The Blessed

Finally came the New Year. On this day, everywhere of Yuehua Manor was permeated with laughter. As the master, Ling Jingxuan sent all servants and maids a big red envelop with ten taels of silver on behalf of his family, and five hundred copper coins for the workers in the factory as early as before they took the leave. And like those servants and maids, the shopkeepers and the tutors from Hanling School also got ten taels of silver each. For common, it was really a lot. At first, Ling Chenglong and others objected, after all, ten taels of silver could sustain a family for half a year. And if one pinched and scraped, it could sustain one for a whole year. But Ling Jingxuan insisted. Although they were their servants or maids, or even workers. Without their effort, how would they have a chance to own what they had now? So, he really didn’t think that was too much.

Of course, the few little buns received most red envelops. Even Yan Yi, Yan Shan and Yan Si gave them their red envelops, of course, to suck up to them, only wishing that they could maltreat them less in the following year. There was no doubt that the three little buns’ savings had increased rapidly. One could imagine how happy Ling Wen was. It was said that on the very night, he hid in his own room and counted the money till late night, and now and then one could hear that kind of exaggerating laughter. Yan Yi who was guarding outside even got his legs softened, only afraid if he had come up with some new little trick against them again!

On the second day of lunar January, Lady Wang and Wang Jinyu had to go back to their own home. Of course Ling Chenggong had to go with them. Ling Jingxuan found himself an excuse and not went with them. Ling Jinghan also said he had to prepare for the exams half a month later, and Ling Jingpeng, Zhang Qing and his brother all found themselves an excuse. So, finally, no younger generation went with them. Not long after Lady Wang and others left, ten loaded carriages drove onto the road, and Ling Jingpeng, Mr. Wang and Yan Shan all got their packages and hopped onto the horses.

"Big brother, second brother, Qing and Yang, take care of this family for me."

Eyes reddened, Ling Jingxuan who went to such a far place for the first time cupped his hands at them. Ling Wen and Ling Wu who had no idea what was happening tilted their heads with confusion, having no idea why their uncle was like he was going to cry for he only went to the county to deliver some goods.

"Go! Don’t worry about things at home. Jingpeng, since you have decided, you got to do it well. Don’t give up halfway. We’ll be waiting for your good news!”

Ling Jingxuan also didn’t want him to go, but he didn’t allow him to show it, for he knew that this trip was for Jingpeng’s own good, and he had already gotten everything prepared. Yesterday, he asked Yan Yi to draw two hundred thousand from Wanli Money House in the county for him. And about the security issue, Yan Shengrui also had already made the arrangements.

"Hmm."

Saying no more, otherwise he was afraid he’d cry out. Ling Jingpeng nodded at Yan Shan and Mr. Wang, then the three of them turned the heads of their horses.

"Yah!"

With the whipping, three fine horses galloped away. Ling Jingxuan and others subconsciously took a few steps head. He opened his mouth but finally didn’t utter a word. The fifteen-year-old boy finally set foot on his own journey, ready to fly.

"Let’s go in. Jingpeng is out for experience, we don't need to worry."

After quite some time, Ling Jingxuan turned around quietly. If one observed closely, one could see that on the back of his hand crossing with Yan Shengrui’s had its veins standing out already. He said he was not worried, how is it even possible? But he was the head of the whole family, everyone watched his face. Anyone could reveal his/her worries, only he couldn’t!

"Daddy, isn't Uncle Jingpeng going to the county?"

Seeing their reaction was getting more and more weird, Ling Wen couldn’t help raising his head and asking.

Ling Jingxuan looked down at him and then looked back at the road where he could not see anything already before he said bitterly, "No, he is going to a border city, where he is going to open branches for both Xinyuan and Baiyunge."

"When will he come back? Daddy, is it far away?"

As if realizing something, Ling Wen looked a bit anxious.

"Neither too far nor too near. He’d be back in June the latest. Wen, are you worried?”

While talking, they already entered the yard. Ling Jingxuan brought them to the warm central room. When designing the house, it had heat preservation function, plus in all corners were burning the quality smokeless coal, the whole room was as warm as it had a heating device.

"Hmm."

Ling Wen nodded gravely, then Ling Wu on the other side also came before him, slanting his head and inquisitively asking, "Daddy, is it the place where there are wars often? Our tutor has ever said that the border cities are not peaceful all the time. Will my uncle get hurt?"

Although they were young, in school, they attended the adult class, besides, Juren Zhang was an unruly one, so, except the knowledge in books, he also often told them big or small things of the court, so boarder cities were not strange to them. That was also why Ling Wen looked so worried.