Chapter 79 Farewell
The moment Wen Youqing stepped out of the main courtyard, the news reached Cui Junji's ears. He was listening to a group of ministers discussing what to plant in the fields near Yunmeng Lake to replenish the national treasury. He also instructed his confidant to prepare some hearty dishes for lunch, so that Wen Youqing, who was in a bad mood, could have something to eat.
Even if they decided what to plant today, the harvest next year would definitely not be what they discussed today. Cui Junji knew this all too well, so he had already cleared a piece of land and had his own people plant mulberry trees.
Leave the rest of the land for these old guys who don't do anything to continue arguing, just don't bother him.
But Cui Junji couldn't handle doing everything by himself.
When he returned home that night, he collapsed on his bed and took a nap. Wen Youqing didn't disturb him. She extinguished the candle, covered him with a quilt, and went to the side courtyard to have dinner with Shen Laixi.
After the mother and son finished eating, Shen Laixi suddenly said, "Mother, Master... Father has made friends with people in the mountains. I'm old enough now, and I want to follow him to Nanjian Mountain to practice."
Wen Youqing looked at Shen Laixi in surprise at how sudden it was. In her opinion, this was equivalent to not attending junior high school or high school in modern times and going to Shaolin Temple to learn martial arts, right? "Why do you want to go? To learn martial arts?"
"Not entirely. He has a wide range of knowledge. My son doesn't want to stay here and wants to go out and explore." Shen Lai Xi said the words she had prepared long ago.
Wen Youqing felt uneasy. What kind of adventure was a child supposed to take? But the rules here were different from those in modern times. He probably thought the status of the people in the mountains was the same as the Four Haos of Shangshan. Following a famous teacher wouldn't be bad.
But she was still worried, so she quickly reviewed the account book and estimated that Cui Junji should have woken up by now. Even if he didn't wake up, she would pull him up to prevent him from staying awake at night.
She went back into the room and curled up in bed.
Cui Junji subconsciously pulled the newcomer into his arms. Wen Youqing suddenly whispered, "I'm so tired. We really are a difficult couple."
Cui Junji smelled the fragrance on Wen Youqing's body, murmured "hmm", and continued to fall asleep.
Wen Youqing naturally didn't let him continue sleeping. She leaned over his chest and asked, "How are the people in the mountains?"
"He is a strange man, but he has a bad temper and travels around everywhere. He is rarely seen for years." Cui Junji was about to answer without opening his eyes, looking very tired.
"Don't sleep anymore. Get up and eat something." Wen Youqing pulled him up. "Your son wants to learn from him. Is he reliable? What kind of person is he?"
Cui Junji leaned in Wen Youqing's arms and took a few deep breaths before he finally woke up. He helped her stand up and said, "He's a good person. If my son wants to go, he can go. I'll be annoyed if he stays at home."
He poked Cui Junji in the stomach with his elbow and said, "My son is very well behaved. It's your fault that you're annoyed with him. Are you really sure he's a good person?"
"If you are worried, let's go visit him. He is in the capital recently. I will send someone to deliver the visiting card right away." Seeing Wen Youqing's seriousness, Cui Junji also became serious. His son really needs to be taught well. Now his temper is too soft, and he probably feels uncomfortable staying in the mansion.
Wen Youqing nodded, pulled him up to have dinner, and while watching him eat, she asked, "Why are you so tired today?"
"There are so many trivial matters, it's really overwhelming. We argued all morning just about what to plant in the fields."
"Why don't you let the people below do it? You have to do everything yourself now, which must be tiring. If the people from the aristocratic families are worried, you can choose more from the humbler families and send them to various places. Rotate their posts every three years to prevent them from centralizing power after taking root." Wen Youqing said casually. After all, she didn't understand the current political situation. "You can discuss the details with those retainers. Don't tire yourself out."
This idea sparked a new light for Cui Junji. When he was the chief priest, he had gathered many talented people from all over the country, but using them was indeed troublesome. Firstly, since they were his own work, others would naturally think they were partisan. Secondly, there were always some who were unwilling to take sides, and could only live a mediocre life in a remote place, which was a pity.
After talking about this, neither of them was sleepy anymore, and they took out a pen and paper and spent the whole night deducing the feasibility.
The next morning, the draft for the selection of local officials was sent to the cabinet.
—
"We're here." Cui Junji's voice brought the dazed Wen Youqing back to reality.
Although winter has arrived, one can still imagine the vibrant scene of the apricot trees in bloom at the entrance of Xinghua Village. At the entrance to the village stands a dilapidated land temple where the mountain dwellers temporarily reside.
They got out of the car and saw from a distance a large, unshaven-bearded man in a green shirt practicing swordplay in the open space in front of the temple. It was called swordplay, but there was no method to it at all. Sometimes he moved like an old farmer hoeing the fields, sometimes like a child playing. Seeing this, Wen Youqing's heart sank.
"Sir." Cui Junji stepped forward and saluted respectfully.
The man in the mountain stopped and turned around. He was about forty years old, with an ordinary appearance, but his eyes were incredibly deep, as if he could see through people's hearts.
"Here she comes." He said lightly, his eyes passing over Cui Junji and landing on Wen Youqing and Cui Junji, "Your wife is pretty."
Wen Youqing felt uncomfortable with this frivolous attitude.
Just as he was about to say something, Cui Junji took a half step forward, blocking Wen Youqing behind him, and said with a bow, "I am Cui Junji, and this is my wife, Wen. Master Meng has not abandoned me and is willing to accept me as his disciple. I have come to express my gratitude."
The mountain dweller smiled, and there was something inexplicable in that smile: "I don't accept disciples, but this child's twenty-seven consecutive letters made me want to see what kind of heart he has. But judging from the lady's expression, it seems that she is not too happy."
Wen Youqing couldn't help but say, "It really feels superficial to be complimented on my looks the first time we meet."
"Madam, are you worried that I'm unreliable?" The man in the cloud raised his eyebrows.
"I'm afraid that when he comes back, the first thing he'll say will be, 'Dad, your wife is pretty.'" Wen Youqing looked directly into the eyes of the man in the mountains, without any of the respect that Cui Junji had.
Shen Laixi was so anxious that she kept pulling her mother's sleeve.
The mountain dweller laughed heartily: "Madam, you are straightforward and have a bad temper towards me. Why don't you come with me to practice?"
Wen Youqing was stunned. She hadn't expected him to be so straightforward with everyone and everything, but she also said truthfully: "I have a lot of things to do. I'll see if this fate is there after I finish them."
"You have a frown on your face. I'm afraid what you're about to do won't be easy." The mountain dweller sat on a small stool that was too small for his size. "Leave the child to me."
Cui Junji interjected at the right moment, "Since you've agreed, as a parent, I can't help but worry. Where do you plan to take your child? How long will you stay to study? What are your plans?"
These three questions were asked in a safe way, as they were exactly what Wen Youqing had discussed with him before leaving.
Mr. Yunyou spread his hands and spat out the tea residue in his mouth: "The world is my home, and the time of return is uncertain. As for plans -" He looked at Shen Laixi, "I don't have any."
"I think the Xinghua duck in Xinghua Village is delicious today, so I'll stay for two more days. Tomorrow I might want to eat duck from somewhere else, or maybe I'm tired of it these past two days and don't want to see duck meat anymore in my life. Who can say for sure what will happen tomorrow?" The man in the clouds poured a cup of tea and handed it to Wen Youqing.
Wen Youqing took it, looked at the ration tea that was probably brewed from broken tea leaves, drank it all in one gulp, and spat the dregs onto the ground, "Lai Xi, become my disciple."
Shen Laixi, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke: "Mom... Dad, can you let me and Mr. have a few words alone?"
Wen Youqing looked at her son's pleading eyes and finally nodded.
The two retreated to the edge of the apricot forest and watched from afar as Shen Laixi talked with the mountain dweller. The young man gestured and said something, nodding occasionally, but the mountain dweller's gaze drifted from time to time to the distant mountains.
"This child looks very much like you when you were young." Cui Junji suddenly said.
Wen Youqing was stunned: "Like me?"
"Once you've made up your mind to something, nothing can change it." Cui Junji smiled, as if he was lost in fabricated memories. "Wasn't it the same when you insisted on following me to Xunyang?"
At this time, Mr. Yunyou walked towards them, and Shen Laixi followed behind him with red eyes.
"Madam, Mr. Cui," Mr. Yunyou said seriously, "Please leave your son with me."
"He hasn't packed his clothes and other things yet." Wen Youqing said.
"No need to pack. There's nothing essential to bring. You can buy more on the way." The man in the mountains waved his hand and handed Chen Laixi a cup of tea.
Just as Shen Laixi was about to kneel down to pay his respects to his master, the mountain dweller clinked his teacup with his, "No thanks, there's no New Year's money even if you kneel down."
Wen Youqing asked, "You really don't want to bring anything?"
Shen Laixi patted the small package that had been prepared long ago, “This is enough.”
Wen Youqing was still worried, so she opened it and took a look.
Inside was a thick stack of pages. There were diagrams depicting astrology, notes recording local customs, and even a few policy essays on people's livelihood and economy—completely different from the eight-part essays taught in the academy.
What shocked her most was a map, densely packed with markings of Mr. Yunyou's possible routes, with small characters beside it describing the historical allusions, local products, and folk customs of each region. How many days and nights had Shen Laixi spent compiling this?
Wen Youqing flipped through the pages, her fingertips trembling slightly. She had never seen her son so attentive before. His meticulous observations and unique insights were both unfamiliar and comforting to her.
"Mother," Shen Laixi knelt down, "I am an unfilial son and cannot always be by your side. But I must go, otherwise I will regret it for the rest of my life."
At that moment, all the worries, reluctance and doubts turned into a long sigh.
She helped her son up and brushed the dust off his knees: "Go."
Shen Laixi was stunned, as if she couldn't believe her ears.
Wen Youqing took out a dagger from his bosom and said, "Take it with you, my mother's amulet."
She turned to the mountain dweller and bowed deeply, "Sir, I'll leave this to you."
Mr. Yunyou put away his nonchalant demeanor and returned the greeting solemnly: "Don't worry, Madam."
The time for separation finally arrived. Shen Laixi picked up his bag, looking back every few steps. When he reached the village entrance, he suddenly ran back and hugged Wen Youqing tightly.
"Mom, I will miss you." The boy's voice choked.
After finally separating, Shen Laixi also gently hugged Cui Junji, and whispered in a voice shared only by the two of them: "Master, I wish I were really your son."
Cui Junji was slightly startled, the bitterness and pain in his heart intensifying. He had never been able to face this child. If he told the child the truth, how would he view his biological parents? If he didn't, he would always be an outsider, living under someone else's roof.
In the end, Cui Junji just patted Shen Laixi on the back and said, “In my heart, you have always been.”
She stood there, watching the two figures, one in blue and one in white, gradually moving away, and finally turning into a small black dot between heaven and earth.
Cui Junji put his arm around her shoulders and said, "Let's go back."
The carriage slowly started to move. Wen Youqing turned around and took one last look at the apricot forest. Next spring, the apricot blossoms here would surely bloom beautifully.
She suddenly understood the feeling of being a mother: a child must watch his parents gradually age, and a mother must learn to cut the umbilical cord, both biologically and spiritually.
"Come back next year when the apricot blossoms bloom," she said.
In the carriage, Cui Junji held her hand and said, "Okay."
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