Chapter 723 - 373: The Plan

Chapter 723: Chapter 373: The Plan

Zheng Changhe asked dejectedly, "Then will he be coming back?"

They held Mr. Zhou in the highest esteem, and not just because he had produced three Scholars. From the very beginning, the people of Qingnan Village had revered him as a sage. To simple country folk who hadn’t seen much of the world, a Scholar like Mr. Zhou was a man of profound wisdom.

Yang Family also said, "That’s right. We’ll all miss him. If he doesn’t come back, what’s to become of the school?" Thinking of Laishou, she grew worried.

Zhang Yang waved a hand. "Don’t worry about the school. Someone will come to take over teaching next year. We were supposed to start our holiday break early, but Mr. Zhou asked me, Shi Tou, and Sishun to teach for a few more days. The school won’t close until the twentieth of the twelfth lunar month."

Qingmu and Zhang Huai exchanged a look, then changed the subject and began joking around again.

After that, however, Zhang Yang was clearly distracted. He rushed through dinner, and soon Little Shitou (Zhao Yun) and Liu Sixun arrived looking for him. The boys, along with Qingmu and Zhang Huai, shut themselves in Zhang Yang’s study and talked in hushed tones for a long time. It was late when Zhao Yun and Liu Sixun finally departed.

When Huai Zi returned to their room to wash up, Juhua asked, "Mr. Zhou is connected to the imperial court, isn’t he? Why did he leave so suddenly?"

Huai Zi looked up in surprise. He stared at Juhua for a long moment before shaking his head with a laugh. "You certainly don’t beat around the bush. You don’t even ask, you just say it with such certainty. *Sigh*. He didn’t tell Yangzi and the others why he was leaving, but it’s definitely related to *those* matters. He’s not talking because he doesn’t want to worry them."

Juhua remained silent. ’I’ve long suspected that Mr. Zhou is no ordinary man.’ At her wedding, he had gifted them a piece of calligraphy with the words "Heaven-made Match." Even though she was no expert in the art, she could tell the brushwork was exceptional. She had specifically asked Huai Zi to take it to the market to be mounted, and then stored it away with great care.

’Once a person gets entangled with the court, it’s hard to live a quiet life. To think of how free and easy his life was, teaching in this mountain village all these years... But everyone is different. Perhaps he was waiting for this opportunity all along. Most men, after all, are not content to live in obscurity.’

Mr. Zhou’s departure dampened the joy of Zhang Yang’s return home. Fortunately, he had a little nephew and niece to dote on, which helped lift his spirits.

The next day, he went back to the school to teach for a few more days. When he came home, he would either review his studies or play with his niece. Little Shitou often brought his younger brother and sister over, making the house lively. The days felt as if they had regressed to the past, back to when they were all children—carefree, innocent, and full of laughter.

Having fully recovered, Juhua began helping with household chores again, though she still avoided any heavy lifting. Every day, she, Aunt Liu, and Pu Pao were constantly busy in the kitchen. With the New Year approaching, they scrubbed and cleaned the furniture and tidied up the house and courtyard. In the kitchen, after making toasted rice sesame brittle and peanut brittle, they went on to steam, boil, or fry a variety of other foods, preparing everything for the festivities.

On the evening of the twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month, the setting sun took the last traces of warmth with it. As the chill intensified, people huddled inside by their fires, leaving the outdoors deserted.

A carriage stopped at the gate of Zhang’s courtyard. Liu Heizi jumped down first, but before he could circle around to open the door, Yun Ying lifted the curtain and leaped lightly from the carriage. She thanked Liu Heizi, then headed for the Zheng Family. Liu Heizi set about unloading the carriage and unhitching the horse to return them to Qingmu.

Yun Ying made a quick stop at Zheng Family, exchanging a few pleasantries with Yang Family, Liu Yunlan, and the others. She politely declined their invitation to stay for dinner, saying she was going to go "bother" Juhua, and took little Hulu by the hand as she left.

Yang Family knew she and Juhua had more to talk about, so she didn’t press the issue, only adding a word of advice. "Yunlan and I went to tidy up your house, but since no one’s lived there for a while, it must feel a bit cold. With Yangzi back at Juhua’s, it’ll probably be too crowded, so you should come back over here for the night. You can stay in Juhua’s old room. I clean it every day, so it’s spotless."

Yun Ying was touched and readily agreed. When asked about her brother, she explained that he wouldn’t be able to come until the next day, as there were still patients at the clinic.

Yang Family remarked that the siblings were truly living saints, without a moment’s rest even for the New Year. She then said she would have Qingmu go and fetch Doctor Qin first thing in the morning.

After a few more polite words, Yun Ying led Hulu over to the Zhang family’s home. As she approached, she heard constant laughter coming from the kitchen. She peeked through the doorway and saw it was only He, Aunt Liu, and Juhua, with Pu Pao lending a hand. ’Strange,’ she thought, puzzled. ’A moment ago, it sounded like the room was full of people.’

Aunt Liu, overjoyed to see her, rushed over and began asking whether she was cold or tired. He also greeted her warmly. Juhua, who was in the middle of pulling apart a roast chicken, held up a wing and offered it to her.