Chapter 39: Ancient Mountain Village

The next morning, at dawn.

Xu Mo, Chen Miaoyi, and Xu Tieshu’s family of three set out from the city.

The five of them had rented a mule cart the previous day, loaded with all sorts of materials and odds and ends for repairing the house, and headed toward Gushan Village.

As the cart was piled high with goods, Xu Tieshu had only Chen Miaoyi and Xu Hui, the two women, sit inside. He himself took charge of driving, while Xu Mo and Xu Ping’an walked alongside on foot.

Gushan Village lay to the north of Xinzhou City, over twenty li away; at their current pace, it would take at least an hour and a half to reach it.

This was Xu Mo’s first time leaving the county town since his arrival in this world. Everything beyond the city gates seemed novel—he kept looking around, peppering the others with questions, far more talkative than usual.

Noticing this, Xu Hui leaned in and whispered to Chen Miaoyi, “Sister-in-law, what’s going on with Cousin? He never used to be like this. It’s as if he’s become a different person.”

Chen Miaoyi shook her head and replied in a low voice, “I don’t know either. Ever since he fainted and woke up that day, his temper and personality have changed. Maybe it was that illness that did it.”

Xu Hui thought for a moment, then nodded. “I’ve heard people say a serious illness can change someone completely. I never believed it before, but now it seems true.”

Chen Miaoyi nodded in agreement.

Just then, Xu Mo glanced over at Chen Miaoyi.

The moment their eyes met, her cheeks flushed, and she hurriedly lowered her head to avoid his gaze.

She had suddenly recalled last night’s embarrassing scene—sharing the same bed, wrapped under the same quilt, and Xu Mo’s hands had been anything but proper.

Though she hadn’t agreed to consummate their marriage, his actions had left her so tense that even by morning, her shy, flustered mood had yet to subside.

“Sister-in-law, is the wind too strong? Your face looks all flushed,” Xu Hui’s voice suddenly cut in, snapping Chen Miaoyi out of her reverie.

She quickly covered her face with her hands, stammering, “The wind… it does seem a little strong…”

Xu Mo saw all of this and couldn’t help but chuckle quietly to himself.

But that quiet laugh was caught by Chen Miaoyi, who instantly felt so embarrassed she couldn’t lift her head, silently blaming Xu Mo: You’re still laughing? How mortifying!

Seeing her discomfort, Xu Mo quickened his pace to walk beside Xu Tieshu.

He asked, “Uncle, are there any relatives from Aunt’s family still in Gushan Village?”

Xu Tieshu’s father- and mother-in-law had passed away many years ago, leaving only a daughter behind. Later, after his wife died too, their ancestral home in Gushan Village was left empty, with villagers helping to look after it.

Xu Tieshu shook his head. “No, your aunt’s family was from the south. They only settled in the village a little over thirty years ago, so there are no relatives here.”

“Oh,” Xu Mo replied.

Mentioning his late wife, Xu Tieshu’s expression softened, and he sighed, “Ah, Xu Mo, if your aunt were still here, she’d be so happy to see our family doing well.”

Xu Mo nodded. “Uncle, I’m sure Aunt, watching from above, is just as happy for us.”

“You’re right!” Xu Tieshu smiled.

After chatting a while longer, Xu Tieshu suddenly asked, “By the way, Xu Mo, what are your plans for the soap business?”

Xu Mo naturally understood his meaning. The profit from soap was enormous, and Xu Tieshu didn’t think continuing production in their Sweetwater Lane home was a long-term solution. It would be best to move somewhere quieter and safer, where they could increase output with peace of mind.

“Uncle, I’ve been thinking about this for some time. I came along to Gushan Village not just for the trip, but also to scout things out.”

“To scout?” The term was unfamiliar to Xu Tieshu.

Xu Mo explained, “Uncle, there are too many people and too many eyes in the city. It’s not suitable for starting a soap workshop; we’ll have to set it up somewhere in the countryside.”

“That day, I happened to overhear Huihui mention you were returning to Gushan Village, so I thought I’d come along and take a look. Perhaps we could set up a workshop right here in the village!”

At that, Xu Tieshu became excited. “Xu Mo, Gushan Village is a great place. I know everyone here, so it’ll be much easier than going somewhere else.”

“That’s exactly what I was thinking, Uncle.”

“Once we get to the village, I’ll take you to see the village head. This will definitely work out!”

“Thank you, Uncle,” Xu Mo replied with a smile.

“No need for thanks—we’re family!” Xu Tieshu laughed, waving his hand.

With that, he snapped the whip, urging the mule to pick up speed.

After nearly two hours of travel, the cart finally reached the entrance to Gushan Village.

Xu Mo immediately noticed the wooden archway, bearing the words “Gushan Village” in large characters.

To call it an archway was generous—it was little more than a simple frame of wooden poles and planks, with no carvings or decorations at all.

Behind the archway, a cluster of houses stood—crude and dilapidated, some looking so unstable that a stiff wind might blow them down.

“You’re back, Carpenter Xu!” A dark-skinned, lean farmer carrying a hoe approached them.

Seeing the cart piled high, he called out, “Well, you’ve brought a lot with you. Fixing up the house, are you?”

Xu Tieshu nodded with a smile, steering the cart onward as he exchanged a few words with the farmer.

At this moment, Xu Hui hopped off the cart, ran over to Xu Mo, and pointed up the slope ahead. “Cousin, my grandmother’s house is just up there.”

Xu Mo glanced up and nodded.

Seeing Xu Hui get down, Chen Miaoyi felt it would be awkward to remain seated, so she, too, jumped off the cart. But as she landed, she stumbled and nearly fell.

Xu Mo rushed over to steady her. “Are you all right, Miaoyi?”

Village folk by the roadside watched, making Chen Miaoyi feel even shyer. She quickly pushed Xu Mo’s hand away, cheeks aflame, and shook her head.

Xu Mo feigned annoyance. “What are you embarrassed for? You’re my wife—if I don’t help you, who will?”

But she was too shy to reply, turning away and hurrying to Xu Hui’s side, where the two young women began whispering together.

Xu Mo continued alongside the cart and asked, “Uncle, how many people live in Gushan Village?”

“There are a little over fifty households in all,” replied Xu Tieshu, “just over three hundred people.”

Xu Mo was puzzled. With the village so close to Xinzhou City, he’d have expected at least seven or eight hundred residents.

“Why so few villagers, Uncle?”

Xu Tieshu sighed. “It’s poverty. The land around here is poor. Even after a whole year’s hard work, many families struggle to get by, and in years of disaster, it’s even worse. So, little by little, people have moved away.”

Afraid Xu Mo might be discouraged, Xu Tieshu quickly added, “But don’t worry, Xu Mo. Though Gushan isn’t good for farming, it’s perfect for a soap workshop. Look around—there’s no end to wild grasses here. We’ll never lack for wood ash!”

Xu Mo looked around and saw it was true—the countryside was overgrown, providing ample raw material for making lye.

After walking a while farther, the cart reached the slope.

The load was too heavy, and the incline too steep for the mule to pull the cart any farther, even with all its strength.

So Xu Mo and a few others went to the back to help push, but it was still tough going.

Just then, Xu Hui spotted someone and cheerfully waved, calling out, “Woodenhead! Qin Woodenhead!”

Qin Woodenhead happened to be coming down the slope, a huge bundle of firewood on his back.

He turned at the sound of his name but didn’t recognize Xu Hui at first—she was dressed so finely today, with new clothes, new shoes, and even a new hairstyle.

“Hey, Woodenhead, why are you just standing there? You can’t even recognize me?” Xu Hui stepped forward, frowning in mock annoyance.

Only then did Qin Woodenhead realize who she was. Setting down his firewood, he grinned sheepishly and hurried over. “Xiao Hui, you’re dressed so nicely I didn’t recognize you at all.”

The two young people began chatting happily, but Xu Mo called out in exasperation, “Hey, can you two save the talking for later and help us push the cart up the hill first?”