Chapter 27: Chapter 25: The Field
Gu Chengyu, who was just watching the road nearby, had no clue about Gu Lanâs thoughts. If he knew, he would definitely shout for justice. Itâs not that he doesnât like eating; itâs that he feels embarrassed about eating alone.
The men working in the fields were preparing to go home, happily chatting with the children and women who came to call them for meals. The fields were lively, and light smoke was already rising from the chimneys of the village houses.
Gu Chengyu was about to reach the Gu Familyâs field, ready to head home with the Gu Familyâs men.
"Dad," Gu Chengyu approached the edge of the field, saw Mr. Gu, and called out, then greeted the elder and second brothers behind him.
"Why are you out so late today? Where did you play? Does your mother know?" Mr. Gu saw his youngest son and smiled even before speaking. The saying about the youngest son being the apple of an old manâs eye holds true.
"I told mom. Staying in the house all the time is enough to make anyone stupid." Gu Chengyu felt helpless too. His mother was very strict with him and seldom let him go out for fear heâd get hurt. Heâs almost five this year, and the number of times heâs been out can be counted on one hand. However, this is also partly due to his homely disposition.
"Dad, kids from farming families need to run around to toughen up. Look at Xiao Bao staying in all day, how can a kid stand that?" Gu Chengli looked at Gu Chengyuâs fair, delicate face and his frail little frame and urged his father. Look at this little face, itâs growing to look almost like a girlâs, nothing like a boy, and his frame is as weak as a little chick. This wonât do.
"Xiao Bao should eat more to gain some weight. Look how thin he is, not at all as sturdy as Han." Although Xiao Bao was their younger brother, Gu Chengli often treated him like a son.
Han? Gu Chengyu felt exasperated. What kind of eyesight does his elder brother have? Heâs seen Han a few times. Theyâre about the same age, and Han is the grandson of the Lin Family from the west side of the village. Heâs truly stout; probably his family saves all their food for him. Otherwise, how could he grow so big? At five-years-old, he looks like heâs seven or eight. His skin is dark, and he likes to roll around in the mud every day, leaving his clothes filthy, with long streaks running under his nose. Every day, his mother has to drag him by the ear from the east end of the village back to the west while he wails the entire way. Thinking about Hanâs image, Gu Chengyu felt a shiver of repulsion.
Actually, Gu Chengyu had recently started cultivating Inner Strength in the space, although the progress hadnât been very fast, with the help of the Spiritual Spring, his Inner Strength was gradually increasing. Of course, the Spiritual Spring isnât something that gives you decades of skills with just a sip. Thatâs not going to happen. You have to cultivate steadily, but it is faster compared to those with even remarkable bones and quick martial arts learning, so it only appears that heâs thin on the outside now.
"Oh, Uncle Gu, is this your youngest? He looks really good!" A burly man got up from the neighboring field. It was the eldest son of the Lian Family in the village.
"Itâs Big Bull, huh? A little kid, whatâs there to say about looking good or not good? He just doesnât like going out, so heâs a bit pale from staying indoors." Mr. Gu was walking ahead carrying a hoe, speaking dismissively, but the smile on his face betrayed him.
The eldest and second sons of the Gu Family only vaguely resembled Mr. Gu, likely taking after Da He more. They had square faces, small eyes, and a nose that wasnât particularly high. Theyâd be considered ordinary and couldnât even compare to Mr. Guâs decent appearance.
"Gosh! Is this an immortal beside the Bodhisattva? How did he grow so well?" The question from Lian Daniu attracted the attention of several aunts, and Aunt Wang from the village came forward, exaggeratedly clapping her hands with shining eyes, and even pinched Gu Chengyuâs cheeks twice.
"Look, why do I think he looks like a young master from a big family! This skin, so tender! Click, click..." Aunt Wang exclaimed while looking at Gu Chengyu, marveling at how a farming family could raise such a child. The little child had skin as white as jade, slightly upturned beautiful eyes that were very captivating, and water-like mist in them; a delicate little mouth with upturned corners. The most eye-catching was a crimson mark in the middle of his brows, which indeed made his features strikingly picturesque. Even though he wore a short coat of coarse blue fabric, he didnât resemble the kids in the village who ran around chasing chickens and dogs.
"No wonder that master said this child would do well in the future! Look at his appearance, so different from my two kids. So Gu Familyâs youngest, donât forget your aunt in the future, alright?" The elder aunts surrounded him, pushing Gu Lan, who was originally walking with Gu Chengyu, into some unknown corner. Compared to the slightly delicate-looking Gu Lan, the women naturally preferred the cuter and more beautiful child. Itâs true that attractive kids have advantages at any time; women generally have little resistance to adorable things regardless of age. Besides, people in ancient times were superstitious, and since Gu Chengyu received a blessing from a master, maybe they could benefit from that in the future.
Gu Chengyuâs face had been pinched so many times that it felt numb. He had to look up with an innocent expression and pleaded with his father with big eyes, hoping his father would rescue him.
Mr. Gu was initially delighted that his youngest son was adored by everyone, but when the women not only talked but also touched his little face until it turned red, he caught his sonâs pleading eyes and hurried to save him from it!
"Ahem, uh, Xiao Bao, your mother is calling us to come back for dinner!" After speaking, he took Gu Chengyuâs hand, ready to lead him home. Gu Chengyu immediately breathed a sigh of relief because the auntsâ enthusiasm was overwhelming for him too!
"Click, click, anyone who doesnât know might think this is someone elseâs girl! What good does it do for a boy to look so pretty? In the end, isnât he going to dig the fields just like everyone else, yet some people are still fond of that."
Gu Chengyu was just about to go back when he heard a discordant voice coming from behind. He turned his head and saw a woman wearing a dark red cross-collared short roughed cloth shirt and a blue rough cloth skirt. After spending over four years here, Gu Chengyu had learned that farming women, who regularly do housework and sometimes even go to the fields, usually wear pantsâskirt-wearing isnât practical for work and is reserved for special occasions. Of course, this varies with wealthier families who might wear skirts often too.
Right now it was the busy farming season, so even if not going into the fields, women wouldnât typically wear skirts unless staying indoors. Looking again at this woman, her features could be called gentle, with hair that was yellow and held with a wooden hairpin, her face already showing the marks of time, though she might have had some beauty when she was younger.
"Yang Laosanâs wife, isnât it inappropriate to say that about a little child? We like seeing kids who look refined, whatâs it to you?" Aunt Wang didnât like it when Yang Laosanâs wife made sarcastic remarks, indirectly insulting them too.
"Who doesnât know what youâre thinking! Competing with a little babe, donât you feel ashamed?" Aunt Wang retorted disrespectfully and, losing interest in the show, gathered her men and children to head home.
"Hold it, what do you mean by that?" Yang Laosanâs wife raised her eyebrows, hands on hips, not willing to let it go.
"Whatâs it? Wang Yue, you want to fight me? Bring it on, Iâm not afraid of you!" Saying this, she really was ready to roll up her sleeves and start a fight.
The one called Wang Yue was clearly not one to back down easily either, stepping in to charge toward her. But before sheâd gone a few steps, her husband Yang Laosan seized and held her back.
"Can you just keep quiet? Donât you think weâre embarrassed enough already? Get back home, are we having dinner or not?" Yang Laosan frowned, shouted angrily.
Seeing her husband about to flip out, Wang Yue dropped her intentions for a fight, but she was still dragged away by Yang Laosan, swearing and grumbling all the way back.