Chapter 71

Chapter 71

Xie Licheng could tell his butt was sore, so he brought out a mini tricycle from the western pavilion.

This tricycle had a wide, soft seat with an adjustable backrest, making it much more comfortable to sit on than the bicycle.

The downside was that it ran on batteries. In ancient times, with no power source, charging it would be a hassle.

Luckily, Xie Licheng had rechargeable batteries that could hook up to solar panels, which was enough to power the little vehicle.

Xie Licheng wheeled it out, popped in the battery, and started charging it up.

Gu Zhangyuan watched him work and then took the servants to make a refreshing sweet soup for him.

By the time he and the servants brought the soup over, Xie Licheng's tricycle had finished charging.

Xie Licheng downed the soup, then scooped Gu Zhangyuan onto the tricycle like he was carrying a plate.

Xuan Cui, standing nearby, couldn't help covering her mouth to stifle a giggle.

Her young master was usually so proper and dignified, but around the young lord, he always seemed flustered and at a loss.

Gu Zhangyuan settled into the comfy seat, blushing as he gave Xie Licheng a light punch.

He muttered, "What are you doing? There are so many new folks at the farm now. Stop carrying me around like that."

Xie Licheng said casually, "They're all people I saved, and you're my man. If I want to hold you, who's gonna say anything?"

It wasn't like he was cheating; why should he have to sneak around?

Besides, this was his farm—his turf, so he could do whatever he wanted.

Gu Zhangyuan was annoyed by his bossy talk and was about to argue when Xie Licheng reached out and turned on the electric tricycle.

With a beep, the black panel in front of him lit up blue.

Startled, Gu Zhangyuan asked, "What is this?"

Seeing he was scared, Xie Licheng just picked him up and sat down in the driver's seat.

Xie Licheng said, "Don't worry, your husband won't hurt you."

That was true—Gu Zhangyuan wasn't worried about being hurt; he just thought the thing was too weird.

Xie Licheng sat Gu Zhangyuan on his lap, wrapping one arm around him and twisting the throttle with the other. The tricycle shot forward smoothly, scaring Gu Zhangyuan so much he spun around and buried his face in Xie Licheng's chest.

Xie Licheng let out an awkward laugh. In his past life during the apocalypse, he'd driven big rigs, buses, cars, and motorcycles, but never really a tricycle.

Since it was his first time, he hadn't controlled his grip well and gunned the throttle too hard, nearly turning the little trike into a bumper car.

He slowed down and said, "Don't be scared. This is totally safe."

Gu Zhangyuan wrapped his arms around his waist, looked around, and once he saw the speed had dropped, started complaining in a soft, grumpy voice.

"You're just using the fact that I don't get this stuff to cop a feel on purpose."

Hearing that, Xie Licheng rubbed the soft waist in his arms and started spouting nonsense. "That's not fair. You're a young lord and I'm a man. If you hug me, it's not like only I'm getting something out of it. I'm not bad-looking, and I've got a killer body. If hugging me wasn't comfy, you'd have let go ages ago."

Gu Zhangyuan's ears got hot at his words, but he didn't let go. Instead, he buried his face deeper into Xie Licheng's pecs.

Xie Licheng was wearing thin clothes—just a V-neck cotton tee. The fabric was light and soft, and burying his face there felt amazing.

Feeling him hug and laugh against him, Xie Licheng grabbed his little hand and slipped it under his shirt.

With a dead-serious face, he taught Gu Zhangyuan how to get some action.

He said, "What's the point of just burying your face in my chest? A man's abs feel way better. Your husband's generous—I'll let you cop a feel."

Gu Zhangyuan's face got hotter and hotter. He didn't want to play with the little electric trike anymore; he just wanted to go back and play with his husband.

So, blushing, he said softly, "Husband, let's go back, okay? The sun's too strong out here, and I'm getting hot."

Xie Licheng actually bought it, thinking he'd gotten sunburned. He quickly got off the tricycle and carried Gu Zhangyuan back to Xiyuan in big strides.

Outside Fuyuan, the nursemaid was still laying down the law for the farmhands.

Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she saw her young master being carried back by Master Xie. The nursemaid, who always put rules above everything, froze for a second.

She opened her mouth but couldn't find the words.

Xuan Cui gave her a nudge, and she coughed before going on slowly. "Right, from now on, when you see the young master and the young lord getting cozy, don't go bothering them. We're not at the old Gu residence anymore. Those rules are for us, not for the young master and the young lord."

The servants all nodded. Just then, the nursemaid got tired and dismissed them on the spot.

As they watched the nursemaid head into Fuyuan, a bold scullery maid suddenly spoke up. "Sister Xuan Cui, the old master used to worry about the young master and the young lord's relationship, afraid the young lord's amazing skills might make him betray the young master. But now it looks like their relationship is really solid."

Before Xuan Cui could respond, Yuan Qiao jumped in. "Of course! Our young master isn't some ordinary guy. Who wouldn't like him once they meet him?"

Xuan Cui watched them chat and laugh, then, thinking about how the young master had just been carried inside, she turned and headed into Fuyuan.

The two had only slept together for the first time yesterday. Judging by the young master's attitude yesterday, he seemed to enjoy sharing a bed with the young lord. Since the young master liked it and they'd just been all over each other, they were probably in for a busy day.

Meanwhile, Xie Licheng carried Gu Zhangyuan back to Xiyuan and tried to put him down.

But when he tried—well, he couldn't put him down. He glanced down at Gu Zhangyuan's hands and carried him right into the bedroom instead.

He tossed Gu Zhangyuan onto the bed and started stripping while closing the doors and windows.

The rooms in Xiyuan didn't have doors because it used to be just him living there, and he didn't see the point.

But now that he had a wife, he needed to pay more attention to privacy. So today, while fixing up the kitchen at Fuyuan, he had doors put on all the rooms in Xiyuan.

Having doors was way more convenient. Even if someone came into Xiyuan, they couldn't see straight into the bedroom.

By the time Xie Licheng got back to the bed, he'd already taken off his shirt.

He tossed the shirt on the floor and, while undoing his pants, asked, "You want it?"

Gu Zhangyuan didn't answer directly but said, rather tactfully, "Once you head out tomorrow, it'll be days before we see each other again."

"I haven't even left yet, and you're already missing me?"

This time, Gu Zhangyuan nodded openly, then climbed up and kissed Xie Licheng.

Xie Licheng breathed in his husband's scent, one hand moving up and the other down...

Xie Licheng said, "After the stir I caused in Wencheng, things are bound to be a mess there. Once we... move somewhere else, I'll take you out shopping then."

Not knowing what had been touched, Gu Zhangyuan's face flushed bright red. At that moment, he had no time to think about going out or anything.

He took a deep breath, and his gaze gradually turned hazy.

He asked in confusion, "Do I... still need to go out?"

Xie Licheng scooped the man fully into his arms and chuckled, "In a few days when the weather cools down, I'll bring you out then."

When Gu Zhangyuan's clothes were completely stripped off, he couldn't help but gasp softly and said, "What if... I get pregnant? Even if I want to go out, it'll be hard then."

Xie Licheng: "Not hard at all. Even if you're carrying a child, I can keep you both safe."

Xie Licheng's words were incredibly bold. If anyone else heard them, they would think he was boasting. But Gu Zhangyuan wasn't just anyone—he knew Xie Licheng well enough to know he always meant what he said.

Early the next morning, Xie Licheng left the pocket world.

After Xie Licheng left, Xuan Cui and Yuan Qiao entered Xiyuan to look after Gu Zhangyuan.

Gu Zhangyuan had originally wanted to sleep a bit longer, but then he remembered the vehicle Xie Licheng had brought out yesterday, so he decided to take Xuan Cui and the others to check it out.

Gu Zhangyuan deliberately put on some light clothes and headed to yesterday's clearing with Xuan Cui first.

The tricycle and bicycle from yesterday had been left sitting out in the open. The farmhands had seen them but didn't dare mess with them.

When Gu Zhangyuan was about to get on the vehicle, Xuan Cui quickly stepped forward to wipe the seat clean, then asked with a hint of worry, "Master, do you know how to work this?"

For some reason, she felt this thing looked pretty scary.

Gu Zhangyuan said, "I think... I know how."

When he had learned it yesterday, he'd been too focused on Xie Licheng, and he only vaguely remembered the general idea of how it worked.

But since he had seen Xie Licheng drive it and had even given the throttle a twist himself, Gu Zhangyuan figured he'd be fine.

After sitting down, Gu Zhangyuan muttered softly to himself.

"This one's for go, this one's for stop, and this one's also for stop—yeah, yeah, yeah."

Xuan Cui got even more nervous hearing that, and she said, "How about this—let me try first. Once I figure it out, then you can get on, Master."

Gu Zhangyuan waved his hand. "Move aside, it's fine."

When Xie Licheng wasn't by his side, Gu Zhangyuan felt he was quite capable. As for why he wasn't as capable when Xie Licheng was around—well, that was just a little bit of playful dynamic between him and Xie Licheng.

Without Xie Licheng around, he was still the dependable eldest young master of the Gu family.

Gu Zhangyuan had one hand on the throttle, one on the brake, and his feet on the brakes too.

Besides, this little tricycle was a kiddie ride that even old folks could handle. Gu Zhangyuan just tried it out carefully, and soon he got the hang of it.

Once he could drive it, Gu Zhangyuan had Xuan Cui sit on it, and he took her for a spin around the farm.

After circling twice, he felt the farm was a bit small, so he brought Yuan Qiao along too and drove them out of the farm.

The wet nurse, who happened to catch this scene, couldn't help but chase after them a few steps, worried. Even though it was a kiddie car, it was still way faster than someone running. The wet nurse didn't get far before she lost sight of the three of them.

At that moment, the master and his two maids drove the kiddie car all the way from the farm to the main road of the village.

The road was a bit bumpy, but luckily the vehicle was top-notch—it had shock absorbers and a really soft seat.

Once Gu Zhangyuan learned to drive it, he got a bit hooked.

Because this thing was way easier than riding a horse.

The seat was also very comfortable. If he added a cushion and a backrest later, it'd be even more comfortable to ride.

Also, he used to look clumsy on a horse, and even riding one made him nervous.

Now, not only was he riding it himself, but he was also hauling Xuan Cui and Yuan Qiao along.

How could he describe this feeling? It was like he'd suddenly become super strong and capable.

Xuan Cui and Yuan Qiao were a bit scared at first, but once they saw how steady the ride was, they relaxed.

Yuan Qiao was naturally playful. Seeing how easily Gu Zhangyuan drove it, she looked eager and said, "Young Master, let me try too? I think I can drive it as well."

Gu Zhangyuan was driving with total focus, and even though his butt was starting to ache, he didn't want to get off. So when he heard Yuan Qiao say that, he naturally wasn't about to hand the keys over to her.

Gu Zhangyuan said, "We'll head back to town first, and you can try when we get back."

Hearing that Gu Zhangyuan was going to drive the little car back to town, Xuan Cui behind him looked like she wanted to say something but stopped herself.

Isn't that... a bit far?

But seeing the young master so excited, Xuan Cui didn't dare rain on his parade.

Gu Zhangyuan rode all the way back to town. There were already some homes in town now, but since there were still so few people, the main street was mostly empty.

The roads in town were way better than the village ones, so the ride wasn't as bumpy.

Gu Zhangyuan had originally wanted to take a spin around town, but his butt was really starting to sting, so he wisely headed back to the Gu estate first.

It was rare for Gu Zhangyuan to come home, and he rolled up in a strange vehicle. Both the Gu family servants and Gu Yangxue and the old master were all curious.

They circled around the vehicle, and Gu Yangxue quickly asked, "Brother, what is this?"

Gu Zhangyuan explained it to her and even demonstrated it himself.

Gu Yangxue: "This was given to you by brother-in-law again, right?"

Gu Zhangyuan didn't say anything—Xuan Cui answered for him.

Xuan Cui said with a smile, "Naturally, it was a gift from the young master's husband."

Gu Yangxue: "Brother-in-law is so good to you, brother. He's willing to give you such fun things."

Gu Zhangyuan wanted to say that Xie Licheng had many such vehicles. The vehicles themselves weren't that precious—what was precious was the power source Xie Licheng had mentioned. To prevent everyone from liking it and then pestering Xie Licheng to buy one, Gu Zhangyuan swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

In the past, Gu Zhangyuan had found it troublesome to travel back and forth between town and the village. Now with a new mode of transportation, he felt he could go back and forth often.

While everyone was circling around the little vehicle, Xie Licheng had just come out of Wencheng on the other side.

Wencheng was now in chaos, but not because of Xie Licheng. Rather, following the natural course of events, it was about time for Wencheng to descend into turmoil.

Xie Licheng had raided Master Cao Ba's stronghold, which posed no harm to the ordinary citizens of Wencheng. On the contrary, it might even have indirectly protected some people.

Because once Wencheng fell into chaos, Master Cao Ba and his gang of thugs wouldn't stay idle—they would only bully ordinary people even more recklessly.

So the current unrest in Wencheng had nothing to do with Xie Licheng; it was simply that the time for chaos had arrived.

Taking advantage of the turmoil, Xie Licheng rushed out of Wencheng with a group of people.

Then, as soon as they came out, they ran into a group of refugees from outside the city.

Mixed in with these refugees were bandits and some local thugs.

When the two groups encountered each other, the starving, destitute refugees and the scheming bandits naturally fell on the citizens coming out of the city.

Some looted, some assaulted people out of spite, and one thug was outright murdering people, singling out the old, the weak, women, and children. Xie Licheng saw this, climbed to a high spot, and shot the murderous thug dead with a crossbow bolt.

After that, Xie Licheng didn't rush to leave; he planned to stay and kill a few more to level up.

He didn't like killing the innocent, so he hadn't gone around killing people left and right along the way.

Only when others provoked him, or when he saw someone maliciously killing, would he step in and kill the culprit.

Killing such scum allowed him to level up while also grabbing some good loot.

And now, the city gate of Wencheng was the perfect place for him to level up.