Ger, So Proud

Chapter 81

The full moon hung like a disc, illuminating the earth with minute precision. On a winding path, a solitary ox cart moved steadily forward, leaving a trail of whispered conversations in the wind.

On the ox cart, He An had just learned that the lantern festival’s winner was indeed Qian Sun. He was barely able to rejoice over his small win before he was informed that, due to an accident caused by him, neither his brother nor Lin Yu had managed to retrieve the bet money. This news brought him a moment of regret.

After all, that was a whole tael of silver!

However, he was also acutely aware that the tael of silver was insignificant compared to the trouble he had caused. Reflecting on the incident, he felt a pang of fear and deep guilt for worrying his brother and Lin Yu. His mind was swirling with countless thoughts, and his head started to feel heavy.

The ox cart continued its journey. He An gradually leaned against Lin Yu’s shoulder.

“Xiao An is asleep. Slow down a bit.”

“Okay.” He Ze glanced back and lowered his voice. “I’ve been thinking, we should find a time to visit and apologize.”

“Who? That guy we saved just now, surnamed Luo?”

“You know me well, Xiao Yu.” He Ze smiled. “After all, our Xiao An gave him quite a scare, and although it didn’t seem intentional, I did punch him. It’s only right to pay a visit, both morally and logically.”

When He Ze received no response for a while, he turned back again. He found Lin Yu staring at him with bright eyes. “What’s up?”

“Nothing, just… about what you said to Xiao An earlier…”

“Do you think I was wrong to teach him that way?”

“Not exactly, it’s just…” Based on what He Ze had said earlier and his somewhat indifferent attitude towards Luo Zhanming when they left, he didn’t seem like someone who felt guilty. So why was he now talking about making an apology?

Lin Yu hesitated, but He Ze seemed to understand what he wanted to say. He gently kicked the ox’s belly and replied slowly, “What I said before was my true feelings. Call it cold-blooded or selfish, but you, Father, Dad, and Xiao An, you are the most important people to me in this world. In any situation, your lives are my top priority. If something bad had happened to Xiao An tonight, I would never forgive myself. The reason I was so strict with him was that I didn’t want him to act so impulsively again.”

“But,” He Ze’s tone shifted suddenly, “this incident was indeed partly due to Xiao An’s impulsiveness and my own rashness. Thinking back, that man also suffered. It’s best to apologize and clear things up.”

“Whoa—” As he spoke, He Ze suddenly tightened the reins, bringing the cart to a halt. “However, if that Luo guy had died today, I wouldn’t hesitate to use any means to clear Xiao An’s name, by any means, and I wouldn’t feel a shred of guilt.”

After all, he was just another person, like those from the post-apocalyptic world.

In that moment, He Ze realized that he had always been the same He Ze, the one from the post-apocalyptic world. The ten years of apocalypse had left an indelible mark on him, influencing him deeply. Even though he longed for a peaceful life, the coldness and aggression within him hadn’t disappeared. He had drawn a line for himself, confining those traits within it. But, crossing that line would invite retribution.

He Ze’s words drifted lightly into Lin Yu’s ears like the night wind.

The two of them didn’t speak for a long time. The night was tranquil. Lin Yu held He An with one hand and slowly rubbed the railing of the ox cart with the other, his eyes fixed on He Ze’s shadow beside the cart.

Motionless, like a sculpture.

His heart skipped a beat, and he spoke with a gentle and calm voice, “I can help.”

“Hmm?”

“I said I can help.” No matter what it involved. Strangely, after hearing He Ze’s straightforward and law-defying words, Lin Yu didn’t feel any fear, not even surprise.

No, maybe it wasn’t strange at all. He had been prepared for this. He Ze had changed too much compared to before. When interacting with He An and others, He Ze would still subconsciously hide his true self carefully, but when alone with Lin Yu, the differences were magnified countless times.

He Ze might not even be aware of it himself.

Moreover, when He Ze saved him last time, he didn’t conceal that peculiar ability at all, which gave Lin Yu a vague premonition.

—He Ze, very likely, is not the original He Ze.

Then where was the original He Ze? What was his surname, his name? Where was he born? Where did he grow up? What had he experienced? How did he become He Ze of the He family? …

Since this idea emerged, countless questions lingered in his mind. Yet, he didn’t ask, just as He Ze said, waiting for him to tell everything.

Tonight, earlier, was already a very good start.

“Alright.”

He Ze’s body seemed to relax all at once. He responded heavily and resumed driving the ox cart forward. The moonlight shone on Lin Yu’s face in the back of the cart, illuminating his slightly curved smile.

They remained silent, but the atmosphere was so pleasant it was captivating.

When they reached the village entrance, He An finally woke up and insisted on accompanying He Ze to escort Lin Yu to his courtyard gate. The two brothers then went home together. Due to their change of clothes, they had to endure a round of questioning from Dad Li, but managed not to reveal anything.

It was a lucky escape.

The night passed quietly as the moon set and stars moved. The clan handled matters promptly, and the next day, Lin Dazou was taken to the local authorities by some people. He Youcai and Dad Li also went along. That one acre of bai zhi, regardless of the cost, represented countless efforts from the family and consumed much of their sons’ energy. They were not people who would remain silent when bullied.

Back in the day, they had tolerated He Bao’er’s dad only out of respect for his deceased husband.

With He Youcai, Dad Li, and two clan uncles testifying, Lin Dazou couldn’t avoid a stint in jail. The value of the bai zhi seedlings was at least ten taels of silver. With no money to compensate, and due to He Youcai and the two clan elders’ firm stance, Lin Dazou was sentenced to two years and three months. When He Youcai returned, he bought two large pieces of pork head meat and a chicken to stew, hosting a meal for the clan uncles who had helped.

At the dining table, He Ze and He An obediently offered their toasts. Only then did He Youcai let them off, while he continued drinking with the two clan uncles until late into the night. Seeing their joy, Dad Li did not say much.

The next day after breakfast, He Ze headed straight to his beloved’s place.

A day without seeing him felt like three years.

When he arrived, Lin Yu was sweeping the yard. His long hair was tied into a crown and secured with a wooden hairpin. Two locks of short hair at his forehead fluttered gently with his movements, occasionally brushing against his eyelashes. A red string around his neck accentuated his fair, jade-like skin. The sunlight turned golden as it fell, enveloping him in a soft halo.

This person was so adorable, to the point that even the broom in his hand looked cute.

He Ze watched for a while, forcing himself to look away, but in the next second, Lin Yu looked up, his eyes filled with laughter. “Why are you here so early?”

“Uh…” Was he just caught spying? He Ze rubbed his nose and walked closer to Lin Yu. “Did you hear about Lin Dazou?”

“Yes, as soon as Uncle He returned yesterday, the whole village knew.” Lin Yu’s voice carried a note of joy.

In his mind, the Lin family used to be enemies, but now they were unrelated strangers. They were never considered “family.”

“Dad asked me to give you a heads-up. The Lin family might come to cause trouble in the next few days, so be careful not to leave Uncle Zhang alone at home.”

The Lin family had been kicked out on the eighth day of the new year, but unable to find shelter immediately, they had built a straw hut on the path between He Family Village and Li Village. The village couldn’t push them too hard, so the Lin family had been staying there for the past few days.

Third Lin had been angered to death by Wu Cui, who had fled after injuring someone, but was captured by the authorities within a month and returned insane. Now Dad Liu was blind in one eye, Lin Dazou was in prison, and the only ones left to cause trouble were Li Shanfeng and Lin Tiangui—truly, evildoers meet their match.

Even though only these two were left, He Ze felt that Dad Li’s warning was necessary. Neither of them was easy to deal with, especially since one was Lin Dazou’s wife and the other his father.

Lin Yu had already made it clear that he had severed ties with the Lin family, a fact acknowledged by the village. Even if he were to take action against the Lin family, it would only invite some gossip, which wouldn’t matter much now that he had He Ze as his fiancé. However, if Lin Yu was not around, the two might come and trouble Uncle Zhang, adding unnecessary worries.

“Got it,” Lin Yu replied.

Having delivered the message, He Ze didn’t want to leave. On his way, he had purposely taken a detour to the new house under construction. The workers were diligent, taking minimal breaks, having only rested on New Year’s Eve and the first two days of the new year. At this rate, the house was estimated to be completed by mid-next month.

Once the new house was ready, he could propose.

How wonderful.

So, that day, the future son-in-law of the Lin family shamelessly stayed for lunch before reluctantly leaving, turning back every few steps. As soon as Zhang Su cleaned up the dishes, Lin Yu brought over a bamboo basket containing a roll of thread and half of a blue belt.

The other half was not yet finished.

Zhang Su looked at the ducks on the belt that barely resembled mandarin ducks and hesitantly suggested, “Xiao Yu, do you think Xiao Ze will really like this? Maybe we should choose something else as a birthday gift?”

Although his craftsmanship is decent, and sometimes the children’s father even helps with sewing clothes when he’s busy, why is it that Lin Yu’s work always falls short?

“I want to give clothes as a gift, and this is the simplest piece,” Lin Yu said, clearly hearing the implication in Zhang Su’s words. He touched the uneven stitches on the belt dejectedly.

Since the Spring Festival, he had been learning to handle needlework with his dad. After half a month, the belt was still a rough half-finished product.

He wasn’t trying to force himself. If he wasn’t good at it, he just wanted to complete this one piece. When he was a child, his father’s clothes were all made by his dad.

However… Lin Yu tugged at the belt and sighed silently. Zhang Su laughed lightly to comfort him, “Alright, every beginning is difficult. There are still a few days left, right? You’ll get it done, don’t worry.”

“Mm.” He was determined to finish it, just like He Ze repeatedly injuring his hands while making a bow for him.

It wasn’t about an equal exchange, but rather wanting to give even more.