Disaster Apocalypse: Farming, Family, and My Hidden Secret Space
Chapter 143. Inner Unrest

Chapter 143: 143. Inner Unrest

The time indeed passed quite quickly amidst the laughter and conversations. After traveling for most of the day, the ox finally stopped for water and feed, giving everyone on the carriage a chance to stretch and replenish some food for themselves.

Qin Shu also met Hua Yunao’s beloved sister. If he had such a fair, sweet, and delicate sister, he would probably cherish her deeply too.

Unfortunately, there were only four brothers in his family, with no female except for their mother.

After nodding and greeting her, Qin Shu sat under the shade and ate his self-prepared food. Then he saw his friend magically taking out a folding table from the carriage, and in no time, the table was filled with various foods.

There were dishes, meat, porridge, and even more than one kind of staple food, including steamed buns, dumplings, and stuffed pastries. Qin Shu was never someone with a strong appetite, but at this moment, he suddenly found the plain white flour pancakes, usually hard to swallow, less appetizing.

Restraining himself from looking sideways, Qin Shu couldn’t help but sigh. Usually, Hua Yunao’s family didn’t seem prosperous, yet their food showed they were much better off than him.

After all, a family that could afford an ox cart and support three children for schooling couldn’t be doing too badly, right?

Once all the food was arranged on the table, Hua Chengtian motioned for his eldest son to invite Qin Shu over.

Since they agreed to travel together, being too strict would be unfriendly, especially since they had promised to take good care of his friend’s child in front of his friend’s parents.

Besides, it’s just an extra mouth, and the friend himself brought pancakes and eggs, so he wouldn’t eat much.

Hua Yunao had the same idea and was about to discuss with his father when he saw his father’s gesture.

Unable to hold back, Hua Yunao quickly went to invite Qin Shu to eat together.

Qin Shu felt embarrassed to join.

"Hua, I brought my own food, and I’m almost full now. Don’t mind me, please eat." Qin Shu politely declined, awkwardly smiling as he raised the pancake he was already halfway through.

Initially thinking of sharing some of the pancakes his parents prepared, but seeing the food on Hua Yunao’s side, he couldn’t bring himself to offer the pancakes.

"Come on, don’t be so formal; our relationship doesn’t require such courtesy. Hurry up, our family is waiting for you. You can’t let them keep waiting, right?"

"Yes, child, come over quickly. You are Yunao’s friend, and we are all family. No need for formalities with an uncle," said Hua Chengtian, the only elder among them, seeing Qin Shu’s hesitation.

Hearing this, Qin Shu hurriedly stood up from under the tree and said with a smile, "Uncle, I really have almost eaten my fill."

"You are being fussy." Hua Chengtian, hungry after traveling, was eager to fill his stomach. He stood up, pulled Qin Shu’s arm, and seated him by the table.

The stools, also foldable and compact, are essential for traveling.

The idea, of course, came from Hua Jin, who also took out a folding stool from the space for her father to study with convenience while traveling.

It was immediately put to use.

Hua Chengtian, strong as he was, pulled Qin Shu to the table before he realized and handed him a pair of chopsticks.

At this point, it would be pretentious to refuse. Qin Shu ultimately didn’t get up.

"Eat, eat, eldest son, serve Qin the dishes." To ease Qin Shu’s discomfort, Hua Chengtian spoke and gave his daughter a serving of meat, then hungrily ate.

Seeing Hua Yunao’s chopsticks approach, Qin Shu quickly waved his hand, feeling embarrassed.

"Yunao, I can serve myself."

"Alright, serve yourself, don’t be polite."

Qin Shu smiled, picked up the chopsticks, and showed by his actions that he wasn’t being polite, but his heart was somewhat agitated.

This meal was eaten quickly, with Yunao occasionally calling for attention; everything was quickly cleaned up, followed by a tea break on the spot, and they continued on their journey.

This time, Hua Jin volunteered to stay outside. Having slept for half a day, she was energized and not at all tired, and the timing was perfect to allow her brothers and Mr. Qin Shu to rest for a while.

Such a considerate sister is really hard to find, Hua Jin silently praised herself.

Seeing that his sister indeed didn’t want to stay in the carriage, Hua Yunao led his friend into the carriage but thoughtfully took out his sister’s veiled hat.

The sun was fierce, and it could also block some dust.

"Thank you, big brother," Hua Jin said with joy, not expecting this gesture from her brother.

Although it wasn’t summer yet, the noonday sun was still fierce, and Hua Jin put it on her head directly. Hua Yunao helped adjust it, affectionately tapped her nose, and said, "Why, are you being formal with your big brother?"

"Big brother, my nose will be flat," Hua Jin pouted adorably, and the siblings laughed together.

The warm dialogue made Qin Shu, still a bit reserved, unconsciously relax, a faint smile lifting his lips as he stretched his folded legs.

Such a polite, considerate young girl, sweet and delicate, he somewhat understood why she was cherished by her family.

Claiming she was tired of being in the carriage, he knew she sincerely wanted to spare her brother the seat outside, so they could rest.

The journey lasted several hours, with Hua Jin accompanying her father at the front of the cart. With his daughter beside him, Hua Chengtian’s face was filled with more smiles, and frequent hearty laughter mixed with her chime-like sweet laughter could be heard.

The three young men in the carriage, asleep for more than an hour, were awakened by their laughing voices. Listening to Hua Jin and her father talk, even the arduous traveling time suddenly seemed to pass faster.

The three youths in the carriage couldn’t help but smile.

Hurrying along the way, the ox cart finally entered the city before dark. Apart from a few other carts also in haste, nothing troublesome happened along the way.

Entering the city, everyone both outside and inside the cart breathed a sigh of relief. The next step was to find an inn.

They just hoped they were lucky and the inn still had rooms available.

This time, Hua Chengtian didn’t head straight to their usual inn as before; instead, he directly drove the ox cart to the street closest to the exam venue.

It was best to find an inn in this area. Even if something unexpected happened, being close would give them time to respond.

They asked around as they walked, taking some time to find the testing grounds dedicated to scholars, some distance from the main street but not far from North Street.

Consulting with Qin Shu, they unanimously decided to find an inn right here for their stay.

As expected, the street inns were nearly all full, especially the small inns, with not even a wood house empty.

Hua Chengtian hadn’t considered very small inns much anyway; they were too crowded, noisy, and lacked the quiet space crucial for the three children, who needed rest and quiet to prepare for the exams in two days.

The only hope now was that larger inns would still have some rooms, but the results were similarly disappointing, with almost all being fully