Master Uncle Cheng was slightly taken aback and imdiately asked in surprise, "What happened? Is anything wrong?"
"We have to leave early tomorrow morning, by the orders of the County Magistrate, to go to Lin County to assist in the prevention and control of the smallpox outbreak."
Su Pan’er and Qin Yi glanced at each other, told him about the situation one more ti: "...Therefore, this trip may take us at least one or two months, or as long as a year and a half before we can return. In the anti, if there are any news from the Su Family, we ask Master Uncle Cheng to kindly keep us inford!"
"Don’t worry, I’ve got this handled."
Master Uncle Cheng patted his chest to assure them.
After a day of bumping along, they bid farewell to Master Uncle Cheng and Su Pan’er and the others headed straight ho.
The sky was completely dark, both of them were exhausted, and could hardly wait to return ho and rest.
Just as they climbed halfway up the slope and rounded a bend in the mountain, they saw a few dark shadows moving ahead.
Su Pan’er squinted to look closer, then exclaid in shock, "Father, mother, how did you..."
The two people who were peeping over a small mound were startled!
They turned around and saw it was Su Pan’er and Qin Yi, and finally sighed with relief, "Pan’er, you, you’re back..."
Su Lao Si was hesitant, unable to put his words together.
On the other hand, Mrs. Su-Hua suddenly started crying, rushing up and embracing Su Pan’er, "Pan’er, oh Pan’er! Don’t bla your mother for being heartless, it’s just that I worry about you... woo woo... "
"Mother, don’t cry! I know, I know all about it. Mother, I really don’t bla you, please don’t cry..."
Su Pan’er’s eyes burned, and her heart turned sour.
She patted Mrs. Su-Hua’s back, choking back sobs.
Her attempts at consolation didn’t calm Mrs. Su-Hua down, but rather, made her cry even harder!
"My dear Pan’er, your mother can’t bear to part with you, you are my life, my heart, how could your mother push you away...woo woo..."
"Mother, I understand, I understand..."
As her mother broke down crying, the tears that Su Pan’er had been holding back could no longer be kept from spilling down her cheeks.
Yet she gritted her teeth, looked up at the sky, attempting to hold back her tears.
Quickly, Qin Yi greeted Su Lao Si.
"We all know that you guys are leaving for Lin County first thing tomorrow."
Wiping his tears, Su Lao Si busily pulled out item after item from the sack, his voice in tatters as he spoke.
"Your mother has been busy making a few sets of autumn and winter clothes for you. Take them with you! We don’t know how long you’ll be gone. Take everything you can and don’t leave anything behind."
"Here are two large water bags, these are essential for long journeys. Your mother boiled them with hot water, and I brought them for you."
"And here are so cooled cooked rice and millet. It’s cooked rice that’s been dried and ground. It’s easy to store and can be used in case of ergency on the road. Take it with you!"
"And here is a small toy that Ke’er made for you. The poor child was kept by his grandfather and couldn’t co. He was crying so hard..."
His voice choked with emotion.
He sighed deeply, and then fumbled around in his arms. "And here is so silver, it’s all we have at ho. Take it with you. It never hurts to bring more on the road." Saying this, he stuffed the silver into Qin Yi’s arms.
Indeed, as the saying goes, when a child travels a thousand miles, their mother worries.
"Father-in-law, you shouldn’t...."
Qin Yi was openly refusing, "We have silver on us. This trip is for the service of the governnt office. Not only do we have silver, but all our expenses on the road will be covered by the governnt office. You need not worry about us being hungry, cold, or cold along the way."
"That’s good, that’s good!"
Su Lao Si was significantly happier, but he still insisted on giving the items, "Take them with you! They’re of no use left here at ho. Who knows when the governnt office may co to search the Su’s house and these things will end up being confiscated without reason. You guys keep them! Ah!"
These words made Qin Yi grit his teeth!
"Alright! Father-in-law, we’ll take this silver and keep it safe for you. When we return, we’ll make sure to personally hand it back to you."
"Once I give it to you, it’s yours. Don’t debate it."
Seeing that Qin Yi had accepted, a look of joy appeared on Su Lao Si’s face, "We’ll be on the road again tomorrow, you two should go back and rest earlier. Your mother-in-law and I should head back as well, lest we get into trouble if soone spots us. Pan’er, mom!"
With that, he turned around to call Mrs. Su-Hua.
Mrs. Su-Hua, holding Su Pan’er in a crying and admonishing manner, responded, wiped her tears.
She finally let go of Su Pan’er, but held her hand unwilling to let go, "Pan’er, you have to be more cautious. It’s not the sa outside as it is at ho. Mother already told you what to say, rember, in front of strangers, ’Only say three points of a conversation, don’t reveal all of your heart’, understand?"
"I know, mother!"
Su Pan’er’s voice was heavy with nasal tone.
"Alright, alright! The children are tired of hearing it. You really do like to dawdle. Let’s get going quickly."
Su Lao Si hurried them, "Go fast. If those gossiping won see us, who knows what drama they’ll create, it won’t be good for the children. You can’t afford to be confused at this crucial ti. They maybe returning soon....."
He kept talking without stopping, turning back to Su Pan’er reminding her over and over for a long ti, which irritated Mrs. Su-Hua causing her to glare at him continuously. Finally, with great reluctance, the two of them turned around and headed back ho.
The gradually fading conversation drifted back, "You say that I talk too much, I think you, being a man, talk more than I, a woman, do. I only said a few words to Pan’er, but you, you talked a whole wicker basket full..."
Su Pan’er and Qin Yi looked at each other, couldn’t help but laugh through their tears, and shook their heads as they walked back ho, hand in hand.
The stars shifted.
The sumr sun had just leapt over the horizon, but already it seed ready to scorch the earth.
It wasn’t yet light outside, but Su Pan’er and Qin Yi had already boarded the carriage towards Changze County.
Accompanying the pair was not only Jun Ruochen, who they had sohow persuaded, but also Jun Ruoxue, who was also with them. There were also two doctors from the Hundred Ease Hall, one of whom unexpectedly was Cao Yan, who they had previously t.
Seeing the two of them, Cao Yan greeted them with a smile on his face, "Upon hearing Doctor Su was heading to Lin County, I volunteered to accompany you. I hope Doctor Su does not mind teaching , so that we can discuss dicine together again."
"Doctor Cao is too humble, we will discuss together and make progress together."
After chatting about random things for a while, the caravan for Lin County gradually started to assemble.
Apart from them, there were also a team of governnt soldiers escorting them and their supplies. The lead was Inspector Liu.
Inspector Liu was squinting and smiling, repeatedly bowing and saluting everyone. However, a flash passed quickly from the corners of his eyes.
Su Pan’er rembered clearly, the first ti she saw Inspector Liu, he was walking with Uncle Hu. Although he never showed any hostility, Su Pan’er didn’t dare to easily trust this man.
Everyone bid farewell to Magistrate Cao and Jun Ruochen, among others, amid much laughter and chatter.
Jun Ruochen, the overprotected brother, played the role of the eighteen relatives sending off their all to perfection, looking as if he wished to hide Jun Ruoxue away. Despite severe protests from Jun Ruoxue and after much delay, everyone finally said their reluctant goodbyes.
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