Xiao Zuo suddenly interjected in a gloomy tone: "Perhaps what the other party is coveting is not the treasure bottle."
Gong Feicui asked doubtfully, "If it's not a treasure vase, then what is it?"
This was a question everyone wanted to know, so they waited very carefully for Xiao Zuo's answer.
Unexpectedly, he stroked his chin and said leisurely, "Oh, that's hard to say. Maybe some bigwig or something saw that Miss Gong was as beautiful as a flower and wanted to take her back as his concubine..."
I thought Gong Feicui would definitely be angry, but to my surprise, she just rolled her eyes at him and spat, "Pah, you're so frivolous." Her face gradually turned red.
Upon seeing this, a thought suddenly struck me. Gong Feicui is seventeen this year. If it weren't for her father's passing and the year of mourning she had spent in mourning, she should have been married long ago. But she is proud and arrogant, and has never taken any man seriously. Yet this time, she has crossed paths with Xiao Zuo because of the gift of the treasure. Judging from her appearance, could it be…
Just as he thought of this, a cavalryman shouted, "Reporting to the commander, we have caught up with Lord Shi's ship!"
So fast? It's as if they were waiting for us on purpose. I suddenly smiled and turned to look at the other side of the ship. I saw several other large ships sailing side by side. On the largest and most magnificent ship, an old man stepped out of the cabin, smiled, and cupped his hands to us, saying, "Are you Miss Gong and Steward Feng over there? I am Shi Yan, and I greet you."
I looked at Gong Feicui and saw that she had already put away her previous girlish demeanor. She nodded slightly in return, looking both noble and languid, and gave me a wink.
Knowing that she disliked socializing, I ordered the iron cavalry to prepare the plank and went by boat myself. Before I even arrived, Shi Yan rushed up to help me, saying, "How could we trouble Chief Steward Feng to come all the way here? Be careful, be careful."
I had just smiled when my gaze suddenly stopped. Behind Shi Yan stood a child, about eleven or twelve years old, with a rosy face and big, dark eyes—utterly adorable. "This is…"
“Oh, this is my grandson, Ziyu.” Shi Yan pulled the child behind him over.
"What a beautiful child!" I squatted down, looked directly into the child's clear eyes, and said softly, "I'd like to give you a little something to say when we meet."
As she spoke, she took a chain off her neck and placed it in his hand.
It was called a chain, but it was really just a red thread with a jade pendant attached. The thread was ordinary, but the pendant was quite exquisite, with the ancient poem "Bu Suanzi" engraved on it.
“You live at the head of the Yangtze River, I live at the tail of the Yangtze River…” I recited the famous line from the poem, but somehow I mispronounced it. I immediately stopped and laughed embarrassedly, “Oh, look at me, I made a mistake! It should be ‘I live at the tail of the Yangtze River’… Never mind, Ziyu, I’ll give you this jade. You can give it to your sweetheart in the future.”
Seeing that the jade pendant was small and delicate, Ziyu immediately took it and began to play with it.
Shi Yan chuckled and said, "The child doesn't know the rules. Thank you, Steward Feng."
"No, it is I who should thank you for saving my life, sir."
After exchanging pleasantries, I lifted my skirt and returned to the boat. Baili Chenfeng met me at the other end, his gaze as gentle as if it had been washed by water, and said softly, "I never imagined that the renowned Ziyu Xiangman would be so fond of children."
I smiled but didn't say anything. Xiao Zuo interjected, "I think that child also likes Miss Feng very much."
He was staring at the ship opposite him, and said thoughtfully, "His eyes have been fixed on you."
I turned around and met Ziyu's gaze. The wind was whistling, and the scenery on both banks was rushing past, but those eyes stared straight into my heart.
In that vast expanse of misty water, everything became hazy, and another line from the poem "Bu Suanzi" vividly emerged: "When will this water cease flowing? When will this hatred end? It is nothing more than the rolling waves washing away the eternal ambitions of heroes."
The wind billowed the sails, and we sped towards the end of our waterway journey, which was also the last port on the Yellow River—Hancheng.
Volume 1, Chapter 5: The Turmoil in Hancheng (1)
Section 1 Distinguished Guests in a Small Town
The ship arrived in Hancheng around noon on the second day.
Stepping off the boat, I was truly surprised by this small town on the border of Shaanxi. I had thought it was just a dilapidated town, but it turned out to be so simple and elegant.
As we walked through the city, we were surrounded by small Shaanxi-style buildings with glazed roof ornaments on their lintels. Most of the people passing by were well-dressed and had serene expressions.
Having just experienced those unpleasant things on the Yellow River, I was naturally in a great mood when I suddenly saw this scene of abundance and peace. I glanced at Feng Qiansu and the others, and they all looked surprised and amazed. Only Xiao Zuo looked relaxed and led us into an inn that was not very big, but very clean and tidy.
Is this guy born in the Year of the Rat? Is there any place in the world he doesn't know?
I chuckled at the idea. Xiao Zuo glanced at me and shook his head, saying, "Even if you know you're going to have a big meal, you don't need to be so happy!"
As he spoke, he went to instruct the waiter to bring tea, snacks, and dishes.
Holding a cup of tea in my hand, watching the pedestrians coming and going in the market, I couldn't help but sigh, "I never expected that Hancheng would be so prosperous."
Xiao Zuo smiled slightly, took a sip of tea, and said, "Although Hancheng is small, it has always been a famous cultural town. There is a saying that 'half of the government is in Shaanxi, and half of Shaanxi is in Hancheng,' which means that many people from Hancheng serve as officials in the government. Moreover, the hometown of the great writer Sima Qian is here. Doesn't Miss know that?"
How would I know? Trying to show off again! I glared at him fiercely.
Since I met him, the action I've done most often is to glare at him like this, but this time, even I felt it was very different from before, as if it carried a hint of admiration and respect, which made me feel a little discouraged.
Xiao Zuo smiled again, saying in a doting tone, "It's a pity we have to hurry on our journey, otherwise I would really like to take you to see the Sima Qian Temple and Tomb, the Yu the Great Temple, and the Great Wall of Wei. Throughout history, these historical sites have attracted countless literati and poets to stop and admire them, praising them with admiration. 'Hancheng is the most culturally significant city in Guanzhong!'"
"Who asked you to bring me!" I said stubbornly, but a thought crossed my mind.
Everything has gone wrong along the way. How wonderful it would be to be able to let go of everything and have a good time...
Just as I was itching to get some rain, I heard people outside exclaiming and commotion. It was raining suddenly.
Towns like this, located right next to the Yellow River, are known for their unpredictable weather, with sudden winds and rain. Locals are used to it, but tourists from other places suffer, forced to find shelter from the rain wherever they can.
The lobby of the inn where we were staying was also flooded with people, some stomping their feet and cursing, others feeling helpless and frustrated.
A group of people, seemingly from a wealthy family on an outing, were present. Among them was a woman who appeared to be a concubine, with a very sweet face and dressed in luxurious clothes. Perhaps attracted by Xiao Zuo's youth and handsome appearance, she couldn't help but glance at him a few more times. However, her husband noticed and began to beat and scold her in public. With nowhere to hide and nowhere to dodge the beating, the woman indeed ran straight towards Xiao Zuo, crying out, "Young master, save me!"