Chapter 55: The Miao Family Moves (Part One)

The cornbread was made from coarse cornmeal, unleavened and heavy. The rough grains scraped at the throat as one swallowed. After taking a bite, Jiaoyan struggled for a good while before finally managing to choke it down. This stuff was far rougher than any cornbread she’d eaten in her previous life. Moreover, since arriving in this world, she had always lived in the south, accustomed to eating rice. To suddenly be faced with such food was truly hard to endure.

She looked up at her brothers and saw that they too wore pained expressions, forcing themselves to eat. Especially Wentao, whose face was flushed red; it seemed he had used all his strength just to swallow a single mouthful. Jiaoyan could only sigh inwardly—there was nothing to be done. This was all their family had; they would simply have to adjust.

“Second Brother, drink some porridge. It’ll go down easier,” Jiaoyan whispered.

Wentao hurriedly picked up his bowl and took a sip of the thin gruel, finally feeling a little more comfortable. Mrs. Feng and the children had never eaten such things before and naturally found it hard to get used to, so they chewed slowly, taking their time.

By the time Mrs. Feng and the children finished eating, the others had long since gone off to work. The old lady glanced at Mrs. Feng and her brood, frowning but saying nothing more. “All right, clean up and be on your way.”

Everyone then moved to clear the table, carrying the dishes to the kitchen. Zhao quickly fetched water to wash the bowls. Mrs. Feng, remembering she’d promised to help Miao Suwen tidy up her house, spoke a word to the old lady, then headed out with Miao Suwen and the children. Gu Chengyong had also informed the old man, so he didn’t follow the others to the fields but joined the group as they left the Gu house.

Before leaving, Jiaoyan made a point to return to her room and check on their trunks, locking each one securely. When Mrs. Feng saw this, she couldn’t help but chide Jiaoyan, but Jiaoyan just grinned and said, “Mother, we only just got home yesterday. I was worried about losing things on the road, so I kept the trunks locked. I just haven’t had the chance to unpack yet.”

Mrs. Feng was taken aback, then smiled, reaching out to pat Jiaoyan’s head. “You little rascal, where do you get all these tricks from? You can get away with it once or twice, but if you try it too long, you won’t be able to fool anyone.”

Mrs. Feng wasn’t angry. They’d only just returned, and nothing was familiar—she truly didn’t feel comfortable leaving everything unattended. What if someone went through their things the moment they left? Who knew what the Gu family might do?

Miao Suwen interjected, “Cousin, don’t worry. Today we’ll just check out the house; if it’s decent, we can move in tomorrow. Then, just as Jiaoyan suggests, you can bring anything valuable to my place.”

Mrs. Feng nodded. “Thank you, little sister.” After nearly three months together, Mrs. Feng trusted Miao Suwen. This woman was utterly indifferent to wealth; with her medical skills, she could easily have made a fortune if she cared for it.

Walking in front, Gu Chengyong heard all of this—Jiaoyan’s small actions and the women’s conversation—but he said nothing. After all, those trunks held things of utmost importance to the family; being cautious was only prudent.

They walked briskly and soon arrived at Second Uncle Gu’s house. As it happened, Second Aunt Gu was in the courtyard and quickly sent her little grandson to lead Mrs. Feng and the others to the old house. “You’re just in time. The second and third boys are over there tidying up. Go and have a look—it should be fine. They kept the fires burning in the winter, after all.”

Second Uncle Gu’s little grandson led them to the old house, where they saw Gu’s second and third sons, Chengxiang and Chengde, busily cleaning inside and out. The old house was a row of five large rooms with a kitchen attached at the back.

Second Uncle Gu’s family was large, and with the younger generation growing up and soon to be married, the old house had become too cramped, prompting them to build new quarters. The old house had been built solidly and had been well-maintained over the years. Though unoccupied for a year, fires had been lit daily in the winter, so the house was still sturdy and undamaged by frost. Today, they only needed to check the wooden shingles on the roof for leaks and burn the kangs to see if any mice had burrowed holes.

Chengxiang lit the fires, and seeing that the rooms weren’t filling with smoke, felt reassured. Chengde, up on the roof, examined the shingles, replaced a few rotten ones, and called down, “Second Cousin, the house is in good shape. I’ve changed a few bad tiles up here. The kangs are all fine; after burning them through today, it’ll be ready for people to move in.”

“There’s a pot left in the back kitchen, but we need another. I’ll ask Uncle Qi—he has one he’s not using. Once we set it up and tidy up, the house will be ready today.”

Chengyong nodded. “Thanks, brothers.” Then he led his wife and children inside, and everyone began cleaning. After sweeping away the dust, they borrowed wooden buckets and basins from Second Uncle’s house to fetch water, scrubbing the rooms repeatedly.

Second Uncle’s family was well-off, and when they moved, they left some old furniture behind. Though the furniture was chipped and worn in places, it was still usable—just what Miao Suwen and her son needed, saving them the worry of furnishing the place.

Still, there were many household items they lacked. Seeing that the house was in order and didn’t require so many hands, Gu Chengyong said he would take Qin Shaoyuan into town to buy supplies. Axi and Alu, unfamiliar with the area, stayed behind to help at home.

Jiaoyan, of course, would not let such an opportunity slip by and insisted on going along. Gu Chengyong was always indulgent with his daughter, so when she requested to join them, he quickly agreed. Thus, Gu Chengyong, Qin Shaoyuan, and Jiaoyan returned to the Gu home, hitched the cart, and the three of them set off for town.

Qingshan Village lay close to Watchpost Town, which was near the turbulent confluence of the Hun River and the Great Green River. The meeting of the two currents was treacherous, with hidden shoals and raging waters, and the dangerous Watchpost itself gave the town its name.

Watchpost Town was a vital point on the water route. Whether boats or timber rafts, all stopped here to rest, making the town a bustling hub of activity.

Qingshan Village was about a dozen li from the town, but with the horse cart, the journey was not long. Yesterday, they had passed through on their way back, but with everyone preoccupied, no one had paid attention to the place. Now, Jiaoyan had the leisure to observe Watchpost Town carefully.

The town was filled with inns, and in front of every inn lounged groups of women in brightly colored clothes with rouge on their cheeks. Their slovenly posture made it clear to Jiaoyan that these were not women of reputable occupation.

Aside from inns, there were many restaurants, catering to the countless boatmen and raft crews who stopped there. The influx of outsiders boosted the local economy, and all manner of commerce thrived, giving the town an air of vibrant prosperity.

Jiaoyan was used to the bustling southern cities, so this small northern town seemed unremarkable to her. Yet northern customs were quite different from those of the south—the houses lining the streets, the pedestrians, everything was distinct—so she observed it all with great interest.

Since they were there to buy things for the Miao family, Gu Chengyong stopped the cart in front of a general store. “Let’s go in—just about everything for daily use can be found here.”

Jiaoyan and Shaoyuan climbed down from the cart together. Shaoyuan held Jiaoyan’s hand tightly and warned her softly, “Jiaoyan, there are a lot of people here. Stay close to me and don’t let go.”

A pretty girl like Jiaoyan was exactly the sort who attracted the eyes of the less savory types. With the bustling river traffic, if she were taken aboard a boat, finding her again would be impossible.

Jiaoyan nodded. “I know.” She held tightly to his hand, refusing to let go.

The three entered the shop, which proved to be well-stocked with all manner of goods. They picked out ten bowls, ten plates, two pairs of chopsticks, and several clay basins of various sizes. Brass basins were too expensive—clay ones would do.

They also bought oil, salt, sauces, vinegar, various condiments, large and small jars, crocks, and urns—essentials for any household. They added knives, scissors, ladles, spatulas, and more.

Seeing the trio select such a large pile of goods, the shopkeeper was delighted, grinning as he promised them a discount.

Once they had chosen everything they needed, Gu Chengyong said, “That’s enough. We can make do for the rest. I’ll go up the mountain in the next few days to cut some branches and weave baskets and hampers for you. They don’t need to look good, as long as they’re useful.”

Qin Shaoyuan, though mature for his age, was still a child and lacked experience in these matters. “We’ll do as you say, Master.” At home, he hadn’t dared call him Master, but out here, he finally did.

Gu Chengyong worked out the bill with the shopkeeper and was about to pay when Shaoyuan produced his own money. “Master, my mother gave me silver. No need for you to pay.” He smiled as he settled the account.