Chapter 913: Qi’s Departure
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Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The family had made all the necessary preparations for Qi’s departure. Shao
Yunduan took some time to read the letter from the Xie Family, while Qiao Xuan handed him 10,000 liang, instructing him to keep it safe and deposit it in the local bank as soon as possible.
Qi expressed her grat.i.tude and eagerly antic.i.p.ated what the future held.
However, as the time for her departure approached, she couldn’t help but feel reluctant to leave home.
Ms. Fang, on the other hand, became even more distressed when Qi was away. She grew absent-minded and sighed frequently. Yet, she concealed her emotions well in front of Qi, showing no signs of her inner turmoil. It wasn’t until the day of their departure that Ms. Fang finally couldn’t hold back her tears, embracing Qi tightly. In turn, Qi burst into tears as well. Shao Yunduan, Shao Sanlang, and Qiao Xuan stepped forward, attempting to console Ms. Fang. Yang Xiaoni and Qiao Xuan provided support as well.
Qi performed three kowtows to her mother and Eldest Uncle before getting on the donkey cart with Ding Jinshan. Shao Yunduan and Shao Sanlang accompanied them to the county city.
County Magistrate Qiao remained oblivious to the fact that Shao Yunduan’s brother had been enlisted.
The county magistrate showed little concern for the recruitment process, trusting that with enough people and the household registration verified by the Grandmaster, he could simply affix the seal and send them to the provincial town. That would complete his duty.
Shao Yunduan and Qiao Xuan chose not to disclose any information to him.
She realized that keeping silent was the best course of action. Madame Qiao was known for using manipulative tactics, and engaging in any form of confrontation would only invite trouble. Therefore, Qi chose to refrain from speaking up.
Qi seamlessly blended in with the others and was transported to the provincial capital before heading north.
In Qi’s absence, the atmosphere at home became notably lackl.u.s.ter. It felt as if a vital presence was missing, leaving a void in the household.
They used to venture into the mountains regularly to hunt and gather resources, always filled with enthusiasm and joy. However, with Qi gone, the idea of going into the mountains no longer crossed their minds.
Even Qiao Xuan, with her extraordinary abilities, couldn’t find the motivation without Qi’s presence.
To worsen matters, Ms. Niu, known for her arrogance, took the opportunity to mock them. She approached Ms. Fang with a strange tone, insinuating, “Oh my, Qi will be gone for years once he’s enlisted! Your family used to have an abundance of wild animals, but now they’re all gone! If 1 were you, I wouldn’t have allowed Qi to leave home…”
Ms. Fang grew increasingly irritated by her remarks, eventually driving her out of the house. She firmly retorted, “What does my family’s affairs have to do with you? You’ll never get a share of any wild animals!”
They were just ordinary people from the clan, why did they care?
Ms. Niu stormed off in anger, feeling humiliated by the encounter. Meanwhile, Ms. Yan chose to keep her distance, knowing it was futile to reason with Ms. Niu. She was well aware of Ms. Niu’s personality and understood that engaging with her would only lead to more trouble. It was best to avoid her altogether.
The departure of Qi had left a somber mood among the members of the first section of the family. Their frustrations found an outlet in the form of venting their anger at others.
A few days later, Shao Yunduan and Qiao Xuan prepared to leave home and make their way to the capital.
If Shao Yunduan successfully pa.s.sed the intermediate examination, he intended to return home. While his family might be reluctant to part with him, they would undoubtedly shower him with congratulations.
Ms. Fang and Eldest Uncle did their best to comfort Shao Yunduan, a.s.suring him not to be overly nervous and emphasizing that regardless of the outcome, everyone was eagerly awaiting his return home..