I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Chapter 70: Leaving the Estate

 

It wasn’t that Zheng Fa didn’t want his family to live well, but the shops and properties Madam Zhao offered weren’t something he could safely hold onto right now.

If he failed to enter the Immortal Sect during the Immortal Talent Conference, the immense wealth would inevitably attract conflict. Even without outsiders coveting it, some within the Zhao estate might try to reclaim what Madam Zhao had allocated to him.

Even if he did successfully join the Immortal Sect, judging by the Eldest Young Lady’s experience, he would likely need to leave his mother and younger sister in Jingzhou for the first few years.

Two women, one of them not even ten years old, wouldn’t be able to protect such wealth, even under the Zhao family’s watch.

If his future in the Immortal Sect went well, then prosperity would naturally follow. But if he struggled, this temporary wealth would eventually slip away.

Madam Zhao pointed to the box of deeds and insisted, “I came all this way; you have to take at least one.”

Steward Wu glanced between the box and his own hands, his expression contemplative.

Zheng Fa picked up a deed for a modest courtyard—a two-entry residence about half again the size of their current home. Its main advantage was its proximity to the Zhao estate, situated in a secure area filled with prominent families and many guards.

This choice would make it easier for the Zhao family to provide assistance if needed. Combined with the clothing shop that Steward Gao had already gifted them, this would ensure his mother and sister could live comfortably without drawing too much attention.

Madam Zhao frowned slightly as she saw him select the smallest property.

“I told you, this is tuition money. Senior Zhang herself said you’re a better teacher than she is. You’re making this difficult for me.”

After a moment of thought, she untied a small purple pouch from her waist, and a jade box larger than the pouch appeared in her hands.

“A storage bag?”

Zheng Fa recalled Senior Zhang’s bracelet. He hadn’t expected Madam Zhao to have a similar magical tool.

Behind her, Steward Wu stared at the box he had carried all this way, then at his hands, and then back at Madam Zhao’s storage bag. His contemplative look deepened.

Madam Zhao noticed Zheng Fa’s reaction and waved dismissively. “It’s the cheapest kind, nothing like Senior Zhang’s storage treasures.”

She carefully opened the jade box, revealing ten transparent, faintly blue stones.

“Spirit stones?” Zheng Fa guessed.

Madam Zhao nodded. “These are the spirit stones I accumulated during my time in the Immortal Sect.”

Her face twitched with a hint of pain. Compared to the expensive properties she had offered earlier, parting with these stones seemed to hurt her far more.

“You’ve been to an Immortal Sect, Madam?”

“Of course. How else would I have started cultivating?”

“Then, could you tell me what an Immortal Sect is truly like?” Zheng Fa asked, more curious about the sect than the stones.

“The Immortal Sect…” Madam Zhao’s expression softened as she reminisced. “If you have exceptional talent, it’s a paradise for immortals.”

“And if you don’t?”

“Then you’ll live worse than mortals.”

“Like me,” she added with a wry smile, “I gave up cultivation and returned to the mundane world.”

So, you’re a disillusioned cultivator who came back to rest.

Her memories of the Immortal Sect didn’t seem pleasant, and she didn’t elaborate further. Instead, she pointed to the spirit stones.

“These are all my savings from my years in the Immortal Sect. I kept some for Jingfan and Lan’er; the rest is here.”

She hesitated, then added, “Spirit stones have become rarer over the years. This Zhao family estate might not even be worth a few of these stones now.”

Hearing this, Zheng Fa looked at the stones with newfound reverence.

Sensing his concern, Madam Zhao added, “If you had taken those properties while letting success go to your head, I wouldn’t have offered these spirit stones.”

“Why not?”

“Talent is crucial, but without your temperament, talent will only get you killed faster. Giving you these stones would have been a waste. Better to save them for my foolish son in case he starves in the Immortal Sect.”

Her pained expression made it clear just how valuable the stones were. For someone who could give away properties and shops without blinking, this hesitation over spirit stones was striking.

After a moment of thought, Zheng Fa picked up the jade box.

Madam Zhao relaxed slightly and said, “Whether you see these stones as compensation or goodwill, I only ask one thing in return.”

Zheng Fa stood and bowed deeply. “I consider the Seventh Young Master my friend.”

…

A few days later, the Zheng family’s courtyard was abuzz with activity.

Today was their moving day.

Steward Gao and Gao Yuan had come to help pack. What once fit in a single ox cart now required four or five horse-drawn carts.

In addition to the furniture gifted by Steward Gao earlier, Madam Zhao had sent various household necessities to help the family settle into their new home.

As Zheng Fa looked around the now-empty courtyard, he turned to his mother and younger sister.

Both looked more confused than happy, unsure how to adapt to life outside the Zhao estate. For Zheng’s mother, the outside world felt unfamiliar and dangerous.

“Let’s get on the cart,” Zheng Fa said, taking his younger sister’s hand and leading the family toward the first cart.

He paused when he saw the driver.

“You again? Such a coincidence!”

It was the same old man who had driven him to the Zhao estate many times before.

“This isn’t a coincidence,” the old man said with a laugh, hopping off the cart to set up a small stool for Zheng’s mother and sister. “I fought tooth and nail with the other drivers to get this job.”

“Fought?”

“These carts were arranged by Madam Zhao, so it’s technically estate work. But when people heard you were going to become an immortal, everyone wanted to get close.”

“…”

“I told them,” the old man said with a mix of pride and reverence, “that in all my years working at the Zhao estate, I’d never even seen a single hair of an immortal. Now I can tell people I not only saw one but drove them in my cart!”

Zheng Fa shook his head with a smile, choosing not to comment.

Compared to Madam Zhao’s subtle advice and warnings, these common folk seemed to have an almost exaggerated reverence for the Immortal Sect.

Inside the cart, Zheng Fa lifted the curtain to bid farewell to Steward Gao and Gao Yuan.

As the cart rolled forward, Gao Yuan turned to his father. “Dad, are you laughing or crying?”

“Laughing, of course. My judgment was spot on—Zheng Fa is already soaring to success.”

“Then why does it look like you’re crying?”

“…Because my judgment was too good! I didn’t even have time to cling to his coattails properly before he took off!”

…

In the cart, Zheng Fa leaned toward the driver and asked, “This route seems wrong.”

He was familiar with the back gate route and could tell something was off.

“Madam Zhao’s orders,” the driver replied with a grin. “Today, we’re using the main gate to send you off.”

The sound of wheels on the stone-paved road was accompanied by the driver’s musings.

“That gate hasn’t been opened in years. I’ve worked at the estate for thirty years and never used it myself.”

“When I first brought you to the Zhao estate, you rode on my produce cart through the back gate meant for servants…”

“Now you’re heading to the Immortal Sect, and the estate’s main gate is opening just for you.”

As they passed through the gate, the driver muttered, “Huh? What’s the Chen family’s cart doing parked at our gate?”

“The Chen family?”

“You know, one of the three great families of Jingzhou City, alongside the Zhao family. We used to get along well, but I heard the Seventh Young Master had spats with several of their young masters, so we haven’t interacted much in recent years. Strange to see them visiting today.”

“Several? All of them?” Zheng Fa raised an eyebrow. That does sound like the Seventh Young Master.

No wonder he didn’t come to see me off today.

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