Chapter 19: Parting and Reluctance

In just a few short months, the “Zhuangyuan Snack Stall” had gained considerable fame throughout the county. People from neighboring counties had heard about it, and many flocked over, returning home satisfied with their meals. Xu Nuo had also earned a substantial amount; when Shangguan informed her they needed to leave to rush for the exams, she had already calculated their finances at home.

In the past four months, they had netted a total of three hundred taels of silver. Not only was this a remarkable achievement compared to the time when the elder Shangguan was alive, but not many ordinary families in the entire country could amass such wealth in such a short time.

This money gave Xu Nuo and Wang Shi great confidence. They believed it would be enough for their journey to the capital, perhaps even leaving them with some extra to buy a house there. That would be a future concern, as they still had many matters to attend to at present.

“Mother, we can start packing these pots and bowls to take with us on the cart.”

“And we can’t forget these stoves; they are our tools for making a living.”

“Nuo Nuo, let’s take these unfinished bamboo tubes with us. We might find some use for them on the way!”

Xu Nuo and Wang Shi meticulously checked their home from top to bottom, wishing they could take everything with them. If it weren’t for the limited space, they would have wanted to take the stall cart along as well. Shangguan returned from bidding farewell to his teachers at the academy, collecting the “floating tickets” they had prepared for him, surprised to find the house already packed!

The journey north would be long, and they didn’t know what dangers might lie ahead. Xu Nuo had secretly sewn some loose coins into the inside of her clothing, wary of thieves.

“Ziqian, you’re back! Check and see if we’ve forgotten anything. Mother and Nuo Nuo have almost finished packing!”

Shangguan looked helpless, “Mother, with this cart filled to the brim, where will you all sit?”

“Your young lad doesn’t understand the value of necessities!” Wang Shi still felt they had too few items and wished they could take their entire home with them. There were still plenty of crops in their old home that could be eaten—what a shame!

In the end, to make room for more comfortable seating, Wang Shi reluctantly discarded some items.

Sitting in the cart, Xu Nuo opened the window and leaned out to watch the scenery outside. The street looked just as vibrant as when she first arrived in the city, bustling with people whose faces radiated happiness. Time really flew in these few months! Now, her mood was entirely different: instead of anxiety, she felt a sense of comfort and joy, filled with hope for the future.

Xu Nuo knew that this departure might mean she wouldn’t return for nearly a decade. She focused intently on the people and sights outside, trying to engrave every memory into her mind. While she wasn’t sure what this place meant for Shangguan and Wang Shi, for her, it was the place where she had been reborn, holding immense significance.

As the cart slowly rolled out of the city, the scenes transformed from urban streets to lush greenery. Xu Nuo took a deep breath; it was so refreshing! Living here permanently wouldn’t be bad at all—it was a perfect place to settle down. She glanced at the man driving the cart, dressed simply yet standing tall. She knew he wouldn’t be confined to this place; her role was to support him from behind.

“Here, Mother, have a piece of jerky!” Xu Nuo passed some pieces of meat to Wang Shi, who was also enjoying the view, before offering two more pieces to Shangguan.

Thanks to Shangguan’s forethought in preparing some provisions for the journey—which she assumed might involve spending nights in the wilderness—they had delicious snacks to munch on along the way. To Xu Nuo, this journey felt like a relaxing scenic tour, and she didn’t feel any pressure about the upcoming exam.

“Madam, this beef jerky is quite good! Delicious!” The sweet and savory flavor of the jerky, moist and chewy, only got tastier the longer it was chewed. After finishing a piece, Shangguan looked to Xu Nuo for more, holding out his hand for another piece.

At first, Xu Nuo thought she had prepared too much jerky, but at this rate, it seemed they might run out before they reached the capital.

After a while, the sun was high in the sky. Not just Xu Nuo and Wang Shi but even Shangguan began to feel a hint of hunger.

“Shall we take a break here?” Shangguan suggested upon noticing some shade from the trees in front of a river, perfect for a temporary camp to rest.

“I’ve finally got a chance to move my old back after sitting all morning!” Xu Nuo exclaimed, eagerly jumping off the cart to stretch. Wang Shi and Shangguan set up a small stove under the trees, preparing to gather some twigs to boil hot water and cook a warm meal. Xu Nuo laid out a mat on the ground after bringing it down and then led the horses to the river to drink water and graze.

“What should we eat? How about fish soup? Maybe we can catch some grilled fish?” Xu Nuo had peeked into the river and noticed there were sizable fish swimming about. In this remote area, no one was fishing, meaning they could have a delicious stew.

Shangguan and Wang Shi had no objections, and as for catching fish, Shangguan would take care of that himself.

Xu Nuo, on the other hand, was a bit of a rarity; she lived near water but couldn’t swim, truly a land-dwelling duck. Embracing her playful side, she grabbed a fork and followed closely behind Shangguan. “Hey, should we make some bait?”

“I see everyone else is fishing; would this branch be useful?”

Shangguan had never realized that his wife could be quite talkative; he quietly smiled to himself, taking in the sight of Xu Nuo lively leading their way, shaking his head in amusement.

When they reached the riverbank, Xu Nuo learned that sometimes, opportunities don’t just open one window and shut another. It seemed the heavens favored them today. Shangguan rolled up his sleeves, stood on a rock by the river, leaned slightly forward, and with a swift arm motion, speared a fish effortlessly. In less than a minute’s time, Xu Nuo couldn’t help but clap in amazement.

“Wow, big brother, I didn’t know you had this skill! If we don’t pass the exam, it’s okay; we can catch fish and set up a stall to make a living!”

A smile spread across Shangguan’s lips as he looked at her affectionately, “Of course! As long as my wife doesn’t mind that I’m useless, I’d love to live this leisurely life with you.”

“Don’t get sentimental, hurry up! Mother will start to worry!” Shangguan’s words sometimes made Xu Nuo blush, causing her to fluster and struggle to respond.

The more flustered Xu Nuo became, the louder Shangguan’s laughter grew, the joyous sound reflecting his pleasure.

As his mood lifted, his hands didn’t slow down at all. His success rate was impressively high, and soon, their bucket was filled with fish before he finally stopped.

Xu Nuo and Wang Shi cleaned the bucket’s contents on-site, washing them thoroughly, and that’s when they had a delightful surprise.