Chapter 123 - Busy (1/2)

After they returned back home from the yamen, the whole Yu Family felt as if they had narrowly escaped death——If Yu Hang was more unlucky, then wouldn’t he also had become one of the skeletons buried in the back courtyard of the carpentry shop?

Finally, the notorious Shopkeeper Zhang had been sentenced to a beheading at the end of autumn. In addition, all of his property was confiscated. After all of the carpenters and apprentices at this shop were investigated and found to be innocent, they were all let go...

Traveling from the town back to their home took over two hours of time. Although Steward Yao was burning with impatience, there was nothing he could do. Luckily, the Yu Family’s donkey, which looked very ordinary, had a decent speed and wasn’t any slower than the Yao Family’s horse cart.

However, after seeing Yu Xiaocao’s ghostly white face and an expression that seemed to be a sliver away from vomiting from being jostled in the cart, Steward Yao had no choice but to ask a couple of times whether they should slow down.

“No need!” Yu Xiaocao took out the pouch of water she took everywhere with her and drank a mouthful of mystic-stone water. Her stomach immediately calmed down. She continued softly, “If we hadn’t been delayed for so long at Zhenxiu Restaurant, then we would have reached home already. In fact, we might have loaded almost half of the cart by this point! If we’re not any faster, then you will have to go back home in the dark.”

Seeing her uncomfortable expression, Steward Yao felt both touched and worried, “Miss Yu, if your family frequently goes in and out of town, then you guys really need to get some better cart wheels. However, rubber cart wheels are not only quite expensive but also incomparably rare. It’s not possible to get a set with only money!”

“It’s really that hard to get a set of rubber cart wheels?” Yu Xiaocao had thought it was like her previous life, something that she could just buy some with money. That being said, rubber trees only thrive in the tropics. Tanggu Town was in the northern part of the Great Ming Dynasty. In ancient times, traveling and shipping goods was not that easy.

Steward Yao nodded his head when she asked the question, “It’s said that it is hard to manufacture rubber wheels, and the output is extremely low. All of the high ranking officials and noble people in the capital get first dibs, then the officials in the rest of the country. As for people like my master’s family, those with money but no power, they had to run around pulling strings to just buy one set. However, you shouldn’t worry too much, Miss Yu. The Zhou Family are imperial merchants, and they have a lot of connections with the nobility in the capital. Since Third Young Master Zhou promised you, he absolutely will be able to get you a set.”

Yu Xiaocao wasn’t doubting Third Young Master Zhou’s reliability. However, in her heart, she did feel like she owed Third Young Master a big favor.

As they were talking, the donkey cart had just rolled into Dongshan Village. Under the old elm tree at the entrance of the village, there were several old villagers chatting. When they heard the sounds of hooves, all of them looked over.

“Old Yu, it’s your second son’s donkey cart that’s come back.” An old man swayed as he stood up. He placed a hand at his eyebrows to look in the distance and only then did he squat back down. With a voice that had a hint of envy in it, he said, “Your family’s second son is quite capable, ah! After separating from the family for not too long, he bought a donkey cart and started a business selling things!”

Old Yu’s eldest brother, Yu Lichun, unhurriedly stood up and slowly replied, “You guys can only see the good side of things, but can you remember their difficulties? When Dahai split from the family, he had been seriously injured and no one knew whether he would be able to keep his leg! Dahai’s wife also has a weak body and their Xiaocao has had a bad constitution since birth. A few days ago, Xiaosha had been pummeled until he was at death’s door! Luckily both Dahai and Xiaosha were fortunate and weren’t fated to die yet…”

Old Yu’s face flushed red in embarrassment under the knowing gaze of his older brother and the implication in his words. He looked at the horse cart that was right behind the donkey cart and quickly changed the subject, “I’ve never seen the horse cart that is behind Dahai. I’m not sure if Dahai and his family need help right now. I need to go over and see!”

“Father! Eldest Uncle…” Yu Hai had also seen them and pulled on the little donkey’s reins to slowly cut down the speed until they stopped at the village entrance.

Yu Xiaocao also sweetly greeted them, “Eldest Granduncle, Grandpa! Are you guys chatting here?”

Yu Lichun’s face lit up with a kind smile, “Xiaocao, did you into town with your father? Did you go to Tongren Medicine Hall and have Doctor Sun check you guys out? Your complexion doesn’t look too good…”

Yu Xiaocao rubbed at her bright and radiant little face and grinned, “Eldest Granduncle, the donkey cart was going too fast earlier, so I feel a little dizzy from being bumped up and down. Don’t worry, I’m perfectly fine!”

“If you don’t feel well, you need to tell your father. Don’t endure a minor sickness until it becomes a serious illness! If you don’t have enough money, Eldest Granduncle still has some!” Yu Lichun couldn’t forget what had happened that past winter. The vision of a motionless Xiaocao in her father’s arms was engraved into his memory.

Yu Xiaocao felt a burst of gratitude arise in her heart, “Thank you Eldest Granduncle! Xiaocao will remember your words!”

Old Yu took a glance at the properly dressed Steward Yao and pulled Yu Hai aside. He quietly asked, “Who is that person? What is he here for? Did you get into trouble in town?”

Although Steward Yao was only a servant in the Yao Family, his attire was about the same as other prosperous families in town. In Old Yu’s eyes, he was not someone that they could afford to offend.

“Father!” Yu Hai helplessly replied, “He’s a steward at the Yao Family. Tomorrow is Patriarch Yao’s birthday celebration, and they need to pick some vegetables from my house. I’m no longer a strapping young lad, how could I possibly just randomly cause trouble?”

“Picking vegetables? How are there any vegetables to be had in this season? No one has even planted any vegetable seeds!! You’re not trying to trick your father, right?” Old Yu still didn’t feel relieved. It’s necessary to forgive his terrified attitude, after all, it’s better to be careful than to make a large blunder.