Chapter 953 - 955: Qin Kaichang Expresses His Feelings_1
"Zepei, are you all right?" Qin Kaichang asked with concern.
"I’m all right, just need to rest for a few days," Bai Zepei said with a bitter smile; he had managed to hang on after all.
The Bai family all came to meet Bai Zepei. As soon as he came out, they all went up to greet him, with Bai Zehao even lifting his brother’s arm to help him onto the horse carriage.
The head of the academy also brought some scholars to see the examinees coming out of the exam place. He happened to see Bai Zepei getting on the horse carriage and hurried over to ask, "What’s happened to Zepei? Did an old ailment flare up?"
Master Zhang also showed a face full of worry, saying, "Otherwise, why not hurry to the Clinic to have a look?"
Bai Zepei spoke weakly, "I’ve troubled the head of the academy and the masters. I’ve been having stomach pains even before the exam. The doctor in the exam place examined me and said I ate something unclean."
Lin Ping’er opened her mouth to speak, how could there be anything unclean at home? She had been keeping a close watch. However, she clearly saw that the second brother did not want to elaborate, and she also closed her mouth.
"Then you should hurry to see a doctor and get some good rest when you get back," the head of the academy said, patting Bai Zepei on the shoulder, feeling a bit of pity. Given Bai Zepei’s condition, it would be hard for him to perform well.
Otherwise, with Bai Zepei’s performance in Jiangnan, he could have at least got one of the top three places in the Rural Examination. Perhaps he might even have taken the top spot.
What a pity...
When Bai Zepei got home, he went straight to his room to rest. He didn’t ask for a doctor, saying that taking the medicine left by his younger sister would do.
After escorting him back to the Bai Family, Qin Kaichang then proposed that it was time for him to return to his own home. Having imposed on the Bai Family for many days, he really felt quite embarrassed. He would come back in a few days after Bai Ruozhu’s return to properly express his thanks.
Lin Ping’er and the others didn’t insist on keeping him, after all, he had his own family to return to.
Once Qin Kaichang had left the yard, Bai Yihong asked softly, "Mother, do you think it could be him?"
"After thinking it over, he’s the only possibility. Ah, who would have thought it would come to this. The second brother is such a smart person; he surely has thought of it. He must be feeling terrible inside. Let’s not bring it up anymore." Lin Ping’er whispered, also giving Bai Zehao a meaningful glance.
Bai Zepei’s truly close friend had betrayed him at such a time; not mentioning it was better, but it might make him feel even worse if brought up.
Moreover, from beginning to end, no one in the Bai family had asked Bai Zepei how well he had performed, also out of fear that asking would only make him feel even more distressed.
Qin Kaichang, after leaving the main gate of the Bai Residence, did not take the horse carriage but began walking on his own towards the alley entrance. Then a horse carriage came towards him, and upon closer inspection, it was indeed the one frequently used by Fang Guizhi.
His gaze dropped, a flicker of indiscernible light passing through his eyes.
Fang Guizhi, upon seeing him from the horse carriage, quickly told the coachman to stop. She got out and stopped Qin Kaichang and asked with worry, "Where are you off to? Didn’t you just finish your exams?"
"Yes, the exams are over, and I can’t continue to impose any longer, so I’m heading back to my home. I’ll visit another day," Qin Kaichang said in a distant tone, also carrying a hint of detachment.
Fang Guizhi noticed his attitude and felt a twinge of pain in her heart. He wasn’t like this before; every time he delivered goods to the Hot Spring Mansion, he would want to see her, always wearing a warm smile on his face. His eyes were always particularly bright, looking at her as if she were his most beloved book. She could feel his enthusiasm, but why had he changed now?
"Did you... Did you not do well on your exams?" Guizhi asked tentatively.
"It’s alright, I should be able to get through," Qin Kaichang’s tone remained indifferent.
Guizhi grew a little anxious, "Then you haven’t remembered the past? Didn’t Ruozhu say you were better?"
"I remember everything, but I was too reckless in the past, let’s just let bygones be bygones; after all, my status is too low," said Qin Kaichang, turning his head away, not daring to meet Fang Guizhi’s gaze.
Fang Guizhi was stunned, and her large eyes slowly misted over with tears, but she was a strong woman after all, and the tears never fell.
She understood, he was saying that it was his recklessness in the past, that his humble status was not worthy of her, that his previous words no longer counted, and that she should forget them.
But how could she forget when her heart had already been given away?
"Miss, I bid you farewell," Qin Kaichang raised his hand in a salute and then strode forward.
Fang Guizhi opened her mouth, wanting to call out to Qin Kaichang, but she had her own pride, and ultimately turned away with tears in her eyes, not getting back on the horse carriage but instead walking step by step towards the Bai Family.
With every step she took, the tearfulness in her eyes diminished, and by the time she arrived at the Bai Family’s doorstep, she had largely regained her composure.
...
Three days after the Rural Examination had concluded, Jiang Yichun returned in triumph with his horsemen. Officials like Meng Liangshen and Kuai Minglang gathered at the West Gate to welcome him; the city’s populace also gathered on the streets, cheering for the soldiers and commending their success in quelling the threat in the Northwest.
The civilians brought plenty of food, warmly offering it to the soldiers, and, of course, some threw rotten vegetable leaves and bad eggs at the bandit prisoners, ceasing their fervor only when the convicts had been pushed into the prison at the Government Office.
Jiang Yichun transferred the contraband disguised as supplies over to Meng Liangshen, who arranged to send it to the Capital City. Jiang Yichun didn’t enter the Government Office; instead, he directly told Meng Liangshen, "My wife is homesick, I’ll visit the City Lord at the Meng Residence another day."
Meng Liangshen roared with laughter, "Sure, of course, bring Ruozhu along for a visit sometime."
This manner of speaking clearly treated them as family; nearby officials like Kuai Minglang reassessed the standing of Jiang Yichun and his wife in Beiyu City again, and those who were envious of the Bai Family’s business recalculated whether they had the capability to provoke them.
At this moment, Bai Ruozhu truly longed to return home, preferring to leave ahead of the others, but still she waited to complete the necessary formalities. Finally, after Jiang Yichun had finished exchanging greetings with Meng Liangshen, she heard someone in the crowd calling her. Turning her head, she saw her parents holding Little Dengdeng, flanked by her older and younger brothers, all smiling and waving at her.
Bai Ruozhu dismounted and stopped caring about maintaining any ladylike image, slightly lifting her skirt and running over joyfully. Watching her retreating figure, Jiang Yichun shook his head with a smile; his wife still acted like a young girl.
"Father, mother, what brings you all here?" Bai Ruozhu asked excitedly, then held Little Dengdeng in her arms. Truth be told, what she missed the most while away was her son, always worried that he wouldn’t eat or sleep well or that he might cry for her at night.
Upon seeing his mother, Little Dengdeng joyfully called out, babbling words, and Bai Ruozhu noticed that four teeth had appeared in the little one’s mouth, clustered together in the center, making him look as adorable as a little rabbit.
The moment she took him in her arms, she could feel Little Dengdeng had gained some weight, giving Bai Ruozhu quite a reassurance, it seemed her parents had taken great care of him.
That was when Jiang Yichun walked over to greet everyone; it was only then that Bai Ruozhu noticed Zhang Liliang and his wife, as well as Fusa and her family. She greeted them with a smile, teasingly saying to Fusa, "Well, well, you’ve closed shop to come here?"
Fusa replied with a cheerful laugh, "You’ve become a heroine, how could I not come to welcome you, to bask in your glory for a bit?"