Goldfield
Chapter 136: Return to Late Night
Yuan Sinian's eyes sparkled and he said, “This name is good. It's much more elegant than a salty duck! Call it the osmanthus duck! Around this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, this old man will come to try Little Lass Yu's cooking again. It's done! ”
Yu Xiaocao did not know whether to laugh or cry. ‘Chief School Yuan, who promised you?’ Ay, he could only blame himself for so much talk and end up incurring ‘hutang’!
By the time the three brothers came out of Zhenxiu Restaurant, the sun had already set in the west. Third Young Master Zhou was a bit worried and said, “It's already very late. You still have to go through the mountain road on your way back to Dongshan Village. Better stay in town and come back tomorrow! ”
Yu Xiaocao firmly rejected it. If her doting father hadn't seen her children come home tonight, she would have been very worried. Aye! One of the bad things in ancient times was uncomfortable communication. If there's a phone, they can call, and everything will be in order.
Seeing that he had already decided to leave, Zhou Zixu quickly retrieved his beloved horse from the stable and insisted on sending them home. In his eyes, the eldest of the three brothers was not even ten years old. If they encountered an accident on the way, there would be no one to help the three children. He's worried!
However, he also did not consider the fact that he was only thirteen or fourteen years old either. What can he help? But his worries warmed the heart.
Yu Xiaocao refused a few times, but he could not defeat Third Young Master Zhou's determination. And so, a donkey cart accompanied by a small red horse rushed into the distance under the boundless red sky. The silhouette looked extremely harmonious, as if it was a handmade landscape painting…
The constitution of Little Grey had been changed by the mystical stone water. He was very healthy now and his speed was not inferior to the little red horse that Third Young Master rode on. If Xiaocao was unwilling to vomit due to the jolted wagon, Little Grey would have left sooner.
Seeing Xiaocao looking unwell, Third Young Master Zhou said with a little care, “I've already ordered a rubber wheel for you, and it is expected to be completed next month. At that time, you will not feel uncomfortable when traveling far anymore. ”
“Thank you very much, Third Young Master!” Yu Xiaocao's small face was extremely pale and his lips seemed to have lost all of their original color. Despite feeling very uncomfortable, he was concerned about watermelon seeds, “Third Young Master, the last time I asked Brother Xiaoduo to send you a message about helping me get some watermelon seeds. Is there an update? ”
Zhou Zixu nodded slowly and said, “I saw him at the gardening store in the prefecture city last time, so I've already sent someone to buy some. So don't worry! When have I ever put off your problems? When the seed arrives, I will have Xiaoduo bring it to you! ”
Right now, the sky was already dark, and the carriage also entered the steep mountain road. On both sides of the winding road were tall trees and bushes as tall as humans, from which the faint crowing of the night birds sounded. In the silent and dark mountain forest, it sounded extremely sad and bitter, and made one's hair stand on end.
The old residence of the Yu Family was at the foot of the Western Mountains, so they had heard the cries of all kinds of birds. So, they're not too scared. However, it was different for Third Young Master Zhou. When did he ever go to the mountain forest at night? He was obviously nervous about the crowing and the chirping of the night bird.
“Do not be afraid. It was just the scream of an owl! Owls are useful birds that can catch field rats! ” Yu Xiaolian held back her laughter and comforted Third Young Master Zhou, while secretly laughing at him for being so timid in her heart.
Zhou Zixu somewhat regretted not carrying a practical weapon. Had he brought his bow and arrows, which he trained every day, he would not have been afraid. He looked at the dark shadow of the trees surrounding him and felt somewhat scared as he asked, “In this mountain .. will there be wolves?”
“Wolf? Maybe?? But, ferocious beasts usually hid deep within the mountains, except that year was a disaster and they could not find food. They only came down to hurt the villagers when they could not find food in the mountains. There are a lot of hikers on this street every day, so there probably won't be a pack of wolves or anything that pops up randomly. ” Yu Xiaocao comforted him. After all, he was only a thirteen or fourteen year old child. Moreover, he was a young master who was used to being pampered and living a relaxed life. Therefore, it is not a shame to be feared.
“In front... What's that bright light? I heard that the wolf's eyes glowed at night. Could it be.. ”Zhou Zixu quietly swallowed his saliva and his hand, which was in control, broke out in a slight sweat. He looked around to see if he could find a club or something that could be used to protect the three brothers.
Little Shitou giggled and said, “Sister Zhou, have you ever seen a wolf with one eye shining? Isn't that a one-eyed wolf? Moreover, the eyes of wolves are bluish green at night. The light in front was pale yellow, so it was obvious that someone was walking at night with a lantern. ”
“It's weird. Who's gonna walk down the street with a lantern this late? ” Yu Xiaocao muttered to himself.
As the donkey wagon continued forward, the pale yellow light grew closer and closer. The person carrying the lantern seemed to have heard the clattering of horse hooves and the rumbling of the cart, and shouted with a slight hesitation, “Is that Xiaocao?”
“Dad? Second Brother, that's Dad's voice !! ” Little Shitou paused for a moment, then shouted cheerfully.
“Dad! it's us !! ” As if he had found a supporting pillar, Xiaolian shouted loudly towards the light.
The donkey cart quickly arrived at the location of the light and they saw Yu Hai holding a white paper lantern. He stood by the side of the road and heaved a sigh of relief, as if he had put away something weighing down on his mind.
Dad, why are you coming? Yu Xiaocao moved and waited for Yu Hai to board the carriage before asking.
Yu Hai glared at the three brothers and scolded, “Why did I come ?! See what time it is. The moon is already hanging high at the top of the tree, but you are still not home. Can your mother and I not be worried? I think you guys had too much fun in town and forgot to go home! ”
Yu Hai was completely focused on the three brothers because he was afraid that something had happened to them, and thus he had just realized that Third Young Master Zhou was escorting the brothers back. He immediately expressed his gratitude, “We have troubled Third Young Master. It's late enough, so you should be back soon! ”
Zhou Zixu looked at the pitch-black road and agreed, but for a long time, he was reluctant to turn around. Seeing this, Xiaocao turned to his father and said, “Dad, Third Young Master will need more than two hours to return. It's dark and windy at night, so it's very worrying. Didn't we almost get home? Why don't we let him stay overnight? It would also be closer if he went straight to the pier from our house tomorrow morning! ”
Seeing that Third Young Master Zhou was no older than his eldest son, Yu Hai actually felt somewhat worried seeing a half-grown child return alone. Therefore, he said to Third Young Master, “Third Young Master, if you don't mind, you can stay at our house for one night. What do you think?”
“Thank you so much for Uncle Yu! Then I will trouble you! ” Zhou Zixu smiled thankfully at Xiaocao. Little Sister Xiaocao was indeed a very considerate person. His advice was exactly as he expected.
After passing through this part of the mountain road, a large tree at the entrance of Dongshan Village could be seen. A dark figure was faintly seen pacing under the tree. Needless to say, that familiar figure was Madam Liu, who was worried about her children.
Madam Liu saw Third Young Master was here, so she did not say anything and just said with concern, “You guys should return early in the future. Your father and I were feeling very anxious while waiting for you guys ah! ”
Yu Xiaocao jumped off the carriage, pulled Madam Liu's hand, and acted like a spoiled child, “Mother, rest assured that this will never happen again!”
Arriving at home, hot water is ready on the stove. After Third Young Master Zhou and the Yu brothers finished bathing, they wet their feet with hot water and warmed their bodies.
That night, Third Young Master Zhou, Yu Hai, and Yu Hang slept on a kang bed in the main room, while Madam Liu, Xiaolian, Xiaocao, and Little Shitou stayed in the eastern room. Little Shitou protested, “Mother, I am also a boy. I want to sleep in the same bed as Dad and Big Brother! ”
“Men and women do not sit at the same table after the age of seven. You are only six years old, so there is no need to be too particular about it. Get to sleep quickly !! ” Yu Xiaocao ignored Little Shitou's protest, took off her outerwear, and pushed her into the blanket. Little Shitou wailed and resisted but was suppressed by the women in the family.
Next door, Third Young Master Zhou was lying on a warm kang bed as he looked at everything in the room through the dim oil lamp. Although the house has been renovated, it still looks old and worn. However, the room was equipped with simple and neat furniture.
A layer of wallpaper is affixed to the wall of the cob, which looks like it will peel off, next to the bed. The cotton inside the mattress underneath has hardened, but has been washed until clean and fresh. The blanket, which he used, had to be made new. It was smooth and soft and had the gentle scent of Chinese honey locusts…
Zhou Zixu thought he would not be able to sleep in a different environment, but he did not expect he would start feeling sleepy in fifteen minutes. As he was half asleep, he could faintly hear the sound of boundless snoring beside him. He did not feel it was noisy, and he instead slept more soundly.
From birth, he always lacked a father figure in his life. If he had a father in his life, would he also be like Xiaocao's father and love him from the bottom of his heart? Will he also be accompanied by a snoring voice while he sleeps.
Zhou Zixu woke up from the carefree singing of birds. When he first opened his eyes, he seemed to have forgotten where he was, and looked somewhat confused.
“Pfft——” She suddenly woke up by the laughter explosion of a girl.
When he looked up and saw Xiaocao standing by the door and smiling, he panicked a little and hurriedly shrank to the blanket.
“Why are you hiding? It's not like you're naked. Ai-yo! Mom, why did you hit me? ” Yu Xiaocao experiences sadness for the sake of joy. He clutched his head and pouted with a wrong expression.
Madam Liu patted her head as if she regretted her children who did not meet her expectations. He reprimanded, “Look at you! Is that something a girl should say? Aren't you afraid Third Young Master will laugh at you?! I think you should stop running around and learn some manners. ”
“Mother, Third Young Master is no stranger. Wasn't I just kidding with her? ” Why make such a fuss? Yu Xiaocao blinked his innocent eyes and did his best to be sweet.
Zhou Zixu interceded for her, “Auntie, Xiaocao's younger sister is still young. Moreover, the current emperor had proposed to raise the status of women. So there was even a women's academy in the capital. Today, women are not encouraged to never leave the house and stay indoors again all day. ”
“ Girls can also go to school? Later, let's send Xiaocao and Xiaolian to study at school. Our Xiaocao is very smart, so maybe she can pass the exam and become a female regional official! ” Yu Hai laughed out loud with a proud expression on his face.
Madam Liu glared at him, “You, why are you also making trouble? Third Young Master was talking about the capital. Where is there a women's academy in our small Tanggu City? It is enough for a girl to recognize a few words. What is the point of them studying in school? ”