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My clan originates from Anhua, and our household registration belongs to Yanguan. My fourteenth-generation ancestor relocated to Shuibeihai in Haiyan, and my nineteenth-generation ancestor returned to the old residence at Jiucang in the original jurisdiction. During the Qianlong reign, my great-grandfather suffered from a disaster of sea water overflow, bringing my grandfather and father to reside temporarily in Qiantang. Subsequently, my father married in Hangzhou, and we six brothers were born, three of whom died young; therefore, although I ranked fourth, I was given the courtesy name Mengying.

I recall when my father returned my great-grandfather and grandfather for burial, he said that since the location of our ancestors' tombs was known, he intended to lead the family back to the original jurisdiction but did not live to do so. In the first year of the Daoguang era, my father suddenly passed away. At that time, I was only fourteen years old, childish and ignorant. Our family had no storage of even one dan of rice, and for years we struggled to earn food and clothing through labor, failing to visit and pay respects to our ancestral graves on time; my guilt was indeed deep. Moreover, our dilapidated few rooms and several mu of land were all taken over by others. Thus, it was difficult under the circumstances to return my father's remains to the ancestral cemetery. Due to prolonged delay and heavy burden, my mother ordered a site to be divined at Gaoting Mountain in Renhe County, considering it a convenient route to Haichang (Haiyan), making it easier for descendants to sweep the tombs. I respectfully and diligently obeyed. When my late mother passed away, she was buried there together with him.

When spring arrived in the Gui Chou year, Jinling fell, and those migrating from Hangzhou were as numerous as clouds. I secretly thought that we rely on teaching (the inkstone field) to make a living, and our family possessed no surplus goods. During the alarm of the Xin Chou year, because our elderly mother was still alive, we did not even consider seeking refuge elsewhere; how much less so now! However, food prices in the provincial capital were all high, which was not suitable for a poor scholar to inhabit. Furthermore, marriages and weddings followed extravagant customs, and fulfilling the wish of Xiang Ping (referring to completing children's marriages) was not easy to achieve. If the panic subsided slightly, could we not follow in his footsteps and return to our original jurisdiction? Although I have no sons, I have many daughters and several nephews. I must take advantage of their tender age to let them live in the countryside to practice frugality; this is what constitutes leaving them security. However, the clan ties have long been distant, and it is regrettable that my wishes are hard to fulfill.

Prior to this, there was Mr. Xie Zaihua from Jiaxing, a man of integrity. He lived at Youbaofang in Hangzhou and achieved a modest prosperity starting from nothing. In the spring of the Jia Chen year, I told him that his area was prone to fire disasters and advised him to move; he complied. By autumn, unfortunately, my words came true by chance. Grateful for having escaped the disaster, Mr. Xie carefully planned for me at this juncture. After a long while, he introduced a person saying, "This is Mr. Guan Zhishan, who has been my childhood friend. He is honest, cautious, simple, and sincere, praised by the whole township." His family has resided for generations at Xi Stream in the north of Haichang. The place is secluded and remote, the customs are pure and good, there are small markets, and it is quite suitable for seclusion. It is far from the sea, so there is no worry about water disasters. If you wish to return to your hometown, why not become neighbors with him? Hearing this, I was greatly comforted and thus formed a friendship with him.

Soon after, accompanied by my younger brother Jie, I traveled by boat to visit. Upon arriving at the place, it felt like a fisherman entering the Peach Blossom Spring. Moreover, an empty mansion owned by the Zhu family was willing to rent to us, which made me even more delighted. Returning to Hangzhou, I reported to the ancestral temple and obtained a auspicious divination result. Brother Jie also consulted Mr. Zhao Dilou, obtaining a divination for the Ren day stating: "Favorable for long-term residence, beneficial for descendants." Meanwhile, the rented house in the provincial capital happened to change ownership. Therefore, we selected an auspicious date and moved our families there to settle. This occurred on the third day of the middle ten-day period of the tenth month in the winter of Yi Mao, the fifth year of Xianfeng.

Looking back, my late father left us orphans at the age of forty-nine. Last year, during my illness, I nearly shared the same lifespan as King Tang and King Wu's fathers (implying near-death experience). Yet, I have accomplished nothing, vainly extending my life in this world. Frost has invaded both temples; how many years remain to me? Relying on the enlightenment of good friends, I have managed to strive to inherit his legacy. How dare I forget the virtue of Mr. Xie! The convergence of opportunities seems to be the silent assistance of our ancestors' spirits. If one claims there is no land to return to and must wait until having funds to buy mountains, then time waits for no one. Cases where such aspirations cannot be fulfilled are everywhere before one's eyes. I privately feel sorrow for this.

Since losing my father, I carried only an inkstone to wander on rivers and float on seas. Thirty-plus years passed in a flash, and I returned to my original jurisdiction carrying only an inkstone. People worried about this, yet traveling with an inkstone allows me to pursue my obsession and find joy in my remaining years; other matters are unknown to me. Occasionally recording things during my travels, they gradually accumulated into volumes, titled *Gui Yan* (Returning with an Inkstone). Although I travel with an inkstone, the travel is a plan for returning, and returning is the root of travel. Therefore, I record the reasons for returning at the beginning of the manuscript, using this as a preface, and showing it to my future generations.

Written on the return boat in Wumen by Nan Du, the 27th generation descendant of Anhua, Ban Chi Wang Shixiong, in the latter part of the eleventh lunar month, winter of Ding Si, Xianfeng era.