Chapter 158

After obtaining consent, the little miss pulled Fang Heng to East Street, and bought him one piece of clothing after another, and one pair of shoes after another.

"It's unnecessary, Jiang Sheng," Fang Heng said with a wry smile. "I'm going to the northern border to be a soldier, not to go sightseeing."

Just bring a simple package. How could he carry a whole cart of luggage?

Upon hearing this, Jiang Sheng put down the fine cotton changpao robe, and pulled him to the antique shop on East Street.

Although it was called an antique shop, they were actually just making old new items. There was no antiquity at all, and there was still dust and mud stains on them.

Fang Heng was just about to try to persuade her again.

Jiang Sheng picked out a heart-protecting mirror from inside, and solemnly said, "I saw in storybooks that the male protagonist is often saved by a heart-protecting mirror at critical moments. Third brother, you should also take it with you. Jiang Sheng and the mirror will protect you together."

Fang Heng was startled, and reached out to take it. He looked at it again and again.

Since it was his sister's blessing, he accepted it.

But when he turned his head to ask the price, the antique shop owner stretched out his hand, "500 taels."

Little Jiang Sheng suddenly widened her eyes.

It was too obvious to take advantage of the situation. Fortunately, she didn't come alone.

Jiang Sheng stuck her head out and called out, "Second brother!"

Big-mouthed Zheng Er Ye walked in shaking his fan.

After a bout of verbal sparring, they got it for five taels of silver.

Jiang Sheng happily paid the money and stuffed the copper mirror into her third brother's arms.

Then she looked at the antique shop owner next to her, who was already rolling his eyes, "Everyone, walk slowly, no need to see you off..."

On this New Year's Eve, the Jiang siblings turned Anshui Prefecture upside down.

They found all kinds of strange and bizarre things that could protect Fang Heng and keep him safe, such as the heart-protecting mirror, peace charms, and peace amulets. In the evening, Zhang Xianglian brought over plates of dumplings, fish meatballs stewed in elbows, and put them all in front of Fang Heng, saying tenderly, "Good child, the border is bitterly cold, you must not be able to eat these things. Eat more, eat more."

There was another rich family setting off fireworks.

After the siblings had eaten, they stood shoulder to shoulder in the yard, looking up at the colorful sky.

Amid the sound of firecrackers, Xu Mo asked softly, "Have you decided who to take with you?"

The servants they had worked hard to train were finally coming in handy.

With them there, everyone would feel a little more at ease.

But the place they were going was still a bitterly cold borderland. Fang Heng didn't force anyone either, leaving it up to them to voluntarily choose.

"Jiang San and Jiang Si are willing to stay, and everyone else will go to the border with me," Fang Heng said with a sigh. "Everyone's reaction was unexpected. After learning martial arts for so many years, they were finally able to put it to use. Everyone was more excited than the last."

Perhaps because most of them were orphans, or because of their youthful spirit, going into battle and killing the enemy made their blood boil more than tedious martial arts practice.

"Is Jiang Wu going too?" Xu Mo hesitated slightly.

Among the eight servants, there was a girl who was ranked fifth, so she was called Jiang Wu.

She was originally a maid chosen by Fang Heng for Jiang Sheng, but because she was fierce in martial arts practice, with sharp techniques, and worked harder than anyone else, she had been practicing martial arts with Fang Heng instead of appearing in front of everyone.

"I asked her, she wants to go to the borderlands," Fang Heng pursed his lips. "Jiang Wu is the eldest sister in the family. When I bought her, I only used five taels of silver, because her parents were so eager to sell her off to use the money to send her younger brother to school. So she was the cheapest, but also the most desperate in martial arts practice."

Among these eight servants, five were orphans and had no ties.

Only three still had family. For example, Jiang San still had parents. They had sold him off reluctantly at the time, so these years whenever Jiang San was free he would go home to visit.

But Jiang Wu, despite knowing her parents were not far away, never mentioned them. Her eyes were only on martial arts practice. She worked hard and earnestly, focusing only on studying. It seemed her life was left with only effort, effort, and more effort.

Such a girl could not be ignored, even though she was female.

Fang Heng wanted to give her a chance. Whether she could seize it depended on herself.

That night, the six siblings stayed up until dawn.

They didn't dare rest, afraid that time would pass too quickly and when they opened their eyes the third brother would have to leave.

After enduring until sunrise with great difficulty, the separation was imminent.

Wen Zhiyun held a whole basket. Inside were dozens of small paper packages. Some still had blood stains on them. "Third brother, the gold sore medicine took up most of it. There's also some detoxification medicine, as well as heat-clearing and cold-expelling medicine. They are all clearly labeled."

Zheng Ruqian took out a large handful of broken silver from his arms, and said painfully, "Don't be stingy about eating and dressing when you get to the borderlands. With second brother here, you can afford to eat and wear anything!"

At some point, Wang Fufeng had arrived too. He looked at Fang Heng with envy all over his face, and waved his big hand to give him five hundred taels worth of silver notes, "Little cousin, remember to take a look at the grand rivers and mountains of this kingdom for older cousin."

Zheng Ruqian's eyes widened, and he quickly took out another handful from his arms.

How could second brother lose to an older cousin?

Fang Heng could hardly fit it all in his arms, helplessly thanking them.

When everyone turned their heads, he stuffed the silver notes and most of the broken silver into Jiang Sheng's arms, instructing her, "The borderlands are bitterly cold, nothing can be bought. I'm keeping some broken silver which is enough. You keep the rest for third brother."

Jiang Sheng nodded seriously. "Keeping it for third brother to get a wife."

When everything was packed up, Jiang Yi brought over a fiery red-maned horse.

Back then, this horse had been snatched from the hands of the officials. Later they found a horse dealer to legitimize it, and officially put it under Fang Heng's name.

He still remembered the saddle on the horse's back had cost a full tael of silver from Zheng Ruqian, leaving him stunned for a long time.

Now they had many, many taels of silver. They could afford more expensive horses and saddles, but Fang Heng was leaving.

No one knew who suddenly became solemn, and who was softly sobbing.

The atmosphere of suppressed separation that they had endured for a long time finally shrouded the courtyard.

Fang Heng was at a loss, not knowing who to comfort. He could only get on the horse and look at his beloved family.

"Wait for me to come back," he was about to say.

Suddenly in the distance came the sound of a carriage, followed by Bian Wenxuan's cursing and yelling, "Damn brat, damn brat, leaving without a word. Hey, you haven't gotten your annual allowance yet!"

A exquisite purse was thrown over. Fang Heng caught it with one hand. Squeezing the fifty taels of gold inside, he finally asked the question that had been swirling in his heart.

"Master Bian, may I ask why my aunt never bids me farewell, but always has you bring it over instead?"

Bian Wenxuan faltered.

He struggled to compose his words, and said euphemistically, "She is not very convenient at the moment. Wait until you and I have the ability, then you can meet."

Fang Heng nodded slightly, looked at his family members again, turned his horse around, and galloped toward the distance.

The six servants sat in the carriage, following closely behind. They moved mountains, they harbored hopes, they went unhesitatingly.

After galloping for countless miles, passing through countless cities, Fang Heng savored Bian Wenxuan's words in his heart again, and suddenly pulled the reins to stop.

"Young master, what's wrong?" Jiang Yi stuck his head out of the carriage.

Fang Heng's expression was plain, but his heart was churning.

He thought, he understood his aunt's circumstances now.