Flowers in full bloom

Chapter 472 Going to Jianyang Prefecture

After a pause, he continued, "You have a sister. She has brought you up safely from the age of seven to today, and she can also take care of you until you become an adult. So, if you gain something, take it easy; if you lose something, take it easy. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Brother Rong Jin, I understand." Xiao Yuan nodded, turned around and said to Hua Lei, "Sister, don't worry about me, of course I really want to find my parents.

However, I will not get stuck in a dead end and give up on the imperial examination just because I can't find my parents. I'm just delaying the outcome, don't worry.

Brother Rong Jin is right, you can't take care of everything for me my whole life. I want to learn to grow up on my own, and I want to face our parents' affairs with you."

Hualei sighed, feeling somewhat helpless. However, in the end, she nodded and agreed to take Xiaoyuan with her.

After a discussion, Hua Lei finally persuaded Old Marquis Pei to stay in Shangjing City and help her look after her several farms and shops.

Lord Pei thought about it and nodded, but told Rong Jin to bring more guards with him. Rong Jin also nodded in agreement, and then asked for leave from the Hanlin Academy.

Hua Lei originally wanted to persuade Rong Jin to stay in Shangjing City. In Hua Lei's mind, this time she would be away for a long time, and finding her parents was her own business, and she didn't want her family affairs to affect Rong Jin.

After all, the two of them had not yet gotten married. However, Rong Jin insisted on following him, and seeing that she could not persuade Rong Jin, Hua Lei said nothing more.

She went to the Silin Bureau to ask for leave, thinking that she would have to spend a lot of time talking to him. Unexpectedly, Lord Yu, who had always disliked her, agreed to her leave without hesitation. Hualei was quite surprised and grateful.

What she didn't know was that Lord Yu was thinking in his heart that Hua Lei had been on leave for such a long time, and when Hua Lei came back, she might resign voluntarily. Wouldn't that be exactly what he wanted?

After submitting the leave application, Hua Lei sorted out the things on hand and handed them to Lord Yu. She also talked to Gao Tiedan, Xiao Yuanzi and a few others and asked them to go to the barren mountain to supervise the patrol as usual.

On the other hand, he also went to the Imperial College to ask for leave for Xiaoyuan. Although several professors did not agree, Xiaoyuan insisted, so they finally agreed.

Aunt Fu and Aunt Song cried with excitement after hearing the news brought by Tian Xiaofu. In the past few days, they have been preparing luggage for Hualei and her brother's trip.

Hua Lei felt that it would take at least fourteen days for a boat to reach Jianyang Prefecture in Yongjia Prefecture, which was too slow. She decided to take Xiao Yuan and Rong Jin with her on horseback to Jianyang Prefecture.

This would only take eight or nine days. Just in case, two carriages would be enough. Let Tian Xiaofu take Tian Changjin and the crew by boat and go directly to the ferry in Jianyang Prefecture.

Half a month later, the two groups met at the ferry in Jianyang Prefecture to discuss specific matters. Therefore, in order to save time, Tian Xiaofu and his son boarded the ship in advance the day after they returned from Huazhai and set off.

After Hua Lei arranged her own and Xiao Yuan's leave and made arrangements for the affairs on the farm, on the fourth day, she, Rong Jin, Xiao Yuan, followed by Uncle Fu and their escort, left Shangjing City with a group of more than 20 people and headed straight for Jianyang Prefecture in Yongjia Prefecture.

Although Hualei knew how to ride a horse, she had thought about the problems that would arise from riding for a long time and had taken some precautions. However, when she dismounted and checked into the inn in the evening, her lower limbs were still stiff and her hips were burning.

On the contrary, Xiaoyuan was not affected at all. Although he looked a little tired, he was much better than Hualei. Rong Jin stayed by Hualei's side all day to protect her.

Seeing that Hua Lei had difficulty getting off the horse, Rong Jin came up and supported Hua Lei's waist, and gently helped Hua Lei get off the horse. Then he asked the female guards who followed Hua Lei to help Hua Lei into the room.

He gave the ointment he brought with him to Ziyun and Ziyan, asking them to help take care of Hualei. After washing up at night, Hualei used the ointment and felt much better.

In this way, every day at dawn, the group got up and set out on their journey, and did not find an inn to stay until dark. When there was really no village or inn to be found, they would use the oilcloth they brought with them to pad and cover themselves, and find a spot to spend the night.

On the evening of the seventh day, Hua Lei and his group arrived at Jianyang Prefecture and found a relatively clean-looking "Gaopeng" inn to stay in.

After dinner, Hualei washed up and took Ziyan and Ziyun to Xiaoyuan and Rongjin's room. In the room, Rongjin and Xiaoyuan had also washed up and were looking at the civil map of Jianyang Prefecture on the table. Uncle Fu was also there.

The entire Yongjia Prefecture's terrain is similar to a quadrilateral, with ten prefectures under it. Jianyang Prefecture is located in the western part of Yongjia Prefecture, and the ferry for handing over books is in the central part of Jianyang Prefecture, called the "Sanshuiwan" ferry.

As the name suggests, this is the intersection of three rivers, so the ferry is also very large. The ferry where ships can dock is nearly 300 meters long, and there is also an "L"-shaped turning point.

There are many ships docked here, and there are many shops and vendors around. As a result, there are also many ferrymen helping with loading and unloading.

A few dozen meters behind the shops is a large shantytown that winds along the river for several miles. Many aboriginals and temporary outsiders live in the low and dilapidated shanties.

According to my eldest cousin, the point where the books were handed over was at the bottom end of the ferry "L". The government specially designated an area here for use by the Jianyang Prefecture government, and the place was not very large.

Moreover, because it is exclusively for the government and is at the end of the ferry, relatively few people usually pass by. The busiest area is usually in the middle of the ferry.

If the person he saw was really his father, he was probably helping the ships docked in the middle to unload their cargo.

"Sister Hua, do you think Uncle Xiaocheng and Auntie live in the shantytown nearby?" Rong Jin looked at the map, raised his head and asked Hua Lei.

"It's possible. If I keep helping to load and unload goods at the ferry, it would be most convenient to live in this shantytown." Hua Lei nodded as she looked at the map.

"Then let's go to the ferry to start looking tomorrow?" Rong Jin said, "Unfortunately, there is no portrait of Uncle Xiaocheng. It would be much more convenient if there was one."

"It's probably difficult to draw a portrait. In fact, I don't have a very clear impression of my parents." Hua Lei sighed. Her parents left her to take up new posts when she was only six months old.