Early in the morning, upon learning that their playmates of more than a month were going home, the five little ones were overwhelmed with sadness.
Shuiqing was making breakfast in the kitchen, while Fan Jin cut fresh grass to feed the cattle and harnessed them to a cart.
Fan Jiang sniffled, reluctant to let them stay: "Can't you stay a few more days? We've built a new house. Don't worry, with the new house, I won't squeeze you in to sleep anymore!"
Bai Ziqian almost burst into tears when he thought about the camaraderie they shared that night.
“Little brother, it’s not about whether it’s crowded or not to sleep. It’s about Hei Zi missing his parents. He’s been away for so long, he should go back and visit them,” Yan Qiu, the eldest sister, advised.
Without thinking, the simple-minded Fan Jiang blurted out, "Maybe Hei Zi's parents don't even want him. Look, no one has come looking for him for so long. Why don't they stay at our house and we can play together?"
"Cough cough cough." Fan He suddenly coughed, interrupting the conversation, and advised, "Brother, he's not playing with us, he's working!"
Think about his life after he goes back. He'll have horses to ride, a whole circle of servants to follow him, and plenty of good food. It's not like he'll suffer back home. Why should we be upset?
Besides, it's not like we can't see each other again in the future; who knows, who knows, we might even see each other again.
The voice trailed off towards the end.
They will live completely different lives in the future, separated by such a great distance, and will gradually forget each other until they can no longer remember each other.
Fan Hu burst into tears, tugging at Bai Ziqian's sleeve, unwilling to let him leave.
Xinghui was also wiping away tears.
This parting may truly be the last.
"It's okay, it's normal to separate. As long as everyone gets better and better in the future, that's all that matters." Yan Qiu's words were extremely generous and easygoing, and it would have been even better if there hadn't been any sobs.
Bai Ziqian could no longer hold back his tears, which streamed down his face.
"Breakfast is ready, come and eat!" Shuiqing called out when she saw the children with teary eyes.
Holding the rough earthenware bowls, even Fan Jin and the others no longer enjoyed the food as before. Their eyes were vacant, and their faces were full of sorrow at parting.
Shuiqing was afraid that if she stayed any longer, she would cry too. She picked up the rough pottery bowl, got up, and walked to the intersection—she was an adult now, and even if she was sad, she couldn't let the children see it.
Adults should know how to hide their sadness...
Huh?
She looked toward the intersection.
On the road below the high ground, several horse-drawn carriages, completely out of place in this remote and impoverished village, slowly drove by.
It was not an open oxcart, nor a donkey cart, nor even an ordinary horse-drawn carriage made of oilcloth and blue cloth, but a magnificent carriage with a green canopy and pearl tassels, pulled by two horses side by side.
The driver was a man who looked like a steward, and old women sat on either side of the carriage.
Behind them were one cart of maids and one cart of servants.
The people of Shanshui Village had never seen such a sight before.
People from every household craned their necks to watch, and children cheered and ran forward, following behind the car.
So much so that even adults followed on both sides, forming a long line.
Shuiqing held her bowl and watched the magnificent carriage head towards the village chief's house.
Before long, the old village chief was helped into the carriage by a man who looked like a steward, and the carriage slowly started moving.
Where are we taking the old village chief?
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