Chapter 1837 — On Tenterhooks
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"Fairy maidens both, since you will not accept this old woman's bow, then if you do not disdain it, come and sit awhile at this old woman's home. I shall donate all the savings I have accumulated over these years as incense money for you..." the old woman said.
She was a solitary old widow who repaid kindness with gratitude. For years she had made her living by scavenging, but her bodily infirmity had left her clumsy in movement, and what she could gather each day was limited. Yet ever since her legs and feet had grown nimble, her earnings had soared — places she could never reach before were now open to her, and so her income had increased greatly. Naturally, she was filled with gratitude toward Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu.
Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu exchanged a glance. Neither of them coveted any incense money from the old woman; rather, they were fretting over having nowhere to hide. Since the old woman was inviting them, and she was someone they had met before, they need not fear she harbored crooked thoughts — and it suited Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu perfectly.
"Very well, Granny. But we are not fairy maidens — once we reach your home, we'll explain everything to you in detail..." Gu Mengyao could tell the old woman was pure and kind at heart, and she would not put on airs as a fairy maiden to deceive her.
"Good, good, wonderful!" Hearing Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu agree, the old woman was so delighted she could not close her mouth.
In truth, whether or not Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu were fairy maidens did not matter. What mattered was that the old woman had met her benefactors once more and could repay even a little of the gratitude in her heart — that was what made her happiest of all.
Gu Mengyao picked up the bundles, while Shen Yushu took Wei Zhao on her back. Seeing this, the old woman was briefly startled and hastily said, "Fairy maidens both, let this old woman carry these things for you. How could I let you do such heavy work?"
"Granny, it's all right..." But before Gu Mengyao could finish speaking, the old woman had already effortlessly taken the bundles from her hands and placed them on the handcart, and Wei Zhao, on Shen Yushu's back, was likewise scooped up by the old woman and hoisted straight onto her shoulders!
Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu were left dumbstruck by the sight. They had never imagined that this thin, small old woman possessed such strength.
Seeing their astonishment, the old woman smiled faintly and said, "In the old days, when my legs and feet were still clumsy, I used to haul sacks through the streets and alleys while scavenging. What heavy load have I not carried? Now that my legs are sound, this is nothing at all!"
Hearing this, Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu were set at ease, and they set off forward together with the old woman.
Then the old woman caught sight of the Thunder Pig and General Weiwu on the ground, each bearing a bundle, and she was instantly stunned. She rubbed her eyes, and in her heart she became all the more certain that Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu were fairy maidens beyond any doubt!
In all her life she had never seen a pig that could walk on two legs, nor a dog that could carry so much! If they were not fairy maidens, how could they have such wondrous beasts of the immortal realm? Was this not the sort of thing found only in Journey to the West?
But since the girls would not admit it, the old woman did not press the point. Perhaps they were fairy maidens descended to the mortal world and had to keep it secret?
The old woman's home was not far from here, also a ground-floor dwelling. She opened the courtyard gate and let Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu enter first; she followed close behind, then shut the gate tight.