Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life

Chapter 44: We'll Share the Blame

Just after the fifth watch, the sky was still a murky bluish-gray.

Thick fog covered the entire Su Family Village. Beyond five paces, human figures were indistinct, leaving only a few scattered rooster crows piercing through the mist, sounding especially distant.

Su Shan didn't light a lamp. By the faint light seeping through the window, he carefully fastened his short jacket, which had been starched until it was whitish and had the fewest patches. His movements weren't fast, but they were steady.

Su Ming was already fully dressed, standing quietly in the shadows by the doorway.

"Let's go." Su Shan's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a determined, deliberate weight.

Father and son, one after the other, melted into the morning fog. The mist hit their faces with a damp, cold scent of earth and vegetation. Su Shan's back was ahead, his steps heavy, each one measured as if with a ruler, no longer the slightly weary stride of his usual trips to the fields.

Su Ming followed behind, communicating with his master in his mind.

"Master, I'm a bit nervous."

"Nervous is good," Lin Yu's voice held a trace of lazy amusement. "It means your mind is clear, knowing this matter concerns life and limb. Don't be afraid, follow the plan we rehearsed last night. Remember, your father is the ballast stone, you are the pole-man. He steadies the boat, you find the right direction to set the pole."

"My father... he seems different today." Su Ming looked at his father's back, straighter than usual by a few degrees."Hmph, even a clay figurine has a bit of earth's temper. Your father just doesn't like to fight, not that he lacks substance. This is how he is when he's carrying something heavy in his heart."

Village Chief Zhao Dequan's house was in the eastern part of the village, with blue brick walls and a courtyard nearly twice the size of the Su family's. Su Shan stopped at the courtyard gate, pondered for a moment, then raised his hand and knocked three times on the sturdy wooden door—not too lightly, not too heavily. The sound was clear, showing neither impatience nor timidity.

"Who is it? Knocking before the sky's even fully light." A bleary-eyed woman pulled open the door; it was the Village Chief's wife.

your early morning. I'm Su Shan. There's an urgent matter, I'd like to ask Brother Dequan to help deliberate on it." Su Shan gave a slight nod, his tone calm, his face showing no extra

morning dew but their expressions were composed and serious, not like they were panicked or had caused trouble, she stepped aside to let them into

main room, he'll be

was a cleanly wiped Eight Immortals table with four long benches. A faded New Year's painting of the Gods of Wealth was pasted on the wall. The air held a faint

straight, a neat short beard on

what's the matter?" He walked to the table, casually picking

didn't reply immediately. He walked to the table and gently placed the tobacco pipe he had been clutching in his hand onto the

family can't shoulder it alone, my mind can't untangle it. You're the backbone of our whole village,

were steady, and heavy, like a weighty stone thrown into

teacup stopped. He narrowed his eyes, carefully examining Su Shan's expression. That weathered face held no fear, only a heavy, solemn resolve. This made him

could make you, Su Shan, utter the words 'can't shoulder it'?" He

didn't answer directly. Instead, he turned his head and gestured to Su Ming. "Xiao

robe, smoothed it flat, placed it on the Eight Immortals table,

a rough finger, tapping the paper scrap, but his gaze remained fixed on Zhao Dequan. "Brother Dequan, you've seen much of the world, please take a look. Tell

his expression change slightly. He carefully examined the grain, brought it close to his nose to smell it, even following an old habit, pinched a

Shan and Su Ming. "Shanzi, you father and son, what kind

turn," Su Ming silently

at his father's side, his tone respectful yet unafraid, "This thing wasn't bought from outside, nor given by someone else. I found an ancient recipe in an old book about miscellaneous studies, saying you could try to make paper using

reckless, so I actually tried tinkering with it for a few days. My skill is crude, the technique is far off, I only barely managed to produce this rough, crude thing. But it... it truly

"What?!"

in Zhao Dequan's hand trembled violently. He abruptly stood up, eyes wide, his body leaning forward