Shangguan Shu got the address and went back to the shabby house. He happened to meet Heng Lin who came to beg for food. As soon as he saw him, Shangguan Shu knew that another three days had passed.
Heng Lin looked like he would fall down at the slightest gust of wind.
Shangguan Shu invited him in, and this time not only kept him for dinner, but also asked him to look after the yard and feed the cows for him, on the condition that he could eat as much rice as he wanted.
Henglin agreed.
Shangguan Shu calculated the time. There were still seven days until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. It would take him one day to go back and forth, and he could work for six days there. Together with the silver he had saved by living frugally in the past few days, it would be exactly ten taels.
Shangguan Shu ate two more bowls of rice and hurried on his way.
Work day and night.
When I arrived at the dock, my feet were already covered with blisters.
He squeezed the blisters with his hands, but there was no medicine powder to apply. He endured the pain and signed up at the dock to carry rice bags. The bags weighed 100 kilograms each. He glanced over and saw that the workers had piled up seven or eight bags and could not even straighten their backs.
The shopkeeper saw that he was delicate and tender, and was skeptical about whether he could do it. However, seeing that he was relatively strong, he let him try first.
Shangguan Shu felt more at ease.
As soon as he put the rice bag on his back, he felt a sharp pain in his back, as if it was about to break. The worker next to him saw him grimacing, a little scared, "Are you okay? If you can't do it, forget it."
Shangguan Shu gritted his teeth and shook his head at him, "It's okay, I can do it!"
With his last breath of strength and the determination to see his wife and children, Shangguan Shu persevered.
I did it more and more and gradually became familiar with it. Even though I was sweating profusely, I no longer felt any pain.
I'm just really tired...
It’s not that he hasn’t suffered or been tired, it’s just that it’s different.
At the young age of three, he became the prince's companion. From then on, he would study and practice calligraphy before dawn, and he never stopped regardless of the cold or heat. At the age of sixteen, he won the first place in the imperial examinations three times in a row.
Being the top scholar in the imperial examination is the least noteworthy item in his brilliant life resume.
Thirteen years of hard study is tiring.
Later, Huai'an was married to the Xiongnu. He put down his pen, picked up a spear, joined the army and fought, and transformed from a staff officer in the barracks into a general who could go into battle. Although he had some basic martial arts skills, in order to stand out, he had to make unimaginable efforts and suffered extraordinary hardships.
This kind of pain and tiredness is a kind of growth.
The hard work at this time was just a waste of time. Apart from the money, it could not bring him any sense of accomplishment.
Lunch consisted of yellow flour buns and cabbage.
It tasted like chewing wax and was hard in the throat, but a group of men ate it enthusiastically, including Shangguan Shu.
Hungry, tired...
I was so hungry and tired that I couldn't think of anything else but my instincts.
The six days passed quickly.
For the past six days, he worked during the day and slept in the warehouse at night to save some money, using the quilt used to cover the goods to barely block out the cold wind.
However, on the sixth day, he fell ill again.
I felt dizzy and weak all over. It felt like a knife was cutting my throat and even drinking water hurt.
With the belief that he must see Zhao Ying, he gritted his teeth and finished his last day's work. When it was time to settle the payment, the shopkeeper deducted fifty cents from him on the pretext of something, saying that he was living in his warehouse for free every day, wasn't he free?
Shangguan Shu was ill and his mind was cloudy, so he did not want to argue with him.
Taking five taels and fifty cents, he set out on his journey back.
Another journey of day and night was continued. The closer they got, the more awake Shangguan Shu became.
He is going to meet Zhao Ying.
Ying'er...
Ying'er...
When he returned to Wogua Town, it was already daybreak. The streets that were quiet when he left were now bustling with activity. The emperor's carriage had been there.
It should be in the hot springs now.
Thinking of this, Shangguan Shu became more and more excited, and his hands trembled as he took out the silver.
For nine taels and fifty wen, he bought the lamb he had always wanted to give to Yue'er, the small lantern for Wan'er, and gifts for Bai Lin, Cheng Jing, Qi You... and a silver hairpin for Zhao Ying.
It was not exquisite, not expensive, and was completely different from the ones he had given her in the past, but those things could not compare to the meaning behind this silver hairpin.
In the past, he owed her his sincerity, and from now on, he would repay her little by little...
After Shangguan Shu came out of the jewelry shop, he didn't notice someone staring at him on the street corner.
The man went back to report.
Wei Fu sneered, "I was wondering where he was hiding, but... hehe..."
"Shangguan Shu is indeed very scheming!"
Wei Fu soaked in the warm spring pool and sipped his tea. "But, his efforts are doomed to be in vain."
…
At night, the streets are bustling.
A group of people went on an incognito tour: Emperor Jianxi, Wu Yonggui, Zhao Ying, Wei Fu, Shangguan Zhu and several court officials. Shangguan one, two, three, four, five...
Emperor Jianxi looked at the prosperous scene before him and couldn't help but sigh, "I never thought the capital, a hundred miles away, could be so prosperous. Although the houses are a little run-down, the people are pure and the country is thriving. It's a truly unique place. Wei Qing, your suggestion is excellent. I'll reward you handsomely later!"
Wei Fu replied modestly with a faint smile.
A group of people visited the lantern festival and guessed lantern riddles. It was very lively.
Shangguan Qingyue's eyes were brighter than stars. He kept pointing at things and asking Zhao Ying, "Mother, what is this?"
Shangguan Bailin fully utilized his talents and won a lantern for each of his brothers and sisters.
The group strolled around for half a day until they were tired. They found a teahouse with beautiful flowers and lanterns and sat down. The surrounding area was full of lanterns and passers-by, their shadows dim.
Emperor Jianxi sat at a table with several court officials, including Zhao Ying, Wei Fu, and Shangguan one, two, three, four, and five.
Shangguan Qingyue suddenly ran towards Wei Fu, "Uncle, you said you wanted to give Yue'er a Lantern Festival gift. Where is the gift?"
The little girl stretched out her chubby hand seriously.
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