Farmhouse Green Plum

Chapter 629: Heartbeat

Doctor Lin was moved. She was tired of all these gossips, but because of blood ties, she had to endure and compromise everywhere.

But after all, they are her blood relatives. If she moves away, it will be too embarrassing. After thinking it over again and again, she chose a compromise and lived back and forth between the two places.

"There is a lotus pond behind the house. It is very pleasant with the cool breeze in the summer. The two children are very filial and we should not let them down." She said to Old Master Lin.

Old Master Lin glanced at her, something flickered in his eyes for a few times, and he finally nodded and said lightly, "Okay", without even saying a polite word to keep her.

Doctor Lin lowered her eyes, and her slightly trembling eyelashes were reflected in the tea. The brother who would support her in picking apricots, and whose eyes would turn red when she hurt her fingers while grinding medicine, was finally lost in the years.

Song Ying got her master's approval, and her eyes immediately lit up with joy. She changed into a brand new apricot-colored shirt and went to find Chen, the most famous matchmaker in the city.

"They need to be clean, steady, and quiet, and most importantly, honest," she detailed her requirements. "The cooks must be good at cooking, the maids should be literate, and the driver should be familiar with the alleys of the capital."

Within three or five days, Chen Yam Po arrived with her staff. The cook was a woman in her early thirties named Zhao, whose ancestors were said to have once worked as kitchen assistants at the Guanglu Temple in Nanjing. The two maids were named Hongmei and Bitao, both pretty and smart. The coachman was named Ma, a stocky man.

In this way, together with the old couple Zhou who originally looked after the house, Uncle Zhou who was in charge of the access key, and Aunt Zhou who took care of the laundry and mending, it was enough to serve the master alone.

Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, Dr. Lin moved in and celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival with them. The next morning, Song Ying and Yuan Qing set off back to Jinchuan.

This time, they chose to travel by water. Even before the morning mist had cleared, they arrived at Tongzhou Wharf. A canal boat lay quietly moored at the shore, its flag affixed to its bow trembling slightly in the morning breeze.

"Get on the boat here," Yuan Qing explained, pointing to the map of the Caohe River, "and go straight down the Grand Canal to Yangzhou, then turn into the Yangtze River and go west. When we reach Yuzhou Prefecture, we'll hire another small boat and go back to Qingshui County along the Lingjiang River." As he spoke, his finger drew a winding waterway in the air, like a silver hook and iron painting.

Song Ying was watching the grain boats plying the river when he saw a merchant ship flying the "Yu" flag, loading cargo. The captain, a lean man, was shouting at the porters to carefully carry the huge pile of wooden boxes.

"That's the ship," Doctor Lin said softly. "Yuzhou ships are used to sailing on the Sichuan River and are the most stable. This time they are carrying Songjiang banner cloth, which is not heavy, so the speed will be much faster. If there are no accidents, they should reach Yuzhou Prefecture in more than 50 days."

Yuan Qing's mind moved, and he asked, "Is it transported to the garrison to make military uniforms?"

Doctor Lin nodded. "Yes, we'll be unloading cargo along the way to the south, and the speed will be even faster."

As they were speaking, the captain saw them, waved, jumped off the deck, and ran over in two steps.

He looked at Doctor Lin and saluted, "You must be Doctor Lin, right? My name is Zhao, and I've been sailing on the canal for over twenty years. Lord Qi has given us instructions, and the cabin is ready. All you need to do is board."

Doctor Lin smiled and said, "Thank you very much. I hope you can take care of me on the way."

"Your words are truly humiliating to me!" The captain rubbed his hands, a look of embarrassment on his dark face. "We've all heard of your deeds. People like us, as rough folks, admire people like you the most.

On this canal, many men would shrink back when faced with a little difficulty. Yet, you, a woman, have endured for over forty years and still remember to defend your master! You are truly as brave as a man!

Doctor Lin pursed his lips and smiled lightly, unwilling to say more about this matter. He turned around and instructed Song Ying and Yuan Qing, "It's getting late. Let's get on the boat and be careful on the way."

"Master, please take care of yourself." Song Ying hugged her reluctantly. Although he knew that they would be separated for only two years, looking at the new gray hair on his master's temples, he couldn't help feeling sad and worried.

She looked at Lin Wenxuan beside her and said, "Brother, please take good care of Master."

Lin Wenxuan patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, I will visit you every morning and evening and check your pulse regularly."

Doctor Lin raised his hand and gathered her hair that had been blown loose by the river breeze. He said softly, "I will be waiting for you in the capital."

Song Ying's eyes suddenly turned red. She got on the boat reluctantly and stood at the bow, waving her hands continuously until the boat slowly sailed away from the dock and the figures of her master and brothers gradually became blurred in the mist. Only then did she let go of her arms.

Yuan Qing comforted him softly, "Don't be too sad. After the Autumn Examination next year, we will immediately set off for Beijing. If we can make it in time, we can even stay up with Doctor Lin to celebrate the New Year's Eve."

As he spoke, he took out a white handkerchief from his sleeve and handed it to Song Ying.

Song Ying burst into laughter, took the handkerchief and wiped the corners of his eyes, "You said so."

Her face suddenly turned stern, and she held up her little finger. "If you don't pass the exam, I'll go to Beijing to find my master myself."

Yuan Qing laughed, stretched out his hand and solemnly hooked her little finger, "Okay, if I fail the exam, I will be your porter and carry your luggage all the way to the capital."

The morning light shone through the gaps between the leaves, and the light and shadow of light and gold intertwined in his eyes, like gentle and lingering spring water, which made people indulge in it at a glance.

Song Ying was so mesmerized that he even forgot to control his breathing. The fingers that were hooked around Yuan Qing bent unconsciously. He suddenly felt that the skin where their fingers touched seemed to be on fire. The temperature went up along his fingers and reached the tip of his heart, making his heart numb.

Yuan Qing felt the movement of her fingers and his eyelashes trembled slightly, but he did not pull his hand away.

The morning light filtered through the intertwined fingers of the two, casting a lingering silhouette on the ground.

Just at this moment, a gust of river breeze blew by, rolling up a few pale yellow leaves and making them spin in the air. One of them floated and landed squarely on Yuan Qing's hair.

"Don't move." Song Ying pulled out her hand and tiptoed to help him take it off.

The distance between the two suddenly shortened, their breaths intertwined, and their warm breath entangled in the morning breeze.

Yuan Qing lowered his eyes and met her focused gaze. Her eyelashes were clearly visible in the sunlight, and her eyes were filled with fragmented light, like a clear spring. His Adam's apple rolled unconsciously, and the sound of his heartbeat almost drowned out the sound of the wind in his ears.

He turned his head away and asked in a casual manner, "What kind of leaf is this?"

Song Ying pinched the fallen leaf and hummed. "It should be the leaf of the Xanthoceras sorbifolia tree. It can dispel wind and dampness, reduce swelling and relieve pain."

After a pause, she suddenly smiled and said, "I didn't expect the leaves in the north would really turn yellow."

"Aren't the leaves in the south yellow?" A crisp voice suddenly sounded above their heads. Song Ying and Yuan Qing were both startled and looked up at the same time.