Linxia

Chapter 107, Farewell
After watching Song Kai’s beheading from the street market entrance, I came back to the alley in West Lane.

Under the osmanthus tree, the winter sun shone through the branches and fell in spots. Fang's mother, Sister Guihua, Su Xiaoqing, Granny Qiu, and Mrs. Ou gathered together to bask in the sun. Fang's mother was making dumplings, and the others were doing needlework.

Sister Guihua did not go to see Song Kai's beheading. It turned out that she came here with her daughter. After the people from Old Chen's family left, she didn't need to be shy about anything and came here as usual.

Mrs. Qiu replaced Chuntao's position. She used to work hard and sell vegetables to make money, going out early and coming back late, and had no time. But after Mr. Qiu fell down, she seemed to have a sudden enlightenment and changed her mindset. She finally had some free time to join.

After coming back, Tian Xuan went to help Fang's mother.

The topic of the women's gossip immediately turned from the Xin family's marriage to today's beheading.

"Xiaoxuan, how is it? Was the kid from the Song family chopped off? Looking at the scene, is it bloody?" asked Fang's mother.

"It was chopped off and blood was everywhere." Tian Xuan nodded.

"I also saw a beheading once. It was when I went to the market to buy vegetables. At the entrance of the market..."

Su Xiaoqing took over the conversation: "At that time, I saw a living person like us being killed with one knife... After that, I never looked at it again and avoided it when I saw it."

There was a sense of fragility in her tone.

"When Song Kai was beheaded today, something else happened..." Tian Xuan told the story of how Old Lady Bai stabbed Song Guangcheng to death and then committed suicide on the execution ground.

After hearing this, Sister Guihua paused, but was not surprised at all. She nodded slightly and said, "No wonder Old Lady Bai was so frugal when she lived in the village. But these days, she is willing to spend money while touring the capital with her eldest son. It turns out that she is planning to..."

While she was monitoring the three people from Old Chen's family, she was also paying attention to the mother and daughter of the Bai family. After all, she knew in her heart that she was the instigator of Bai Bao's incident, so she had to be prepared for any eventuality. After seeing Old Mrs. Bai's performance, she saw through everything and had some guesses.

Therefore, I didn't go to the market today. I have been keeping vigilant these days and always keep my daughter by my side. I also hired two strong women to follow in secret.

……

Here, Fang's father, uncle Fang Boxian, and Fang Lin came back. They didn't stay with the women, but went to talk to Mr. Qiu who was sitting in a wheelchair not far away.

It was here that three little kids, Fang Chuanhui, Fang Yuyu and Chen Ye, gathered around a brazier and roasted peanuts using the residual heat from the ashes from the brazier burned in the morning.

"Brother Linzi, have some peanuts." Fang Yuyu handed over a handful of roasted peanuts and asked crisply, "Brother Linzi, are we still going to the store today?"

"not going."

Fang Lin took it, smiled and shook his head. He had only asked for one day off and it was already afternoon, so there was no need to go.

The same goes for Fang's father and uncle Fang Boxian. They decided not to go to the dock today - because recently, Fang Lin took Fang Chuanhui and Fang Yuyu to Xuan Mo Zhai, and Fang's father went to the dock, leaving only Fang's mother and Tian Xuan women at home. Uncle Fang Boxian felt that it was not good to keep them around, and it would make him feel awkward and uncomfortable, so he often followed Fang's father to the dock to take a look.

At this time, Fang Chuanhui and Chen Ye also distributed some roasted peanuts to Fang's father, Fang Boxian, and Qiu Laoguan. They talked while eating peanuts.

"Uncle, I think we have been here for a few days and it is time to leave. Let's go back tomorrow! When we came here, we followed the caravan and will leave in two days. It just so happens that we will be with Bai Jiafengzi and Song Liushi." Fang Boxian said.

There are not many caravans going from the provincial capital to Haining County, and it is not easy for ordinary people to contact them. Although that kind of thing happened, if the Bai and Song families leave in the next two days, they will most likely follow that caravan. After all, whoever gives in in this kind of situation seems to be afraid of the other party.

"How long have you been here? Stay a few more days," Fang's father tried to persuade him to stay.

"Yes, uncle, stay a few more days! Besides, there's no need to go back with the Bai and Song families. Such a big thing has happened. I think they..."

Fang Lin didn't say "mental disorder" out loud, but the meaning was self-evident: "What if something happens on the way and he gets hurt by mistake... So, it's better not to go with them. Later, my father and I will take a look and choose a better caravan."

Uncle Fang Boxian was a loyal but not stupid man. After hearing this, he thought it made sense and that he could not take the risk, so he nodded and agreed.

Mr. Qiu was listening nearby and also said with a smile, "That's right, your village is so far away from the city, and you finally came here, so you should stay a little longer to get together with your brothers."

Fang Chuanhui and Fang Yuyu were also very happy after hearing this.

At first, when they heard Dad say he wanted to go back, the brother and sister felt a little reluctant, but they also knew that Dad was right, they had disturbed Uncle San's family for so long, it was time to go back. But Uncle San and cousin tried to persuade them to stay, and now Dad had agreed to stay for a few more days, so they felt surprised and happy beyond their expectations.

In the afternoon, Fang Lin suggested going to Wengtang to take a bath. Fang's father and uncle didn't want to go, so he took Fang Chuanhui there.

Fang Yuyu also wanted to go, but unfortunately, there were no women's bathhouses in that era, so she couldn't go and could only watch with envy.

……

In recent months, Fang Lin has come to Wengtang to take a bath more often and has gradually gotten used to it.

It was Fang Chuanhui's first time here, and he was greatly shocked by what he saw, together with Fang Lin's explanation: the exterior of the urn hall was shaped like a bell or an urn, built entirely with stone bricks and covering a large area; the interior was a bathing pool with a flat and smooth bottom made of large stones; it took more than a dozen people to boil the water, and the water for bathing was drawn by the turning of a windlass... It was an eye-opener.

Wow!
Fang Lin calculated the time and arrived on time. As soon as they arrived, a windlass started to release water, and clear water rushed into the bathing pool.

He took Fang Chuanhui in.

There was a big river next to Xiaohe Village. Fang Chuanhui could naturally swim, so after entering the bathing pool, he swam two circles with the doggy paddle, then sank to the surface of the water, held his breath for a while, spit out the bubbles, and played around for a while before coming back.

Obviously, this guy was very excited as it was his first time to visit Wengtang.

After about an incense stick of time, more people came and Fang Lin called him out. Fang Chuanhui still felt that "it's a bit of a loss to pay five cents per person for just a short while to wash the pigs", but when he went out, he saw a butcher coming over with a fishy smell, and he immediately began to feel lucky and sighed that his cousin was wise.

After taking a bath, the two of them left the hall feeling refreshed.

"Brother Linzi, it's really fun to take a bath in Wengtang. It's such a big pool... Also, it's time for us to leave, otherwise when that butcher goes in, the water will be gone and our bathing this time will be in vain..." Fang Chuanhui said excitedly.

Fang Lin listened to him for a while, and stopped to ask with a smile, "Chuanhui, how do you feel about coming to the capital this time?"

"Very good, Brother Linzi. I met Master Ou, went to the teahouse to watch a play, received gifts from Grandpa Liu and his friends at Xuan Mo Zhai, ate a variety of snacks, ate meat, and took a bath in the Weng Hall..."

Fang Chuanhui counted on his fingers and was surprised at how many things he had accomplished without realizing it. "When I get back to the village, I'll tell my eldest brother and the other children in the village, such as Damao, Ermao, Xiuxiu... They will all be envious."

It can be said that the brother and sister experienced everything mentioned in Fang Lin’s letter this time.

"The city is so good, have you ever thought about coming here in the future?" Fang Lin suddenly asked.

"Ah, Brother Linzi?" Fang Chuanhui was stunned.

"Huai'an City is so prosperous, but outside of Huai'an City, there is Yingtian, the capital, and overseas. The world is so big. You walked out of Xiaohe Village and saw a corner of it, and then went back. Are you willing to live on one acre and three mu of land in that small place all your life?" Fang Lin turned around and looked into Fang Chuanhui's eyes.

Fang Chuanhui was silent.

Fang Lin stopped talking and waited quietly. After a while, Fang Chuanhui whispered, "Of course I am unwilling, but Brother Linzi, I am not myself, I still have my parents..."

"Who knows, in the future, uncle and aunt will have to move out of Xiaohe Village to make a living!"

"Brother Linzi, this..." Fang Chuanhui listened and his face showed shock again.

"You three siblings, your brother is honest, he takes after your uncle; your sister takes after your aunt, she is also smart, not inferior to you, but in this world, women are always... Let's not talk about her; you, you have both the loyalty of your uncle and the intelligence of your mother, I have something to say to you from the bottom of my heart."

Fang Lin paused and said, "I have noticed some news. In recent years, the climate in Daxia has been abnormal. I heard that all over the country, it is either drought here this year or flood there next year... Our Jianghuai area is actually relatively good."

"You may think, if we are still relatively safe here, then what is the Yangtze River flooding this summer? In fact, the disaster this summer was not that serious. The water was not too big. It just went into the house, flooded some crops, and washed away some things... A real flood would destroy fields and houses wherever it passed, and all livestock would be killed..."

"This..." Fang Chuanhui felt as if he had received a huge shock when he heard it.

"If you don't think about the future, you will have immediate worries. Chuanhui, you are the man of the family. It's time to think about preparing a way out for your parents, elder brother, and younger sister." Fang Lin patted him on the shoulder.

"Brother Linzi is right. I also want to be like Brother Linzi and get out with my family, but I... please give me some advice, Brother Linzi, what should I do?" Fang Chuanhui's little face was full of seriousness, and he looked at Fang Lin for advice.

Birds of a feather flock together. Recently, the brother and sister have listened to Manager Liu's chat and learned some words such as "point out".

However, Fang Lin's focus was not on this, but on: "I am right, these two siblings are really smart. When faced with problems, they act like little adults at such a young age."

"What to do? Calm down, improve yourself as much as possible, and wait for the right time."

He said it more clearly: "Just like you, you are not willing to stay in Xiaohe Village forever. I will not be a clerk in a bookstore forever. I have to do my own thing. However, I have to wait for the right time. But I can tell you for sure that I will have my own business in the future.

Chuanhui, let's not talk nonsense. We are cousins. If we have a choice, our abilities are not too different. I will definitely give priority to our own family... So, what you have to do is to exercise regularly and keep yourself in good health. Also, you can go to Qiao Cunzheng to learn calligraphy. Even if you don't take the imperial examination, knowing how to read is always better than being blind.

In this way, when the opportunity comes, you can seize it and take your family out of Xiaohe Village."

"I understand." Fang Chuanhui listened and nodded vigorously. He didn't say anything else and seemed to be thinking about something.

……

The next day, Bai Feng from the Bai family and Song Liu from the Song family left.

The two families came to collect the bodies of their relatives. There were two people from each family when they came, and when they left, only one person was left in each family, but they brought back two urns of ashes.

All of this is quite dramatic and is a result of fate playing tricks on us.

Uncle Fang Boxian took Fang Chuanhui and Fang Yuyu to stay for a few more days, and then he refused to stay any longer, saying, "It's almost the Great Cold, and after the Great Cold is the Chinese New Year. It will take a long time to get on the road, so we have to set off as soon as possible, otherwise we won't be able to go back before the New Year, and our family will be worried."

To be honest, Fang Lin's family had no choice but to agree. They used their connections to find a reputable caravan, arranged an ox cart, and packed up the gifts for their uncle and his party to take with them.

……

Early this morning.

Fang Lin's family carried various things, such as some specialties from the city, as well as some gifts for Grandpa Fang, Grandma Fang, the second and fourth wives, etc., and helped their uncles Fang Boxian, Fang Chuanhui, and Fang Yuyu to take them, find the caravan, move the things onto the ox cart, and send them out of the city.

"Just send it here, Shuyou, you guys go back, we'll follow the caravan, it'll be fine."

Fang Boxian paused for a moment, then continued, "I have eaten and drunk well these days. I am sorry for the trouble you have taken."

"Brother, what are you talking about?" Father Fang waved his hands.

"Chuanhui, Yuyu, the New Year is coming soon. Consider this New Year's money given to you in advance by Sanniang." Fang's mother stuffed the money into her pocket.

Fang Chuanhui and Fang Yuyu refused to accept it, so Fang Lin and Tian Xuan helped to persuade them and accepted it.

After much refusing and wrangling, the brother and sister finally accepted it after their uncle Fang Boxian nodded.

At the time of parting, everyone felt sad because they knew it would take a long time before they would meet again.

Soon, a shout of "Let's go" came from the front of the caravan, and the ox cart started slowly.

At this moment, the emotion of parting broke out, and all the little things that happened during these days came to mind... Both the one who was leaving and the one who was seeing them off had tears in their eyes.

"We walked!"

"Third Uncle, Third Lady, Sister Xuanxuan, Brother Linzi, goodbye!"

"Goodbye, Brother Linzi, I will remember what you said."

Uncle Fang Boxian, Fang Chuanhui, and Fang Yuyu were waving their hands on the ox cart.

"Be careful on the road!"

"Wait until you get to the village and write me a reply!"

Fang Lin's family also shouted and waved, watching them leave. Fang's mother, who was relatively more emotional, blinked her eyes, and her eyes were a little moist.

"Once you leave, I don't know when we'll see each other again," said Fang's mother.

"Yeah!" Father Fang sighed, also in a bad mood.

Tian Xuan also said: "It takes 10 to 20 days to get here from Xiaohe Village, and it takes more than a month to go back and forth... It's so far, it's not easy to see it."

'In this era, the traffic is slow, it is always like this, it is hard to meet and hard to leave.'

Fang Lin thought to himself and comforted them: "Dad, Mom, Sister Xuan, let's live our own lives well. We will meet again one day. Who knows when we will meet unexpectedly!"

The family members, either supporting each other or holding hands, looked into the distance. A newborn sun rose, emitting thousands of rays of light. By the sparkling river, the ox cart following the caravan and carrying my uncle and his party slowly went away and disappeared among the mountains and rivers.

……

　That’s all for today. I’ll sort out the rest of the story.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)