Chapter 235

Chapter 235

It wasn't the first time Xingxing had ridden in a cart, and he wasn't scared at all; instead, he clapped his little hands in delight. As the cart wheels rolled over an uneven patch of ground, Gu Lanshi held him tightly, causing the cart to rise slightly before settling back down.

"Mmm hmm." Xingxing's big eyes looked ahead at the donkey, then turned to look around.

The donkey cart entered the village. Pei Yan walked steadily, occasionally chatting with Gu Lanshi and responding to his son's babbling, a smile on his face as he appeared before everyone.

Those who were supposed to be working had already left for their tasks, leaving mostly women, children, and elderly people in the village. The elders sat by their doors, picking wild vegetables and chatting idly with neighbors sitting on doorsteps. When they saw him, they had long since grown accustomed to his presence.

The Gu family's courtyard gate was open, but no one was inside. Presumably, Hua Xishuang was at home, her belly now quite large. Dog'er didn't run around recklessly anymore. Since no one was visible, Pei Yan didn't stop at the door.

"Ah, ah." Xingxing pointed at his grandparents' house. He had been brought here frequently by Gu Lanshi and recognized the place well.

"Yes, it's Grandpa and Grandma's house," Gu Lanshi said with a smile. "Our Xingxing is so smart."

"Lan-ge, where are you going?" Liu Guihua, carrying a hoe, asked upon seeing them returning from the fields.

Gu Lanshi looked up. "Auntie, we're going to the town market."

Liu Guihua couldn't help but stop when she saw Xingxing, exclaiming, "What a chubby little boy! Look how fair he is, even more adorable than the babies in paintings."

Xingxing tilted his head towards her, making Liu Guihua let out an "oh!" She felt her heart melt, smiling widely. Her grandson would be born in two months, and she hoped he would be just as plump and fair as Xingxing.

Whenever they came to the village, many people wanted to hold Xingxing, but he was selective. He was fine with familiar faces, but wouldn't let strangers touch him, sometimes even crying if a stranger tried to hold him when he was in a bad mood.

He loved being held by Gu Lan Yu and Zhu Ge’er, which made Miao Qiulian say that indeed, uncles and aunties were the closest.

Pei Yan continued leading the donkey forward, encountering several villagers along the way. Gu Lanshi often chatted with the villagers as they walked, reaching the ancestral home just as Fang Honghua came out.

"Grandma, how are you today?" Gu Lanshi asked.

Fang Honghua was delighted to see her great-grandson, stroking his little head and smiling. "Much better, nothing serious. Resting has helped. Look at our Xingxing, he's so handsome."

She had been feeling unwell due to the heat and had been lying down for several days. Today, the weather was cooler, so she came out to get some fresh air and talk to others.

Pei Yan said, "Grandma, we're going to the town market. Is there anything you want us to bring?"

Fang Honghua waved her hand. "No, no. I haven't had much appetite these past few days. You go and enjoy yourselves."

She paused and asked, "Is Xingxing coming too?"

"Yes," Gu Lanshi smiled. "I saw it wasn’t too hot, and he got excited when Pei Yan harnessed the donkey. He insisted on riding, so we decided to take him along. He’s almost nine months old now, not like before."

Fang Honghua nodded. "Going out is good for him. It builds courage. Otherwise, he might be shy around crowds later."

She waved them off. "Go ahead while the sun isn't too strong. Come back before noon, or Xingxing will get too hot."

"Understood, Grandma," Gu Lanshi replied.

After leaving the village, Pei Yan didn't immediately climb onto the cart and drive the donkey. He stopped and looked at Gu Lanshi. "Should we go slowly or walk?"

Previously, when they reached this point, they would usually get off. Xingxing, being a clever little one, watched his parents carefully. His little hands gripped the edge of the cart, and his chubby body leaned forward, determined not to get off.

Gu Lanshi chuckled, amazed at how precocious he was, remembering things from just a few days ago. He picked Xingxing up and settled him in his arms, saying, "Let's try running. If he's this brave, walking might make us too hot by the time we reach the town."

"Alright," Pei Yan agreed, sitting in front and flicking the whip in the air. The donkey started running from slow to fast.

The wind rushed past their ears, surprising Xingxing, who opened his eyes wide and reached out to touch them.

Amidst the comfort of his mother's embrace, Xingxing didn't cry or show fear. This was his first time riding in a moving cart, and the novelty made him forget to babble, looking around curiously like a little adult.

Not only Gu Lanshi, but Pei Yan also kept a close eye on the movements behind him, worried about the cart jolting and upsetting the child.

Fortunately, the donkey cart smoothly traveled from the fork in the road to the main road, and Xingxing showed no signs of discomfort.

Pei Yan informed Gu Lanshi and tried to make the donkey run faster.

The main road was smoother and wider than the village path. Usually, Pei Yan drove quickly alone, but since his son was brave, he thought it was worth experiencing once.

Gu Lanshi steadied himself with one hand on the cart and the other tightly holding his son. As the donkey sped up, he leaned back slightly.

Xingxing followed suit, safely nestled in his mother's arms without leaning back. However, the sudden jolt made him uneasy, and he immediately clutched his mother's clothes, pressing against Gu Lanshi.

Gu Lanshi didn't immediately call for a stop. The momentary lean was brief, and he regained his balance, still within a stable range.

He looked down at Xingxing, noticing his son's slight discomfort but no crying. He patted Xingxing's arm and cooed, "Oh, oh, we’re riding in the cart. Look how fast the donkey is running. We’ll be in town soon, and there are yummy treats waiting for our Xingxing."

Now steady, Xingxing calmed down after being patted and cooed at. He saw another cart approaching, blinking his eyes in surprise, staring intently.

As the two carts passed each other, Xingxing turned his head to watch, captivated, forgetting his earlier fear.

Worried about Xingxing catching a cold from the wind, Gu Lanshi covered his mouth with a handkerchief to prevent him from babbling and getting chilled.

Pei Yan checked on them periodically, continuing to drive only after hearing that everything was fine.

Considering Xingxing, Pei Yan didn't drive too fast. They had been traveling for nearly three-quarters of an hour, approaching Ning Shui Town, and Xingxing began showing signs of restlessness and fussiness.

Gu Lanshi didn't want his son to suffer too much, so he asked Pei Yan to stop.

Pei Yan found a shaded spot and parked the cart under a tree.

Gu Lanshi got off the cart, stood under the tree, and held Xingxing, comforting him. He also asked Pei Yan to fetch a bamboo tube to give Xingxing a couple of sips of water.

Xingxing rubbed his red eyes, whimpering softly, his chubby cheeks resting on Gu Lanshi's shoulder, looking pitiful.

Pei Yan gently patted his son's back and said, "Let's rest for a bit. No rush."

"Hmm." Gu Lanshi responded, letting Xingxing settle on his shoulder to calm down.

After a while, Xingxing finally felt better, opening his mouth and making sounds indicating he wanted some water. Pei Yan immediately offered a bamboo tube and fed him a few sips.

Seeing Xingxing smile again, Pei Yan and Gu Lanshi also drank some water, then led the donkey and prepared to continue their journey.

As soon as Xingxing saw this, he arched his body and started wriggling, crying out in refusal to sit anymore. Gu Lanshi had no choice but to give in.

"It's only two miles left, let's walk," he said to Pei Yan.

Pei Yan couldn't argue; the child was too young, and it was his first time sitting in the cart for so long. They shouldn't force him, so he led the donkey beside them.

After walking for a bit, seeing that Gu Lanshi was struggling with carrying their chubby son, Pei Yan suggested Gu Lanshi lead the donkey while he carried Xingxing.

Without the weight in his arms, Gu Lanshi felt much lighter. He loosely held the rope, but the donkey didn’t need leading; it knew to follow its master.

The closer they got to Ningshui Town, the more people there were on the road—people carrying baskets, selling vegetables and eggs, herding pigs and sheep. There were more ox carts and donkey carts than usual.

Outside the town, Chen San's family had a bustling business. Seeing Pei Yan, Chen San eagerly came over to lead the donkey.

After paying five coins, Pei Yan received half of a wooden token. He was holding Xingxing, who was a beautiful and adorable child. Passersby couldn't help but glance at him, especially the elderly.

"Such a blessed child," an old woman with white hair remarked.

Pei Yan smiled, still holding his son. Just then, a peddler entered the town ahead of them, carrying many pinwheels and lucky wheels that spun continuously in the wind. Xingxing was attracted by them, making sounds and pointing, urging his father to go closer.

Gu Lanshi followed closely behind Pei Yan, catching up to the peddler and buying a colorful octagonal pinwheel for Xingxing.

The pinwheel, made of wheat stalks and colored paper, was light and easy to hold. Xingxing could grip it himself, laughing continuously as he walked the two miles, feeling much better.

"Candied haws—"

"Hawthorn sweets and sour jujube cakes—"

"Selling sugar figurines—"

A group of children surrounded the vendors, jumping and shouting in joy. The vendors were happy too, smiling as their business boomed.

A little boy who had just entered the town tugged at his mother’s sleeve, eager to buy a sugar figurine. His mother stumbled slightly from the pull and slapped his back, scolding, "Naughty brat, what’s the rush!"

Despite the scolding, she still led him to the vendor and paid. She rolled her eyes, annoyed at spending more money, but the child didn’t care, happily licking the sugar figurine without biting into it.

Xingxing saw the older children playing and made sounds, wanting to join them, but he couldn’t eat those things. Pei Yan and Gu Lanshi didn’t head towards the stalls.

They walked along the street with the crowd, where everything was for sale, especially various drinks in summer.

"Plum juice—cool and refreshing—"

"Mung bean slush, come try."

"Plum honey drink—refreshing and thirst-quenching—"

"Lotus leaf drink, mint water, plum fragrant drink—"

Many vendors called out loudly, one after another, making it hard to decide which drink to choose.

Pei Yan often went to the city, and although Ningshui Town had a variety of drinks, ice drinks and various iced desserts were rare. In the city, such treats were plentiful but expensive.

Ice could only be stored during winter, and until a few decades ago, only the capital had it. In recent years, it had slowly spread to their city.

"What would you like to drink?" Pei Yan asked.

Shopping at the market meant buying something to eat or drink; otherwise, just watching the hustle and bustle wouldn’t feel satisfying.

After traveling all day, Gu Lanshi was indeed thirsty. He walked and stopped, glancing at each stall.

"Taste, taste. We have both honey-sweetened and unsweetened plum drinks."

The vendor served customers while calling out to attract more, staying busy.

Hearing about the honey-sweetened option, Gu Lanshi found his mouth watering at the thought of the tart plum drink mixed with sweetness. He stood in front of the plum drink stall and turned to Pei Yan, saying, "Let’s try this first, and later we can have a bowl of plum fragrant drink."

That way, they could enjoy two different drinks.

With a smile, Pei Yan nodded, understanding his thoughts: "Alright."

Seeing others eating and drinking, Xingxing’s little mouth moved, making sounds and reaching out to look at the stall.

Pei Yan held his son tightly, gently pressing his arm back and reassuring him, "Don’t worry, you’ll get to taste some in a bit."

"Can he drink it?" Gu Lanshi asked.

Pei Yan turned to the vendor, "Is the plum drink alcoholic?"

"No, it’s boiled," the vendor replied, noticing they had a child. He grinned, "If you find it too strong, I have empty bowls here. You can mix it with water from the pot—it’s not tea."

Pei Yan nodded slightly, "Okay, then one bowl of the honey-sweetened."

"Sure thing, thirteen coins for the honey-sweetened," the vendor said, serving the previous customer before moving to them.

He scooped a bowl from another bucket, explaining, "The honey is already added during boiling, so it’s sweet, not sour."

Behind him, there were a few tables and chairs. Two people finished their drinks and left, and the vendor’s son collected the bowls. Pei Yan and Gu Lanshi sat down.

Gu Lanshi held the drink bowl in one hand and an empty bowl in the other. After sitting down and seeing Xingxing’s eagerness, he poured a little into the empty bowl, added some water from the pot, and handed it to Pei Yan to feed him.

He took a sip from his own bowl, tasting the tartness of the plums and the sweetness of the honey, a delightful combination with a lingering flavor. No wonder there were so many people at this stall.

Putting down the bowl, he smiled and said, "It’s really flavorful. You should try it too."

The stars tasted a sweet and sour flavor, and with the first sip, their eyes widened. Eagerly, they grabbed the bowl with their chubby hands and buried their face to drink.

Pei Yan was a bit curious about how it would taste with water added. After his son finished drinking and looked up, he saw there was still a little left at the bottom of the bowl, so he tilted his head to taste it.

Gu Lanshi asked curiously, "How is it?"

"It's light, with just a hint of sweetness and sourness in the water." Pei Yan put down the bowl and picked up another one without any water added, smiling as he said, "This one is better, richer and well-cooked."

"Uh." Xingxing reached for the empty bowl with his small hand, indicating that he wanted more.

Gu Lanshi poured some more for him. This time, before the child drank, he tasted it himself. The flavor was very light after adding water. It was hot, so he considered it as giving Xingxing more water to drink.

The market in town was bustling. They encountered a stall selling fried meatballs, and Gu Lanshi bought ten for twelve coins, the same price as two or three years ago.

He and Pei Yan stood by the roadside holding their bowls, not bothering to sit down since the market was still long.

Xingxing saw the adults moving their mouths and kept reaching out to grab the meatballs, only to have his restless little hands pushed away by Gu Lanshi repeatedly.

Before the child could start crying from impatience, Gu Lanshi and Pei Yan quickly stuffed a couple of meatballs into their mouths, chewing with their cheeks puffed out.

Xingxing wasn't satisfied. While Pei Yan held him, he tried to pry open Pei Yan's mouth, trying to see what was inside. He even leaned in close, eager to see what delicious food his father was eating.

Pei Yan turned his face away to avoid him but was still caught by his son, who scratched his mouth and cheek with his chubby hand, attempting to pry it open. Frustrated, he had no choice but to swallow the meatball whole.

Gu Lanshi chewed and swallowed quickly. When Xingxing turned to look at him, he stopped moving his cheeks and mouth.

Seeing that Xingxing was still staring at him, he opened his mouth to show his son, saying, "See? Nothing. Ah Mu said I didn't eat anything."

He was lying through his teeth, which made Pei Yan chuckle. Pei Yan carried his son forward, walking slowly and stopping occasionally to look around, careful not to upset Xingxing further and refraining from buying any more food or drinks.

Birds hopped around in their cages, with red beaks, yellow beaks, and brown beaks.

When they reached the area with more flowers and birds, Xingxing perked up at the sound of chirping and started looking everywhere. He loved listening to these sounds and was delighted.

Pei Yan spotted a black mynah bird and carried his son over. Seeing the baby, the mynah bird hopped onto the perch and, after a moment, spoke: "Morning."

Gu Lanshi was surprised and came closer, mimicking the bird: "Morning, you too. Say something else?"

The mynah bird didn't speak again.

The stall owner was an old man. His bird cage stall wasn't large, and he had raised the mynah bird for several years. He didn't sell it; he just brought it out for a walk. Seeing them tease the bird, he smiled and said, "It won't listen to adults but will call when it sees a baby."

Gu Lanshi smiled, "That's quite clever."

The old man loved his birds and was pleased to hear someone praise his mynah bird's intelligence.

Pei Yan whistled like a bird for a while, but the mynah bird ignored him. He chuckled and carried Xingxing forward.

Xingxing loved listening to the birds, so they walked slowly, letting him enjoy the sounds.

By the time they left the flower and bird market, both were feeling hungry. Fortunately, there were various food stalls and restaurants ahead. Gu Lanshi noticed a good noodle stand and stopped there.

They both ordered a bowl of meat sauce noodles. Gu Lanshi unpacked and used the stall owner's knife to cut open a milk fruit for Xingxing, feeding him first until he was full.

Xingxing sucked on the milk fruit vigorously, and his appetite had grown. After finishing one milk fruit, he still wanted more. When the noodles arrived, he insisted on having some.

Gu Lanshi had no choice but to feed him a bit of the noodles and broth, letting him taste it.

Wandering through the market was tiring, but fortunately, Pei Yan carried Xingxing. As the sun grew stronger, Xingxing was thoroughly entertained, and they began heading back out of town.

There were many vendors selling fruits, and the most eye-catching was the watermelon stall. The round watermelons were much larger than other fruits and were expensive. Many people passed by, admiring them even if they didn't buy any, marveling at their size and wondering how sweet they must be.

After passing the watermelon stall, Xingxing was transferred to Gu Lanshi's arms, while Pei Yan carried a large watermelon. They happily headed towards their donkey cart.

Xingxing didn't know watermelons were edible; he just stared at the big round melon, eventually laughing and extending his little arm to hug Gu Lanshi's neck.

They were among the early ones to return. Chen San saw many donkey carts parked in the lot and hurried to untie their donkey rope.

"This watermelon isn't small," Chen San remarked, envious of the green-skinned melon. His family couldn't afford such luxuries; they had only eaten one a couple of years ago when they were better off.

Pei Yan smiled but didn't say anything else, asking for some straw instead.

There were two empty baskets on the cart, and the larger one was just right for the watermelon. They placed it inside and stuffed some straw around it to prevent it from getting damaged during the journey.

Gu Lanshi sat on the cart with Xingxing, relieved to see his son forget the discomfort of the trip and reach out to touch the bottom of the watermelon peeking out of the basket.