"Dachuan, go and hitch the ox-cart, no, the horse-carriage!" Old Yang slapped the table and said, "I will personally go to Luo Village and bring this languishing couple back. Humph, I just can’t believe it, can he really disregard his own face completely?"
"Alright, Father, I will go hitch the horse-carriage right away." Yang Dachuan was getting anxious too, rushing to Ye Zi’an’s old house to fetch the horse-carriage.
Seeing this, Yang Chuxia cried, "Father, you can pick up Fugui and the other five from my grandfather’s house on your way. Just let Uncle Dayong supervise their work."
The six people Yang Chuxia referred to were all servant boys bought by the family. Three were purchased earlier, and three more were bought after the New Year. For now, they were all working as carpenters under Yang Dayong at Land Officer Yang’s home.
After a short while, Fugui arrived driving the horse-carriage, with Yang Dachuan sitting on it.
"The others are waiting at the village entrance with your grandfather’s ox-cart. We will meet up with them there." Yang Dachuan said, stepping down from the horse-carriage and stepping over to assist Old Yang, "Father, let’s go. I’m sorry for the troubles this time."
Old Yang shook his head reluctantly. What trouble was he causing?
Once Old Yang was aboard the cart, Yang Chuxia hurriedly told Yang Dachuan, "Father, I want to go too."
Upon hearing this, Yang Dachuan nodded.
Old Yang in the carriage, however, felt a sinking feeling in his heart. If this little granddaughter went, she would certainly wipe out Fourth’s face today. But what could he do? It was certain he couldn’t stop it.
Once Yang Chuxia sat down, Yang Dachuan reboarded the carriage, and then Fugui started to drive the horse-carriage towards the village entrance.
Upon reaching the village entrance, as expected, the remaining servant boys were there waiting with an ox-cart, and surprisingly, Land Officer Yang was there too.
"Grandfather, come and sit in this horse-carriage. It’s less bumpy." Land Officer Yang nodded upon hearing this and boarded the horse-carriage.
Then, one after another, they made their way towards Luo Village.
By the time they reached Luo Village, it was somewhat dark.
Luo Village was a large village as well. When they saw a rare horse-carriage enter the village at this time of day, followed by an ox-cart, they wondered which household had such affluent relatives visiting.
When they saw the horse-carriage stop at Ms. Luo’s parent’s house, those who had not gone home yet stopped to watch, wondering when the Luo family had such prestigious relatives.
The house of Ms. Luo’s parents was not considered wealthy; it was average at best. The main buildings were made of mud, as were a few side rooms on either side and the courtyard.
Seeing a horse-carriage and an ox-cart arrive at their door, a man came out and asked, "Who are you looking for?"
"Brother-in-law, it’s me. I came to find my two good-for-nothing family members." Old Yang stuck his head out from the carriage, and Yang Chuxia got down followed by two servant boys who helped Old Yang down.
"Uncle, what brings you here?"
"Brother-in-law, I have come to find my fourth son."
The man that Old Yang called brother-in-law was stunned, "Uncle, brother-in-law Xiaochuan and my sister are not at my house. Has something happened?"
"Who’s outside, why are you chatting at the door?" Ms.Luo’s mother called out from inside the house.
"Mom, it’s our relatives," he replied.
"Oh," That was the only response from her, no invitation for Old Yang to come in and sit, no mention of the late hour, no offer of food. It ended at "Oh".
The eldest son of Luo family felt slightly embarassed standing there as there was no further noise from his mother. Nonetheless, he invited them in, "Uncle, please, come in."
Just then, Luo’s mother’s voice echoed again, "Your fourth son and his wife are not here."