Over here, Sun Xian and the coachman were discussing the carriage fare, while Gu Chengyu’s focus was on the young boy.
The boy seed to be familiar with the coachman, but would an acquaintance co to disrupt the deal? Unless there was a grudge. But as the boy watched them haggle, he stood silently to the side. They didn’t seem to harbor ill will towards each other. Suddenly, Gu Chengyu smiled.
Initially, the boy saw the old man almost finalize the deal, thinking the business was done. But turning around, he saw Gu Chengyu looking at him with a faint smile. His heart sank. Had he been found out? It was his first ti doing this, and he hadn’t expected to be caught so quickly.
Had he known earlier, he wouldn’t have done this, but he truly needed Silver. His father’s illness was severe, and if they didn’t consult a doctor soon, he feared his father might not make it.
"Senior Brother Sun, let’s change to another carriage!" Gu Chengyu interrupted Sun Xian and the old man’s conversation. With so many carriages, perhaps another might be cheaper.
"Ah?" Sun Xian, feeling sympathetic, was about to agree with the old man, but unexpectedly, Gu Chengyu refused.
The old man glanced at Gu Chengyu, thinking the matter had been exposed. Not taking the business was fine with him, but it was a pity for the poor boy.
"Since the Scholar has seen through it, it’s right not to take my carriage. However, please spare the boy; he’s just a pitiable person," he said, and with Sun Xian and Ye Zhiqiu looking confused, he explained the situation.
It turned out this boy was nad Xiao Sanzi, who had a father and older sister at ho. Xiao Sanzi worked at the docks guiding people. When unfamiliar visitors ca to the Capital, Xiao Sanzi would lead them to their destination. Although there were coachn, so who had their own carriages would hire soone like Xiao Sanzi, giving him a couple of copper coins.
Of course, there were several others like Xiao Sanzi at the docks, all just young lads.
Xiao Sanzi’s father, usually healthy, was beaten badly half a month ago at the docks for accidentally getting the goods wet. Afterward, lacking Silver Coin, they only visited the clinic once, obtained two prescriptions, and never returned. Seeing his father’s worsening condition, Xiao Sanzi resorted to this desperate asure.
"Please, Scholar, don’t hold it against . I’ll guide you for free," Xiao Sanzi said, kneeling before Gu Chengyu and the others. He feared the Scholar would accuse him of deception, have him taken to the governnt, face a beating, and his father might not survive.
"Right! I also don’t need any paynt and will take you to the inn for free!" the old man quickly interjected.
Ye Zhiqiu, hearing this, felt pity for Xiao Sanzi. He recalled his own mother and sister, who almost went blind trying to support his education.
"Get up quickly!" Ye Zhiqiu stepped forward to help. This was truly a pitiful person!
"Get up!" Gu Chengyu, hearing his sad story, felt it was unsuitable to bla him further.
"Get up quickly! The gentlen have forgiven you!" The old man also happily stepped forward to help Xiao Sanzi up.
In the end, Gu Chengyu and his group still took Old Jue’s carriage, which left the docks and made its way into the streets.
The Capital was indeed much more prosperous than the Prefecture. The streets were a maze, with eaves almost touching each other from opposite sides. rchants and travelers converged, and restaurants stood in great numbers. The street vendors’ cries rose above one another, with the stalls on both sides packed tightly. Combined with the pedestrians, even though the street was wide, the carriage still found it crowded to pass through.
"Gentlen, this is the southern side, where more small vendors are. We’ll pass through here, then proceed for about the ti it takes for an incense stick to burn, and we’ll be near the examination hall." Gu Chengyu paused his hand lifting the curtain and looked to the side, where it was indeed Xiao Sanzi speaking.
The carriage compartnt could exactly seat four people. With so luggage inside, it beca quite cramped. Even Ming Yan had to sit outside on the carriage edge next to Old Jue. With such tight space, there was no room for Xiao Sanzi, so Gu Chengyu had initially told him not to follow. Unexpectedly, he still managed to keep up.
Xiao Sanzi’s face was already covered in sweat. The carriage moved quickly earlier, and he might not have caught up. Only when the carriage slowed due to congestion could Xiao Sanzi catch up and begin to introduce the street situation to Gu Chengyu.
"Didn’t I tell you not to follow?" Gu Chengyu frowned, noticing Xiao Sanzi’s worn shoes. No wonder, it was likely from running after carriages to guide people.
"It’s alright, I’m used to it!" In this line of work, running after carriages was routine. The distinguished gentlen’s carriages weren’t vehicles they could simply board; those gentlen feared their carriages would be dirtied.
Gu Chengyu looked into Xiao Sanzi’s steadfast eyes and lowered the curtain. Very well, then. He’d give him so Silver later as a form of help for this poor soul. Life was difficult, and everyone struggled with their own hardships. There were many in such situations, and he would help when he could.
"Chengyu! Did that boy catch up?" Ye Zhiqiu noticed Gu Chengyu talking to soone outside the carriage, guessing it must be Xiao Sanzi.
Gu Chengyu nodded without speaking. Ye Zhiqiu looked sowhat forlorn, perhaps feeling a kinship with Xiao Sanzi due to their similar situations.
Gu Chengyu always felt Sun Xian was quite open-minded in these matters. Sun Xian’s previous family background wasn’t good, but he never wallowed in self-pity. Instead, he worked harder, which was what Gu Chengyu admired about him. Ye Zhiqiu, on the other hand, was the opposite, being more sensitive and often indulged in self-pity.
"Guys, up ahead is the inn. There are many inns inside, but my old carriage isn’t suitable to enter there. I’ll drop you off at the corner; from there, you can choose any place you’d like," Old Jue said, looking at the intersection up ahead, addressing the people in the carriage.
"Sounds good! Please let us off here," Sun Xian replied, calling Ye Zhiqiu and the others to grab their bundles, ready to disembark.
Once off the carriage, Gu Chengyu turned and gave Old Jue forty wen. Although Old Jue refused to accept it initially, Gu Chengyu insisted, unwilling to take advantage of others. Forty wen should be sufficient.
After disembarking, the group was imdiately struck by the dense array of shops. It was indeed worthy of being under the Imperial City, its prosperity making Ye Zhiqiu and the rest wide-eyed, unable to turn their gaze fast enough.
Gu Chengyu, despite his past life’s experience, had never seen such a bustling ancient street before, and thus found it quite intriguing.
"Gentlen! Allow to tell you about the inns here!" Xiao Sanzi had also caught up by now, catching his breath, wiping his sweaty forehead with his sleeve, and speaking to Gu Chengyu and the others.
"Go ahead," Gu Chengyu, curious, replied. What was there to elaborate about inns? Weren’t they just classified by size and price?
"Along the way in, the first few inns are smaller, and the room rates are relatively expensive, especially during the Autumn Examination period, when prices are sure to go up. Further inside, the inns beco larger and more comfortable, equipped with attached restaurants. The most famous inn in the entire Capital is at the far end; it’s the largest one here."
Xiao Sanzi gestured towards the establishnts inside, introducing them to Gu Chengyu and the others.
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