Not long after, the carriage reached the outskirts of the city. Qingqing no longer peeked out but could no longer hear the vendors’ shouts or the bargaining of the passersby. After another half hour, the carriage stopped. Qingqing wanted to hop out, but seeing Yafu still sitting composedly, she didn’t dare move. Only when a maid outside said, “We’ve arrived, please get out, Second Miss,” did Yafu get up, supported by the maid. The maid had said “Second Miss” instead of “two misses,” and Yafu, who had just lectured about decorum, seemed to forget all that and stepped out ahead of Qingqing.
Adventure Outside the City (Part One)
Yafu, though only eight, carried herself like an adult. Qingqing, disregarding the maid’s snub, followed Yafu to where Mr. Lin was. The contrast between the city’s prosperity and the desolate outskirts was stark, like two different worlds. Here, dilapidated houses stood, and ragged farmers were everywhere. Mr. Lin, a compassionate official, sighed, “Though our empire is prosperous and strong, we can’t escape natural disasters. These are all refugees from north of the Yellow River.” Lin Hong said, “Father, I will study hard to bring prosperity to our people.” Mr. Liu remarked, “Reading alone won’t relieve the people’s suffering; they need to be fed first.” Mr. Lin asked, “What are your thoughts, Mr. Liu?” Mr. Liu responded, “Mr. Lin, you’re here to test your disciples, not me.” Mr. Lin laughed, “Right, right. Let’s all go around and observe. Before nightfall, each of you write an essay for me on how to solve the refugee problem. Remember, keep a low profile and don’t reveal your identity.” Thus, they set off on foot, slowly traveling until the sky darkened, then heading towards their tents.
Adventure Outside the City (Part Two)
