novelhk Chapter 54 Farewell (1)
Chapter 54 Farewell (1)
In the sixteenth year of Hue, Yang Xiaobao went to Moshan Academy to study and became Lin Ziping's little follower. He was named Yang Jiadian. In the same year, Yang Xiaobao's younger brother Yang Jiayu was born.
In the twentieth year of Hue, Ji Xun, Fang Zhili, and Zhao Xiancheng participated in the prefectural examination and successfully passed.
In the twenty-first year of Hue, the Qi family, imperial merchants, were punished for causing injury to a nobleman in the palace by selling cloth to the capital. The He family was implicated and gradually declined.
In the twenty-second year of Hue, personnel were transferred in Huai Prefecture, and Prefect Fang and Magistrate Ji were transferred to the capital.
Fang Zhili, Ji Xun, and Zhao Xiancheng have grown into teenagers. After the events at home, He Jinbao has lost his former arrogance and has also grown into a teenager. Zhang Mo has become more and more composed.
Lin Ziping is already eleven years old, but her body does not yet show obvious signs of female development. While feeling relieved, she couldn't help but worry that the medicine prepared by Granny Liao might have caused her to stop developing. Therefore, she added chest-expanding exercises to her daily routine.
Although she had been training and practicing martial arts with the guards for many years, Lin Ziping was afraid that she would become all muscle and become a "bodybuilder Barbie". To find psychological comfort, she made many stretching and relaxation tools. Fortunately, her worries did not come true. She was a little taller than girls of the same age and would probably be about the same height as He Jinbao and Zhang Mo in the future.
At Lin Ziping's suggestion, the teahouse that the group opened back then developed into a multi-industry business, focusing on daily leisure and entertainment while also hosting large events such as banquets and gatherings, and developing the surrounding area. After years of hard work, it has become a popular spot for locals and tourists in Huaizhou. Although there are similar competitors, fortunately, it has always been imitated but never surpassed. Although the group did not make a fortune, they have achieved financial freedom to a certain extent.
Fang Zhili and Ji Xun were going to return to Beijing with their families, while Zhao Xiancheng planned to travel around.
After entering kindergarten, Lin Ziping learned to ride horses and drive carriages, essentially obtaining a driver's license and vehicle registration for this era. Although he had ridden horses to the suburbs several times with Fang Zhili, Ji Xun, Zhao Xiancheng, He Jinbao, and Zhang Mo, Lin Ziping disliked riding horses at all. Besides the bumpy ride, they offered no protection from the sun or rain. Without asphalt or cement, those lagging behind would get a mouthful of dust, a completely different experience from driving, offering no comfort whatsoever.
On this day, several people rode their horses to the outskirts of the city to see off Fang Zhili, Ji Xun, and Zhao Xiancheng.
"Well then, everyone, let's stop here." Fang Zhili stopped at the pavilion outside the city and said to Lin Ziping, Zhang Mo, and He Jinbao.
"We've known each other for many years, and now that we're parting, I don't know when we'll meet again." Ji Xun's words were tinged with sadness.
"Yes, so many years have passed in the blink of an eye," Zhang Mo sighed.
Zhao Xiancheng said, "I'll need your help with the teahouse from now on. I'll go check if there are any other suitable places this time, and I'll write to you to let you know."
"Isn't Xiancheng going on a study tour? Are you going to open our 'Mingchaju' in other places too?" Ji Xun said with a smile, which dissipated the sad atmosphere of parting.
Zhao Xiancheng cupped his hands to Ji Xun and Fang Zhili: "I know that I am not as good as Zhili and Xun in studying, but I seem to have some talent in doing business. I would like to try that chain that Ziping mentioned, and see if I can promote our teahouse."
"Haha, Xiancheng, you have great ambition! Ah Xun and I will not be outdone," Fang Zhili laughed.
"Work hard, and if you become rich and powerful, don't forget us!" Lin Ziping said, indicating that he would rely on a powerful figure and enjoy the shade.
Ji Xun pointed at Lin Ziping and laughed, "Ziping, this won't do. You're our consultant, aren't you? Jinbao said Ziping was some kind of consultant last time?"
He Jinbao thought for a moment, a slight smile appearing on his face, his expression relaxing a bit: "Lin Ziping said he is a technical consultant."
“Yes, yes, technical consultant, haha…” The group burst into laughter.
Lin Ziping gave a "hehe," a professional fake smile.
"Brothers, please dismount and rest at the Shili Pavilion." Yang Jiadian stepped out of the carriage.
The group looked at each other, dismounted, tidied up the pavilion, and sat down on the ground.
Yang Jiadian took out the wine and food prepared in the carriage.
"The first time we drank together was at Chunhua Tower. Lin Ziping not only didn't drink, but he also sent a message home," Fang Zhili said with a smile, holding his wine glass.
"Yes, yes, yes, I also got a severe beating from my dad and had to kneel all night." Zhao Xiancheng nodded seriously.
Zhang Mo added, "Ziping hasn't been punished yet after he went back."
Lin Ziping rolled his eyes. He was tired of explaining so many times. Every time he drank, they would say the same thing to him. He had gotten used to it and didn't want to argue anymore.
Ji Xun replaced the wine cup in front of Lin Ziping with a wine bowl: "Ziping can't refuse today, he must punish himself with a bowl."
The others chimed in.
"I'll have to ride a horse back." Lin Ziping, adhering to the principle of "no drinking on horseback, no horseback drinking" in this era, waved his hands repeatedly in refusal.
"It's alright, you can ride in the carriage with me when we get back," Yang Jiadian said with a smile.
Unable to refuse, Lin Ziping picked up the bowl and drank it all in one gulp: "Is that alright?"
"Good, as expected of Young Master Ziping, so straightforward!" the group laughed.
As the sun set, it painted half the sky red.
"After you finish this drink, you can go back," Fang Zhili said, raising a glass of wine.
The group raised their glasses and drank together, wishing each other "take care."
Fang Zhili, Ji Xun, Zhao Xiancheng and the others mounted their horses, waved their hands and whipped their horses away, while Lin Ziping, He Jinbao, Zhang Mo and Yang Jiadian watched them go.
"Let's go back, curfew is about to start," Zhang Mo reminded him.
Lin Ziping nodded; the group was now out of sight. "Let's go, Xiao Bao."
He Jinbao and Yang Jiadian both looked at Lin Ziping, and seeing that Lin Ziping had already mounted his horse, they looked away and left.
Lin Ziping had never had a deep feeling about farewells before. In the past, when friends left, there were cell phones and WeChat, and even the ends of the earth could feel like next door. Last time, Tao Ju'an left without saying goodbye, and he had never seen him off in person. But now... the song "Farewell" suddenly came to mind, and he unconsciously started humming it.
"Lin Ziping, what are you singing? I've never heard it before," He Jinbao asked.
"Farewell, it was something I suddenly thought of," Lin Ziping said with a smile without giving a long answer, and then began to sing.
Outside the long pavilion, along the ancient road, fragrant grasses stretch to the horizon.
Evening breeze brushes willows, flute's melody fades, setting sun beyond mountains.
At the ends of the earth, my close friends have mostly passed away.
A pot of wine to exhaust the remaining joy; tonight, parting dreams are cold.
A thousand threads of emotion, a cup of wine, the mournful sound of a parting flute urging us on.
When will you return, my friend? Do not hesitate when you come back.
...[1]
Children will eventually grow up, and separation is a normal part of life. We will go our separate ways, to the ends of the earth. I wish you a bright future, good health, and happiness every day.