Chapter Thirty-One: The Whole Family Goes Up the Mountain

Li was reluctant to spend money, so she allowed Gu Xiaoyao to support her all the way to the steamed bun stall. Conveniently, there was a tree nearby with stones beneath it for sitting. Gu Xiaoyao bought two meat buns and a steamed bun, then helped her to sit down at the side.

She handed the meat buns to Li and Gu Xiaoshu. Seeing their sallow, emaciated faces, it was clear they had not been eating well in the Gu household.

“Are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?” Gu Xiaoyao asked Chu Chengjin, though her gaze kept drifting to the steamed bun in her hand. It was hard to part with it—she could easily eat both buns herself.

Noticing her reluctance, Chu Chengjin deliberately reached out slowly and took the bun from her hand. “Thank you, I happen to be a little hungry.”

Gu Xiaoshu was drawn to the aroma of the meat bun; his stomach rumbled several times. After taking a bite, he wished he could stuff the whole bun into his mouth at once.

“Sister, this meat bun is so delicious. I haven’t had one in ages.”

“Ages” meant half a year without meat buns. All their money had been taken by Gu Dacai, leaving them to survive on coarse grain porridge every day.

“When I have money, I’ll bring you here to eat your fill of meat buns,” Gu Xiaoyao promised.

Truth be told, she found the meat bun extraordinary as well. It had been so long since she’d had such a tasty cooked meal.

In the days spent in the apocalypse, only the strong could afford meat. For someone like her, struggling just to stay warm and fed, eating meat required a hefty exchange of contribution points.

Gu Xiaoshu’s spirits soared after leaving the Gu household. As long as he wasn’t near his biological father, he no longer felt afraid.

Once the four had finished their food, three of them—except Chu Chengjin—lingered, gazing longingly at the bun stall.

Gu Xiaoyao watched Chu Chengjin eat with such elegance that she felt anxious for him. “Are you unable to finish? If you can’t, I can help.”

Chu Chengjin methodically tore off the skin of the bun and ate it, then shook his head and feigned a few coughs. “No need to worry, my dear, I can finish it slowly.”

Seeing he had no intention of sharing the bun, Gu Xiaoyao shifted her focus elsewhere. She spotted an empty ox cart in the distance, quickly stood up, and ran over.

The cart’s owner listened to her request to rent the ox cart, asked where she was headed, and finding it was on his way, agreed.

“I’m leaving right now. If you don’t leave the city soon, I won’t be able to wait for you.”

Gu Xiaoyao waved for Chu Chengjin and the others to come over as she spoke with the cart driver.

“We’ll leave now. Please wait a moment.”

Once Li and the others came over, Gu Xiaoyao helped them onto the cart. After seeing that everyone was settled, the cart driver immediately urged the ox onward and left the city.

The driver was very talkative, but Gu Xiaoyao hadn’t yet acclimated to this place and had little to say. Instead, Chu Chengjin chatted amiably with him, and by the journey’s end, the driver was calling him brother and even waived half the fare.

When they reached the entrance to Lotus Village, Gu Xiaoyao paid the fare and helped Li off the cart, while Gu Xiaoshu hopped down after.

“The mountain is a bit steep, but don’t worry, Mother. I’ll carry you up.”

After eating, Gu Xiaoyao felt her strength return. If the path wasn’t too uneven, carrying Li up the mountain would be no trouble at all.

Now that they had arrived, whatever Li worried about no longer mattered.

The four made their way up the mountain. Gu Xiaoshu was surprisingly energetic, darting through the woods and even helping Chu Chengjin along.

Eventually, when Li’s strength failed, Gu Xiaoyao hoisted her onto her back. The four trekked through the forest, occasionally detouring around dangerous spots.

They walked for a long time before signs of habitation began to appear, and Lotus Village finally came into view.