Chapter 199 Departure, Farewell in the Suburbs...
Zhang Ting declined all farewell banquets and left Zhangzhou Prefecture at dawn three days later, just as quietly as she had arrived.
The carriage swayed and rocked as it traveled along the central road.
A lamp was placed in the dimly lit carriage, emitting a faint, yellowish light.
Tun Tun was sleeping soundly on the small tatami mat, occasionally letting out soft snores.
Zong Suyi tucked her in, the warm light making his features appear even more gentle. He whispered, "Little Pig really looks like you." He turned and snuggled into her arms. "His eyes are like yours, his nose is like yours, and his personality is like yours too."
Zhang Ting pulled him closer to her, hugging him even tighter, and pressed her hand against his forehead. "His personality is just like yours." Clumsy and simple-minded.
"What? You're just making fun of me. I'm being serious." Zong Suyi chuckled. "I mean, Little Pig is content with good food and sleep from a young age, never letting worries linger overnight, and has an open and cheerful heart."
Zhang Ting played with his hand, thinking to herself: So what if he's just a bit naive? And you've embellished it like this.
But outwardly they agreed: "What you say is absolutely right, sir. Contentment is the essence of life." After saying that, they couldn't help but despise themselves for how fake they sounded.
But Zong Suyi firmly believed: "All worries come from insatiable greed. I'll be happy as long as the little pig can live a peaceful life."
Zhang Ting nodded and smiled, but that didn't stop her from thinking he was talking nonsense. How could her offspring be unambitious and waste their time? She sighed inwardly: A doting father often spoils his son! It seems she has to go back to being a strict mother.
"Master!" The sound of horses' hooves came rapidly, and the horse reined in at the carriage window.
Zheng Er handed in a letter.
Zhang Ting and her husband looked at the letter together. It was Zhang Sheng's reply, which said that the matter of the clan alliance had been settled. She listed Zhang Shu's nephews and nieces, and then extended greetings to her on behalf of the entire Zhang family to show respect. Finally, she mentioned that the Zhang family would return to the capital to expand their business.
The content was all expected, nothing much to say.
Zong Suyi, however, was somewhat melancholy. "My aunt won't come with us to Yingzhou Prefecture either. She always says she loves piglets, but she's never seen one before."
Zhang Ting also had his own thoughts on this, saying, "It's not too late to invite our teacher after we've secured Yingzhou Prefecture."
Zong Suyi hesitated: "Once Auntie makes up her mind, nothing can change it. If we ask her, will she come?"
Zhang Ting looked at him and said confidently, "I definitely will." If they don't come, I'll lie to them; if I can't lie, I'll steal from them.
Zong Suyi looked at her with starry eyes. His wife was so reassuring. He nuzzled against her neck, trying to hold back, but finally couldn't resist and bit her.
Zhang Ting clutched her neck in pain, staring at him in disbelief. This dog's rabies hadn't been cured yet.
Zong Suyi didn't know how to explain, and bit her lip guiltily. "Let me see." She leaned closer and scratched her neck.
Zhang Ting took a deep breath and reached out to stop him.
"Don't come any closer, I'm scared," she said weakly. What husband likes to bite his wife all the time?
He twisted his fingers, pouted, and said, "They didn't do it on purpose."
Zhang Ting smiled weakly, "Yes, you did it on purpose." She took her husband's hand and said to him earnestly, "Sometimes I feel helpless, and I even want to lock you in a cage."
“But I didn’t do that.”
Zong Suyi was deeply moved; his wife's tolerance showed how much she truly loved him. He vowed to be more tolerant next time…
"Because dogs can be trained, but men can't, so there's no point in doing this."
Zong Suyi: "..." His fist hardened.
They called him a dog, but they went so far as to say he was even worse than a dog! That's outrageous!
His face turned red with anger, and he clenched his fists as he lunged at her to teach her a lesson.
Zhang Ting remained motionless and said again, "Even so, I still like you very much."
Zong Suyi immediately stopped her sharp nails, looked at her with a shy yet resentful expression, and then snuggled into her arms like a docile little lamb.
He lightly punched her chest and scolded, "You rascal, why didn't you say so sooner?"
Zhang Ting chuckled but didn't say anything.
It was already broad daylight outside, and the carriage drove away from the prefectural city.
Tun Tun yawned, turned over, and went back to sleep.
The little one curled up on the inside, sleeping soundly and peacefully.
Zhang Ting watched with envy, wishing she could be alone too. She had been away from home for a while, but surely Zong Suyi didn't have to be clinging to her all the time? His clinginess was astonishing.
If word got out, people would laugh at Zhang Ting for being so easily entangled by a mere boy.
She leaned listlessly against the car wall, the person clinging to her like a spider. She stared blankly at the sky, wishing that anyone, at least for now, would come and rescue her!
The call seemed to be heard by the heavens, and the carriage stopped abruptly.
Zhang Ting was suddenly startled, straightened his back, and opened his eyes wide. "What's going on?" Even his voice sounded strong.
The woman in the carriage replied, "Sir, ahead, ahead..." Her voice trembled slightly.
Zhang Ting couldn't guess what the big deal was, but since a legitimate reason had been offered to her, she didn't care. She quickly pulled Zong Suyi off her and said righteously, "My lord, please wait a moment. I'll be right back."
He grabbed her sleeve, his eyes lingering, and said softly, "I'll wait for you."
Zhang Ting nodded solemnly, but made up her mind the moment she turned her back.
Once she escaped, the sea was wide enough for fish to leap and the sky high enough for birds to fly; she would never return to the carriage!
The noise outside was deafening, yet remarkably orderly, as if they were calling someone's name.
Zhang Ting raised an eyebrow, wondering if there was some reclusive master in Zhangzhou Prefecture who could attract such enthusiastic attention. If given the chance, she would make good use of it.
The moment the sedan curtain was lifted, her pupils contracted, and she froze.
A vast expanse of people stretched out in front of them, filling the once boundless plain with a dark, imposing mass, like a massive army pressing in.
They were even more excited when they saw Zhang Ting come out, and they all shouted her name, their voices so loud that they seemed to pierce the sky.
She stepped down and came to their side, her lips moving slightly, "Around the time of Grain in Ear, why aren't you all rushing to harvest and plant? What are you doing here?"
An elder from the clan walked out, his back hunched. “You have done so much for our Zhangzhou Prefecture. Everyone knows you are leaving, so we must come and see you off no matter what.”
She beckoned a group of young men over. They were all dressed in scholar's robes, elegant and refined, exuding a scholarly air. They were silent, their eyes filled with tears of gratitude, and they all knelt down to kowtow to her.
"These are the scholars who passed the imperial examination in Zhangzhou Prefecture this February, more than a hundred of them. You weren't here then, so I called them here to kowtow to you."
"They are all children from poor families who couldn't afford to go to school. If it weren't for your great efforts in promoting the imperial examinations, exempting these children from tuition fees, and implementing the policy of work-study programs, how could they be where they are today?"
"Thank you for your life-saving grace, sir. I will never forget it!"
Zhang Ting helped the man up, saying, "I merely laid a brick for you; you paved the way yourselves. Why thank me?"
She was delighted that Zhangzhou Prefecture had gained many more scholars, which meant that the flame of learning would continue to burn. If this continued year after year, one day it would be able to rival the flourishing literary culture of Huzhou Prefecture.
The old man couldn't help but shed tears, exclaiming, "After you came, the children of Zhangzhou Prefecture will no longer be without books to read."
Zhang Ting, however, did not take it to heart and laughed, "In the future, everyone will be able to study, and Zhangzhou Prefecture will be able to cultivate many Jinshi and Juren. One day it will be able to rival the major prefectures in the imperial examinations."
Many people in the crowd covered their faces and wept, sobbing, "But you're leaving, you won't see this scene..." "Please stay, sir, and continue to be our benefactor..."
The old man scolded her, "People strive for higher positions, water flows downhill; we can't think of being a burden to our elders!"
The crowd was filled with sobs, deeply saddened by the parting.
Just then, a group of people squeezed through, shouting, "Grandma County Magistrate, Grandma County Magistrate, we've come to see you off!"
The person who came was running a bit fast, panting heavily, "Oh dear, I finally caught up."
“Grandma, we’re not very educated, but we wanted to give you something as a keepsake, so here it is.” She scratched her head and added, “We don’t have much money, so you can’t look down on us.”
Zhang Ting smiled faintly and replied, "If it's extravagant, I wouldn't dare accept it." This group of people were all from Fengxian, the first place she was sent to serve as an official.
The man scratched his head, chuckled twice, and opened the cloth bag amidst the crowd. He then took out an umbrella covered with tattered strips of cloth.
It is indeed quite meager, but it is still a token of our goodwill.
But when Zhang Ting looked closely, she was completely stunned.
The umbrella was embroidered with four large characters, “Wanmin Gandai” (meaning “The people are grateful”), and small strips of cloth hung around its perimeter, each bearing the names of many people.
These are the signatures of all the people of Fengxian. Those who couldn't write put their handprints on them.
The significance of this is unimaginable. It signifies that Zhang Ting has gained the approval of every resident of Fengxian, and everyone strongly supports her.
"Sir, you have been our umbrella for so long, and we want to shelter you from the wind and rain...Sir, this is the heartfelt wish of all the people in our county."
They were originally lowly and inferior people, tossed around by those in power, with no way to survive, their lives shrouded in darkness, but one day a ray of light suddenly shone into their lives.
Caves are inherently dark, but when light shines in, darkness is no longer their destiny.
The people of Fengxian will remember the person who changed their destiny forever and ever.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
