Chapter 451: Chapter 458: An Overnight Stay in the Vige


    At this time, seeing Yin Shi here was a perfectly normal affair, but observing his slightly uneasy expression, Han Yu could infer from the previous conversation what had transpired when he entered, overhearing parts of it. He understood the situation well enough not to worry that Yin Shi would truly act on it. Yin Shi, after all, was a smart person. He knew well the consequences of such actions and who would be harmed by them, so when suspecting a traitor within, Han Yu never counted Yin Shi among them.


    “Xiu Qi, your arrival is timely. With the great battle impending, Cibo came over to ask if there were any areas where he could be of service. I’m not as skilled as you in troop deployment and formation, so I’ll leave the arrangements to you,” Liu Xiu said as Han Yu entered, clearly stating his stance. He had always trusted Han Yu and had no worries that Han Yu would behave like Yin Shi, acting out of personal interest or disposition. Han Yu was a true gentleman.


    If Han Yu knew what Liu Xiu was thinking, he would likely be somewhat embarrassed. He really didn’t qualify as a true gentleman. It was just that he seldom resorted to intrigue, and even when he did, his methods were exceedingly clever and went unnoticed, which led to such a misunderstanding with Liu Xiu. He felt rather apologetic about it.


    Both sides were making preparations for the war, each with their own reliance and concerns, and the conflict erupted as expected.


    Now, Su Wenyue was leading three children and her mother’s family to a rather deste area. The sudden rain made it difficult to travel, especially with children, and caused great inconvenience. Therefore, they decided to settle down in a small vige not far ahead, intending to wait for the rain to stop before continuing their journey.


    “May I ask who you guests are?” Just as Master Su was about to send the housekeeper to scout the vige, an old man with white hair, wearing a straw raincoat, came out from the vige and approached them with an inquiry.


    “Elder, we are a caravan just passing through. The rain has made it difficult to travel, and besides, it’s gettingte. We’d like to rest for a bit in the vige. I wonder if you could be so kind as to amodate us?” Master Su respectfully addressed the old man with a bow.


    “So you’re a passing caravan. Indeed, this weather isn’t suitable for travel, and it looks like the rain might continue for some time. I have a few empty rooms in my house that you can use,” the old man replied kindly, without any rejection, and started leading the way forward, bringing the group into the vige.


    The vigers rarely saw so many visitors, even in the rain, and they came out to curiously watch Su Wenyue and her group, murmuring to each other now and then.


    When Su Wenyue entered the vige, she also looked around. The small vige had no more than ten households, mostly elderly and women with children. The men were either conscripted into the Imperial Court’s army or had left to make a living elsewhere. This gave the vige a deste and lonely feeling. Moreover, with the world falling into greater chaos and the rising food prices, themoners’ days were bing increasingly difficult, their faces gaunt and malnourished, making Su Wenyue and her group stand out all the more.<div>


    It was only from their conversation that they learned the old man leading them was named Liu, the Vige Chief. His own son had gone off to the army, leaving just his daughter-inw and two grandsons at home.


    “Mr. and Mrs. Su, please rest in the main house for a while. The room I’m offering has been vacant for a long time and is rather dirty and messy, so I’ll have my daughter-inw clean it up first,” Old Man Liu said, just as a middle-aged woman headed to a side room, the Old Man’s daughter-inw.


    “We couldn’t trouble you further. The fact that you are willing to lend us rooms is already deeply appreciated. My servants and sister-inw can handle it,” Master Su promptly replied, not looking down on the old man because of his status, as though it were a given.


    “It’s no trouble at all, we’re used to attending to these small matters.”


    “Then we are indeed in your debt, thank you kindly, elder,” said Master Su, eventually allowing the servant girl to join in and help.


    Old Man Liu was hospitable, having Mr. and Mrs. Su and Su Wenyue sit in the main house while he poured water for them, attending to their needs. He would have liked to serve the others as well, but the house did not have enough cups.


    “Laugh at us if you will, but we’re too poor to afford tea leaves. All I can offer is in water; please don’t mind it,” Old Man Liu said with a restrained manner, bringing forward a te of peanuts—what little his family had grown and all that remained for such hospitable purposes. His grandson clung to Old Man Liu’s leg, eyeing the te of peanuts, salivating, but too timid to approach and ask for some.


    The three well-behaved children sat beside their mother, intrigued by the other child around their age. Seeing Old Man Liu’s grandson coveting the bowl of peanuts, Little Si Yu was the first to speak up.


    “Mother, does this little brother want some peanuts? Si Yu noticed he can’t take his eyes off the peanuts on the table and he is drooling. Mother, could we let him have some?” Sister Yu meant well, but being a child, she spoke without pretense, rapidly and directly. Hearing Si Yu’s words, Old Man Liu felt a bit ufortable but didn’t scold his grandson.


    Their stock of food was limited, and it was hard enough to get by as it was, let alone eat well. Peanuts, once a treat, had be a luxury, and it was natural for the grandchild to react so.


    Having children of her own had softened Su Wenyue’s heart. Seeing Old Man Liu’s grandson, who was six or seven years old but looked frail and only slightly taller than her own three children, she felt pity for him. She smiled as she handed the te of peanuts to Si Yu to take them to Old Man Liu’s grandson.


    The children of Su Wenyue’s family were not shy. With her permission, Little Si Yu happily took the peanuts to the little boy, with Brother Xing and Brother Chen following closely to protect their sister.


    “Little brother, here are some peanuts for you,” Si Yu sweetly offered to Old Man Liu’s grandson.


    Old Man Liu’s grandson, previously gazing eagerly at the peanuts on the table, now stood dumbstruck, staring at Si Yu, not reaching for them. Instead, he nced at his grandfather, Old Man Liu, for guidance.


    “Huzi, what are you waiting for? Didn’t you want some peanuts? That considerate little girl has brought them to you, go on and take a handful,” Old Man Liu encouraged his grandson, who seemed a bit bewildered; his grandson’s name was Huzi.


    “Thank you, sister,” Huzi said in a small voice. He quickly grabbed a handful of peanuts from the te, careful not to take too many, and began to shell and eat them.


    About a quarter of an hourter, Old Man Liu’s daughter-inw had finished cleaning the rooms. She cleared out four rooms, with Mr. and Mrs. Su upying one, and Su Wenyue with the three children upying another, while the remaining two rooms were allocated to the servants. Those who couldn’t fit inside made do under the eaves, setting up a tent to cope.