Chapter 8: Wrapping Up

He discovered that just before the immortal conjured the command token, he made a specific movement, stroking a small pouch hanging from his waist.

Cheng Buzheng speculated inwardly, "Could that be... a storage bag!"

However, his face showed no sign of abnormality. He stood quietly by the immortal's side, waiting for the inspection to conclude.

At the same time, he was mentally calculating the date the letter was sent. "By now, my family should have received my farewell letter!"

***

Meanwhile.

Qingshan Town, Cheng Family Village.

A young man dressed in messenger's attire emerged from the Qingshan Town post station and arrived at Cheng Family Village, dusty from the road. Before long, he reached a house at the eastern end of the village, knocked loudly on the weathered wooden door, and shouted at the top of his lungs.

*Knock, knock... knock!*

"Cheng Hanzi! Your second son has sent a letter! Open up quickly, I have other letters to deliver!"

A moment later, the door opened.

A middle-aged woman with somewhat yellowish hair and a haggard complexion hurried to open the wooden door. Before she even appeared, her voice drifted out from within.

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

The middle-aged woman opened the door and saw the young man in messenger's clothing. She spoke up

"Young man... my second son has sent a letter!"

"Yes! Here is the letter! I have more mail to deliver, so I must be going!"

As he spoke, he took a letter from his bundle, handed it to Mrs. Cheng, and turned to leave without a moment's hesitation.

Mrs. Cheng looked at the letter in her hand, joy flashing in her eyes, though she continued to mutter to herself.

"That brat, always showing off. He can't find the time to come back and visit us! Writing letters is such a waste of money; don't you go asking for a huge bride price when you get married later!"

She then turned toward the house, an uncontrollable smile on her lips, and shouted into the room

"Cheng Hanzi, come out quickly! Er'er has sent a letter!"

In the blink of an eye, the simple-looking Cheng Hanzi walked out of the house. Seeing his jubilant wife, he rubbed the back of his head and said

"Neither of us can read. Wait until Da Gou comes back at sunset, and tell him to read it to us!"

"Since when did Da Gou learn to read? Why didn't I know?"

"Two and a half years ago, Er'er took Da Gou to that pedantic scholar to secretly learn for half a year. Later, once Er'er had mastered it, he taught him for another half year. I heard Er'er say before he left that Da Gou can read and write now! We'll have him read the letters from now on. Er'gou... that scholar's talent was wasted on us! We didn't have the means to send him to school. Sigh... now he's already gone out to work as a medicine boy to support the family's livelihood!"

"What other secrets do you three father and sons have that you haven't told me! If that's really the case, I'd sell everything we own just to put Er'gou through school!"

In her agitation, Mrs. Cheng began to act, grabbing Cheng Hanzi by the ear to press him for answers.

"No, there really are no more! It was Er'er who told me not to tell you."

"You old fool, Cheng Hanzi, you don't know what's important! To keep such a big matter from me! Go, go to the fields right now and call Da Gou back to read the letter to me!"

As she spoke, her eyes reddened. She knew the family owed Er'er so much, and her heart grew even heavier.

A moment later.

A young child came running in from outside, followed by a group of playmates. They pushed open the door and shouted

"Mother... is Second Brother back? Where is he!" They began searching through the house.

Suddenly, the house became as chaotic and lively as a celestial palace.

"Sister Xiaocao, he's not here!"

"Xiaocao, he's not here either!"

"Mother... where did you hide Second Brother!"

Having found nothing, Xiaocao asked her mother indignantly.

"You little brat, your brother hasn't come back; he sent a letter!" Mrs. Cheng muttered a low scolding, her eyes slightly red.

"Is it something delicious? Where is it? I want to eat!" The child's eyes darted around the room incessantly.

Mrs. Cheng gave the child a light smack on the back of the head and said irritably

"You can't eat it! Go out and play! Don't get in the way!"

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

Immediately, the house fell quiet. However, seeing the mess left behind, her anger flared up, but because she was so anxious to know what Er'er had written, she didn't hold it against the little girl. Otherwise, a "stir-fried shredded pork with bamboo strips" punishment would have been inevitable!

Two quarters of an hour later.

The father and son, drenched in sweat, pushed open the door and walked into the house one after the other.

Seeing her eldest son return, Mrs. Cheng immediately handed him the envelope, saying impatiently

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

Da Gou, a dark-skinned man with a simple, honest face, opened the envelope, and his heavy voice echoed through the room.

"To my dear parents.

Is everything well at home? My heart is filled with longing, but a single thought has remained etched in my mind for a long time. Early last month, I personally witnessed a Sword Immortal flying on a sword.

After much inquiry, I heard that an immortal in the county seat is recruiting disciples. Do not worry about my trip to the county seat; I am safe!

If I do not find a connection with the immortals on this journey, I shall surely begin my journey home in ten days. If I receive the favor of an immortal, I shall return within ten years at most.

Regarding this matter, I hope my parents and elder brother must not leak it to anyone, lest we face retaliation from petty people!"

After listening, Mrs. Cheng couldn't help but cry and scold

"That ungrateful boy! How can you expect me not to worry and be afraid! When you come back, I'll definitely give you a good dressing down."

A sullen Cheng Hanzi said irritably

"Enough... stop wailing. Didn't you see Er'er say this matter must not be leaked? How can he be at peace if you act like this!"

It was a rare moment of temper for him.

Mrs. Cheng, who had never lost an argument, retorted: "If you're so capable, tell him to come back and say it to my face! Then we'll see!"

Cheng Hanzi stood up and waved his hand. "I won't stoop to your level. I'm going to the room to sleep."

Mrs. Cheng, who would argue even if she were in the wrong, wouldn't let him have the last word: "Stoop to my level? You don't have a lick of sense! You old man who doesn't know what's important."

Seeing his father retreat, Da Gou rubbed the back of his head and advised with an honest expression

"Mother, Father is right. Er'er has been clever since he was small; he must be worried about something. I'm not smart, but I know we should listen to Er'er! Er'er definitely won't harm us. Mother, you must not tell anyone about this. If anyone asks where Er'er went, we'll just say he went out to learn a craft!"

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

Mrs. Cheng rolled her eyes at her eldest son and said

"Of course I know. I was just speaking out of anger. Do you think I'm as foolish as your father, not knowing what's good for me?"

Then, she let out a long, melancholy sigh. "I both hope he can achieve his wish and hope he can return to my side. If he receives the favor of an immortal, ten years... how am I supposed to live without seeing Er'er for such a long time!"

Da Gou, in his simple manner, comforted his mother

"Even if he receives the favor of an immortal, isn't it ten years at most? It might even be three or four years before he can come back!"

"I hope so! Don't tell Xiaocao; she can't keep her mouth shut. This matter stays between the three of us. Even your wife isn't allowed to say anything, understood?"

"Also, you were right just now. In the future, if anyone asks where Er'er is, say he went out to learn a craft. You should coordinate with your father about this. Also, in the letter, Er'er asked you to go to Bai Rentang in Qingshan Town to visit the doctor and apologize. Er'er said in the letter that he also wrote a farewell letter to the doctor, so he didn't say why he left. You know what to say, right?"

Da Gou nodded seriously. "Mother, I know what to do. I'll go to the town tomorrow to apologize to Er'er's doctor."