Chapter 105 – Leaving

"Besides, have you ever seen New Year’s in the county? Been to a temple fair there? Walked around during the Lantern Festival? It’s so lively."

"Now that our family has money, you can't just think about us, have you considered your third uncle’s family?"

"If we go to the county, Yao’er and Pingzi will meet different kinds of people, broaden their horizons. Plus, we can hire a servant, so your third aunt can finally rest."

"We weren’t born into this world just to suffer. No, we're here to enjoy life!

Think about it: why did you come here in the first place? Back where you used to be, did you ever get to enjoy life?"

"You didn't even have time to enjoy yourself before you ended up here. So who knows what comes first, surprises or misfortune?"

"Why trap yourself in a life defined by your own self-imposed restrictions?"

"You work so hard—for what? For a good life, right? But what if you never even get a chance to enjoy it before something unexpected happens again? Wouldn’t that be a waste?"

Zhou Qing:

That... actually makes a lot of sense.

"If we move to the county, can you promise to study seriously?"

As soon as Zhou Huaishan heard that, he straightened up and thumped his chest confidently.

"Don’t worry, daughter. I’ll work twice as hard! With a good environment, if I still don’t study, am I even human?"

Zhou Qing looked at him suspiciously.

Feels like you're scamming me.

But honestly… what he said made her want to go to the county too.

What if I don’t even get to enjoy a single good day before suddenly—bam—I time travel again? Who would I even complain to?

And there’s still so much money in the bank we haven’t spent!

"Alright, we can move to the county. But we’re not staying at Shen Li’s place, we’ll buy our own house."

Zhou Huaishan immediately nodded, "I was thinking the same thing!"

Zhou Qing:

(Father and daughter, finally on the same page.)

They walked out of the back room together.

Just as they were about to speak, a loud commotion broke out outside.

Everyone rushed out to see.

At first, it had only been Cheng Wuniang causing a scene at the door. But now? Dozens of people were gathered—standing, kneeling—outside their gate.

All relatives of the Cheng family.

Some were from their village, others from nearby villages.

They were all shouting variations of:

"You can’t just stand by and watch someone die!"

"You can’t be so heartless and cold!"

Some even threatened:

They’d take turns keeping watch at the Zhou house gate.

If Zhou Qing didn’t agree to marry Cheng Wu, the Zhou family wouldn’t be allowed to leave!

The clan leader was outside, trying to talk sense into them, but the Chengs had made up their mind—they were determined to get Zhou Qing as a daughter-in-law.

There was nothing the clan leader could do.

He even threatened to strike Cheng Wu’s family from the village genealogy, but it didn’t work.

Seeing how things were escalating outside, Uncle Zhong quickly said:

"Well, how about this—no better day than today. You all come with me right now."

"If this keeps dragging on, who knows how it’ll end but in the meantime, it's only wasting your time and energy. They’ve got nothing to do in this winter season, but you can’t afford the delay."

Zhou Ping was itching to see those little ponies in the county.

But he knew—if big sis said no, then it was definitely no.

He looked at Zhou Qing with eager eyes.

Zhou Huailin scowled at the noisy crowd and spat on the ground.

"I used to think the Chengs were decent people. Never expected this kind of stunt. What if this drags on until March? How’s Second Brother supposed to take his exam?"

"Even before March, how’s he supposed to revise with all this racket? They’ve got us by the throat. Honestly, I say we just go today."

Uncle Zhong seized the momentum, continuing to persuade them earnestly.

Inside, he was thrilled.

The Cheng family’s chaos was practically pushing Qing girl right into the county!

Should he be thanking their entire clan on behalf of his master?

Outside, the noise was giving Zhou Qing a headache. She didn’t want to overthink it.

It’s not like the county was a dangerous or awful place.

Besides, Zhou Huaihai wasn’t around anymore.

"Fine, let’s go today. But… how?"

Zhou Yao chimed in, "Yeah! They definitely won’t let us just walk out the door."

Uncle Zhong grinned, "No problem. Didn’t I bring several large trunks with me? We’ll empty them out. You all hide inside for now, and once we’re out of the village, you can come out."

Zhou Huaishan clapped. "Perfect!"

"But what about the stuff in them?" Zhao shi looked at the now-open trunks.

They were full of rice, flour, meat, and vegetables.

Uncle Zhong said, "You all leave today. Just take the essentials. I’ll send someone to pick up the rest tomorrow. One day’s delay—they won’t notice a thing."

"But if we’re gone, who’ll open the door when you come back?" Zhou Ping blinked.

Uncle Zhong laughed. "I’ve got a way. Let’s not waste any more time."

And with that, they got to work.

The trunks were big enough to hold them all, no problem at all.

Like a magician swapping props, the switch was done in a flash.

Zhou Qing brought her small trunk from Shen Li and the family’s silver notes and loose coins. She squeezed into a box with Zhou Yao and Zhou Ping.

Zhou Huailin and Zhao shi got into another.

Zhou Huaishan got into a third, along with his books.

Zhou Huaishan:

(Squatting inside the box, surrounded by stacks of books, he wanted to cry.)

Since when did these cursed books deserve to share a box with me, Zhou Huaishan?!

Once everything was packed and secure, the trunks were loaded onto the wagons.

Uncle Zhong took the lead, guiding the cart horses out of the yard.

With that crowd outside, it was only natural the Zhou family wouldn’t come out to see them off.

The Chengs were blocking the Zhou family but they had no reason to stop Uncle Zhong and his people.

Even if they wanted to, Uncle Zhong simply cracked his whip hard—snap!—and the horses bolted forward.

The people outside were mostly there for show to boost morale for the Cheng family, not a single one had the nerve of that Sun woman who had once thrown herself in front of a cart.

The moment the horses charged forward, everyone instinctively stepped aside.

By the time they realized they probably shouldn't have moved, the carts had already left.

Once the wagons were gone, a young man from Uncle Zhong’s crew shut and locked the courtyard gate from the inside, then headed back in.

The Cheng family kept up their shouting.

But the wagons rattled on, heading straight for the county.

Once out of the village, Zhou Qing poked her head out and said to Uncle Zhong, "We’re not staying at Shen Li’s place. Once we’re in town, we’ll buy our own house."

Uncle Zhong, driving the cart, smiled and nodded.

"Of course. It’s just, right now, with the New Year so close, houses are hard to buy. Why not stay there temporarily? After the holiday, prices will be fair and you’ll find a good place."

He spoke with sincerity, and Zhou Qing couldn’t say no.

If someone’s helping you with genuine kindness, constantly rejecting them just makes you look petty.

Accept what’s given. Be grateful.

On the road to the city, Zhou Ping hugged the little box Shen Li had given him and sat beside Zhou Huaishan, bubbling with excitement.

Right now, aside from his senior disciple brother, his second uncle was his favorite person.

Second Uncle had such an interesting soul.

"Second Uncle, ever since we met Senior Brother, our lives have really taken off."

"We used to live in the old house. Then we moved into the one Senior Brother bought behind it. And now we’re going to live in his house in the county. Do you think someday we’ll end up living in the capital?"