Chapter 192 Going to Beijing Together
When Chu Yichen learned that Qianhuan also planned to go to the capital, he invited her to go with him.
"Qianhuan, the journey to the capital is long and there are many unknown dangers and hidden dangers along the way. Why don't you join us?"
"I am going to the capital this time, firstly, to open a Zuixianju in the capital, and secondly, to escort Lan'er and her dowry to the capital. In addition to the servants and guards I brought from home, I also hired people from the escort agency to escort them."
Qianhuan went to the capital this time because she wanted to send Wenjie to study at the Imperial Academy, and also because she wanted to open a teahouse in the capital.
She had been in Dayuan Kingdom for such a long time, and except for the time when she opened a branch of the teahouse and traveled all over Lingzhou City by carriage, she had never been so far away, and she did have a lot of concerns in her heart.
If we can set out together with the Chu Family Trading Company's team, there should be fewer robbers and bandits who dare to plot against us along the way.
She agreed immediately. "That's great. We'll have a companion along the way, so we won't be bored. When do you plan to leave, Brother Lin'an?"
"After arranging the business at home, we will be able to leave in about five days."
"Okay, then it's settled."
Qianhuan went back and told her parents about her plan to go to Beijing. Mrs. Liu was very unhappy, "Qianhuan, can't Wenjie study in the city? Why does he have to go to Beijing? I can't bear to think that you two will be so far away from home in the future."
"Mother, Wenjie only wants to pass the imperial examination and fulfill his aunt's last wish. Although he can study in Qingxi County, it is not as good as the capital. What's more, Mr. Fan gave Wenjie a letter of recommendation for admission to the Imperial College. The Imperial College is a place where only the children of princes, princesses, and high-ranking officials can enter. We can't give up such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity so easily."
Liu still disagreed, "Although what you said makes sense, I'm still worried. Wenjie is still so young, and you're far away from home. Your father and I are not around, and I'm afraid you can't take care of yourself."
"Mom, I'm nine years old, not a child anymore. Besides, I have Tu Dou to take care of me." Wenjie gradually accepted Liang Laoer and Liu and started calling them dad and mom.
Qianhuan also advised, "Mom, Wenjie is right. I will take Yinhua away, and Wenjie also has Tu Dou to help him."
"Even if Wenjie doesn't go to the Imperial College to study, I will open a teahouse in Beijing. Now our Half Day Qing Huan Garden has opened hundreds of branches, but we haven't set foot in Beijing yet. My daughter must go to Beijing to try her luck. When I open a teahouse in Beijing and gain a firm foothold, I will bring you and dad to Beijing together, okay?"
"Your father and I are both going to the capital, what about the family?"
"Oh, don't you have an uncle and two aunts at home? Are you worried about them? It's not good for you to worry so much, Dad, don't you think?"
Qianhuan felt that Liu was a person who worried too much. She was always worried about all the big and small things at home. In fact, such a person's life was really tiring.
Liang Lao Er nodded and said, "Chun Xiang, the children are grown up and have their own ideas. Since they want to go to Beijing to try their luck, we should support them in doing what they want. We have been peasants all our lives, and it is rare that both of our children have ambitions. We, as parents, should not become a stumbling block for them."
"Okay, then you must write back when you have time in the capital."
"Well, definitely."
Qianhuan arranged all the household affairs properly. The helpers were assigned to Liang Wenyong, and the koji making was handed over to her parents and uncles and aunts, with a clear division of labor.
The eight brothers under Master Cai have now been trained and are capable of becoming independent shopkeepers. Qianhuan handed over the teahouse in Qingxi County to one of them and asked Nangua to assist, because Qianhuan was going to Beijing to open a teahouse, so Master Cai, the manager, must be brought along.
Qianhuan has trained a lot of people in the past six months. She selected the best actors, musicians and waiters to go to the capital together. After all, opening a teahouse in the capital is different from other places. The people who work must be the most flexible in their minds, and the performers must be the best in skills.
Qianhuan also brought a large jar of soy sauce to the capital, which was enough for them to eat in the capital for half a year.
On the day of departure, Qianhuan did not ask her parents to see her off. She was afraid that Liu would cry, so she planned to let Nangua go back to Yunfeng Village to report the news after she left.
When Liu received the news, Qianhuan had already gone a long way with the Chu family's convoy. Liu could only wipe her tears in front of Liang Laoer. After all, this was the first time for the child to go on a long journey and she would be away for such a long time. It was understandable that Liu felt uncomfortable.
Chu Lan'er took her maid Xing'er, Qianhuan took Yinhua in one carriage, and Chu Yichen took Yuanji, Wenjie and Tu Dou in another carriage.
Qianhuan was afraid that they would be bored on the road, so she made a deck of playing cards. Qianhuan taught them how to play Landlord and Golden Flower, and then they played cards together. If they lost, they would stick stickers on their faces. The four of them talked and laughed all the way.
Chu Yichen would occasionally get off the carriage and ride his horse. Every time he rode a horse, he could always hear silver bell-like laughter from the carriages of the female relatives.
He drove his horse closer to the carriage of the women, and then asked inside, "Lan'er, Qianhua, what are you playing? I saw you guys talking and laughing all the way."
Chu Laner lifted the car window curtain, revealing her face covered with paper, and said, "Brother, Qianhuan made a deck of playing cards, and we are playing cards together. If you lose, you put paper on your face. It's fun."
Chu Yichen looked at her face covered with notes, which looked very funny. He couldn't help laughing out loud, "Hahaha, sister, seeing that there are so many notes on your face, you must have lost many times."
"Brother, don't laugh at me." Chu Lan'er said with a puffy face.
"Okay, okay, I won't laugh, I won't laugh." Chu Yichen tried hard to suppress his smile.
Chu Lan'er actually had always wanted Qianhuan to be her sister-in-law, so she deliberately said, "Brother, why don't you get on our carriage and play cards with us? Qianhuan is not an outsider anyway."
In fact, Chu Yichen was also a little tempted. He and Wenjie were bored to death riding in a carriage, and the little guy didn't talk much and was very boring.
There was nothing wrong with him riding in the same carriage with his sister, but Qianhuan was a woman after all. He shook his head and said, "Lan'er, Qianhuan is also in the carriage. Would it be bad for her reputation if I ride in the same carriage with you guys?"
"Hey, brother, Qianhua has been dressed as a man all the way, who would say anything?"
Qianhuan is now 14 years old, and her facial features have become more and more outstanding. In order to avoid trouble, she dresses like a man throughout the journey.
Chu Lan'er turned to Qianhuan and asked, "Qianhuan, you wouldn't mind if your brother gets in the carriage and plays cards with us, right?"
Qianhuan is a modern person. It's no big deal for her to just ride in the same carriage. It's just that these pedantic ancients like to make a fuss about nothing.
She nodded in agreement, "Well, Lan'er, it's okay, you can ask Brother Lin'an to get on the carriage and play cards with us."
Chu Lan'er said happily to Chu Yichen outside the window, "Brother, you heard me, I said everything is fine."
As she spoke, Chu Lan'er winked at her brother. Chu Yichen understood what she meant. He knew that his sister was deliberately giving him the opportunity to spend more time with Qianhuan.