would meet Sun Xian and the others at Shanhe Town. To Gu Chengyuâs surprise, Ye Zhiqiu had chosen to go with them to the Prefecture School, entrusting his mother and sister to the care of their family as Sun Xian did.
The carriage ran swiftly; reaching the town wouldnât take much effort. Compared to other remote villages, Shangling Village was not far from the town.
Gu Chengyu arrived at the town and waited for half an incense time. Sun Xian and Ye Zhiqiu soon arrived. Ming Mo had already hired another carriage, waiting for Sun Xian and the others, so two carriages wouldnât be crowded.
"Chengyu! Youâve been here for quite a while, havenât you?" Sun Xian felt a bit embarrassed seeing Gu Chengyu already waiting. Sunâs mother had urged him to pack a lot of luggage before leaving, delaying him a bit, so he had to ask for the villageâs ox cart to take him to the town.
"Fortunately, Iâm not that late." Ye Zhiqiu chimed in, carrying not much luggage, only two bundles, presumably clothes and shoes. "I arrived early; you guys are not late at all. Letâs set out now!" Gu Chengyu asked Ming Mo and the others to load their luggage onto the carriage and noticed a jar on the ground.
Seeing it, Sun Xian picked up the jar and said to Gu Chengyu, "This is a treasure! You said before that my motherâs pickled vegetables were delicious, right? She asked me to bring it to you, saying youâll be going to the Prefecture, and youâd only be able to eat it once you return for rest. So she asked me to bring some to you."
Gu Chengyu was delighted, knowing the taste of Sunâs motherâs pickled vegetables was superb, "Auntie indeed still thinks of me!"
After speaking, he paused, considering a way to make some Silver for Sun Xian. The pickled vegetables tasted so good, perhaps they could be sold and served as an appetizer in his tavern.
Thinking of this, Gu Chengyu immediately asked, "How many jars of these pickles do you have at home?"
Sun Xian was a bit surprised, thinking Gu Chengyu found it insufficient, "This jar isnât small! Enough for the three of us for half a month, and you still find it lacking? There are several jars at home!"
"I have a tavern at the Prefecture, perfect for selling this. Silver, we can discuss. Iâll have Ming Mo go to your house to bring the rest to the Prefecture!" Gu Chengyu decided and quickly instructed Ming Mo to hire another carriage to go to the Sun Family to load the jars.
"Huh? Youâre really going to?" Sun Xian was somewhat incredulous. These were just homemade pickles for family consumption. When making more, his mother would sell them at the town market, a large bowl for only a few coins! Of course, most of these pickles were cabbage and radish, the cheapest and plentiful in the fields.
"Of course!" Gu Chengyu watched Ming Mo and Ming Yan drive the carriage away, leaving them to wait for a while.
Ye Zhiqiu, confused by their conversation, asked, "What are you guys talking about? Tavern? Chengyu opened a tavern?"
"Haha! Youâre still unaware! He has plenty of Silver..." As Gu Chengyu mentioned this in front of Ye Zhiqiu, it indicated he didnât mind him knowing, so he explained to Ye Zhiqiu.
Gu Chengyu didnât stop the conversation; Ye Zhiqiu would eventually know about the tavern anyway, and there was no harm in telling. He then sat on the carriage and noticed another carriage approaching from afar.
Before the carriage arrived, Gu Chengyu saw Wang Qikai poking his head out, "Well, Gu Chengyu! Going to the Prefecture without telling me, are you aiming to soar high without recognizing your friend?"
Gu Chengyu laughed, not expecting Wang Qikai to see him off, given Wang Qikai hadnât fully recovered from his illness and usually couldnât get up early in the morning.
"You usually sleep at this hour, how come youâre up so early?"
"If I hadnât asked the teacher, I wouldnât have known when you were leaving!" Wang Qikai had to exert great effort to crawl out of bed.
He ran up to Gu Chengyu, looking at the little kid a head shorter than him. Three years as fellow students forged their friendship, though his health was poor; he wasnât sure if he could attend the county examination, while Gu Chengyu was moving ahead.
"Oh? I havenât looked down yet!"
Gu Chengyu looked down, finding You Siyuan also coming to see them off.
"Brother You!" Gu Chengyu made a bow.
"Donât, youâre now a Scholar, how can you call me brother? Letâs call each other by name!" You Siyuan said as he alighted, rubbing his sore rear after the ride.
Wang Qikai saw his movement and immediately ridiculed, "Told you not to follow, and you insisted. So pretentious!"
"Youâre chubby and have more flesh, of course, you donât feel sore. Iâm so thin, how could I endure?" You Siyuan and Wang Qikai were used to bickering, feeling uneasy without exchanging a few quips.
Sun Xian and the others joined in the greetings.
"Chengyu! Youâre going to study at the Prefecture; we might find it hard to meet!" Wang Qikai said with a downcast mood to Gu Chengyu.
Gu Chengyu felt sentimental, patting Wang Qikaiâs shoulder, "Isnât there still the once-a-month rest? Iâll see you when I return!"
"Itâs not the same," Wang Qikai lamented, having gotten used to dining with Gu Chengyu despite not being in the same class the past two years.
"Enough! Stop fretting, thereâs no way weâll catch up to the Prefecture. Chengyu and the others will wait for us at the Capital," You Siyuan glanced at Gu Chengyu, knowing he was not mistaken; Gu Chengyu was a person with potential. Truly, a dragon transformed by the storms?
"I and Senior Brother Sun will wait in the Capital for you guys, be quick!" Gu Chengyu was determined to pass the Provincial Examination and the Metropolitan Exam, not wanting to waste away in the civil service arena, with a vast world and much to accomplish.
"Good!" Sun Xian and the others joined, everyone speaking with ambition. At last, Wang Qikai took out a jar of wine from the carriage.
"Though youâre young and canât hold your liquor, todayâs a joyous occasion, everyone should take a sip, hoping we meet soon in the Capital!"
Gu Chengyu was somewhat speechless, to outsiders it might seem they were heading for the Capital exam! But at such an emotional moment, the mood shouldnât be spoiled, and so he took the jar and had a sip.
Ancient wine was low in purity, without much burn, hence children occasionally drank a few sips.
"Donât forget us when youâre at the Prefecture, Chengyu! Donât forget me even with new friends!" Wang Qikai, eyes fixed on Gu Chengyu, said as he patted Gu Chengyuâs shoulder.
"I wonât forget you!" Gu Chengyu responded with a punch, exchanging a smile with Wang Qikai.
When Ming Mo and Ming Yan returned, Gu Chengyu and the others boarded the carriage, bidding farewell to Wang Qikai and his cohort, Gu Chengyu embarked on a further journey.