Chapter 144 Trip 2

Xie Sangning bowed to the Lin family members who had gathered around her, saying, "I'm late, I'm sorry to have kept you all waiting."

Lin Zhu smiled and waved his hand: "Not late at all, we just arrived a little while ago. But you, have you arranged everything?"

"Great-grandfather, rest assured, everything has been arranged."

Lin Zhu pulled Lin Ruhai over and then called over Lin Ruhai's wife, Zhao, his maternal aunt, and several children.

“Sang Ning, this is your maternal uncle’s family. It’s been ten years since we last met. They just happened to miss you when you returned to the capital, as they weren’t in the capital.”

Xie Sangning smiled and greeted everyone. Her uncle and aunt presented her with gifts, and her peers looked at her with curiosity and admiration.

Although they had never met their aunt's daughter, they had heard rumors about her and in their eyes, Xie Sangning was a goddess!

After greeting everyone, Xie Sangning's gaze swept over the convoy brought by the Lin family.

As she had expected, the Lin family was always frugal, and they didn't have many carriages in their mansion. Of the seven or eight carriages in front of her, several were obviously rented from a carriage company on short notice, and they were all different styles.

She smiled slightly, then suddenly raised her hands and clapped them gently twice.

The crisp sound of clapping had just faded when a series of dense yet orderly hoofbeats suddenly rang out from the woods beside the official road!

To the astonishment of the Lin family, a long line of carriages emerged orderly from the forest path and came to a steady stop in front of them.

This train of carriages has a total of fifteen carriages!

All of them are thick and sturdy, with bamboo curtains hanging on the windows. Although not luxurious, they are well-made.

The horses pulling the carts were all plump, strong, and tall with glossy coats, clearly possessing impressive stamina.

Where did this convoy come from?!

All the members of the Lin family, including Old Master Lin, were dumbfounded.

Xie Sangning then explained, "The journey to Xihan is long and arduous, with high mountains and long rivers. We are going there to relax and unwind, not to suffer. That's why I had people speed up the work and modify these carriages."

She pointed to the new cars, "The wheels of these cars have been specially treated with added shock absorbers, and the floor of the car is also padded with cork and thick fleece, so the ride won't be too bumpy and the ride will be more comfortable. Each car is equipped with soft cushions, thin blankets, clean water, snacks and fruits, as well as some newly published storybooks and travelogues to keep you entertained on the road."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the rented carriages and drivers, and continued, "Let the drivers and rented carriages of the manor go back first. I've assigned experienced drivers to these carriages; they know the roads well and can look after each other. What do you think, Great-Grandfather?"

The Lin family members then suddenly realized what was going on!

It turns out that Xie Sangning had been thinking about and preparing so much for them all without saying a word!

They even thought of books and snacks to keep them entertained on the road! How much thought and money must have gone into that?

A warm feeling welled up in my heart.

The eyes of both aunts even felt slightly warm.

They knew Xie Sangning was wealthy, but they never imagined she would spend so much on them and be so thoughtful and considerate.

This sentiment is far more touching than any amount of money.

Aunt Zhao's voice choked with emotion: "Sang Ning... this... this is too much of a waste! We... we can squeeze in, or rent a few nicer cars, why did you have to go to such lengths..."

Xie Sangning simply smiled faintly, her tone leaving no room for refusal: "We're all family, no need for formalities. Since it was my suggestion to go, I naturally want everyone to have a comfortable and enjoyable trip. This arrangement is nothing. Everyone, please get in the car."

Her actions were not a sudden transformation into a considerate and philanthropic person because of her great-grandfather Lin Zhu's words.

Instead, it was after returning home that day, when she sat alone under the lamp planning her itinerary, that her gaze swept over the names of the women in the Lin family on the list—her maternal grandmother, her eldest aunt, her second aunt, and several unmarried female cousins...

She suddenly realized how difficult it was for a woman to travel far from home in this world, especially in the capital city with its many rules.

Although the laws of Daqing do not explicitly prohibit women from going out, everyone understands this unspoken rule.

Women should stay at home, supporting their husbands and raising their children.

Showing one's face in public or traveling far away for leisure is immoral and will attract criticism.

Even she, with the title of county princess, needed a sufficiently legitimate reason—to inspect her own fiefdom—to silence public criticism.

For the women of the Lin family, this opportunity to go out with the whole family under the pretext of accompanying her on an inspection tour of her fiefdom was a rare one.

Whether they will ever have the chance to leave Jinling City again and see the world after this is unknown.

Since this is a rare opportunity, why not make their journey more comfortable and memorable?

She hoped they could enjoy the journey without feeling uncomfortable, rather than enduring the bumpy ride in the carriage, worrying about the hardships of the journey, or causing trouble for others.

This comfort is something she can do and is willing to provide.

As Old Master Lin watched all this, a look of understanding and even greater satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

He waved his hand and said in a loud voice, "Alright, alright, let's all listen to Sang Ning's arrangements! She's just trying to be nice, so let's accept it! Stop standing there, pick your favorite cars, get in, and let's go!"

The old man made the final decision, and everyone snapped out of their shock and emotion, their faces beaming with joy and anticipation as they headed toward the incredibly comfortable-looking carriages.

The children cheered and rushed over first, touching the smooth carriage, patting the magnificent horses, and curiously examining the snacks and storybooks prepared inside.

The women, supported by their maids, carefully boarded the carriage.

As soon as you step inside, you feel the thick, soft cushions, and see the delicate snacks and new books exuding the fragrance of ink on the small table inside the car. You can't help but smile with surprise. The slight apprehension you felt about the long journey was instantly replaced by this meticulous care.

The drivers were well-trained and helped with the luggage and guided everyone onto the vehicle; everything was in good order.

Lin Ziyuan had long forgotten the slight grievance of being "patted on the head" and excitedly pulled his younger sister Wan Tang into Lin Zhu's car.

Lin Wantang's face also turned red. Looking at everything prepared in the car, her admiration for her cousin deepened even further.

Looking at the genuine smiles on the faces of the Lin family members, Xie Sangning felt the slight irritation caused by her busy schedule dissipate.

With a shout from the driver, the massive caravan slowly started moving, heading west along the wide official road, towards the mysterious Western Cold.

Sunlight streamed into the carriages, where laughter and chatter filled the air. Children eagerly flipped through storybooks and savored snacks; the women relaxed on cushions, enjoying this rare moment of tranquility; and Old Master Lin sat in the most spacious carriage, listening to the laughter of his children and grandchildren with a satisfied smile on his face.

With wheels rolling, the massive convoy finally embarked on its journey.