Flowers in full bloom

Chapter 484 Return to Tongde Town

I sent my mother back to her room first so that she and my father could rest early.

The next day, Hua Lei asked Fu Bo, Zi Yan and others to go to the dock early in the morning to wait for the clothing store to open. She bought a few sets of clothes for everyone and asked them to change into them.

After having breakfast at Tongfu Inn, the whole family boarded the boat to Tongde Town. When Hua Mancheng and his wife knew that this boat was also theirs, they were relieved but also ashamed.

Taking advantage of the free time on the boat, Tian Changjin and Uncle Fu slowly began to talk to Hua Mancheng and his wife about Grandfather Hua and Grandmother Hua. During this time, Hua Mancheng couldn't help but shed tears several times.

Six days later, the ship arrived at Tongde Town, and Hualei's family returned to the old house. The layout of the old house did not change much. Because they had received the news in advance, the people who stayed in the house had already made preparations and prepared incense, candles and paper money in advance.

After a short rest, Hua Mancheng personally carried incense, candles, and paper money, and accompanied his wife and children to visit the graves of his grandfather and grandmother. Rong Jin followed beside Hua Lei, while Cheng Linsheng followed behind with Mo Bao and Ni Daya.

The carriage drove for about two quarters of an hour and then stopped. After turning a corner and walking for another two cups of tea, we arrived at the grave. Because someone was looking after it, the grave was very clean and there were no weeds. There were two holly trees planted in front of the grave.

Hua Mancheng placed the offerings carefully, lit the incense and candles, and took the lead in kneeling down and kowtowed respectfully, tears rolling down her cheeks once again.

In the past few days, on the boat, Uncle Fu, Tian Changjin and others had told him everything. In addition to repeated heartache and self-blame, he felt more regretful.

I shouldn't have taken up a position so far away in the first place. It would have been better for me to be an ordinary citizen, take care of my parents, look after my children, and enjoy the happiness of family.

I thought that if I worked hard for a few years and made some political achievements, I would be transferred back. I didn't expect that I would be separated from my parents for the rest of my life.

I have made no achievements in my career. When I was in Changyun County, I submitted my resignation in a very embarrassing way and escaped with great difficulty.

Hualei and Xiaoyuan also knelt down and kowtowed respectfully. Looking at the holly tree that had grown taller in front of the grave, Hualei was filled with thoughts.

Thinking about the marriage reply letter written by my grandfather, which covered every aspect, everything that could be thought of and prevented, he had done his best to prepare for me, and I couldn't help but burst into tears.

After returning from the grave, Hualei found a doctor at the pharmacy next door to her home and took the pulses of her parents and Mobao. Her mother Yun Siwan was indeed weak, afraid of cold, and weak in qi, and needed to be treated with medicine.

Mobao had not recovered from his cold yet, so he needed to take some medicine. The other three were all fine, and they just needed to pay attention to their diet. Even Ni Daya, who was more than five months pregnant, was in very good health. Hualei finally felt relieved.

Because she was still thinking about the things that needed to be done in the capital, Hua Lei rested in the old house for two days. After checking the store's account books and finding that everything was fine, she decided to return to the capital.

Considering Xiaoyuan's studies, Hualei decided to let Rong Jin take Xiaoyuan directly back to Shangjing City on horseback, which would be faster.

She would still accompany her parents on a boat back to the capital by water, so that her parents could be more at ease. On the boat, Ni Daya could also suffer less. After all, she was more than five months pregnant, and it was too bumpy and dangerous to ride in a carriage all the time.

Although Xiaoyuan was not very happy, he nodded considering his studies. Now, his parents have been found, and the bad things he expected have not happened. Although there are still many doubts that have not been figured out, there is still a long way to go.

In Rong Jin's heart, he actually didn't want to leave Hua Lei. Although the days on the road were bumpy, he liked being with her.

Even though Hualei had been particularly clinging to her parents these days and rarely looked for him, he felt at ease whenever he saw her.

However, he also understood Hua Lei's thoughts and her anxiety. If he only let the guards take Xiao Yuan back to Shangjing City, Hua Lei would definitely not be at ease, so she nodded and agreed to take Xiao Yuan by land.

So, early in the morning, after sending Rong Jin and Xiao Yuan away, Hua Lei took her parents on the boat and started heading towards the capital.

After a few days of buffering, Hua Mancheng, who had been greatly shocked by the death of both his parents and the experiences of Hualei and his siblings, began to slowly stabilize his emotions.

Yun Siwan was relieved after seeing her daughter and son. She hadn't even taken the Chinese medicine prescribed by the doctor, but her appetite improved a lot. Therefore, Hualei paid more attention to food supplements.

The pregnant women Ni Daya, Mo Bao, and Hua Lei also took good care of them. Every time they arrived at a pier, they would send people to buy some fresh vegetables and meat for the boat, as well as some food suitable for pregnant women and children.

In the past few days, Hua Lei gradually learned from her mother that Cheng Linsheng was actually her father's colleague and subordinate, the only son of the Dianshi of Changyun County, and was entrusted to Hua Mancheng for care by Dianshi before his death.

And to a certain extent, he can be regarded as Hua Mancheng's best colleague and best subordinate in Changyun County. During the few years that Hua Mancheng served in Changyun County, he was consistent to this extent, standing firmly behind Hua Mancheng, giving Hua Mancheng a lot of help, allowing Hua Mancheng to do a better job.

When the flood first hit, Hua Mancheng and his wife responded promptly so their lives were not seriously affected. However, they did experience a series of problems during the subsequent epidemic.

Hua Mancheng, who was the magistrate of Changyun County at that time, reported the disaster to Chengde Prefecture and requested the prefect to provide support in the form of rice, grain, medicinal materials and silver when the flood in Changyun County became increasingly serious and the people were troubled by hunger and epidemics. At the same time, he embezzled the tax silver that had just been collected in Changyun County to purchase urgently needed supplies such as rice, grain and medicinal materials to start disaster relief.

The rice shops and pharmacies in the county certainly had no objections. After receiving the silver, they actively cooperated and put solving the people's urgent needs first in everything.

The problem lies with Zhu Botao, the prefect of Chengde Prefecture. Zhu Botao is not only not an honest official, but also a corrupt official who exploits the people and accepts bribes for personal gain.

Seeing that Hua Mancheng embezzled the county's tax money and purchased rice, grain and medicinal materials for disaster relief without waiting for his approval, he felt that his prestige was being disrespected.

Although there were several other county magistrates who used the same method as Hua Mancheng, Hua Mancheng had no family support behind him, so he started to pick on the weak ones.