Chapter 69 Fu Bao is Lost
Before August, Lin Changqing rushed to the provincial capital, but before he could even escape the village with joy, he was hit hard by reality.
The student who had vouched for him withdrew his guarantee, and the application failed when the county government reviewed the information.
He thought he still had a chance, but now that he can't get into the academy, his path to the imperial examinations is over, completely over.
After leaving the government office, Lin Changqing was in a daze, and once he was laid off, he didn't know what else he could do.
His mother and younger brother were still waiting at home for him to pass the imperial examination and avenge their father. Overwhelmed with guilt and confusion, Lin Changqing felt utterly hopeless. As he walked towards the inn in a daze, he did not notice that his pretty younger sister was being dragged into a dark alley with her mouth covered in the crowded throng. It was only when he reached the entrance of the inn that Lin Changqing seemed to realize what was happening.
"Fu Bao?"
Turning around, Lin Changqing realized his sister wasn't following him. A wave of panic washed over him. His pupils contracted, and he turned and ran, calling out his sister's name as he ran.
"Fu Bao? Fu Bao?"
Lin Changqing searched along the way but couldn't find his sister. Frustration and regret filled his heart. He searched from noon to afternoon, looking through almost every street, but still couldn't find her.
A bell rang from afar. Lin Changqing's blue robe was soaked with sweat. He grabbed a passing vendor anxiously: "Have you seen a little boy, about this tall, wearing dark gray clothes, with two little pigtails on his head, and very handsome? Have you seen him?"
The vendor shook his head and pried Lin Changqing's hand away: "You lost your child? Why weren't you more careful? There are many child traffickers around this time of year. Go to the yamen, file a report, and wait. There's a dilapidated temple outside the city where crippled children often live. If you still can't find them, go there and look for them."
Lin Changqing nodded and staggered toward the yamen, but it was already late and the yamen had long been closed.
Lin Changqing pounded on the door frantically, but no one answered.
Helpless, Lin Changqing gritted his teeth, jogged back to the inn, and, panting, grabbed the waiter and asked, "Has the pageboy who came with me returned yet?"
The waiter shook his head blankly: "I haven't seen any pageboys return this afternoon."
Lin Changqing ran towards the rented house, his face covered in sweat. When he opened the door, it was indeed empty. Lin Changqing's heart sank to the bottom. It had been an entire afternoon. If Fu Bao hadn't been in any trouble, he would have been able to find his way back by himself.
In that case, he must have really been captured.
Anger, frustration, and regret filled Lin Changqing's heart for a moment.
"Ah~ Fu Bao! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, your brother is useless!"
Lin Changqing, whose mind was on the verge of collapse, squatted on the floor against the corridor wall and wailed. His slender fingers twisted into his thin shirt, his face was pale, and broken sobs escaped from his throat. His thin body trembled uncontrollably against the corridor pillar. He cried so hard that he could hardly control himself. His crying was accompanied by gagging sounds, as if he was about to vomit up his internal organs.
The people in the hall looked over at the sound, remained silent for a few moments, and then looked away. The waiter was a little worried and called the manager to explain the situation.
The shopkeeper hesitated for a moment, then took out one or two taels of silver from the accountant's office and approached: "Sir, I heard that your page has gone missing, and I know you are upset. However, this is indeed affecting our business. How about this? I will refund you ten times the amount, and you can find another place to stay. After all, our shop is a small business, and the surrounding area is full of students taking the imperial examinations to enter the academy. Your actions are indeed disturbing other people's peace of mind for studying."
Lin Changqing remained silent, only occasional sobs escaping his throat. The innkeeper and waiter exchanged a helpless glance. The waiter patted Lin Changqing hesitantly and said, "There's a dilapidated temple outside the city. Perhaps there's some news there. To the east of that temple is a group of monks who occasionally take in lost children. Sir, why don't you go and look for them? If your servant returns, our inn will definitely send someone to the temple to inform them. What do you think?"
Lin Changqing looked up and gripped the waiter's hand tightly: "Is the news true?"
The waiter nodded: "In previous years, quite a few children went missing during the autumn imperial examinations. Some were found in dilapidated temples, and some in other temples. But most of the children..."
Before the waiter could finish speaking, fearing he might upset Lin Changqing, Lin Changqing's eyes lit up with hope. He immediately sat up and was about to rush out when the shopkeeper grabbed the anxious Lin Changqing and stuffed the silver into his arms. The waiter then went to the room, picked up Lin Changqing's bundle, and handed it to him.
"Sir, please take your things."
Lin Changqing bowed respectfully and said, "If you can find my sister, I will never forget your kindness. If my sister returns to the restaurant, please ask someone to inform me."
The waiter, somewhat flattered, helped Lin Changqing up: "Young master, you flatter me. I will send any news to the abbot of the temple outside the city. Just keep an eye out for it."
Lin Changqing carried his bundle and jogged towards the outskirts of the city. His path to the imperial examinations was blocked; he couldn't afford to lose his sister as well.
Otherwise, he would have no face to face his mother and younger brother.
“Miss, look at that man, he’s really interesting. The exam is coming up soon, and while everyone else is rushing to the city, he’s taken his things and left the city.”
A young girl dressed in a pale yellow ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with two silk flowers adorning her temples, pulled back the curtain of the carriage and teased Lin Changqing, who was walking outside.
The girl holding the book in the carriage chuckled upon hearing this. Her small face appeared exceptionally beautiful in the dim sunlight. She put down the poetry collection and scolded, "Yu Tao! Don't make up stories about others."
The little girl grinned and said, "I didn't say anything wrong."
Then she lifted the curtain again and exclaimed, "Miss, this person is strangely good-looking."
The girl shook her head and sighed; the pearl tassels on her head swayed gently with her movement. She pointed lightly at the little girl's head and said, "You~"
After saying that, he also looked out the window.
Summer nights always seem to last long, with the orange glow of the setting sun spreading across the earth. A young girl caught a glimpse of her beauty, and her heart skipped a beat at first glance.
The young man stood tall and straight in the afterglow, his blue robe covered in indelible dust. His slender fingers gripped a gray bundle, and the afterglow gilded his face. The carriage drew ever closer.
The girl held her breath. The young man's face was covered with what looked like sweat or tears. A few strands of hair clung to his face, and his blue hair ribbon fell to his shoulder. His eyelashes cast a small shadow on his face. His brows and eyes were cold as frost, but a hint of unconcealable crimson appeared at the corners of his eyes. If you were close enough, you could almost hear the young man's breathing. He had a broken beauty about him, like shattered moonlight scattered on earth.
The girl blushed, hesitated for a moment, and then called out, "Uncle Huang, stop the car!"
Upon hearing this, the coachman responded and stopped the carriage. The young woman tugged at her maid and said, "Go and ask that young master if he has encountered any trouble."
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