Doted By The Regent King
Chapter 209: Going on a Long Journey

Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Going on a Long Journey

Huayang County was fifty-six li from the township, and according to Madam Zhou’s preference, they would hire an ox cart to go there, but Wufu had experienced the speed of an ox cart and truly could not compliment it, so she wanted to walk instead.

"Do you want to walk, or take the ox cart?" Wufu hadn’t forgotten that Liu Jin was just a seven-year-old child.

"I’ll follow the young lady’s decision," Liu Jin said, carrying his basket on his back.

"Let’s walk, perhaps run a bit, how about that?" Wufu said, "The ox cart is a bit faster than walking, but actually not by much, it’s just a bit more comfortable. Walking or jogging can be seen as a way to exercise our physical endurance."

Liu Jin nodded: "I’ll listen to the young lady."

Wufu chuckled and pinched his little face teasingly, "As long as you listen to the young lady, you’ll reap the benefits in the future."

Liu Jin’s face turned red as he grinned.

Since the county town was quite a distance away, to avoid any unexpected incidents that might disrupt their return journey, Wufu gave Madam Zhou a heads-up that if it got late, they would stay overnight in the town, asking them not to wait up for them.

Madam Zhou knew she had grand ideas and didn’t say much, only reminding her to be careful and safe.

This was also their first time traveling far, and as Wufu had said, Wufu and Liu Jin set off before dawn, both walking and running. Along the way, Wufu also needed to correct Liu Jin’s running posture. Despite being tired, Liu Jin knew this was beneficial for him and persevered with gritted teeth.

Noting this, Wufu nodded to herself, acknowledging his resilience.

Approaching the Late Si Hour, the two finally saw the city walls of Huayang County Town.

"They’re really tall," Liu Jin said, craning his neck to look up, feeling as though he couldn’t see the top at all.

Wufu also found them impressive; in her world, many such walls had been lost to time, and the ones that remained were often restored. Standing there beneath the actual walls, she felt her own insignificance.

Looking at the city gate, there were commoners in coarse clothes, carrying loads in and out; there were also ox carts and horse carts slowly entering.

Seeing Liu Jin’s flushed face, Wufu smiled and said, "Tired? Let’s go in as well."

Following the local people into the city, they found themselves on a street paved with blue bricks and stone slabs, flanked on both sides by a profusion of shops. It was the time of day when businesses were just opening their doors, and patrons could occasionally be spotted leaving the shops, while workers stood at the entrances soliciting customers.

Wufu strolled leisurely along, taking in the scenery with keen interest—the vendors hawking their wares on the street, the passersby in all shapes and styles, laughing and chattering. This was truly a living picture of bustling life, akin to a "Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival".

As for Liu Jin, he felt his eyes couldn’t take it all in fast enough. He saw a vendor with a large pole slung over their shoulder, adorned with several skewers of candied haws, bright red and coated in malt sugar, and involuntarily licked his lips.

Wufu caught this small gesture, smiled slightly, and thought how, despite his growing maturity, he was still a child unable to resist the allure of such treats.

She stepped forward with a smile, asked the price, and plucked one skewer to hand to him, "Here, take this. If it’s not enough, we’ll buy more."

Liu Jin quickly waved his hand, "Miss, I don’t like these, there’s no need to spend money."

The child was still worried about spending too much. He said he didn’t like it, but why was he swallowing his saliva so eagerly?

Without calling him out, Wufu placed the candied haw in his hand, saying, "If it’s given to you, take it. Your young lady can afford a skewer of candied haws—go on, eat."

Liu Jin thanked her with a smile, unwrapped the oiled paper, and began to carefully lick it. The sweet and tangy flavor reached his throat and seemed to sweeten his heart as well, filling him with contentment.

This was also his first time tasting candied haws, and so this was the flavor, he realized.