Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 275 - 111 Farewell

Gu Chengyu watched Mrs. Lv busily attending to matters, his heart filled with a touch of sadness. The ancient saying goes, "When sons travel a thousand miles, mothers worry!" Perhaps this is the moment it describes?

Mrs. Lv wiped a tear from the corner of her eye with a handkerchief. Xiao Bao had gone out before; examinations took several days. But this time, she just couldn’t hold back her tears.

Gu Chengyu felt troubled as well, perhaps realizing that soon he would not be able to frequently accompany the elders. Going to the Prefecture to study is truly the beginning of something new.

Mid-Autumn has passed, and the weather seems to have cooled down a bit. Now, with the early morning sky, Gu Chengyu sat in the carriage feeling a slight chill.

They would meet Sun Xian and the others at Shanhe Town. To Gu Chengyu’s surprise, Ye Zhiqiu had chosen to go with them to the Prefecture School, entrusting his mother and sister to the care of their family as Sun Xian did.

The carriage ran swiftly; reaching the town wouldn’t take much effort. Compared to other remote villages, Shangling Village was not far from the town.

Gu Chengyu arrived at the town and waited for half an incense time. Sun Xian and Ye Zhiqiu soon arrived. Ming Mo had already hired another carriage, waiting for Sun Xian and the others, so two carriages wouldn’t be crowded.

"Chengyu! You’ve been here for quite a while, haven’t you?" Sun Xian felt a bit embarrassed seeing Gu Chengyu already waiting. Sun’s mother had urged him to pack a lot of luggage before leaving, delaying him a bit, so he had to ask for the village’s ox cart to take him to the town.

"Fortunately, I’m not that late." Ye Zhiqiu chimed in, carrying not much luggage, only two bundles, presumably clothes and shoes. "I arrived early; you guys are not late at all. Let’s set out now!" Gu Chengyu asked Ming Mo and the others to load their luggage onto the carriage and noticed a jar on the ground.

Seeing it, Sun Xian picked up the jar and said to Gu Chengyu, "This is a treasure! You said before that my mother’s pickled vegetables were delicious, right? She asked me to bring it to you, saying you’ll be going to the Prefecture, and you’d only be able to eat it once you return for rest. So she asked me to bring some to you."

Gu Chengyu was delighted, knowing the taste of Sun’s mother’s pickled vegetables was superb, "Auntie indeed still thinks of me!"

After speaking, he paused, considering a way to make some Silver for Sun Xian. The pickled vegetables tasted so good, perhaps they could be sold and served as an appetizer in his tavern.

Thinking of this, Gu Chengyu immediately asked, "How many jars of these pickles do you have at home?"

Sun Xian was a bit surprised, thinking Gu Chengyu found it insufficient, "This jar isn’t small! Enough for the three of us for half a month, and you still find it lacking? There are several jars at home!"

"I have a tavern at the Prefecture, perfect for selling this. Silver, we can discuss. I’ll have Ming Mo go to your house to bring the rest to the Prefecture!" Gu Chengyu decided and quickly instructed Ming Mo to hire another carriage to go to the Sun Family to load the jars.

"Huh? You’re really going to?" Sun Xian was somewhat incredulous. These were just homemade pickles for family consumption. When making more, his mother would sell them at the town market, a large bowl for only a few coins! Of course, most of these pickles were cabbage and radish, the cheapest and plentiful in the fields.

"Of course!" Gu Chengyu watched Ming Mo and Ming Yan drive the carriage away, leaving them to wait for a while.

Ye Zhiqiu, confused by their conversation, asked, "What are you guys talking about? Tavern? Chengyu opened a tavern?"

"Haha! You’re still unaware! He has plenty of Silver..." As Gu Chengyu mentioned this in front of Ye Zhiqiu, it indicated he didn’t mind him knowing, so he explained to Ye Zhiqiu.

Gu Chengyu didn’t stop the conversation; Ye Zhiqiu would eventually know about the tavern anyway, and there was no harm in telling. He then sat on the carriage and noticed another carriage approaching from afar.

Before the carriage arrived, Gu Chengyu saw Wang Qikai poking his head out, "Well, Gu Chengyu! Going to the Prefecture without telling me, are you aiming to soar high without recognizing your friend?"

Gu Chengyu laughed, not expecting Wang Qikai to see him off, given Wang Qikai hadn’t fully recovered from his illness and usually couldn’t get up early in the morning.

"You usually sleep at this hour, how come you’re up so early?"

"If I hadn’t asked the teacher, I wouldn’t have known when you were leaving!" Wang Qikai had to exert great effort to crawl out of bed.

He ran up to Gu Chengyu, looking at the little kid a head shorter than him. Three years as fellow students forged their friendship, though his health was poor; he wasn’t sure if he could attend the county examination, while Gu Chengyu was moving ahead.

"Oh? I haven’t looked down yet!"

Gu Chengyu looked down, finding You Siyuan also coming to see them off.

"Brother You!" Gu Chengyu made a bow.

"Don’t, you’re now a Scholar, how can you call me brother? Let’s call each other by name!" You Siyuan said as he alighted, rubbing his sore rear after the ride.

Wang Qikai saw his movement and immediately ridiculed, "Told you not to follow, and you insisted. So pretentious!" 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"You’re chubby and have more flesh, of course, you don’t feel sore. I’m so thin, how could I endure?" You Siyuan and Wang Qikai were used to bickering, feeling uneasy without exchanging a few quips.

Sun Xian and the others joined in the greetings.

"Chengyu! You’re going to study at the Prefecture; we might find it hard to meet!" Wang Qikai said with a downcast mood to Gu Chengyu.

Gu Chengyu felt sentimental, patting Wang Qikai’s shoulder, "Isn’t there still the once-a-month rest? I’ll see you when I return!"

"It’s not the same," Wang Qikai lamented, having gotten used to dining with Gu Chengyu despite not being in the same class the past two years.

"Enough! Stop fretting, there’s no way we’ll catch up to the Prefecture. Chengyu and the others will wait for us at the Capital," You Siyuan glanced at Gu Chengyu, knowing he was not mistaken; Gu Chengyu was a person with potential. Truly, a dragon transformed by the storms?

"I and Senior Brother Sun will wait in the Capital for you guys, be quick!" Gu Chengyu was determined to pass the Provincial Examination and the Metropolitan Exam, not wanting to waste away in the civil service arena, with a vast world and much to accomplish.

"Good!" Sun Xian and the others joined, everyone speaking with ambition. At last, Wang Qikai took out a jar of wine from the carriage.

"Though you’re young and can’t hold your liquor, today’s a joyous occasion, everyone should take a sip, hoping we meet soon in the Capital!"

Gu Chengyu was somewhat speechless, to outsiders it might seem they were heading for the Capital exam! But at such an emotional moment, the mood shouldn’t be spoiled, and so he took the jar and had a sip.

Ancient wine was low in purity, without much burn, hence children occasionally drank a few sips.

"Don’t forget us when you’re at the Prefecture, Chengyu! Don’t forget me even with new friends!" Wang Qikai, eyes fixed on Gu Chengyu, said as he patted Gu Chengyu’s shoulder.

"I won’t forget you!" Gu Chengyu responded with a punch, exchanging a smile with Wang Qikai.

When Ming Mo and Ming Yan returned, Gu Chengyu and the others boarded the carriage, bidding farewell to Wang Qikai and his cohort, Gu Chengyu embarked on a further journey.