The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]
Chapter 587: Into Yilin Town

Chapter 587: Into Yilin Town

Xu Feng let out a quiet breath, his fingers drumming idly against the armrest of the carriage as he watched the scenery roll by.

Surprisingly, the ride was going well.

He had been prepared for all sorts of disasters—wailing children, squabbling toddlers, or even an unexpected roadside accident—but so far, everything was peaceful.

He glanced around the interior of the carriage, his gaze sweeping over the six children nestled inside.

Two baskets were secured beside him, containing four drowsy babies bundled up in thick blankets. The two newest additions—Big Treasure and Little Treasure—were nearly swallowed by their blue onesies, the soft fabric a little too big on their tiny frames. But they were warm and content, their little chests rising and falling in steady rhythm.

Xiao Long and Da Long were also snug in their matching animal onesies, their tiny hands gripping at the edges of their blankets. They were awake but quiet, their wide eyes watching everything with calm curiosity.

The real chaos sat across from him.

Xiao Momo and Xiao An were pressed up against the window, their small faces practically ready to meet the road as they took in the passing landscape with open wonder.

"Look!" Xiao Momo gasped, pointing excitedly at a group of trees lining the roadside. "So many trees!"

Xiao An nodded rapidly, her fingers gripping the edge of the window. "They’re taller than the ones at home!"

Xu Feng bit back a chuckle, shaking his head. Trees. These two were fascinated by trees.

They hadn’t even arrived at Yilin Town yet, and already, they were in awe.

If trees were enough to get them this excited, he couldn’t wait to see their reaction to the town gates.

But more than that, he found himself watching them with a quiet fondness. Their innocent joy, their wide eyed fascination—their world had been so small until now. They had spent most of their time within the safety of the estate, running through the courtyards and playing in the gardens, and before that, in their village. But the world outside was vast, filled with sights they had never seen before.

It was exciting. And maybe a little terrifying.

Xu Feng glanced toward Xuan Yang and Xuan Jian, his gaze lingering on the two men who sat across from each other.

He remembered riding in this same carriage with them in the past—memories of breathy conversations and fleeting touches flashing through his mind. Back then, the space had felt too small, too confined to contain the heat between them...

Now, the carriage was overflowing with children.

Somehow, it didn’t feel wrong even as a flush heated his face.

Did he wish he had a bigger carriage? Absolutely.

Maybe even one with more coverage for Xu Zeng and Xu Hu Zhe, who were seated at the front, exposed to the elements. The early morning air was cold, and as the seasons shifted, it would only get colder.

Not that either of them would complain.

Xu Feng sighed. He would have to look into expanding their carriage situation soon—especially if this trip proved successful and they planned to make more frequent visits to town before winter set in.

But for now, there were other things on his mind.

Namely, the morning he had just endured. It had taken an absurd amount of time to get everyone ready.

Layering the children in warm clothes had been a battle in itself. The babies had been easy enough, but Xiao An and Xiao Momo had insisted on dressing themselves, which resulted in a brief but fierce struggle over the modern socks with their "weird" shape.

And then, there had been the small matter of explaining the clothing designs to Xuan Yang.

Specifically, their pajamas from the night before.

Xu Feng had mentioned that the airplane pattern on the boys’ onesies came from his old world, thinking that would be all the explanation his snake needed. He was wrong.

Xuan Yang had latched onto the topic with genuine curiosity, asking about the design, the meaning behind it, and how the "flying machines" worked.

Xu Feng had tried to explain.

He really had.

But somehow, somewhere along the way, the conversation had spiraled into a debate between Xuan Yang and Xuan Jian about whether the so called "airplanes" were comparable to the demon beasts that were prevalent in cultivator settlements outside of the continent.

Apparently, in some distant lands beyond Dongzhou, massive flying creatures had been trained to carry humans across continents and even across shorter distances, like air taxis.

Xu Feng had given up after that.

The two of them had clearly enjoyed the discussion, and to be honest... Xu Feng’s ears had been perked up the entire time.

The world beyond Dongzhou sounded even more mystical than he had imagined.

If he pushed past his migraines, sometimes memories would surface—fragments of things he assumed were from other lives. But even then, nothing quite as detailed compared to the stories Xuan Jian could tell.

And here he was, getting a headache trying to explain airplanes. And the fact that no magic or cultivation was needed to fly an airplane. Technology was a hard concept to explain to his magic men.

Xu Feng exhaled sharply and turned his attention back to the present.

They were getting closer to town.

The road was smoother here, well maintained from the steady traffic leading in and out of Yilin Town. The town gates were already visible in the distance, tall wooden structures reinforced with iron.

It was still early in the morning—not the crack of dawn, but early enough that the roads weren’t overly crowded. The market goers had already made their way into town, so the entrance wasn’t too packed, but there was a steady flow ahead.

Lu Lizheng had come to Nanshan Estate just before their departure, finalizing preparations for the estate’s renovations. The man had wasted no time.

In the span of a single night, he had arranged everything, from materials to labor. By now, construction was likely already underway.

Normally, Xu Feng would have wanted at least one of them to remain behind to oversee things, but he had faith in the people he left in charge. Min and the remainder of Xuan Jian’s men were more than enough, especially with Xu San, Xu Si, and Lee Hua managing things in their absence.

And so, here they were.

A carriage full of children waiting to enter Yilin Town.

Xu Feng inhaled slowly, straightening his posture.

He smoothed down the elegant, refined robes he had chosen for today.

Deep navy blue rich fabric, embroidered with silver thread.

His hair was neatly tied back by Xuan Yang, a single silver ornament securing it in place.

If people were going to talk about him, then he would give them something worth talking about.

The master of Nanshan Estate had arrived... correction, the masters.

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The streets of Yilin Town were alive with movement, the late fall air crisp and biting, but not enough to slow the steady flow of people bustling through the market streets. Merchants called out their wares, the scent of roasted chestnuts and spiced meats lingering in the air as townsfolk hurried past, their thick woolen coats wrapped tightly around them to ward off the cold.

Xu Feng watched it all from the window of the carriage, his lips curling into a small, satisfied smile.

This time last year, he had felt injustice for the people of his estate.

Now?

Now, his people were dressed at least as well as the townsfolk—if not better.

The memory of Xu Si and Xu San this morning, wrapped in their sturdy, well tailored winter coats well stuffed with cotton and feathers, flickered through his mind. A year ago, they had been dressed in patched robes, their thin garments barely shielding them from the cold. Now, they wore clothing that rivaled those of the merchants walking the streets of Yilin Town.

Progress.

And yet, there was still more to be done.

They would need to make coats for Lee Hua and the newcomers. The five servants who had left the estate had taken their clothes with them, so there were no extras lying around. There was enough material for the new additions to make their own winter garments, but what about the people Jie would bring back?

A frown tugged at Xu Feng’s lips as he absently traced the embroidered sleeve of his robe.

Maybe he should buy more cloth before the prices surged for the New Year. There was still time, but it was something to consider.

The quiet chatter of the children in the carriage pulled him from his thoughts.

Xiao An and Xiao Momo were still glued to the window, their eyes wide with wonder. Every new sight seemed to fill them with awe—the towering buildings, the vibrant red banners hanging from shopfronts.

But while Xiao Momo was unrestrained in his excitement, pointing and exclaiming at every little thing, Xiao An was more reserved. She shrank back slightly whenever someone outside noticed their stares, quickly hiding her face against Xiao Momo’s shoulder when a curious shopkeeper tried to peek into the carriage.

Xu Feng chuckled softly.

Meanwhile, from the front of the carriage, a distinct gasp could be heard.

Xu Feng raised an eyebrow.

Xu Zeng?

A deep, amused chuckle followed, belonging to none other than Xu Hu Zhe.

Xu Feng smirked. So, even his younger brother was fascinated by Yilin Town.

He supposed it made sense.

Xu Zeng had clearly been to Bai Mo’s mansion and the inn where the two treasures had lived temporarily, but had he ever wandered through the bustling market streets just for fun?

He hadn’t lived a life of leisure before, and now things were different. It wasn’t exactly a life of leisure, but it was more free than the life of a servant in a village household.