"Alright, let's count the days. Grandmother will be returning to the palace soon. We need to catch up with her and go back together."

"We absolutely must not let Father Emperor find out anything."

"Otherwise, if Father and Mother find out, I'll surely get another beating."

Yun Yishu scratched his head in distress.

"Before I leave, I will secretly leave some silver as a token of my gratitude to Ziwan's family."

"Yes, Third Brother is right. Sister Ziwan's family is very kind."

...

The next morning, sunlight streamed into the room through the window. Listening to the chirping of insects and birds outside, Yun Duoduo slowly opened her eyes, smelled the rich aroma of steamed buns wafting in, and took a deep breath.

Ah Xiang brought over a basin of hot water, with a white handkerchief draped over the dark yellow copper basin. "Here, I've prepared some hot water. Wash your face."

Yun Duoduo sat up, and Shi Tou walked to Yun Duoduo's bedside and sat down. He washed his handkerchief with warm water from the basin and wiped Yun Duoduo's face.

"It smells so good outside!"

"When I went into the yard, I saw my aunt making steamed buns, all piping hot."

Ah Xiang handed the cup to Yun Duoduo, and after Yun Duoduo rinsed her mouth, she handed the cup back to Ah Xiang.

Ah Xiang picked out a pale white long dress from the bundle and helped Yun Duoduo change into it, and put a pearl flower in her hair.

Yun Duoduo looked at herself in the bronze mirror. She looked very gentle and graceful, which perfectly matched the feeling of Jiangnan with its small bridges and flowing water.

...

Upon arriving at the front hall, the group was already seated at the dining table. Ziwan's mother brought out steaming hot steamed buns, "botuo" (a type of noodle soup) with floating green vegetable leaves, fragrant sesame porridge, and several dishes of pickled vegetables.

"Come, come, sit down and try my steamed buns."

Ziwan's mother greeted Yun Duoduo and A Xiang, who had just come in, and asked them to sit down beside her.

Yun Duoduo thanked Ziwan's mother, picked up the bowl, drank a few mouthfuls of the fragrant sesame porridge, wiped her hands, and picked up a steamed cake to chew on.

"I was planning to keep you here for a few more days."

Ziwan's mother looked somewhat uneasy, perhaps because she was reluctant to see her children leave her again.

“However, Ziwan’s father and I also know that you are both busy.”

"You have your own things to do."

"I won't keep you any longer. In the future, whenever you come to Shengze, please come and visit me at my home."

"Don't worry, Mother, I will write back often."

Liao Ziwan stood up and hugged her mother.

"Oh, right, take these dry rations and biscuits with you on the road."

Liao Ziwan's mother patted her hand, turned around and took out some dry food and several water bottles.

As they were talking, Shi Tou went to buy a basket of fresh fruits and vegetables, sent the servant from the grain and oil shop to deliver two bags of white rice and a bundle of corn to the Liao family, and bought two cans of fine Biluochun tea from a tea shop near the district.

"Uncle and Aunt, we apologize for disturbing you. These are just a small token of our appreciation."

Yun Yishu smiled and thanked Ziwan's parents.

"There are two jars of Biluochun tea. I know you helped us inquire about raw silk, and we need to take care of social obligations. Thank you, Uncle and Aunt."

"Oh, you're too kind. You're all Ziwan's friends, how could we possibly accept such a thing?"

Ziwan's mother declined.

"Auntie, it's only right, please accept it!"

"Oh, thank you then."

Everyone thanked Ziwan's mother and marveled at the delicious food.

After lunch, the group packed their luggage, took the dry food and water bottle prepared by Ziwan's mother, said goodbye, and prepared to leave.

"Write to me often once you arrive in the capital!"

With tears in her eyes, Ziwan's mother hugged her.

"Don't worry, Mother, my brother and I are doing well in the capital, and you and Father are doing well too."

Ziwan hugged her mother and patted her back.

“When your silk shops in the capital are about to open, write to me and I will send you the silk and fabrics you need.”

Liao Yutian said, puffing on his pipe and exhaling.

"Okay, thank you, Uncle."

Chu Dunshi bowed to Liao Ziwan's father.

"Let go, old woman, the children should go too. They'll be delayed on the road for quite a while."

Liao Yutian tugged at his wife's arm, and Ziwan's mother released her grip on Ziwan.

"Uncle and Aunt, we're leaving!"

The group greeted the elderly couple as they lifted the curtain and boarded the carriage.

"Hey, hey, good boy, drive carefully!"

Ziwan's parents watched the group leave from the doorway until they disappeared from sight.

...

The horse-drawn carriage traveled along the country roads of Shengze, the road surface was not smooth, and it swayed and bumped all the way.

Having eaten too much at lunch, Yun Duoduo put two motion sickness patches on the back of her head. Seeing that Shi Tou and Yun Yishu, who couldn't swim, looked like they were about to vomit, she took advantage of their inattention and put two motion sickness patches behind their ears as well.

She sat in the carriage and soon fell asleep.

After traveling for most of the day, passing through the narrow paths of Shengze and the bumpy mountain roads, the carriage stopped in a bamboo forest.

The group decided to rest on the spot and let the horses rest for a while as well.

Yun Duoduo woke up when she felt the carriage stop.

"Let's get off the bus and rest for a while, stretch our legs."

The guards went to tie up the horses, and Ah Xiang helped Yun Duoduo down from the carriage.

"Here, have some water."

Ah Xiang handed the water bottle to Yun Duoduo.

“There are lots of fruits over there, let’s go pick some!” Liao Ziwan pointed to the trees deep inside.

The coachman and Stone stayed behind to guard the carriage, while the rest of the people went to pick fruit.

Passing through the bamboo forest, Yun Duoduo saw a patch of wild fruit trees.

The persimmon trees with their large, thick leaves are laden with bright red, round fruits, while the lush orange trees are covered with golden oranges, and in the distance, the short jujube trees are laden with crisp, red and green dates.

It seems that there used to be some farmers here, with lush green grapevines climbing on the artificial supports, and bunches of large, dark blue-black autumn grapes scattered on the vines.

Although there are many fruit trees in the orchard, there are not many fruits. Perhaps because no fertilizer or pesticides are used, the fruit trees do not grow very tall.

It's also possible that there were many pedestrians and passersby who picked some of the fruit.

With A Xiang's help, Yun Duoduo climbed the tree and picked some red fruits, oranges, crisp dates and grapes, and also pulled some grapevines from the trellis.

"Careful!" Ah Xiang carefully helped Yun Duoduo down from the tree.

"Ugh, it's so sour!"

Yun Duoduo chewed on a grape vine. The vine was thin and green, and it tasted sour.

The grapevines were so sour that her teeth ached, and she frowned and shuddered.

Yun Duoduo lifted her outer robe, used it to hold the fruit, and returned to the place where they had first rested, distributing the fruit to the guards and coachmen.

"Ugh, it's so sour!"

Yun Yishu followed behind, peeled an orange, ate a segment, and after just one chew, his face contorted in a grimace.