Huang Zilan sat in the bullock cart and gazed at the map.

“We follow this route and will arrive at Huai’an County, but don’t expect to arrive until tomorrow afternoon.”

“Tomorrow afternoon, where will we stay?” Liao Tingyu didn’t know how to read maps, and they all looked like twists and turns in his eyes.

“Here.” Huang Zilan pointed to one of the triangular symbols, “There is an inn here. We can rest there for a night.”

Liao Tingyu looked at the symbol and suddenly thought of the black shop in the martial arts drama.

“Zilan, how about we rough it outside tonight and sleep in the cart? Anyway, there are quilts inside, so it won’t get too cold for us.”

“Tingyu, what are you thinking? Although the conditions in the inn might not be as good as those in town, they are still clean, and the prices are reasonable. Why don’t we stay there? Besides, there’s really no way to sleep in the bullock cart, and we need to find a safer place. Who knows if there are ferocious beasts in these desolate mountains and forests?”

Liao Tingyu asked, “Are there ferocious beasts here?”

“Why not? Look at the tall trees all around. Even though we’re on the official road, it’s still overgrown with weeds, making it likely to encounter wild animals.”

When Liao Tingyu heard this, he said, “I should’ve asked some people to escort us. Our lives were at risk along the way.”

Huang Zilan found it amusing to hear him say this.

“No need to be so concerned. I’ve carefully planned our route to ensure we meet people along the way. Didn’t we encounter three or four people already? What’s there to be afraid of?”

“I’m worried that my affairs might put you in danger. In fact, you didn’t have to follow me. It’s not as easy and safe as being at home.” Liao Tingyu replied instantly.

Huang Zilan didn’t know if those words just slipped out, but regardless of their truth, they were comforting.

“Don’t worry, I’m not just an ignorant person who sits around admiring flowers. I used to travel with my father for business a few years ago!”

“You did business with father-in-law? I never heard you mention it before. No wonder father-in-law managed to expand his business so much in just a few decades. Doing business must be hard work!” Liao Tingyu said.

“Luckily, my father was concerned that I’d get bored at home alone, so he took me with him. It was a memorable time on the road. We could catch small game in the forest and fish from the stream.” Huang Zilan reminisced about those years, a time he now longed for.

If he were asked to choose between living a well-fed life in town or living in the open with his father, he would prefer to live in the open.

It was precisely because of his father’s adventurous spirit that he had the opportunity to witness various landscapes.

Many people believed his father had become somewhat eccentric after his mother’s death, leading him to take his child along wherever he went.

However, he knew his father took him along not due to distrust but rather because he couldn’t bear to be alone.

Liao Tingyu observed the contented expression on Huang Zilan’s face. He admired his father-in-law’s ability to take his child on his adventures despite societal expectations.

As the saying goes, ‘Traveling thousands of miles is better than reading thousands of books.’ Only by traveling extensively and reading widely can one naturally become more knowledgeable.

Liao Tingyu didn’t have such opportunities in his youth. When he became an adult and finally had the chance, his career commitments hindered him from experiencing diverse landscapes.

This had always been a lingering regret for him.

However, he was fortunate enough to marry a wife who shared his interests. Wasn’t this a blessing from above?

Moreover, everything in TV series was just a setup for plot needs. There was no need for him to be overly anxious.@@novelbin@@

Liao Tingyu hailed the cart and followed his wife’s directions to the inn.

When you were on the road, you couldn’t be too choosy.

.

The inn resembled a home more than a typical lodging establishment.

Outside the house, there were various vegetables growing, but the building itself was constructed of wood and thatch.

Once again, Liao Tingyu realized that his imagination didn’t quite match reality. He had expected a large wooden house but found a small thatched cottage instead.

Huang Zilan had thought that he might not like it, but to his surprise, Liao Tingyu adapted well. There were no staff, only a family of three: a boy around twelve years old, and a young couple who seemed to be in their thirties.

Judging by how affectionate they were with their child, it appeared that they had married later in life and had children accordingly.

The couple charged them a little over ten wens and prepared a simple meal of porridge and vegetables, cooked without oil or excess water.

Liao Tingyu whispered to Huang Zilan, “I suspect this won’t be enough to fill me up. Should I retrieve the meat from the car and roast it?”

Huang Zilan knew he was referring to some bacon. While it might taste better if prepared, those things were…

“Just in case, I think we should make do with this tonight, since we’ll be heading to the county tomorrow.”

Liao Tingyu reluctantly followed his advice and had one of the most basic meals he’d had since traveling through time.

Huang Zilan observed Liao Tingyu’s disappointed expression and affectionately patted his back.

“Have you ever had worse meals than this before?” Liao Tingyu gripped his hand to prevent his from making trouble.

Huang Zilan hesitated for a moment but didn’t pull away or respond. “It’s not too bad. It’s just that it was a rainy day, and I ran out of dry rations, so I went hungry for a few days.”

“You might get hungry later. Even so, you still like to venture out?”

“Why not? It’s only by exploring the world and experiencing it firsthand that you truly understand the purpose of life. Wouldn’t it be dull to stay in one place all the time? If those people hadn’t said I’m too old and it’s time to settle down, no one would want me to stay put, otherwise I’d have followed my dad…”

Huang Zilan realized he had revealed too much and quickly fell silent, but Liao Tingyu wasn’t willing to let him off the hook so easily.

“What’s the matter with your past? You should be grateful to those people. If they hadn’t convinced you to stay in town, how could you have ended up with such a great husband like me.”

Huang Zilan felt his face flush again and didn’t want to engage with him further. “You can continue to be self-absorbed! I’m going to sleep.”

Liao Tingyu hugged him. “Alright, go to sleep!”

He remembered something and whispered in Huang Zilan’s ear, “In the future, I’ll accompany you to see the sights. I’ll accompany you to explore the mountains and rivers.”

“Okay, but don’t forget to keep practicing your martial arts.” Huang Zilan replied.

Martial arts? I guess all I could do is stay in shape. I’d better hire a guard if I ever venture out again!

When they arrived at the county seat, the bustle here was even less than in their original town.

Liao Tingyu couldn’t spot any two-story buildings, and most of the shops along the street were constructed with simple blue bricks.

But the noodles sold by a roadside vendor were remarkably delicious. Liao Tingyu was fortunate today, as his hunger was almost unbearable, and when he saw the noodle shop, he sat down and was pleasantly surprised by the taste.

“Zilan, have a taste of this. The pickled cabbage really adds a nice flavor.”

“Eat your noodles quickly and stop worrying about me. I can manage.”

After enjoying a bowl of noodles, they both went to a bakery and bought several kilograms of cakes. These weren’t sweet pastries but rather simple cakes made of noodles and sugar.

Liao Tingyu held one in his hand and sighed, “I can’t believe these sell so well with such basic craftsmanship.”

Huang Zilan nodded sympathetically, acknowledging the lack of culinary finesse.

Already facing hardships on the road with limited provisions, Liao Tingyu decided to take matters into his own hands and secure enough food and clothing. He visited pharmacies and grocery stores to purchase a variety of braised ingredients, ordered a small pot and kitchen utensils from a local blacksmith, and even bought over ten kilograms of rice.

Their initially intended educational journey had turned into several days of running errands for food in the county town.

What surprised Liao Tingyu even more was that he sought out a local woman’s house to learn how to identify edible wild vegetables.

Huang Zilan diligently cleaned the bullock cart and prepared nuts, sugar, condiments, staple foods, and utensils.

Looking at the freshly prepared bullock cart, Liao Tingyu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“Now we don’t have to worry about going hungry. We can focus on our work.” He glanced at the calendar he had crafted and realized it was time to get going.

.

Liao Tingyu used his status as a scholar to announce his upcoming gathering.

In this poor and underdeveloped county, there were not many educated individuals. Scholarly resources were scarce, and many established scholars were dismissive of those who hadn’t passed the exams. They rarely extended a helping hand unless it involved money.

As a result, many aspiring students were thrilled to see this announcement. They seldom had the opportunity to learn from the experienced, but now they could gain firsthand experience.

What’s more, it would provide them with valuable insights as they prepared for their own exams.

No one taught these skills upfront, and students often fumbled their way through without guidance. Few were fortunate enough to top the lists.

Several students in Huai’an County who were on the cusp of taking their exams gathered to discuss.

“Have you all seen the announcement? How should we host our guest?” Chen Fei asked his fellow classmates.

“I’ve heard of these two individuals. They aren’t lacking in wealth. After all, they come from a more prosperous place. Even if they’re in our modest restaurant, they might not appreciate it. It might be better to go to Baihua Valley, where the scenery is stunning.” Xu Zhou suggested after contemplating it.

“It’s true. Our Baihua Valley is truly unique. I visited it recently, and the flowers are in full bloom. It might be much more suitable to switch the venue there. If this Liao-xiucai is in good spirits, he might provide us with some valuable advice. That would be a stroke of luck.” Xu Tai chimed in.

Several individuals agreed, saying, “This is our only chance. If we miss this opportunity, very few of us will be able to afford the guidance of accomplished scholars. After all, the cost of recommendations has already set us back significantly.”

The topic was heavy but painfully realistic.

Their only course of action now was to hope that the visiting scholar would be approachable and willing to share his knowledge.