Chapter 300 Sui Liang leaves
Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping entered the kitchen yard one after another. When they reached the light, the firelight illuminated their faces. Sui Liang saw a smile on his sister's tense face, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the couple did not quarrel because of him.
He walked over and asked, "Sister, brother-in-law, what would you like to eat? Tonight we have boiled broad beans, stir-fried broad beans with pork slices, and stir-fried pickled radish with pork. Would you please each bring out a bowl?"
"Okay, have you eaten?" Sui Yu asked.
"Not yet. I'll wait for you to eat together."
"Then let's eat together. What about the little one?" Zhao Xiping washed his face with water. The cool water washed away the sweat on his face, and he felt much more comfortable.
"I'm here." The kid came out of the dining hall, trotting closer and saying, "I'm listening to the new uncle who came today. They said the river was flowing fast this year, and a sheepskin raft capsized, and neither the people nor the goods were saved."
The three people who were washing their faces, drinking water, and serving food all paused when they heard this. Zhao Xiping looked at Sui Yu. Sui Yu was quiet for a moment, not changing her mind and regretting her words. She said to Sui Liang, "By the time you pass by the river, the flood season will have passed. The river level will drop, and the flow rate will not be as fast as in the summer."
"Okay, I understand." Sui Liang said.
Sui Yu thought of the tiger bone wine he had brought back and said, "When you leave, I'll give you two small jars of tiger bone wine. When you cross the river, ask someone to identify Lao Shuan's son. Give him the tiger bone wine and ask him to find a reliable boatman to take you across the river. Promise him that if the tiger bone wine works, I'll find another one for them when we get out of the customs next time."
Sui Liang nodded again.
"Mom, what are you talking about? Where is my uncle going?" The boy was a little nervous.
"I won't tell you. You sleep with me tonight and tomorrow night, and I'll tell you the day after tomorrow morning." Sui Liang didn't want to make his nephew sad in advance.
The boy hesitated, and Sui Liang didn't want an immediate answer. He went into the kitchen to serve the dishes.
"Mom?" The cub tried to find the answer from others.
Sui Yu didn't tell him, "Ask your uncle. If he doesn't want to tell you, I can't tell you."
The kid looked at his father, and Zhao Xiping just left.
The moonlight was bright tonight, and the family took their dishes and meals to the courtyard next door to eat. Sui Yu originally thought that this small courtyard was too crowded, and planned to tear it down and rebuild it, but plans are not as good as changes. Before he could say this idea, Sui Liang was about to leave. After he left, this courtyard would usually only have three people living in it, and it would be empty, so there was no need to bother.
At the dinner table, the kid kept talking to Sui Liang, but Sui Liang was determined not to tell him. He could only give in to his curiosity and go to find his uncle with his little pillow in his arms when he went to sleep.
The camels that had not been returned to Song Xian in time were put to use again. However, considering that her female camels might have been bred and would give birth at the end of next spring, they would not be suitable for long journeys. Sui Yu went to the city to find Song Xian and rented forty castrated camels from her.
After returning, Sui Yu called Xiao Chunhong and other maids to ask about the results of their medical examinations and whether anyone did not want to make this trip. As a result, they all chose to follow the caravan to Chang'an. These horses were not only Sui Yu's, but 20% of the profits were theirs, and no one was willing to leave them to others to watch over.
Seeing their posture, Sui Yu felt more at ease.
That night, Sui Yu called Sui Liang and gave him the sheepskin with the route drawn on it, the bamboo slips that recorded the shops, farmers, and vendors in various places, and the wooden pieces that recorded the temperament of some caravans.
"This is your first time traveling far with a caravan, so remember one thing: watch more, listen more, and talk less. The caravan members are all experienced, so don't make decisions if you're unsure. When you're homesick and can't sleep, just read these things to pass the time. If you find anything new or interesting, write it down. If you need it, it will become your network in the future." Sui Yu instructed. "If you want a passing caravan to bring you something, be nice and offer them something. If you have a relationship, try to build a friendship. If not, promise them free accommodation in your guesthouse. Another thing to note is that the items you bring shouldn't be too much or too heavy. A light box or a bag is just right, so as not to burden other caravans."
Sui Liang listened silently and wrote down everything.
Sui Yu thought about it and didn't have anything else to say. She took her brother's hand and said, "Go ahead. When you come back, show off to the kid. He's the only one in our family who has never left Dunhuang City."
"He went to Yumen Pass when he was young." Sui Liang corrected.
"Oh, then he's the only one who hasn't left the northwest." Sui Yu corrected himself, "Brother Liang, the mountains and rivers outside are quite magnificent. Every ten miles you go, the customs change, and every three miles, the language changes. Go out and take a good look. It will benefit everyone. When the cub grows up, I'll let him go out with the caravan."
Before leaving, she didn't want to say anything discouraging, lest Sui Liang become even more hesitant.
"Okay." Sui Liang agreed.
"Uncle? Where are you?" the kid shouted.
"I'm coming." Sui Liang walked out and said, "Sister, I'm going to sleep."
"Okay, go to bed early."
The kid squinted his eyes and looked at him from the bed, asking, "Uncle, when are we going to the military settlement to sell silkworms?"
Sui Liang hesitated and said, "Ask your mother."
"Why ask my mother?"
"I have something to do."
"Oh." The kid sat down and asked again, "Will you take me bird hunting again when the persimmons are ripe?"
"Shh, don't talk, I want to sleep." Sui Liang didn't answer. He pressed his nephew down and said, "Go to sleep quickly. If you keep talking, your father will come and beat you up."
"My dad won't beat me..."
"I was afraid he would beat me."
The voices gradually faded, and the courtyard became quiet, with only the chirping of insects in the night wind.
…
In the morning, Sui Liang pulled out the large bag hidden under the bed. He said cheerfully, "My son, your uncle is going to Chang'an to visit the imperial city. You stay at the guesthouse and take care of the business. When I come back, I'll tell you what the emperor looks like."
The boy, with a sleepy face, was still dazed. He was panicking. When his mother came in, he shouted, "Mom, my uncle is trying to run away."
"He went to Chang'an with the caravan and will be back next year. When you grow up, you will have to leave home too." Sui Yu comforted her gently.
"I don't want to grow up." As he spoke, hot tears poured out. The kid crawled on the bed, buried his head in the pillow, and cried, "My uncle hasn't grown up either, wuwuwu——"
Sui Liang also started crying. He stared at the ceiling, trying to hold back his tears.
"Let's go eat." Zhao Xiping came over and took the bundle from Sui Liang's hand. He asked, "Did you bring your wolfskin mattress and sheepskin coat? Also, your woolen coat and trousers, your wolfskin hat, your cowhide boots, and your reed-feather shoes?"
"My sister said she was already in Chang'an when it got cold, and she asked me to take the money to buy a new one."
"It's better to bring two sets, as a backup." Zhao Xiping went to open the box and took out the wolfskin mattress for winter and Sui Liang's winter clothes and shoes. He said, "You go eat, I'll take these things to Zhang Shun."
Sui Liang glanced at his nephew and happened to catch him peeking with one eye. He made a face at him and ran away.
The kid howled in anger again, and only when Sui Yu coaxed him into going to see his uncle off did he get dressed and get up.
After dinner, Song Xian came over with her servants, and also brought over the wooden box containing the documents and household registration. "Here, Second Shopkeeper, please take good care of this."
"Did you take everything I gave you last night?" Sui Yu asked.
Sui Liang nodded. He couldn't sleep last night and woke up in the middle of the night. He found a wooden box and put the sheepskin, bamboo slips and wood chips into his bag.
"Let's go, don't delay." Zhao Xiping said.
The servants rode away on camels and horses, and the others followed. Zhao Xiping saw Hua Suichun rushing out of the northern guesthouse, driving the five horses he had bought and the camels laden with luggage.
"Shopkeeper Yu, I'll help you keep an eye on the caravan, and you can help me take care of my family, okay?" Hua Suichun approached and spoke.
"That couldn't be better." Sui Yu agreed. "Thank you for your trouble."
"polite."
When the caravan entered the city and approached the east gate, Zhao Xiping met Captain Qu. Judging from his attire, he was planning to go to the north of the city to find Wu Zhui to exchange feelings.
"What are you doing?" Captain Qu had a complicated look on his face.
"Several caravans are going to Chang'an to sell horses. My brother-in-law is ambitious and wants to go out and explore the world while he is still young. He also wants to take the caravan to Chang'an to gain some experience. So, we are all here to see him off." Zhao Xiping pushed the idea of selling horses onto Sui Liang. This was the only way to avoid offending anyone.
Captain Qu had not known that Sui Yu was planning to return to Chang'an next year. He just thought that she would come back and stay for at least a month. Now that something unexpected had happened, he could only sigh that the businessman was too impatient and regretted that he and Wu Zhui were really not destined to be together.
"Okay, go ahead and get busy. I'll give you half a day off today. You don't have to go to the training ground." Captain Qu left.
Zhao Xiping thanked them loudly and hurried to catch up with the caravan.
The caravan was leaving the city. Sui Liang hurriedly submitted the documents and household registrations. After checking them one by one, he carefully counted them one by one to make sure nothing was lost or missing. Only then did he pack them neatly into the wooden box.
"Do we have to pay to leave the city?" Sui Liang asked.
"No, we paid when we entered the city." Zhang Shunhou answered from the side.
"Hurry up, hurry up, don't block the road." The city guard drove people away.
Sui Liang stood on tiptoe and looked back. He saw his sister holding the little boy and waving at him from under the city wall. The little boy had a gloomy face, and was trying hard to hold back his tears. His eyes were full of tears, and he was trying to force a smile that was uglier than crying.
"Let's go. Wait for me to come back." Sui Liang didn't dare to look again. He ran out of the city gate quickly holding the wooden box.
As soon as the figure disappeared, the kid couldn't hold it back any longer. He leaned against the wall and cried loudly, "I miss my uncle..."
Outside the city, Sui Liang was also sobbing in public. He wiped his tears, kept walking, and ignored the gazes cast at him. He was so sad that he could not control himself.
Song Xian was about to die of laughter. The boy was already so old, he could get married and have children, but he was still crying because of leaving home.
"Why don't you just go back? I'll keep an eye on your caravan for you," she said.
Sui Liang shook his head, took a deep breath, and explained, "The cub has never left me since he was born. I raised my nephew. If I leave, he will definitely cry."
"You should take care of yourself first. He has his parents to take care of him." Song Xian took out a handkerchief and handed it to him, saying with emotion, "You are really a good uncle. When your sister left home, she didn't cry as much as you did."
Sui Liang stopped crying only after wiping himself with a wet handkerchief. He looked back and saw that the city wall of Dunhuang had become blurred.
In the city, Zhao Xiping was walking back with the baby in his arms, and Sui Yu was following behind with two camels. The two of them were trying to comfort the crying child, and people on the road were looking at them in surprise.
The little boy didn't stop crying until he left the city.
But he was listless for five days, and gradually got used to the days when Sui Liang was not at home, and then he became a little more energetic.
"Little boy, do you want to go to the military settlement to sell silkworms?" Sui Yu had just changed the mulberry leaves for the silkworms. There was nothing she could do. Her son was so sad that he didn't care about anything else, so she could only take over the job of feeding the silkworms.
"No wonder my uncle said he'd ask you when to sell silkworms." The kid sighed, "Let's go, I want to build my uncle's business."
Sui Yu also wanted to sigh. Why did she act like a bad person? The problem was that she also felt guilty. Why?
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