Chapter 143: 107 Jealousy (First Update)_2
By the rules, merchants couldn’t enjoy such a high-grade carriage; it was a privilege granted to the Lin Family by the royal court.
The carriage was big enough, within it was a small soft couch—a perfect mobile home for the ancient times.
Gu Jiao was pretty satisfied with this mode of transport to the Provincial City.
Many villagers came to see the spectacle, but none dared to approach due to the impressive aura of the guards and the handsome horses.
Only the kid from next door, who was always playing in the grass, fearlessly tried to clamber onto the carriage.
Embarrassed, Xue Ningxiang tried to pull him down, but the kid resisted.
Mr. Zhou smiled and said, “No problem, let him sit there. Just watch him carefully and make sure he doesn’t fall.”
Xue Ningxiang understood that she was benefiting from her neighbor’s grace. As a young widow of the village, she received many cold shoulder behind her back. Sometimes people are not inherently evil, but their environment can be ruthless. Once a kind of evil becomes customary, even good people may unsheathe a butcher’s blade.
However, today, as a widow looked down upon by others, she could confidently sit with her son in a carriage that the villagers didn’t dare approach.
She suddenly felt a sense of pride and dignity.
The return trip was going to take long, so Gu Jiao had quite a lot luggage prepared. Fen Lin jumped off the carriage to help her with the baggage, listening to her instructions about what each parcel contained.
Xiao Jinkong found his brother-in-law again and started another men’s talk.
The location remained the same: the privy.
Xiao Liulang was speechless. Did that little monk have a peculiar fetish for chatting while his pants were down?
Xiao Jinkong sat proudly on his small potty. If you didn’t know any better, you would think he was seated on the Dragon Throne with an unyielding aura radiating from him!
He solemnly said, “You will be away from home again, and for a longer period this time. Take care of yourself and don’t cause any worries at home.”
Xiao Liulang didn’t want to hear the little bugler’s voice at this moment.
Xiao Jinkong continued, “Also, you’re a mature examinee now. Don’t expect anyone to spur you on. Learn to make it to the top on your own.”
Was it you who helped me top the charts each time?
“Alright, that will be all. Take care.” Xiao Jinkong concluded, then reached out his small hand, intending to pat Xiao Liulang’s shoulder like elders do. However, he forgot that he was sitting on a small potty and ended up patting Xiao Liulang’s butt instead.
Turning his head to look at the little hand gripping his butt, Xiao Liulang: “???”
Today the private school was off. Gu Yan was a person who loved to sleep in, but he still had Gu Xiaoshun wake him up to bid his brother-in-law farewell.
Afterward, he went back to his room to continue sleeping.
“Is that everything?” Fen Lin picked up the last parcel and asked Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao nodded, “Yeah, that’s all for Liulang. Also, I made some Pickled Vegetables for you guys to eat on your journey.”
“Okay!” Fen Lin happily went to fetch the Pickled Vegetables.
Watching him come out carrying a big jar of Pickled Vegetables, Mr. Zhou thought to himself, even though the Lin Family are the richest in the Provincial City, surely they won’t care about a single good dish, right?
Shortly after, when Mr. Zhou had tasted the Pickled Vegetables, he started complaining why Fen Lin hadn’t taken more.
Now that everything was truly ready, Gu Jiao helped Xiao Liulang onto the carriage.
Just as the carriage was about to pull away, the long-absent Zhou Family and Gu Changhai rushed over with Gu Dashun.
“Jiao! Jiaoooo!” Mrs. Zhou dropped her usually frosty expression and adopted an ingratiating smile, “You’re going to the Provincial City, right?”
While speaking, Mrs. Zhou and Gu Changhai had already approached Gu Jiao.
Gu Dashun, who was somewhat reluctant to come, lagged by a few steps behind, clutching his bundle.
Xiao Liulang knitted his eyebrows slightly; seeing this, Gu Jiao pulled down the curtain of the carriage, signaling him not to get off.
Gu Jiao turned to Mrs. Zhou and asked, “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, what kind of question is that? Our nephew is off for his examination in the Provincial City. How can we not see him off? Look, the auntie has brought some eggs as a little gift,” said Mrs. Zhou as she passed a basket of chicken eggs towards Gu Jiao.
Understanding her cunning intentions, Gu Jiao didn’t reach out to accept.
Mrs. Zhou trailed off awkwardly and shot a look at her husband.
Gu Changhai coughed lightly before saying to Gu Jiao, “Miss Jiao, it’s a long journey to the Provincial City for the examination. Liulang’s legs are troubling him. Why don’t we let Dashun go with him? They could look out for each other on the road.”
“Who is going to look out for whom?” Gu Jiao retorted without hesitation.
Even though Xiao Liulang was handicapped, on a day-to-day basis, he did more work than the fully grown and able-bodied Gu Dashun.
Having been pampered throughout his life, Gu Dashun knew nothing but reading; taking him along would be a pure burden.