Chapter 291 Returning Home
"I'm not in charge of the camels right now; my son is. I don't know what the price is this year." Song Xian didn't make any promises, simply saying, "Come over next year and pick out camels in the desert. The price is negotiable. Considering the friendship we've had over the past two years, I'll definitely give you a good price."
Li Dadang said that after making money, he wanted to expand the size of the caravan and bring more people from his hometown. With more people, he would not be at a disadvantage even if he traveled with other caravans.
"Shall we continue on our way? We are too close to the desert here, and I am worried that these wild camels will change their minds. If they run away again overnight, all our efforts will be in vain." Sui Yu came over to discuss.
Xu Dadang refused. "We've been walking in the Gobi Desert for half a month. The camels and horses are tired. I plan to rest here for two or three days. This area has water and grass. I'll wait until the horses and camels have rested before continuing."
Upon hearing this, Li Dadang sighed. It wasn't the camels or horses that were tired. They hadn't traveled at night in the Gobi Desert, resting as soon as it got dark. It was easier than crossing the Pamir Mountains. It was just that the horses hadn't had any grass, so their fur had dried out. And how much grass was there nearby? There was only some grass growing along the streams flowing through the desert, which had been nibbled by the camel caravans that had passed through earlier. He knew what was going on. Seeing Sui Yu's sudden fortune, and thinking that they had encountered the wild camel herd together, yet Sui Yu refused to share the profits, Xu felt uncomfortable and deliberately opposed Sui Yu.
Sui Yu glanced at the surroundings and nodded, saying, "Alright, this place is only four or five days' journey from Yumen Pass, and there are even few wolves here. We don't need to travel together anymore, and it won't affect anything. Then I'll lead the team ahead, and you guys can rest here for a few days?"
Li Dajia thought about it and realized that he really didn't need to rush since he had plenty of time. So he pretended to be dumbfounded and echoed what Xu Dajia said, saying, "We'll leave in two days. Shopkeeper Yu will go first. You go back and have someone prepare some good things. We'll look for you in Dunhuang and we can rest there for a while."
Xu Da, the head of the household, didn't want to offend Sui Yu either. He changed his stiff tone and said politely with a smile, "We'll take care of each other on the way. When we get back to Dunhuang, we'll take care of Shopkeeper Yu's business. Shopkeeper Yu, you have to be cheap. We'll buy camels from Song Dajia. She's willing to give us a good price because of their friendship over the past two years. What about you? Consider slaughtering a pig and have the cook prepare a steamed dish for us."
"The piglets haven't grown up yet, so we can only slaughter them in winter. But if you want steamed dishes, it's easy. I'll ask someone to go to the city to buy pork." Sui Yu didn't say anything more to him. Seeing that Lao Wan and his group were getting ready to leave, she also planned to leave.
"We'll meet again some other day. I'll be leaving first." Sui Yu drove the camel away and said, "Sister Song, you'll be leaving with Master Xu two days later..."
"We're almost home, why am I still dawdling outside?" Song Xian had a clear mind. Even if she would go through the customs with the caravans of the Xu and Li families in the future, she would not try to curry favor with them everywhere. At this time, she must go with Sui Yu.
The servants of the Song and Sui families were keeping an eye on the movements here. As soon as the two masters made a move, the servants would drive away their own horses and leave with the camel caravan.
Night quickly swept over the desert, but the departing caravan did not stop its journey. It walked eastward step by step under the starry sky.
As the stars shift, the moon sets and the crows cry, and the hazy glow spreads across the desert, the camel caravan stretching for miles is like a giant yellow-brown dragon, moving from the darkness to the brilliant glow.
The people who were dozing on the camel caravan woke up and opened their eyes to see the bright sunlight. It was already noon, but the camels were still marching tirelessly.
Sui Yu took off the water bag hanging around her waist and drank a few sips of water. She woke up and turned her head to look to the side. Song Xian and Lu Yaer were eating dry naan. Every bite of this thing required a sip of water, and it could only be chewed and dissolved with water.
"We're just a little further to the river. How about we take a break there?" Song Xian asked.
Sui Yu looked forward and saw ten male servants escorting wild camels walking in front. A group of wild camels stretched their necks as they walked, braying from time to time, like a group of noisy donkeys.
"Okay, let's feed the livestock when we get to the river." Sui Yu looked east, but could not yet see the towering walls of Yumen Pass.
At the height of midday, the scorching wind brought the sound of gurgling water, and without prompting, the animals spontaneously shifted direction and walked. People jumped off their camels and sat down in the scorching sand, stretching their legs. The scorching heat seared their stiff knees. By the time their legs regained feeling, they were sweating profusely.
When Sui Yu saw Xiao Chunhong crossing the stream with a knife in hand, she also stood up and walked over. Everyone stood on the north side of the river, intercepting the camels to prevent them from escaping.
After the camels and horses had had enough water, Zhang Shun led his men to unload the food and fodder for them. The camels were running low on hay, so if they were full at one meal, they would be hungry at the next. Fortunately, they were not far from Yumen Pass.
The Dayuan horses were not in good condition walking in the desert. They looked listless and had no appetite. They were not carrying luggage and were not as energetic as the camels carrying food and grass.
Sui Yu carried a bucket of water and walked to the side of the black horse. This stubborn horse had been in her care for more than half a year, but it still refused to obey her orders and became agitated when people approached it. She had no choice but to stand a few steps away and pour water on it with a bucket.
The chestnut-gold foal came over with hay in its mouth. Sui Yu poured the last bit of water in the bucket on it and walked towards the river with the empty bucket.
Others were also busy fetching water to pour on the horses to cool them down. The half-grown pony was running among the crowd, and after half an hour, it was soaked all over.
After resting for a while and eating all the grass on the ground, everyone got on their camels and continued on their journey.
Lao Wan and his group were not carrying any loads, so they had already run away.
After traveling day and night, another day and night passed before the caravan finally reached Yumen Pass.
The caravan stopped in the city for three days to purchase the horses. The captain of Yumen Pass, having heard about the situation, approached the merchant. Over a decade later, Sui Yu reunited with the captain who had helped her and the sisters Sui Hui and Sui Ling escape from the brothel. She only remembered him as the captain of Yumen Pass over a decade ago; she had no idea of his name or appearance. She couldn't possibly inquire about him, so out of an unspoken gratitude, he offered her four thousand coins. She didn't bargain, readily selling him a tall, chestnut-colored horse.
"How much is this half-grown pony? Two thousand coins?" This man was not satisfied with the bargain he got.
"I'm not selling this pony. I'm bringing it back for my own child." Sui Yu refused.
"Sell me this pony, and buy another one next time you leave the customs. This pony has a beautiful golden coat. I'll add another 600 coins."
Sui Yu still shook his head. "I probably won't be going to Dayuan in the next few years. You can keep an eye on the passing caravans to see if there are any going to Dayuan. Then ask them to find a pony with this coat color."
The intention to evade was obvious. Although Captain Li was a little unhappy, he did not insist on it anymore. If he did, he would lose his dignity.
"You shouldn't have sold it to him at this price. Four thousand coins is too low a price for a horse. He might think we are afraid of him, so he is trying to get more money." Song Xian said angrily.
"I got out of the brothel because of his influence, so I should give him a couple of thousand coins in profit," Sui Yu whispered. "But we can't stay here any longer. We have to leave quickly, or else others will hear about it and come looking for us. They'll all want to buy horses at this price, and I won't make any money."
Song Xian was stunned, but she didn't have time to say anything more. After the caravan left Yumen Pass, she said, "Masters Xu and Li are coming to Dunhuang and they're probably going to pick a fight with you. You messed up the horse prices, and they're in trouble."
"The horses were not bought from them, so they just don't admit that price. People who come later can't drag the captain over to testify. Not to mention the horses, even the furs are priced differently for each caravan. It's normal, and everyone understands this." When doing business, there is no need to look ahead and behind and take care of every aspect. Sui Yu thought that when she purchased the goods, the silk, wine, and cloth were priced differently for each caravan. Buying high or low depends on one's ability, and the same goes for selling high or low.
"You're right. I've been thinking too much." Song Xian fell into deep thought. She was too concerned about relationships and feelings, and even worried about whether other caravans could make money.
…
The further east Sui Yu traveled, the more excited she became. She could hardly control her restless heartbeat. If she hadn't retained her sanity, she would have even wanted to abandon the caravan and ride a camel alone day and night, without sleeping or rest, to return home as soon as possible.
When the city walls of Dunhuang came into view, Sui Yu handed the affairs of the caravan over to Zhang Shun. She took away Wu Zhui and the half-grown foal, skipped lunch, and left the caravan behind to rush into the city.
Huang Ancheng was on duty at the city gate, and even though Sui Yu didn't have her household registration with her, he let her in.
"Sister Song is behind and will be back in an hour." Sui Yu said this and hurried on his way again.
A year and a half after leaving Dunhuang, the city is still the same as I remembered. The wheat seedlings in the fields to the north of the city are green, and the soybean and broad bean stalks are full of green pods. At the end of the fields, in the wilderness, a row of lush trees stands, houses are hidden among the green leaves, a black dog is sleeping under the wall, and chickens are digging the soil in the shade.
The sound of a lone camel bell was heard, the black dog's ears twitched, and the chickens digging in the soil raised their necks and clucked a few times.
"Woof——" the big black dog barked.
"Are you blind? Can't you recognize me?" Sui Yu cursed with a smile. She jumped off the camel and walked straight home.
The two black dogs whimpered twice, wagged their tails rapidly, pounced over, ran back and forth, circled around the hostess, and were so excited that they were about to pee.
Uncle Niu heard the noise and came out. He squinted his eyes and looked carefully, then asked, "Who is it?"
"Me, Sui Yu, I'm back. Where are the others? Are they all taking a nap?" Sui Yu rubbed the dog's head as he walked towards the owner's yard, asking as he walked, "Are the little cub and his father taking a nap too?"
Zhao Xiping had already heard the noise. He got out of bed and opened the door. As the door opened, a woman with a sour smell threw herself into his arms.
"A beggar came in?" He hugged her tightly.
"Go cook for me, I'm hungry." Sui Yu hit him lightly, "I miss you so much."
Zhao Xiping embraced her and walked her in, saying, "I think you want your son to die. Go wake him up and see if he still recognizes you."
The child on the bed was sleeping soundly. Sui Yu called him twice before he moved.
"Baby, look who's back." Sui Yu pulled his hand down.
"Little Zhao." Zhao Xiping also called out, "Your mother is back."
The boy sat up suddenly, but he was still conscious. He stared blankly at the woman standing beside the bed.
"Hey!" Sui Yu waved his hand, "You really don't recognize me? Then I'm going to be sad."
"Don't lie to me, the wheat is still green." The kid was a little sad.
Zhao Xiping reached out and twisted his ear, saying, "Does it hurt? If it hurts, then it's not a dream."
"It hurts!" The little cub pounced like a big black dog. He stood on the bed and hugged Sui Yubeng, saying excitedly: "Mom, you're back? I'm not dreaming, am I? The wheat isn't even ripe yet."
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