TO GUHYA VILLAGE

CHAPTER FIVE

He just finished brushing his teeth when he heard someone knock on the door.

"Wait." He called out softly.

Quickly rinsing his mouth with water, he then opened the door.

Opening the door, he saw a young boy holding a tray covered by a white linen cloth.

"Breakfast, lady."

Feifei was happily surprised! Breakfast was automatically delivered. This inn is so nice!

Receiving the covered tray, Feifei smiled and thanked the boy. "Thank you, lad."

The boy was stunned into place looking at Feifei's face blankly. The boy did not recover until the door was shut closed.

Scratching his head, the boy went down with a red face.

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The breakfast was porridge with boiled egg and pickled cucumber. Not bad. Its just bland.

Feifei ate heartily and felt renewed of life! After eating breakfast, he again took another bottle. But this time, it was filled with dried peppermint leaves.

Taking a single leaf, he chewed it carefully while checking on any wrinkles on the dress he prepared last night.

The dress is a plain blue, ankle length, loose tunic dress. Then as a tie on his waist, he chose a white girdle belt with gold linings designed with embroidered blue flowers.

Folding his soiled clothes, he wrapped it with a dark cloth to separate it from the other clean clothes, then put it together with his other necessities.

He then placed all these things at the center of a large cloth, rolled everything in like a dough stick and tied it with rope on either ends and at the middle.

Connecting each ends with a loose rope wrapped with leather, its then used as a single strap.

While checking the room for anything he might miss to pack, he tied his leather sandals.

Seeing all is good, he then hooked the strap over his right shoulder together with his buckskin bag where he put his money purse and some snacks.

He is now ready to leave. Its just, where can he spit out the peppermint leaf he was chewing?

Staring at the plate he was using earlier, he was quite hesitant. He felt it dirty and shameful to just spit it out on the plate.

Clenching his teeth, he took the plate and spit up the peppermint leaf. Then rushed out in shame.

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Standing at the counter, he faced the same "lobby" man he met yesterday.

Looking around, he saw a few diners at the dining hall, which occupies most of the lobby.

"I want to check out today. Would you happen to know where I can catch a ride to Guhya Village?" Feifei inquired.

"Lobby" man looked at him again in a daze before answering enthusiastically. "At the east side of town, near the market place, there are wagon carts headed to Guhya Village. I'm not sure what kind of wagon cart it is. But I know there is one in there. Often times it is driven by a horse or a donkey. At times, its an ox cart and it would make you bald before you arrive at Guhya Village."

Feifei smiled at the man's description. He thanked the man and left the inn in high spirits.

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Walking towards the direction the "lobby" man told him, he saw two public wagons at the coach station. He felt lucky!

He hurriedly walked towards the driver of the first horse wagon. This wagon has an oiled skin cover as roof and the cloth at the sides were secured at the top.

He made his way closer to the driver. The driver was chewing something while talking to his fellow driver beside him.

"Good day, uncle. Are you taking passengers to Guhya Village?" Feifei asked politely.

The driver looked at him open mouthed, in awe of his beauty. He seemed speechless and at a loss for words.

"Uncle...? Is this wagon bound for Guhya Village?" Feifei repeated patiently. Inwardly, he sighed.

The driver blinked hard a few times before closing his mouth. "Ahhh...yes. Yes, its going to Guhya Village."

"Great! Would there be room for me at the back?"

"Of course!" The driver answered right away. "Jump right in! We are just missing two. Let's wait for a while more. If no one comes, we will set out."

"Thank you, uncle! How much would it be for the fare?"

"Just five copper ingots."

Feifei opened his buckskin bag, took five coppers then paid for the fare.

He then went to the back, stepped up and lowered his head as he moved to the vacant space on the left.

Looking around, he saw five people already sitting inside the wagon. On her right was a woman holding a child on her lap and an oiled paper. The rest were holding a back basket.

Must be here in town to sell or buy something. He took a note of buying a back basket himself.

The wagon was silent and all of them were staring at Feifei either inadvertently or openly with honest admiration.

The child who was at his right can't help but touch his hair in amazement. "Big sister, you smell so nice. Like a fruit! So sweet."

Feifei's face turned red in embarrassment while the other passengers smiled.

"Hush! Don't bother big sister." The woman reprimanded the child. Looking at him, the woman apologized. "Sister, please don't mind the child. She is just curious but means no harm."

Feifei just smiled and patted the child's head dotingly.

The child followed Feifei's hand and sniffed hard as if trying to absorb Feifei's smell into herself.

The woman slapped the child's head that made the other passengers laugh.

"No offense taken. Please don't hurt the child." Feifei whispered.

The woman smiled at her kindly.

"Let's go. We are going, people. Hold on tight." The driver called out as the horse started to trot.

Looking out at the periphery, Feifei felt a tingle in his stomach. He can feel that something good is about to happen.

He can't wait for that good thing to come.