Chapter 426: Chapter 427: Things Remain, but People Have Changed

Gu Lehuan lived all by himself and rarely had friends or family over. People like him were the easiest targets, yet the naive boy came and went cheerfully each day, completely oblivious to the hidden dangers.

But Gu Lehuan felt like he was taking advantage of Seventh Uncle again. "This isn’t right," he said. "Carrying my wares in and out all day... I’ll end up embarrassing you and Seventh Uncle."

"Since I’m the one who suggested it, I’m not afraid of being embarrassed," Jin Qianqian said. "Besides, you make an honest living with your own two hands. Do you think that’s shameful?

Don’t come up with flimsy excuses. I’m your elder, and I’m telling you this for your own good.

You should also think about renting out your house. That would bring in some extra income.

While you’re here in my estate, you can also help keep an eye on the courtyard."

Gu Lehuan shot a nervous glance at the housekeeper and others nearby. ’Is it really okay for Seventh Aunt to say that in front of them?’

"Don’t mind them," Jin Qianqian said. "Having a family member here to hold down the fort will actually put them more at ease.

So that’s settled. Why don’t you go with Housekeeper Fu now and write the letter?"

After he had left, Jin Qianqian couldn’t help but shake her head. "When they’re too clever, it’s worrying. But when they’re this simple, it’s still worrying."

Nanny Ou remarked, "Actually, Young Master Le Huan is fine just the way he is. His life might be uneventful, but as the old saying goes, ’contentment is happiness.’ It’s reassuring to associate with people like him."

There was one more thing she didn’t say aloud. ’If he didn’t have such a disposition, he wouldn’t be blessed with a fool’s luck and receive the Madam’s special favor.’

***

After a journey of fits and starts, Gu Dashishi and his group finally arrived back in their old homeland.

Seeing the familiar boundary stone, several of the elders clung to it and wept bitterly. After this trip, they would have to bid a final farewell to their native soil.

The men from the escort agency up ahead also stopped, waiting for the group to get their emotions out before walking over. "We’ve reached Bainiao now," one said. "Our task for this leg of the journey is considered complete. We’ll be continuing on. If you can make it back in time, we’ll meet you here in twenty days."

"Thank you, Masters, for looking after us on this journey," Gu Yi said. "But what happens if we miss the twenty-day deadline? How would we arrange our return trip then?"

"If you miss it," the dart master replied, "you’ll have to head to the county town and check with our branch there. You can only inquire about the next departure time from them."

"Can’t you just wait for us then?" Gu Dashishi asked. "We’ll pay you extra silver."

The dart master glanced at him, knowing this was Mr. Gu’s own father and the one who had caused the most trouble on the trip. "I’m afraid not," he said. "Any later and heavy snow will block the roads. Getting stranded out there would be the real disaster."

Gu Dashishi started to open his mouth again, but Gu Datian pulled him back. "Weren’t we already prepared for this? If we miss the date, we’ll just have to return after the New Year. The roads in spring are much easier to travel than they are now, anyway."

Gu Dashishi had complained incessantly throughout the journey, earning the silent contempt of everyone else. When they had first fled the famine, they had all gritted their teeth and endured every step of the way.

’How could he be unable to bear such minor hardship after only two short years?’

"Look how desolate it is here now! We barely saw a soul on the way over. Nine out of ten homes are empty. Doesn’t being here make you all uneasy?"

As an elder, Gu Datian wasn’t intimidated by him. What’s more, the Clan Leader had specifically instructed him before they left to keep a close watch on the man. "What is there to be uneasy about? Our ancestors lived here for generations. What, have you forgotten them after only being away for two years?"

The accusation was a heavy one. In front of so many younger clan members, Gu Dashishi was too ashamed to argue back. He just mumbled, "We had a perfectly good life, but you all insisted on making this trip. It’s a good thing we had carriages, or our feet would have been worn to the bone."

As the leader of the group, Gu Yi didn’t want to waste any more time. "We’ve been away for so long," he said, rallying them. "I wonder what our homes look like now. Let’s push on and see if we can reach the village before nightfall."

His words stirred up a deep sense of homesickness in everyone. No one paid any mind to Gu Dashishi’s earlier complaints as they composed themselves and climbed back into the carriages.

As the large procession entered Bainiao, many people stared at them with curiosity.

Seeing all the unfamiliar faces, Gu Datian felt a sense of foreboding. ’So many of our own people settled elsewhere,’ he thought. ’Where did all these strangers in town come from?’

He turned to look at Gu Yi and saw that he had apparently noticed it too, his expression grim.

When they reached the center of town, he had the carriages stop and ran into a grain shop he knew.

Gu Yi breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the familiar owner. "Manager Shi, have you been well?"

Manager Shi looked at Gu Yi, unable to place his name at first, but he pointed excitedly. "Why have you only just now returned?"

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Gu Yi knew Manager Shi recognized him. "We were settled in a nearby area," he explained. "We’ve come back this time to move our ancestral tablets and graves.

But we just saw a lot of unfamiliar faces in Bainiao—quite a large number, in fact. I came to ask you what’s happened."

Manager Shi sighed. "Things have been chaotic here ever since you all left to escape the famine. We wanted to hold out here at first, but eventually, we had no choice but to flee to the Prefecture City for safety.

But as soon as the drought started to ease, the comforting envoy, Lord Niu, led a large group of people to settle in this area, and some were assigned to live right here.

They’re all refugees from other regions. They felt the journey onward was too long and refused to go any further. Plus, the land here is more fertile than their own, so they all settled down."

At this, Manager Shi looked at Gu Yi, then gritted his teeth and forced himself to finish. "As for your Kao Mountain Village... people have been moved in there, too. The farmland has been re-registered, and I have no idea if they’ve touched your ancestral hall or graves."

A chill ran through Gu Yi’s heart. Given the circumstances, it seemed they had a home they could no longer return to.

But having studied for a few years and gained some worldliness from following the Old Clan Leader, Gu Yi quickly made a new decision. "Do you happen to know who the current village chief is? This junior would like to pay him a visit."

"You’d be better off finding the town head first. I’m not too familiar with the specific situations in the surrounding villages." Ever since returning to rebuild his business, Manager Shi had been so busy that he had no time to learn about the individual villages. What little news he heard was just snippets of gossip from market-goers.

Knowing the man’s intentions were good, Gu Yi quickly thanked him. Manager Shi, determined to see his good deed through, called his son over to watch the shop and offered to personally lead them there.

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