CHAPTER 244: CHAPTER 243: DREAM (PART 2)

The inn’s shopkeeper, wrapped in a coat and holding an oil lamp, opened the door for them upon learning they were coming to stay, and warmly ushered them inside.

Yu Xiaolian found the shopkeeper’s young son and gave him a handful of Copper Coins, "Could you please, little brother, lead the cattle and horses to the backyard, feed them grass, and give them water?"

After settling the cattle and horses, Yu Xiaolian arranged for the Sun Family to stay in the large communal bed as usual.

"Dear guest, there are no two rooms left, only one upper room is available. You see, which one of you two will stay?"

Su Jingchen looked at Yu Xiaolian, "You stay, I’ll go squeeze into the communal bed with them."

Su Jingchen picked up his bundle and turned to leave.

Yu Xiaolian had no choice but to accept his kind gesture.

On the large communal bed, men and women were crammed together, but most were family members sitting close to one another, with the family heads positioned between two families.

Su Jingchen entered with his bundle, found the bed packed full, and turned around to leave.

He headed to the carriage in the back courtyard, lifted the curtain, and slipped inside the compartment.

Yu Xiaolian was unaware that Su Jingchen slept in the carriage; after a simple wash, she lay down to sleep.

The next morning, when she got up, Sun Daji’s wife had already borrowed the inn’s large pot and cooked cornmeal porridge.

This morning, Sun Manyu and Sun Manbo each got a bowl of porridge. When they saw Yu Xiaolian coming over, Sun Manyu turned his body deliberately away with the porridge bowl in hand.

Yu Xiaolian wasn’t bothered by them, she merely urged everyone to eat quickly and prepare to set off.

After several days of subsisting on just a bowl of porridge a day, Sun Manyu and Sun Manbo became quite ’obedient,’ walking around Yu Xiaolian when they saw her.

Only Sun Dongxue’s face had unswelled, but her mouth was crooked. Yu Xiaolian also took Sun Dongxue to see the doctor, who performed acupuncture. Although it improved somewhat, her mouth still appeared crooked upon close inspection.

This matter caused Yu Xiaolian to have yet another quarrel with Sun Manbo.

A good child, just one slap made her mouth crooked; this is something a father did.

Compared to Yu Xiaolian’s distress, Sun Manbo seemed unconcerned, thinking it’s just a little girl, letting her stay crooked wouldn’t affect anything.

Yu Xiaolian had no choice but to continue their journey while seeking renowned doctors to treat Sun Dongxue’s crooked mouth.

One day, as Yu Xiaolian returned with Sun Dongxue from acupuncture, she heard Sun Manyu complaining that treating Sun Dongxue’s crooked mouth had delayed them considerably.

Sun Manyu complained, but Sun Manbo was not displeased; instead, he concurred, saying Yu Xiaolian seemed to have money to waste.

Yu Xiaolian ignored them and took Sun Dongxue to her room, bringing out candy and snacks to console her.

Sun Dongxue was saddened for a while, then suddenly said to Yu Xiaolian, "Aunty Xiaolian, didn’t you say you’d buy a maid and take Sister Manjiao back? I’m just a year younger than Sister Manjiao, and whatever she can do, I can do.

Aunty Xiaolian, could you buy me from my dad, I’m willing to be your maid."

Yu Xiaolian touched Sun Dongxue’s head, soothingly, "Our Dongxue is a good girl, we won’t be maids. In future, you follow Aunt and Aunt will make you a shopkeeper."

Sun Dongxue’s mouth formed an O shape, startled by Yu Xiaolian’s words. She couldn’t read, sure she could do chores, but becoming a shopkeeper sounded far too fanciful.

"Why? You don’t trust Aunt?"

Sun Dongxue softly said, "Aunt, it’s not that I don’t trust you; I don’t trust myself."

Yu Xiaolian laughed, "You must have confidence in yourself."

During this time, Yu Xiaolian not only frequently interacted with Sun Dongxue, but also highly regarded Sun Manying’s family’s Sun Feixue.

Sun Feixue was good-looking, and although she constantly doted on Sun Huaixing, showing tendencies towards being a sibling worshiper, Sun Huaixing knew to cherish his two sisters; from Yu Xiaolian’s observation, Sun Manying’s family was a loving one.

Moreover, Sun Manying’s wife had several times implored her aunt-in-law not to mistreat the third daughter-in-law.

The words of the girls from her maiden family, Sun Dalin’s wife took to heart somewhat, plus fearing that Yu Xiaolian might deny her food or a seat on the carriage, thus, Sun Dalin’s wife stopped bothering Sun Manbo’s wife during this period.

The party suddenly became ’harmonious.’

After a half-month of continuous journey, Yu Xiaolian and the others finally arrived in New City of Yu State.

During lunchtime, Sun Wuye asked Yu Xiaolian, "Girl, how much further to your home?"

Yu Xiaolian peeled boiled eggs while replying, "Ten more days!"

Sun Wuye was thrilled; after so much hassle, they were finally reaching.

Oh, had he known Yu State was this far, he wouldn’t have embarked on this trip regardless.

Had they traveled on foot, his frail body might have fallen apart, fortunately, they took a carriage, but even then, he felt sore and tired.

With hope in sight, Sun Wuye felt the tight string in his heart relax.

During sleep, Sun Wuye dreamt of his two married daughters.

In the dream, his two daughters had no food and cried pleadingly to him.

Sun Wuye awoke in tears.

It was so real; Sun Wuye had a premonition, certain his two daughters must have starved.

This was them reaching out to him in dreams.

Sun Wuye fell ill suddenly in New City, without any warning.

Just ten days away from home, and they ended up delayed another six days due to Sun Wuye’s illness.

Fortunately, the doctor treating Sun Wuye was highly skilled in acupuncture; in treating him, he also cured Sun Dongxue’s crooked mouth.

Sun Wuye had some Silver with him, saved for emergencies. Fearing he couldn’t survive, during his illness, he divided the Silver among his two sons.

But merely five days later, Sun Wuye recovered; he again demanded the Silver back from Sun Daji and Sun Sanji.

Sun Daji and Sun Sanji returned the Silver cheerfully, without reluctance.

With Father around, the family wouldn’t fall apart!