Chapter 843 Seeing Off Guests at Night on the Xunyang River
The night was cool as water, and the moon shone brightly over the river.
On the north bank of Shuangfengjian, at a ferry crossing on the riverbank, the lights are still bright, the noise is constant, and people come and go.
Many boats were moored along the riverbank, including cargo ships, passenger ships, and painted boats and light boats belonging to restaurants and entertainment venues.
Because Shuangfengjian Ferry is located outside the city, unlike Xunyang Ferry in the city, it is not subject to curfew and is closed at night.
The Shuangfengjian Ferry Crossing allows boats to depart and arrive day and night. Over time, even though the Xunyang Grottoes have been closed for repairs, travelers and merchants have still developed a night market around the ferry crossing.
Travelers would stop at Shuangfengjian Ferry to rest and have a meal if they encountered the city gates of Xunyang being closed.
Restaurants and shops have sprung up everywhere, and business is best at night.
This change was something that Yan Liulang and other officials in Jiangzhou had not initially anticipated, and they all subconsciously admired the profound foresight of a certain young governor.
At midnight, Ouyang Rong, Hu Fu, and their group arrived at Shuangfengjian Ferry.
I got on the bike and rode across the night market.
At the dock entrance, where day and night never cease, Khufu reined in his horse, turned back, and clasped his hands in a fist salute:
"Prefect Ouyang, please wait."
Ouyang Rong, dressed in a blue scholar's robe, sat on his horse, looking around at the bustling night market.
After the Battle of Xunyang, he rarely came here, and when he did, it was during the day. Although he had expected it, he never imagined that Shuangfengjian Ferry would develop so quickly and already take shape.
Ouyang Rong gently shook his head:
"It's alright, I'll see you all off one more time."
Hu Fu and the others did not stop her. Their gazes fell more or less on the silver-haired young woman who was carrying a small floral bundle and following closely behind Ouyang Rong.
The bearded eunuch withdrew his gaze and smiled, pointing to the night market on either side:
"Prefect Ouyang, I didn't expect this ferry crossing to be so lively, even at night. The bright lights and bustling atmosphere rival the restaurant street along the Xunyang River. Is this part of your plan, Your Excellency?"
"really……"
Yuan Huaimin, who was looking around, was about to nod in agreement when he felt the gaze from Yi Qianqiu beside him and immediately shut up.
Khufu clicked his tongue in amazement and said:
"What a wonderful place to pass the time at night! I thought that apart from bustling cities like Yangzhou, most of the local prefectures and counties outside the two capitals were boring and dull at night. I was so ignorant."
Ouyang Rong remained silent.
He turned his head and glanced at the middle of the river in the distance.
A Buddha head is submerged in the river, with only a small tuft of fleshy hair visible on its top.
Looking into the distance, it seems that there are seagulls roosting there at night.
Upon hearing this, Yi Qianqiu, Miaozhen, Yuan Huaimin, and the others, like Ouyang Rong, unconsciously focused their gaze on the Buddha head that had sunk in the center of the river.
Their eyes held a complex expression.
There was a sense of melancholy, a feeling of loneliness, and a touch of emotion.
This Shuangfengjian ferry crossing was originally built to serve the construction of the Xunyang Grottoes and the Donglin Buddha; it was created for them.
The Buddha statue has now collapsed, its head has sunk into the river, and the grotto has been abandoned.
Instead of being a secondary feature, the ferry crossing was brought together by local people who started trading and business, and it blossomed with a unique vitality.
The brightly lit ferry crossing on the north bank only served to highlight the desolate emptiness of the massive grotto on the opposite south bank.
Regarding Khufu's words.
Ouyang Rong remained silent.
No one answered.
Khufu noticed the awkward silence and, roughly realizing what was happening, coughed twice, covering his mouth.
After a moment, he broke the silence:
"The official boat is ahead and can leave at any time. Have you all eaten? And what about Miss Ye? Once you're on the boat and your feet are off the land, you'll be drifting on the river for several weeks. Then you won't have the chance to eat in peace like this."
Hu Fu joked with Ye Weilai.
Except for Yuan Huaimin, who immediately shook his head and habitually freeloaded meals, everyone else nodded.
Seeing this, Yuan Huaimin quickly changed his mind and nodded, saying casually:
"I've eaten, I've eaten. You're too kind, Envoy Hu."
Khufu didn't care:
"Okay, we're not hungry either."
He turned and instructed the palace attendants:
"Someone, go and load the luggage onto the ship. Make sure to pack plenty of dry food and water, and also the few boxes of fresh lychees we bought..."
As the ships were being prepared, Yan Liulang returned.
He had just disappeared for a while, and when he returned, everyone saw a beautiful woman in a purple and gold robe following behind him.
Hu Fu recognized her; she was a merchant woman surnamed Pei, who seemed to work for Ouyang Lianghan.
"Young master, I apologize for keeping you waiting. I just finished my work, and this afternoon another group of monks from out of town arrived..."
Pei Shisan Niang first curtsied to Ouyang Rong, her face full of apology.
Ouyang Rong waved his hand:
"It's alright."
Pei Shisan Niang turned around, her expression returning to its usual calm, and gestured with her chin towards her attendants behind her:
"Someone, carry it onto the boat."
Khufu and the others turned their heads to look and found that the beautiful woman was followed by a group of strong men, some carrying or moving several large boxes.
Hufchi asked:
"Prefect Ouyang, what is this?"
Pei Shisan Niang stepped forward first, gracefully curtsied, and smiled sweetly:
"A few local specialties of Xunyang, mostly local delicacies, and some special paper and ink... This may be a small consolation for the envoy and the gentlemen who have had a long journey."
"This is a small gift, nothing special, but I hope you will accept it with a smile."
Hu Fu looked at Ouyang Rong.
Ouyang Rong glanced at Pei Shisan Niang.
I'm not worried that she'll bring in any shady "local specialties"; they should really just be local specialties.
He nodded slightly:
"Please accept this, Father-in-law. It's just a small token of my appreciation."
"good."
Without further hesitation, Khufu clapped his hands crisply.
The palace servants beside him quickly stepped forward and carried the boxes of local specialties onto the ship one by one without checking them.
Hu Fu still trusted this young governor.
As the palace servants moved the boxes back and forth, Ouyang Rong glanced at the moonlit river and asked Ye Weilai:
"Where's the wine?"
"Here I am."
Ye Weilai responded softly, and with Pei Shisan Niang's help, she bent down to open the food box, took out a plate of wine and served it to Ouyang Rong, Hu Fu and the others.
Pei Shisan Niang stepped forward and poured a cup of wine for Ouyang Rong and the others.
This scene caused Khufu and the others to glance at it slightly.
The young man in the scholar's robe was thin and stood alone, with two beautiful women beside him, one still charming and the other petite. They obediently served him wine and treated him with courtesy.
A scholar paired with a beautiful woman, with her sleeves adorned with the fragrance of wine, is always a sight to behold.
Hu Fu and Yuan Huaimin were both somewhat envious when they saw it.
Ouyang Rong raised his wine cup, gesturing to Hu Fu, Yi Qianqiu, Miaozhen, and the others.
He said solemnly:
"Even after a thousand miles of travel, we must part ways. I am currently preoccupied with other matters and unable to see you off further. I hope you will not be offended."
Khufu's laughter:
"How could that be? I am already flattered that Governor Ouyang would escort me here at night. How could I dare to delay Governor Ouyang any further? Governor Ouyang is busy with many affairs every day and works for the well-being of the people. I know what is important."
Ouyang Rong remained silent, simply tilting his head back and drinking.
Khufu tilted his head back and drank it all, then put down his cup and wiped his mouth.
His eyes showed a hint of recollection as he asked:
"Prefect Ouyang, do you remember how many times we've bid farewell like this?"
Ouyang Rong nodded: "Three times."
Khufu laughed heartily:
"Haha, that's right. Speaking of which, my family and Governor Ouyang are really destined to meet. When we first met, you were the Chief Clerk of Jiangzhou, and you personally escorted my family to the ferry when you first came to Xunyang."
"The second time I saw you, when you were supervising the construction of the Buddha statue, you refused to accept the imperial edict and were unfortunately demoted to the position of Sima of Jiangzhou... But at that time, I didn't see that you were very sad. On the contrary, you were always smiling and comforting me. I was really amazed at the time."
"And now, this is the third time we've met and the third time we've said goodbye. You've firmly secured your position as governor, but this time, you don't seem very happy. You've become rather quiet."
Ouyang Rong chuckled and said:
"Father-in-law has a good memory. But farewells are never a happy occasion. The last time was no different, but it just didn't show."
"No, no, no, it's not just that. As we understand it, sometimes the higher people go, the less happy they become. Because when you go up, you always have to lighten your load, but you lose something and it's hard to get it back."
At this point, Khufu seemed saddened and tilted his head back to drink a large cup of wine.
Emboldened by the alcohol, he disregarded everything and shouted:
"After all that rambling, what I really want to say is that I still prefer the magnanimous and optimistic Jiangzhou Sima Ouyang Lianghan who saw me off at the ferry."
Yi Qianqiu and Miaozhen both turned to look at Ouyang Rong, whose expression remained calm.
Khufu waved his hand and said:
"Governor Ouyang, regarding your matter, there are quite a few jealous people in Luoyang and the palace who have spread rumors."
"They say that your decision not to return to the capital with Prince Xunyang this time is a ploy to gain fame and reputation. You are deliberately cultivating your reputation, not only because you are famous throughout the world as a virtuous gentleman, but also because you want to emulate the famous scholars of the past, cultivate your reputation, and strive to enter the Hall of State Affairs in the end."
“Even if we bring your memorial back this time, the noise might resurface, but I know that you truly do not wish to go to the capital. You even disdain this high-ranking official position. Those vulgar people have no idea what a gentleman’s heart is.”
The young man in the scholar's robe stared at the imposing Khufu, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly asked:
"Just a few days ago, the eunuch advised me not to submit that original memorial."
"This is different."
Khufu stroked his chin, which was covered in a thick beard that had never grown before, and said with a sly smile:
"I may like him, but one must always be down-to-earth. Governor Ouyang is a true national hero and is destined to rise in rank. But I can also see that Governor Ouyang is not happy in his career."
"This acting governorship is far less desirable to you than your original position as the Prefect of Jiangzhou. Governor Ouyang's unhappiness during this meeting is probably related to it."
"Therefore, even now as I'm leaving, I won't ask you if you want to revise that newly revised memorial, because I'm afraid you might change your mind again, and then I won't be able to explain it to the Prince and my godfather."
"This memorial is already the most moderate solution. The acting governor can continue to hold the position, which will not prevent Governor Ouyang from being a leisurely Jiangzhou Sima and recuperating and relaxing."
Ouyang Rong was silent for a moment, then suddenly said:
"My mentor and junior sister asked my father-in-law to come, and he really has a good eye for people."
Khufu waved his hand casually and said with a smile:
"It's good that Governor Ouyang listened. I never expected that such a talented person as Governor Ouyang would listen to the words of a rough and uncouth person like myself. It is a great honor."
Ouyang Rong narrowed his eyes and took a sip of wine:
"Eunuch Hu is no ordinary man either."
Khufu smiled but said nothing.
He didn't say that these words of advice to Ouyang Rong were not only taught by Xie Lingjiang and Xie Xun, but also by a certain little princess.
A scene flashed through the bearded eunuch's mind: the silhouette of the little princess in plum blossom makeup behind the curtain in the garden where his godfather, Uncle Shunbo, had taken him before he received the imperial decree to leave the capital that day.
After a moment of silence, Ouyang Rong turned to Ye Weilai and instructed her:
"Stay close to Eunuch Hu and the others, and don't be naughty or play around on the way."
Ye Wei lowered her eyes and said meekly, "Mm."
Khufu waved his hand:
"Prefect Ouyang, rest assured, we will deliver it safely to Lady Xie. We are part of the imperial entourage, it's just a matter of convenience."
Miao Zhen, who had been standing quietly at the back of the crowd for a long time, suddenly spoke:
"I will keep an eye on things, if Governor Ouyang trusts me."
Ouyang Rong nodded slightly.
Khufu solemnly raised his glass once:
"Prefect Ouyang, I hope we can come again next time. This time, it's not to say goodbye, but to say that you will come with us."
Ouyang Rong smiled and said, "Then I wish you all your dreams come true."
Yi Qianqiu, who was standing to the side, seemed to be feeling a little sad as he glared at Yuan Huaimin, who was secretly drinking.
The latter quickly put down his glass, poured himself another, and gestured to her for a toast.
"Prefect Ouyang, Envoy Hu, please wait a moment. I have something to say to my cousin."
After Yi Qianqiu finished speaking politely, he grabbed Yuan Huaimin, pulled him aside, and whispered something to him.
Khufu and the others looked at each other in bewilderment.
Ouyang Rong, however, was used to it. He turned his head and reached out to help Ye Weilai carry her bundle.
The little girl shook her head, clutching her bundle tightly, her eyes fixed on Ouyang Rong's face, as if trying to memorize his current appearance.
She reached out and grasped the hem of Ouyang Rong's blue scholar's robe, saying with heartache:
"The one Ah Qing made is worn out, my love. The new clothes she sent, I've put on the bed. Don't forget, my love, change into the new clothes."
"good."
A short while later, Yuan Huaimin returned with a worried look on his face, as if he was reluctant to part with Yi Qianqiu.
In the distance, the river reflects the Buddha statue and the bright moon.
Seeing that it was getting late, everyone raised their glasses to drink again.
A palace servant came to inform us that the ship was ready.
Khufu sighed:
"It's time to go."
As he spoke, a melodious tune drifted over; upon closer listening, it was the sound of a pipa.
The pipa's melodious strains, leaning towards a mournful tone, lingered around the ferry crossing.
Hu Fu and the others noticed that the young governor suddenly turned his head and stared intently at the sound of the pipa coming from the west bank of the river.
They seemed to be drawn in by the sound of the unknown pipa.
At first, Khufu and his party did not notice anything special about the pipa music, but after listening for a while, the melodious pipa music amplified their already melancholy and sense of loss.
They also stopped in their tracks.
Like Ouyang Rong, Yuan Huaimin also turned his head blankly and subconsciously spoke:
"Mr. Yu?"
Yuan Huaimin asked Ouyang Rong beside him, "Lianghan, is this the pipa of Mr. Yu? You should have a deeper impression of it than I do."
Ouyang Rong did not answer him and remained motionless.
Yuan Huaimin was puzzled, so he examined the pipa music more closely.
The clanging and clattering sounds have a touch of Mr. Yu's style.
Ouyang Rong frowned.
He did not answer a word from beginning to end.
His impression of the old musician was certainly deeper than that of Yuan Huaimin. Although the old musician played many qin (a seven-stringed zither), he was fond of the pipa. Back then, Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen often accompanied him to Xunyang Tower to discuss the pipa with the singers and dancers.
Moreover, Ouyang Rong gleaned more information than Yuan Huaimin.
Not only does the pipa fingering resemble that of an old musician, but the entire pipa piece is also attributed to that old musician.
It was a song that Ouyang Rong was extremely familiar with.
A pipa version of the quatrain! It's still the section from "Lotus Boat Song".
The group searched left and right, and finally their eyes fell on a painted boat moored on the riverbank. Two red lanterns hung from the eaves, and there were faint figures moving inside the boat.
The sound seemed to be coming from inside.
Ouyang Rong tilted his head, his gaze fixed on the painted boat.
The sound of a pipa drifted in and out of the ferry crossing, sometimes mournful and sometimes soaring.
Originally, everyone was about to part ways, but Ouyang Rong led them to stay put and fall silent.
It seemed as if they were waiting for the music to end before leaving.
Yuan Huaimin suddenly turned around and walked towards the painted boat not far away.
Seeing this, Yi Qianqiu reached out and grabbed his sleeve:
What are you going there for?
Yuan Huaimin pulled out his sleeve and gestured with his chin towards the pleasure boat:
"This melody is the pipa fingering technique of Mr. Yu. If I remember correctly. Lianghan, haven't you been looking for Mr. Yu? He might be up there. I'll go ask him for you."
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Rong took a cup of wine from Thirteen Sister and drank it all in one gulp.
He put down his wine glass and strode away.
Seeing this, the group exchanged glances and followed suit in tacit agreement.
The moon reflected in the river, and the host and guests forgot to return home, all going to seek the sound of the pipa.
(End of this chapter)
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