Chapter 291: What Does This Have to Do with You?
Just like Wen Yao, Datou had never been separated from his older brother and sister. Learning so abruptly that Wen Jun was heading to the capital with no set return date, Datou’s separation anxiety flared up all at once, and he refused to let go of Wen Jun no matter what.
Seeing that time was slipping away—even though the boat at the docks had been arranged by Li Yi—they still had to travel on the water for many days. Leaving too late might delay their schedule.
Out of options, Wen Jun had no choice but to softly coax Datou.
Datou was very smart and well-behaved. Ever since he opened his heart and started speaking, he had always acted remarkably sensible, never acting willful like this. This made everyone unconsciously forget that he was still just a four-year-old child.
“Datou, be a good boy. Brother has to go now,” Wen Jun coaxed in a gentle voice. His voice was very pleasant, and when softened, it brought a sense of reassuring calm. Perhaps this was a habit developed over his years as a doctor; no matter the time, Wen Jun always gave off an impression of emotional stability.
Datou’s eyes were red as he looked at him, his face full of reluctance to part.
Wen Jun patted his head and said, “Stay home with Dad and Sister. I’ll be back in a while. And look, Grandpa Jin is going with me too. With him gone, Jin Xiuyi is left here all by himself, and he hasn’t even cried.”
Datou turned his head to look at Jin Xiuyi, only to see that Jin Xiuyi didn’t have the slightest trace of sadness on his face. In fact, he was even endlessly instructing Doctor Jin to tell his own father about his good behavior here.
Looking around at the others, everyone was watching him. Datou’s face instantly flushed red. Hurriedly stepping out of Wen Jun’s arms, he used the back of his hand to swiftly wipe away the tears on his face, nodding as he spoke in a very soft voice tinged with grievance: “Mm. Brother, come back soon.”
Wen Jun offered a faint smile and nodded: “Mm. Once Brother reaches the capital, I’ll buy some novelty gadgets from the capital for you and Sister, and have someone bring them back for you, alright?”
“Alright.” Datou nodded obediently.
Even so, Wen Jun could still see reluctance and forced endurance on his stubborn, aggrieved little face.
Sighing helplessly, he realized the boy was still just a child after all.
“Grandpa, Grandma, Second Uncle, Second Aunt, Third Uncle, Third Aunt, we’ll be taking our leave now,” Wen Jun said, taking his leave from the elders one by one.
Old Man Wen and Old Madam Luo nodded repeatedly. Handing him a cloth bundle, Old Madam Luo instructed, “Nanny Shi said it’s already starting to get cold in the capital at this time of year. These thick clothes were made for you kids before. Fearing one set wouldn’t be enough, I altered your father’s set to make it smaller for you. Take them all. Also, there are twenty taels of silver inside. Grandma knows it’s not much, but once you arrive in the capital, buy whatever you lack—don’t wrong yourself. Listen carefully to your master, alright?”
As Old Madam Luo spoke, she quietly wiped away her own tears.
In the past, they had longed for the children to make something of themselves. But now that the day had truly arrived, Old Madam Luo felt that whether her children and grandchildren became successful or not, as long as they were safe and sound, it was better than anything else.
Old Madam Luo also knew that this household couldn’t hold a child like Wen Jun back, yet she simply couldn’t help herself.
Wen Jun hadn’t expected Old Madam Luo to prepare money for him. Last night, when Wen Yao was packing his luggage, she had already handed him five hundred taels. Hesitating for a moment, Wen Jun ultimately couldn’t bring himself to utter words of refusal. Instead, he held the bundle tightly and nodded: “Grandma, I understand. You and Grandpa must also take good care of your health. With Master and me both away, you must take your medicine properly during this period.
“Master has already written a letter to Doctor Wang in the prefectural city. If you feel unwell, have Yao Yao and Dad send you to the prefectural city.”
“Good, good, good. Such a good child. Grandma understands. Hurry along now.” Old Madam Luo waved her hand through her tears.
From beginning to end, Li Yi stood off to the side without uttering a single word of rush.
Wen Xiuyi, watching this melancholic departure, wiped his face and said, “Alright, alright, Mom. He’s just following Doctor Jin to the capital to broaden his horizons, it’s not like he’s going off to…”
Before he could finish his sentence, he received a strike from Old Man Wen’s pipe: “What does this have to do with you?”
Wen Xiuyi: “…” Fine, fine, fine. Sigh, grandparents just love their grandkids more.
The group climbed into the carriages. Those going to school left for school, and those heading to the docks left for the docks. In just a brief moment, more than half of the Wen family had departed.
“Alright, it’s not as if he’s never coming back.” Seeing Old Madam Luo still wiping her tears, Old Man Wen couldn’t help muttering a sentence. As a result, Old Madam Luo shot him a sharp glare, and he instantly backed down: “Uncle Lu, let’s go.” Defeated, he slunk off with Uncle Lu.
The others took the cue to go about their own business. Old Madam Luo waited until the distant carriage was completely out of sight before composing her emotions and heading off to the workshop.
She had to earn more money. If she had plenty of money in hand, she wouldn’t be like today, unable to even produce much silver for her eldest grandson when he traveled far from home.
The carriages separated as soon as they entered the city. Those going to school all departed, while the others turned toward the docks. They watched Doctor Jin and Wen Jun, along with two guards who had arrived with Li Yi, board the boat, and then watched the vessel sail away from the port.
“Sigh.” With his son gone, Wen Xiuyi felt an inescapable feeling of discomfort in his heart.
Seeing him worried about Wen Jun, Li Yi consoled him: “Uncle Wen, my father is still in the capital. He will take good care of Brother Wen.”
Hearing this, Wen Xiuyi felt significantly more at ease. Only now did he realize that having a powerful backer was indeed a great thing.
“With those words of yours, my mind is at ease. I need to head to the yamen to find Old Chen. What about you two?” Wen Xiuyi looked at his daughter and Li Yi, saying, “Where are you two off to? I can give you a ride.”
Wen Yao looked at the docks, which were growing increasingly bustling nowadays, and waved her hand: “Dad, go attend to your business. We’ll stroll around on our own for a bit.”
Wen Xiuyi didn’t decline either, instructing his daughter as usual: “Alright, then you two enjoy your stroll and head home soon.” With that, he led Mu Li away.
Wen Nong looked at one, then looked at the other.
“How about going to my place to sit for a bit first?” Wen Nong spoke up.
Wen Yao and Li Yi nodded simultaneously. For Li Yi, going anywhere didn’t matter, while Wen Yao wanted to see how the situation on that street was faring.
They had previously bought quite a few storefronts, renting out several, while using two to open a milk tea shop and one to open a roast duck shop.
Roast duck wasn’t common yet, so the price was on the higher side. Ordinary folk wouldn’t eat it every day, but they would occasionally buy some to satisfy a craving. However, the merchants and sailors on passing trading ships were more than willing to spend money, so business had been consistently good.
Aside from these, there were still several storefronts currently closed, as they hadn’t decided what to sell yet.
However, Qiu Rongrong and Wen Yao had discussed it and decided to knock down the walls between three of Qiu Rongrong’s storefronts to open a larger grocery store directly at the docks, specializing in goods from both the north and the south.
A place like the docks naturally had a high volume of foot traffic passing through, and Yunwu Town served as a massive transit hub with a constant flow of cargo ships. Opening a general store for northern and southern goods in such a location couldn’t be more suitable.
When they arrived at Wen Nong’s shop, the inside had already been tidied up. The fire in the stove was lit, and meat broth was simmering in the pot, its aroma detectable right at the doorway.
“Boss, you’ve arrived!” A shop assistant inside quickly came out to greet them upon seeing them.
This assistant was a relative introduced earlier by Carpenter Zhang. He had worked very well in Wen Nong’s shop, so he had stayed on. After observing him for a while and finding his character trustworthy, Wen Nong had allowed him to live right in the shop.
Wen Nong had to go home every day, but the shop needed fresh broth simmered daily. Having someone live in the shop made things far more convenient. The supplementary ingredients for simmering the broth were all portioned out by Wen Yao and packed into gauze bags; all he had to do was wash the large bones clean and toss them into the pot along with the ingredient bag.
