The next morning, just as dawn broke, Du Tieshan and Jin Huaihua were up preparing breakfast...
Outside, the autumn wind swept fallen leaves, feeling cool, but inside, the large heated brick bed was scorching hot.
The colder it was outside, the less inclined people were to get up.
A warm, cozy bed was simply the most secure place in the world...
Little Xi Tian, still half-asleep, was groggily picked up by Madam Gu.
She pinched Little Xi Tian's cheek and said with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "You little sleepyhead, if you don't get up soon, your brother and nephew will leave!"
Little Xi Tian's big eyes snapped open, and she squirmed in her mother's arms, "Don't go, don't go..."
She had dreamt about this last night and hadn't expected to oversleep.
Madam Gu couldn't help but chuckle, "They're not going, they're not going. Hurry and wash your face and eat, and then put on your padded jacket!"
"Mhm, mhm!"
After washing her face, Little Xi Tian went to the main hall and saw Xiao Jinheng sitting at the dining table, holding a sticky rice bun and eating it with gusto...
Little Xi Tian: "???"
What was going on? Why was this kid eating breakfast at her house?
Old Man Yun smiled and said, "Young Master Xiao will be traveling with you later, so you'll have company on the road!"
Little Xi Tian squinted at Xiao Jinheng upon hearing this.
This kid must have an ulterior motive...
He wasn't studying, so why was he going to Bocai Academy?
Sensing Little Xi Tian's gaze, Xiao Jinheng cleared his throat and said, "I happen to have some business to attend to near the academy, so I'll be passing by and can travel with you!"
Little Xi Tian: "..."
Going to do business near the academy?
What a refreshingly unconventional excuse!
"I've prepared bedding and a charcoal basin in the carriage, and I've also brought some pastries. Little Village Child, you can ride in my carriage!" Xiao Jinheng said indifferently.
Though his words seemed casual and dismissive, they were filled with concern for Little Xi Tian...
Madam Gu smiled slightly, "Thank you again, Young Master Xiao. Daughter, why don't you thank Young Master Xiao quickly!"
Little Xi Tian twitched her lips and sat down next to Xiao Jinheng, "Thank you!"
After speaking, she leaned close to Xiao Jinheng's ear and whispered, "You stinky brat, I'm telling you, this road is really long. You can still regret it if you want to..."
Xiao Jinheng's handsome face blushed, and he scratched his ear, "I'm going on business, what do you mean by long or not?"
This darn girl, pretending to be oblivious when she knew perfectly well, was about to drive him mad!
Little Xi Tian giggled twice and picked up her bowl to drink her porridge.
"San Man, take some sticky rice buns and pickled mustard shreds with you later. Eat them on the road if you get hungry..." Old Man Yun instructed.
Yun San Man smiled helplessly, "Dad, no need. If we lack anything on the road, I'll just buy it. Carrying too much stuff is cumbersome and difficult to manage!"
"You stinky brat, spending money on everything! Don't you know how to save a little!" Old Man Yun glared at him indignantly.
Yun San Man chuckled and slurped down the millet porridge in a few bites.
After breakfast, two carriages set off from the Yun family's large residence...
Yun San Man and Yun Jinhe rode in the same carriage, leading the way, while Xiao Jinheng and Little Xi Tian were in the carriage behind.
Xiao Xinling woke up to find her brother missing and learned after inquiring that he had gone to chase his wife.
Inside the carriage.
"If you're tired, you can sleep!" Xiao Jinheng picked up a small quilt and draped it over the drowsy Little Xi Tian.
He really didn't understand why this little girl had to come along. Wouldn't it be more enjoyable to stay home and paint or fish with him?
Little Xi Tian nodded repeatedly like a pecking chicken and, before she knew it, had fallen asleep in Xiao Jinheng's arms, her little mouth smacking as she slept...
Kong Xingzhuo, leading Xiao Ying and Xiao Jun on horseback, rode ahead. The whistling wind made all three shiver.
"Alas, the weather turned cold so suddenly!" Kong Xingzhuo sighed softly, looking at the sky.
He still remembered when his young master and Sweet Baby were swept away by the mountain torrent; the weather had been hot then...
Running through the woods was incredibly hot.
Xiao Jun said, "Commander Kong, why are we going to the academy? It's such a long journey, it's just asking for trouble!"
"Yeah!" Xiao Ying chimed in, "If our young master is bored, he could just go wander around the prefectural city. Why go to such a desolate place, it's so boring..."
Kong Xingzhuo glanced at the two of them, "You know nothing. Let alone a mere academy, if Sweet Baby were to go to heaven or earth, our young master would follow. You two should learn from him. You're in your twenties and haven't even held a girl's hand, and you just keep yapping all day. What kind of prospects will you have?"
Xiao Ying and Xiao Jun were a bit stunned by the sudden reprimand.
"No, Commander Kong, haven't you also not held a girl's hand?" Xiao Ying retorted.
"That's right. Forget holding hands, Commander Kong blushes whenever he sees a pretty girl. He's even more useless than us!"
Kong Xingzhuo was speechless.
These two brats were speaking the blunt truth.
His young master hadn't even settled down yet, how could he dare to get married?
"Whoa, I remember!" Xiao Jun slapped his forehead, gloating, "Our young master said that Commander Kong is not allowed to get married for three years, hehe, Commander Kong can only think about it in his heart. That's great!"
Kong Xingzhuo was speechless.
Was it too late to send them back now?
Soon, the carriages rumbled into the county town.
Little Xi Tian had slept almost the entire way, her face squashed.
Xiao Jinheng took a deep look at her. He had originally wanted to chat and talk with this little girl, but she fell asleep as soon as she got in the carriage and ate when she woke up, like a little fat pig...
"Wow, we're already at the county town!" Little Xi Tian lifted the curtain and looked outside.
Xiao Jinheng grunted and asked, "Is there anything you want to eat? I'll have them buy it!"
There was still a long way to the next county town, and eating pastries wouldn't keep them full for long...
"No need!" Little Xi Tian shook her head.
With the stinky brat taking care of her all the way, Little Xi Tian felt incredibly touched.
The wheel of the Yun family's carriage had loosened, and they needed to stop in the county town for a while to fix it before continuing their journey.
Yun San Man led the carriage to the blacksmith's shop, while Xiao Jinheng took Little Xi Tian and Yun Jinhe to go shopping...
This blacksmith's shop was the same one where Yun Erman had shod the jujube-red horse's hooves last time. Not far next door was Madam Lu's steamed bun shop.
Across another street was the Gao family's silk shop.
Yun San Man prayed that he wouldn't run into any acquaintances here, especially Gao Fengjuan.
Otherwise, if that woman started her incessant chatter, his good mood would be completely ruined...
"Oh dear, this wheel is about to fall off!" the shop assistant exclaimed, clicking his tongue.
"Hurry up and fix it, I'm in a hurry to travel!" Yun San Man frowned and looked around.
The shop assistant nodded, "Alright, half an hour, and it'll be fixed for sure. Just wait!"
Half an hour was not a short time...
Yun San Man wanted to go inside and wait, but as he took a step forward, he suddenly heard someone call him from behind.
"San, San Man?"