Chapter 309 Chapter 309 Return to Beijing
Xu Yunfan glanced at the immaculately swept courtyard and said, "It's like this... So, I want to talk to Guo Qi and see what he thinks."
Fu Qingyu is currently recruiting people to research weapons. The several wooden tools Guo Qi made for Lijia Village are very practical. This kid is able to research and develop useful tools while studying. If he has access to better teaching resources, he might have more ideas.
Upon learning the purpose of Xu Yunfan's visit, Guo Xiaochi was so excited that he didn't know what to do, but what followed was an indelible melancholy.
A college is a better place than a private school, and it is a place that many students yearn for. But at the same time, the tuition fees of the college are very expensive, and it is not affordable for ordinary families, let alone families like theirs.
At the same time, Guo Xiaochi was happy that Guo Qi's abilities were recognized and that he could go further in the future, but he was also worried and felt inferior about it.
Guo Qi has gone further. Will he still want him when the time comes?
They had been married for two years, but they had been sleeping in separate rooms all this time. Guo Qi had never had any thoughts of getting closer to him and always treated him with respect, like an older brother. If he asked himself, Guo Qi had sacrificed his marriage to protect him, if in the future... he should have no complaints.
But he just couldn't bear to do it.
Guo Xiaochi's thoughts suddenly drifted too far, and he didn't even notice when Guo Qi arrived at the gate of the yard carrying a bundle of firewood.
As the men were discussing matters, Grandma Li naturally pulled Guo Xiaochi to the kitchen. In the main hall, she had already heard about this young teacher who had stood out in the teacher competition and achieved an unprecedented high score. When she saw Xu Yunfan, she was so excited that she didn't know what to do. Guo Qi learned the purpose of Xu Yunfan's visit and shook his head and refused without much thought, "Thank you for your kindness, Master Xu, but Qingling County is very far from Guojia Village. I already have a husband at home. In addition, given my situation, if I don't come back for a long time, my husband will be bullied."
"Have you thought it through?"
"I've thought about it. I study for my ambitions and to improve my life, to give my family a better life. But if I leave, my husband... I can't bear to leave him. Studying like this goes against my original intention."
Thinking of the farm tools Guo Qi had made, Xu Yunfan didn't want to let such a talent go. "Then, haven't you thought about taking him along? I told you, I'll recommend you, and I'll take care of all your other worries. You're quite talented at making tools, and given time, you'll definitely have a bright future. With this favorable opportunity, you should know what to choose."
"I heard that Mr. Guo is good at embroidery. I can teach him some other things when the time comes. That way, he can make a living from this skill and have enough food and clothing."
"Master Xu can embroider?" Guo Qi was very surprised, as if he had heard something out of the ordinary. No, how could Xu Yunfan, a man, actually know needlework?
Oh, it turns out that I have a narrow vision. I heard that this Lord Xu danced in the competition with Master Yu. The way her waist twisted, her smiles and eyes flickered were so charming and alluring that she really captured the hearts of men and made them itch.
That’s it, it seems that being able to embroider is nothing to be surprised about.
Xu Yunfan shamelessly boasted, "Yes, I can. Besides cooking, I'm capable of everything else. To be honest, I'm a jack of all trades. I've solved all your worries for you. Now I'm asking you, will you go? If you go, you'll be mine from now on, and I'll be at your service. Look, I've brought you a letter of recommendation."
Guo Qi curiously opened Xu Yunfan's letter of recommendation, and after reading the content clearly, the corner of his mouth twitched.
He counted them, and wow, was Xu Yunfan too thrifty and afraid of wasting ink, or was he just too lazy? He only wrote eight words in a letter of recommendation.
“This is the student I recommended.”
In just a few words, a sense of dominance can be felt for no reason.
Guo Qi hesitated and said, "Master Xu, isn't this letter of recommendation too simple? Will Dean Jiang accept it?"
Xu Yunfan waved his hand. "Simple? That's why I said you're still too young. It doesn't really matter how the recommendation letter is written. What matters is who wrote it."
Guo Qi: “…”
Well, he is narrow-minded.
Xu Yunfan patted Guo Qi's shoulder and said, "I know you need to think carefully before making this decision. After all, you're going with your family, so there are many things to consider. Let's think about it first. Wait until spring and then go. By then, I'll have someone send some embroidery information to Mr. Guo. Speaking of Mr. Guo, I think I should have a good talk with you about this. You know, from now on, you will be my man, and I don't want my people to make any unpleasant rumors or scandals. This will also damage my reputation, don't you think?"
"I know." Just because Guo Qi didn't enter the officialdom doesn't mean he knows nothing.
Students pay attention to reputation, and those who hold high positions value it even more.
"He is my husband, forever."
As he said this, Guo Qi's face flushed red, and he couldn't help but lower his voice. "Brother Xiaochi is very good. Without him, I wouldn't be who I am today. Ever since father and the others left, Brother Xiaochi has been taking care of me. I don't have any special abilities, but I've been taken care of by him. I eat and drink at his expense. Even the tuition for my private school and various expenses were paid for by him embroidering day and night with one hand. I will remember this kindness. When I get better, it's my turn to take care of him."
Embroidery is a job that other embroiderers with both hands find difficult. Guo Xiaochi only has one hand, and it is not easy for her to thread the needle on a daily basis. However, he has overcome all the difficulties.
Since marrying Guo Xiaochi, they have become a real family. They are registered under the same household. They are the closest family members and will never be separated.
"It's good that you can think this way. If you become successful in the future and do things like taking concubines or mistresses, or even favoring concubines over your wife, I can help you rise, and I can also help you fall. As far as I'm concerned, the world is so big, and there's no shortage of talented people like you. Do you understand?"
Guo Qi nodded quickly, "I know, Master Xu, don't worry. I can't guarantee anything else, but I can guarantee you this: Xiao Chi will be my only wife and my only husband."
Xu Yunfan was satisfied. He valued talent and was willing to give Guo Qi a chance to make a breakthrough, but he did not want Guo Xiaochi to live a more painful life in the future because of him.
When they returned to Old Man Li's house, Lord Qi came over and said, "I heard that you went to Guojia Village to look for someone today? You are really quick to act, boy."
Lord Qi has been very busy recently. When he learned from Old Man Li that Xu Yunfan had gone to Guojia Village, Lord Qi was very curious. After some inquiries, he was taken by Old Man Li to the village chief's house to see the rice pounding machine.
As the Minister of Works, Lord Qi could tell at a glance that the rice pounding machine was unusual. Unfortunately, Xu Yunfan got along well with the women in the village, and knew everything about the village, so Xu Yunfan got there first.
"You kid, you're not from the Ministry of Industry, so why are you trying to snatch someone from me? Guo Qi is talented in this area. If I give him some training, his future achievements will definitely be far greater than what he has today."
Xu Yunfan glanced at Master Qi and almost sneered at him, "I'm not from the Ministry of Industry, but I own so many factories. I'll need a lot of machines in the future. The improvement and maintenance of these machines won't require carpentry talents."
Last time, when the salt factory and the factory building in the northern suburbs were being built, not only was it difficult to find carpenters, but some of the carpenters were not skilled enough and could not even understand the blueprints. In that case, why didn't he train his own?
Lord Qi was immediately choked up. He wanted to say that people like Guo Qi should be handed over to the Dayan Dynasty and work hard for the court. However, after being with Xu Yunfan for so long, he knew too well that this trick would not work on Xu Yunfan at all.
…
The road condition survey and compensation payment were nearing completion, and Xu Yunfan began packing and organizing his things early in the morning.
Master Qi looked at the bags that Xu Yunfan had sorted out and asked, "What did you bring? Local specialties?"
Xu Yunfan shook his head: "What local specialties? I made all of this. Sir Qi, you are going back in a carriage, right? Then please help me take these back. I will ride on horseback."
"You're going back on horseback?" Lord Qi shuddered. "It's so cold, there's no need to rush back. The wind is biting, so there's really no need."
"Why not? I agreed to come for a month, but it has been delayed for more than half a month. My family must miss me. The carriage is too slow, riding a horse is faster." Xu Yunfan couldn't wait a moment. Qin Run wrote him a letter a few days ago. After reading the letter, he missed Qin Run even more.
During this period, not only was he not used to his bed, he couldn't fall asleep without Qin Run holding him. He would only lie down every night when he was too sleepy. Now, he couldn't wait to see Qin Run, lie on his bed at home, be held by Qin Run, breathe in the faint scent of his body, and have a good sleep.
Xu Yunfan ignored Lord Qi's advice, and Lord Qi had no choice but to send a few guards to escort him.
As soon as he arrived in Beijing, Xu Yunfan rode his horse to Yunrun Restaurant. From a distance, even through the passers-by, Xu Yunfan seemed to have installed radar and saw the familiar figure that he had been thinking about day and night at a glance.
Xu Yunfan, who came on horseback, shouted with impatience, "Qin Run!"
When I see the person I have been thinking about day and night, at that moment, all the longing, fatigue, and boredom of not being able to see him/her are instantly swept away.
It had only been over a month since they last saw each other, but to Xu Yunfan, it felt like a very long time had passed.
A day without seeing you feels like three years.
During this period, he missed Qin Run so much!
Without Qin Run, he couldn't eat or sleep well.
When he was not around, Xu Yunfan always felt that something was missing, as if his life was incomplete.
He didn't feel tormented by the longing for Qin Run during his busy days, but when it was late at night and everyone was asleep, he habitually wanted to touch the person next to him, but when he turned around, he touched nothing. When he subconsciously turned around to call Qin Run, he saw only an empty room with no one in it. The sudden and clear longing reached an unprecedented level.
This habit is really terrible. It is deeply ingrained and cannot be changed.
Xu Yunfan called out again, "Qin Run!"
The moment he saw Qin Run, he was eager to hold her in his arms.
"Yunfan!" Qin Run looked up when he heard the familiar voice.
When he saw the person coming towards him, Qin Run wanted to laugh, but for some reason, he just couldn't laugh.
Getting closer!
Xu Yunfan pulled the reins, the horse raised its hooves, and the horse neighed. Xu Yunfan didn't care about anything else, so he dismounted and ran towards Qin Run in a few steps.
"Xu Yunfan!" Qin Run also ran over, reached out to catch the person who rushed over, picked him up and turned him around twice.
Xu Yunfan: “…”
Wrong, wrong, it shouldn’t be like this!
In his imagination, his boyfriend should be the one who picks Qin Run up and spins him around a few times, but instead of being the one being held like now, he is the one being held.
Out of his last bit of dignity, Xu Yunfan didn't put his arms around Qin Run's neck, but just pounded his hands, looking a bit hopeless. But in fact, he was so happy that he let Qin Run hug him and throw him around.
Qin Run turned around twice before putting him down. He held Xu Yunfan's face and looked at him carefully, as if he couldn't see enough. "Yunfan, I missed you so much. You're finally back."
"I miss you, Run'er. I miss you too." Xu Yunfan put his arm around Qin Run's waist and held him tightly in his arms. Their chests were so close that the other's heartbeat vibrated into his empty right chest. "I'm sorry, I miscalculated the date and made you worry."
Xu Yunfan had lost some weight, with a faint blue tint under his eyes, and his face was full of fatigue. He had rushed all the way back, so he was inevitably exhausted, but he was still in good spirits.
"I'm glad you're back. It doesn't matter if you're late, as long as you come back." Qin Run's eyes turned red with smile, and his index finger gently stroked Xu Yunfan's eyebrows.
Xu Yunfan's face was so cold that Qin Run's warm fingertips were almost frozen.
Qin Run felt a pain in his heart.
Xu Yunfan must be very cold after rushing all the way back.
Is he rushing back so quickly because of what I wrote in the letter, saying I really want to see him soon?
Qin Run's heart was full.
Who knows the feeling of having someone take your words seriously?
On the way home in the carriage, Qin Run's eyes never left Xu Yunfan. He was thinking, this person in front of him is so nice, so nice that he fell in love with him for no reason the first time he saw him.
Liking someone is really a very inexplicable and impulsive thing. You may fall in love with someone because of a trivial thing. Sometimes, it may be an indescribable feeling.
This feeling is so straightforward and intense that it breaks through the shackles of reason and tells you without hesitation that this is the person.
Qin Run had to admit that he fell in love with Xu Yunfan at first sight.
Who dares to say that falling in love at first sight is necessarily based on lust? Isn’t it a decision made after a sudden heartbeat?
Before the marriage, Lord Qin asked Qin Run if she regretted it and if she had decided on Xu Yunfan.
Qin Run didn't hesitate at all at the time. He said, "I don't regret it. This is him. I will be very happy to be with him."
"Why? How can you be so sure?" Lord Qin was very curious. He thought that Qin Run was probably at the peak of his emotions, his heart and eyes full of Xu Yunfan, so he thought so. "Is he really that good?"
It's like a love-brained person in the heat of love. During the passionate period, they can swear to each other all those vows of eternal love and love until death. But once they break up, all those words of eternal love become just idioms.
Qin Run was very confused when he was asked this question.
If one were to enumerate Xu Yunfan's good points, it would probably take a whole day and night to finish. But if one were to say what exactly he liked about Xu Yunfan, Qin Run couldn't put it into words.
This seems contradictory!
But it is not the case. Sometimes, liking someone is just liking them. There is no need to ask so many questions. It is simply a heart-pounding feeling. There is a voice in your heart telling you that this is the person. It is not based on what the other person has done for you. He likes everything about Xu Yunfan, so how can he like someone the most if he is not the one.
Just like at this moment, seeing her braving the cold wind to rush back just to see her other half earlier, Qin Run thought, how could he not be happy if he married Xu Yunfan.
"What are you thinking about?" Xu Yunfan couldn't help but feel curious when he saw Qin Run remained silent for a long time and kept staring at him.
Qin Run said very seriously: "I was thinking, I am so happy to meet you and be with you."
Xu Yunfan was a little stunned, and seemed to have not reacted to Qin Run's sudden confession. After a while, he blushed and said shamelessly: "You are so slow. I thought you knew about this a long time ago."
Qin Run tilted his head back, smiling until his eyes became moist. Since Xu Yunfan came to his side, he had never been separated from Xu Yunfan for so long. The two seemed to be in a standoff, neither of them willing to look away first. Qin Run stared at him for a long time, "You've lost weight. Didn't you eat well when you were out?"
Xu Yunfan shook his head. Even if he couldn't eat well, he wouldn't let Qin Run know. "No, I take good care of myself. It's just that you're not around and I miss you." He couldn't even sleep well. He wanted to be busy, to make himself tired, to distract himself, but it wouldn't work! Qin Run's presence was too strong.
Every blade of grass and every tree around him seemed to be related to Qin Run. When he saw the lonely pear tree on the mountain, he would think of Qin Run. When he saw the orange-red persimmons hanging on the branches, he would think of Qin Run. When he saw the clothes on his body, the plain meals on the table, and when he lay on the cold bed, in the dead of night... he would think of everything related to Qin Run.
His every smile, every move lingered in his mind. Qin Run was clearly not there, but wherever he looked and in his mind, Qin Run's figure was everywhere.
The vast army of memories is like a surging tide. In front of this powerful force, he is so small, and the resistance he can put on it is insignificant. In the end, he can only let himself be overwhelmed by the longing.
Xu Yunfan wanted to make himself tired and stop thinking too much, but he couldn't control himself. He was obviously thinking about other things, but in the end, for some reason, he was connected to Qin Run.
He's going crazy!
It’s so annoying!
Xu Yunfan never knew that one day he would become so dependent on someone. Every detail in his life was related to Qin Run. Trying to remove this person from his life was like taking half his life away.
After Xu Yunfan finished speaking, he held Qin Run a little tighter, and buried his head in Qin Run's neck, rubbing and sucking it lovingly.
"Are you tired? Do you want to take a shower and go back to your room to rest for a while?" Qin Run had just asked the day before yesterday. The people from the Ministry of Industry should not be able to return so soon. They should arrive in Beijing tomorrow, but Xu Yunfan arrived today. It can be seen that he has been on the road all the way and has not rested.
Severe lack of sleep made Xu Yunfan's brain slow to react. He said sullenly, "No, let me hold you for a while longer."
"You can hug me even when we get back to the room." Qin Run was so soft-hearted, "Be good, I'll get you some hot water. You can wash up first. I'll boil more hot water in the evening so you can take a good bath and get rid of your fatigue."
Xu Yunfan nodded and obediently let Qin Run lead him to the kitchen.
Watching Qin Run busying around, fetching water for him and finding clothes for him, Xu Yunfan did not go up to help. He just stood quietly by and watched. Although his body was cold, his heart was already warm.
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