Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 233: Leaving Home
The cold pressingly forces the clear rites, with wine and feast to honor the peace.
What does the heart speak of during the night? It is through this that I find solace in my emotions.
On the eighth day of the twelfth month, during the depth of winter, when the cold has sealed the earth, Zhu Ping’an’s family laid out wine and meat on the table to honor the gods and ancestors, giving thanks for their blessings. Early in the morning, Father Zhu led Zhu Ping’an and his older brother Zhu Pingchuan with offerings of wine and meat to the old house. After gathering with their grandfather, uncle, and others, they went to the ancestral hall to pay respects to their ancestors.
At this moment, the Zhu family’s ancestral hall looked quite grand, with a flag displaying Zhu Ping’an’s success in the imperial exams flying from the flagpole outside. New couplets had been hung recently, and when villagers passed by, they would respectfully bow to honor the ancestors. Grandfather stood at the door, feeling quite proud, his expression reflecting the sense that the Zhu family had prospered under his stewardship during these ancestral rites.
When Zhu Ping’an and his father and brothers returned home, his mother, Chen, had already prepared a fragrant and rich pot of eight-treasure porridge made with rice, millet, red beans, peanuts, lotus seeds, red dates, wild mushrooms picked from the mountains, glutinous rice, green beans, and other ingredients.
In Xiahe village, there is a tradition: once the eight-treasure porridge is ready, it must be delivered to relatives, friends, and neighbors as quickly as possible, ideally before noon. The faster, the better, and it often feels like a race, with people exchanging bowls of porridge as if trying to grab blessings.
Zhu Ping’an and his older brother Zhu Pingchuan were instructed by their mother, Chen, to deliver the porridge from house to house, almost running across the entire village. After delivering it to relatives and friends, only then did the Zhu family sit down to eat their own porridge. Since Chen had made a large pot, they knew they wouldn’t finish it in the next day or two. However, this was no problem. Leftovers were a good sign, symbolizing abundance year after year.
Unlike the celebratory atmosphere in other households, after eating the eight-treasure porridge, the atmosphere in the Zhu family was filled with a sense of parting and sorrow.
This day was the Laba Festival, and also the day Zhu Ping’an was leaving home to head to the capital for the imperial examination.
The black horse, “Shamat,” was loaded with many items by Chen, causing the horse to frequently look back.
A large package of dried meats weighing over thirty pounds had been prepared by Chen in case Zhu Ping’an couldn’t find food in the wilds of Huangshan. The package mainly contained pork jerky with a small amount of rabbit jerky. About two or three pounds of meat were needed to produce one pound of jerky. To make these dried meats, Chen had used nearly a hundred pounds of meat.
Since the weather was cold, the food would keep for a long time. Chen also specially made many pancakes for Zhu Ping’an, which were packed into the same bundle and placed on the back of “Shamat.”
There were also dried fruits, as well as pickled cucumbers and other vegetables Chen had preserved to accompany the meals.
As for bedding and clothing, Chen had made five sets of clothes for Zhu Ping’an, including undergarments and other necessities, which were packed into a large bundle. His father, tied it to both sides of “Shamat” to ensure it didn’t interfere with the saddle.
As for his travel permits, examination credentials, and qualification certificates as a scholar, Zhu Ping’an kept them close to his body. The silver notes were sewn into the inner side of his clothing, while smaller amounts of silver notes and loose silver coins were carried on his person.
Of course, there was also the essential black wooden board, which Zhu Ping’an had grown accustomed to using for calligraphy practice. His father, had made him a new brush using the tail of a large black ox. Zhu Ping’an also brought it along.
In addition, there were other daily necessities, including herbs Chen had specially obtained from the town’s apothecary to prevent various diseases, as well as medicines for snakebites, animal attacks, and wounds.
Zhu Ping’an’s older brother, Zhu Pingchuan, had also gone to the town’s blacksmith to have a slightly longer dagger made for self-defense, designed to hang on the saddle and covered with a cushion.
“Zhi’er, take an extra fifty taels of silver notes,” Chen said as she packed Zhu Ping’an’s things, worried that he might not have enough money. She wanted to give him an additional fifty taels.
Zhu Ping’an shook his head upon hearing this and smiled, comforting his mother. “Mother, it’s not necessary. I already have over a hundred taels of silver. That should be enough. Please keep the money and use it to arrange for my brother’s wedding.”
Before Mother Chen could speak, his elder brother, Zhu Pingchuan, who was putting things onto the black horse’s back, spoke up:
“Zhi Di, just take it. The money our parents prepared for my wedding is two or three times more than before, it’s more than enough already. A poor family but a wealthy road, just take it.”
“That’s right, quickly pack it up, our family isn’t short of money,” said Mother Chen, trying to stuff the money into Zhu Ping’an’s bundle.
“Mother, the money I have is really enough. Besides, carrying so much money on the road isn’t safe,” Zhu Ping’an took a step back and shook his head.
“How could it be? If you don’t take it out, no one will know how much you’ve brought,” Mother Chen insisted on having Zhu Ping’an take the money.
Zhu Ping’an understood the family’s situation. In recent times, the family expenses had been high. His parents, Chen and Father Zhu, had a typical farming mindset and had purchased dozens of acres of land, intending to push forward with the idea of self-sufficient land management. A lot of money had been spent on the land. Although the family had rented out many plots to tenants, they still needed to buy oxen, farming tools, and spend money on settling the tenants. Additionally, there were expenses related to social obligations. After Zhu Ping’an passed the imperial examination, everyone in the village knew the Zhu family was doing well, and many relatives, like his elder uncle, came to ask for loans, as the Ming Dynasty valued family connections. You couldn’t always refuse, so they had to give something. Then there was the issue of his elder brother, Zhu Pingchuan’s wedding… there were still plenty of places the family needed money.
In addition to the money spent publicly, Zhu Ping’an had some private savings left over from his days at the imperial exams, money paid to protect his journey, and other scattered earnings from when the Li family checked their accounts, which amounted to quite a bit.
“I really have enough money, over a hundred taels of silver will last the people in our village for many years. I’ll be fine for half a year, and besides, as a son who passed the imperial examination, I can stay and eat for free at the post stations and government offices. Mother, you keep the money, and buy some good things for Father. When I come back, I’ll make sure to bring you a title.”
Zhu Ping’an smiled, getting on the horse, and explained to his mother, Chen.
“Mother doesn’t want a title, just wants you to be safe and sound, and come home well,” said Mother Chen, tears falling as she spoke, wiping her eyes and reminding Zhu Ping’an of various things to be cautious about on his journey.
“Alright, stop crying. What’s the point of crying? It’s unlucky to cry on the day Zhi’er is leaving for the exam,” Father Zhu said from the side.
“Zhu Shouyi, say that again! If it weren’t for the flesh from your own body, you wouldn’t care!” Upon hearing this, Mother Chen stopped crying but angrily pinched Father Zhu’s arm.
“Alright, alright, crying is lucky, is that good enough?” Father Zhu begged for mercy, and Mother Chen stopped crying and smiled, the atmosphere in the courtyard lightened.
“Father, Mother, take care of yourselves, don’t worry about me. I’ve been on the road many times and can take care of myself.”
Zhu Ping’an mounted the black horse and bid farewell to his parents, reminding his elder brother as he left:
“Elder brother, I wish you happiness in advance for your wedding. Haha, at that time, you’ll have your wife with you to honor Father and Mother. When I return, I’ll help out even more.”
During the Laba Festival, as the cold seized the earth, Zhu Ping’an rode his horse out of Xiahe Village, beginning his journey to the capital to take the imperial examination.