Hua Fushu looked at Ye Zelin's back and smiled faintly. She had been thinking about the silver, but now she had no thoughts at all.
This is money used by the imperial court to develop water conservancy projects, which is a good thing that benefits the people. No matter how much injustice you suffer in Qingyun Mountain, you must not think about this.
After reuniting with Yin Jiujiu and the others, they headed for Xiangshui Town. It was already dusk when they arrived, the moon high in the sky, its light shining like a thread. Hua Fushu led his men directly to the Xiangshui Wharf.
Xiangshui Town is built by the water and has three or four docks, the largest of which is the Xiangshui Dock of the Xiangshui Cao Gang.
Two large ships were moored on the broad and calm river. Lights were on, illuminating the boats. Workers were carrying bags of goods onto the boats. A tall and sturdy man was holding a booklet in his hand, checking and counting the goods.
Hua Fushu recognized the burly man at a glance. It was her sworn brother, Shang Lu, the head of the Xiangshui Cao Gang. He was the thirteenth in the clan and was known as Shang Shisan.
In fact, she also has a sworn brother, the head of the Huo family, who cured the madness of the second master Ouyang in the Ouyang family.
Becoming sworn brothers with the head of the Huo family is because we share similar interests and are friends regardless of age. Becoming sworn brothers with Shang Shisan is because he is such a kind gesture that I cannot refuse and have to do it.
That year, she got the news of the destruction of the Xiangshui Cao Gang from the head of Yiren Pavilion, Shen Jianjia. She reported it to her master and asked for his opinion. Her master told her to make her own decision, so she took a silver note worth 30,000 taels of silver to Xiangshui Town, found Shang Shisan, and partnered with him to rebuild the Xiangshui Cao Gang.
Shang Shisan was very capable. After the Xiangshui Canal Gang was rebuilt, he quickly attracted a large business. Thanks to his efforts, the Xiangshui Canal Gang became the largest canal transport in the entire Dongting County in just one year, even exceeding the scale of the official canal transport, and had docks and ships throughout the Dongting County water system.
When the Xiangshui Cao Gang was rebuilt, Shang Shisan was very grateful to her and wanted to become her sworn brother several times. Finally, she could not resist Shang Shisan's hospitality, so she and Shang Shisan became Guan Erye's sworn brother. Because she had a brother who was her friend regardless of age, Shang Shisan became her sworn brother.
"Second brother."
A familiar voice came to his ears, but Shang Shisan thought he had misheard it and didn't pay any attention to it.
Hua Fushu thought that he had called out too softly and Shang Shisan hadn't heard him, so he doubled his voice and shouted, "Shang Shisan!"
Shang Shisan finally realized that he had not misheard. The voice was so familiar, like that of his benefactor, his adopted sister Xiaohua.
He turned around and saw a young girl standing under the dim light in the distance. It was his sister whom he had not seen for two years!
She looks a little taller than two years ago, and her face is not as round as it was two years ago, but her eyes are still as clear and bright.
"Little Flower Girl!"
Shang Shisan handed the notebook in his hand to the servant beside him, ran over quickly, walked up to Hua Fushu, and said excitedly, "Sister, it's you! I thought I heard it wrongly! What are you doing here? It's been two years since we last met. Our brothers and sisters in the gang have been missing you!"
Hua Fushu smiled and said, "I'm not here to disturb Thirteenth Brother."
Shang Shisan said, "You are family, why are you being so polite to your brother?"
Hua Fushu said, "I won't be polite to Thirteenth Brother. I need your help with something."
Only then did Shang Shisan notice that there was a large group of people standing behind Hua Fushu, about fifty or sixty of them. The ones closest to her were young men around twenty years old. The faces of the people further back were less clear. There were men, women, and children, most of them were middle-aged men.
He said, "Who are these people? Did you bring them here?"
Hua Fushu nodded, "My friends and brothers." She smiled and said pitifully, "Brother Thirteen, I'm hungry. Let's talk after I eat."
Sanqiao also said, "Brother Thirteen, I'm hungry too."
Shang Shisan looked at the master and servant who looked pitiful and tired, asked the servant to check the goods for him, and took Hua Fushu and others home.
Shang Shisan's home was a large house with three entrances. Two large lanterns hung high in front of the door, and the two ink-black characters "Shang" were written on the gauze covering the lanterns. When the servants saw their master returning, they came out to greet him. "Master, you're back so soon! The mistress was still muttering about the large amount of goods, so you won't be back for long."
Shang Shisan patted the servant's shoulder and said happily, "Go and tell the lady that Xiaohua is here. Tell her to come out and meet the guests."
The servant then noticed the girl beside Shang Shisan. After a moment's pause, he remembered that the master had a godsister who was a great benefactor of their Xiangshui Cao Gang.
The servant was about to go in to find the mistress of the household, but Hua Fushu stopped him and said to Shang Shi, "Thirteenth brother, there's no need to disturb my sister-in-law. I'll go see her after I've dressed."
Shang Shisan's expression of joy hadn't faded yet. He said, "Look, I'm so happy I'm losing my mind. I should at least tell my sister to eat and rest before we meet again."
Hua Fushu's friendship with Shang Shisan was quite close, so he said directly, "Brother Shisan, please take care of my friends as well."
"I told you not to be polite with my brother." Shang Shisan ordered the servants to greet the friends following behind.
Shang Shisan led Hua Fushu in. Ye Zelin, Qin Youran, Mu Qing, Yu Chisu, Sanqiao, Jing Mo and Nanxing followed Hua Fushu consciously. Cangshu pulled Jiang Li's sleeve. Jiang Li understood and did not follow Nanxing's steps. Instead, he followed Cangshu and Sai Yuhuan and others.
Although the servant did not know what the relationship between these people and Hua Fushu was, Hua Fushu was the master's godsister and a great benefactor of the Xiangshui Cao Gang, so he naturally did not dare to neglect her. He invited Sai Yuhuan and others into the house, and called a few servants to help greet Hua Fushu's friends.
Everyone had entered the merchant's house, but Cang Shu and the other man hadn't yet entered. Cang Shu said to Jiang Li, "Keep an eye on them."
Jiang Li said calmly, "I understand."
The servant waved to the two men, "Why don't you come in?"
Only then did Cangzhu and Jiang Li enter the room.
Knowing that Hua Fushu was starving, Shang Shisan immediately ordered the servant to make noodles. While the noodles were being made, Sanqiao asked Shang Shisan for paper and pen. Shang Shisan then realized that Hua Fushu was injured, and immediately asked the servant to bring paper and pen.
Hua Fushu read out the prescription, while Sanqiao wrote it. There were two prescriptions: one for pain relief and inflammation, and one for scar removal and tissue regeneration. After the prescriptions were written, Shang Shisan sent his servant to the pharmacy to get the medicine.
Hua Fushu invited Shang Shisan to take a seat, then pulled Ye Zelin over and introduced him, "Brother Shisan, this is my husband, Ye Zelin. I hope you can forgive me for not inviting you to a glass of wedding wine at the wedding."
Ye Zelin bowed and said, "Don't blame Fushu for this. Something happened at the time, and I set the wedding date early. Even if Fushu's invitation was delivered, you wouldn't be able to make it to the wedding banquet. If you want to blame someone, blame me."
Shang Shisan showed no sign of dissatisfaction and said, "That's all. Why should I feel guilty? I won't blame you. I'll give you a gift tomorrow."
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