After the banquet ended, Qin Xiaoshan and Fang Qian took their leave one after the other.
Night fell quickly. The oil lamp in the Shen residence’s study had been lit, its warm glow spreading across the patterned window lattice like clusters of little fires in the chilly autumn night.
The door swung shut, blocking out the faint chirping of insects from the courtyard.
Shen Guanting took his seat. His expression remained as gentle and composed as ever, but his opening was blunt and direct. “What plans does Grandfather have in mind?”
Shen Zhongming was adjusting the lampwick. At that, he raised his eyes. “You’ve come rushing over before you even know whether I have any plans?”
“Look at you,” Shen Guanting said, the lamplight wavering faintly in his eyes. “I’m your own grandson, after all. Naturally, I have to follow your every step. What if you suddenly get it into your head to watch that old rival make a fool of himself and drag the whole family into troubled waters…”
As he spoke, he slowly leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed. “These bones of mine couldn’t withstand prison, let alone exile thousands of li away. Besides, I’m terribly particular about food. If I can’t eat well or sleep soundly, I’m afraid I’d be dead before I even made it out of the prison gates.”
“You certainly think far ahead—even worrying about prison fare,” Shen Zhongming said, shooting him a glance. “The Shen family is merely a lowly merchant household. What could we possibly do? No matter how thoroughly things are turned upside down above us, all we can do is mind our own business, carry on with a modest trade, and guard the little wealth we have.”
He set down the copper pick and slowly bent to sit in the armchair. His voice was even and unhurried. “Heaven’s might is unpredictable, and the tides of fortune change without warning. Those are matters for the people above us. We common folk are short-sighted and cannot make sense of them. We can see only the patch of ground beneath our feet and recognize only one thing: profit.”
“Guanting will remember that,” Shen Guanting replied with lowered eyes.
Shen Zhongming gazed at his grandson. The boy had been clever from childhood. Though he appeared carefree and unconstrained in everything he did, in truth each step was carefully calculated, and his thoughts ran deep. There were many things he likely could not hide from him.
“You’ve been running that porridge stall outside the city for several days now. When do you plan to close it?” Shen Zhongming asked casually as he lifted his teacup.
“Of course, I’ll keep it open until the day I leave Lingzhou,” Shen Guanting answered crisply.
“You? Leave Lingzhou? Are you planning to abandon this old man and go off enjoying yourself somewhere?” Shen Zhongming gave a soft laugh and studied him for a moment. Seeing that his expression had not changed, he finally shook his head. “Since Old Qin and Qian have both arrived, we should start making preparations to leave.”
Shen Guanting nodded. He rose and walked to the door, the candlelight casting his tall, straight figure onto the wooden panels.
Shen Zhongming gazed at that silhouette, then suddenly spoke again. “For now, don’t let your people disturb that mother and daughter.”
Shen Guanting’s footsteps halted. He turned around. “Which mother and daughter? You’ve confused me, Grandfather. Could it be that our Shen family has another branch wandering about here?”
Shen Zhongming glared at him. “Can’t that mouth of yours ever stop?”
“You know who I mean. They’re living fairly peacefully at present. Since nothing has happened, if we rashly interfere, we may only bring them trouble for no reason. They’re in Lingzhou. If some unavoidable crisis arises, quietly keep an eye on them and lend a hand if necessary. But for now, it’s best not to act.” Shen Zhongming’s voice was deep and measured.
If that mother and daughter truly possessed an extraordinary identity, then they were already treading on thin ice, barely maintaining their fragile peace. Unnecessary outside interference might instead shatter that delicate balance, which would not necessarily be a good thing.
As for their identity, when the time came for it to be known, it would naturally become known.
“Guanting understands.” Shen Guanting said no more. He raised a hand, pushed open the door, and walked out.
Lin Wu and Lin Jing left the Shen residence without a hitch.
Aside from Old Master Shen’s brief visit to the kitchen earlier, nothing else had happened, just as expected. Steward Zhou had merely come to say that the head household was very pleased with the dishes and to settle their wages: five taels for the work and another five taels as a reward, ten taels of silver in all. The Shen family had certainly been generous.
They had even thoughtfully prepared a covered mule cart to take the two of them to an inn.
The carriage compartment was not very spacious, but it had been cleaned thoroughly. Lin Jing sat quietly beside her, clutching the food box resting on his lap. Steward Zhou had given it to them before they left, saying that it contained some leftover food from the kitchen for them to take home. That saved them the trouble of buying their evening meal at the market.
Lin Wu tucked the purse containing the ten taels of silver into their bundle. That amount would be enough to support them through a long stretch of travel. They might even be able to rent a small house in some inconspicuous prefecture or county and stay there for a while. The pressure of saving up travel money had suddenly eased considerably.
But renting a house also required official identification papers. Thinking of this, Lin Wu sighed inwardly and drew the bundle closer.
No matter what, she had to find out more about the roads ahead and leave Lingzhou as soon as possible.
The mule cart came to a steady stop in front of the inn. Lin Wu lifted the curtain and climbed down, thanking the driver before taking Lin Jing by the hand and leading him inside.
After they ate their evening meal, she looked out at the deepening darkness beyond the window. Another day had passed.
She considered the matter carefully. She still needed to go to the docks to ask around. But… although she had the excuse of searching for her elder brother, a young woman with a child wandering around the docks every day would inevitably attract attention. It would be best if she had another way to make a living.
The next day, before the sky had fully brightened, Lin Wu rose and went out.
First, she went to the market to buy some white flour and a small bundle of scallions. She also picked up a battered bamboo basket, then returned and borrowed the innkeeper’s large stove.
Scallion-oil leavened flatbreads required only simple ingredients and were quick to make. In a little over an hour, more than twenty fragrant, glistening flatbreads were neatly stacked in the basket.
She covered the basket with a clean coarse cloth. Then she took out a headscarf and tied it around Lin Jing’s head. It would shield him from some of the sunlight and also conceal his face a little.
By the time they left, the sun had risen high. Lin Wu held Lin Jing’s hand tightly, carried the basket over her arm, and headed toward the docks.
Once there, they went straight to the location of Jincheng Trading House as before. But before they had even drawn near, a young clerk who recognized them spotted them and came over with a smile.
“Mrs. Lin, what brings you here today? Are you looking for Xiao Zhao? He isn’t at the docks right now—he’s busy at the warehouse.”
Lin Wu shook her head and lifted the basket slightly on her arm. In a gentle voice, she said, “I thought I might as well find something to do instead of sitting idle. I made some flatbreads and brought them over to see if I could sell them.”
“Now that’s a fine idea!” The clerk’s eyes lit up, and his voice rose with excitement. “Ever since you left the caravan, I’ve been thinking about your cooking. Give me one, quick!”
“You’re too kind, young sir.” Lin Wu smiled as she lifted the cloth. The aroma of scallions immediately filled the air. Each flatbread was round and plump, its surface lightly browned and shining with oil. One glance was enough to tell that it would taste delicious.
The clerk sniffed appreciatively and praised them again and again. “Smells wonderful! Just the scent is making my mouth water!”
“These are scallion-oil leavened flatbreads. They aren’t stuffed, but they’re quite substantial—two of them are about the size of one sour-pickle bun,” Lin Wu explained as she deftly used long chopsticks to lift out a steaming flatbread. “Since you’re my first customer, you can have one for two copper coins.”
The moment she finished speaking, Lin Jing reached into the little bucket-shaped pouch hanging from his chest and took out a broad leaf, spreading it across his palm.
Lin Wu placed the flatbread securely on the leaf. Lin Jing folded it up neatly with his small hands and held it out with both hands.
“Thank you! I’m getting quite a bargain today!” the clerk said cheerfully as he handed over two copper coins.
“I should be the one thanking you for supporting my business. Come again if you enjoy it.”
The assistant took the pancake, and before he had walked a few steps, he could not resist taking a big bite. The freshly cooked pancake had a slightly crispy outer crust and a soft, fluffy inside. The aroma of scallions mixed with the scent of wheat spread out as he chewed, drawing the attention of several porters nearby, who could not help but sniff the air.
In the blink of an eye, he finished the whole pancake. He smacked his lips, still savoring the lingering full flavor in his mouth. Turning on his heel, he headed back over, calling out loudly, "Mrs. Lin, give me another one!"
Someone nearby saw this and could not help but chuckle and ask, "Whoa, is it that good? One is not enough?"
"Of course it is! It's absolutely delicious!"
This back-and-forth made the onlookers around them grow a little curious, and they started to gather around in twos and threes.
Lin Wu kept her hands busy, filling the pancakes and collecting money, while Lin Jing stood by her side, passing over the broad leaves to wrap the pancakes in perfect sync.
Those who bought the pancakes did not rush off. They stood at the side, eating heartily, and soon this little corner had become quite lively.
As they waited in the queue, everyone started chatting.
"Jin Cheng Trading Company has been parked here for two days now, right? I wonder when they'll be leaving, and if they're still hiring temporary porters?"
Someone nudged the Jin Cheng Trading Company assistant who had just bought the pancake, "Hey buddy, do you have any news about that?"
The assistant was mid-bite into his second pancake, and waved his hand vaguely, "I'm just a errand runner. How would I know anything about what the higher-ups decide?"
"And there's the Zhi Yun Weaving Firm run by the Shen family. Since Jin Cheng has already arrived, Zhi Yun will probably be leaving soon too."
"Then I'd better keep a close eye on them. The jobs at Zhi Yun are great, the pay has always been generous."
"Those are truly top-notch jobs. The owner of Zhi Yun is so kind and benevolent. These past few days, they've even set up a porridge shed on the outskirts of town."
"Zhi Yun will either leave in the next couple of days, or they'll have to delay their departure for a while."
"Hey buddy, sounds like you know something?"
That person lowered his voice a little, "I heard a slip of the tongue from someone at the courier station. The convoy escorting exiled convicts and their families will be passing through our Lingzhou territory in a few days."
Hearing this, Lin Wu's hand, which was just about to hand over a pancake, paused almost imperceptibly. Little Lin Jing's small body also stiffened, his tiny hand almost tearing the broad leaf he was holding.
"What does an exiled convoy passing by have to do with when Zhi Yun leaves?"
"You don't get it, do you? The exiled convoy is heading for Nan Ya, and they have to take the official southbound road. Zhi Yun came here from Huzhou, and their return trip naturally goes southeast, but they still have to head south for a stretch first. Their paths will cross. That's why Zhi Yun either has to leave a few days ahead of that convoy, or wait until they're long gone before setting off, to avoid any trouble."
"What's there to avoid? The merchant caravan has no relation, no grudge, no connection to the exiled convoy. They can just go their own separate ways, can't they?"
"It's not that simple. When a convoy like that passes through, every prefecture and county along the way is on high alert, and their checks become exceptionally strict. A merchant caravan carrying a large load of goods, if they run into them, will have to waste so much time just going through the checkpoints and having their documents verified. They could even get caught up in unnecessary trouble for no reason."
The few people around all nodded in realization at these words, and started whispering among themselves.
Lin Wu did not stop her work. She wrapped and handed out pancake after pancake, and soon the twenty or so pancakes were almost all sold out.
When only four were left, she gently covered the cloth towel over them. With one hand, she picked up the bamboo basket that was now mostly empty and covered it with another cloth, and with the other, she held Lin Jing's slightly cold little hand tightly.
The basket was light now, but she felt a heavy weight in her heart, a hollow, empty feeling.
They still did not know where their next stop would be, or which path they should take, but they had already learned the whereabouts of that convoy ahead of time.
The weather was getting colder day by day now. Those people, coming straight out of prison, would have to trek thousands of miles through wind and frost all the way. One could almost imagine how miserable and desolate that scene would be.
But her and A Jing's situation was hardly any better. They had no official travel permits, no clean, legitimate identity. They could not show themselves openly, and one wrong move would lead to utter ruin.
There were seven or eight days left.
They and that convoy had originally been two completely unrelated lines, but now it looked like they were about to cross paths in Lingzhou. No one knew what kind of unforeseen changes this would bring.
Should she follow what Zhi Yun was planning to do, and rush to leave ahead of them? Or should she just wait until that convoy was far gone before making any plans?
She had originally planned to carefully inquire about travel routes and merchant caravans, and set off only after making proper preparations. But now it felt like someone had pushed her from behind, catching her off guard, leaving her feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place.
It was deep autumn. The north wind, carrying fine sand and dust, blew against people's faces like a scraping knife.
On the official road near the capital, the weeds grew thick and wild, stretching as far as the eye could see. A silent convoy was moving slowly across it.
The convoy stretched for nearly a hundred people, and the only sounds to be heard were the clanking of iron shackles dragging across the ground, mixed with intermittent, suppressed coughs.
Gu Qing had once been the most dazzling jewel in the capital, but now she was just as disheveled and dirty as everyone else in the group. A heavy wooden yoke pressed down on her slender shoulders, grinding against her skin even through her rough clothing. The iron chains around her wrists and ankles had rubbed open bleeding wounds, and every step she took sent a piercing pain through her body.
But she could not care less about herself. She used nearly all her remaining strength to hold up her younger brother, who was swaying unsteadily beside her. Fourteen-year-old Gu Jue had been weak and sickly since childhood, and the cold, sunless days in prison had completely shattered his already frail body.
He was shivering nonstop right now, when suddenly he bent over and started coughing so violently that his whole thin frame curled up, as if he was about to cough out his own internal organs.
"Jue..." Gu Qing's mother, Madam Liang, could not hold back any longer and began to weep softly.
The escorting officers turned a blind eye to this, and snapped at them sharply from time to time, "Stop that crying! Stop dawdling! Do you want to die out here in the middle of nowhere?"
Old Madam Zhou, who was walking in the next group of convicts, sighed deeply. She glanced at her eldest grandson Chen Wang, who was also barely clinging to life, then looked over at Gu Jue, the young Gu family boy who was curled over coughing, her old eyes filled with nothing but sadness.
These young men, who should have been in the academy studying classics and debating ideas, full of vigor and ambition, were now all gaunt and emaciated, staggering along as if a single gust of wind could blow them over.
She reached out and gripped her eldest daughter-in-law Madam Yang's wrist tightly, whispering, "How many doses of Wang's medicine do we have left?"
To keep her eldest grandson, who had caught a cold in prison, alive, they had sold off every last valuable thing they owned, and scraped together a small favor from an old, thin acquaintance of theirs, just to get a few doses of tonic herbs to sustain him, which they had kept close to them the whole journey.
"Only five doses left," Madam Yang's voice was choked with sobs. "We've been boiling each dose over and over again, until the medicinal broth is as thin as water. It's at least two months from here to Nan Ya, how are we ever going to make it through?"
Old Madam Zhou was silent for a moment. Her gaze swept over Gu Jue's trembling, thin back, and she said slowly, "Set aside two doses, send them over to Young Jue."
"Mother, but..." Madam Yang looked hesitant.
"Grandmother." A faint voice came from beside them. Chen Wang, who had been leaning against Madam Yang's side, slowly opened his eyes. He had been strikingly handsome in the past, and now that he was gaunt from illness, his face looked even paler and more refined.
His breath was so weak that every word he spoke seemed to drain his energy, but he still forced himself to say, "Give them to Jue. I can... hold on a little longer."
Old Madam Zhou looked into her grandson's gentle eyes, then lifted her head to gaze at the endless stretch of loess official road ahead. She finally closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them again, her voice was calm and resolute, "We'll figure everything out once we get to Lingzhou."
Madam Yang reached into the inner pocket of her close-fitting bag and rummaged around for a moment, pulling out two small medicine packets wrapped in several layers of thick linen cloth.
She tucked the medicine pouch tight against her chest, then padded quietly over to the queue where the Gu family stood.
"This, this is absolutely impossible!" The moment Madam Liang saw the medicine pouch Madam Yang was holding out to her, she waved her hands in a frantic fluster, tears spilling immediately down her cheeks. "This is the life-saving medicine for Young Wang. We can't take it..."
"Take it. Saving a life comes first," Madam Yang's throat tightened with a sob. When she glanced over at the frail Gu Jue standing off to the side, the last trace of reluctance she had harbored in her heart melted away. She pressed the medicine pouch firmly into Madam Liang's hands without leaving any room for refusal. "Boil it in water. One dose can be simmered several times over. Even when the medicinal brew grows thin, it will still be enough to keep a flicker of life in him."
At that moment, Gu Qing stepped forward and took the medicine pouch with both hands. Her eyes were red as she bowed deeply to Madam Yang. "The Chen family's great kindness will never be forgotten by the Gu family, for as long as we live."
Madam Yang turned her face away, unable to bear watching any longer. She only gave a soft, quiet acknowledgement before hurrying off. Behind her, the sharp shouts of the yamen officers rang out, forbidding the two families from exchanging any more words.
The sun sank westward, and the chill in the air deepened. The golden afterglow of the sunset stretched their shadows long across the ground, like lifeless phantoms.
Southeast of Lingzhou City, Lin Wu carried a bamboo basket in one hand and led Lin Jing toward the warehouse of the Jin Cheng Trading Company with the other.
Her mind drifted to the idle chatter she had overheard from the shop assistants a little earlier. The Zhi Yun Trading Company had come from Huzhou, and it was due to head back there soon.
And the other day when she had gone to the Shen Manor, Old Master Shen had seemed a kindly, familiar sort of man. On top of that, the Jin Cheng Trading Company and Zhi Yun Trading Company had close ties, and the shop assistants all spoke of the latter with obvious respect. It stood to reason that Zhi Yun Trading Company would be a reliable, trustworthy outfit.
If she could manage to hitch a ride on their fleet of boats heading south, even for just a stretch of the journey, that would be wonderful. If everything went smoothly along the way, it wouldn't matter at all if they traveled all the way to Huzhou with them.
She pondered the plan in her head, knowing she would have to ask Xiao Zhao for every last detail about the matter.
The further she walked toward the warehouse district, the quieter the surrounding streets grew. The road was wide and spacious, lined on both sides by tall brick walls enclosing storehouses and freight depots. Now and then a shop assistant would push a wooden cart in or out of a gate, and compared to the noisy bustle of the docks, this area felt orderly yet distinctly quiet.
Lin Jing, who had been silent the whole time, had his small hand trembling slightly in hers. She looked down at him and saw that he was biting his lower lip so hard his knuckles were white, his eyes bright red, yet he did not make a single sound.
Lin Wu sighed softly and gave his little hand a reassuring squeeze.
When she lifted her gaze again, the view ahead opened up wide. In front of an exceptionally spacious warehouse gate hung the company flag of Jin Cheng Trading Company. The grey brick walls stretched on in neat, continuous rows, and the two large black lacquered gates stood wide open. Through them, she could faintly make out neatly stacked crates and the figures of people weaving back and forth inside.
Just as she was focusing her attention on the sight, the steady clop of hooves on the stone pavement came from behind her, slow and unhurried.
The sound drew closer and closer, and then a light breeze swept past. A jet-black horse with four snow-white hooves trotted right past her side, its coat glossy as polished black satin, the lines of its muscles rippling smoothly as it moved.
A young man in indigo fitted riding attire sat astride the horse, his dark hair tied high up at the back of his head, a few loose strands fluttering gently in the wind. He held himself straight and tall, the motion of his hand guiding the reins sharp and steady. Even riding at this ordinary, unhurried pace, he carried himself with a calm, composed bearing.
As if sensing the figures by the roadside, he turned his head slightly, his eyes lowering.
The clear autumn sunlight shifted as he moved, casting streaks of light and shadow across the outline of his face. His features were hard to make out clearly, but his eyes were like a still, cold pool, calm and without a single ripple.
Through the shifting light and floating dust, their gazes collided unexpectedly.
In that exact instant, a gust of wind blew through, sweeping up bits of fallen leaves and fine dust. The fragments of foliage and tiny motes of dust swirled in the sunlight, blurring the view.
Lin Wu lowered her eyelids calmly, tipping her head slightly downward. She lifted a hand to adjust the kerchief on Lin Jing's head, then led him half a step to the side of the road to make way for the horse, just like any ordinary pedestrian avoiding someone on the road.
The horse did not slow its pace. It carried on past them toward the front, then came to a smooth stop right at the gate of the Jin Cheng Trading Company warehouse.
The young man dismounted nimbly, passed the reins to a young servant who had hurried over to greet him, then stepped straight across the threshold, his figure vanishing inside the gate.
