Since this time they planned to stay longer in the Prefecture City, Xiao Qi also came along. At home, there were still Xiao Long and Xiao Hu, the two children. Although the steward and the maids were there to look after them, they ultimately couldn’t feel at ease. Therefore, before the family set off, they sent a carriage to bring Lady Li from Burner Pot Village.

During the agricultural off-season, Lady Li didn’t have much to do at home. Coming over to stay, firstly, she could help her daughter and son-in-law look after the house; secondly, she could personally care for her two grandsons; thirdly, being closer to Zhang Caiyun, she could conveniently attend to her when it was time for her to give birth.

With these conveniences, both the Zhang Family and Lady Li were pleased. Especially Lady Li, though her family had two more grandsons in recent years, since Xiao Long and Xiao Hu were not around, she quite missed them.

Regarding the school matters, with Master Qu overseeing, everything was worry-free. As for household affairs, they left Steward Han Zhong and Han Zhong’s wife to manage both inside and out. Any other matters were handled by the farm supervisor and other stewards, who just needed to act according to usual practices.

Before leaving, the family issued instructions, allowing these people to follow customary practices in decision-making. In case of any significant issues they couldn’t resolve, they would send someone to the Prefecture City to report. They also entrusted the Wu Family, Lu Family, and other relatives to assist when necessary.

With everything arranged properly, the family set off from Thirty Mile Camp without any worries.

They set out as usual in the morning, reached Jinyang County Town by noon, rested there for a night, and set off for the Prefecture City the next day.

By September in Liaodong Prefecture, it was already the time of the Frost’s Descent. The family rose early, and as they left the town, they saw the fields and trees on both sides of the official road covered with a thin layer of white frost. It wasn’t until nearly noon, when the sun warmed up, that the frost on the trees disappeared, while the frost on the fields lingered, still visibly damp and chilly.

At this season, the damp chill only penetrated the top layer of the fields. By winter, as the cold intensified, the entire surface of the fields would freeze, a distinct feature of Liaodong Prefecture known as frozen soil. Although frozen soil carries an eerie chill, it is actually beneficial.

Frozen soil can retain moisture, and when it melts the following year, it becomes fertile soil, ideal for growing crops. Liaodong Prefecture’s fertile land and abundant crops owe much to this frozen soil.

The Lian Family traveled in a grand convoy of carts, flanked by stewards riding mules or on foot, with family members and servants trailing behind. In the first cart sat Wu Lang. The second cart carried Lady Zhang and Lian Manman, followed by Lian Shouxin and his son Xiao Qi in the same cart. Several more large carts followed, two of which carried personal serving maids and wives, while the remaining carts carried the family’s personal luggage and gifts from the village.

At the end of the convoy, several tall, robust horses were tethered, well-fed and brightly bridled, with people assigned to care for them, prepared for Wu Lang and others to ride.

For the Lian Family’s journey, this was the largest number of people and the grandest scale yet.

Though it seemed grand, it merely looked like a well-organized convoy to outsiders, as they did not put on any ostentatious display, even leaving the executives behind. The carriages carried lanterns marking Lian Shouxin’s official rank. Despite that, the rank and the surname Lian marked them clearly, so nine times out of ten passersby recognized their family. On encountering other carts on the road, everyone followed protocol, either avoiding or making way.

The weather was warm and windless, and when there were few people on the official road, Lian Manman would lift the carriage curtain to leisurely enjoy the scenery with Lady Zhang.

Poplar trees lined both sides of the road, and the mountains in the distance, as well as the nearer woods, were ablaze with autumn colors under the vast blue sky, making one feel refreshed and happy.

While Lian Manman was happily admiring the view, Wu Lang and Xiao Qi rode over on horses, slowly following alongside the carriage of Lian Manman and Lady Zhang.

With good weather and a smooth, quiet road, the brothers, tired of sitting inside the car, came out to switch to horse riding. Seeing them, Lian Manman couldn’t help but feel a little envious.

Shen Liu had given her a fine horse, and Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang did not stop her from learning to ride. However, she could only ride secretly in their own courtyard, not allowed to ride on the roads. It wasn’t for any other reason than that Lady Zhang worried that, being a girl, she might accidentally fall.