Chapter 306: Zeng Xian the Man
The thin, dark child appeared to be only three or four years old, dressed in ill-fitting clothes. At an age when he should have understood nothing, his eyes held a fierce intensity.
The courtyard was small, with the gate facing the main door directly. Looking over the child’s head, Hua Zhi saw a gaunt man seated in a chair beneath the eaves.
Hua Zhi gave a slight curtsy and introduced herself, “I come from the Hua family, entrusted by someone to deliver some items to Mr. Zeng.”
The man glanced at Gu Yanxi a few more times before nodding slightly, “My humble abode is crude. Please come in if you don’t mind.”
Hua Zhi took a few steps inside and heard movement behind her. Turning, she saw the little boy bolting the gate shut before running past her to push the man further inside.
Only then did Hua Zhi notice it was a simple wheelchair with wooden wheels. Pushing it alone would have been difficult; it required someone behind to assist. The little boy handled it with practiced ease, though it clearly took considerable effort.
Hua Zhi refrained from offering help impulsively and waited politely until both the man and the child had entered the main hall and settled inside. As she stepped over the threshold, she realized what had felt off—turning back, she confirmed that all the thresholds in the house had been leveled flat.
Gu Yanxi placed two bundles on the table, and the two of them took seats at the lower end. Hua Zhi spoke, “These were entrusted to me by Mr. Zheng Zhi. I don’t know what’s inside, as I haven’t opened them. The smaller bundle is from me—it wouldn’t be proper to come empty-handed. I hope you won’t find it beneath you, Mr. Zeng.”
Zheng Zhi? Upon hearing it was an old acquaintance, Zeng Xian thought of many people but never expected it to be Zheng Zhi. That man had only crossed paths with him a few times, and the slight friendship between their fathers was hardly worth mentioning. Yet, it was this person who had remembered him.
Zeng Xian’s lips twitched slightly, “Thoughtful of you.”
Hua Zhi discreetly scanned the room. It was the epitome of poverty, though she couldn’t tell whom the child’s wariness was directed at.
But these matters were none of her concern. Everyone had their own fate, and she couldn’t interfere. “There’s a letter from Mr. Zheng inside the bundle. He didn’t ask me to relay any other messages. With this, I’ve fulfilled his request and won’t disturb you further.”
Hua Zhi stood up to leave but turned back and beckoned to the child. The boy approached only after the man nodded.
Taking a pouch from her sleeve, Hua Zhi placed it in the child’s hand and said gently, “Use this to buy some sweets. Grow up well.”
The child pursed his lips, clutching the pouch that still held a trace of warmth, unsure whether to accept it. The man said nothing, offering no farewell, his demeanor gloomy and aloof.
Thinking of the children she carefully protected at home, Hua Zhi felt a pang of pity for this boy in contrast. Yet, in the end, there was nothing she could do. This was another family’s child, not someone she could influence as she pleased.
The courtyard gate opened and closed again. The child pattered over to bolt it shut once more before running back, hesitantly extending his hand, “Father, for you.”
“Keep it for yourself.” Without looking, he knew what was inside. It was a common practice among prominent families in the capital to carry pouches filled with gold or silver nuggets for tipping. Those from the Hua family likely contained gold nuggets.He then turned his attention to the two bundles. Ignoring the one said to be from Zheng Zhi, he first opened the smaller package. Inside were neatly arranged food items and daily necessities—ordinary yet practical. Nowadays, if someone were to gift him a stack of fine paper or high-quality inkstones, he would likely just exchange them for money to buy these very things instead.
Though disabled, he still had to work and had naturally heard of the Hua family’s eldest young lady. He never expected...
Zeng Xian lowered his gaze, his hands trembling slightly before steadying as he opened the other bundle. This one was far more disorganized—some food, some daily items, even two sets of clothing. Among them was a book; glancing at the title, Zeng Xian scoffed and tossed it aside before rummaging further. From the very bottom, he retrieved a banknote—two hundred taels. It wasn’t much, but based on his understanding of the Zheng family’s circumstances, this was likely Zheng Zhi’s entire family fortune.
“Zheng Zhi,” Zeng Xian murmured the name softly, his eyes briefly softening.
Emerging from the shadowy alley back into the sunlight, Hua Zhi raised a hand to shade her eyes, squinting up at the glaring white sun. It looked intimidating, but truthfully, it wasn’t as hot as the capital.
“Why would such a young child also be exiled?”
“If it’s a case of the entire family being exiled, it’s not surprising, but...”
“What?”
As they entered the main street, Gu Yanxi moved to A Zhi’s left side, letting her walk closer to the buildings. “Zeng Xian was exiled four years ago. That child looks only about three years old—could he have been born here?”
Hua Zhi slowed her steps, frowning. “Was his wife pregnant at the time?”
“It’s also possible she discovered the pregnancy during the journey.” Gu Yanxi regretted bringing it up. Perhaps due to her nature, A Zhi never deliberately sought out such information and thus didn’t realize that in cases of full-family exile, unless the clan was large and united, most women couldn’t be protected. Families like Zeng Xian’s, already in decline, would fare even worse.
Although the Daqing laws didn’t explicitly state it, an unwritten rule had formed over the years: pregnant women, even among the exiled, were often shown leniency and allowed to stay. Could it be that no one knew of Madam Zeng’s pregnancy back then?
“Even so, that child can only be born, grow old, fall ill, and die here, right?”
“Most likely.”
Hua Zhi let out a slow breath. This was a product of the times. She couldn’t change an entire era; she could only strive to prevent the Hua family from falling into such a tragic state.
“I’ll speak with Fourth Uncle. If we have any spare capacity, we should help where we can.” A disabled man raising such a young child—the thought alone was daunting.
Hua Zhi wasn’t just paying lip service. Before Fourth Uncle returned from the government office, she gathered essential supplies like rice, flour, oil, and salt from home. Remembering the child lacked properly fitting clothes, she personally bought several sets—both thick and thin—and bundled everything together for a servant to deliver.
It was merely a small gesture, and once done, she didn’t dwell on it. She went to her grandfather’s study to fetch paper and brushes to write down methods for preserving dried goods. Gu Yanxi stayed by her side, grinding ink as usual, just as he had always accompanied and observed her during her endeavors—never criticizing her kindness as excessive nor attempting to stop her.
With limited time to spend with her family, Hua Zhi treasured every moment. Each evening after dinner, she would linger until she could delay no further before returning to the inn.
But no matter how much she delayed, the time for parting always arrived.Learning that she would return to the capital tomorrow, the Hua family felt equally distressed. Yet no matter how heavy their hearts or how reluctant they were to part, they could only swallow their sorrows in silence. Though they would surely see her off the next day, the elders still offered endless words of advice, while the younger generation eagerly promised to take good care of the family elders, assuring their most capable young woman that she need not worry.
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