“Huh?” Yun Siman’s eyes widened, his forehead beaded with sweat. “Dead? How did he die?”
Unexpectedly, Gao Fengjuan covered her mouth and giggled, “Look at me, I was so anxious I misspoke. I meant your third brother is dead in Dashui Village. Hehehe…”
Yun Siman clenched his fists tightly after hearing this.
Had his third sister-in-law’s head been kicked by a donkey?
Or was it filled with tofu pudding? How could anyone talk about their own husband like that?
“Then, third sister-in-law, you carry on. I’m leaving!” Yun Siman indicated he didn’t want to deal with her.
Although his third sister-in-law was a bit more rational than his second sister-in-law, she wasn’t quite normal either…
He was on vacation and didn’t want to get angry.
“Hey, hey, hey, Siman, don’t go. Didn’t you want to buy clothes for Mom and Dad just now?” Gao Fengjuan blocked the shop entrance, preventing him from leaving.
Yun Siman frowned. “I suddenly don’t want to buy them anymore!”
“You can’t not buy them. Come here, I’ll give you two sets. They’re perfect for Mom and Dad to wear in the countryside…” Gao Fengjuan pulled him inside.
“I really don’t want to buy them!” Yun Siman broke free from her and asked, “Third sister-in-law, I want to ask you something!”
Gao Fengjuan blinked, “What is it?”
As long as it wasn’t about the Gao family, she would tell him everything she knew.
Yun Siman glanced outside and lowered his voice, “Third sister-in-law, why did my second brother chase second sister-in-law out? I heard from second sister-in-law that second brother has another woman outside?”
“Of course, I heard he has several! Those women, all heavily made up, each more seductive than the last!” Gao Fengjuan blurted out.
Yun Siman: “…”
This matter was getting more and more absurd.
Having several women, his second brother wasn’t a stud farm.
“Third sister-in-law, can you speak properly? I really want to know!” Yun Siman said anxiously.
Gao Fengjuan brought over an embroidered stool, sat down, and took out a handful of melon seeds from her pocket, cracking them as she spoke, “Why else? That Liu Cuirong doesn’t do any work and angered your father, mother, and Erman…”
“Eh? Siman, have you seen Liu Cuirong? Is she still in the county town? Hasn’t she starved to death yet?”
She heard that Prefect Chen had sent yamen runners to watch her, but after two days, they must have gotten bored and stopped caring.
Yun Siman grunted, “She’s at the steamed bun shop!”
It was called a steamed bun shop, but it looked like a pigsty, with all sorts of smells…
“I heard from second sister-in-law that second brother has found women outside. Is that true?”
“Then I don’t know. Your second brother isn’t ugly, so it’s possible some women fancy him! You just wait and see, if your second brother really brings one back, Liu Cuirong will surely turn the entire Yun family upside down! Ptooey!”
Gao Fengjuan casually spat out a melon seed shell, which stuck to Yun Siman’s face.
Yun Siman: “…”
He felt that his three elder brothers had married wives who were all weirder than the last.
His eldest sister-in-law was still the most normal, usually helping their parents with chores, cooking, and warming the kang.
He hadn’t seen her in years, though, so he didn’t know what she looked like now…
“I’m leaving!” Yun Siman bypassed Gao Fengjuan and strode out.
“Hey, hey, Siman, Siman, can’t I give you two sets of clothes? You only come home every few years, and you want to go back empty-handed!”
Gao Fengjuan stopped him and pointed to two ready-made clothes hanging on the wall, “How about that gray robe? Father would look so distinguished wearing it…”
Yun Siman looked up.
Coarse linen, roughly made, and already pilling. He wouldn’t take it even if it were free.
“And that light-colored skirt, Mother will definitely look vibrant in it!” Gao Fengjuan said with a smile.
Yun Siman pouted, “Not great!”
“What do you mean not great? How much do you think it costs? Besides, Mother lives in the village, does she expect to wear gold and silver, or silk and satin? Take it, third sister-in-law will help you pack it…”
Saying that, Gao Fengjuan picked up a pole to reach for the clothes.
Yun Siman smiled helplessly, “Third sister-in-law is indeed enthusiastic!”
“That’s right. It would have been great if you had married into our family back then, but you were too young, not fully developed yet!”
Yun Siman: “…”
Did he lack a nose and eyes, or arms and legs?
Not fully developed, like a fetus? Not yet formed?
“Third sister-in-law, I really have to go!” Yun Siman didn’t take her clothes. “I’ll go to Dashui Village tomorrow. If you have nothing to do, third sister-in-law, you can come for a stroll too…”
He decided that after seeing his parents, he would buy a pig, slaughter it, and eat the meat. He would make steamed dumplings with pickled cabbage filling.
Then, he would have a good drink with his father and brothers.
“Why are you in such a hurry? How about we go now? I’ll accompany you!” Gao Fengjuan tidied her collar and touched her hair bun.
Yun Siman: “…”
What was the point of you accompanying me?
If a younger brother took his third sister-in-law back to the village, his third brother would think something was going on between them.
“No, no need!” Yun Siman twitched his mouth and fled the silk shop as if escaping.
“Hmph, look at him. He must have never touched a woman in his life, so shy and bashful, a tender sprout, hehe…” Gao Fengjuan wiggled her plump waist and went inside.
At the same time, Xiao Xitian and her group also arrived at the county town.
It was completely dark, with few pedestrians in the county town. Occasionally, one could hear curses and children’s cries from houses facing the street…
“Young Master Xiao, Sweetie, it’s dark. Are we still going to the village?” Provincial Governor Qin asked, leading his horse and approaching the carriage.
It was already the first quarter of the Hai hour, which was past nine o’clock in the evening in modern times.
The old Yun family slept early. After dinner, they would have a couple of cups of tea and then doze off…
Going back now would surely wake them up.
Xiao Jinheng looked at Xiao Xitian beside him, “Shall we go back?”
He knew the little village girl wanted to see her parents and family as soon as possible. No matter when they returned, he would accompany her.
Xiao Xitian’s eyes curved, and she smiled sweetly, “Then let’s stay a night in the county town…”
Yun Erman heard this and nodded, “Okay, then I’ll go find an inn!”
After speaking, he lifted the carriage curtain and jumped down.
His and Du Tieshan’s horses were being taken care of by the soldiers, so they weren’t afraid of them running away.
Provincial Governor Qin stopped Yun Erman, “No need to rush. We’re already in the county town, why are we looking for an inn…”
There was a ready-made mansion waiting for them to stay in. How could an inn compare to that?
Yun Erman scratched his face, “Governor, Governor Qin, what do you mean?”
Are we sleeping on the streets?
Provincial Governor Qin smiled slightly, “Can you find Prefect Chen’s mansion?”
Yun Erman nodded, “I went there once before. It’s on the street ahead, just turn the corner and walk a bit…”
“Good, we’ll stay at Prefect Chen’s house tonight!” Provincial Governor Qin waved his hand and walked forward.
Prefect Chen, who was already asleep, suddenly woke up in a dream and looked out the window.
Why did his heart feel like it was pounding?