The travel plans for the long house were soon decided. Because the old lady was "sick", the second wife Duan had proposed to set off again after the beginning of spring, but was opposed by everyone, and finally had to compromise, change to the waterway, take a boat along the Taiping River to the south of Kangcheng, and then turn into the Dongjiang River to Guihai, and then go north along the coastal road, turn back to the capital.

It's more time-consuming than overland, but it's much safer and more comfortable. Mrs. Yu was not sick, and she was also dozens of years old, so she approved the plan.

In order to avoid encountering the situation that the river water freezes and hinders the journey, everyone must set off as soon as possible and arrive at Guihai before the waters around the Taiping River and the Dongjiang River freeze.

So the day was set for the fifteenth day of October.

Early in the morning of October 15, Wen Yi finished dressing, put on a newly made thin cotton jacket and skirt, put on a thick cloak, and took the girl to her grandmother's yard to say goodbye.

The brothers Wen Shun and Wen Quan in the ninth room have moved back to their own house, and the backyard is empty, but considering that Mrs. Fifteen is here to lose her breath, others are just down, for the elderly Mrs. Lu, it is inevitable that there are some taboos. Wen Yi was worried that her grandmother would have a chance, so she resolutely opposed her moving back, and only selected the most intact and comfortable one from the two houses on the east and west roads of Xuanhetang that had been recovered, and asked Steward Zhong to take someone to repair it slightly, remove the outer wall of the partition, and then decorate the interior of the house, so that her grandmother moved in with her younger brother and little cousin.

Now the courtyard where Mrs. Lu lives, named "Yi Nian Hall", is located in the southeast corner of the house, whether it is from the front yard or from the main courtyard, and even to the backyard and kitchen, it is very convenient. There are two entrances in the courtyard, with a total of twelve rooms, which is enough to accommodate one old man, two young and three masters, as well as waiting manpower. Wen Yi also cleaned up the adjacent small courtyard, moved Mama Zhao over, and added two little girls to accompany her, so that she could enjoy Qingfu.

As soon as Wen Yi walked into the Yi Nian Hall, she saw that Mama Zhao was wearing a brand-new ivory-colored cardigan, an ochre-colored horse-faced skirt, a camel-colored bat embroidered armor on her head, a black velvet beaded forehead guard on her head, and two red gold hairpins inserted. Shi Nan nodded as she listened, looking very respectful.

Wen Yi walked up with a smile and said, "Mama came so early today, look at this body, it's really decent!" Mama should have dressed up like this a long time ago! ”

When Mama Zhao heard this, she covered her face embarrassedly: "Look at what Miss said?!" The old slave is old, what are you still dressing? Isn't it because you're going to go far away? It's all for the sake of our family's decency! ”

Mrs. Lu couldn't accompany her granddaughter to the north, so she asked Mama Zhao to accompany her, thinking that she was an old man who had accumulated years of experience and had seen the world, if there was anything inconvenient, her granddaughter could not speak, she could come forward. Therefore, Wen Yi had already ordered Mama Zhao to buy new clothes for going out, and when she heard this, she naturally understood what she meant, so she just smiled and said nothing, holding her arm and entering the door.

Mrs. Lu was listening to Mrs. Zhong's report on the loading of luggage in the house, and she told a lot of words, and when she saw her granddaughter and Mama Zhao coming in, she said: "I have said many times before to pay attention to things, and there is no need to be verbose, you just need to remember that if you encounter something difficult to decide, discuss it with your grandma, don't make your own opinions." ”

Wen Yi hurriedly responded solemnly. Old Madam Lu sighed to Mama Zhao again: "She has grown so big, it is the first time she has gone out of the house, you can take care of me more." Mama Zhao hurriedly said: "Don't worry, old lady, I will take care of the young lady!" Old Madam Lu breathed a sigh of relief, and suddenly remembered one thing again: "By the way, you come with me, I have something to give you." Mama Zhao was a little curious, and hurriedly followed her inside, Yingchun wanted to come up to support Mrs. Lu, but she sent her out.

Wen Yi guessed that her grandmother probably had something important to hand over to Mama Zhao, so she didn't ask much, and turned to the Dongnuan Pavilion, where she saw Wen Kang writing big characters on the kang table, and the otter sat opposite him and bowed her head to do needlework, and when she saw her come in, she hurriedly got up to greet her: "Miss is here." Wen Kang raised his head suddenly, threw the pen away, and threw himself down from the kang, so frightened that Wen Yi hurriedly stepped forward to catch it, and said with a straight face: "Look at you monkey-like!" What's the hurry? What should I do if I fall?! ”

Wen Kang shrank his head and said obediently: "I won't dare next time." Then he asked anxiously: "Sister Nine, are you going to go far away?" How long is it going to go? Kang'er can't bear to ...... you"

Wen Yi smiled, hugged him and sat on the kang, touched his head and said, "Sister Nine is going to accompany the eldest aunt to Beijing, and she will be back in a few months." The ninth sister is also reluctant to let go of her grandmother, Kang'er and Yue'er, I don't know if Kang'er will obediently, eat well, and learn words well in the past few months? ”

Wen Kang blinked and nodded: "Kang'er will be obedient, eat well, and learn words well." The sixth brother only taught me two words yesterday, and the eleventh brother also taught me two. He held out his short little finger and counted, "It adds up to four...... Grandmother also taught four, so there are eight...... I study eight a day, a month...... Thirty days...... It is...... It's just ......" can't be calculated.

Wen Yi smiled and hugged him: "It's two hundred and forty!" Kang'er is amazing! It's much stronger than when my sister was a child! When my sister comes back, Kang Er will write all the words she has learned to her sister, okay? ”

Wen Kang smiled and blushed, nodded vigorously, but quickly shrunk his neck with some hesitation: "What if I forget...... Sister, don't scold me......"

Wen Yi smiled: "It doesn't matter if you forget, just remember it again." Kang'er doesn't have to be greedy, the most important thing is to remember! When you turn five next year, go to school with your brothers, okay? ”

Wen Kang nodded vigorously, his eyes shining with excitement: "Sister, sister, will you go with us then?" Will my sister go with me?! ”

Wen Yi said softly: "My sister won't go with you, but my sister will wait for you to come back at home, my sister is still young, and when she grows up in a few years, she will go to school in other schools, and she will not be with you, but after you come back from school, you can review your homework in one place, and you can also play together." ”

Wen Kang listened to it and was very happy: "Okay, good!" I'm going to teach my sister how to play with a spinning top! I'm the best at playing with spinning tops! My grandmother promised me to make me a new, beautiful spinning top! However, he quickly lowered his little face again: "But the sixth brother said that I shouldn't think about playing ......."

Wen Yi knew what the reason was, so she smiled and patted his little head: "That's because Kang'er has grown up a lot, no longer only knows how to play like before, and has learned to write, and is about to start reading." The sixth brother hopes that you will be promising, so he teaches you like this. Today, my sister is going to go far away, and she will be away from home for a few months, during this time, you are the eldest child in the family, and you are still a man, can you promise your sister to take care of your grandmother and take care of your sister? ”

Wen Kang listened, and nodded solemnly: "I know, I am a man, I will take care of my grandmother and sister!" Then he blushed and stretched out his hand to pull La Wenyi's sleeve: "But...... My sister has to remember to come back sooner...... Kang'er doesn't know a lot of things......"

Wen Yi smiled and nodded.

Mrs. Zhong reported outside: "Old lady, breakfast has been prepared, and someone from the long room has spread the word that the boat will leave at the right time." ”

"Got it." Mrs. Lu's voice came from the West House, and Wen Yi hurriedly hugged Wen Kang and got off the kang: "Let's go, let's have breakfast!" ”

After the family sat down to eat together, Wen Yi officially said goodbye to her grandmother. This is the first time she has been away from home for so long since she was reborn, and she was reluctant for a while, so she choked up and said: "Grandmother is so careful about the weather, there is a cold wind to add clothes, and when she feels unwell, she will go to the doctor...... If there is anything to do, just tell the housekeeper to do it, otherwise it is better to let the sixth brother help the handlers to go through the experience...... If you are bored, ask a few aunts and aunts to come over and talk, and don't go out easily, so as not to catch a cold when the wind blows...... Don't worry about what you want to eat or play, the medicine prescribed by Dr. Xiao must be remembered to drink every day......"

Old Madam Lu's eyes were slightly red, and she smiled reluctantly: "Are you so useless to be your grandmother?" Don't worry, I'll take care of myself! I'm still waiting to see you get married and Kang'er get married! Then he turned his head a little unnaturally and asked Shi Nan: "Are you all ready?" Nothing is missing, right? ”

Shi Nan said with red eyes: "It's all loaded, it's been counted, and nothing is missing." ”

Old Madam Lu nodded, looked back at her granddaughter, and turned her head again: "Your grandmother is old, pay more attention on the road, don't let her make any mistakes." ”

Wen Yi nodded tearfully, and Mama Zhao hurriedly said: "Okay, okay, it's not like never looking back, what's there to be sad about?" Old lady, you should be a young lady and go to Xishan Zhuangzi to live for a few months! Think about the good things that will happen in the future! He persuaded Wen Yi again, "Miss, if you do this again, won't the old lady be even more sad?!" ”

Wen Yi hurriedly wiped away her tears and showed a smile: "Mama is right." Grandmother must take care of her health, her granddaughter is gone, and she must be able to come back in the spring. With the care of the eldest uncle and grandmother, the eldest uncle and the eldest aunt, and the company of the sisters, everything is fine with the granddaughter, you don't have to worry. ”

Old Madam Lu nodded, and the corners of her mouth also brought a smile: "When you are a guest in the elder's house, you need to be cautious, and etiquette is indispensable. ”

Wen Yi solemnly responded: A maid sent a cotton mat up, Wen Yi knelt down and bowed goodbye, and then under the escort of his family, he got into a pony carriage and went to the dock.

The boat prepared by Nagafang is already waiting on the pier. There were three boats, a large first-class boat, which was used by the Changfang family and Wen Yi with their close maids, and two medium-sized boats, which were used by the accompanying male and female servants. When the people in the sixth room arrived at the dock, the steward of the long room greeted them, welcomed Wen Yi to the side of the boat, and said, "The old lady, the eldest lady and the three young ladies are already on the boat, and the second lady is also on the boat to deliver the letter." ”

Wen Yi nodded, and walked in the direction of the big boat, but saw the edge of the wooden plank between the dockside and the side of the boat in front of her, Kerou was standing in the middle of the road in a daze, staring at the big boat. She hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Sister Duan is here to see her off?" I have a heart. ”

Kerou turned her head, and her originally pale and haggard little face suddenly lit up: "Ninth sister! Are you going to the capital too? Can...... Can you do me a favor?! There was a look of madness in his eyes.

Wen Yi was stunned for a moment, and immediately remembered her dedication to Liu Dongning, now Liu Dongning may be in the capital, what will she do to help herself? !

Wen Yi said vigilantly: "If Sister Duan wants me to bring some capital scenery back, it will be very easy, but other than that, I can't help much." When I went, I lived in a deep house compound, and I couldn't go out to meet people, so it was far less convenient to act than at home. ”

Kerou's expression suddenly dimmed: "Really...... That...... That ......"

Without waiting for her to finish "that", Wen Yi glanced at the hollyhock behind her, and the hollyhock immediately hugged Mama Zhao knowingly: "Mama watch your feet!" He smiled and said to Wen Yi: "Miss, it's not too early, it's time to get on the boat." ”

Wen Yi answered, turned around to look at Kerou, but Kerou was still standing there still, this time the steward of the long room couldn't see it, coughed, and said arrogantly: "Miss Duan Jiabiao, you are blocking the way of our Ninth Miss!" ”

Kerou came to her senses at this time, her little face flushed, she glared at him angrily, turned her head and walked away a few steps, making way out.

The second wife, Duan, appeared on the deck, looking unrelenting, and when she saw Wen Yi, she smiled a little reluctantly: "The nine girls are here?" It just so happened that the ship was about to depart, so it was better to leave early, and it would be better to arrive in Cannes earlier. The jade moth accompanying her got off the boat with a very good look, and whispered to Kerou: "Miss Biao, you are leaving." Kerou reluctantly glanced at the boat again, and then turned around and left after her aunt. Walking far, Wen Yi still vaguely heard Duan's asking the jade moth: "Why don't you see the jade dragonfly?" Jade Moth replied: "The old man cried a lot when he saw him off, and the jade fly was afraid that he would have a good time, so he waited for the old man to go back first." Hearing this, Duan stopped before continuing to walk forward.

Wen Yi faintly felt that something was wrong, but it was related to the family affairs of the elders in the clan, so she didn't want to say anything, so she had to get on the boat with Mama Zhao.

Who knew that when they got on the boat and asked the old lady and the Jiang family to say goodbye, and when they wanted to arrange the cabin, they knew that there were not many rooms on the big ship, and each young master and young lady had two girls accompanying them, and the old lady had four girls and four mothers-in-law, plus the eldest lady Jiang's side, and only two cabins could be vacated on the ship. Wen Yi and his entourage of five people, two girls Dong Kui and Xiuzhu, one Zhao Mama, and one of the He family, absolutely can't live. Mama Zhao insisted on moving to the boat behind, and by the way, she took away a He family, and let Dong Kui and Xiuzhu accompany Wen Yi to live on the big boat.

Large ships are more stable than medium ships, and Mama Zhao is older, so Wen Yi is a little unhappy in her heart. Mama Zhao whispered: "Miss, don't be confused! If Mama and you both live on a big boat, where can there be room for two girls?! Mama is no sharper than young people! I don't have to wronged you! It's better to let Mama and Sister-in-law He live in the back, and there is someone to talk to, and there are people around Miss to serve, so it's the best! Mama is in good health, don't treat Mama as papier-mâché! Wen Yi hesitated for a long time before reluctantly agreeing.

Mama Zhao took the He family to another ship, Wen Yi took Dong Que and Xiuzhu to live in the cabin, watching the girls clean up the room, she hesitated slightly, and then got up to talk to the sisters.

The girls told her that the ladies were all talking to the old lady and the eldest lady in the cabin above, and Wen Yi turned back to the deck, and suddenly a strong wind blew, making the sails rattle. Wen Yi pressed the hem of her skirt and pressed her hair, but suddenly felt a light shining on her face, she squinted her eyes, put her hands on the pergola, and turned her head to look in the direction of the light. She couldn't help but gasp and looked along the river, only to see that there was an open space ahead, which seemed to be far away.

The shouts of the boatmen rang out. It's time to sail.