Tying Up Loose Ends

He noticed that the moment before the Immortal manifested the Identity Token, he performed a specific action: he stroked a small pouch hanging from his waist.

Could this be a Storage Bag? Cheng Buzheng secretly speculated.

However, he did not let a single trace of emotion show on his face. He stood quietly at the Immortal's side, waiting for the testing to conclude.

At the same time, he was silently calculating the date the letter would arrive. By now, my family should have received my farewell letter.

Meanwhile.

Qingshan Town, Cheng Family Village.

A young man dressed in a courier's uniform walked out of the Qingshan Town post station. Dusty and travel-worn, he arrived at Cheng Family Village. Before long, he reached the door of a house at the east end of the village, knocked on the dilapidated wooden door until it clattered, and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

"Old Man Cheng, a letter has arrived from your Xiao Er! Open the door quickly, I have other letters to deliver!"

A moment later, the door opened.

A middle-aged woman with dry, yellowing hair and a sallow complexion hurried to open the wooden door. Her voice rang out from inside before she even reached it.

"Coming, coming! Knock a little lighter, you're going to break the door!"

The middle-aged woman opened the wooden door and, seeing the young man dressed as a courier, asked, "Young man, a letter from my Xiao Er?"

"Yes! Here is the letter. I still have other mail to deliver, I'm off!"

With that, he took a letter from his parcel, handed it to Cheng Jiang Shi, and turned to leave without a moment's hesitation.

Cheng Jiang Shi looked at the letter in her hand, joy appearing in her eyes, though she couldn't stop muttering to herself.

"That brat, always showing off. Can't he come back and see us when he has time? Writing letters is such a waste of money. Doesn't he need a bride price to get married later?"

She turned and walked back into the house, unable to hide the smile on her face, while calling out into the room:

"Old Man Cheng, come out quickly! A letter from Xiao Er has arrived!"

In the blink of an eye, the honest-looking Old Man Cheng walked out of the room. Seeing his wife in such high spirits, he scratched the back of his head and said:

"Neither of us can read. Let's wait until Da Gou gets back at sunset and have him read it to us!"

"Since when did Da Gou learn to read?"

"How did I not know about this?"

"Two and a half years ago, Da Gou was dragged by Xiao Er to the Sour Scholar's place to secretly study for half a year. Later, after Xiao Er learned it himself, he taught him for another half year. According to what Xiao Er told me before he left, Da Gou can now read and write! From now on, if there are any letters, we can have him read them."

"Er Gou, that seedling for schooling, was held back by our family! We don't have the means to support his education."

"Sigh. Now he's gone out early to work as a Medicine Boy for the sake of the family's livelihood!"

"Tell me, what other secrets do you and your sons have that you haven't told me!

If that's really the case, even if we have to sell everything we own, we must support Er Gou's schooling!"

As she spoke, Cheng Jiang Shi grew furious and began to lash out, grabbing Cheng Hanzi by the ear and demanding an answer.

"No, there really isn't anything else! It was Er Gou who wouldn't let me tell you."

"You Cheng Hanzi, you don't know what's important, do you! Such a big matter, and you actually didn't tell me? Go, go to the fields right now and call Da Gou back to read the letter for me!"

As she spoke, her eyes turned red. She knew the family owed Xiao Er a great deal, and her heart felt all the heavier for it.

A short while later.

A young child ran back from outside, followed by a group of playmates. Pushing open the gate, the child shouted:

"Mother! Second Brother is back, where is he!" As the child spoke, they began searching around the room.

Suddenly, the house became as lively as if the Monkey King were causing havoc in the Heavenly Palace.

"Sister Xiao Cao, he's not here!"

"Xiao Cao, he's not here either."

"Mother! Where did you hide Second Brother!"

Finding nothing, Xiao Cao asked her mother indignantly.

"You silly girl, your Second Brother didn't come back; he sent a letter back!"

Cheng Jiang Shi, her eyes slightly red, scolded her softly.

"Is it something delicious? Where is it? I want to eat it!"

As she spoke, her eyes darted back and forth, scanning the room.

Cheng Jiang Shi slapped the child on the back of the head and said crossly:

"It's not for eating! Go outside and play! Don't be an eyesore here!"

With that, she shooed the little girl and her playmates out.

Suddenly.

The house became quiet at once, but seeing the mess left behind, a surge of irritation rose in her heart. However, eager to know what Xiao Er had written in the letter, she decided not to bicker with the little girl.

Otherwise, a serving of "Bamboo Cane Stir-fry" would have been unavoidable!

Two quarters of an hour later.

Sweat streaming down their faces, father and son pushed open the front door and walked into the house one after the other.

As soon as Cheng Jiang Shi saw her eldest son return, she immediately handed him the envelope in her hand and said impatiently:

"Da Gou, read it quickly. What did your younger brother say in the letter?"

Da Gou, with his dark, tanned face and honest expression, opened the envelope. His heavy voice resonated through the room.

"To my respected parents:

Is everything well at home? My heart is filled with concern, yet there is a thought that I have been unable to forget for a long time. At the beginning of last month, I personally witnessed a Sword Immortal flying on a sword.

After much inquiry, I heard that an Immortal will be recruiting disciples in the county town. Do not worry about my trip to the county; I am perfectly safe!

If I have no affinity for the Immortal path, I will surely return in ten days. If I am favored by the Immortal, I will return within ten years at the latest.

I hope that you, Father, Mother, and Big Brother, will strictly keep this matter a secret to avoid retaliation from villains!"

After listening, Cheng Jiang Shi couldn't help but cry and curse:

"That little heartless thing, how can you tell me not to worry or be afraid!

When you come back, I'll have to give you a good thrashing."

The gloomy Cheng Hanzi said irritably:

"That's enough. Stop wailing. Didn't you see that Xiao Er said this matter must not be leaked?

How can he be at ease if you act like this!"

It was rare for him to lose his temper.

Cheng Jiang Shi, who had never lost an argument, retorted: "If you're so capable, tell him to come back and say it to my face.

Look at you, acting all high and mighty!"

Cheng Hanzi stood up and waved his hand:

"I won't lower myself to your level. I'm going back to my room to sleep."

Cheng Jiang Shi, who would stir up trouble even when she was in the wrong, would never let anyone off the hook:

"Insight? You don't have a lick of insight! You old fool, you don't even know what's important."

Seeing his father retreat, Da Gou scratched the back of his head and offered some honest-sounding advice:

"Mother, Dad is right. Xiao Er has been smart since he was little; he must be worried about something. I'm not smart, but I know I should listen to Xiao Er!

Xiao Er would never harm us. Mother, you must not tell anyone about this. From now on, if anyone asks where Xiao Er went, we'll just say he went away to learn a trade!"

If Cheng Buzheng had heard his older brother's words, he would have applauded. His brother had learned how to think and handle problems; he had made great progress.

Cheng Jiang Shi rolled her eyes at her eldest son and said:

"Of course I know that. I was just speaking out of anger earlier. Do you think I'm as foolish as your father, unable to tell good from bad?"

She then let out a long, melancholy sigh and said:

"I hope he can achieve his heart's desire, but I also hope he can return to my side. If he truly gains the favor of an Immortal, ten years... how am I supposed to live without seeing Xiao Er for so long!"

Da Gou spoke in his simple, honest way, comforting his mother:

"Even if he gains the favor of an Immortal, isn't it ten years at most?

It's possible he could be back in three or four years!"

"I hope so! Don't tell Xiao Cao about this; she can't keep a secret. Only the three of us should know. You aren't even allowed to tell your wife, do you hear me?"

"Also, you were right earlier. From now on, if anyone asks where Xiao Er is, just say he went away to learn a trade. You should coordinate with your father.

And in the letter, Xiao Er asked you to go to Bairen Hall in Qingshan Town. Go there and apologize to the doctor.

Xiao Er mentioned in the letter that he also wrote a farewell note to the doctor, but he didn't say what he was going off to do. You know what to say, right?"

Da Gou nodded earnestly and said:

"Mother, I know what to do. I'll head to town tomorrow and apologize to Xiao Er's doctor."

PS: Setting out my bowl, politely asking for the three favors (please add to your library, please recommend, please vote).