Lin Zhijing followed the steward and traveled quickly. When they arrived in Luzhou, they encountered an unusually heavy snowfall.
Spring has arrived, yet snowflakes are falling heavily from the sky. Because there is no wind, all you can see are drifting snowflakes.
Lin Zhijing opened the carriage curtain and saw the snow scene outside. She couldn't help but breathe on her palm. The driver was a frequent traveler on this road and knew the manager. The two of them sat on the carriage shaft wearing raincoats, laughing and talking about things in Luzhou. They talked most about the bamboo paper workshop below Huitou Ridge.
The bamboo paper workshop worked until the end of the year. They started work again right after the Lantern Festival. They heard that the bamboo paper they made sold very well in the capital. The boss said that this year was a year of great competition, so they should quickly make a few more batches of goods and send them to the capital to make more money.
Looking at the mountains on both sides of the road, Lin Zhijing realized that the road had been carved out from the middle of the mountains. Lin Zhijing was curious and wondered how such a tall mountain range had been split open in the first place.
The steward, seeing Lin Zhijing lift the carriage curtain, knew this was a distinguished guest invited back by the host, and said with a smile, "Young Master Lin, is there anything I can help you with?"
Lin Zhijing smiled and said, "It's nothing, I just admire how well this road has been built."
The carriage driver chuckled and said, "Of course! When this road was being built, all four of us came to help. We owe it all to Lord Xu of Miaozhou and General Zheng. Otherwise, it would have been quite a journey from Miaozhou to Lüzhou. The mountain roads were difficult to travel, and it would have taken several days. Now, look, it's only thirty li away, and the road is easy to travel. We can make several round trips a day. Since we got this road, we can transport our goods out of the mountains. I heard that they're going to build a special place to buy medicinal herbs in Lüzhou. I heard that the Chen family, the most famous medicine merchants in the capital, will be building it. When that happens, our lives will be even better."
Seeing the genuine smile on the driver's face, Lin Zhijing couldn't help but feel a pang of longing. What would it feel like to succeed in her studies and do something that would earn the genuine praise of the local people, just like the top scholar from the Xu family?
Lin Zhijing suddenly felt a surge of energy to move forward. When people have hope, they can move forward boldly. As for those difficulties that they once thought were insurmountable, they are insignificant in the face of this energy.
Thinking of this, Lin Zhijing suddenly stopped worrying. His previously anxious heart calmed down. He had so much to say to the girl he cherished, and he wanted to make a lifelong vow with her. Lin Zhijing had already planned it out: after returning from Luzhou, he would go to Tai'an, study diligently at the academy, and then participate in the provincial examination the following year. In this era, only the imperial examination was the true path to success. Only by obtaining official rank through the imperial examination could one gain a foothold in this era. Otherwise, as a commoner, anyone could bully or trample on him. Such a life was insecure, and it was not the kind of life Lin Zhijing wanted for his beloved girl.
Although it was snowing, the road was easy to travel, and the driver was used to this route, so it didn't take long to reach Luzhou City.
The steward instructed the coachman to stop the carriage at the entrance of Xu Zhi's courtyard. When the gatekeeper saw the steward return, he quickly came over to help carry the luggage. Xu Zhi, who had been waiting at home for a long time, heard the gatekeeper come to report the news and quickly sent someone to the garrison outside the city to report the news. She herself went to the second gate to welcome the distinguished guests who had come from afar.
Seeing Xu Zhi standing at the second gate with an umbrella, Lin Zhijing straightened his clothes and bowed deeply to Xu Zhi. Xu Zhi quickly said, "Young Master Lin, there's no need for such formality. Please wait here for a moment. My husband will be back soon."
Lin Zhijing followed Xu Zhi to the side hall next to the study. After the servants served tea, they stood respectfully at the door. Xu Zhi looked at Lin Zhijing, who had recovered, and asked with a smile, "How is your health, young master?"
Lin Zhijing quickly expressed her gratitude: "Thanks to your mother's excellent student, she has fully recovered after these days of recuperation. Madam Zheng, I wonder how Miss Zheng is doing lately?"
Xu Zhi said apologetically, "Although Yuanyuan doesn't say it and acts as usual, we are all her family. How could we not see the sadness in her heart? Young Master Lin, my sister has not had a moment's peace of mind since your accident."
Actually, Xu Zhi's words were somewhat inappropriate, but these were things that needed to be said openly. When he saw Lin Zhijing off from the capital, he had sworn to Xu Zhi that he would come to find Zheng Yuanyuan when he achieved success. But now, Zheng Yuanyuan didn't know that Zong Chengping had faked his death and escaped. Her heart was gradually withering. A young girl living such a stagnant life was unbearable even for someone as experienced as Xu Zhi. So, he swallowed his pride and explained things to Lin Zhijing.
Lin Zhijing said with some shame, "Madam Zheng, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have thought of keeping it from Miss Zheng. I should have let her know that I'm still alive. A person has to have hope in their heart to live. It's too difficult to live without hope."
Xu Zhi looked at Lin Zhijing in surprise. Lin Zhijing smiled bitterly and said, "On the way here, I suddenly realized that a person can only live happily if they have hope in their heart and sunshine in their eyes. I was wrong before. I always felt that my status was awkward. I clearly liked Miss Zheng, but I just didn't say anything. I am a man, so I should be able to take things in stride."
Just then, Zheng Boyuan returned. Hearing Lin Zhijing's words, he felt a little unhappy. He knew that there were some things he could say that would make his sister feel better, but he was always concerned about his pride and couldn't lower himself. However, he was letting his sister bear so much. If he and his wife couldn't understand his sister's feelings, would they just let her suffer like this day after day?
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