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Chapter 433 - As Far As I Could
Chapter 433 - As Far As I Could
Chapter 433 - As Far As I Could
Nianzu went to the bookshop in Hazhou Town to check whether he could get the job of a scribe. Since every year many prepared for the Civil Services Examination, books were needed which mostly came from the Capital.
The owner of the shop, Tai Sung, was hesitant to give work to Nianzu. "Master, I will scribe each book for 100 cents. If you doubt my skills, then I can show you," asserted Nianzu.
Tai Sung quickly handed him the brush which he had dipped in the black ink. "You have five minutes. Scribe this entire page," Tai Sung opened the book on Han Governance. "Start," Tai Sung commanded Nianzu, and he started writing the characters on the spare notebook. The assistant of Tai Sung, Mo Shen, was bewildered to see the way Nianzu imprinted the characters.
Mo Shen leaned closer to Tai Sung and whispered in his ear, "Master Tai, he seems talented and skilled. Look at the movement of the strokes and the way he is writing.. We shall hire him." Tai Sung agreed with Mo Shen. Getting such a scriber at such a cheap rate was rare.
"Stop. You are hired. I will give 100 cents for each book you scribe," Tai Sung stated. Nianzu smiled and put the brush down. He bowed and thanked Tai Sung for hiring him as a scriber.
"Give me your identification token and also tell me about your family name." Tai Sung took out the ledger book from behind the shelf. "I need to write it here," Tai Sung stated.
Nianzu handed his identification token to Tai Sung, who frowned. "There is no family name imprinted," Tai Sung gazed at Nianzu.
"I do not know my parents' origin," Nianzu lied.
"Then, are you an orphan or a slave? How are you able to read and write?" Mo Shen queried him. Tai Sung also waited for his answer.
"I learned from my master who taught me music," Nianzu told another lie. Tai Sung and Mo Shen were surprised to find that Nianzu knew about the music.
"Why don't you teach music in the house of the town's Governor? I heard he was looking for a music teacher for his daughter," Mo Shen suggested to Nianzu.
"I am not that good at music," Nianzu lied again. "Thank you for thinking about me, Master," he expressed his gratitude. "I will join the work from tomorrow," he informed them.
"Fine," Tai Sung said as he entered the name of Nianzu in the ledger book. Nianzu was ready to leave when he heard the conversation of two people.
"Hey, did you hear about the Fourth Prince, Han Nianzu?" One of them asked. Judging by clothes, it appeared that he was the son of an upper-classman.
"Why, what happened?" Another asked while going through the books.
"His rights as a Prince have been snatched, and also he is no longer the Advisor to the Emperor." Nianzu widened his eyes as he heard them.
"Really? How?" His friend turned curious.
"I do not know. Father got the Royal order from the Capital." Nianzu looked at Tai Sung and Mo Shen, who were busy chatting with each other. He walked out of the bookshop and went straight to the house. An unknown fear had developed inside him.
'It is a bad idea to live in this town. If someone finds out about me then it can bring trouble,' Nianzu contemplated and hastened towards home.
Arriving outside the residence, he knocked at the main door. After a few minutes, Chuntao came and opened the door. "You returned soon," Chuntao said and stepped back. Nianzu walked in and closed the door behind him.
"Yes. I got the work," Nianzu told her. Chuntao was delighted to hear that. "But, there is a problem," Nianzu asserted and halted. Chuntao stopped too and looked at him.
"What kind of problem?" She asked.
"I think people here might recognize me. Let's leave this place. It can be dangerous for us if we live here," stated Nianzu. Deep frowns appeared on his forehead. "My identity shall remain hidden, Chun. I mean… I have a hunch that my mother will try to find me," Nianzu asserted.
"Then, let's go to the next village of this town. In a village which is not known to many," asserted Chuntao.
"Let's go to the Village Xiandong," Nianzu suggested to Chuntao, who nodded. "Forgive me for troubling you this way," Nianzu felt guilty.
"Do not apologize. I understand your concern. I did not set the things in the house, so we can shift easily," Chuntao affirmed.
"Then, let's leave now," Nianzu looked for the answer in her eyes. Chuntao nodded her head and told him to stay there as she would bring the bundles in which she had her valuables. Nianzu held the two bundles in her hand when Chuntao told him that she would carry them.
"Why would you?" Nianzu asked. "Let's go. Wait, did you take your meals in the morning? I left early in search of work, so could not have breakfast with you," Nianzu stated.
"Yes, I ate," Chuntao lied to him. Nianzu passed her a smile and then grasped her hand. "By the evening, we will reach Xiandong Village," Nianzu said.
"Hmm. Nianzu, here take this. We need this later. So, keep it with you," Chuntao handed him a pouch that was full of coins. "It's the wages you gave me, also the money from fields I sold and the coins you gave me the last time," Chuntao explained to him.
"It's yours. I cannot take your money," Nianzu replied, looking at the pouch.
"Are we not one? Whatever you have is mine and whatever I have is yours. It is for us." Chuntao affirmed. Nianzu gazed into her eyes. It seemed to him that Chuntao did not spend a single penny. She thought so much about them that she even sold the lands to support them. It brought tears to his eyes. Chuntao not only understood him wholeheartedly but also did not leave him when he needed her the most. 'I have a hunch that mother might give orders to harm you. I should have told Brother Sheng to keep a check on her activities. Now, nothing could be done, so I will take you as far as I could, away from everyone,' Nianzu told himself internally.