Chapter 162 Marrying My Cousin Zhi'er

Shen Ci'an couldn't help but ask, "Does Lord Lu actually have such leisure to disembark and stroll around?"

"Just taking a break," Lu Yuan glanced at him coldly. "What, Lord Shen won't allow it?"

Shen Ci'an smiled and said, "Please make yourself at home, Lord Lu."

After saying that, he reached out and helped Jiang Zhi off the boat. The two chatted and laughed, and even talked about buying some supplies for their wedding.

Lu Yuan, standing behind her, had a dark look in his eyes as he stared at Jiang Zhi's retreating figure with a dazed expression.

At this moment, the ship is docked in Fuli, a transportation hub for merchants from the north and south to transfer and move between ships. It is bustling with people, and its cultural landscape is quite different from that of Kyoto.

Jiang Zhi and Shen Ci'an strolled around the town for a long time, but they were worried about Xiao Xuanyou's whereabouts. So, Jiang Zhi made an excuse that she needed to buy some women's items and asked Shen Ci'an to go back first. She then took An Yue and Ru Ying to the bookstore.

This bookstore is doing much better business than the one in Sizhou City.

Jiang Zhi took out the token and was invited to a private room on the second floor. The manager came out and handed her a thick envelope.

Jiang Zhi took it and saw that, in addition to a letter written by Xiao Xuanyou, there was a thick stack of silver notes underneath.

It seems that even His Highness the Crown Prince, who is far away in the capital, knows about her poverty.

She put the banknotes aside, opened the letter and read it carefully, finally letting out a sigh of relief.

Knowing that she had been kidnapped by bandits and wasted a lot of time, Xiao Xuanyou did not scold her too much. He told her to be careful and that these silver notes were a loan to her, which she would repay when she returned to the capital. He also told her to be careful on her journey and to stay away from Shen Ci'an.

Jiang Zhi couldn't help but mutter to herself.

After writing so much, the last sentence is probably the most important.

She put the letter and the silver notes into her bosom and was about to leave with Ruying and Anyue when she suddenly heard a commotion downstairs.

Two people got into an argument over a book.

The man, dressed in a blue cloth robe, had a handsome face with a beauty mark at the corner of his eye. He held a book in his hand. "I just didn't bring enough money with me. I'll go home to get some. Just wait for me a moment."

Another well-dressed, fat man waved a folding fan, his face full of disdain, "Look at your poor, pathetic appearance. If you can't afford it, hurry up and give up the book. Stop making a fool of yourself here."

“I already said I’d be right back,” the man in the blue cloth robe said, taking out a jade pendant and placing it on the counter. “I’ll leave this jade pendant here for now and come back to redeem it once I’ve got the money.”

However, the wealthy, fat man snatched the jade pendant and casually tossed it on the ground with a look of disgust. "This is a unique piece. How can you pawn it with a mere jade pendant?"

After saying that, he took out a gold ingot and slammed it on the counter. "I want this copy of 'The Collected Works of Mr. Changli'. When doing business, you should keep your eyes wide open and see clearly who your customers are who can afford it!"

"You!" The man in the blue robe quickly picked up the jade pendant from the ground, and only breathed a sigh of relief after carefully checking that it was not broken. "How could you be so rude?"

The wealthy fat man sneered, "Let me tell you, my Qian family's businesses are all over Fuli. This rare book is of great use to us. If you know what's good for you, get out of here now, or you won't even be able to continue teaching here. Now hand over the book!"

The waiter at the counter was caught in a dilemma.

The wealthy, fat man gave a wink and ordered two of his servants to snatch it.

"Wait a minute." A voice rang out.

Jiang Zhi slowly walked down from upstairs, smiling as she placed a silver note on the counter. "I'll buy the book for this young master."

"This..." The waiter couldn't make a decision for the moment.

The shopkeeper followed from behind and said, "Why don't you hurry up and wrap up the book for this young master?"

Upon hearing this, the wealthy, fat man slammed his fist on the table. "I think you don't want to keep this bookstore open! In Fuli, there's nothing I, Qian Wenrui, can't get if I want it."

He squinted and glared at Jiang Zhi with a sinister look. "Judging from your accent, you're not from here. How dare you meddle in my business?"

My father gave me a firm order to buy this copy of "The Collected Works of Mr. Changli".

It is said that the imperial envoy from Kyoto passed through this area these past two days. He is a book lover, especially fond of poetry and literature. My father plans to use this collection of poems to establish a relationship with that official and thereby expand the Qian family's business.

Unexpectedly, a Cheng Yaojin appeared out of nowhere, how could he not be anxious?

The two servants beside her immediately came forward, intending to attack Jiang Zhi.

But the shopkeeper stopped him, saying, "Young Master Qian, this gentleman is a distinguished guest of our shop and we will not tolerate any disrespect from him. If you insist on making a move, don't blame us for being ruthless."

Several servants and waiters in the library gathered around, staring at them menacingly.

Seeing that he was not going to get anything out of him, Qian Ruiwen spat on the ground and reluctantly left with his men.

The man in the blue robe dusted off his clothes, stepped forward, and bowed to Jiang Zhi, saying, "Thank you for your help, brother. I will return the money to you when I return to my residence."

Jiang Zhi simply tilted her head and looked at him with a smile, "No need, consider this book a gift from me."

She smiled and chatted, but the man in the blue robe frowned. "You can't accept something for nothing. This money must be returned."

“No need, no need,” Jiang Zhi waved her hand, her smile widening. “Does our relationship require repayment?”

The handsome man in the blue robe looked completely bewildered. He carefully examined her features, then suddenly his eyes widened. "You, you..."

Jiang Zhi smiled, pursing her lips, "Cousin Shaoyuan, don't you recognize me?"

"You...you're Zhi'er?" His eyes were filled with disbelief as he looked her up and down. "Why are you dressed like this in Fuli?"

"How is Grandmother's health? We lost contact with your family after you moved south. I never expected to run into you in Fuli."

Jiang Zhi was quite surprised when she first met Feng Shaoyuan.

When her mother was alive, the Jiang family and the Feng family often visited each other, and she was also very familiar with her mother's cousin, who was born to her own brother.

Although they hadn't seen each other for many years, Jiang Zhi recognized Feng Shaoyuan immediately because of his outstanding appearance and the beauty mark under his eye.

“Everything is fine. Your grandmother and father often talk about you,” Feng Shaoyuan said, glancing around. “This isn’t the place to talk. Let’s go to a teahouse and catch up.”

He had many questions he wanted to ask her.

Jiang Zhi naturally wouldn't refuse and went out with him.

"Young master, they went straight to the teahouse after leaving the bookstore," a servant whispered to Qian Wenrui from a nearby alley.

Qian Wenrui sneered, "Go and call all the guards in the house. I refuse to believe we can't get that book today!"

The teahouse that Feng Shaoyuan chose was a private room on the second floor facing the street.

Although they hadn't seen each other for many years, their childhood friendship remained, and they didn't feel any awkwardness as they shared their recent experiences.

"I never imagined that the little one who looked like a glutinous rice ball back then would be getting married now," Feng Shaoyuan couldn't help but sigh.

“When I was little, I kept pestering my mother to give me a younger sister like you. Do you know what my mother said to me?”

"What did your aunt say?" Jiang Zhi asked.

Feng Shaoyuan's clear eyes held a gentle smile. "She said that marrying my cousin Zhi'er would be enough."