After Wei Min's three-yearly assessment results came out, he was promoted to the position of Dali Temple Minister without any suspense, and he would be able to return to Beijing after the new county magistrate came to take over.
Today, under the governance of Wei Min, Zhucheng is no longer the border town that once made people tremble with fear and was known as a place full of tigers and wolves.
When the people learned that Wei Min was leaving, they were very reluctant to see him go, so they gathered at the gate of the county government office, carrying baskets on their arms. The baskets were filled with things grown in their own homes, ready to be given to the adult as a farewell gift.
Wei Min didn't know that he was so popular among the people. He just smiled and persuaded the eighteen generals to go back.
A Ruan has lived here for three years. Except for the thrill and panic when he first arrived, the rest of his life was peaceful and stable.
With his wife doting on him and Erjiu being sensible, Aruan has almost no troubles. When he had nothing to do, he would grow some vegetables in the backyard, research new kinds of cakes, or sit in a rocking chair with Wei Min to bask in the sun.
The two of them were just like ordinary couples, going out to watch lanterns and listen to music during the New Year and other festivals.
On weekdays when the spring breeze was gentle, Wei Min would take A'ruan fishing. When the summer weather was hot, the two would stay indoors to cool off. When the autumn wind blew the maple leaves red, Wei Min would take A'ruan hiking. In winter, the two would hold hot tea in their hands and lean on the porch in front of the door to watch the snow.
The four seasons of the year always pass by in the blink of an eye.
A Ruan was packing his things, touching everything here and there, wanting to take everything away, yet not wanting to take anything away.
These things are all unique memories of him and his wife in Zhucheng. There is no need to take them back to Beijing, but he is reluctant to leave them behind.
A Ruan's memories of the capital city are mostly bad. His wife was wrongly imprisoned during the provincial examination, and after she passed the imperial examination and became the top scorer, she was demoted to Zhucheng. The two of them lived in a small rented courtyard and made a living by mending clothes for others every day.
That kind of life is nothing compared to the past few years in Zhucheng.
When Wei Min came in from outside, A Ruan was sitting on the edge of the bed, distracted, holding a half-folded piece of clothing in his hand.
"Aruan?" Wei Min sat sideways opposite him and asked with a smile, "Why, you don't want to leave?"
Ah Ruan pursed her lips and nodded, lowering her eyes, and gently stroked Wei Min's half-new clothes in her hands. After a while, she folded the clothes and put them aside. She glanced at them reluctantly, then looked up and said to her:
——You’ve been wearing this dress for two years. It’s a bit old now. You won’t wear it after you return to Beijing, so don’t take it with you.
No matter whether officials in Beijing are rich or poor, clothes represent their reputation. No one would wear clothes sewn by their husband. If they wore them outside, they would probably be laughed to death.
“Why aren’t you wearing it?” Wei Min took the clothes, stood up and put them in the box he was going to take away, and said, “You stayed up all night to make this for me. It will fit me no matter how old it is.”
Wei Min stood beside A'ruan, put his arm around his shoulders, stroked his arm, and said, "Let's take whatever you want. Don't worry about the trouble. Besides, your wife is honest and incorruptible, so it's always a good idea to live frugally."
Ah Ruan smiled and leaned in Wei Min's arms. After hearing her say that, his reluctance was relieved a lot. He pointed at the little gadgets bought at the market on the dressing table, pursed his lips and looked up at her.
Wei Min nodded, "Bring them, I'll give them to you."
Ah Ruan smiled and hugged her waist, then he thought of something and raised his hand to ask her:
——What about the 29th?
What Wei Min said didn't count. She said, "It depends on whether Erjiu is willing to go back to Beijing with us."
What Ah Ruan asked was exactly what Eighteen wanted to know the most. She held a dogtail grass in her mouth, crossed her arms and leaned against the door frame, looking at Erjiu who was busy in the kitchen, and asked him, "Xiaojiuer, are you coming with us?"
Erjiu was boiling water, and when he heard her, he turned around and asked her, "Where are you going?"
Eighteen stood up straight, walked into the kitchen, squatted at his feet, and said as a matter of course: "Of course you will come back to Beijing with me."
Erjiu glanced at her, pouted her lips and snorted deliberately, "Going back to Beijing to see your third husband and three children?"
Eighteen smiled, took out the dogtail grass from his mouth, and used the grass spikes to brush Erjiu's face, asking him, "How come you still remember these words? I told you that the adults lied to you."
Erjiu turned away, being ticklish, and stretched out his hand to push Eighteen's shoulder, frowning and mumbling, "Stop it, it's itchy."
Eighteen took his hand back and asked again, "Are you going to the capital?"
Erjiu drooped his eyelids, "What if I don't go?"
Shi Ba raised his hand and pinched his round face that he had grown over the past two years, shaking it left and right, revealing half of his tiger teeth in a scoundrelly smile, "Then I'll tie you up and take you away directly."
"How can there be someone as unreasonable as you?" Erjiu complained, but his eyes were full of smiles. He slapped her hand away, straightened his back and said, "Even if I go to the capital, it's for the master. What does it have to do with you?"
Eighteen laughed quietly, and without refutation, he stood up, patted his head, and urged, "Go pack your things quickly. I'll watch the fire at the bottom of the pot for you."
Erjiu rolled his eyes at her. "I don't have that much stuff to pack. Just bring a change of clothes."
He reluctantly lay on his legs, lowered his head and picked at the embroidered uppers of his shoes, his voice was hoarse, "I'm leaving, and I won't be able to come back often to see daddy and little sister."
I’m afraid it won’t be easy to return to Zhucheng after this trip.
Eighteen saw that Erjiu was in a low mood, so he raised his hand and rubbed his head randomly, "What's the big deal? Bring them to the capital. There are many good colleges in the capital, and my little sister can learn more."
Erjiu shook his head. "It's not that easy to go to the capital. Food, clothing, shelter, and everything else require a lot of money."
Shiba smiled, "Are you short of money?" She squatted down, looked at his flat mouth, and said seriously, "I have some. Ask me to borrow it and I'll give it to you."
Erjiu blinked, bit her lip lightly, and scratched the shoe surface nervously with her fingers, and asked softly: "What if I can't pay it back?"
Eighteen said without any hesitation, "Then pledge yourself to me. I don't mind your short stature."
Erjiu glared at her. Shiba smiled and raised his hand to scratch his nose, and asked in a low voice, "Xiaojiu, are you okay?"
Erjiu was shy for once, blushing and lowering her head, humming, "I have to go back and ask my dad."
Even if we want to bring my father and little sister to the capital, we have to wait until the master and the lord are settled in the capital.
Eighteen smiled and said, "Okay."
When A'ruan learned that Erjiu was willing to follow him back to Beijing, he was very happy and gave him one day to go back and tell his family about it.
Wei Min was not surprised by Erjiu's decision. After all, she was too familiar with the look in Eighteen's eyes when she looked at Erjiu. If Erjiu didn't go, Eighteen would have countless ways to kidnap her.
Eighteen felt his back tingle at Wei Min's knowing look, so he quickly diverted attention and asked, "Sir, should we take the official road or the side road back to the capital?"
Wei Min's promotion may make some people in the capital sleep uneasy. How could they let a princess like her go back so easily?
Wei Min shook the book in his hand, raised his eyelids, and smiled, "Of course it's the official road. I will go back in a swagger, making those who are guessing where I am going unable to sleep every night. I will also enter the capital safely and scare away those who wish I could never go back."
She didn't want to go back timidly and in disgrace. She thought back to the time when Wei Min won the top three places in the imperial examination. Even though she was demoted to Zhucheng, she was still promoted and returned to Beijing three years later.
Wei Min wanted to go back openly, so that those people who knew her whereabouts but could not get rid of her would be afraid of her and become wary of her.
The reason why Wei Min was so confident was that he had allowed Shi Ba to train a group of secret guards over the past three years, and now was the time to test the results.
Wei Min had never planned to live in Zhucheng for a long time from the beginning. Knowing that he would have to return to Beijing in three years, how could he not make full preparations?
Wei Min wanted to see who could stop her from going back this time!
The author has something to say: Small theater
Eighteen: Xiaojiuer, will you come back with me?
29: I need to think about it
A Ruan: Erjiu, come back to Beijing with me
29: Good =v=
18: _(:зゝ∠)_ There is no harm without comparison
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