Ten Thousand Soul Banner: Deceased, do you have any unfulfilled wishes?-Chapter 971 - 967: By the Road

The scenery on both sides of the highway was like a moving painting. The indigo-colored mountains undulated in waves, and in the fields at the foot of the mountains, golden waves of rice rolled with the wind. Occasionally, a few houses with red tiles and white walls were dotted among them, with wisps of smoke curling up, exuding a bit of pastoral poetry.

But when you look at such beautiful scenery for too long, it’s inevitable to feel sleepy, and a lazy atmosphere gradually filled the carriage.

Tang Tang curled up on the back seat, her little head tilted to one side, with long eyelashes like two small fans resting on her eyelids, breathing evenly and deeply.

Her short little legs unceremoniously propped on the armrest beside her, her shoes rubbing against the seat cover. Her posture was adorably naive, yet it had a hint of charming carefreeness.

Seeing this, Mao Sanmei quietly reached out and gently lowered her legs, pulling a blanket over her. Her movements were so gentle as if afraid of waking her up.

Dou Dou also couldn’t resist the drowsiness.

The RV moved along the highway, and the slight bumps felt just like the cradle at her grandmother’s house when she was a child, making one’s whole body feel relaxed.

She yawned widely, rubbed her round eyes, and then, like a little seal looking for a nest, she climbed onto the bed in the back with both hands and feet. As soon as her head touched the pillow, she fell into a deep sleep, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, dreaming sweet dreams.

Xiao Yue sat beside her reading a book, catching glimpses of Dou Dou sleeping sprawled out of the corner of her eye, with half her body almost falling off the bed.

She shook her head helplessly, put down her book, stood up, and carefully moved Dou Dou further onto the bed, pulling the blanket over her.

After all, it was hard to avoid bumps while the RV was moving, and if the little rascal really fell off, she might end up crying.

Apart from the two little ones asleep, the other people in the car also seemed a bit drowsy.

Taozi leaned against the window, her eyes somewhat unfocused, nodding her head as if fighting against sleepiness.

Mao Sanmei sat by Tang Tang, also closing her eyes, her hands gently resting on her knees.

Xiao Ya held a plush teddy bear, leaning against Mao Sanmei’s shoulder, her eyelids too heavy to lift.

Even Shen Siyuan was leaning back in his seat, resting his eyes.

In the whole car, only Ruan Hongzhuang, who was driving, remained awake.

She held the steering wheel steadily with both hands, her eyes focused on the road ahead, but her mouth couldn’t help but twitch slightly with an imperceptible hint of dissatisfaction in her eyes.

From time to time, she glanced at the rearview mirror, looking at the "listless" scene in the carriage, muttering to herself.

"It’s supposed to be a honeymoon trip, so how did I end up as the driver? Once we’re back in Bin Hai, no matter what, I’m making Shen Siyuan get a driver’s license. Next time he can drive, and I can have a proper rest."

While Ruan Hongzhuang was calculating in her mind, a figure on the road ahead made her pupils slightly contract.

It was an elderly man. His hair was white as if frosted over, and he had a lean figure. He wore a faded blue coat that looked washed out, with the hem and cuffs slightly damp, as if wet with dew.

He carried a bulging plastic bag in one hand and leaned on a worn, smooth wooden stick, taking slow, careful steps along the emergency lane of the highway.

Ruan Hongzhuang was full of surprise.

The highway was deserted with neither village nor shop nearby, with not a soul in sight. How could a seventy-year-old man be walking alone here?

Never mind the dense traffic and fast speeds on the highway—just the long-distance alone was extremely challenging and dangerous for an elderly man.

She didn’t hesitate for a single moment. She lightly tapped the brake, brought the RV forward a bit, and, after confirming no incoming cars from behind, steadily stopped in the emergency lane, turning on the hazard signals.

As soon as the vehicle stopped, Shen Siyuan, who had been resting his eyes, immediately woke up.

He sharply noticed the parking movement, opened his eyes at once, scanned the surroundings with vigilance, and asked, "What’s wrong? What happened?"

Ruan Hongzhuang pointed behind the car and said, "Look in the back, there’s an old man walking alone on the highway. It’s too dangerous. Go down and ask him where he’s heading. If it’s on our way, we should give him a ride. It’s worrying how he even got on the highway."

Shen Siyuan was surprised upon hearing this, quickly turned his head to look in the rearview mirror.

Indeed, he saw an elderly man leaning on a wooden stick, slowly making his way toward the RV, his gait unsteady but full of stubborn resilience.

Without further thought, he immediately opened the car door and stepped out.

The sound of the car door opening and Shen Siyuan getting out roused all the other passengers except for Tang Tang and Dou Dou.

Taozi rubbed her eyes, curiously sticking her head out to look around.

Mao Sanmei opened her eyes too, instinctively hugging Xiao Ya who was beside her.

Xiao Yue frowned, got up, and walked to the window to survey the outside situation.

Shen Siyuan quickly walked towards the elderly man, wearing a gentle smile, and asked with concern in his voice, "Sir, why are you walking alone on the highway? There are so many fast cars here, it’s far too dangerous. What would we do if something were to happen?"

The elderly man lifted his head, with a look of fatigue in his cloudy eyes, yet still managed to force a smile, waving his hand dismissively.

"It’s fine, it’s fine. I’m walking along the edge, I’m not in the way," he said, his voice somewhat hoarse.

Shen Siyuan knew it was difficult to explain the dangers of the highway to the elderly man in a short time. He noticed the fatigue on the man’s face, his clothes soaked, indicating he had been walking for a long time.

So he decided not to dwell on the topic and asked, "Sir, where are you headed? If it’s on our way, we’ll take you for a bit, or else when would you be able to reach your destination walking like this?"

"I’m going to Mayang Town."

The elderly man paused, looking a bit embarrassed.

"You don’t need to trouble yourselves, you’re on your way somewhere."

"It’s no trouble at all, just a little help."

Shen Siyuan hurriedly replied, "Please get in the car, sir. It’s windy on the highway like this, and given your age, it’ll be too hard on your body to keep going."

"Yes, sir, please get in the car!"

At this point, Taozi also got out of the car, helping to persuade the elderly man.

"Our car might not be very clean, but it’s better than being out in the sun and wind on the road."

"Exactly, sir. We can’t stay in the emergency lane for too long—a traffic officer might come by, and then things will get complicated. Please get in quickly." Shen Siyuan added with sincerity in his voice.

The elderly man looked at these two kind-hearted young folks, hesitated for a moment.

He indeed had been walking for a long time. His legs felt weak, and he was parched and exhausted.

Eventually, he nodded, a look of gratitude spreading across his face, "Then... please excuse the trouble I’m causing. I really don’t want to inconvenience you."

Sensing this, Shen Siyuan immediately reached out to take the plastic bag from the elderly man, but he was stopped, "No need, no need, I can manage. This bag is heavy," he said.

With that, he tightly clutched the plastic bag, carefully following Shen Siyuan and Taozi towards the RV.