Chapter 260: Great Maple Mountain

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

When the villagers saw that the hooligans had left, they surrounded them. A woman walked to Li Yu’s side and whispered, “Sister, I can tell that you’re from another city and don’t know the background of these people. These hooligans are called the Five Tigers of Xingfu. There are four of them today. The one who didn’t come today is Zhong Bao, the younger brother of the wife of the town’s mayor. That guy looks like a woman, but he’s a ruthless person. I advise you to leave quickly!”

The others also persuaded, “Yes! You’d better go! Otherwise, if he sees you, you’ll suffer.”

Li Yu looked at everyone’s worried expressions and thought to herself, “To think the brother-in-law of a town governor can already dominate. It seems that this town mayor is quite haughty.”

The old man selling pickled vegetables cupped his hands at Li Yu and said, “Thank you for your help, Sister. I don’t intend to sell my pickled vegetables anymore. You should leave quickly!”

Li Yu smiled and said to the old man, “Uncle, sell me your pickled vegetables! I was looking for pickled vegetables just now.”

The old man waved his hand and said, “Sister-in-law, you don’t have to buy it. Although I’m poor, I can still afford to give you some pickled vegetables.” As he spoke, he bent down to scoop some pickled vegetables for Li Yu.

Li Yu smiled and placed two pieces of silver in the old man’s hand. “Uncle, I

have a lot of people at home. I have to buy all of them. Take this money.”

The old man looked at the silver in his hand and was stunned for a moment. He understood that Li Yu wanted to help him. He bowed to Li Yu gratefully and said, “Sister, you’re a good person.”

Li Yu smiled faintly. “I’ll fish out the pickled vegetables. Hurry home so that those hooligans won’t find trouble with you again.”

As Li Yu spoke, she got Gu Yu to put down the carrier and scoop up the pickled vegetables. She squeezed out the water and placed them in the carrier. Then, she bade farewell to the old man and walked towards the inn.

Ji Xiang had already bought the food. Seeing the two of them return, he hung the food, meat, vegetables, and luggage on the backs of the two horses. After greeting the innkeeper, he led the horse out of the town.

At the foot of the mountain, they walked up a rugged mountain path. After going up the mountain, they saw that on both sides of the mountain path, the spring flowers had already bloomed.

The mountain path became more and more rugged. From time to time, pheasants and turtledoves flew away from the grass. Li Yu took out her bow and shot a few pheasants and turtledoves, as well as wild rabbits, into the bamboo basket on her horse.

Gu Yu was stunned by Li Yu’s archery. She looked at Li Yu in admiration and said, “Madam, I didn’t expect you to hunt too. Your archery is so good.”

Li Yu smiled and said, “I’m a girl from a family of hunters. I learned archery.”

Gu Yu said in frustration, “I’m also a girl from a family of hunters but I can’t do it. I keep missing.”

Ji Xiang glanced at Gu Yu’s round face and said, “That’s because you’re too stupid. My Madam is extraordinary. Ordinary people can forget about comparing with her.”

Gu Yu glanced at Ji Xiang. “Brother Ji Xiang, you’re wrong. Don’t forget that

she’s also my Madam.”

Ji Xiang smiled and said, “Yo! You’ve only been here for a few days? Why are you so calculative?”

Gu Yu turned her head and said, “I’m Madam’s girl too.”

Li Yu smiled as she watched the two of them bicker. She felt that there might be a chance between the two of them because she had several comrades in her previous life who paired up after the initial friction.

When they reached a mountain stream, Ji Xiang cut open a pheasant, cleaned it, sprinkled salt and seasoning, and roasted it on a wooden stick. They ate it with the steamed buns and continued on their way.

The hooligans of Xingfu Town returned to their usual residence and saw Zhong Bao practicing in the courtyard. Zhong Bao’s eyes were like hooks. Dachui entered the house and took a hot handkerchief. He stood at the side and waited for Zhong Bao to finish practicing. He smiled and walked to Zhong Bao’s side. “Big Brother, I saw a young woman at the market today. Tsk tsk, I’ve never seen such a beautiful woman.”

Zhong Bao smiled evilly. “She’s as good as your elder sister.”

Dachui was stunned by Zhong Bao’s smile. He rubbed his chin and smiled ingratiatingly. “Big Brother, I’m just being honest, don’t be angry. I can’t describe her features, but she looks good. Even the girl beside her looks good.”

“Let’s go and change my clothes.” Zhong Bao was tempted by Dachui’s words and turned to walk into the house. Brother Cai came out of the latrine pit and saw Dachui following behind Zhong Bao. He cursed in his heart, “What an incorrigible lecher. Sooner or later, he will fall into the hands of a woman.”

They came out and walked towards the market. After walking around the market, they couldn’t find anyone. Dachui pulled a butcher and asked, “Where did those two women go?”

The butcher replied carefully, “I saw them return to the main street. I don’t know anything else.”

They walked towards the main street. After asking a few places, they found the inn where Li Yu and the others had left their carts. They learned that Li Yu and the others had been gone for almost an hour.

Zhong Bao stared at the inn owner with a dark expression and said, “When she comes back, remember to get someone to inform me. Otherwise, I’ll teach you a lesson.”

“Yes, yes,” the innkeeper agreed with a bitter expression.

At dawn, the two of them followed Gu Yu to a maple forest. Gu Yu pointed at a mountain ridge excitedly and said to Li Yu, “Madam, we’ve arrived at the maple forest. We’ll reach it after crossing the mountain ridge. The leaves of the big maple trees are green now. When autumn comes, these leaves will turn red like flames. Let’s walk past the big maple trees for another two hours and pass through a forest.”

Li Yu looked at the maple trees that were more than ten to twenty meters tall and thought to herself that these maple trees were probably more than a

thousand years old. Great Maple Mountain was named thus because of these towering trees.

After walking for two hours, they descended the mountain ridge when it was almost dark. They led their horses for an hour and passed through a forest. The sight before them suddenly opened up. A valley surrounded by mountains appeared in front of them. Looking at the sparse houses in the valley, Li Yu knew they finally arrived at Great Maple Village.

Gu Yu waved excitedly and shouted, “Grandpa, Grandma, I’m back.” Her clear shout echoed in the valley.

Ji Xiang rolled her eyes at Gu Yu. “Crazy girl, who would know who you’re shouting at from so far away?

Gu Yu glanced at Ji Xiang and explained softly, “They’ll know. I used to call them from here when I came back from hunting with my father.”

Ji Xiang led the horse and urged, “It’s already dark. Why are you still dawdling? Madam is already tired.” Gu Yu rolled her eyes at Ji Xiang and led the horse faster.

They walked along the three-foot-wide dirt road and came to a big pear tree. They met an old man carrying a load of firewood. When he saw Gu Yu, he smiled happily and said, “You’re back! Aiyo! I haven’t seen you for half a year.

You’ve become a girl in the city!”

Gu Yu smiled shyly and bowed. “Uncle, don’t tease me.”

Li Yu looked at the old man’s white hair and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. He bent his back and carried the firewood happily. Li Yu and Ji Xiang made way for the old man as he carry the firewood into the village.

After walking inside for a while, Gu Yu pointed at the stone house in front and the courtyard surrounded by wood. “Madam, we’re here.”

Li Yu nodded and said to Gu Yu, “Tomorrow, get your grandfather and the others to distribute the food, meat, and sugar to the old and weak in the village..”

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