Before setting off, Feng Qingxue prepared the finest Four Treasures of the Study for Wen Ruyu, including the set that Lu Jiang's father had given her. As for the ink sticks and rice paper, she had separately prepared plenty, all salvaged from the waste station—since papers without words could be brought out openly and honorably.
Feng Qingxue kept these locked in a cabinet at home, handing the key to Qingyun for Wen Ruyu to retrieve them whenever needed.
It was common knowledge that keeping things in the cowshed was unsafe.
Next, Feng Qingxue repeatedly implored Guan Cheng, Qingyun, and others to keep the two children within sight at all times and not to let them near ponds or rivers, to feed them and add clothing on time to prevent them from catching a chill during the spring backdraft, fussing over these matters right until she departed and even turning back to instruct Guan Cheng and Qingyun, who got up early to see them off.
No sooner had they left than Xibao woke up.
