Deep in the shade of lotus leaves is a spacious pavilion in the middle of the lake, connected to the waterside pavilion. It seems that there are quite a few people standing in the pavilion.
Because it was still quite far away, Yu Jiao couldn't see clearly, so she looked away.
I have to say, this Bi Bo Lake is really big.
Yang Jiyan had asked the boatman to stop at a place where lotus pods were lush. She and Yu Fuling stood on the edge of the boat and reached out to pick the lotus pods that were closer.
Yu Jiao was a little worried and warned Yu Fuling, "Don't stand too close to the side."
Yu Fuling responded with a smile, broke off a lotus pod, turned around and handed it to Yu Jiao.
Yu Jiao curled the corners of her lips and took it. After peeling it, the lotus seed was plump and round. After removing the outer skin, the inside was white and tender. Yu Jiao put one in her mouth. It was crisp, sweet and fragrant at first, and the bitterness of the lotus core slowly overflowed onto the tip of her tongue.
Yu Jiao didn't feel it was that bitter, she swallowed it slowly.
Lotus seeds can clear away heat, nourish the body, consolidate essence and calm liver fire, and are actually good things.
The lotus pods here are so easy to pick that it didn't take much effort for Yu Fuling and Yang Jiyan to fill their small bamboo baskets.
Yu Fuling put down her sleeves and just picked up the bamboo basket when a pleasure boat came over from the side. Yu Jiao looked up and happened to see Yu Qizhe sitting by the window. Looking carefully, she saw Yu Jinshu and others in the pleasure boat, as well as a few unfamiliar faces.
Yu Qizhe also saw her. Seeing that she was holding a lotus pod in her hand, Yu Qizhe smiled. His inky peach eyes seemed to reflect the shimmering lake water as he looked at her deeply.
"Hey, it's Fifth Brother!" Yu Fuling also saw Yu Qizhe and waved at him.
Yang Jiyan also looked towards the pleasure boat, and when her eyes met Yu Qizhe's handsome face, her pretty face instantly turned slightly pink, and her eyes were shy and timid, with a hint of affection in them.
But Yu Qizhe's eyes never touched her at all, so his glances were given in vain.
Yu Fuling's greeting attracted the attention of the people in Yu Qizhe's pleasure boat, and many of them looked towards their pleasure boat.
The boat was full of young men, and Yu Fuling felt a little restrained for a moment and did not dare to speak again.
I only heard someone curiously ask, "Yu Wulang, do you know the girl on the boat?"
Yu Qizhe didn't respond, but Yu Jinshu poked his head out from the window and took the initiative to say, "That's my sister..."
He saw that Yang Jiyan had an outstanding appearance and was wearing rich clothes, like a lady from a wealthy family. He then said, "The other girl should be my sister's friend, but I don't recognize her either."
But someone said, "That's the daughter of Governor Yang."
Yu Jinshu looked at the person who was speaking. His name was Shao Zhong. Just now when he was on the shore, he heard someone introduce him as the son of a wealthy family in Qingzhou. His family had produced two local officials. Since Shao Zhong said so, the person who was on the same boat with Yu Fuling must be the daughter of Magistrate Yang.
Yu Jinshu turned around and looked at Yang Jiyan who was standing at the bow. She was picking lotus pods, so her sleeves were still rolled up, revealing her slender white wrists. Her snow-white skin was particularly eye-catching in the sun.
Yu Jinshu's Adam's apple moved slightly, and he couldn't help but regret secretly. When Yu Fuling went to the courtyard to find them to go to Bi Bo Lake together, he thought there were only Yu Fuling and Yu Jiao, so he refused without thinking.
If I had known earlier that the daughter of Magistrate Yang would be traveling with us, perhaps we would have been able to talk.
Two pleasure boats passed each other, the water was rippling. Yu Jiao's pleasure boat was parked, and the boat inevitably swayed with the waves. Yu Jiao's center of gravity was unstable, and her slender body swayed with the boat. She quickly grabbed the railing on the side.
Yu Qizhe frowned slightly, his heart tightened, and he said, "The wind is strong at the bow, let's go sit inside the pleasure boat."
The weather was very good today, with only a light breeze blowing across the lake, which was not enough to knock anyone down. Yu Jiao could hear the concern in his voice, pursed her lips and smiled, nodded obediently, took two steps into the pleasure boat, turned around, raised the lotus pod in her hand and asked Yu Qizhe, "Fifth brother, do you want to try the lotus seeds?"
Men who go boating on the lake rarely pick lotus pods. After all, this kind of thing is more suitable for gentle and thoughtful girls.
Although the two pleasure boats were close to each other, it was still dangerous to throw lotus pods from one boat to another. Yu Qizhe was about to shake his head.
Yang Jiyan said crisply with a red face, "We picked a lot of lotus pods, it's just right to share some with Brother Yu."
In the opposite pleasure boat, Shao Zhong leaned out his head when he heard Yang Jiyan's voice, blocking most of Yu Qizhe's position. He smiled in a way that he thought was very charming and suave, "It is our honor to taste the lotus pods picked by Miss Yang herself, right, Yu Wulang?"
Although he was asking Yu Qizhe, Shao Zhong's eyes were fixed on Yang Jiyan's face.
A man's voice was heard behind Shao Zhong. His words were not frivolous, but he was just asking for lotus pods. Yang Jiyan was a little embarrassed and annoyed because Mrs. Shao had wanted her to marry into the Shao family, but her mother had refused.
Yu Jiao saw Yu Qizhe move back and be blocked behind the crowd. She did not hear Yu Qizhe speak, or perhaps what he said was drowned out by the noisy voices on their boat.
Shao Zhong was still looking at Yang Jiyan with a smile, and their pleasure boat also stopped on the water.
Yang Jiyan didn't want to pay much attention to Shao Zhong, so she handed the small bamboo basket to the boatman and said, "Give these lotus pods to them."
The boatman took the bamboo basket, hung it on the long oar, and passed it to the other boat.
Shao Zhong took the bamboo basket with a smile, and bowed to Yang Jiyan, saying, "Thank you Miss Yang for your hospitality."
Yang Jiyan smiled faintly. Since she couldn't see Yu Qizhe, she didn't want to stay at the bow any longer, so she turned around and went back to the houseboat.
Shao Zhong's voice came again, "We are holding a poetry gathering at the pavilion in the center of the lake. The three girls may want to go and see the excitement later."
Upon hearing this, Yang Jiyan stopped, turned around and nodded to Shao Zhong.
Seeing that she agreed, Shao Zhong smiled and told the boatman to start the boat.
In the painted boat, Shao Zhong distributed lotus pods to everyone. Yu Jinshu smiled and said, "Brother Shao seems to be very familiar with Miss Yang?"
Shao Zhong's smile was a little more arrogant, "My mother intends to marry into the Yang family. If I can pass the exam this time, I will go to the Yang family to propose marriage."
It's really not appropriate to say this. The marriage hasn't been finalized yet, so there's no point in publicizing it like this. If it doesn't work out, it will ruin the girl's reputation.
But Shao Zhong's status was there, and everyone laughed along, and some even spoke out in a shameless manner, saying, "Brother Shao and Miss Yang are a match made in heaven. They are well-matched in family background, talent and appearance.
Shao Zhong's smile deepened. Seeing Yu Qizhe sitting quietly in the corner without saying anything, he threw a lotus pod to him and said, "Yu Wulang, you should eat more. This is also a token of your sister's love."
Yu Qizhe glanced at the lotus pod thrown in front of him by Shao Zhong, without any change in his expression. He reached out to pick up the lotus pod, peeled it calmly and naturally, and put one in his mouth.
Thinking of Yu Jiao holding a lotus pod towards him with her eyes slightly curved and her brows smiling, the anxiety that had been choking his heart since last night was miraculously soothed by the fragrance of the lotus seeds.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
