Chapter 146 You're Going to My House?

With such a vast quantity of soybeans, it was impossible to carry them all up the mountain using large wicker baskets alone; alternative means of transportation were required. The trouble was that they had not brought any suitable transport tools when descending the mountain. Gu Xiaoyao cast her gaze toward Red Aunt standing nearby.

"Red Aunt, does your family have anything we can borrow? I want to transport all of these soybeans back to the village, but the baskets simply cannot hold them all."

Actually, she was entirely capable of carrying all five sacks up the mountain herself, but if she truly packed them into these baskets, the containers would likely fall apart halfway through the journey.

"My family has an oxcart we can use. I can ask my older brothers to use the oxcart to haul the soybeans to the foot of the mountain by your village, and my brothers can help out too."

Upon hearing this, Red Aunt immediately came up with a solution. Her family had many brothers, all of whom were tall, sturdy, and capable of heavy labor.

"Alright, thank you."

Gu Xiaoyao did not refuse. After expressing her gratitude, she placed all five sacks of soybeans into the large wicker basket and hoisted it onto her back.

The middle-aged woman watched in utter astonishment, her mouth agape at such immense strength. Did these soybeans have no weight at all? How could she lift them so effortlessly!

"Aunty, see you next time."

Bidding farewell to the woman, Gu Xiaoyao followed Red Aunt toward her home, while Mrs. Li, walking behind them, felt rather ill at ease.

"Xiaoyao, are we really going to her house? Isn't this a bit improper?"

Having had little social interaction with outsiders over the years, Mrs. Li felt quite awkward about visiting someone else's home now.

"Mother, we are simply going to borrow something. We have no choice since we didn't bring any tools suitable for carrying loads. A basket is fine for a short while, but carrying it for too long definitely won't work."

Understanding Mrs. Li's inner anxiety, Gu Xiaoyao reached out and took her hand. With their hands linked together, Mrs. Li's unease dissipated considerably.

Red Aunt pushed open the courtyard door, placed the small basket on the stone table, and called out cheerfully into the house.

"Father, Mother, come on out! We have honored guests."

Red Aunt's parents were chatting inside the house. Hearing their daughter's voice outside, they hurriedly slipped into their shoes and stepped down from the heated brick bed.

"Are there guests? Come, come, please step inside..."

Red Aunt's mother had thought visitors from her maiden family had arrived, but upon coming out, she saw two strangers standing in the courtyard.

"Xiaoyao, Aunty, please sit down. I'll go get you something to eat. Father, Mother, this is the Xiaoyao I told you about."

Seeing her parents emerge, Red Aunt smiled and introduced Gu Xiaoyao and her mother to them.

Red Aunt had returned in tears to tell her parents about the incident on the oxcart where she had been harassed by a man. Therefore, Red Aunt's parents were very familiar with Gu Xiaoyao's name, as their daughter mentioned her constantly.

"So you are Miss Xiaoyao! What a rare and distinguished guest. Come, come inside and sit down. It's windy and cold outside, but the rooms are warm. Wife, hurry up and cook, go slaughter one of our chickens!"

Red Aunt's father had sired three sons before finally having this precious daughter, whom he doted on immensely, insisting that her brothers escort her whenever she went out. The recent oxcart incident had left Red Aunt's father pale with rage, and he had severely scolded all three of his sons.

"Right, I'll go slaughter the chicken right now. You must stay for a meal. Come inside and sit down. Red Aunt, there is candy in the cabinet, go get it out."

Red Aunt's mother felt profound gratitude toward Gu Xiaoyao for intervening on the oxcart. Had it not been for her, her daughter would certainly have been victimized.

"There's no need to go to such trouble. I simply came to borrow something so I can transport the soybeans I bought back to the village."

Seeing them display such fervent hospitality, Gu Xiaoyao was truly unaccustomed to it. With a gentle look in her eyes, she waved her hand to signal that they shouldn't go to any extra expense.