The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]
Chapter 459: Buried Treasure

Chapter 459: Buried Treasure

While his dad was an outsider, he married into the largest foreign surname in Sun Village— the only foreign surname allowed in the shrine. It would be looked down on to shame a first wife who "birthed" one healthy child. It would sully the Xu name in Sun Village.

Back then Xu Zeng had been glad his dad wouldn’t be disgraced in death and would rest in peace. Now, however, he was regretting having to visit the shrine in the center of Sun Village, if he was to visit his dad.

"This is your destination?" The uncle asked again. At this point, all hints of caution had fled the man’s voice. He’d grown comfortable with the idea of the three of them being easy targets, a bunch of rich young masters up to no good.

Xu Hu Zhe retrieved the large empty back basket with only a backpack in it, from the rear of the bullock cart.

"Are you... Young masters sure this is where you want to go?" They descended from the carriage before reaching any of the three nearest villages— one of which was Sun Village. It was only about 10 minutes to reach more people and lively places, yet they chose to descend in such a deserted place.

The uncle was clearly confused by their choices and continued to persuade them. "If you tell this uncle what type of... fun you’re looking for, this uncle will be sure to guide you in the right direction. It is very unsafe..." He paused and looked Xu Hu Zhe’s large and sturdy frame up and down,

"...For three young masters to be in the forest alone. There is even a strong stream nearby, many children have drowned there when unaccompanied. It’s not a safe area, but I can take you to the warm springs further ahead..."

He was still trying to convince them to board the bullock cart once again, as Xu Hu Zhe carefully pulled out the copper coins quoted by the uncle when they were in Aran Town. It was clearly a ripoff but the uncle had the only bullock cart waiting at the time.

How could a carriage ride be 25 copper coins per person? It was only 1 copper coin for villagers and at the highest 2 copper coins for town folk a year ago, but the difference in price for villagers and town folk was enough of an indicator to know how many operated in tough times.

Xu Zeng wasn’t as tight-fisted with silver as Xu Hu Zhe was, but even he felt insulated by this price-gouging tactic.

The silver-haired ger was sure even Bai Mo would know the up-charge was fraudulent. A bullock cart likely wasn’t so high in Yilin Town.

Speaking of the true young master among them—Master Bai— the fox was clearly much better after descending the bullock cart. The poor thing did not do well on a bullock cart. Carriages would need to be his only mode of transportation going forward.

Xu Zeng held the quickly recovering fox’s hand, as his eyes began to focus, and his breathing evened. He wanted to rub the other’s back, but the uncle’s gaze was already hot enough. Xu Zeng didn’t want to give him more gossip materials.

He suddenly felt more guilty about his kissing habits. If this uncle knew he was kissing Bai Mo and Xu Hu Zhe, what kind of spit would he throw their way? What of the villagers who drowned his dad in spittle even when his body was cold?

If they knew about his loose lips that kissed indiscriminately— not completely indiscriminately— how would it affect Xu Hu Zhe and Bai Mo?

Xu Zeng never loved the idea of Nanshan Estate more. He hadn’t realized it before, but there were things he could do in his brother’s home he couldn’t do elsewhere. That was truly a safe haven he hadn’t appreciated enough.

"...I’ve already given you three such a generous price, yet you won’t even..." As the uncle geared up to possibly make another sale, or maybe up-charge them further, Xu Hu Zhe seemed to have had enough.

"Such a generous price of 25 yuan per person. With a price of 5 yuan for my empty basket, and 5 yuan for the bag my companion is carrying. A total of 85 yuan from Aran to the fork between the villages. If I were to involve the Yamen, I don’t think they would find your prices so generous at all."

"I... I... You... You... It..." The uncle stared at Xu Hu Zhe in horror as he placed the 85 yuan in the uncle’s now frozen outstretched hand. He clearly hadn’t realized they knew he was up-charging them.

The uncle felt too comfortable after they were silent under his verbal barrage. The shock on his face and his return to stammering made Xu Zeng feel better. A bit of the weight on his chest and mind began to melt away.

"Let’s go," Xu Hu Zhe inclined his head. Both Bai Mo and Xu Zeng nodded and moved toward the tree line.

The uncle stayed for some time, his body frozen as his eyes chased after them. He took 85 yuan from them, who knew how many days of work he’d earned in one day from swindling a bunch of "young masters."

It wasn’t until they were almost completely out of sight that the uncle called to his cattle, and moved at a breakneck pace for the villages up ahead. Which village was he going to? Xu Zeng didn’t know, but he hoped he wasn’t a resident of Sun Village.

Even if he didn’t visit his dad, he didn’t want to have to see that woman. If his father, in name alone, heard there was a masked silver-haired person of tall height, the man likely wouldn’t come looking for him, but the woman might.

They had two sons now. Xu Zeng was never his child. The entire village, the entire three villages even, knew Xu Zeng as his father’s child, but the two involved knew it wasn’t true. Xu Zeng was an egg his dad brought from who knows where.

His father allowed him to sleep in the pigpen even while he used his dad’s dowry. Their relationship had already been cut when he was "married out."

Xu Zeng was silent the entire trek, only focusing on leading the way, and keeping Bai Mo steady. He would occasionally rub the other’s back in comfort. He felt bad for Bai Mo, having to experience this last leg of the journey.

It would be over soon.

"This was my favorite place as a child."

Xu Hu Zhe and Bai Mo both took in the scene with seemingly hungry eyes. The forest was a bit denser a minute ago, but this clearing had enough space for a child to play, with even rocks to sit on and enjoy the fast-moving stream cutting through it.

The space was pristine and looked to be untouched by man, but it seemed perfect for a child to play in. But this walk had taken them a good thirty minutes with several zigs and zags. It was like a little hidden wonderland.

One could only imagine what a child would do in such a place that was so wild and untamed. It was likely not safe for a child, but then again, one needed to know the type of child Xu Zeng was to understand it was as safe as could be.

He wouldn’t jump in the stream without a rope tied to a tree— and that was only to catch fish and other things when he was too hungry, he’d even braided the rope he used himself. It wasn’t the safest option, but without this bravery, he really might have starved to death a few times.

"It’s beautiful." Bai Mo said as he took a seat on the most inviting flat rock, dusting it off first. "Is this the place you promised to show me?"

"Yes," Xu Zeng beamed. This was his place. His place with his dad. This was the place where they hid his remaining wealth too. His dad hadn’t given his entire wealth to his "father," it had been a large dowry, over three times the typical size for a town wedding— 45 taels of silver— but his dad had still been smart and prepared a way out for Xu Zeng.

There was buried treasure in the borehole only a few feet ahead. He would need to dig it out, but he was sure everything was still there.

Xu Zeng had promised to make them a meal, but now, he almost wanted to take back the offer. Not because he didn’t want to share his place and his experiences with the two in front of him, but because he was dreading all the things that could go wrong the longer they stayed.

This trip was not as well thought out as he initially thought. It would take around 20 minutes to walk back to Sun Village if he visited his dad, and then another 50 minutes back to Aran Town if they weren’t able to board another bullock cart halfway.

Xu Hu Zhe could bear that hardship, but could Bai Mo?