CH 98.2

When Shao Yunan brought Jiang Moxi to the main hall, Elder Cen, Madam Cen, and Kang Rui were already ready to go. Jiang Kangning had specially sent someone to pick them up. This time shopkeeper Zeng will also go to the capital with them. Shao Yunan wrote a letter to Eunuch An and Jiang Kangchen respectively, saying that they are going to open a jewelry store in the capital and needed Eunuch An and Jiang Kangchen to help them prepare for it. 

Shopkeeper Zeng has a small piece of jadeite stone given to him by Shao Yunan and a booklet of jewelry with new styles. After the new rules of the imperial examination in April are announced, a batch of four-season pendants in the hands of shopkeeper Zeng could be sold under the new storefront.

Wang Shijing was going to send them off. The capital was still a bit cold, so the wealthy Shao Yunan made a luxurious mink coat for his parents and Senior Brother. Taking the three children with him to send them off, Shao Yunan whispered to Elder Cen before he went into the cart, “Father when you see Brother Jiang, tell him that Moxi has started to react to the outside world and he even put  on his own clothes and shoes by himself.”

Elder Cen became startled and looked at Jiang Moxi, who was standing with Wang Qing and Wang Nizi, not playing with the Rubik’s Cube, but looking at them. He lowered his voice and asked: “When did this happen?”

“Just this morning. At this rate, I think it’s only a matter of time before Moxi recovers, please tell it, brother Jiang.” As he was about to leave, it was inconvenient for Elder Cen to ask more questions, so he just nodded and said: “Yes, with you and Shijing here, I believe he will recover. Yunan, I don’t know when I will return from this trip, so you and Shijing should pay more attention and go to your big brother if you need anything.”

“Father, don’t worry, Shijing and I will take care of ourselves and the family. If you run out of anything, just write to me and I will send them to you. You, Mother, and Senior Brother should not wrong yourself when you are in the capital.” Elder Cen smiled, scratched Shao Yunan’s nose and got into the carriage. “It’s cold, go inside.” Elder Cen smiled, scratched Shao Yunan’s nose, and got into the carriage.

“It’s cold, go inside.” After Shao Yunan and the children went into the house, Wang Shijing also got into the carriage, wanting to send the three of them to the pier. There were seven carriages in total, two filled with people and 5 with things they were taking to the capital. 

Shao Yunan was not short of money now, so he naturally wanted to prepare as much as possible for the two old people. When the carriage was already far away, Shao Yunan turned back. “Go into the house. Qing, after eating, you should go to the academy. Moxi, you can accompany Nizi to practice the zither after the meal and help uncle to take care of Nizi, since I have something to do.”

Jiang Moxi reacted to Shao Yunan’s words again, nodding slightly and his right hand which was not holding the Rubik’s Cube, directly held Nizi’s hand. Nizi also held his hand tightly and said: “Brother Moxi, let’s go to eat.”

Jiang Moxi gave another faint nod and pulled Nizi away. Shao Yunan smiled, while Wang Qing looked at his big brother, looked at Nizi, and then looked at his Little Father and said, “Little Father?” Shao Yunan stepped forward and pulled Wang Qing into the room. “Your elder brother’s body is gradually recovering, so Little Father is very happy.”

“Huh?!” Wang Qing was surprised. Shao Yunan said, “Your big brother is starting to react to the outside world and the number of reactions is increasing, that’s recovery. Qing, you and your big brother live together, so you should try to talk to him more.” Since his Little Father was so happy, Wang Qing naturally nodded hard. “I will! From now on after I come back, I will tell big brother what I have learned at the academy.”

“Good.” Looking back, Shao Yunan thought to himself: ‘Everyone will get better and better, right?’

The carriage traveled for more than two hours before arriving at the pier. Jiang Kangning was already waiting at the pier. He knew what Elder Cen and Kang Rui were going to the capital for, so Jiang Kangning asked Elder Cen to help him bring a letter to his adopted father, as well as some things he had prepared for his father. 

In order to make Elder Cen comfortable, Wang Shijing specially rented a relatively luxurious boat. After they boarded the boat, Wang Shijing took out a small box from the cart and handed it to Madam Cen. “Mother, when you and father arrive at the capital, you shouldn’t wrong yourself.”

Madam Cen had already guessed what was in the box, so she pushed it back to Wang Shijing. “Your brother and sister are in the capital. Father and mother will not be aggrieved.” Wang Shijing pushed it back again. “Brother and sister are brother and sister. This is Yunan and mine’s filial piety. It’s rare for you to go to the capital, so you should buy whatever you like.”

Madam Cen, hearing Wang Shijing say so, smiled and finally accepted it. “Mother will enjoy your and Yunan’s blessings.” Elder Cen did not express his opinion on this. Shao Yunan and Wang Shijing acted as if they were their real parents, so why would he need to say more? Then Wang Shijing went into the cabin to see if there was anything wrong. After checking, he just got off the boat.

At the bow of the ship, Elder Cen shouted, “Shijing you have to take good care of Yunan and the children. As for father and mother, you don’t have to worry about us.”

“Father and mother don’t worry. Stay in the capital with Big Brother for a while. You don’t need to rush back.”

“Good.” Elder Cen waved. Madam Cen and Kang Rui also waved, as the boat sailed away. Wang Shijing was ready to return home after watching the boat sail away. Then Jiang Kangning beside him said: “Wang Tianyan and his wife should have gone back yesterday. His wife’s maternal family spent 70 taels of silver to redeem them, which this elder brother gave to those under his command to eat and drink.”

“I heard it from Yunan.”

“They didn’t bother you, did they?”

“They didn’t dare.” The two talked as they walked, neither of them getting into the carriage.

On the boat, Madam Cen opened the box and exclaimed, making Elder Cen and Kang Rui look over and see four gold ingots and a coarse cloth bag in the box. Madam Cen put down the box and picked up the bag, which was heavy. She opened the bag, and inside were two gold ingots and a piece of paper. Madam Cen took out the paper and handed it to her husband. Elder Cen opened it and laughed, while Kang Rui was a little surprised and ‘annoyed.’

“Father and mother.

Please give this bag of money to my brother. If Shijing gave it directly to brother, brother would certainly not accept it. You will have a lot of places to spend money in the capital and since our family is not short of money, you can spend it at ease.

Brother, there are three boxes of your things, including boxes of specialties prepared by me and Shijing. You should give some to Lord Taishan. It’s been so long since you’ve been here, so you can’t be too shabby.”

Elder Cen picked up the bag of money and stuffed it into Kang Rui’s arms. “Take i., It’s Yunan and Shijing’s appreciation. They are treating you like family.” Kang Rui was unwilling. “However, I am also an elder brother… how could I ask them for money?”

Elder Cen… “Just take it. Just like Yunan said, you rarely go to the capital, so you can’t be shabby.” Kang Rui silently clenched the money bag. He earned quite a bit of money a month while at White Moon Academy, but in the capital everything was more expensive. Even the richest person from Yongxiu County could only buy a little after coming to the capital.

Each ingot of gold was worth around 50 teals. Elder Cen’s side received 200 teals of gold, which was 2000 taels of silver, while Kang Rui received 100 taels of gold. For this trip, not counting the things Shao Yunan prepared for them alike, the various things and outfits Shao Yunan prepared for them cost 3000 taels of silver alone. Elder Cen and Kang Rui didn’t know how much money Shao Yunan had, but 300 taels of gold was definitely not a small sum. Elder Cen closed the lid of the box and said with a slight smile, “This kid must be afraid that I would get wronged in the capital.”

Kang Rui pursed his lips, took a deep breath, stood up, and said, “I’ll go outside to get some air.”

“Okay.” After Elder Cen watched Kang Rui go out, he said to his wife, “Kang Rui is no longer alone.” Madam Cen smiled and said, “Yes Yunan, Shijing, Moxi, Qing, and Nizi will all be his family from now on.”

Shao Yunan has never felt bad about spending money. This time when the three of them went to the capital, he almost spent all the cash at home. But he was in no hurry. Soon the new tea will come down and the goat’s milk wine in the space will also be brewed. Then he just needed to wait for the construction of the auction house and store to be opened in cooperation with Wei Hongwen. He had various ways to make money.

Wang Shijing didn’t come back for lunch at noon. After sending everyone off, he was busy collecting tea, so he wouldn’t be back until the evening. Shao Yunan was going to make ten jars of kimchi, ten jars of barbecue sauce, and ten boxes of barbecue seasoning. For this reason, he asked Zhao He to help him to collect almost all kinds of pastes that could be collected. 

He also went to a county town and bought a lot. He ground the barbecue seasoning into fine powder to avoid others seeing the ingredients. As for other things, Shao Yunan and Guo Zimu worked together on these things. He didn’t intend to let the family servants help with his recipes for the time being. He still had to observe them for a while to see their character before considering whether he would let them intervene.

At noon, Shao Yunan made simple sauce noodles and Jiang Moxi ate two big bowls, with a very good appetite. After dinner, Shao Yunan let Jiang Moxi and Nizi take a nap. He also told Nizi to go for a walk in the backyard after sleeping and feed the chickens and ducks.

Back in her room, Nizi took off her shoes, lay down on the bed, then asked the person who was also lowering his head to take off his shoes. “Brother Moxi, let’s take a nap and then see the rabbit that Dad brought back, okay?” Jiang Moxi stopped taking off his shoes and turned his head to look at Nizi. While Nizi just said again, “I want to see the rabbit.”

Jiang Moxi nodded, then turned around and continued to take off his shoes. After taking off his shoes, he climbed into the bed, lifted Nizi’s blanket, and got in. No one in the family had taught Nizi that man and a woman that were not related should not be too intimate with each other.’ While Shao Yunan, who was a modern person, was even less aware that even a child should avoid suspicion. Nizi watched Jiang Moxi lie down with a smile and then closed her eyes. Jiang Moxi turned over, faced Nizi, held her hand, and then also closed his eyes. The two children fell asleep quickly, with carefree expressions.