Chen Bokang ran all the way out of the village, squatted in a deserted place and started crying.
If my father had not tried his best to stop me, saying that it was a selection of people to go to the battlefield to die and that I couldn't go, I would have applied for the exam with the Jiang family's children. I might have passed and gone to the capital with them to be appointed an official in the future.
Even Wei Zhan, the latecomer, passed, and the twelve-year-old Xiao Yao also passed, so there was no reason why I couldn’t pass.
Now that he had missed the opportunity, not only would he have to dig for food in the soil for the rest of his life, but the little demon might even bow to him when he saw it in the future.
The more Chen Bokang thought about it, the sadder he became, and the louder he cried.
Chen Jiazhen finally found her son, and felt very regretful when she saw him like this.
"Bokang, stop crying. How about Dad go talk to Xiaoyao and ask him to take you with him when he goes to the capital."
"I don't want to!" Chen Bokang roared, got up and ran away again.
This time he simply ran down the south slope and headed towards the old village.
Chen Jiazhen knew she couldn't catch up with her son, so she could only turn back helplessly.
He suddenly thought of Chen Changping, the second son of Chen Laoshuan.
The day before yesterday, Chen Changping told him that he wanted to take a few children who were good at martial arts to Chengzhou to become retainers of the prince.
Prince Cheng is the cousin of the late emperor. To be able to become a retainer of such a royal nobleman would make his ancestral graves smoke in joy.
Chen Jiazhen slapped her thigh and turned to find Chen Changping.
A few days later, Mr. Wu took the little boy, Jiang Jie, Jiang Wu and others to the county town, and then went with them to Jiankang City.
Yingbao prepared a lot of pills for them to take with them, and also secretly put out a carriage for Mr. Wu and Jiang Jie to ride in.
This carriage is spacious. Two people can sit inside and stretch their legs without any problem. If they are tired, they can lie down and take a nap. It is much better than the one at home.
After watching the group of people ride away on horseback for a long distance, Yingbao returned to the village.
When I passed by Chen Zhao’s snack stall, I found out that she didn’t have any stall.
Yingbao didn't care. She went to the textile workshop and then went to talk to Sister Wen.
Wen Shu was about to give birth, and was walking around the yard with her big belly. She was very happy to see Ying Bao coming, and whispered, "Mom was very sad when my little brother left."
Wen Hengyin also took the Chinese medicine exam, and this time he was taken to the capital Jiankang with Wei Zhan and others.
Although Jiankang is only a thousand miles away from here, Xiao Zhenniang is very worried as she doesn't know when she will be able to return.
Ying Bao blinked: "Master, if you are really worried, why not go to the capital when your child is born and grows up? Anyway, your brother-in-law will take the imperial examination next year, and you and your wife can meet there."
Wen Shu shook his head and whispered, "No, my mother-in-law is still here. How can I leave her alone?"
"You can take her with you. If your brother-in-law wins the prize, you can buy a house in the capital and live there." With Mrs. Wen's family's financial resources, buying a house in the capital is no problem.
Wen Shu smiled: "You are right, I didn't expect that."
The two chatted for a while, and Yingbao said goodbye and left.
When I passed by the school, I saw that the martial arts school was crowded with children.
Because Li Xu went to take the exam, there was no one teaching at the advanced school. Many children either learned on their own or went to practice boxing, kung fu, and riding and archery with Zhang Meng.
The horses for the martial arts school were provided by Jiang Sanlang. There were two horses in total, which were temporarily used for the children to practice riding and archery.
"Sakura treasure!"
Suddenly someone called her from behind. When she turned around, it was Chen Wan.
"What's the matter?" Yingbao asked.
Chen Wan grabbed her and asked, "Did you see Ah Zhao and Xu Bao today?"
"No." Yingbao was busy preparing luggage for her younger brothers today and didn't notice Xubao and Chen Zhao at all.
Chen Wan burst into tears: "A Zhao and Xu Bao are both missing, can you...can you help me find them?"
Yingbao frowned: "Didn't you ask your grandparents?"
"I asked, but they refused to answer me." Chen Wan covered her face and cried. "It's all my fault. I shouldn't have abandoned them..."
Yingbao: "What about your father? He's not home?"
Chen Wan paused and cried even louder: "I... I didn't see my father. Yingbao, help me find them, after all... after all, they are your sister and brother."
Upon hearing this, Yingbao took a few steps back and looked at Chen Wan coldly: "Don't involve me in your family's affairs, Chen Wan, don't try to be a relative. Your Chen family has nothing to do with me."
"But you are obviously..." Chen Wan wiped away her tears: "Yingbao, that's not right, you should be called Chen Ying..."
"Shut up." Ying Bao scolded rudely: "How did you know that I am your sister? Just based on your dream? Chen Wan, are you crazy?"
Chen Wan looked at the girl in front of her in shock: "You... clearly agreed to it and gave me sixty taels, why did you go back on your word?"
"Agree? You're so funny." Ying Bao said, "I spent sixty taels just to know what you dreamed about. If you want to use this to threaten me, you'd better not think about it."
"Also, your brother and sister are missing. It has nothing to do with me. If you want to find someone, go find them yourself. Don't drag me down."
After Yingbao finished speaking, she looked Chen Wan up and down, then turned and left.
"Don't go." Chen Wan hurriedly tried to hold Yingbao, but she dodged her.
Ying Bao frowned and looked at Chen Wan: "Why? Do you really want me to go find it?"
Chen Wan nodded hurriedly: "I...I beg you, no matter if you are my sister or not, for Xu Bao's sake, please...please come with me to look for her."
Yingbao thought about it and suddenly smiled: "Okay, you go wait outside the village, I'll go back and change my clothes and come back."
Chen Wan nodded repeatedly: "Okay, I...I'll wait for you outside the village, you must come!"
Yingbao said nothing, turned around and went home, telling her parents that Chen Wan wanted her to go with her to find Chen Zhao.
Chunniang immediately became angry: "This Chen Wan is so unreasonable, Baoer, don't pay attention to her."
Jiang Sanlang frowned and asked in a low voice: "Bao'er, she has been pestering you to find Chen Zhao. Is there something fishy going on?"
Yingbao nodded: "I think so too, Dad. Instead of letting them do something secretly, it is better to take advantage of their situation."
She wanted to see what Chen Wan wanted to do.
Chunniang worriedly pulled her daughter aside and said, "Bao'er, what are you talking about?"
Yingbao patted her mother and said, "It's okay, mother, stay at home and don't go out. Dad and I are going out for a while."
Chunniang looked confused and asked quickly: "Is it that Chen Wan who wants to harm you? Baoer, mother will go with you."
"Not necessarily. Mom, you should stay at home. Dad and I will find a few people to go over."
Yingbao comforted her mother and went out with her father.
In order not to alert the enemy, Yingbao decided to meet up with Chen Wan on her own, and let her father take a few people to follow secretly.
It was already afternoon, and the villagers were returning home from the fields to have lunch.
Yingbao came out of the village wearing a short dress and saw Chen Wan looking anxious.
"Let's go." Yingbao said to her, "Where should we look? Do you know?"
Seeing Yingbao coming alone, Chen Wan was extremely excited and pulled her aside, saying, "A Zhao always goes to a certain place to dig wild vegetables. I want to go there to see if she is there."
"Okay." Yingbao followed Chen Wan out of the market.
Nowadays, there are many residents on the south slope. Most of them build houses around Dongchen Village, forming a circle of residential areas.
But there are still many wild bamboo forests outside the residential area. Even if part of them is cut down, the other part is still lush.
Chen Wan took Yingbao to the wild bamboo forest, looking around from time to time.