7 Off to be Outstanding in Changsan (1/2)

Chapter 7: Off to be Outstanding in Chang'an

Translator: TransnEditor: Transn

Early the next morning, Ning Que and Sangsang woke up and then began to pack in morning twilight. They had a few disputes, but they mostly kept silent.

Ning Que pulled out a long bag that had been hidden under the mud wall outside, and took a bow and some arrows out of it. He checked them carefully and then handed them over once he had ensured that they were fine. Sangsang took them and put them into a big bag made of cotton. She then took out three sheathed straight knives, covered with rust, out from under the fence. Ning Que took them from her and carefully scrubbed at the rust and looked at the edge of the knives while facing the sun, he then nodded and tied them with a straw rope to his back.

He took out a black umbrella from behind the door and tied it on Sangsang's back with the rest of the straw rope. This black umbrella was made from an unknown material and looked as if there was some sort black oil on it that absorbed light and it appeared a little heavy. It looked large before it was fastened to Sangsang's thin and small body but, once it was attached it almost touched the ground.

After preparing for the journey, Ning Que and Sangsang climbed over the shabby fence in tandem. They looked back at the small bluestone road and the tiny run-down hut at the same time. Looking up at Ningque's jaw, Sangsang asked, ”Young master, do we need to lock the door?”

”No.” Ning Que went silent for a while and said, ”Evermore... maybe we hardly come back.”

...

...

The wooden wheel, covered by iron, rolled over the wet and soft ground. The noble's convoy set out slowly, they were going to the outside of the City of Wei. Five carriages, from the front to the rear, attracted a lot of attention on the frontier. Today, there were many people lined along the road to say farewell. However, their focus was not on the noble's carriage, but on the young man and handmaiden sitting in the first horse carriage. Boiled eggs were given to them from time to time, and some aunt, with black and red cheeks, said something and cried while clutching a dirty handkerchief.

”Wicked Ning Que, you are so bad. My distant nephew is a fine man, yet you won't allow Sangsang to marry him. Now you are taking her to those horrifying places with you! You listen carefully. You must take good care of my Sangsang!”

Sitting on the shaft, Ning Que looked awkward as he answered, ”Aunt, you have been asking Sangsang to get married since she was just 8, how could I let this happen?”

It began to rain and some of the people complained and made jokes. The slight drizzle lightly sprinkled on the line of people and it was a little cold. But, no one left, including the relatives of the soldiers of the City of Wei who were busy seeing Ning Que off or settling debts with him. The crowd was very boisterous.

In the rear of the group, the most exquisite carriage's curtain opened a little, and that proud and indifferent maidservant popped her head out to look around. She couldn't help but knit her brows.

When the carriages were ready to leave this border town, Ning Que stood up on the carriage and then saluted to the crowd.

Carrying the three old swords on his back, the lad saluted with bare hands in the rain. This scene made him feel a little brave and grand.

”Everyone, menfolk, children, sisters, and aunts, I don't have many words to express my gratitude.”

After saying this, he opened his arms wide and clenched his fists in the rain, showing his chest muscles and his arms which were not very strong. He posed stupidly like this and shouted, ”This time I will go to Chang'an City and if I don't become someone, I will never come back!”

His words were just like the platform from which a storytelling man used to start his talk or like in Egypt when a bloody head fell to the ground. The crowd cheered for him along the way.

In the only decent tavern in the City of Wei, Ma Shixiang and some of his trusted military officers were drinking. The noble had told them not to see them off and they didn't want to send the young man off either. However, they saw the scene clearly. One of the officers thought about what Ning Que had said when he stood on the carriage and he could not help but sigh. ”If he doesn't become something, he won't come back, will he? It seems that the unsuccessful lad really won't come back.”

Ma Shixiang sat at the wine table and thought about the three sentences Ning Que had said to him last night. He could not help but touch his beard and said happily with comfort at seeing that carriage leaving out the gate of the city slowly. ”It's better not to come back, you jerk. Make trouble for the outside world.”

...

...

They were far from the City of Wei and well into the grasslands. The spring drought that had troubled the Tribe of Savages and the new Chanyu did not make an impact here. The spring wind had made the leaves and grass green. They were crushed by wheels and trampled by the horses' hooves while some butterflies chased each other endlessly.

The steeds ran through the grasslands towards hills and the soft ropes between the horses and the carriages tensed tight as iron or dropped loose as a leave. The luxury carriage was covered with some cotton quilts and blankets which billowed gently as the horses ran. The comely maidservant stared at the scene outside, flying past the window. Her face was a little stiff while she thought about the desolate northern part; her eyes were full of expectations of the unknown future.

There was a boy, wearing luxurious fur clothing, hugging his legs, inside the carriage. He lifted his head from his knees and mumbled some Central Plains words, asking if he could go outside to play for a while.

The maidservant turned around and rebuked the boy strictly, but she quickly softened again. She took him in her arm and hugged him while she rubbed his head favorably.

The wind lifted one corner of the curtain and the spring wind touched her face, however, it was not as delicate as before. The maidservant squinted to the front of the convoy with a scowl.

At the front of the line, there was the young soldier named Ning Que who was sitting on the shaft of the simple carriage. His head hung as if he were falling asleep. As a guide, he should have been actively guiding the group, but instead, he slept most of the time. He was far from being a qualified guide.

Even so, that was not the reason the maidservant scowled, it was something else.

Ning Que fell asleep on the shaft and looked as if he could fall down from the speeding carriage at any time. So, the small handmaiden Sangsang kept guard and watched him alertly. She supported him with her thin and small body and while her expression could not be seen clearly on her dark face, her pain could be felt.