As for whether the Dan family will go or not, that’s their own business.
After everything was settled, Yang Ruxin and the two others left Majia Hollow.
"Sister Ruxin, where are we going?" Lin Xiwang seemed a bit uneasy.
"Of course we’re going home." Yang Ruxin glanced at Lin Xiwang, "The New Year is coming up, and any issues can wait until after the celebrations."
"Oh." The little guy seemed somewhat dispirited.
"Don’t look like that." Yang Ruxin flicked Lin Xiwang’s forehead, "You’ve followed me out, and you call me Sister Ruxin, so from now on you’re my little brother. I have several brothers and sisters at home, and you’ll be an older brother. You have to help me look after them..."
Lin Xiwang’s eyes suddenly lit up.
"And you can’t just eat and drink for free. I own several shops, and you’ll need to work to earn money. In the future, you’ll need to rely on yourself if you want to take a wife, understand?"
"Don’t worry, Sister Ruxin, I will definitely work hard." Lin Xiwang was finally reassured. He was afraid that he might be considered a burden after their arrival.
Not long after they left Majia Hollow, a horse-drawn carriage stopped by the side of the road. The driver, a man dressed in simple black cotton clothing, was very inconspicuous; however, the sharp gleam in his eyes revealed his expertise in martial arts.
"Young master." The man, upon seeing Gu Qingheng, restrained himself, but excitement trembled in his voice.
"Shadow Three, you’ve worked hard." Gu Qingheng patted his shoulder.
Shadow Three hurriedly shook his head, and when Gu Qingheng turned around, he secretly wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. The young master had finally returned; it was wonderful.
"This is Xinxin..."
"Young Master’s wife!" Shadow Three blurted out the title automatically.
Yang Ruxin’s mouth twitched; she wasn’t even married yet and she was already referred to with the grand title of young master’s wife. It felt a bit odd...
"Call us big brother and big sister from now on," Gu Qingheng waved it off, "there’s no young master or young master’s wife here."
Shadow Three’s mouth opened, but he then smoothly made the switch in address.
"Are you older than everyone else?" Yang Ruxin pursed her lips.
"I’m their master, and they won’t lose anything by calling me big brother," Gu Qingheng laughed, then lifted Yang Ruxin into his arms and placed her in the carriage, "Get inside and warm up."
Yang Ruxin didn’t say anything more, turned around and entered the carriage compartment, followed closely by Gu Qingheng clambering in as well.
Lin Xiwang had never been in a horse carriage before and excitedly sat on the shaft, watching Shadow Three drive.
"Big... big brother, we have to go through Wuhexian to reach Baihua County from here," Shadow Three spoke from outside, "Let’s stay in Wuhexian for the night."
"Is Wuhexian by the sea?" Yang Ruxin suddenly asked.
"Yes, Wuhexian is the only coastal area in Linjiang Prefecture, full of fishing villages." Shadow Three was clearly well-versed in the local geography.
"Let’s go to Shiyan Village," Yang Ruxin thought for a while, "we’ll stay there tonight."
Shadow Three waited a moment for Gu Qingheng to object, but when no objection came, he acknowledged the direction and then flicked the whip, feeling a deeper understanding of this rumored big sister-in-law. Indeed, as Gu Yao had said, the big brother doted on her to the core.
Winter nights fell quickly, and the hardened winter roads made for rough travel, so the carriage did not move fast. Eventually, they had no choice but to find a manor to stay at halfway through their journey, and only continued on the following morning.