Fu Xin Ci knew without thinking that her grandfather’s words made sense.
The strength and foundation of a family were accumulated through the joint efforts of countless generations, not something that could be spoken into existence with a mere turn of the lips.
As the grandfather and granddaughter were chatting, Ning Er ran over, muttering, “Sister, it’s too hot. Let’s go ask Mother to make some cold jelly.”
The elder wholeheartedly agreed and instructed the siblings, “For your grandfather’s bowl, use a little bit of fragrant vinegar, a little bit of chili oil, and add plenty of shredded cucumber.”
“Okay, Ning Er remembers,” Ning Er was more reliable than his sister in this matter.
It wasn’t until the afternoon that Qi Yuan Shan hurried over to tell Grandpa Meng about his and Old Sun’s plans.
“Uncle, Old Sun plans to have his eldest son accompany our people to the capital,” Qi Yuan Shan explained, fearing the elder might not understand. “Old Sun said that there are several important figures in the capital who had ordered old mountain ginseng from him before. They mentioned that the older, the better.”
“Our two branches of old ginseng are perfectly suited, as if tailor-made for them.”
“Indeed. Old Sun is also pleased. He has been searching for such good items for a long time but hasn’t found any satisfactory ones.”
“Those with power and influence are waiting with their money. We are also helping him solve an urgent problem.”
“However, he also has concerns. They dare not travel with such valuable items, so he secretly told me that we would need to provide people to escort them into the capital. I think this is acceptable. We are talking about exchanging grain, and our people can then escort the grain back.”
“Then we should bring more people.”
“Yes, I cannot leave. I plan to let Old Jin take Xiao He and the others from the small flag.”
Grandpa Meng was initially worried that the small flag unit led by Qi He, all teenagers, might not handle unexpected situations well. However, thinking that Old Jin would accompany them, he felt much more at ease.
“When are Old Jin and Xiao He heading to the capital? I’ll have Yu’s daughter-in-law make them more dry provisions for easy consumption on the road.”
“They are leaving tomorrow. Old Sun’s son also needs to go back and pack, and bring some useful things.”
“Xiao He also needs to bring more money. As the saying goes, ‘A poor home and a rich journey.’ It’s always good at home, but difficult when traveling,” Grandpa Meng said. He then remembered that he needed to discuss this with his granddaughter, as all of Qi He’s money was in his granddaughter’s hands.
Qi Yuan Shan listened to Uncle Meng and simply nodded with a smile, saying nothing.
After Qi Yuan Shan returned to the Thousand Household Office, Grandpa Meng quickly found his granddaughter and told her about Qi He’s departure for the capital the next day.
He also reminded her, “Be sure to give Xiao He more money. Our journey to the capital is long, and we cannot let them go thirsty or hungry on the road.”
“Grandfather, please don’t worry. Ci’er understands.”
After leaving her grandfather, Fu Xin Ci began to ponder what to pack for Qi He.
However, in such hot weather, food would not last long on the road. Therefore, she abandoned the idea of packing food.
Next, she considered packing a few changes of clothes, with an emphasis on undergarments. For other matters, she felt her grandfather’s words were the most reliable; she should give him more bank notes for his expenses.
Whatever he wanted to eat or buy could be resolved as long as he had bank notes in his pocket.
However, she was a little worried if Qi He would spend money recklessly.
It wasn’t that she was being overly concerned. They had known each other for so many years, and Qi He had never seemed to buy anything for himself.
Every time he received his monthly pay, he would quietly give it to her, under the guise of having her save it for him.
She had also tried to refuse, citing that he was grown up. However, that elder brother would scratch his head and tell her, “It’s better to leave it with Sister Fu. If I keep it myself, I’ll worry constantly, unsure whether it’s safer in my sleeve pocket or my chest. In short, I don’t want to carry money on me, or I won’t be able to eat or sleep well.”
Fu Xin Ci had rolled her eyes and teased him then, “I’ve never seen anyone like you. Others wish they had more money in their pockets, but you’re the complete opposite.”
“Who says? Brother Zheng and Brother Wang don’t carry money on them either.”
“What if there’s a place where money needs to be spent? Don’t they have to run home to get it?”
“Yes, I saw Brother Zheng ride home to get money once.”
Fu Xin Ci had also said at the time, “I didn’t expect the Yingzui Cliff Guard Post to have such a fine tradition. It’s worth carrying forward.”
As a result, that elder brother had smiled, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.
When Qi He returned that afternoon, Fu Xin Ci had almost finished organizing the items he would need.
She tried to get as many small denomination bank notes as possible, sewing three one-hundred tael notes into three different belts.
The backpack she had made for him earlier also came in handy. She placed the ten and five tael notes in the inner pockets, and also prepared over thirty taels of loose silver.
Qi He watched as Sister Fu pointed out each item to him, like a young wife instructing her husband about to embark on a long journey, and felt a surge of happiness.
After finishing these instructions, Fu Xin Ci pointed to an independent pouch inside the backpack and showed it to Qi He. “This pouch contains medicine. There’s medicine for colds and reducing fever, for reducing inflammation, for stopping bleeding and relieving pain, and this is for treating diarrhea.”
This season was prone to upset stomachs, so Fu Xin Ci felt it was necessary to emphasize, “Don’t eat indiscriminately, and especially don’t eat spoiled food.”
Qi He nodded obediently, memorizing each item.
Fu Xin Ci reiterated her instructions. Seeing that there was nothing missing, she observed that no one was approaching the house. Only then did she take out a firearm and place it in Qi He’s hand.
Upon seeing the firearm Sister Fu placed in his hand, Qi He’s eyes immediately lit up with a dazzling brilliance.
He carefully examined it with both hands for a while before hesitantly leaning close to Sister Fu’s ear and asking in a voice only they could hear, “Is this for me?”
“What do you think?”
“Heh heh.” Qi He chuckled foolishly. Then, taking advantage of Sister Fu’s inattention, he extended his strong arm and gently hugged Sister Fu.
The action was brief, lasting only a moment before Qi He reluctantly let go.
In his heart, he didn’t want to let go and wanted to hold Sister Fu for a while longer.
But he was afraid Sister Fu would be angry, and also feared someone might suddenly enter and put Sister Fu in a difficult position, so he reluctantly released her.
Fu Da Niu’s mind went blank. She had never had such an intimate gesture with any man, excluding her two younger brothers.
Before the apocalypse, she had a boyfriend. However, before they even reached the stage of holding hands, his mother found out.
That wealthy lady, who considered herself superior, had somehow heard from another mother that her father was a farmer and forbade her son from dating Fu Xin Ci.