Chapter 472: Peach Forest Dance
We rode non-stop all the way, and the setting sun gradually sank behind the mountains, dyeing the walls of Annan County a warm orange.
Smoke rose from the roofs of the county town, mixed with the aroma of dinner wafting over.
As soon as the carriage stopped at the city gate, the students rubbed their sore waists, with tired but expectant expressions on their faces.
After walking a little further, you will be back to Taohua Village.
"Jiayue, why don't you stay in the county town for the next few days?" Zheng Qinghe got out of the carriage first and walked to Gu Jiayue's window. His tone was filled with anticipation, his eyes fixed on her face. "I'll take you around the county town. There's a stage in the west that's currently performing 'Mu Guiying Takes Command.' There's also a sugar painting stall in the east that makes lifelike rabbits. You're sure you'll like it."
Gu Jiayue leaned against the car window, watching the people coming and going in the county town. Peddlers carrying loads, women holding children, and scholars in long gowns—everything was so fresh and new.
She was indeed a little moved.
But she quickly remembered her identity. "Brother Qinghe, I won't bother you anymore... I have to go back to the village first and settle the children down, otherwise they won't feel at ease."
More importantly, Sister Gu had told her last night that she and Zheng Qinghe had already broken off their engagement.
If she gets too close to him now and someone sees her and starts gossiping about her, it will not only ruin her reputation but may also affect Zheng Qinghe's career.
But she really couldn't say any harsh words of refusal, so she could only lower her head and speak in a voice as soft as a mosquito.
Zheng Qinghe looked at her embarrassment, feeling somewhat disappointed, but he didn't insist. He simply said softly, "Then be careful on your way. Tomorrow, I'll arrange matters at the county yamen and go find you in Taohua Village. Don't worry about your amnesia. I've already written back to Kyoto, asking my father to ask the judge from the Imperial Hospital to come over. He'll definitely be able to cure you."
"No need to trouble Master Taifu," Jiang Luli said, disembarking from another carriage. "I've already sent a letter for Xiao Fuzi to come over. He's a direct disciple of Master Yaosheng of Yaowang Valley, and his knowledge of poisons is even deeper than that of the chief judge of the Imperial Hospital. He'll definitely be able to find out what poison Jiayue has contracted."
Zheng Qinghe just smiled and stopped arguing with Jiang Luli.
He was certain that Gu Jiayue would not recover her memory in the short term. As long as her memory did not recover, the only person Gu Jiayue would remember was him. Jiang Luli was just an insignificant person, and no amount of struggle would be of any use.
After separating from the county government office, the carriage headed towards Taohua Village.
The night gradually deepened, and the moonlight sprinkled on the country road, casting the shadows of wheels.
After walking for about two hours, the familiar outline of a village finally appeared in the distance.
We have arrived at Taohua Village.
Taohua Village is at its busiest in April.
Under the old locust tree at the entrance of the village, peach trees, pear trees and apricot trees are in full bloom.
Pink peach blossoms, white pear blossoms and apricot blossoms are intertwined. When the wind blows, the petals fall like snow, forming a thin layer on the ground, and the air is filled with sweet floral fragrance.
"Oh my god, it's so beautiful... Is this a paradise on earth?" Yue'er leaned against the car window, her eyes wide open. She couldn't help but reach out and catch a peach petal that floated in.
The petals fell into her palm, soft and fragrant, making her sigh.
Jiang Luli sat beside her, looking at the joy in her eyes, his fingertips moved slightly.
An invisible internal force quietly surged out and gently hit the peach tree closest to the carriage.
The peach blossoms on the trees seemed to be awakened, fluttering down in large numbers, forming a dense rain of peach blossoms that fell around the carriage, and even the floral fragrance in the air became a little stronger.
Seeing this, Yue'er hurriedly stood in the peach blossom rain, opened her arms, and caught the falling petals with a smile.
Soon, her palms were filled with tender pink peach petals, and her skirt was also stained with quite a lot of them, like a layer of powder.
Gu Jiayue in her consciousness saw it all clearly and couldn't help but roll her eyes in her heart.
Does Jiang Luli know that these peach blossoms will bear fruit?
As a result of this, how much less will the peach harvest be this year?
Unfortunately, no one could hear her complaints and could only watch Yue'er happily picking up petals.
Yue'er picked up a handful of flower petals, thinking that she would use them to make lip balm when she got home, which would surely be both fragrant and beautiful.
The villagers of Taohua Village received the news as early as when they set out to return to the village.
At this moment, two lanterns were hanging under the old locust tree at the entrance of the village. The villagers stood in the shadow of the lanterns, tiptoeing to look at the road.
Seeing the carriage coming, the villagers hurried to greet it. When their children jumped out of the carriage, they hugged them in their arms and asked about their well-being.
Several villagers wanted to come forward to say a few words to Gu Jiayue and thank her for taking the children to the exam, but when they saw her standing in the rain of peach blossoms picking up petals with a smile on her face, they stopped again.
Forget it, it’s normal for girls to like flowers and plants. Don’t disturb her happiness. It’s not too late to thank her later.
Those children who had no parents to pick them up also walked along the mountain road to the school as if they were familiar with the route.
Taohua Village has good security and there has never been an incident of a child going missing, so everyone is relieved.
After Yue'er had picked up enough petals, the group headed towards Gu's house.
Gu Jiayue said to Yue'er in her mind: "When we get home, call them to come home for dinner. Farmers don't have so many rules, so there's no need to post an invitation."
Yue'er nodded, but she was getting increasingly nervous, her palms sweating. "Sister Gu, I'm so panicked... I've never been around them before. Will they dislike me? What should I say? What do they like to eat?"
She couldn't help but imagine what her family looked like.
Could he be a very serious old man?
Will you notice the difference between her and Sister Gu?
Before she could finish her thought, the carriage stopped at the gate of Gu's courtyard.
As Yue'er got off the car, she heard a "whoosh" sound.
A broom flew out from the yard and landed at their feet with a thud. Then came Grandma's powerful roar: "Su! You have the guts to run, but you can't stand still? I'm going to teach you a lesson today!"
Yue'er was stunned and whispered in her mind, "Sister Gu, is this the family you mentioned that's easy to get along with?"
Gu Jiayue also fell silent. Grandma's fighting power really had not decreased at all.
In the yard, my aunt Su ran back and shouted, "Mom! I didn't do anything wrong! Jiayue said that we can't hit family members casually. You are committing domestic violence!"
Her hair was a little messy, and her skirt was wrinkled from running. The moment she turned around, she suddenly saw a group of people standing at the door. She stopped in her tracks, her eyes wide open: "Hey! Mom! Come out and see who's back!"
"Domestic violence?" Grandma's voice came out first, a little angry. "I want to see who in this town dares to accuse me of domestic violence! It's only natural for a mother-in-law to discipline her daughter-in-law!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a spirited old lady ran out with a stick.
Her hair was combed neatly and she was wearing a green cloth shirt. Although the stick was shaking, she held it tightly, and it was obvious that she was ready to hit someone.
The old lady had just raised her stick to hit Su, but when she saw Gu Jiayue and her group at the door, she dropped the stick to the ground with a clang. She quickly stepped forward, her voice softening instantly. "Oh, my great grandson! You're finally back! Look at his thin face. He must have suffered a lot leading a bunch of young boys out for the exams, right?"
Gu Yuhe thought his grandmother was talking about him, so he quickly opened his arms and went to greet her. "Grandma! I'm back too! I missed you so much!"
As a result, grandma just brushed past him without even looking at him, and walked back to hug Yue'er who was still in a daze.
Gu Yuhe stretched out his arms, froze in place, and scratched his head awkwardly.
"Su!" Grandma hugged Gu Jiayue and turned to her aunt, who was still in a daze, and shouted, "What are you doing? Go back and kill two old hens to nourish my great grandson! Look at this little hand, as thin as a chopstick, it makes me feel so sorry for it!"
After saying that, she took Gu Jiayue's hand and walked back into the house, not forgetting to greet the others. "Captain Jiang, you're back too? Long time no see. I heard you went to fight in Yanshan. You look thinner too. Eat more later. Grandma will stew some pork ribs for you! And children, come inside and tell grandma what you want to eat!"
Jiang Luli smiled and replied, "Thank you, Grandma. Sorry for the trouble."
"It's not a trouble! You are all good kids! Come in!" Grandma took Gu Jiayue's hand, her palm was warm, and her tone was full of tenderness.
Yue'er had never experienced such enthusiasm before.
When she was in the Marquis' Mansion, the elders also loved her, but they always expressed their love in a restrained way.
She would reward her with jewelry, silks and satins, but she would never hold her hand, say she felt sorry for her, or cook for her herself like grandma did.
She looked at her grandmother's busy back, her eyes quietly reddened, and her heart felt warm, as if filled with something.
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