Wang Tonghe had made up his mind to slip away, and early the next morning, Hua Xiaomai, along with Meng Yuhuai, sent him off to Fuzhe County. They hired a horse-drawn carriage and bought some local specialties for him to eat on the road.
As the old man boarded the carriage, Wang Zhanrui stood by the roadside, in silence, and then said after a long pause, "Father, I'm a bit worried about you traveling alone. Otherwise... maybe I should take you to Lingquan Prefecture and then..."
"Enough, enough, I'm not at death's door, what do I need you to accompany me for?" Wang Tonghe was impatient, glancing at him and speaking, "Daoxiang Garden is doing well, and the girl has been cooking less recently. If you leave, won't you throw the kitchen into chaos? Besides—"
