Chapter 67 As temperatures drop, winter arrives…
As temperatures drop and winter approaches, the Jiangzuo Wharf gradually transitions from a busy and bustling state to a period of rest.
But today is different; the largest dock on the east side is piled high with supplies.
"In this freezing weather, the Qin family is still shipping goods out? Is this being shipped south? Go and ask if they need any more workers!" Several dockworkers who had come to try their luck and see if they could find work saw the goods and their eyes lit up. They hurriedly went forward to ask.
"It's definitely heading south. Everyone knows that the Qin family's goods are mostly shipped to Yunzhou this year, and at this time of year, the rivers to the north are probably frozen over. Why would they be heading north?"
"Hey, don't bother going. The Qin family isn't shipping this batch of goods out; they're picking people up." Unfortunately, before these people could even ask, an acquaintance waved to them, indicating that there was no work available today.
"Goods to people? Lai Laosi, what nonsense are you talking about?"
"I think you're still hungover from last night, fourth brother."
"Ha ha ha ha......"
Upon hearing this strange statement, everyone burst into laughter.
Unfortunately, there really wasn't any work available for the Qin family at the dock today; all the cargo was just waiting to be picked up.
“You bunch of ignorant fools, these are all New Year’s gifts that the Qin family prepared long ago. The young master of the Qin family in Yunzhou is coming back. These are all New Year’s gifts prepared for the workers. The young master thanks them for their hard work and loyalty in Yunzhou this year. Loyalty! Don’t you understand?”
Lai Laosi rubbed his teeth, looking at the piles of fine wine, snow salt, grain, large chunks of meat, cotton cloth, and even brocade on the dock. His eyes gleamed with a mixture of jealousy and envy. He wished he were Qin's servant. With so many good things, what was a year or two spent transporting supplies on the battlefield? If it were him, he could even charge into battle.
The young master is really generous; with so many good things, it wouldn't be a loss even if he risked his life.
"I wonder if the Qin family is still hiring? The young master is truly kind and generous. What's wrong with risking your life to work for such a master!" someone murmured in the crowd. It seems that Lai Lao Si was not the only one who thought so.
"Daughter-in-law, sit down and have a cup of hot tea. A fast ship has reported that the eldest brother and the others will not be able to reach the dock for another half hour." Looking at his daughter-in-law standing in front of the warehouse manager's small house, eagerly waiting, and feeling the unusually strong cold wind on the dock today, even Master Xiao couldn't help but advise her.
Xiao Yan wasn't originally scheduled to return today, but she insisted on coming. Master Xiao tried to stop her, but seeing her determination, he relented. However, bringing her today wasn't in vain; he had taken a walk around the docks earlier and heard what the people there were saying.
This daughter-in-law's cleverness is indeed a perfect match for Ji'er. These are all things that need to be distributed, and with this operation, the Qin family's reputation in Jiangzuo City will rise significantly.
That's right, smart people have their own ideas. Look at her right now, although she says, "Okay, I'm coming," she doesn't move her feet and her eyes are still focused on the dock.
Even so, a sense of relief still flickered in Mr. Qin's heart. It was rare to see such a good relationship between the young couple. Although they had been separated for a long time after their marriage, his daughter-in-law Ji still cared for him so much. As the person who had brought them together, he could only be happy.
Even if his actions were slightly out of line, he would just pretend he didn't see them. Besides... given his position, it wouldn't be appropriate for him to interfere too much.
......
"We're here! We're home!"
"Good heavens, we're finally home!"
"Quick, look over there, the dock is just ahead."
Ignoring the people on the boat behind him who were laughing and crying in a chaotic mess, Qin Ji stood at the very front. The boat was bobbing up and down with the waves beneath his feet, and his homeland, which he had not seen for a year, was before him. His gaze fell on the crowd that had suddenly gathered on the other side of the shore, and he saw his father waving vigorously at the front.
And... Yan Hui'er!
The woman wearing a veil next to my father is clearly Yan Hui'er; she actually came too!
For a moment, Qin Ji's eyes seemed to freeze, fixed on one spot: "That's right, of course she will come, she will naturally come to pick me up as soon as possible."
Thinking this to myself, a sense of surprise bubbled up inside me like water slowly boiling.
"This lousy ship is crawling like a tortoise." At this moment, Qin Ji felt a deep sense of disgust for this ship, which was considered to have the fastest speed in this era.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan, standing on the dock, watched the approaching fleet and the figure at the bow of the ship. She lifted the thin veil that was partially obscuring her view, and the familiar figure on the foremost ship gradually became clear.
Xiao Yan felt a soreness in her nose and a burning sensation in her eyes.
It's all because the sunlight is too dazzling. Shining on the river, the shimmering waves are so blinding that tears well up in my eyes.
......
"Good, good, it's good that you're back safe and sound." Watching the person leap off the diving board, Master Qin stepped forward and carefully examined Qin Ji from head to toe. Seeing that he had no external injuries, he was relieved.
His face trembled slightly, unable to conceal his excitement and relief, as if he wanted to embrace the young man who was now fully capable of standing on his own. However, the boy who had grown up beside him had changed so much in the past year. Perhaps influenced by the lingering murderous aura emanating from Qin Ji, he stopped the embrace halfway through, only managing to pat him firmly on the shoulder instead.
Although he spoke with restraint, his joy was genuine, and beyond that joy, there was an uncontrollable excitement.
The way Master Qin looked at Qin Ji was complex. Four parts resembled a father looking at his proudest son, while the other six parts were filled with admiration and respect, like a subject looking at his lord.
He was looking not only at his son, but also at all the glory of his life and the bright future of the Qin family.
"Your wife has come to greet you too." Master Qin stepped aside, allowing Xiao Yan Hui to be fully exposed to Qin Ji's eyes.
At this moment, Xiao Yan's gaze also fixed on Qin Ji.
She was somewhat stunned as she looked at the person in front of her.
It had only been a year since we last met, but this person had not only become several shades darker, but was also taller than a year ago. He looked thinner, but his shoulders were broader, and he looked much more weathered.
If Qin Ji's previous demeanor was elegant and gentle, then now he exudes a dangerous and ruthless aura.
Sure enough, even if you're only in charge of allocating supplies, the battlefield is still the battlefield.
However, the lingering malevolent aura vanished after the two locked eyes.
Their eyes met, and Qin Ji's eyes filled with tenderness. His expression suddenly relaxed, his eyes unconsciously curved, and the corners of his mouth turned up. The next second, he revealed a big, silly smile with eight teeth.
However, this slightly silly smile with his eyes crinkled only lasted a few moments before Qin Ji seemed to realize that he looked a bit silly, and he quickly wiped the eight-tooth smile away.
He made a fist with his right hand, placed it over his mouth, coughed lightly, straightened his already upright back, and his face regained its usual gentle yet refined smile. He gently raised his chin and spoke in a clear voice.
"Keeping my promise from that day, I returned unharmed."
Before he could finish speaking, his chest was struck by a body.
Faced with the sudden approach of another body, Qin Ji's body instinctively tensed up due to a year of fighting on the battlefield. His arm muscles suddenly bulged, his palms opened and slightly raised, and all the muscles in his body instantly tightened like iron.
His body was rapidly shifting into an attack stance, but the familiar scent in his arms quickly brought him back to his senses. Xiao Yan didn't even notice this subtle change.
All she knew was that she rushed into his chest, which was broader and stronger than before, and then opened her arms wide, giving Qin Ji a big hug.
"I missed you so much. Welcome home, Qin Ji." Gentle breath and soft whispers reached Qin Ji's ears.
"Thump thump thump..." My heart suddenly pounded like thunder.
It was a tight but brief embrace. Just as Qin Ji's heart was pounding and he reached out to hug the person in his arms back, the warm breath still lingered on his ear, but the person had already pulled away from his embrace.
Although he ended up with nothing, he didn't feel empty.
"Welcome home"—just a few simple words. Yet, they suddenly seemed to fill his entire being.
These few simple words had never been spoken to him in his life. But looking back at his distant memories, perhaps in a past life, someone had said "Welcome home" to him every time he returned from a long journey.
Hearing these words again, and looking at the smiling face before me, it was as if all the battles, the exhaustion, and the bloodshed on the battlefield had vanished in an instant.
Qin Ji clenched his fists tightly at his sides. Otherwise, he probably would have been unable to resist pulling her into his arms again, melding her into his very bones, and holding her tightly from then on, never letting go.
Perhaps it is true that only similar souls can get close to each other. The Qin family did not treat him badly, and he could feel their affection. However, no matter who it was, he always felt that there was a layer between them.
But it was only her.
Their eyes met again, and neither of them spoke, but their eyes seemed to say everything.
Qin Ji even felt that the temperature in her eyes, that burning temperature, was enough to strike his soul with just one glance and ignite him instantly.
At this moment, the crowd has become the background.
......
"Look." Stacks of thick ledgers were piled up in front of Qin Ji, and Qin Ji's gaze followed Xiao Yan Hui's movements.
Xiao Yan ignored him. Ever since she picked him up at the dock, it was as if he had some kind of locking system installed in his eyes. His gaze would almost always return to her every few seconds.
To be fair, Xiao Yan felt quite pleased with herself, with a slight sense of pride in her own charm.
But what made her even more proud was the stacks and stacks of account books. After all, in the year she took over, despite the large expenditures in Yunzhou, she not only avoided a deficit but also achieved a considerable net income.
Qin Ji watched as she stood there, chin held high, her face beaming with pride, as she said, "Look at these ledgers." He couldn't help but smile as she said this.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Qin Ji: My heart is pounding as I look at my wife. (My wife loves me, my wife and I are the best of friends, my wife is so cute...)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com