The day after Zhao Cheng and Wang Qingchen had finished packing their belongings, they bid farewell to the Huang family, Li Yuntai, and Liu Hao, and set off for the Capital City.

The Capital was quite far from the county town where they were staying, so they spent a considerable amount of time in the carriage. However, this posed no real pressure on the two of them. Not long after boarding, they both pulled out books to read, utilizing their spare time studying so that they wouldn't grow bored. When they weren't reading, the pair would talk with the coachman or even sit outside the carriage with him to get some fresh air or observe the scenery. It was still quite cold at this time, though, so their time spent outdoors was never very long.

The coachman, however, rather enjoyed this arrangement. Knowing they were both scholars, he usually felt too hesitant to interrupt them, often suppressing his own desire to converse even when feeling bored. But if Wang Qingchen or Zhao Cheng sat outside, things were different. They would always strike up conversations, sometimes even asking about the local customs of the various places they passed. Since the coachman traveled this route often, he possessed a fair amount of knowledge on such matters. Moreover, whenever Wang Qingchen or Zhao Cheng inquired about these things, he would swell with pride, finding satisfaction in knowing things that two scholars like them did not. Thus, every time the coachman spoke to them about these details, an air of smug triumph always colored his tone.

As for Wang Qingchen and Zhao Cheng, they naturally paid little mind to the coachman's feelings. They only asked about the places they passed because reading had grown tiresome, seeking a diversion or simply out of curiosity. For them, the fact that the coachman was willing to talk was reward enough; his underlying motivations were inconsequential.

And so, Wang Qingchen and Zhao Cheng traveled like this all the way to the Capital.

By the time they arrived, dusk was beginning to settle. The two decided against immediately seeking lodging, opting instead to find an inn for the night. They could attend to securing a more permanent residence the following day, especially since the long journey had left them utterly exhausted.

Being new to the Capital, everything felt unfamiliar. After a brief discussion, they agreed to have the coachman take them to a reasonably priced inn. After all, the coachman frequently transported people to the Capital and was bound to know one or two familiar establishments.

Wang Qingchen lifted the carriage curtain and addressed the driver. "Uncle, as you can see, this is our first time in the Capital, and we are completely unfamiliar with the place. Finding a place to stay is proving difficult. Since you travel here often, do you happen to know of any inns you are acquainted with?"

The coachman immediately agreed, "That's easy; I'll take you directly!"

The coachman's ready acceptance stemmed partly from the advantage he perceived when Wang Qingchen mentioned his familiarity with the Capital, feeding his sense of superiority. He thought, So what if they are scholars? Here in the Capital, they are strangers, and they still need my help. Furthermore, even if Wang Qingchen hadn't asked, the coachman still needed an inn for the night after driving for so many days. Besides, staying overnight would allow him to see if anyone was heading back to their county town the next day, giving him a chance to secure a return fare.

The coachman drove them to the very inn he always frequented on his trips to the Capital. The innkeeper, accustomed to the coachman bringing him business and often staying there himself, was already well-acquainted with him.

Indeed, upon seeing the coachman arrive with two young men, the innkeeper greeted them with a smile. "Ah, I was just hearing magpies this morning; I should have known you were coming today!"

"Enough with the flattery," the coachman replied, gesturing toward Wang Qingchen and Zhao Cheng behind him. "These two traveled with me and need lodging, so I brought them here. Just make sure your room rates are fair!"

"Hahaha, understood, understood. Have I ever shortchanged anyone you brought?" the innkeeper chuckled. He then called over a young attendant to look after Wang Qingchen and Zhao Cheng.

Seeing that the innkeeper and the coachman had more to discuss, Wang Qingchen and Zhao Cheng exchanged greetings and quietly followed the attendant upstairs to inspect their rooms.

Once the two scholars had gone upstairs, the innkeeper ushered the coachman in for drinks, rewarding him for bringing new business to the establishment.

As for Wang Qingchen and Zhao Cheng, after selecting their respective rooms, they immediately asked the attendant for hot water. They had gone without a proper bath for quite some time!

The attendant, likely experienced in dealing with travelers weary from long journeys, readily replied, "Yes, honored guests, please wait a moment!" He then hurried downstairs to press for the hot water.

Only after both had thoroughly washed did they come down together for dinner. Following the meal, with no pressing matters at hand and both deeply tired, they retired for the night.

The next day, the two resolved to find a place to settle. Since they had arrived in the Capital several days ahead of schedule, staying in an inn was proving somewhat costly. Renting a place for an extended stay seemed far more economical.

Neither of them was inclined to procrastinate; once a decision was made, they acted immediately. Being entirely new to the city, they sought out the innkeeper to inquire about the process.

The innkeeper recognized the two young men from the previous day, noting they were brought by his friend, and offered them assistance without hesitation. He introduced them to several reputable real estate agents (yaji) operating in the area.

After thanking the innkeeper, the two hurried off to find the agents. They made a mutual, unspoken decision to avoid mentioning the invitation from Xia Wentao to stay at the Xia residence, which had been detailed in a prior letter.

Speaking of Xia Wentao, after receiving Wang Qingchen and Zhao Cheng's reply, he had been diligently calculating their likely arrival date, estimating they should be in the Capital around this time. Thus, Xia Wentao had instructed his household servants to keep watch at the city gates. However, perhaps because Wang Qingchen and Zhao Cheng arrived late the previous evening, the Xia household staff missed them. Consequently, Xia Wentao remained unaware of their arrival and continued to have his servants maintain their vigil.

Meanwhile, Wang Qingchen and Zhao Cheng found themselves forced to acknowledge an unwelcome truth after consulting with the third agent: renting accommodations in the Capital was exorbitantly expensive. They had thought the provincial capital was pricey, but now realized that was merely a minor hurdle compared to the true giants of expense here in the Capital.

Having understood the situation, the two decided against contacting a fourth agent. Since the rental prices were all comparable, they resolved to finalize their arrangements with the current agent.

The agent greeted them warmly and began inquiring about the type of house they sought, as well as their requirements regarding the surrounding environment.

Wang Qingchen and Zhao Cheng articulated their needs, and the agent then produced several properties that reasonably matched their criteria, presenting each one for their consideration.

After hearing the agent's descriptions, the two scholars weighed factors such as the size of the dwelling, its orientation, and the rent. They narrowed their choices down to a few promising options and decided to have the agent escort them to view these final selections before making their ultimate decision. The agent maintained a very agreeable demeanor and immediately led the way.

After viewing the properties, Wang Qingchen and Zhao Cheng conferred and decided upon a residence that was relatively quiet and offered a reasonably fair price. Seeing they had made up their minds, the agent was delighted. He summoned the property owner, and together they completed the necessary rental paperwork.

Having settled the tenancy agreement and paid the initial rent and associated fees, Wang Qingchen and Zhao Cheng immediately set about moving their belongings from the inn to their new residence. Moreover, the place needed cleaning, meaning neither of them would have a moment's peace that day.

As expected, by the time they finished unpacking and tidying up, the day was drawing to a close once more. They grabbed a quick bite to eat and then headed straight to bed.

Several days passed before Wang Qingchen and Zhao Cheng finally felt somewhat acclimatized to the Capital. Only then did they recall their intention to pay a visit to Xia Wentao.

They knew Xia Wentao's address from his previous letter, but knowing the location did not help them navigate the unfamiliar streets. After asking a neighbor for detailed directions, they set out following the instructions. Of course, before leaving, they made sure to purchase a modest gift.

After taking one wrong turn, the pair finally arrived at the address mentioned in Xia Wentao's letter. However, upon seeing the imposing grandeur of the Xia estate before them, they hesitated about whether they should proceed with the visit.

As they stood there in contemplation, Xia Wentao happened to be leaving his estate to call upon a friend. He spotted Wang Qingchen and Zhao Cheng immediately and exclaimed with genuine surprise, "You two have finally reached the Capital! This is truly wonderful news!"