Capítulo 1309: Chapter 1309: Ten Years East of the River, Ten Years West of the River

The carriage outside was already set and ready to go, just waiting for Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu to get in so it could depart.

By this time, the day was bright, and the townspeople were up and about.

In Shiqiao Town during this season, it’s usually just the locals, and merchants from out of town don’t typically come until later.

They wait until autumn when the leaves begin to yellow, the fruits in the forest ripen, and the animals’ fur thickens before arriving from all around.

Therefore, such a large group of people drew a lot of attention.

Many idle men and children gathered around the carriage team, pointing and murmuring.

“Where’s this noble patron from? Tsk tsk, what a presence!”

“Could it be merchants from somewhere else? Coming to our Shiqiao Town at this time?”

“What are you looking at? Just look at those gentlemen; judging by their demeanor, they’ve clearly seen blood. What merchant could afford such people?” someone with a bit more insight scoffed.

“Isn’t it obvious? Just look at that young master standing at the door. See what he’s wearing, and that jade pendant on his waist worth a fortune. I bet one piece of his clothing is worth your family’s entire fortune!”

“Oh my, that young master’s refined and gentle appearance doesn’t seem like he’s from around here. Could he be a relative of someone?”

…

They circled the carriage and gossiped without restraint.

This was the norm in Shiqiao Town; every year, so many merchants came through, some new faces, some old, and the locals always had their assessments.

Most of these assessments were harmless, and the merchants knew that you shouldn’t clash with the locals, as business had to be done in Shiqiao Town.

Besides, being gossiped about a bit didn’t cost anything, and they just shrugged it off with a smile.

But Lord Du had never encountered such a scene before.

Being scrutinized recklessly by those idle men and some young wives and grannies, especially the curiosity of the young wives, who had never seen such a picture-perfect and poised young man in town.

The fair skin, the shining fabric, and the green jade pendant on his waist; this charm they had never witnessed captured the attention of these young wives instantly.

Their gaze was fixed, almost wishing to strip the clothing off him.

The idle men thought that this city young master indeed was pampered, looking like just a pretty face, not practical at all.

Muttering a few words of disdain in their hearts, and let it be.

Those kids, at the age even dogs disliked, never stopped for a moment, either swimming in the river or climbing trees, always covered in dirt.

No family could afford such waste of fabric, so the older ones were slightly better with shorts on, while the younger ones were simply bare, their bodies tanned like coal.

Rolling in the dirt, they didn’t mind, and squeezed through the crowds, making faces and scurrying off when they bumped into someone.

The adults couldn’t be bothered with these kids, just cursing a few words.

These kids squeezed through to see Lord Du next to the carriage, standing like a tender young bamboo, their eyes widening.

Unconsciously, with their fingers still black from the dirt, they stuck them into their mouths without washing.

Lord Du, being from a family of medicine, was a stickler for cleanliness. Upon seeing this, his stomach churned, struggling to hold down his breakfast.

Especially the smaller kids, slippery like eels, taking advantage of the adults’ inattention to move toward him, reaching out to touch his clothes.

Lord Du, flustered and nauseous, wanted to avoid those dirty hands but couldn’t move, only watching in horror as the filthy hands reached out.

Fortunately, a personal soldier beside the carriage was quick to notice, and while his blade remained sheathed, he slapped the offending hand away with just enough force.

Then he shouted, “Scram—”

The child, hit, didn’t cry, merely stuck out his tongue at the soldier, then turned and dove into the crowd, soon eliciting peals of laughter from them.

Lord Du shot a grateful glance at the soldier; if it hadn’t been for his intervention, his robe might have been dirtied.

To someone like him, if his clothes were touched by such hands, even after washing, he wouldn’t wear them again.

Sent out by his grandfather this time, he didn’t have many clothes to begin with, especially with the weather getting warmer. He only had two or three single garments, and if he discarded one, he might not have enough to change into.

The soldier, however, snorted coldly: “Lord Du might as well wait inside the carriage, lest he draws unwanted attention—”

Lord Du nearly choked in anger.

What does it mean to draw unwanted attention? Do these brutes even know how to talk?

Just about to retort, Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin came out supporting Old Granny Zhang, and the crowd let out exclamations.

“Isn’t that the Song family’s hunter?”

“What nonsense! He became a scholar long ago, and then I heard he became a graduate!”

“Is it really him? Has he struck it rich or become an official, returning so grandly?”

“Truly, ten years change fortunes, who’d have thought with such a mother he’d have such luck—”

“Exactly, the Song family must be regretting deeply now, if only they’d treated him better, wouldn’t they benefit now that he’s come back as an official?”

“I heard his foster mother was sold as a concubine by the Song family? She was brought back last year, and I saw her, she was in quite a state. Do you think he might redeem her now?”

“He better, after all she raised him. If he abandons her, he’d be asking for people to curse him!”

…

These whispers reached the ears of Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin.

Wang Yongzhu couldn’t help but turn to look at Song Chongjin.

Song Chongjin seemed not to hear, not even lifting an eyebrow, as he respectfully escorted Old Granny Zhang onto the carriage, then Wang Yongzhu, and got in himself, pulling the curtain down.

Calmly he instructed, “Alright, let’s go!”

The personal soldiers received the order, and with a shout, the whip in hand cracked through the air, dispersing onlookers as the convoy slowly moved forward.

Behind them, a few gossiping women couldn’t help but say: “His foster mother is quite unlucky, raised him up just to see him become a son-in-law for the Wang Family.”

“Indeed, the Wang family got quite the bargain! The mother-in-law is suddenly all haughty, not only enjoying life in the city but also being taken to the capital for the exams!”

“Is there such luck? I’ve never even been to the county seat, yet she, a rural granny, has been to the emperor’s abode—”

…