Chapter 109: The Old Trade Was Quite Profitable (Part Two)

"Cheng Jin, sister-in-law, I really didn’t mean to hide here. It’s just that I felt I shouldn’t be seen," she said.

"No, no, I think I should be hiding. What am I even saying?" she muttered, confused.

Dahua never expected to encounter such a situation. She felt she had done something wrong. People were being intimate, and she just had to show up now, ruining their moment.

"Alright, it’s nothing. We can be affectionate inside the house too, right, husband?" Gu Xiaoyao’s expression was stoic, but she gave Chu Chengjin a faint smile. It was unclear whether he had truly intended to get closer earlier.

"My dear, this isn’t the place to discuss such matters," Chu Chengjin replied calmly, showing no embarrassment. He quickly put some distance between them, though his eyes briefly flicked to her moist lips.

Seeing the space between them, Dahua grew even more frustrated, feeling she had come at the worst possible time.

"Sister-in-law, are you going into town to buy things? I need to go into town too. Let’s go together!" she suggested.

Thus, the three of them set off down the mountain together. This time, with two trips behind them, Gu Xiaoyao even found a shortcut down the mountain.

When they emerged from the mountain, it was still early—not as late as before—and many people were already heading into town, carrying loads on their shoulders.

---

"Sister-in-law, you’re really something! How did you know there was a shortcut down here? I’ve lived in the village so long and never found it," Dahua said excitedly as they descended, happily shifting the burden on her back.

"No matter which mountain, there’s always a shortcut down. Whether it’s safe or not is another matter. Let's find a bullock cart to take us into town," Gu Xiaoyao said, patting the copper coins in her pouch and calculating that walking wasn’t cost-effective. It would waste too much time and exhaust her, and she still had to go back to cultivate the wasteland.

"Alright, I’ll go see if there’s a cart that can take us," Dahua said eagerly, setting off with her basket. Fortunately, it was the peak time for heading into town.

Bullock carts were easy to find. Dahua chose a driver who looked familiar.

Soon, the three of them climbed onto the cart, which was piled high with firewood. They all sat atop the wood.

"Thank you, sir," they said.

The old man shook his head with a smiling face.

"No need to thank me. You’re paying anyway," he chuckled.

---

Riding the cart was much more comfortable than walking, though the abundance of stones on the road made the ride bumpy and a bit dizzying.

After a while, when they saw the city walls ahead, Gu Xiaoyao exhaled deeply. She grabbed Chu Chengjin’s hand to steady him as they got off the cart.

"Dahua, where do you want to buy your things? I need to walk around the city a bit before heading back. When you’re done, wait for us outside," she instructed.

After leaving Dahua to her errands, Gu Xiaoyao and Chu Chengjin entered the city and began to stroll leisurely.

The city wasn’t large, but it was bustling. The vegetable market was crowded with people, while the wealthy district had fewer people, all dressed elegantly with servants and maids attending them.

"The people living here must be wealthy. They dress so well and have servants accompanying them," Gu Xiaoyao mused, gently resting her fair chin on her hand as she stood outside the affluent area.

"Every city has such places—where the rich live and where the poor live. What, are you thinking of doing business with them?" Chu Chengjin said, noticing the thoughtful look in her eyes. Doing business with the wealthy was possible, but the question was how to establish connections with them.