Chapter 89

Since Wei Zhixian was just being pretentious, Wang Xian didn’t take it to heart. He had more important things to do—his parents would be leaving for Hangzhou with Yinxing in two days.

Since the New Year, his father had been busy socializing with officials and gentry. It wasn’t until the 18th of the first lunar month that he started preparing gifts and packing, which was a mess. He only finished packing on the morning of the 20th.

Wang Xian had taken the day off to send his parents to Hangzhou. He couldn’t not go; the house was full of boxes and baskets that his mother wanted to take to Hangzhou. Not only did he and his brother have to go, but they also needed to find a few people to help carry everything.

Wang Gui had planned to hire a few laborers from the street, but his father kicked him and scolded, "Are you trying to embarrass me? With his current status, do we need to spend money hiring people?"

Wang Xian, who had the same idea as Wang Gui, could only say helplessly, "Yes, Qin Shou, Shuai Hui, and a few others will be here soon." Then he said to his mother, "But Mom, do you really need to bring the chamber pot...?"

"You poor, newly rich brat, don’t you know that old things are worth a fortune?" His mother glared at him. "Since there are people helping us move, it will save us from buying a new one in Hangzhou."

"Buying a new one would be much more comfortable," Wang Xian said with a bitter smile.

"Wait until you really have money," his mother sighed. "With the family split into three, the expenses will be huge. Your father’s job is uncertain, and your brother’s business isn’t making money yet. It would be good if you don’t have to support us..."

"Are you saying that to make me feel guilty?" His father, feeling belittled by his wife, retorted, "It’s just that he can’t go to the bathroom with a different chamber pot..."

"Ah..." The children suddenly understood, and his mother, embarrassed and angry, said, "What are you laughing at? It’s an old problem from giving birth to you brats!"

Her words stunned everyone. She felt secretly pleased; this trick always worked, attributing everything to old problems...

Just after the hour of the Rabbit, Qin Shou, Shuai Hui, and Liu Erhei arrived with a few able-bodied men. They began moving things under the direction of his mother.

"Be careful, handle with care. You, don’t drop anything!"

As the carts were loaded and the house gradually emptied, his mother couldn’t help but curse, "It feels like we’re being raided!"

"Shush!" His father angrily said, "I’m going to take up my post, be more auspicious!"

"You’re so particular..." His mother had another line, "But at least you won’t have to work in the salt fields anymore," but she didn’t say it.

Slowly closing the gate, his mother bid farewell to the humble home that represented the hardest times of the Wang family. Tears couldn’t help but slide down her cheeks...

When she turned around, she saw the neighbors standing in the alley, having sent gifts a few days ago... The eight large carts carrying their luggage were mostly filled with gifts from the neighbors and colleagues... But they still held baskets with snacks for the journey.

While whispering farewells, the neighbors escorted his mother out of the alley. People on the street waved and said goodbye:

"Oh, Wang Gui’s mother, we’re already going to miss you..."

"Yes, sister, without you, I won’t have anyone to haggle with, and I won’t enjoy making money..."

"Don’t go, we can’t sleep well without hearing you scold us." Someone even wiped tears, "What’s so good about Hangzhou? Do they have neighbors who are used to being scolded by you?"

His mother was deeply moved and nodded to everyone, "Since you all are so reluctant to let me go, I won’t leave!"

"Don’t, don’t!" The neighbors panicked and quickly changed their tune, "The provincial capital is better, our small town can’t compare." "People should aim high, we can’t hold you back!" "Yes, the people of Hangzhou need you to teach them a lesson!" "We’ll miss you, we can visit you, it’s not far..."

"Flattery," his mother huffed, "I know you all can’t wait for me to leave!"

"No, no," the neighbors hurriedly tried to explain, but no matter how they tried, they couldn’t explain the complex feelings of both reluctance and relief...

"Enough, don’t say anymore." Seeing the dock, his mother waved to everyone, "I’ve been bullying you, so I’ll go and bully the provincial capital, and you’ll be free!" Then she added, "But don’t be too happy, if I don’t like it in Hangzhou, I’ll come back!"

"How could that be? Heaven above, Suzhou and Hangzhou below, once you go, you won’t want to come back..." Everyone laughed.

"My children are still in Fuyang, and my daughter-in-law will have a baby, will you take care of her?" His mother said coldly.

"You’re a terrible mother-in-law, your daughter-in-law is pregnant, and you’re not taking care of her..." Everyone laughed and teased, and the sadness of parting was quickly washed away by the banter. This was the kind of atmosphere his mother was used to; sentimental feelings couldn’t survive in her world.

At the dock, the crowd was clearly divided. Those in decent robes and square caps were there to see off his father; those in simple clothes and felt hats were there to see off his mother, and there were more than ten times as many of the latter...

This puzzled Yinxing, "Why do they all come to see her off even though she bullies them all day?"

"Mom has good relationships..." Wang Gui said proudly.

"Nonsense..." This answer clearly didn’t satisfy Yinxing, so she turned to Wang Xian.

"Even though they hate her, they respect her," Wang Xian said softly.

"But if they hate her, how can they respect her?" Yinxing was confused.

"It’s not contradictory. Mom is sharp-tongued and likes to take advantage, so the neighbors naturally hate her," Wang Xian looked at his mother, who was surrounded, laughing and talking, and explained to his sister, "But when our family faced a disaster, she single-handedly supported us until the clouds cleared. The neighbors saw how much she suffered and endured. The harder life is, the more people appreciate such resilience. It’s not strange that they respect her from the bottom of their hearts."

"Ah..." Yinxing nodded, seemingly understanding. "I think Mom is the most amazing."

"Yes," Wang Gui nodded. "Mom is the best mother in the world!"

"Ha ha..." Wang Xian smiled and nodded, but in his heart, he rolled his eyes. She was also the most frugal mother, taking all the money from home, making it hard for him and Lin to live.

In the afternoon, the boat arrived in Hangzhou. Qin Shou hired a large cart and helped unload the luggage, transporting it to the house his father had rented last year.

Hangzhou, the ancient capital of the Southern Song Dynasty, still exuded grandeur despite the passage of three dynasties, making the country bumpkins from the county feel out of place and somewhat ashamed...

Fortunately, his parents were not ordinary people. Even if they were nervous, they didn’t show it. The convoy passed through the streets and alleys, arriving at Qinghefang Taipingli. Wang Xian was about to turn into the alley when he suddenly heard a surprised call, "Brother Zhongde!"

Following the voice, he heard Yinxing laugh happily, "Oh, it’s you, your face healed so quickly!"

He saw Yu Qian, holding a book, walking over with a smile. Hearing Yinxing’s words, his face turned red, and he nodded, "Thank you, your method was very effective."

"Of course," Yinxing said proudly.

"Cough, cough..." Wang Xian coughed to draw Yu Qian’s attention, "It’s really a coincidence, we meet again."

"Yes, it’s a coincidence," Yu Qian saw the cart full of luggage and a chamber pot and asked in surprise, "Brother Zhongde, are you moving to Hangzhou to settle down?"

"My parents are moving, but I’m not," Wang Xian smiled.

Yu Qian then realized that the couple on the cart were Wang Xian and Yinxing’s parents and quickly bowed respectfully.

Wang Xingye, being in the provincial capital, was more restrained, at least not sitting on the cart and picking his feet, and smiled as he greeted the young scholar.

Yu Qian accompanied them into the alley. Coincidentally, the Yu family also lived in Taipingli. The house Wang Xingye had rented belonged to Yu Qian’s second uncle.

Hearing this, Wang Xingye couldn’t help but feel a bit depressed and exchanged a glance with his wife, both seeing the same thought in each other’s eyes—how nice it would have been to know this young man earlier, they could have saved a lot of money.

Yu Qian was initially disappointed to hear that Wang Xian was going back, but when he learned that Yinxing would be staying in Hangzhou, he felt ten times happier. He didn’t know why he was so happy, but he was.

Seeing his expression, Wang Xian couldn’t help but think, they were at the age of early love, he didn’t want them to end up together. He admired national heroes, but he didn’t want his sister to marry one. He remembered that in history, Yu Qian’s wife was exiled to Shanhaiguan and even cried herself blind. He didn’t want his sister to play that role.

Thinking about it, he couldn’t help but laugh. Wasn’t he thinking too far ahead? The two kids were still innocent, and he was already thinking decades ahead...

Indeed, every brother is the enemy of his sister’s husband, and this saying was true.

Entering the house, Wang Xian found that his father really knew how to enjoy himself. The house was much grander than their old home in Fuyang, a three-courtyard, two-story quadrangle with a high horse-head wall and blue tiles, giving it a grand appearance.

"Can’t help it," his father explained a bit embarrassedly, "Now that I’m an official, I have to maintain a certain image, even if it means putting on a show..."

"It’s fine, it’s understandable..." Wang Xian wiped his sweat, finally understanding why his mother had brought everything to Hangzhou. Now that his father was an official, his wife and daughter couldn’t do household chores or carry the chamber pot. They would need servants, and that would be an expense.

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