「Luofu Village, in the Capital’s Suburb」

Not long after Ancient Wen Heng’s carriages entered the village, a villager approached to lead the way. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Ancient Wen Heng, holding Luo Luo, sat on the front shaft of the cart. "Young man," he asked, "do people often come here to visit?"

The young man smiled shyly. "As soon as spring arrives, many people come over. Our village is backed by Daqing Mountain, and a long river flows past it. Some people go hunting on the mountain, and others like to have fun by the river."

"What’s your name, young man?"

"Replying to you, sir, I wouldn’t presume. My surname is Luo. You can just call me Luo Gang."

Ancient Wen Heng said, "Luo Gang, could you please help us find a wide, open area? I have my child with me, so I don’t want to go anywhere too remote."

Luo Gang glanced at the little one in his arms. ’This young master is quite handsome.’ "I know just the place," he said. "But it’s a little close to the water, so you’ll have to watch the young master carefully."

As soon as he said it, Luo Gang felt he had overstepped. ’A great family like this travels with a flock of servants. How could they possibly not watch one child properly?’

Ancient Wen Heng, however, just smiled and thanked him. "Thank you for the reminder, Brother Luo. Walking through here, it seems your village has quite a large population, doesn’t it?"

Luo Gang puffed out his chest with pride. "All told, our village has nearly 2,000 people. We’re also known as one of the most prosperous villages around here."

"I can see that." Ancient Wen Heng looked at the buildings around them. They were a world of difference from the villages he’d seen in the past.

When they arrived, the spot was just as Luo Gang had described—a large patch of grass by the river, perfect for their picnic.

Ancient Wen Heng gave him a tip of reward silver. The man didn’t linger, quickly disappearing from everyone’s sight.

Jin Qianqian spread the blankets they’d brought on the ground. A short distance away, a few of the older maids had already set up a stove and started boiling water for tea.

Gazing at Daqing Mountain in the distance and listening to the sound of the flowing water, Jin Qianqian felt herself completely relax.

Ancient Wen Heng set the child in his arms down on the blanket and then began to run around wildly nearby with Gu Benluo.

After resting for a moment, Jin Qianqian’s interest was also piqued. Looking at the clear river water, she couldn’t help but recall the time they had lived deep in the mountains.

"Keep an eye on the young master. I’m going to have a look around over there." Jin Qianqian told the nannies to stay put, then went to a small mound of earth nearby and started digging.

"Madam, are you looking for earthworms?"

Jin Qianqian nodded. "The river looks deep enough. I was thinking of trying my hand at fishing."

Qing Mei said, "You know how to fish, Madam?"

"There’s one way to find out," Jin Qianqian said. She used a small twig to pick up an earthworm, then looked around and pointed to some nearby leaves. "Go grab a few of those leaves for me."

She placed the earthworm and a bit of soil onto a leaf, then resumed digging. After unearthing several more, she decided she had enough and stopped.

"What are you doing playing in the dirt?" Ancient Wen Heng came over, holding a sweaty Luo Luo. Seeing the mud on her hands, he teased, "You’re a mother now, yet you’re even more mischievous than Luo Luo."

Jin Qianqian pretended to rummage through her things before pulling out a fishhook. "We’re going to be self-sufficient today. Our Little Luoluo can just wait for Mommy to make him some fish soup."

"Fish!" Gu Benluo clapped his hands excitedly, remembering the plump carp in the pond in their backyard.

Seeing Jin Qianqian watch Chun Mei bait a hook with an earthworm, he reached out to grab one himself.

Ancient Wen Heng didn’t notice in time, and the boy actually managed to grab the worm.

Jin Qianqian forced herself not to cry out. But the boy seemed to get a kick out of it, grabbing both ends of the squirming worm and trying to pull it straight.

Ancient Wen Heng said, "Luo Luo, you can’t play with it like that. Why don’t you put it on the ground, and we can watch it burrow into a hole? How about that?"

Gu Benluo blinked his big eyes at Ancient Wen Heng. "Daddy, it’s squishy."

Ancient Wen Heng hugged him from behind and slowly crouched down with him. "It is squishy, but why don’t we put it down and see what it does?"

Gu Benluo remembered the ants he played with in the backyard. Many of them had disappeared into their holes. "But it will run away."

"But holding it like that is getting your hands all dirty," Ancient Wen Heng said. "How about Daddy takes you to the river to wash them, okay?"

’If he weren’t afraid of scaring the boy, Ancient Wen Heng would have slapped the worm right out of his hand.’

Turning to look at the river water, Gu Benluo decided to drop the worm after all. He took Ancient Wen Heng’s hand and ran toward the riverbank.

Jin Qianqian let out a breath of relief. She deftly tied the fishing line, fashioned a simple rod and bobber, picked a spot, and cast her hook.

Nanny Duan and the others also split up to get busy. Those who could identify wild vegetables began foraging nearby, while the rest started setting up pots and building a makeshift stove. It gave Jin Qianqian the odd feeling that they were refugees on the run again.

’Just a group of very well-dressed "refugees."’

Several other groups, also led by villagers, arrived one after another. Some found a spot to rest, while others headed straight for Daqing Mountain, which wasn’t far away.

Seeing that they were all carrying weapons, she knew they were planning to hunt on the mountain.

Ancient Wen Heng was playing with his son and watching the activity when, to his surprise, a scholar in a gray robe began walking toward him. The man looked strikingly familiar.

"What a coincidence, we meet again." Ancient Wen Heng finally remembered. ’Isn’t this the white-robed scholar who sat across from me during the examination? I’m so used to seeing him in white that his gray robe today threw me off for a moment.’

"I must thank you for your advice back in the examination cell, brother. My surname is Bai, Bai Shuzhi. Might I ask for your name?" Bai Shuzhi’s face was filled with gratitude. ’If he hadn’t followed this brother’s lead step by step, he might not have made it through the examination so smoothly.’

’For one thing, his own cell leaked everywhere. If he hadn’t been prepared, all his work would have been for nothing.’

’When they left the cells that day, everyone was mentally and physically exhausted, so there was no chance to ask where the other was from. He never expected such a fateful encounter today.’

Ancient Wen Heng introduced himself as well. ’This man is interesting,’ he thought. ’During those days in the examination cells, he copied everything I did. He wasn’t even afraid I might lead him into a trap.’

’When I boiled water, he boiled water. When I slept, he slept. The first or second time, I thought it was a coincidence. But after nine days, I realized he was intentionally mimicking me.’

Bai Shuzhi said, "Brother Wen Heng, since fate has brought us together, we’re about to head to Daqing Mountain to hunt. Would you be interested in joining us?"

Ancient Wen Heng glanced over at Jin Qianqian, who was still focused on fishing. "My apologies, but I’m afraid not today."

Following Ancient Wen Heng’s gaze, Bai Shuzhi saw that he was with his family. Disappointed, he could only ask for Ancient Wen Heng’s address and promise to pay a formal visit another day. Then, at the urging of his friends, he departed with regret.

Just then, Jin Qianqian saw her bobber sink. She quickly yanked on the line, but feeling a heavy resistance, she cried out, "Wenheng, quick, come help me!"