Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 234: Bidding Farewell to Home
Deep cold presses upon the sacred rites; with wine we feast at Jiaping.
What can express the long-held thoughts in my heart? I borrow this occasion to soothe them.
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 point the Zhu family’s ancestral hall looked quite grand. A banner celebrating Zhu Ping’an’s success in the provincial examination flew from the flagpole outside, and fresh couplets had recently been hung. Villagers passing by would respectfully salute the ancestral hall. Grandpa Zhu stood at the entrance looking immensely proud, as though the clan’s prosperity under his stewardship were on display before him.
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 was the Laba Festival – and also the day Zhu Ping’an would leave home for the capital to sit the metropolitan examination.
The Shamate black horse was loaded down with so many things by Chen that it kept turning its head to look back at them.
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.
Because the weather was cold, the food would keep for a long time. Chen had also made plenty of flatbreads for Zhu Ping’an, packing them into the same bundle and loading them onto the Shamate black horse.
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, along with undergarments and other necessities, all packed into a large bundle. His father tied the baggage to both sides of the Shamate black horse so it wouldn’t interfere with the saddle.
Zhu Ping’an kept his travel permits and examination documents close to his body. His banknotes were sewn into the inside of his clothing, while smaller notes and loose silver were carried where he could reach them.
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:
“Little brother, just take it. The money Father and Mother prepared for my wedding is already two or three times what it used to be – more than enough. A poor family should still send a traveler out well provisioned. 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 knew the family’s situation. Their expenses had risen sharply. His parents had bought dozens of mu of farmland, and even with much of it rented to tenant farmers, they still had to purchase oxen and tools and help settle those tenants. There were also social obligations: since Zhu Ping’an became a juren, relatives and fellow villagers knew the family was doing well, and people such as Eldest Uncle had come to borrow money. In a society that placed great weight on clan ties, they couldn’t refuse everyone. On top of that came Zhu Pingchuan’s approaching wedding. There were plenty of places the family still needed money.
Besides the household money, Zhu Ping’an still had private savings from earlier travels, money left from helping the Li family check their accounts, and various other small sums. Altogether, it was already a considerable amount.
“I really have enough. More than a hundred taels of silver would last an ordinary village family for years. Half a year is nothing, and as a juren I can also lodge and eat at post stations and government offices along the route. Mother, keep the money and buy something nice for Father. When I come back, I’ll earn you an honorary 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.”
On the Laba Festival, with winter gripping the earth, Zhu Ping’an rode out of Xiahe Village and began his journey to the capital for the metropolitan examination.