Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life

Chapter 444: Returning Home

After stepping out of the Zhou Residence, Su Ming didn't waste a single moment lingering in Qingshi Town. He headed straight down the dirt path that led to Su Family Village.

This road—he had walked it countless times back when he was striving for scholarly honor, trying to carve out a livelihood for his family. Even with his eyes closed, he could still remember every pothole, every dirt ridge along the way.

But now, the road had changed.

What used to be a muddy, knee-deep quagmire after every rain was now packed flat and smooth. Near the village entrance, it had even been paved with a layer of fine gravel, clearly bearing the marks of heavy carts passing through repeatedly.

Su Ming walked at a steady, unhurried pace, but Zhou Wenhai's words involuntarily surfaced in his mind—

“Your family moved back to Su Family Village a couple of years ago.”

Su Ming remembered the slight pause in his hand as he gripped the spoon when he heard that.

“Your second brother has too much pride. After two years in town, even though life was stable, he always felt like he was living on someone else's charity—it made him uneasy.” Teacher Zhou had stroked his beard as he spoke, a hint of emotion in his voice. “Plus, with the heat from Yongchang Marquis cooling down these past few years, he made the call on his own and moved the whole family back.”

Su Ming had fallen silent for a moment, but inside, he understood completely.

He knew Su Yang's temperament better than anyone. On the surface, his second brother seemed honest and unassuming, but deep down, he carried the stubborn pride of a man who had tilled the earth his whole life. Living off someone else's goodwill for too long—even if that someone was a benefactor like Teacher Zhou—was worse than death for him. Moving back had only been a matter of time.Teacher Zhou had paused briefly before adding, “The paper-making operation you left behind is still running, and it's only grown bigger. Now, thanks to that paper mill, every household in Su Family Village has prospered. Everyone in the village respects your family. Your second brother? His word carries more weight around there than the Village Chief's. No one dares to bully them.”

Thinking back to that, a faint smile tugged at the corner of Su Ming's lips.

Second Brother was still Second Brother. No matter where he went, he never let himself be taken advantage of.

But then…

Su Ming lifted his head, staring at the outline of the village growing closer ahead, and a complex surge of emotions swelled within him.

Five years.

He didn't know what his second brother—the one who had once dared to venture into the deep mountains to fight for his sake—had become now. He didn't know if his parents were still healthy. He didn't even know if returning in his current identity would bring them trouble instead of fortune.

affairs, what followed was rarely blessing—it

deep breath and

five years ago. Though

few old men smoking pipe tobacco and chatting

Ming didn't slow down. He walked past

from?” One old man tapped his pipe, squinting his blurry eyes as he studied

who's come to buy paper. How many unfamiliar faces have passed through our village these past few years?” Another old man waved dismissively and went back

No one recognized him.

on his bamboo hat, a faint, barely

Family Village

path and entering the village, the scene that unfolded before him made even Su

of the rundown thatched huts from back then had disappeared, replaced by over a dozen newly built houses with gleaming blue roof tiles. The courtyard walls were taller and far more imposing now, and from behind them, he could faintly hear the clucking of chickens, the quacking of ducks,

air, there was a

telling him: over the past five years, the villagers' lives had improved far more than

the Su family. It was the paper-making technique he had left behind, combined with the brilliant scheme of binding the entire

walked east, heading toward where the old family home

right

low earthen walls had been torn down, replaced by tall, sturdy walls of bluestone brick. Two thick, black-lacquered wooden doors stood tightly shut. Above the lintel hung a brand-new plaque with a

ten paces from the courtyard

belonging to a Foundation

within the courtyard came the sound of children running, accompanied by laughter as clear as silver

a hint of anxious affection: "Shitou!

him run. Boys are better when they're tough—falls

to a man. Rough, full of vigor, carrying that particular weight of

Su Ming's body stiffened.

Second Brother.

was Su Yang's

into the deep mountains to scrape together travel money for him—now his voice carried such

slowly raised his foot. One step, two steps, until he stood

reached out his hand—but now it