Chapter 4: Preparing to Leave

Lin Jinyu placed his son on the wooden couch in the study, reaching out to gently touch the boy’s cheek. “Tao’er, you must remember this—live well. There’s no need to avenge your father. As long as you are safe and sound, I’ll be content.” As he spoke, tears began to fall.

At that moment, Lin An entered from outside, accompanied by two men carrying wooden chests that weren’t too large. “Constable Gu, these are some items prepared by the master and madam. The young master is only ten; it will be many years before he comes of age. What’s inside should be enough to support him until adulthood.”

“Master, what are you doing? Even if I must beg for food, I will raise the young master myself. I cannot accept these things,” Gu Chengyong protested, waving his hands and asking Lin An to take the items away.

“Dayong, these things would be useless to me now. When the time comes, they’ll be confiscated along with the rest. None of this is ill-gotten—these are Tao’er’s mother’s dowry, meant for him. It’s the last bit of care my wife and I can give,” Lin Jinyu said earnestly, lifting his gaze.

Since Lin Jinyu insisted, Gu Chengyong could no longer object. “Very well, I’ll keep them. Master, my elderly mother is gravely ill. I must return home to care for her and thus request to resign my post as constable. I beg your approval.” Gu Chengyong’s words were a reminder to Lin Jinyu, providing a reasonable explanation for his departure. As a constable, a public official, leaving without permission would bring trouble later.

“I understand, Dayong. I am leaving now.” Lin Jinyu nodded, and with his people, left the study. “Dayong, I entrust everything to you. In this life, I cannot repay your kindness. If fate allows us to meet in another, I would gladly toil as an ox or horse to repay you.” At the gate of the Gu residence, Lin Jinyu looked back sorrowfully at the study, bowed deeply to Gu Chengyong, donned his hood, and departed swiftly with his entourage.

Gu Chengyong shut the gate and hurried to the main hall. “Ziyu, quickly gather the children and pack our things—we must leave Suzhou immediately.”

The family was still laughing and talking inside when Gu Chengyong’s words stunned them. “Husband, what’s happened?” Madam Feng asked, bewildered.

“Master Lin is in trouble. He entrusted the young master to us, and we must leave before the city gates close, or it will be dangerous.” Gu Chengyong explained briefly. “Hurry—this is no time to hesitate. We’ll talk more on the road.”

Madam Feng trusted her husband unconditionally and, being a Lin herself, would not delay when her family was involved. She quickly gathered the children to pack.

“Only take what’s light and easy to carry. Leave the heavy things behind, for now,” Gu Chengyong urged, worried she might not grasp the urgency.

Madam Feng nodded. “Understood.” She left with the children. Wenxiu and the others wanted to ask questions but were swept out by Madam Feng. “Xiu’er, Jiao’er, say nothing—pack up now. We’ll talk about everything later.” No matter what, her husband’s words had to be obeyed.

Meanwhile, Gu Chengyong summoned two maids and two young men from the household. “Our home is in turmoil; we must leave quickly and will not return. Here are your indenture contracts—I’m returning them to you. I’ll give each of you thirty taels of silver. Find your own way from here.”

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Since they would be leaving, no matter where they went, they would likely have to live in hiding. He would no longer be a constable, just an ordinary citizen, and the family could no longer keep servants. It was better to grant them freedom now, letting each find a new path.

Upon hearing this, the four dropped to their knees. “Master, you saved us all. Without you, we would have died long ago. Alive, we are Gu family’s servants; dead, Gu family’s ghosts. We won’t leave. Please take us with you—wherever you go, we’ll gladly follow the master and madam.” They spoke in unison.

“I’m doing this for your own good. The Gu family will be destitute; how can we afford to keep you?” Gu Chengyong sighed, helpless.

“We don’t need you to support us. We can work, farm—so long as we can stay with you and madam. No matter how hard it gets, we’re willing.” All had been rescued as children by Gu Chengyong and considered the Gu family their home. Now, to leave was unthinkable.

Seeing their resolve, Gu Chengyong relented. “Very well, you may stay. Take your indentures—now, you are no longer servants, but family. Axi, fetch Afu and Ashou; I have instructions for them. Alu, go with Ruyue and Ruyun to help the madam. We must finish packing quickly.”

He hadn’t learned when the imperial inspector would arrive, but knew Lin Jinyu had friends in the capital. The news surely reached him before the inspector. It was New Year's Eve, and the inspector might be delayed by local officials celebrating the holiday. Time was tight, but they still had a little margin—if they acted fast.

The four, delighted to stay, hurried to their tasks, leaving their indenture contracts untouched.

Axi was quick, vanishing in a flash. In about forty-five minutes, she returned with four people in tow. “Master, Afu and Ashou are here.”

Gu Chengyong looked at the four—children who had grown up in the household. Afu and Ashou managed two shops for him. The other two were their recently married wives, former maids.

“Afu, trouble has come; we must leave immediately. I’ll leave you the deed. After the New Year, sell this house and everything in it. If the shops suffer losses, sell them as well. I’ll find a way for Axi to contact you.” Gu Chengyong issued his instructions.

He’d saved up a considerable fortune; now, he couldn’t simply abandon everything. Afu and Ashou would handle matters well.

Afu and Ashou didn’t know the details, but as members of the Gu family, they obeyed without question. “Rest assured, master, we’ll take care of everything.”

“Go now. Sorry to make you come on New Year’s Eve.” He handed over the deeds and urged them to leave. “Go quickly. When we’re gone, don’t let anyone know you visited.”

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“Master, may we pay our respects to the madam?” one of the wives asked.

“There’s no need—as long as you live well.” Time was too short for formalities.

The four knelt before Gu Chengyong. “Master, take care.” After bowing, they departed swiftly.

In the back courtyard, the family was busy packing. “Jiao’er, just bring our clothing and essentials—leave the rest,” Madam Feng said when she saw Jiaoyan trying to gather everything.

“Mother, a poor home and a rich journey—we don’t know where we’re going, or what we’ll encounter. What good is silver alone? Take whatever we can use,” Jiaoyan insisted, packing all useful items.

Madam Feng shook her head but didn’t argue; Jiaoyan’s things were few and not worth quarreling over.

Elsewhere, Wenzhi threw down his clothes and sat sulking. “Big brother, why must we leave? We’ve done nothing wrong—why flee like homeless dogs on New Year’s Eve?”

“I won’t go. I want to ask father why. Is he putting Master Lin above our lives?” Wenzhi was bewildered—just moments ago, they were enjoying their reunion dinner, but suddenly, they had to flee like refugees.

“Third brother, now’s not the time for tantrums. Father and mother made this decision for a reason. You know how good Master Lin has been to our family—they’ve told us many times. Should we shrink away when he’s in trouble? Is that the Gu family’s way?” Wenqi stopped his brother from causing trouble.

“Say nothing more—pack quickly. If you don’t, you’ll regret it.”

Wenzhi, still angry, got up and continued packing.