Chapter 819: Preparations for Flying Solo

He looked up and saw that it was nearly dark.

There was still one more person to see.

After leaving his home, He He Lingchuan walked toward the back, passing two streets lined with tall kapok trees. He knocked on the door of a house beneath the trees.

People group by their kind; those who could live here were all well-off families.

The person who opened the door was startled to see He He Lingchuan and hurriedly stepped aside: "Oh my, why has the Proprietor come!"

This person was none other than the homeowner, Ding Ding Zuodong.

He was originally an old steward of the Shu family in Dunyu, and after being recruited by He He Lingchuan, he had managed properties for the Young Master in Dunyu and had always done a very good job.

He He Lingchuan leaned in to peek into the courtyard and smiled: "A nice house, how long have you bought it?"

An ordinary home was of course not as good as the He residence, but this small courtyard was open and airy, and the branches and leaves of the fruit trees had already spread out; it would be quite pleasant to enjoy the shade and eat fruit under the trees in summer.

"I've only lived here for about seven days, and it's not fully tidied up yet." Ding Ding Zuodong stepped aside to make way, "Proprietor, please come in."

"No need." He He Lingchuan saw a child poking their head around inside the house, "Find a place where we can talk conveniently."

"Alright!" The Proprietor would not visit without a reason; Ding Ding Zuodong's expression turned serious, he gave an instruction into the house, and then walked out with him, "There is a deserted house nearby, abandoned for a long time, no one is there."

Within twenty paces, they reached the deserted house.

It was adjacent to the bustling market of Yuan, yet there were still houses left abandoned. The local economy and people's livelihoods were indeed not as good as they had been two years ago.

He He Lingchuan expanded his spiritual sense and swept the area with his mirror; there was indeed no one around.

His first words were: "Shan Shan Youjun has a problem."

Ding Ding Zuodong was greatly shocked and hurriedly asked for the reason.

He and Shan Shan Youjun were relatives; in fact, when he first joined Young Master He's service, it was Shan Shan Youjun who had acted as the intermediary.

He He Lingchuan briefly described what Shan Shan Youjun had done.

Ding Ding Zuodong's eyes widened: "Proprietor, please investigate clearly; I am completely unaware of Shan Shan Youjun's actions! In these past ten days or so, he has only eaten one meal at my house!"

Master He was Master He, and Young Master He was Young Master He; although the two were father and son, they as servants must never misplace their loyalty.

Young Master He had already returned, yet Shan Shan Youjun was still hiding things from him to work for Master He; that was deceiving his former master, which no one could tolerate.

Having been a steward in wealthy households for over a decade, Ding Ding Zuodong knew the taboos of those in power well, so he immediately distanced himself from Shan Shan Youjun.

He He Lingchuan waved his hand: "I know, how could this be your fault? But Shan Shan Youjun has already chosen another master; what about you?"

Sweat immediately broke out on Ding Ding Zuodong's forehead: "I will naturally follow the Proprietor closely, with absolutely no second thoughts!"

Seeing him about to point to the heavens and swear an oath, He He Lingchuan pressed down on his arm: "Don't rush to swear an oath yet, I have something to tell you."

He paused before continuing: "After the trip to Heishuicheng ends, I will not remain in the Yuan Kingdom. You are a man of Yuan with a home and a business; you should make plans for the departure or stay of your whole family."

Ding Ding Zuodong was startled: "Where is the Proprietor going?"

"I plan to head east and establish my own household. The specific destination is not yet decided, but leaving the Yuan Kingdom is a certainty." He He Lingchuan reminded him, "I fear I will not return in the future either."

After He He Lingchuan went missing in the water, Ding Ding Zuodong had no choice but to rely on He He Chunhua; but after He He Lingchuan returned to the Yuan Kingdom, Ding Ding Zuodong immediately resigned from He He Chunhua and returned to He He Lingchuan's side, showing that he was a man who valued old ties.

That was why He He Lingchuan had come to invite him.

Ding Ding Zuodong suppressed his chaotic thoughts, pondered seriously for a few moments, and asked: "With the Proprietor going on a long journey, are you truly short of someone like me?"

"Truly short!" He He Lingchuan nodded, "When going to a new place, I naturally need someone to re-acquire and manage things for me. Such a person is actually not easy to find."

First of all, he had to trust them.

How could someone found on the spot have a foundation of mutual trust?

"But you already have children and grandchildren; consider it carefully." For an ordinary person, this departure truly meant leaving their native land, and they might not even be able to be buried in their hometown after death.

Ding Ding Zuodong took a deep breath: "No need to consider, I will go with the Proprietor."

He He Chunhua was of course very capable, and if he stayed, his life would be very comfortable. However, he favored Young Master He more! And the Proprietor had also said that this time he was going out to establish his own household.

Since it was starting from scratch, an old hand like Ding Ding Zuodong who followed him from the beginning would surely be the most trusted and relied upon, and perhaps he could also rise with the wind.

He, Ding Ding Zuodong, was not satisfied with just being a well-off commoner! He He Lingchuan was not surprised: "What about your family, how will you settle them?"

For someone as motivated as Ding Ding Zuodong, there was likely a fire burning in his heart.

Ding Ding Zuodong did not hesitate: "They listen to me."

He He Lingchuan patted his shoulder with satisfaction: "Good, very good."

Few people nearing fifty still had this kind of drive.

"Then you take your family south to the port of Baishawan. Within three months, I will go there to meet you." He He Lingchuan instructed him, "Do not spread these matters."

"Yes!"

Ding Ding Zuodong bowed to him and hurried home.

He He Lingchuan's request had come suddenly; he had to think about how to tell his family.

When He He Lingchuan himself walked back, the Soul-Gathering Mirror in his bosom asked him: "Hey, do you really intend to leave?"

"Mm."

The current chaotic situation in the Yuan Kingdom was rotting to the roots. And He He Lingchuan had a premonition that the Yuan Kingdom's troubles were far from over.

As a transmigrator, he had no deep feelings for this country, so why stay?

A tree moved will die, but a person moved will live.

The world outside was vast; what was the point of staying in this tiny corner of the Yuan Kingdom and struggling? Choosing a new, auspicious place to start from zero was better than staying here and starting from negative.

"Why don't you go back to Other Rongshan?" the mirror said, "Leaning against a big tree is good for shade."

It thought that place called Other Rongshan was quite good; not only was it rich, but it also shared the same aspirations as its master.

He He Lingchuan remembered a famous quote from his original world and couldn't help but laugh: "How can a great man live under others for long?"

If you enjoy the benefits within a system, you have to endure the rules within that system.

But a free-spirited person like him just didn't like being bound by rules and didn't like taking the beaten path.

Then he could only set up a new stove.

It would be better to build a system himself and bind others instead.

The mirror was curious: "Then where do you want to go?"

This was a question He He Lingchuan was also pondering.

It didn't matter, there was still plenty of time, "I'll know when the time comes."

……

The dew was heavy, and the evening breeze blew gently.

The chorus of frogs in the pond was so noisy that Lady Ying tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

With a "whoosh," the window was blown open, and a gust of wind rolled in, extinguishing the eternal lamp.

The vanity mirror on the table also toppled over with a clatter.

Paper scraps flew everywhere.

"Xiao Lan!" Lady Ying's personal maid usually slept in the outer room; if there was any movement in the room, she would arrive immediately.

However, no matter how much Lady Ying called tonight, Xiao Lan simply did not come.

Lady Ying had no choice but to get out of bed herself to close the window.

She steadied the mirror and had just shifted its position when she saw a second figure reflected in it!

A woman in white.

(End of chapter)