Gu also looked around and shook her head, "I don't know, Fourth just went to chop wood..."
The villagers were meeting Xiao Jinheng up close for the first time, so they were a bit reserved.
Their usual rough language and boisterous chatter were gone, and they were rather quiet at the banquet.
Xiao Jinheng sat with Xiao Xi Tian on his left and Old Man Yun on his right, followed by Gu and the Yun brothers. Even Prefect Chen and Magistrate Qin couldn't sit next to the little prince, which showed how much importance he placed on Sweet Baby...
The food was, of course, plentiful, with chicken, duck, fish, meat, and various stir-fried vegetable dishes. Jin Momo and Ru Yue Ru Hua's cooking was excellent, as they had been specially trained in the imperial kitchen. Preparing a meal was no problem for them.
While the feast was in full swing, Yun Si Man was searching back and forth at the village entrance...
He thought he had seen a few suspicious people lurking in the village earlier.
Had his identity been exposed?
He absolutely could not bring trouble to his family, and Yun Si Man decided to leave that night.
Two carriages were parked outside the Yun family home, filled with wine jars...
This was sorghum wine that Xiao Jinheng had specially bought for him.
The little prince kept his word and would not owe him any favors.
Yun Si Man walked over, casually picked up a jar, filled his own wine gourd, and then entered the courtyard, calling Yun Da Man out.
"What's up? You're leaving already?" Yun Da Man asked in surprise. "Then... then at least tell Mom and Dad! If you leave like this, when will you ever come back?"
Yun Da Man was reluctant to see his fourth brother go.
Yun Si Man smiled and said, "Big Brother, I'll be back in half a month or so. Take good care of Mom and Dad for me!~"
As he spoke, he took out a silver note from his sleeve and stuffed it into Yun Da Man's hand. "Give this money to Mom and Dad. If you can't finish shucking the corn, have Dad hire some people. Don't do everything yourself..."
Yun Da Man's eyes welled up with tears, and he pushed the silver note back. "Fourth Brother, you should give it to Mom and Dad yourself!~"
"Oh, Big Brother, it's not like I'm not coming back!" Yun Si Man stood at the gate, glancing towards the village entrance. "If I stay any longer, you'll be in danger!"
Yun Da Man didn't know what his fourth brother had been up to outside and thought he was sick. "Do you have a terminal illness? Are you hiding it from Mom and Dad? It's okay, Big Brother can handle it. Is it some kind of contagious disease that you're afraid of passing to Mom and Dad?"
Yun Si Man: "..."
Big Brother, your train of thought is truly something else.
Have you ever seen someone with a terminal illness who can still work in the fields during harvest and is full of life?
"I'm fine. Remember to move those two carts of sorghum wine outside into the house later, save them for Dad and the others to drink. Keep the silver note, I'm leaving..."
After saying that, Yun Si Man led out his horse, mounted it, waved goodbye to Yun Da Man, and disappeared into the night.
Yun Da Man stared blankly for three seconds, losing the mood to drink.
Alas, his fourth brother had finally come home, and he left before he could even warm his seat...
He had planned to visit Old Liu's family in Xinwang Village after the harvest.
He heard that they had three daughters who were still unmarried and were reasonably good-looking. It would be perfect to find a wife for Fourth Man.
Now that he had left, that was definitely out of the question.
The banquet didn't last long before it dispersed. The family members had worked hard all day, their bones aching...
Yun San Man, drunk, fell asleep on the kang.
Yun Er Man sat cross-legged on the edge of the kang, sipping tea from a large bowl. Du Tie Shan brought in the prepared foot-soaking water. "Soak your feet, it'll be more comfortable when you sleep!~"
They weren't married yet, so Du Tie Shan lived in the east wing by herself, while Er Man and San Man squeezed together...
"Shan Shan, you should rest too. After the harvest, I'll talk to Mom and Dad about us getting married!~" Yun Er Man spat out a tea leaf stem and said calmly.
Du Tie Shan didn't say anything. She took his tea bowl, refilled it with tea, and then carried the teapot to the main house...
"Dad, Mom, Fourth must have left because of something urgent. Don't worry too much!~" Yun Da Man said while rolling a pipe of dried tobacco.
Gu sighed, "Si Man knows where his home is. No matter how far he goes, he can always find his way back. Mom is just worried that he won't have enough to eat or sleep well when he's alone outside. If he could marry a thoughtful wife to take care of him, Mom wouldn't be so worried..."
As she spoke, she picked up the sleepy Xiao Xi Tian and placed her at the head of the kang, tucking her in.
"Old woman, what exactly do you think Si Man does outside? He only said he works for a wealthy family, but he never said what specifically. I just don't feel at ease!~" Old Man Yun muttered, tapping his pipe.
Gu glanced at him. "If Si Man doesn't want to say, then we won't ask. As long as he's not doing anything like stealing chickens or dogs..."
"That's not possible, Fourth isn't that kind of person!~" Yun Da Man said.
Xiao Xi Tian got too warm and kicked off her blanket, scratching her little belly. "So hot!~"
Gu couldn't help but laugh. Shan Shan was also truly considerate, heating the kangs in the house like furnaces, for fear that the family would get cold...
"Shan Shan, why don't you take Xi Tian to your room to sleep!~" Gu said with a smile.
Du Tie Shan responded, poured tea for Old Man Yun and Gu, then bent down, picked up Xiao Xi Tian, and walked out the door.
At the same time, Yun Si Man rode his horse at full speed and soon arrived at the county town.
With no one following him, Yun Si Man breathed a sigh of relief. He planned to stay overnight in the county town and then head to the capital the next morning.
He found an inn and checked in. He took out two sheep trotters and his wine gourd, drinking as he looked out at the night sky...
Suddenly, a crisp, complaining voice came from the adjacent room.
It was a girl's voice, filled with dissatisfaction.
"Hmph, this place is full of mosquitoes! Look at that table, it's covered in a thick layer of dust. I don't want to stay in a place like this, it's too dirty!~"
"Oh, Miss... Miss, this inn is the best in the entire county. It's dark outside now, so we can only make do here for one night. Your servant promises to find you the cleanest and most luxurious inn tomorrow, alright?"
"No, I want to leave now! Hurry up and tell the coachman to hitch the horses. I can't stand staying here for another minute. Hmph, I came out for sightseeing, but all I eat is coarse food, either dry steamed buns, mustard strips, or salted pickles. I never suffered such grievances in the palace..."
"Miss, it's too dark outside, and the wind is strong. Moreover, it's the middle of the night, and your servant really can't find any other inns!~"
Yun Si Man took a couple of sips of wine and couldn't help but roll his eyes.
Hmph, princess syndrome!