Jiangnan.
The Lantern Festival is the most lively festival of the year.
Jiang Yan stayed in the inner house for a long time, and she was so quiet that she wanted to go out for a walk on the Lantern Festival.
For this purpose, she specially prepared many arguments to persuade Zhou Jin to let her go.
After being with Zhou Jin for several years, Jiang Yan vaguely guessed what he did.
But she was smart, she never asked and pretended she knew nothing.
During the first month of the year, Zhou Jin was very busy and only came once.
Jiang Yan seized the opportunity and was gentle and considerate at first, serving Zhou Jin so well that he didn't want to leave.
Then, while he was happy, I asked to go out for the Lantern Festival.
"I heard that the government has added a spectacular lantern display for this year's Lantern Festival. I've never seen lanterns before, and I'm really looking forward to it. Sir, will you allow me to go out and play on the Lantern Festival? I'll have the maids and the women watching over me, and I'll definitely be ready to come back."
Zhou Jin squinted his eyes, looking lazy and enjoying himself, but his brain was actually working at high speed.
When he suddenly heard that Jiang Yan was going out for the Lantern Festival, he opened his eyes and stared at her meaningfully.
Jiang Yan's heart trembled when she was stared at by him.
She called out cautiously, "Sir?"
Zhou Jin took her hand and asked, "Want to go out?"
Jiang Yan nodded cautiously, "If you don't agree, just pretend I never said anything."
Zhou Jin smiled and pinched her cheek.
"Do you know why I have kept you by my side for so many years?"
Jiang Yan shook her head honestly.
Zhou Jin didn't keep Jiang Yan in suspense and directly explained, "Because you are very tactful. Over the years, so many women have come and gone around me, and you are the most tactful one. To reward you for your tact, I promise you that you can go out for half a day during the Lantern Festival. You must be back before the curfew. Otherwise, you know the consequences."
Jiang Yan shuddered at first, then her face was filled with ecstasy.
"Master, you agree to let me go out? Thank you, Master. You are so kind to me!"
Jiang Yan cried with joy.
It is not easy for a woman who is a pirate leader to go out.
No wonder Jiang Yan was so excited.
As soon as she was happy, she wanted to repay Zhou Jin.
The best way to give back is naturally with your own body.
However, Zhou Jin was not interested and pushed her away.
Jiang Yan was confused. Did she do something wrong?
"Sir?" She looked timid, like a frightened deer.
Zhou Jin had no expression on his face and directly asked someone to come in to help him wash and dress.
Jiang Yan quickly hid under the quilt, leaving only her head exposed.
After getting dressed, Zhou Jin turned around and gave her a straight look. "When I'm free next month, I'll come visit you again."
Jiang Yan nodded timidly, "I'll see you out, sir."
"It's cold outside, you don't have to get up."
Zhou Jin looked outside the door. Big red lanterns were hung high under the eaves, lighting up the yard.
He snorted coldly, his mood turned from sunny to gloomy, and murderous intent filled his eyes.
Jiang Yan was so frightened that she dared not even breathe.
The young master is good in every way except for his unpredictable temper. When he's in a good mood, he'll pamper you to the skies, but when he's in a bad mood, he'll turn his back on you and disown you.
Zhou Jin looked at her and said, "After the Lantern Festival, don't go out. Things are not peaceful outside recently."
Jiang Yan nodded honestly.
She didn't dare ask why things were so uneasy outside.
She felt safe outside.
Under the rule of the government, the people can at least live and work in peace and contentment.
Zhou Jin took his men and went out in the cold wind, leaking liquid.
…
The Lantern Festival is here in the blink of an eye.
Jiang Yan dressed up and prepared to go out in high spirits.
But the old woman stopped her and took a handkerchief, saying, "Please hang it between your ears to cover your face."
Jiang Yan looked at the handkerchief in the old woman's hand with disdain, "The master has agreed to let me go out."
"The master agreed that my lady could go out, but he didn't say that my lady could show her face. If my lady is unwilling to cover her face, then she shouldn't go out."
Jiang Yan stared at the old woman fiercely, "Old bastard." If she were in the palace, she would have ordered the execution of this blind old woman long ago. How could she be so arrogant?
The old woman held up the handkerchief with a firm attitude.
If Jiang Yan doesn't wear her scarf, the gate won't open. No one should go out today.
Jiang Yan gritted her teeth and took off the jade bracelet on her wrist. "Today is the Lantern Festival. Can I show my face? This jade bracelet is for Auntie to drink."
The old woman glanced at the jade bracelet and sneered, "Madam, do you know what the consequences will be if I report this to the young master?"
Jiang Yan snorted, put the jade bracelet back on her wrist, snatched the handkerchief, hung it between her ears, and covered her face.
"This should be fine."
The old woman nodded and said, "My lady, you can go out now. Go early and come back early."
Jiang Yan turned and left, followed closely by the maidservant, the guards, and the maidservants.
It was still daytime, but the streets were already packed with people. It seemed as if the entire city had come out.
Jiang Yan is as happy as a spring swallow, just like her name.
She squeezed in the crowd, finding everything curious and wanting to buy everything she saw.
Soon, the maids' hands were full of all the random things she had bought. Even the guards were not spared, and they were covered with her purchases.
Only the old woman had empty hands.
Jiang Yan didn't have the courage to hand over the items she bought to the old woman.
I was tired from shopping and it was still a while before dark, so I found a teahouse to sit down and rest.
She paid a high price for a window seat on the second floor.
Looking down from a high vantage point, watching the people coming and going on the street, I finally felt a little bit of the breath of life.
She stretched, her face relaxed at first, but in the blink of an eye her expression froze, her eyes widened, as if she had seen a ghost.
"Quick, quick, close the window. Quick!"
Jiang Yan was scared to death.
The maid didn't understand what was going on, but she still followed orders and closed all the windows.
Jiang Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, moved to the window, and stared outside through the crack.
That’s right, that’s right, she didn’t recognize the wrong person, it was indeed Chen Dachang.
How could Chen Dachang be in Jiangnan?
Isn’t Chen Dachang dead?
Even if he survived, he shouldn't appear in Jiangnan.
Jiang Yan felt uneasy and terrified.
When she meets an old acquaintance, can she still hide her past identity?
If Zhou Jin knew that she was a concubine who escaped from the palace, would he still spare her life?
Jiang Yan clenched her fists, and her palms began to sweat.
Chen Dachang, his friends, and his godson were walking on the streets of Jiangnan.
"The scenery here is very different from that in the capital."
Even the way women dress varies.
Not to mention the local customs, eating habits, climate, topography, etc.
Going in opposite directions, this saying clearly explains the difference between the north and the south.
Chen Dachang suddenly raised his head and looked in a certain direction.
"Master Chief, what happened?"
Chen Dachang is currently the General Manager of the Jiangnan branch of Sihai Trading Company. He is also known as the Grand Manager.
Chen Dachang smiled, "If my feeling is correct, there might be someone I know here. He was staring at me with a fiery look in his eyes."
For people like Chen Dachang, their six senses are extremely sharp. To be able to make it in the palace and reach the top position, they must have extraordinary abilities.
For example, being sensitive to danger and being sensitive to other people's eyes.
"This teahouse looks nice. Come in with me and have a cup of tea."
"Listen to the chief steward."
Chen Dachang was the first to enter the teahouse and paid a high price for a private room on the second floor.
The group went up to the second floor.
Chen Dachang glanced at the door of a private room with a half-smile in his eyes.
"Sir, the private room you requested is here."
"oh!"
Chen Dachang was quite satisfied, it was just next door.
In the private room, Jiang Yan was already sweating coldly.
Found it, found it!
Chen Dachang must have discovered her.
Having lived in the palace for so many years, Jiang Yan had some understanding of Chen Dachang.
This old slave may not be particularly skilled in other areas, but his ability to recognize people is top-notch. He can still remember anyone he has met years later.
what to do?
Chen Dachang came upstairs, what should she do?
She hid behind the door and peeked.
Chen Dachang actually entered the private room next door.
She also saw Chen Dachang's godson.
Chen Dachang is so capable that he escaped by himself and brought his godson out with him.
Jiang Yan gritted her teeth and put on her face scarf. She even put on the veil that she hated the most.
"I've had enough tea, let's go."
"Madam, are you leaving now? Didn't you say you wanted to stay here and watch the lanterns?" The maid didn't want to leave yet.
It’s a rare opportunity to go out, it would be a shame not to see the lanterns.
It was getting dark and the lanterns were about to be lit. It would be a shame to leave at this time.
Jiang Yan glared at him, "I'm leaving when I say so. Why are you talking so much nonsense? Are you the master or am I the master?"
The maid pouted and said nothing, feeling very aggrieved.
"Just listen to my wife, let's go."
This time, the old woman rarely stood on Jiang Yan's side.
Jiang Yan was closing the window and peeking, obviously something was wrong.
She wanted to leave, but the maid didn't stop her. She just wanted to see what Jiang Yan was up to.
The group opened the door and went downstairs.
Jiang Yan left the teahouse almost at a running speed and blended into the crowd.
There is a window open on the second floor of the teahouse.
Chen Dachang sipped his tea and looked at Jiang Yan's receding figure.
Jiang Yan felt a gaze behind her, following her like a shadow, cold and full of danger.
She didn't dare look back, just hoping to leave this place quickly.
I am so unlucky today. How could I meet this plague god Chen Dachang?
"General Manager, do you want to send someone to follow?"
Chen Dachang nodded and said, "Send someone to follow her and see where she lives. It's really interesting. I didn't expect to run into someone I know in Jiangnan."
"Did the chief steward recognize him?"
"That back figure is so familiar to me. So familiar that I can easily describe it. Do you think I can't recognize her? I didn't expect she's not dead. But since I was able to make it to Jiangnan alive, it's not surprising that she's not dead."
Chen Dachang smiled faintly, and it was obvious that he had recognized the figure as Jiang Yan.
After all, they are all old acquaintances in the palace, and Chen Dachang's ability to recognize people is top-notch.
It's not surprising to recognize Jiang Yan by looking at her back.
What’s strange is that these two people actually met in Jiangnan many years later.
“It’s fate!”
Chen Dachang laughed and found it very interesting.
He was already looking forward to the moment when he would formally meet his old acquaintance, which he thought would be very interesting.
Jiang Yan didn't find it interesting to meet an old acquaintance at all, she only felt terrified.
As the sky darkened, various lanterns were lit on the streets, making the atmosphere even more lively.
However, Jiang Yan no longer had the heart to appreciate the lanterns and join in the fun.
Now she just wanted to go back quickly, hide, stay away from the crowd, away from those cold and dangerous gazes.
The maid tried several times to persuade Jiang Yan to stay longer, but was ruthlessly rejected by her.
"Either come back with me or get out."
She had a tough attitude, and the maid looked at her for help.
The mother-in-law was cold-hearted and said, "Listen to my wife."
The group squeezed out of the crowd, got on the donkey cart, and set off for home.
Little did he know that there was already a tail behind him.
The donkey cart swayed slowly along the stone-paved alleys of Jiangnan.
The journey was safe without any accidents, and we finally returned to our house on the outskirts of the city.
Returning to the familiar bedroom, Jiang Yan's heart finally settled down.
She let out a long breath and wiped her forehead, only to realize she was already covered in a cold sweat. The sticky sweat clung to her skin, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.
Jiang Yan ordered the maid, "Prepare hot water, I need to wash up."
The maid pouted her lips so high that a soy sauce bottle could be hung on them.
Jiang Yan pinched the corner of the maid's mouth, "You are really becoming more and more unruly. In the past, someone like you..."
"What will happen to a servant like me? My lady, please tell me."
Jiang Yan sneered, "I'm too lazy to tell you. You won't understand even if I tell you."
If she were in the palace, a maid like this would not be qualified to enter the palace. Even if she was lucky enough to enter the palace, she would have died eight hundred times.
Eight hundred times, eight hundred times!
Soaking in the hot water, Jiang Yan relaxed her whole body.
The atmosphere was originally good, but she had a nightmare.
In the dream, Chen Dachang came to the door like an evil ghost demanding his life.
She was frightened half to death and woke up alive.
"Ma'am, are you okay?"
Jiang Yan shook her head, "I'm fine."
You must think about something during the day and dream about it at night.
It is impossible for Chen Dachang to really come to the door.
Jiang Yan kept convincing herself.
Jiangnan is so big and has such a large population, how can you find someone easily?
"Help me up."
I wiped my whole body clean and changed into inner clothes made of water-jet cotton cloth from the north, which was extremely comfortable.
What is water machine cotton cloth?
It is said that the cotton cloth produced in the north now uses looms driven by water, and the cotton cloth produced is dense, soft and flexible, much better than the cotton cloth woven by traditional looms.
More importantly, cotton cloth woven on water-powered looms is cheaper.
Even though it is a long distance from the north to the south of the Yangtze River, the cotton cloth can still be cheaper by two cents per foot.
You can see how low the cost is.
I heard that the local textile chamber of commerce in Jiangnan is discussing countermeasures, either strictly prohibiting cotton cloth from the north from entering Jiangnan, or directly purchasing water-powered looms from the north.
In the water towns of Jiangnan, water-powered looms are very useful.
Jiang Yan shook her head to get rid of this useless information.
No matter what decisions the Textile Chamber of Commerce makes or how it plans to compete with Northern Cotton Cloth, it has nothing to do with her.
The North was even further away from her.
She will never return to the North in her life.
The one who is really in danger now is Chen Dachang.
What is Chen Dachang doing now?
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－－
Happy New Year!
The golden pig brings good luck, and the Year of the Pig is prosperous!
For the first time, the stupid author finally had a draft saved during the Spring Festival. No need to write while watching the Spring Festival Gala.
It’s not easy!
My hands are almost crippled from typing so much.
So, this year must be happy.
I wish you all stay healthy, have lots of money, and everything goes well.
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