Chapter 306: Zeng Xian, the Man

The thin, dark-skinned child looked no more than three or four years old, dressed in clothes that were clearly too big for him. At an age when he should have been innocent and ignorant, his eyes held a fierce glint.

The courtyard was cramped, with the front door staring directly at the inner one. Over the boy’s head, Hua Zhi’s gaze caught a wiry man slouched in a chair beneath the eaves, his posture as worn as his surroundings.

Hua Zhi bowed slightly and introduced herself, "My name is Hua Zhi, from the Hua family. I've been entrusted to deliver something to Mr. Zeng."

The man’s eyes lingered briefly on Gu Yanxi, measuring him with a flicker of interest, before he offered a faint nod. “My home is modest—nothing special. If you don’t mind the lack of comforts, you’re welcome to step inside.”

Hua Zhi took a few steps forward and heard a noise behind her. Turning around, she saw the little boy latching the door and then running past her to push the man inside.

Hua Zhi then realized that it was a simple wheelchair, with wooden wheels. It would be difficult to push it alone, as it required someone to push from behind. The little boy did it very skillfully, but it was also clear that it took a lot of effort.

Hua Zhi did not reach out to help rashly. She politely waited until both the man and the child had entered the room and settled in the main hall before walking in. As she crossed the threshold, she finally figured out what felt out of place. Looking back, sure enough, several of the thresholds in this house had been leveled.

Gu Yanxi placed the two packages on the table, and the two of them sat down. Hua Zhi said, "These were brought at the request of Mr. Zheng Zhi. I don't know what's inside, and I haven't opened them. The smaller one was prepared by me. I wouldn't come empty-handed. Please don't mind, Mr. Zeng."

Zheng Zhi?

When Zeng Xian heard the name of an old acquaintance, he thought of many people, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't think of Zheng Zhi. He had only met the man a few times, and their fathers' friendship was insignificant, yet it was such a person who remembered him.

A slight smile tugged at Zeng Xian's lips, "You're thoughtful."

Hua Zhi glanced around the room unobtrusively. It was as poor as could be. The child's vigilance was unknown to whom it was directed.

However, none of this concerned her. Everyone had their own fate, and she couldn't control it. "There's a letter from Mr. Zheng in the package. He didn't ask me to convey any other messages, so I've completed Mr. Zheng's task. I won't disturb you any further."

Hua Zhi got up and turned back to beckon to the child. The child walked over after the man nodded.

From the folds of her chest, Huazhi slipped a small purse, the fabric still carrying her warmth. With a smooth motion, she placed it firmly into the hesitant child's hand. Her voice, soft yet commanding, carried an edge of tenderness: "Take this—buy yourself some candy. Grow strong. The world’s waiting for you."

The child’s lips tightened, their grip faltering for a moment before they clutched the purse like a lifeline, unsure if they should dare to accept such an offering.

The man standing beside them? Silent.

Stone-faced. Not a word of gratitude, not a flicker of emotion. His demeanor was cold, detached, as if the exchange meant less than nothing.

Thinking of her own well-cared-for children at home, Hua Zhi felt a pang of pity for this child. But she couldn't do anything. This was someone else's child, not hers to control.

The courtyard gate creaked open and shut. The child pattered over and bolted it again, then pattered back and hesitantly held out their hand. "Father, for you."

"Keep it," the man replied without looking. He knew what was inside. Families in the capital were accustomed to carrying purses filled with gold nuggets as gifts. And the Huas family was known for their generosity.

He turned to the two packages. Ignoring the one supposedly from Zheng Zhi, he opened the smaller one first. Inside, neatly arranged, were various everyday items: food, utensils. Nothing fancy, but practical. In their current situation, even if someone had given him fine paper or ink, he would have simply exchanged them for these necessities.

Despite his disability, he still had to work for a living. He knew of the eldest Miss Hua's reputation.

He had never expected...

Zeng Xian lowered his gaze, his hands trembling slightly before he regained his composure. He opened the other package. This one was much more haphazard, containing a mix of food, utensils, and even two sets of clothing. There was also a book. Scoffing at the title, Zeng Xian tossed it aside and continued searching. At the bottom, he found a silver note—two hundred taels. Not a fortune, but considering Zheng Zhi's circumstances, it was likely all he had.

"Zheng Zhi," Zeng Xian murmured the name, his eyes softening for a moment.

*

Emerging from the shadow-drenched alley into the blinding blaze of sunlight, Hua Zhi instinctively raised a hand to shield her eyes, squinting hard against the glare. It was bold and relentless—but let’s be honest—not quite as punishing as the unyielding brightness of the Capital.

“Why would they exile such a young child?”

“It wouldn’t be shocking if the entire family was thrown out, but…”

“How?”

They moved onto the bustling main street, where Gu Yanxi subtly steered Hua Zhi to his left, as though shielding her from invisible threats. “Zeng Xian was cast out four years ago. That child looks barely three. Could he have been born here, in exile?”

Hua Zhi stopped mid-step, her brow knotting with a sharp tension. “Was his wife pregnant when they were banished?”

“Maybe,” Gu Yanxi said with a faint sigh, his voice laced with an undertone of regret. “Or perhaps they discovered her condition along the brutal road.”

He glanced at Hua Zhi, knowing full well that these were matters she rarely, if ever, considered. She wasn’t the type to dig into the raw, bitter truths of a woman’s plight in such grim circumstances. Yet, he knew this—when families fell from grace and faced the cold punishment of exile, the women suffered most. And for a shattered household like Zeng Xian’s, the tragedy only deepened, bleeding into every corner of their existence.

While Daqing law didn't explicitly state it, there was an unspoken rule that pregnant women, even if included in an exile order, would often be allowed to remain. Could it be that no one knew about Mrs. Zeng's pregnancy back then?

"Even if that were the case, that child would be doomed to live out their days here," Hua Zhi said softly.

"Most likely," Gu Yanxi agreed.

Hua Zhi sighed. This was a product of their era, and she couldn't change it. All she could do was try to prevent the Hua family from suffering a similar fate.

"I'll talk to Fourth Uncle. If we can spare anything to help, we should," she said. The image of a crippled man with a young child was heartbreaking.

Hua Zhi wasn't just paying lip service.

Before Fourth Uncle returned from the government office, she packed rice, flour, oil, and salt from home. Remembering that the child didn't even have proper clothing, she personally went out to buy a few sets of clothes, both thick and thin. She had the servants deliver everything.

It was a simple act of kindness, and she didn't dwell on it. She went to her grandfather's study and began writing recipes for dried goods. Gu Yanxi sat beside her, grinding ink, just as he always did. He didn't criticize her for being overly kind, nor did he try to stop her.

With limited time to spend with her family, Hua Zhi cherished every moment. After dinner each night, she would linger until the very last possible moment before returning to the inn.

But no matter how she tried to delay it, the time for parting would eventually come.

When the Hua family learned that she would be returning to the capital the next day, they were filled with sadness. But they swallowed their grief and tried to remain strong. Even though they would certainly see her off, they felt compelled to give her one last round of advice. The younger generation eagerly promised to take good care of their elders, reassuring the most capable young woman in the family.