Disaster Apocalypse: Farming, Family, and My Hidden Secret Space
Chapter 142. Rushing for the Exam

Chapter 142: 142. Rushing for the Exam

Hua Jin was woken up by the knocking at the door, it was only after hearing her mother’s voice that she realized it was time to set off.

Although somewhat awakened in consciousness, she could hardly open her eyes, feeling extremely sleepy.

Instinctively answering her mother at the door, she closed her eyes again for about a minute or two before sitting up with closed eyes. She lingered in a daze for a while until her mind fully cleared up, yawning as she began to tidy herself, dressing and combing her hair.

Nowadays, she was getting better at managing her long hair that reached her waist. She could style it into simple buns, deftly tying two small buns on top of her head, leaving the rest to hang freely behind her.

She only tied two light pink ribbons around the buns. Although Hua Jin thought the color was too tender, she was currently of a tender age, and grandma and mom liked her in pink. Otherwise, they would personally help her with her hair, and what ended up on her head would be beyond her control. This was what she called nipping it in the bud and not giving grandma and mom the chance to make a move.

Then, yawning again, she opened the door, first going to the back yard to relieve herself, and after washing up, she returned to the front yard completely refreshed.

At this moment, Mrs. Qi was in the kitchen with her mother-in-law preparing breakfast as well as food to cover the trip, which must fool their two sons somehow.

When Hua Jin arrived, she saw the kitchen filled with smoke and mist under the dim oil lamp. Her grandma and mom were busy amidst the haze, truly exuding a sense of household warmth. If only she could take out her phone, she would surely capture this beautiful memory.

With her signature grin, "Grandma, mom, let me help you with the fire," Hua Jin skillfully sat in her old spot, decisively joining the hustle of the kitchen heat.

Granny Hua and Mrs. Qi indeed were busy at the time, hardly able to keep up with the firewood at the stove, returning a smile to Hua Jin before hastily turning back to their tasks.

One anxiously chopping the vegetables to be cooked quickly at the table, while another controlling three pots of various sizes on the stove, busy with the boiling heat.

Meanwhile, apart from the youngest brother still drooling and sleeping soundly in bed, the brothers Hua Yunao had also awoken early.

They rechecked the things to be taken, then accompanied their father and grandfather to the backyard to prepare the ox cart.

They prepared the most important green feed and fresh water needed for the journey as well.

Especially water; Da Huang tended to get thirsty on the road, so water was indispensable. They prepared two large buckets, and the green feed took up a lot of space too, fortunately, they could be stacked.

Even so, they minimized as much space as possible. Their ox cart was made sufficiently large, enough for three people to lie down and rest. Now, with everything loaded, they could only half-sit or huddle to rest.

But it’s far more comfortable than walking to the county town for the exam like some impoverished scholar.

Besides, they had to give Hua Yunao’s classmate, who was also going to the county town for the exam, a ride. They had a decent relationship, or else Hua’s elder brother wouldn’t have agreed without consulting the family.

Thus, the space in the cart was even smaller, mainly because they also had to bring Hua Jin, and as the saying goes, boys and girls shouldn’t sit together at age seven.

Fortunately, it was just for the time on the road, so they could always overcome it. At worst, Hua Yunao could sit with the classmate on the front bar of the cart.

Their cart had ample space, thus the front too, was quite spacious. Just some wind blowing and slight dust touching them.

After tidying up in the backyard, the few men of the family dragged the ox cart to the front yard to load the things carefully. After another check, the food prepared in the kitchen happened to be ready as well.

They had breakfast, brought along what was for the sister to bring, and two thin quilts, setting off into the dim morning light with grandmother’s and mother’s meticulously prepared food amidst the reminders.

Watching the ox cart slowly go further away, the old Hua man, hiding the worry in his eyes, told his daughter-in-law to go home and prepared to work in the fields with his old wife through the tools.

Three-quarters of an hour later, the ox cart picked up Hua Yunao’s classmate heading to the exam as well at a fork several miles away from Shanggu Town.

The family had been waiting at the junction early. Seeing the ox cart, they quickly approached, especially the adults accompanying the young man, all smiles with enthusiasm on their faces.

After a round of introductions, the two families became acquainted.

Hua Chengtian politely responded to the continuous gratitude from this family, while rejecting the fare.

The other family was courteous; therefore, Hua Chengtian naturally responded generously. Being his and the eldest brother’s classmate and having a good relationship, he had already agreed to give them a ride, so how could he charge them?

Besides, he also heard that the classmate had been doing well in his studies, often praised by the academy’s teacher. This time, the precocity examination was expected to pass, so they might as well establish goodwill.

Only reluctantly, he accepted several hard bread rolls and boiled eggs from them.

"Dad, mom, I’m going, you should also head back quickly," Qin Shu bid farewell to his worried parents who insisted on seeing him off such a long way outside, responding to his friend’s signal.

"Alright, once you get there, find an inn quickly and don’t worry about spending money, and don’t give yourself too much pressure, got it?" Qin Shu’s mother, Mrs. Wei, reminded not without concern. If it were not for the limited family conditions, how could she be at ease letting the child go to the city on his own? Fortunately, he had a good friend to go along, or she would be restless, unable to sleep through the nights. Thinking of this, she turned away and secretly wiped away the tears brimming from the corners of her eyes.

A son traveling far evokes a mother’s worries, something beyond control.

"Son, you have a keen eye, this family seems kind-hearted, but still, you must be cautious along the way," Qin Dagen, having witnessed the Hua family, felt somewhat relieved yet couldn’t help but warn his son once more as it’s always good to be cautious.

"Dad, don’t worry, I know. Do go back now," glancing at his teary-eyed mother, Qin Shu’s gaze dimmed as he feared an unwillingness on his part. He picked up his book strap, waved his hand, and turned around to get on the ox cart with his friend accompanying him.

It wasn’t until the ox cart traveled far enough that he could no longer see the two black dots at the fork that Qin Shu withdrew his gaze.

Being away from home for the first time, especially alone, a mix of reluctance and unease was understandable. Hua Yunao comfortingly patted his friend on the shoulder.

Unlike his friend, he was not alone; his father and sister were with him, giving him a sense more akin to a family outing rather than going for an exam.

"Qin Brother, sorry, I might have to let you sit in the front of the cart with me, as my sister decided to come along temporarily, so..."

Hua Yunao didn’t finish his sentence.

"No worries, no worries, sitting at the front, catching the breeze, indeed feels more free," though slightly surprised, Qin Shu hurriedly spoke up, his gaze frank without a hint of reluctance.

Although his friend seldom talked about his family, he knew this guy had a sister whom he dearly loved.

He genuinely witnessed it this time. Indeed, he cared deeply; otherwise, how could he possibly bring a young girl for the crucial affair of taking an exam?

Consequently, as an outsider male, it indeed was inconvenient to sit inside the ox cart.

Truth be told, compared to the relatively enclosed cart carriage, he preferred sitting in the front as it offered openness and allowed the warm spring breeze to soothe his slightly tense mind.

Seeing that his friend genuinely didn’t mind, Hua Yunao felt relieved.