Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 337 - 173: Village Chief

"Hey! Here they come!"

Gu Chengyu lifted the cloth curtain from the window and looked out at the courtyard. A middle-aged man dressed in indigo coarse cloth stepped out from the house.

When he reached the courtyard, he seemed surprised by the number of carriages, astonished beyond measure.

He quickly opened the courtyard gate, "Uncle Hua, what’s this?"

"Oh! These are noble travelers wishing to lodge at your place. You see, please do them a favor, they can’t make it to the next town in time."

Old Man Hua, although keen to earn some Silver, was not stingy with offering shelter to travelers, even if they had no Silver. When traveling afar, who hasn’t encountered some inconvenient times?

Gu Chengyu descended from the carriage; the man was the village chief, and since he wished to borrow lodging, he shouldn’t put on airs from the carriage.

He cupped his hands in respect to the village chief, saying, "Greetings, village chief. I am passing through your village and the night is approaching. I wish to lodge here for one night before continuing on my journey. I ask for your convenience."

Old Man Hua looked and saw it truly was a young lad, but his noble demeanor and outstanding appearance left him shocked.

He prided himself on being the most knowledgeable person in Big Bull Village and had traveled afar. Such an ornamental young man, he hadn’t seen many like him. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

The village chief had read books for a few years; it was apparent this one was a scholar. He quickly returned the gesture, "Greetings, young sir! You’ve seen my house, we could accommodate seven to eight people without problem. If it’s more, well, we can’t fit any more!"

The village chief opened the courtyard gate so everyone could see the house’s structure clearly.

Sun Xian and Ye Zhiqiu also got down from the carriage; they were worried about the lodging situation that night.

Gu Chengyu examined it; this house seemed the best in the village, so it could only be offered to Miss Yao. There were four women, though it could accommodate seven to eight, just housing four would definitely be a waste. Moreover, four women staying here alone couldn’t help but raise concern.

Gu Chengyu felt conflicted; actually, staying here with Yao Mengxian would be the best. As Miss Yao’s elder, he could care for her nearby.

Sun Xian understood, being older than Ye Zhiqiu and Gu Chengyu, he’d thought of this earlier.

He whispered to Gu Chengyu, "Why don’t you stay here with Miss Yao? The village has no better houses, and Miss Yao, after all, is a lady. This house seems to have north and south wings, you staying here would be helpful if anything happens!"

Ye Zhiqiu couldn’t care less; his previous home was comparable in standard, even poorer than the village!

"Let’s help the brothers find a place then." Gu Chengyu and Sun Xian were familiar enough to forgo formalities.

"Young sirs! My home can also accommodate guests; the remaining people can squeeze in." Old Man Hua took the opportunity to step forward and offer.

Afterward, Gu Chengyu accompanied and checked out Old Man Hua’s house; though worn, it was large enough. Sun Xian and his group would stay there for the night.

"Miss Yao! You’ve seen the village; only the village chief’s house is decent. Traveling, we must simplify everything; I hope you won’t mind." Gu Chengyu approached Yao Mengxian’s carriage to explain the lodging situation.

"No problem! Lodging in a village is certainly better than the wilds. I understand this is no time to be picky." Yao Mengxian’s gentle voice came from within the carriage.

The village chief frowned slightly, not expecting among this group there would be female companions, seemingly young ladies? He hesitated slightly.

Before the village chief could inquire further, Gu Chengyu had the driver steer the carriage into the courtyard, with Mrs. Gao alighting first.

The chief saw them entering the household, swallowing his words; they couldn’t cause much trouble with so many people.

The chief called inside the house, "Dear! Come out, we’ve guests!"

A woman responded, stepping out from the house; apparently previously engaged in the kitchen, she wiped her hands on the apron. Trailing her was a younger woman, likely their daughter-in-law.

"Ah! So indeed we’ve noble guests, let them inside to sit! I’ll boil water and make tea!" The chief’s wife had overheard their conversation inside but, being a woman, didn’t come out until her husband called her.

The daughter-in-law scrutinized the carriages and Gu Chengyu’s group, her eyes lighting up, examining Zhiqiu deeply, then turning towards the descending Yao Mengxian and others.

Gu Chengyu observed that this daughter-in-law was undoubtedly greedy, for the look in her eyes barely masked greed upon seeing the Jade Pendant and fine garment materials.

Being greedy was not scary, but harboring ill thoughts was; their rear carriages contained valuables, someone needed to guard tonight.

"Dad! Heard we’ve guests!"

At this moment, a man carrying farming equipment entered from outside, of small stature and thin, resembling the chief’s wife somewhat.

Upon entering the courtyard, glimpsing the carriages and Gu Chengyu’s group, his eyes mirrored his wife’s, even lingering on Yao Mengxian more.

Yao Mengxian wore a veil, concealing her face, but Lianxin and Qing Dai were striking as well, aged twelve or thirteen, blooming like flower buds.

The man surveyed these young maidens making them blush, feeling they were tender yet somehow alluring, gripping his farming implement tightly.

Sincerely, Lianxin and company weren’t shy; it was anger. Yao Mengxian noticed the man too, frowning behind her curtain; his gaze was far from noble. She worried about nightfall, not entering a wolf’s lair hopefully, planning to request Mr. Gu’s vigilance.

The chief noticed and knew his son’s old habits resurfaced. He thought only men were to lodge, so it was fine, but women was unexpected.

"Ahem! Gouwa, put those things inside quickly! Don’t offend the guests."

"Hey!" Gouwa put things inside the east wing, glancing again at Lianxin before entering. Upon entering, Gu Chengyu’s group heard arguments inside, a woman’s voice shrill and high-pitched.

The chief blushed, "Please, everyone, enter the house! West wing for the ladies; my wife cleaned it recently, it’s clean! For the young master and your followers, two side rooms beside the main house must suffice."

Previously, thinking the guests were all male, squeezing into two west wing rooms was fine; two small rooms aside went unused. Now, it wasn’t suitable for mixing genders in the west wing.

Gu Chengyu noticed the west wing wasn’t far from the main house, nodding in agreement. Instructing Ming Mo and company to retrieve necessary items for the night.

They, with two guards, need two rooms, six drivers plus Uncle Li, lodged with Sun Xian’s group elsewhere.