CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 55 WANG YUE WANTS TO HITCH A RIDE

The bullock cart wobbled along the road, where there were already a few passersby, all headed to the town.

Gu Chengyu sat next to Mr. Gu on the bullock cart, drowsy. The cart had no cover, so Mr. Gu placed a small thin quilt on the bottom to make it more comfortable to sit on; otherwise, on this bumpy road, even at a slow pace, one would still get jostled dizzy.

"Dad, how much longer till we reach the town?" Gu Chengyu was getting impatient, he had started out full of enthusiasm, looking at the scenery along the way, but after a while it was just farmlands, nothing much to see.

"Gu family’s number five! We’re only a quarter-hour away from the town! What’s up? Getting impatient? Changqing! Your family is great! Lots of sons, several grandsons and granddaughters, you truly are blessed!" chuckled Old Wang, the carter, seeing Gu Chengyu’s impatience. He was a bit envious of the Gu Family’s abundance of children and grandchildren.

Mr. Gu started chattering with Old Wang, and through their long sighs and chats, Gu Chengyu learned about Old Wang’s family history.

There weren’t many families with bulls in the village; the Li Zheng family was one, Mr. Zhao’s family had a couple of ploughing oxen, and then there was Old Wang’s family. Old Wang only had one son. When he was still alive, their family managed alright, but during the last river embankment repair, his son was crushed to death by a stone that was hoisted up and fell down. At that time, his grandson was only three years old. Old Wang had bad legs, so he could only let his son go. When he got the news, his hair turned half-white overnight. Two years later, his daughter-in-law remarried, leaving only Old Wang and his wife to live with their grandson. Old Wang, unable to do much due to his legs, resolutely used the ten silver taels compensated by the government to buy a bull, which was in its prime and good at plowing then, but now it had aged.

"Changqing! Is there a reason you’re heading to the county this time?" Old Wang engaged Mr. Gu more, noticing Gu Changqing and them boarding the cart with two bulging sacks and had no idea what was inside.

Mr. Gu did not tell Old Wang about selling honeysuckle, nor did he mention going to the county, he merely said they were heading to the town.

"They’re full of vegetables, I’m just taking my youngest to visit my big sister’s house; since Xiao Bao was born, he hasn’t met my big sister yet! My sister’s family is busy and hasn’t come back in three years. We’re just taking the opportunity to visit her." Actually, Mr. Gu had also planned this visit to the county town. He only had one sister who married to the neighboring Huaihe Town, running a tofu business. Living in town, they led an average life, too busy even during the New Year due to relying on family visits and selling tofu to hosts during the holiday season, making it hard to take a break.

"Dad, aren’t we going..." Gu Chengli was surprised. Weren’t they going to sell honeysuckle? When did the plan to visit big aunt’s house come along?

Gu Chengyu was also puzzled, last night his dad didn’t mention visiting big aunt’s house! He didn’t know if this was really planned or just a fib to Old Wang.

"Since we’re going to the town, we’ll stop there first, then head to your big aunt’s house, but this bullock cart only goes as far as the town!"

Before Gu Chengli could finish his sentence, Mr. Gu interrupted him, giving him a warning look. His son was honest and better not spill the beans. They had only picked honeysuckle once, and if the village people found out, wouldn’t they all rush to pick it? Although eventually, it wouldn’t stay hidden, being able to harvest a few more times was a good thing.

Gu Chengli was about to ask but stopped upon receiving Mr. Gu’s warning glance, still bewildered but refrained from questioning further.

"True, ever since your parents passed away, Gu Xiu hasn’t really gone back to her maternal home. I’d say, aren’t siblings always close? Why not think of coming back to visit? Wasn’t her last return three years ago?" Old Wang always thought Gu Xiu was too snobbish. She merely married a tofu seller in town, what’s there to flaunt? To the extent of looking down on her own brother, see, hasn’t returned in three years, always claiming to be busy. He didn’t believe that there was never a free moment. Those are just excuses.

Gu Chengyu recalled his big aunt; he was just over one year old when she last visited during a farming downtime, bringing her two-year-old grandson and eating from the Gu Family. That little brat even grabbed the egg his mother saved for him, and pushed him, and yet, after knowing this, big aunt not only didn’t scold but said, "it’s just kids, playing and squabbling, what’s the harm in that?" Though he only met her once, his impression of this big aunt wasn’t good, especially since she shared a trait with Lin Liuliu—she liked to look down on people through her nostrils.

"Isn’t it just that her family is busy? Well, as her brother, visiting her is the same." Mr. Gu awkwardly responded. In truth, he also felt his big sister was reluctant to return to Shangling Village. Their parents were gone, and their brother’s family had only a few rooms filled to the brim with people, making it difficult to spend the night there. Besides, his big sister did not get along with his wife, dismissing Mrs. Lv as pretentious and throwing tantrums at him, while Mrs. Lv disliked how his sister felt superior for living in town, squabbling every time they met.

"True, true." Old Wang chuckled, agreeing and then fell into silence, leaving only the sound of the bullock cart moving. The pedestrians heading to the town had long been left behind, for although slow, the cart was still faster than walking.

Quiet reigned over the bullock cart, and Gu Chengyu glanced sideways to see Mr. Gu seemingly deep in thought. Was this an awkward silence? They had been chatting animatedly just moments ago!

It was starting to brighten at the horizon, guessing it was the early hour of Mao. Farmlands by the road gradually decreased, and the town ahead was in sight. Gu Chengyu perked up, sitting straighter, as the walls of Shanhe Town loomed closer.

"Old Wang, give me a lift, will you?" Suddenly, a woman’s voice chimed in.

Glancing to the side, Gu Chengyu recognized her—wasn’t that acquaintance Wang Yue? She sure was nimble on foot; they only reached here, and she was already near town.

"Yang’s third son’s wife, look, we’re almost at the town. I have stuff on my cart, not sure there’s room, maybe catch a ride back with me! I’ll be at the usual spot." Old Wang sighed at seeing Yang’s third son’s wife, finding this woman ready for his cart every time, walking to a tactful distance to town and asking for a lift once she spotted him. Initially, he was unaware, wondering about the coincidence of meeting several times and feeling awkward charging for a short ride. However, after some thought, it seemed deliberate, like she was specifically waiting for him. In subsequent times, he found excuses not to pick her up, but her thick skin sometimes led her to climb aboard, making it hard to reject.

Mr. Gu, recognizing her voice, wondered who it was but elsewhere realized it was that day’s Wang Yue from the woods. This cart only had him, his eldest, and a kid; how dare she try to squeeze in?

"Old Wang, look, after walking so long, I’m tired. Give me a lift, would you? Uncle Gu, Gu Family brother, mind if I rest my feet?" Seeing the passengers were Gu Family men and that pesky kid, Wang Yue summoned Old Wang. Seeing Gu Chengli and the two sacks on the cart, she grew curious about what they were carrying to the town at dawn.

Gu Chengyu suppressed a grin, hearing her call Gu Family brother so tenderly and melodiously, giving him goosebumps. Too bad his brother was a blockhead. Look, he’s staring cluelessly at their dad!

Gu Chengli, failing to see why she addressed him, figured if she wanted to rest, she should ask Old Wang to stop instead; he wasn’t driving the cart.

"Yang’s third son’s wife, see, there’s no room for you here. We’re almost at the town. Rest when you get there!" That woman knows no shame. Better keep her away from his eldest.

Seeing Mr. Gu’s disapproval, Old Wang sped the cart unusually quickly, soon leaving Wang Yue behind, the dusty trail choking her as the cart raced ahead.

Watching Wang Yue jumping in anger behind them, Gu Chengyu quietly laughed, only to receive a gentle rap on the forehead from his dad.