The onlookers were all filled with envy, chattering amongst themselves.
"That young master is such a kind person."
"Yeah, twenty taels of silver is enough to live on for several years."
Gu Qing's expression turned serious. He stood up and cupped his hands in a salute toward Xiao Yu. "Your generosity is noble, Young Master, but I cannot go back on my word."
"I said before that I was borrowing the silver, so I must pay it back. Otherwise, wouldn't that make me a scoundrel who goes back on his word?"
"I ask that you send someone home with my sister and me to retrieve the silver."
Xiao Yu was growing impatient. "Why do you talk in such a stuffy, formal way? Fine, if you insist on paying it back, then pay it back. Stone! You go with them to get the silver!"
Tossing out the words, Xiao Yu turned and left with another servant.
Stone didn't say much either. He just said to Gu Qing, "Let's go, then."
After just a few steps, Gu Qing suddenly stopped. "This won't do. My sister is too weak to walk a long way. I need to hire a carriage."
An enthusiastic bystander chimed in, "I can call a carriage for you. I know a driver, Limp Wang."
Gu Qing cupped his hands. "Thank you so much, brother."
A short while later, the carriage arrived. Gu Qing helped Gu Fei into the carriage, and Stone tactfully sat outside with the driver.
Gu Qing first had the driver stop at an apothecary. He had a doctor look at Gu Fei's injuries and bought some medicine before they finally headed home.
Along the way, Gu Qing also sat outside and made small talk with Stone.
"Brother Stone, your young master is clearly a man of high station. Why would he go to a place like the South Market?"
The South Market was where people and livestock were sold. The animals relieved themselves everywhere, making it a filthy place—hardly suitable for a nobleman.
Stone smiled. "My young master loves horses. When he has free time, he likes to stroll through the markets to see if he can find any fine steeds. He has a real eye for judging horses."
"This is also my young master's first time in Lin City, so of course he wanted to check out the markets."
Gu Qing nodded. "I see. I could tell from your accents that you aren't from Lin City."
Stone just gave a cryptic smile and said no more.
Lying on the cushions inside, Gu Fei listened to the idle chatter outside while pulling a loaf of bread from her space and starting to gnaw on it. She was simply starving.
The carriage moved quickly. After leaving the city, it arrived at the Gu Family Village in less than an hour.
The carriage stopped at the Gu Family's door. Hearing the commotion, the Gu family's sister-in-law, Li Chunhua, came out.
When Li Chunhua saw her husband get down from the carriage, she asked, "How much grain did you buy? You even needed a carriage to bring it back."
Gu Qing waved his hand. "I didn't buy grain. Quick, go get Father and Mother. I've brought my sister back."
"Sister is back?" Torn between wanting to lift the carriage curtain and rushing inside to share the news, Li Chunhua nearly tripped over her own feet before scrambling into the house.
Gu Fei lifted the curtain and was about to jump down herself when Gu Qing, standing anxiously nearby, said, "Sister, you're injured! Don't move. Get on my back, your brother will carry you down."
With a mix of emotions, Gu Fei murmured her assent and quietly climbed onto Gu Qing's back.
'From the moment she saw Gu Qing today, this big brother of hers had begged people for money and kowtowed until his forehead was bruised, all for her sake.'
'He truly, deeply loved his little sister.'
Before they even reached the main hall, a middle-aged woman rushed out of the house. The moment she saw Gu Fei on Gu Qing's back, she began to cry out, "My Little Fei! You're finally back!"