"Oh my goodness, it’s got a canopy! What kind of important person has come? I’ve only seen such carriages in the county town, you know, that time I went to the city."
"We know, we know. You’ve been bragging about it for a year now, going to the city and all."
"What do you mean bragging? That city, it’s just better than our village, there are so many rich people there. Really, you should visit the city if you have a chance. But even in the city, carriages as luxurious as this are rare!"
"Yeah, I remember Yu Biao’s family used to have one, but it was pulled by a mule. It was nowhere near as good as this carriage."
"Still talking about the Yu family? They’re done for, and it’s not like just any family can afford such a carriage."
"Let me tell you, these horses are incredibly precious. The daily fodder alone costs 30 to 40 cents."
"30 to 40 cents? Do these horses eat gold or silver? My family of four doesn’t spend that much on food in a day!"
"You don’t understand; these horses are indeed precious and need to be fed with beans!"
"Beans! Oh my heavens, I haven’t even had beans to eat."
"You think it’s just as simple as feeding them beans? The wealthy raise horses and need to build a special stable, along with saddles and harnesses. They even have to hire a dedicated groom. Raising them is something ordinary folks like us can’t imagine."
"That sounds more complicated than raising kids!"
"Raising kids, how much do your kids cost? Do you know how much a horse costs? They can’t be compared!"
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.
Just then, someone shouted, "Hey, hey, look, this carriage, it looks like it’s heading to Jiu Si’s home!"
"Hey, it’s true, it’s really going to Jiu Si’s house."
"It stopped, it stopped!"
The people of Xiantao Village still maintained their good tradition of enjoying a spectacle.
Especially when a luxury carriage appeared in this poor little mountain village, it was truly astonishing.
At this moment, the carriage stopped. The curtain flung open, and Si Xi immediately took the horse stool from the carriage shaft, placed it on the ground, and quickly said to Chen Jie, who was getting off the carriage, "Fifth Master, please take care."
Chen Jie said, "Hmm, could you wait outside for a moment?"
Si Xi smiled broadly, maximizing his service attitude.
Meanwhile, in Chen Jie’s family’s dilapidated little courtyard, with its fence that couldn’t obstruct the view, little Ruirui squatting in the corner watching ants, turned around to see a magnificent carriage.
Exclaimed, "Sister, a carriage, a big carriage stopped at our doorstep!"
Su Yunjin froze for a moment at these words, then came to the door and saw Chen Jie getting off the carriage.
Then Ruirui excitedly shouted, "Wow, it’s brother-in-law, it’s brother-in-law!"
Ruirui shouted happily, then stood up and opened her arms, calling out, "Brother-in-law."
Chen Jie also heard the voice at this moment and saw Ruirui.
Chen Jie picked up Ruirui, who was now excitedly staring at the large carriage in front of her, and said, "Brother-in-law, whose carriage is this? It’s so beautiful!"
Chen Jie smiled and said, "This carriage is to pick up Ruirui."
"To pick me up? Haha, can I go up and take a look?"
"Of course, be careful, don’t fall."
Chen Jie, saying this, lifted Ruirui onto the carriage and said to Si Xi, "Brother Si Xi, please take care of her for me."
"Rest assured, Fifth Master, the young lady will be fine here."
At this point, Ruirui crawled into the carriage and found it was so spacious. Even if three or four people sat inside, it wouldn’t feel cramped. Moreover, there was a small table with a fruit plate on top, filled with fruits.
Ruirui’s eyes lit up, as she looked at the peaches in the fruit plate and said, "Can I eat them?"
At this moment, Si Xi from outside said, "Of course, young miss, please help yourself."
"I’m not called ’young miss,’ my name is Ruirui."
Little Ruirui corrected, and Si Xi chuckled without speaking further.
By now, people outside had all gathered around. Chen Jie nodded to everyone and entered the courtyard.
Su Yunjin stood by the door, looking at the crowd with some pride but also a bit of unease, as the carriage was simply too luxurious.
Even in the peak days of the Chen family, they never had such a carriage. At most, they had a little donkey, and usually traveled by donkey cart, which was already considered rich in the village.
Horses were simply too precious.
Especially with the court’s limited horse policy for the south, the cost of transporting a horse from the north was too high. Even the worst nags cost over eighty taels.
Better horses cost over a hundred taels.
And that didn’t even include the cost of keeping them.
Even Su Yunjin, who had seen some of the world, felt surprised.
"Husband, this carriage?"
Su Yunjin asked Chen Jie. He said, "Oh, it’s to take us to the county town."
Su Yunjin said, "This carriage, for me?"
Su Yunjin, looking at her patched clothes, tugged at the corner, feeling ashamed.
Chen Jie said, "Who else would it be for? Also, go inside and put on the new clothes I bought for you. Later, when we get to the city, I’ll get you a maid to help with chores. You shouldn’t have to do the washing, cleaning, and cooking."
Su Yunjin replied, "No, husband, maids are too expensive, and there isn’t much housework. I can handle it."
"We’re going to the city, and we need to be careful with our expenses as we settle in."
Hearing this, Chen Jie said, "Yes, yes, my wife is right, but you should still change your clothes."
"Soon, you will be going with me to meet Sect Master Peng."
Upon hearing this, Su Yunjin nodded gently, knowing that meeting someone important required grooming and dressing up. Going unkempt would be disrespectful to both herself and others.
Su Yunjin quickly went inside, followed by a simple touch-up.