Yang Province's harbor bustled without rest. After watching his men load all manner of gifts onto the ship, Wang Yan cupped his hands to Feng Jing and Fan Chunren. "May you two elder brothers have a smooth journey. Until we meet again."
Ouyang Fa and Changbai, who stood beside Wang Yan, also joined him in bowing farewell.
Feng Jing returned the salute with a smile. "Ziyan and Yaofu will see each other again in less than two months. We, on the other hand, may be farther apart."
"Just two or three years at most, and we'll meet again in Jingcheng. We can keep in touch by letter." Wang Yan waved with a smile. "We're off."
Watching Wang Yan and the others depart, Feng Jing smiled. "Yaofu, it actually would have been good for you to stay and attend Ziyan's wedding. When he leaves for his post in Hangzhou, you'll be heading home, so you'd be traveling the same road."
"Won't he be taking his wife with him when he assumes his post? It makes no difference. This younger brother is aching to return home—I truly can't stay any longer."
As the two chatted and laughed, Wang Yan and his party had already disappeared from sight.
Sheng Changbai said, "The household has prepared food and wine. Brother-in-law, why not stay at our home tonight?"
"Very well." Wang Yan readily agreed.
He immediately gave some instructions to the people who had come from his household, had them take all the luggage back, then boarded a carriage and headed toward Yang Province City.
"My lord, Changbai and the others should be back by now, shouldn't they?"
Sheng Hong read his book without even raising his eyes. "Another half hour or so."
"Changbai has been by our side since he was little. When has