After buying the fabric, Gu Qingyun bought a bit of braised meat to bring to Keyun Inn. Before she even reached the inn, however, she ran into Head Constable Liu and the others on the way, with Wu Yong carrying someone on his back.
“Uncle Liu, what happened to you all? Weren't you eating? What's going on?”
Across the street, Qian Ba, who was on Wu Yong's back, looked pale with cold sweat pouring down his forehead. He bit his lip tightly, unable to suppress occasional groans of pain.
“This kid didn't watch where he was going and fell right down from upstairs. We just took him to the medical clinic—his leg is slightly fractured, so he'll need to rest for half a month or so.”
“We had all the food wrapped up to bring back. We'll just grab a quick bite in the duty room. We'll head back first thing tomorrow morning. Man, things really haven't gone smoothly out here.”
Gu Qingyun breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing that a doctor had already examined him and that it was nothing too serious. “We'll do as you say, Uncle Liu, and get an early rest. Once we're back home, Uncle Qian can properly recuperate.”
Returning to the duty room, everyone hastily finished the food they brought back and lay down on the wooden beds to rest. Qian Ba lay on his bed, grimacing in pain.
Gu Qingyun felt a bit sympathetic seeing his miserable state. “Uncle Qian, would you like a drink of water?”
Qian Ba nodded weakly. “Thank you, Girl Gu. I happened to be feeling thirsty.”
Gu Qingyun turned around to pour him a cup of water. After feeding him the water and helping him lie back down, she returned to her own bed, closed her eyes, and began to cultivate.
Early the next morning, the group washed up and grabbed a bowl of Yangchun noodles each at a street stall outside before setting off on their return journey. This time, Qian Ba sat together with Wang Wu in the cart while Gu Qingyun followed behind on foot.
Without prisoners to transport this time, everyone was eager to return home. The return trip took a third less time than the journey there, though it still took them eleven or twelve days.
Looking at the familiar city gate, Gu Qingyun and the others quickened their steps as they walked inside. Seeing the familiar people and sights made her heart finally settle. Although the prefecture city was bustling, there was still no place like home.
“Hurry up! Once we hand over our assignment, we can clock off. Not only can we collect our pay, but we also get tomorrow off to take a proper rest!” Wu Yong said excitedly beside her.
Gu Qingyun hadn't expected field assignments to come with such perks. The thought of bringing the fabric home and seeing her family's happy faces filled her with joy.
She was now the pillar of her family. Tsk tsk, this feeling really wasn't bad.
Especially since she now had two gold bars saved as her private stash. She was now a constable with a bit of fortune, no longer penniless.
At this thought, her desire to return home grew even stronger. Having been on duty for over a month, she hadn't gone home even once.
After clocking in to confirm her return and collecting her pay, Gu Qingyun went straight to a grain vendor to buy a bag of fine rice, some fresh meat, and various coarse grains. Carrying a large backpack basket, she went back to her quarters at the county yamen to grab her fabric before rushing home.
Seeing that the sun outside was about to set, Wu Yong and the others quickly tried to dissuade her. “Qingyun, go back tomorrow morning instead. The sun's setting now, and traveling at night isn't safe.”
Gu Qingyun shook her head, politely declining their kindness. “Uncles, I'm fast on my feet. It takes less than two shichen to get home from here. If I leave now, I'll arrive around the Xu hour. Don't worry.”
Recalling Gu Qingyun's skill and capability, Wu Yong and Zhao Si pulled out the pastries and a packet of braised meat they had bought on the street and placed them into her basket. “Take these! You saved our lives last time. If you don't accept them, you're looking down on us!”
Hearing this, what else could Gu Qingyun say? She pursed her lips and smiled. “Thank you, both Uncles. I'll humbly accept them then.”
Wu Yong slapped her shoulder in good humor. “Alright, hurry home! Don't talk so formally in the future—we're all martial artists, and it sounds awkward to our ears.”
Gu Qingyun immediately covered her mouth. “I won't do it again. Uncles, I'm off!”
With that, she waved her hand and ran outside quickly, finally looking like a lively youngster.
Gu Qingyun jogged at a normal pace as she left the city, but once she turned onto a side trail, the pedestrians gradually dwindled, and the sky slowly darkened.
When there was no one around, she channeled Qi directly into the soles of her feet and sprinted toward home, her speed leaping to more than three times faster.
Ever since she found out that the technique she practiced suppressed demons and evil spirits, traveling at night became second nature to her. She didn't feel flustered in the slightest, having already mastered the cultivation method.
She found practicing this cultivation method remarkably smooth. Moreover, she felt that if she mastered it completely, she might one day attain the Dao and become an immortal.
She glanced up at the stars in the night sky and gradually slowed her pace as the village drew closer.
It took Gu Qingyun less than a shichen to return from the county town this time, and it was barely the Xu hour now. When she was about one li away from the village, she slowed down to a walk.
The entire countryside was quiet at this hour, with only the occasional sound of barking dogs and faint oil lamps glowing in a few scattered cottages.
...
In the weaving room, Old Lady Zhang, Lady Zhao, Lady Wu, and Gu Qingyun's mother, Lady Su, sat weaving cloth—an important source of income for the household.
Fearing that the younger ones in the family didn't know how to handle things properly, Old Lady Zhang forbade anyone other than her three daughters-in-law from touching the three looms.
Looking at her three daughters-in-law, she looked weary and hesitated before speaking, “Qingyun hasn't been home for over a month now. I wonder how she's doing in the county town.”
Lady Su had been washed in tears all month, torn between the grief of losing her husband, worry for her children away from home, and anxiety about the future. Hearing her mother-in-law's words, panic welled up inside her, showing on her face. “Mother, why don't we send someone to the county yamen tomorrow to check on her? She hasn't been back in so long, and I'm really worried.”
Old Lady Zhang sighed. “Mhm, let's have Yifeng head to the county town tomorrow to check.”
“Eldest Daughter-in-Law, remember to mention it to Yifeng.”
Lady Zhao answered, “Understood, Mother.”
“Alright, stop weaving for now. Working at night is bad for your eyes. Go to sleep.”
Old Lady Zhang looked at her three daughters-in-law and sighed secretly. Their family couldn't withstand any more storms; she only prayed that her granddaughter stayed safe and sound.
“It's fine, Mother. We'll weave a bit longer so we can earn a little more money,” Lady Wu said softly.
The heavy burden of the household rested entirely on Qingyun's shoulders now. As women of the family, every bit they earned helped ease her burden even just a little.
The other two women didn't speak, but their hands kept moving, clearly sharing the same thought.
Old Lady Zhang sighed inwardly and said nothing more, merely adding some oil to the lamp to brighten the room.
Knock, knock, knock! A knocking sound echoed from outside the house.
Old Lady Zhang walked from the weaving room to the main hall and asked softly, “Who is it?”
“Grandma, it's me, Qingyun!”
In the weaving room, Lady Su and the others paused their hands upon hearing her voice. The three women exchanged glances, their eyes filled with pleasant surprise.
Old Lady Zhang opened the courtyard gate to let her in. Seeing her back so late, she asked with concern, “Why are you back so late? It's unsafe out at night. Have you eaten yet?”
Gu Qingyun set down her backpack basket and hugged her. “Not yet. I missed you, Mother, and my aunts.”
Seeing Lady Su and the others step out of the weaving room one after another, Gu Qingyun released Old Lady Zhang and went up to meet them. “Mother, Aunts, why are you still weaving so late? You have me now, so you don't need to weave at night anymore.”
Lady Su pulled Gu Qingyun to look her over, her eyes stinging with tears. “It's been a month since I last saw you. You've gotten thinner and darker.”
“No, I haven't. I'm just going through a growth spurt and grew a bit taller. The food at the yamen is quite good, and I get enough to eat every day. Don't worry, Mother.”
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