When Luo Ge, Wang Sister-In-Law, and the others returned to the city gate, they had added a carriage.
"!!!" Wang Sister-In-Law exclaimed in surprise. "Luo Ge, this... did you just buy it?"
She looked at the carriage in astonishment. In such a short time, a carriage had already been arranged?
Although it was just the most ordinary kind, it was still equivalent to a Mercedes-Benz of this era - something that no rural family would disdain.
Wang Big Brother had already approached Gu Jinchen and was eyeing the tall horse, eager to touch it but not daring to do so. It was Gu Jinchen who held the reins and led the horse over to him.
Seeing this, Wang Sister-In-Law was also itching to try.
"Don't be afraid, this horse is quite tame," Luo Ge said with a smile.
The horse was chosen by Gu Jinchen. Luo Ge wouldn't know how to pick one, but she did feel that the horse seemed very tame.
Hearing Luo Ge say this, and with Gu Jinchen leading the way, Wang Sister-In-Law and the others didn't hesitate any longer.
They stroked the horse curiously for a while, then quickly withdrew their hands.
Although they were curious about the brand-new carriage, they didn't pry and ask about the price like those who loved gossip.
After all, it was clear that it must not have been cheap.
Besides, it was someone else's business, so why bother poking their noses in? It was better to just mind their own small piece of land.
"Did you buy everything you needed? We've bought quite a lot of stuff today, you see, the backpacks are almost too full to carry," Wang Sister-In-Law said with a laugh, pointing at her own backpack.
They had mainly bought household items and things for Tie Dan's ritual of discipleship.
Although the children's formal names had already been chosen, their nicknames were still habitual, and they hadn't changed them yet.
"We're done buying too. We bought a lot as well. It's getting late, shall we head back?" Luo Ge suggested.
"Okay."
Wang Sister-In-Law had asked this question just to remind them in case they forgot to buy something, but since they had bought everything, it was naturally time to go back.
With the carriage, the return journey was much faster.
Although the carriage was newly bought, Gu Jinchen had experience controlling horses, and he drove steadily the entire way.
It was only when they entered the village that they were surrounded and watched for a long time, as it was the first carriage in the village and no one failed to be curious about it.
Seeing that the Gu family had bought land and built a house, as well as purchasing a carriage and sending two children to study, the villagers had all sorts of reactions.
Some were relieved, some were envious, and of course, some were jealous.
Though the village was small, it contained a thousand different attitudes.
"Just how much silver did the Gu family earn to be able to buy land, build a house, buy a carriage, and send two kids to study?"
"Who knows?"
"What's the use of buying a carriage? Wouldn't cows and donkeys be more practical? Cows can work the fields, donkeys can pull mills. This horse can only pull carriages, can't it?"
"Yeah, these young folks really don't know how to live life. No matter how rich you are, you can't just go splurging like that. Life is still long, you know."
Overhearing these sour comments, Ma Feng Auntie and a few other aunties simply rolled their eyes.
"Tsk tsk tsk, look at these old vinegar jars, I can smell their sourness from far away."
"Our second young master is doing well, and we of the Gu family are all happy for him. He earned that silver through his own efforts, so what business is it of yours how he spends it?"
"Exactly, you'd be better off using that free time to properly discipline your own sons, so they can make something of themselves sooner and stop their mothers from being sour-mouthed out in public."
"Indeed, so idle. Did you see our Gu Family Clan's oldest ancestor? He just celebrated his 100th birthday the other day, but our old ancestor has never liked meddling in other people's affairs."
Ma Feng Auntie was referring to the oldest and highest-ranking elder of the Gu Family Clan, whom all the Gu descendants called the "Old Ancestor."
The Old Ancestor had already turned 100 years old, but his body was still quite robust. Apart from major village affairs, he rarely made public appearances.
"And remember that old village gossip who used to live at the village entrance? That woman loved sticking her nose in other people's business. Even if a family was just arguing amongst themselves, she'd butt in. Look where that got her - now she's paralyzed and needs people to take care of her eating, drinking, and even using the restroom. How embarrassing, tsk tsk tsk."
"..."
Hearing such scathing remarks, the few sour-mouthed people, as well as those who silently agreed with them, fell silent.
They couldn't find any words to retort after being so thoroughly shut down.
"We were just casually chatting, why get so worked up?"
In the end, those two walked away with their heads down like defeated roosters.
"...No good at anything else, but champions at souring vinegar. So idle," Ma Feng Auntie muttered contemptuously as she watched their retreating backs.
...Luo Ge and Gu Jinchen were unaware of this situation, as they had already returned home.
But if they hadn't lived with propriety and made efforts to build good relationships with everyone, they might not have earned such heartwarming support.
