Chapter 268: Grand Finale
The carriage moved forward, Xiao Huan’s eyes red-rimmed, lifting the curtain to wave at the women, only putting it down when she could no longer see them.
Shang Wan handed her a handkerchief and comforted her, “It’s not like we’ll never see them again. Quickly wipe your tears. Sister Shu said that on the day you get married, they’ll all come to add to your dowry and see you off.”
Xiao Huan blushed and gave Shang Wan a coquettish glare, “I’m not getting married.”
“Yes, yes, yes, no getting married.” Seeing she had stopped crying, Shang Wan smiled and pinched her red cheek, “Stay at home, sis will support you.”
“Sis!” The bit of parting sorrow in Xiao Huan’s heart completely vanished.
The caravan had only traveled one li when it stopped again.
By the official road, Old Man Wu, Li Old Father, Li Dashan, Li Xiaoshan, Aunt Zhou, Rong Niangzi, and nearly twenty others, old and young, stood by the roadside, coming specifically to see off Shang Wan’s family.
Behind them were two donkey carts, piled high with large and small bundles, several baskets of eggs and duck eggs, tied live chickens and ducks, and even a lamb bleating away.
Shang Wan and the others all got out of the carriage and walked over to the crowd.
“We heard you were leaving today, so the villagers pooled some things together and rushed over to see you off.” Old Man Wu rubbed his hands, “We were worried about troubling you, so we didn’t pack too much. Mostly food on the carts for you to eat on the road.”
He turned and pointed to the largest floral bundle, “That one’s filled with winter clothes made by your aunts, one for each person, made from good fabric that won’t chafe. The weather’s getting colder, don’t catch cold on the road.”
“We won’t get cold, we…” Shi Tou’s words were cut off as Lu Chengjing covered his mouth, a rare smile on his face as he warmly thanked them.
“The aunts’ hands are rough, not as good as the embroidery ladies in the city. Make do wearing them on the road.” Aunt Zhou caringly took Shang Wan’s hand, “You’re with child, take good care of yourself on the road, don’t worry your heart over others. Come back to visit when you have time, the aunts all miss you.”
Shang Wan smiled, “Thanks for the aunts remembering us. The aunts’ craftsmanship is better than ten embroidery ladies. When the weather turns cold, I’ll wear them every day.”
“Younger brother’s wife, that mouth of yours is honeyed today.” Rong Niangzi teased from the side, pulling Xiao Huan over to talk.
“Sis, when I grow up, I’ll bring little sis to find you and work for you.” Li Xiaoshan sniffled, looking at Shang Wan eagerly, “Okay?”
“I don’t take people without skills here.” Shang Wan reached out and patted his head, “Study hard in the school, no more skipping classes.”
At the beginning of the year, after returning from the prefectural city, Shang Wan funded building a school in the village. Lu Chengjing helped hire two masters who had taught at the county school, with their monthly salaries paid from the Spiritual Medicine Pavilion’s accounts.
Any child from Elm Tree Village whose family adults participated in processing medicinal herbs could attend the school for free.
Just for this, who in the village wasn’t grateful?
“I’ll definitely study hard.” Li Xiaoshan raised his hand in promise, “Little sis will study hard too.”
Shang Wan smiled, “I’ll write to the master to ask about you. If you really study well and make something of yourselves, no need for you to come find me, I’ll send someone to pick you up.”
“Really? Sis, don’t trick me.”
Shang Wan nodded, “Not tricking you.”
Li Xiaoshan immediately hopped in place happily; he’d go back and study hard!
“Take care!” Li Dashan patted Lu Chengjing and Shi Tou’s shoulders each once, “Write a letter when you arrive to say you’re safe.”
Lu Chengjing nodded in agreement.
The crowd stood and talked for nearly two quarters of an hour. A Le sat in the carriage looking out, envy in his eyes.
“Young Master, our side is cold and cheerless, not lively at all.”
Qiao Yu’an irritably smacked him, “You want it lively like this morning?”
Recalling the morning commotion, A Le shrank his neck; better skip that kind of liveliness.
“The hour’s not early, don’t miss the time to reach the next place.” Old Man Wu glanced at the sky and said to the crowd, “Everyone lend a hand, move the things from the donkey carts onto the carriage.”
Hearing this, everyone got moving. Shi Changsheng also brought people to help carry, and soon everything was loaded into the carriage.
What wouldn’t fit in the carriage was tied to the top with hemp rope.
Waving as they watched the villagers leave on the donkey carts, Shang Wan’s family only got back into the carriage when they were out of sight.
Shi Tou pursed his lips and rubbed his chest. Chu Xu eyed him, his cat-like eyes bright and lively, “You wanna cry?”
“Don’t.” Shi Tou turned his head and tossed out two hard words.
He didn’t know what feeling was in his heart.
Back then when brother-in-law was imprisoned, they had nowhere to go and could only move to the village.
At that time they had only a thatched hut, unfamiliar with the villagers. The Chen Family even tried all sorts of ways to trip them up and cause trouble. Xiao Huan and Yuan Yuan nearly got harmed, and days were quite vexing.
Now leaving, everyone had pooled things to send them off.
Shi Tou looked out the window thinking he’d definitely come back to visit later.
The carriage was filled with a gloomy air; even Lu Chengjing was lost in thought, his gaze wandering who knows where.
Shang Wan glanced at everyone in the carriage; except for the two kids, all were listless.
She cleared her throat, “Why are you all putting on bitter melon faces?”
Everyone looked over together.
“Got a grasp on getting into the top three?”
Lu Chengjing: “…”
“Have you memorized all the books Dean Luo gave you?”
Shi Tou: “…”
“Pondered out new dishes?”
Xiao Huan: “…”
Shang Wan blinked, “Still sad now?”
Three people: “…”
Suddenly no mood to be sad anymore.
Lu Chengjing and Shi Tou started reading, Xiao Huan began pondering her new dishes, and the atmosphere in the carriage immediately turned positive and upbeat.
Shopkeeper Shang contentedly popped two bits of orange pulp into her mouth.
Apocalypse people lived without a tomorrow after today; parting was routine, no habit of moping over separations.
With this kung fu, better to think how to expand her business empire.
The capital city was prosperous, Suzhou and Hangzhou affluent, with piles of silver waiting for her to earn.
First set a small goal: open Spiritual Medicine Pavilions across the nation!
Who knows, in ten years she might be the Great Zhou’s number one richest merchant.
—End of Main Text—
Author’s Ramblings:
Thanks to the darlings who read to the end. During serialization, I’ve gotten familiar with many darlings’ IDs. Thanks for your recommendation votes, monthly votes, and tips; your support gave me the drive to update.
First time trying to write a farming story, lacking experience, feels like I wrote a mishmash with the focus all wrong. Midway wanted to abandon it, but thinking some were still following, sped through to an ending. (Okay, I know I’m sorry to the darlings chasing updates, but I really did my best T^T, begging forgiveness)
Perhaps this isn’t the ending I originally conceived (hehe, cut half the outline)
But… that’s it, next book I’ll keep trying!
PS: Finished darlings, move your money-making little hands and give a good review! (Thick-skinned begging, running away~)
