Chapter 389 - 389: Brilliant Sunlight

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

After the Laba Festival, Zhou Jia told Mr. Qian, Ji Xiang, and Ruyi that he might enter the capital.

Li Yu said to Ruyi, “Ruyi, if Master is really going to go to the capital to work after the new year, Xiaoyu’s body is not suitable for a long journey. When Xiaoyu’s child is a little older, you’ll be on the way. Take Xiaoyu back to Tongzhou to visit your in-laws and bring Uncle Zhou and Auntie He into the capital. If my aunt and the others are willing to enter the capital with you, bring them to the capital to reunite with us. Also, sell the shops and fields you bought here.”

Ruyi hesitated for a moment. “Madam, those fields are all good farmland. It’s a pity to sell the shops in good locations. I think we can keep them. We have to leave a reliable person here to manage them.”

Li Yu thought for a while and turned to discuss with Zhou Jia. “I think we’ll leave Ah Wei behind to take care of it for two years. When we find a reliable shopkeeper, we’ll get him to look for us. What do you think?”

Zhou Jia shook his head. “Ah Wei is still young and not reliable enough. If we want to keep him in Yunzhou to manage, we have to find a steady and reliable shopkeeper to help him.”

Li Yu suddenly thought of Scholar Liu and said to Zhou Jia, “Look, we originally planned to ask Scholar Liu to help manage the farmstead. Now that we plan to leave Ah Wei here to manage it, we’ll ask Scholar Liu to be the shopkeeper to manage the harvest of the farmstead, shops, and fields. What do you think?” Ruyi nodded and said, “Mr. Liu is indeed not bad. He’s upright and not pedantic.”

“Alright, Scholar Liu has to teach and manage the farmstead and shops. I think we should hire another teacher to teach those children.” Zhou Jia also agreed to Li Yu’s suggestion.

Li Yu said to Ji Xiang, “Ji Xiang, when the sky is clearer, bring your wife back to visit your grandparents. If we really leave, I don’t know when we’ll see each other again.”

Ji Xiang bowed. “Yes, Master, Madam.”

Zhou Jia looked at the two of them. “Alright, don’t leak anything about this to your wives first. Just do as we discussed just now. Prepare yourselves first!” “Yes,” they replied, bowing.

In the blink of an eye, it was New Year’s Eve. The family gathered together for a lively New Year’s Eve dinner. They sat together happily and listened to Mr. Wen tell them about some strange things he had encountered when he was practicing medicine. Roasting on the stove were peanuts, broad beans, and yams. Yangyang and Seven Pounds listened with wide eyes and exclaimed from time to time.

After half an hour, the two children fell asleep on Zhou Jia and Ruyi’s knees. Li

Yu whispered to everyone, “Sir, rest early too. I’ll carry Yang’er in to rest first.”

‘”Leave after Sir gives you the New Year’s money.” Mr. Wen stopped Li Yu and took out the pouch containing the money. He smiled and waved at them. “Come, come, come. Sir will give you the New Year’s money first. I wish you a safe and smooth life in the future.’

Zhou Jia and Li Yu smiled and said, “We have one too?”

“Yes, all of you. You’re all good children.” Mr. Wen happily placed the pouch in everyone’s hands. Everyone bowed to Mr. Wen to wish him a happy new year.

Li Yu and Zhou Jia gave Seven Pounds more New Year money before carrying Yangyang back to his room. Li Yu placed Yangyang’s New Year money under his pillow and kissed him to press the blanket for him. She went to the inner room to sleep.

The next morning, Ruyi, Ji Xiang, Ah Wei, Tiezhu, Old Madam Liu, and Little Loach stood in the courtyard and bowed to Li Yu and her husband. Zhou Jia smiled and said, “The new year has begun. Everyone is fine. You’ll be given double your monthly salary during the first month. As long as you don’t delay family matters, arrange your own time to go out and play.”

“Yes, sir, ma’am.” Everyone dispersed with smiles, discussing where to play.

Li Yu and Zhou Jia were busy receiving the children of the officials who came to visit for the new year. They were busy until the ninth day of the new year.

On the ninth day of the new year, the sun was shining brightly. Zhou Jia and Wu Tingxian had just arrived at the room. Chu Feng hurriedly came to the government office and said to Zhou Jia with a smile, “Lord Zhou, quickly prepare the incense case to receive the decree.”

“So fast? Are they still traveling during the new year?” Zhou Jia hurriedly instructed Wu Tingxian to get someone to prepare the incense case.

Chu Feng smiled and said, “That’s right! Before Head Shopkeeper left, he instructed me to pay attention to Eunuch Wang’s schedule. I heard that His

Majesty even personally wrote a plaque for the loyal temple and asked Eunuch

Wang and the others to deliver it quickly. Sigh! I heard from the Head Shopkeeper that you’re also going to the capital to take up your post. I wonder when we’ll meet again?”

Zhou Jia patted Chu Feng and smiled. “Why are you being so polite to me again?

We’ll be able to see each other when you return to the capital in the future!”

Chu Feng smiled awkwardly. “Head Shopkeeper said that I broke the rules and dared to call you brother. I’m just too rude. Fortunately, you and Madam don’t lower yourself to my level.”

“Sigh! We’ve been friends for so many years. Head Shopkeeper has always been so polite.” Zhou Jia sighed.

Just as Wu Tingxian prepared the incense table, the eunuch who issued the decree, Eunuch Wang, arrived. Everyone knelt down and accepted the decree.

They summoned Zhou Jia to the capital to serve as the Minister of Revenue. Wu Tingxian was promoted to the Magistrate of Yunzhou. After receiving the decree, the group of people were busy sending a plaque to the loyal temple. They asked the Taoist priest to choose an auspicious day to hang the plaque written by the emperor.

On the way back, Chu Feng and Eunuch Wang went to the garrison office to issue the decree. Zhou Jia and Wu Tingxian returned to the office together. The officials of the government office went forward to congratulate the two of them. Wu Tingxian also bowed to Zhou Jia. “Lord Zhou, congratulations on your promotion to the Ministry of Revenue. I thank you for your guidance.”

Zhou Jia hurriedly helped him up. “Lord Wu, you’re too polite. Congratulations on being promoted to the Magistrate of Yunzhou. I’ll go back and arrange for it to be handed over to you.”

“Please,” Wu Tingxian replied respectfully. He watched Zhou Jia go to the backyard of the government office and thought to himself that Lord Zhou was really a lucky star! It was too easy for him to be promoted! Although they were both fifth-grade, the difference between fifth-grade capital officials and fifth-grade state officials was too great. Fortunately, he had always supported him and did not secretly compete with him.

Mr. Qian followed behind Zhou Jia happily. “Sir, I’ll organize the accounts and documents. I’ll hand them over to Lord Wu when you come back.” “Okay, organize it first. I’ll go back to the back office and tell Madam and Sir the news. ”

When Zhou Jia returned to the back office, he smiled and said to Li Yu, “Yu’er, I just received an imperial edict. His Majesty sent me back to the capital to take up a position as a minister in the Ministry of Revenue. Wu Tingxian will take over as the Magistrate of Yunzhou. We are given four months. We have to start packing in the next few days and set off for the capital as soon as possible.”

Li Yu looked at Zhou Jia in surprise and said with a smile, “Alright! We can go to the capital to reunite with Ah Qing. It’s already the ninth day of the new year today. Fortunately, Chu Sihai revealed the news to us back then. The luggage is almost ready. There aren’t enough people at home to drive the carriage. I’ll get Ruyi to hire a few carriages at the carriage shop so that you won’t have to drive the carriage yourself. You’ll also have to buy two spacious carriages for Sir and the children to ride.”

“Alright, go ahead! I’ll talk to Sir before going to the front office to hand over the official seal and documents to Wu Tingxian.” After Zhou Jia finished speaking, he called left in a hurry..