Chapter 289: The Return of the Family

Chapter 289: The Return of the Family

"It's been many years, and I can't quite remember," Aunt Chun said, unwilling to revisit the past. Although her current life is a struggle to make ends meet, it is still relatively peaceful. If she wallows in the past, her family's life would be unbearable. Therefore, she deliberately forgets the old days, neither willing to talk about the past nor to meet old acquaintances. As for separating from the Sui clan and not living together, it stems from the same reason. Living together, always in each other's sight, one cannot forget their own hardships when witnessing the misery of others. Initially, they could sympathize with each other due to shared suffering, but later, they grew to resent each other, and seeing old acquaintances only reminded them of the days they were stuck in the mud.

"We didn't discuss it; each of us caught our breath, and once we saved up enough to scrape by, we went our own ways," Aunt Chun said calmly. "When our family of four left Loulan for Yuli, we didn't inform anyone, and in the years since, we haven't encountered anyone we knew."

Sui Yu didn't know what to say and remained silent.

"Little Yu, since you've met me today, you might meet others in the future. I have a favor to ask of you—don't mention us to anyone else," Aunt Chun requested, looking at Sui Yu. "In the future, if you pass by Yuli again, just nod or say hello if you see me. You live your life, and we'll live ours. Once we pass that checkpoint, we have nothing to do with each other."

Sui Yu thought of Sui Wen'an, who couldn't avoid old acquaintances and past events just like Aunt Chun. The disaster had a lifelong impact on the survivors. Everyone who managed to survive lived under that shadow for the rest of their lives.

"Alright," Sui Yu agreed softly.

Aunt Chun sighed in relief and kicked a sheep bone by her foot, casually asking, "How many children do you have?"

"One, who will be six this winter."

"Oh, that's not so young anymore. Is it a girl or a boy?"

"A boy, who looks like me."

Aunt Chun glanced at Sui Yu and smiled, "He'll grow up to be a handsome man."

Sui Yu smiled warmly, her voice filled with affection, "He's quite the little peacock."

It was clear that she was doing well, and as long as she was doing fine, that was enough. Aunt Chun stood up with her jujube wood cane, her smile fading as she said somewhat awkwardly, "Little Yu, let's leave it at that. I have sheep to tend to at home, so I'll head back. Don't be offended, but I won't invite you to eat at my place."

Sui Yu still agreed and walked the old woman out.

"Auntie, is there anything I can help you with? Cloth or money..."

Aunt Chun waved her hand without looking back, "Thank you for your kindness, but we're getting by. Don't bother, you go attend to your own business."

Sui Yu stopped and watched as the old woman with her cane called for her grandson carrying a shoulder pole to leave.

Song Xian quietly approached and whispered, "Your clansman?"

Sui Yu didn't speak, silently confirming.

"Why didn't you invite Auntie to eat with us? I sent someone to buy beef. Should we pick out some of the goods from our caravan to give to her? Judging by Auntie and her grandson's clothes, they're not doing well," Song Xian said.

"I offered, but she refused. Let it be, let her have her way," Sui Yu didn't plan to force her kindness. Eight years had passed, and the hardest days were over. Aunt Chun didn't need a little bit of kindness to get by.

For Sui Yu, whose life was becoming more hopeful, the past hardships could be laughed off. But for Aunt Chun and others who had finally found peace, the past was still like a festering wound in their hearts. Even if they deliberately avoided touching it, the foul smell lingered in their noses constantly. They couldn't avoid it, and if she forced her kindness on them, it would only be another bitter pill to swallow.

"Let's leave tomorrow," Sui Yu said. "How's the horse with the runs?"

"We just fed it salted rice water. If it doesn't have diarrhea this afternoon, we can leave tomorrow," Song Xian said.

"Then we'll see how it is by evening," Sui Yu said.

By evening, the horse with the runs had improved significantly. It could eat and drink, and it perked up. Seeing this, Sui Yu went to discuss the departure date with Xu, the caravan leader, and Li, the caravan leader.

Early the next morning, the caravan set off, but they stopped again at the western edge of Yuli. Everyone rested there for two more days before heading to Loulan.

On the way, Sui Yu thanked Song Xian and the leaders of the other two caravans for accommodating her sudden decision, which put everyone through a lot of trouble.

Song Xian had some idea of the situation and wasn't bothered at all.

Xu, the caravan leader, and Li, the caravan leader joked that if they encountered this situation again, they would definitely demand a reasonable explanation from her.

Sui Yu smiled slightly without responding, then changed the subject, "When we reach Loulan, do you still plan to sell horses?"

"No, we won't delay on the road anymore. We'll head back early, hopefully arriving in Chang'an before winter," Xu, the caravan leader, had already made plans. "Qin, the caravan leader, has probably already reached Chang'an by now. The horses he brought back will first make a name in Chang'an, and we'll follow to benefit from his reputation and pick up some scraps. Song, the Head of the Household, Jade Merchant, what about you? Do you want to travel with us?"

Song Xian looked at Sui Yu, who was somewhat tempted but also reluctant to leave her home life.

"Sister Yu, if you don't want to enter the pass, you can entrust the herd to me, and I'll help you sell the horses," Song Xian didn't want to stay at home; she preferred going to Chang'an, selling horses in winter, buying goods in spring, and returning to Dunhuang by next summer, then resting at home for a month. If things didn't go well, she could still leave before winter.

"I'll think about it. I had promised my child to take him to Chang'an, but unfortunately, his father can't come with us," Sui Yu hesitated.

"After returning, let Zhao Qianhu ask if he can take a six-month leave," Song Xian suggested. "Even if he can't, leave Zhao Qianhu at home to manage the guest house business, and you take Sui Liang and the little one. We'll spend the New Year in Chang'an this year."

Sui Yu smiled slightly; she knew Zhao Xiping certainly wouldn't want to stay home alone.

"We'll see," she said.

"I won't discuss it further with you; I've decided to follow the Xu and Li family caravans through the pass to Chang'an," Song Xian had made up her mind.

Sui Yu acknowledged, indicating she understood.

...

Upon reaching Loulan, while the caravan rested, Sui Yu took a horse and her servants into the city. She traded horses with Loulan merchants for five wool carding machines. Through the introduction of Loulan merchants, she went to the slave market, and before entering, she heard familiar Han language.

"It's Mao Dabiao," Xiao Chunhong recognized the person. "They've come out of the pass to buy slaves."

Sui Yu realized that she had bought private slaves from this person before.

"Huh? Han people?" The broker was surprised. He came over to greet them, asking, "Are you locals, or have you come from the Han Dynasty? This batch of slaves has already been sold. If you're not in a hurry, come back in half a month."

The interpreter Sui Yu hired translated the message.

Sui Yu nodded, then walked up to Mao Dabiao and asked, "Are you planning to sell the people you bought to the Han Dynasty?"

"Yes, do you want to buy slaves? What kind are you looking for? Where do you live? The slaves are being escorted into the pass; I can deliver them to you."

"I need women who can use wool carding machines, three to five will do," Sui Yu glanced over the slaves squatting on the ground, both men and women, dressed in tatters. Judging by their appearance, most were Xiongnu, probably captured after Cheshi's war with the Xiongnu last year and then resold. Or perhaps Xiongnu who fled to Loulan or Yuli were caught and sold by locals.

"Yes, where do you live? Once we pass through the gate, I'll deliver them to you. If you buy from me, I'll have them trained, and I'll also handle the slave documentation and entry procedures for you, so you don't have to bother," Mao Dabiao said.

Sui Yu agreed, "My home is at the Long Return Inn in Dunhuang. Five or six years ago, I bought a dozen slaves from you."

Mao Dabiao couldn't remember, but he jotted down the address and said with a smile, "Since you're a regular customer, I'll give you a good price."

Once the deal was done, Sui Yu left with her servants.

The interpreter took his payment and left. Only then did Xiao Chunhong ask, "Master, what are you buying the wool carding machines for? Are you planning to raise sheep, shear wool, and weave wool rugs?"

"Keep it a secret for now," Sui Yu said with a mysterious smile. "You'll find out next year."

Song Xian and others, seeing the complex wool carding machines, also asked Sui Yu about her plans, but she avoided answering.

"I think since you met that monk in Ferghana, you've been acting mysteriously," Song Xian whispered to Sui Yu privately, inquiring, "Is it related to that white flower?"

"Elder Sister Song, could you pretend to be a bit dumber?" Sui Yu tacitly agreed, saying helplessly, "I wanted to keep it a surprise for you. If you guess a couple more times, I won't have to hide it anymore."

"Alright, alright, I won't ask. I'll wait for you to reveal whatever surprise it is," Song Xian laughed.

After leaving Loulan, the Gobi Desert stretched out before them. Fearing ghost fires, the night watchmen dared not light a fire or even close their eyes to doze off, waiting until dawn to finally breathe a sigh of relief.

The caravan didn’t enter the Gobi Desert until the sun rose. They were extremely lucky, encountering a caravan heading out of the pass as soon as they arrived. The fresh camel dung on the road acted as "road markers," allowing Sui Yu and her group to navigate the Gobi Desert with little effort.

The jingling of camel bells echoed across the Gobi Desert. Hearing the sounds, Old Wan and his group grew more and more anxious.

"Uncle, I’ll take half the guys north to block the camel herd’s path, so they don’t charge at the caravan. If so many camels are spotted, we won’t be able to claim them all," Old Wan said.

Wan Xingshan pondered for a moment and instructed, "Be careful. It’s easy to get lost in there."

"Understood, it’s not a big deal," Old Wan replied. He took half the men and rode their camels in a loop to intercept.

Two camels walking among the wild herd suddenly stopped. They stretched their necks, pricked their ears, and looked north across the Gobi Desert. The lighter-colored female camel let out two "pfft" sounds and led a pale-colored young camel out of the herd.

Another camel with a bell around its neck saw this and called out twice to the herd. A young camel followed it away.

The other camels remained in place, pawing the ground restlessly. As the sound of two sets of camel bells grew fainter, some of the camels chose to follow.