Chapter 166 Pulling at my sleeve, it's not like we haven't slept together before.
Shen Chu pulled her hand away from Pei Yuan's.
The woods fell silent for a moment, with only the rustling of the wind through the treetops.
Both Old Man Wang and Wu Zhuang looked at Pei Yuan with a strange expression.
He seemed to be speaking quite fluently this afternoon. Could he have some unexplained ailment?
If Pei Yuan could see at night, he would surely be able to read a kind of emotion in the eyes of Old Man Wang and Wu Zhuang, called sympathy.
Unfortunately, Pei Yuan couldn't see it.
After feeling Chen Chu's hand withdraw, he subconsciously clenched his fist.
The warmth and soft touch of the past still lingered on my hands.
He pursed his thin lips, cleared his throat, and then asked, "Do you know why Jiang Hongzhi suddenly set a limit on the amount of salt produced?"
As far as I know, the demand for salt in each state is quite stable; they shouldn't need that much salt, right?
Old Wang said, "After the New Year, a rumor circulated in Changsha that a plague was about to spread and that eating more salt could prevent it."
When the people heard the news, they rushed to buy salt, and it became almost impossible to buy salt in the market.
Jiang Hongzhi told us to speed up the salt-making process, and that's when he started assigning us the task of making salt.
Strangely enough, after salt became available on the market, our workload not only didn't decrease, but actually increased.
The manager said that out-of-town merchants had placed large orders, and that since we had already received payment, we would lose money if we couldn't produce the goods.
Pei Yuan frowned slightly and subconsciously reached out his hand.
He reached out halfway, then remembered what Shen Chu had just said and silently pulled his hand back.
Shen Chu was unaware of his actions.
She was engrossed in sorting through the information Old Wang had provided. "Uncle Wang, do you know which merchant placed the order?"
Old Wang shook his head, "We just boil salt, how would we know about these things?"
"The medicine is applied, let's go." Wu Zhuang finally finished applying the medicine to Old Man Wang and helped him up.
Old Wang propped himself up and said earnestly:
“Take my advice. While you’re still young and haven’t been registered as salt farmers, leave here and try your luck elsewhere.”
Shen Chu was taken aback for a moment, then cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you for reminding me, Uncle Wang."
With Wu Zhuang's help, Old Man Wang left.
The woods were quiet again.
Shen Chu said softly, "It seems we'll have to meet this Jiang Hongzhi."
Pei Yuan stroked his chin, seemingly lost in thought.
"What is Your Highness thinking about?"
Pei Yuan snapped out of his reverie. "It's nothing. It's late, we should go back."
He got up and walked forward.
The woods were full of weeds and vines. He hadn't taken more than a few steps when he tripped over a vine and stumbled.
"careful."
Shen Chu strode forward and reached out to support his arm.
"Is Your Highness alright? Perhaps I should go ahead?"
When they came to the woods, she walked ahead, clearing away debris as she went, and Pei Yuan followed her footsteps.
Pei Yuan pushed Chen Chu's hand away, his expression indifferent. "No need. I have legs. I need to learn to walk forward in the dark on my own."
Tsk, the same tone she used when teasing him about having a mouth.
Is she angry?
Shen Chu found him inexplicable and followed behind in silence.
We have legs, so let's walk.
Pei Yuan reached out and stroked it as he tentatively took a step forward.
Shen Chu noticed that when his hand first touched a tree or a vine, the lines at the corners of his mouth would relax, and then his steps would become particularly steady.
If he doesn't find anything, his hand will hang at his side, subconsciously pinching the hem of his clothes and gently stroking it.
Just like when he was rubbing his own hands.
A sudden inspiration struck her.
It is said that blind people feel uneasy in unfamiliar environments and will try to touch familiar things around them to calm themselves down.
Faced with a completely unfamiliar environment, Pei Yuan could not see anything and could only rely on sound and touch to judge his surroundings.
He must have felt uneasy inside, right?
So, when Pei Yuan pulled her hand just now, was it just to reassure himself by touching her?
The thought made her heart soften slightly.
At this moment, Pei Yuan, who was walking in front, stumbled again, but quickly regained his balance.
She sighed and couldn't help but step forward and gently tug at his sleeve.
"Your Highness, it's too dark here, I'm scared."
Pei Yuan frowned. "You're incredibly brave, and you're afraid?"
Shen Chu tugged at his sleeve, "I'm afraid of snakes. Do you think a snake might suddenly jump out of the bushes?"
No, I have to hold onto you. If there are snakes, don't leave me behind.
Pei Yuan tried to shake off his hand, but suddenly remembered how she had turned pale with fright when a snake appeared on the day of the dragon boat race.
His hand froze in mid-air and suddenly couldn't move.
Chen Chu pulled him forward, saying, "Let's hurry, lest the snake really comes out."
Pei Yuan followed behind him without saying a word.
He could feel his sleeve being pulled tightly, and as he walked, his warm fingers would brush against his wrist.
Pei Yuan's lips curled up slightly.
I never realized before that Shen Chu was such a thoughtful person.
She wanted to lead him away, but she still remembered to consider his pride.
And yet you dare to say you have no ulterior motives towards him?
Heh~
The two returned to the wooden huts in the salt field, which were used as accommodations for the salt workers.
The cabins contain a row of large communal sleeping areas, and each cabin can sleep ten people.
The salt workers rioted, which caused a sudden loss of many people at the saltworks. In addition, some people were still boiling salt outside, so no one slept on the communal beds.
After hearing Shen Chu's account of the situation inside the wooden house, Pei Yuan said directly:
"You sleep on the bunk closest to the wall inside."
“Okay.” Shen Chu did not object.
Even if she disguises herself as a man, she is still a woman after all, and she can't accept sharing a dormitory room with a bunch of men.
Although there are no other salt workers in the house right now, what if someone suddenly walks in?
It's best to rest against the wall, fully clothed.
She had just lain down when she saw Pei Yuan take off his shoes and get into bed, lying down right next to her.
Chen Chu sat up abruptly in surprise, "You...you sleep here too?"
Pei Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Otherwise, where should I sleep?"
Shen Chu then realized that she had overreacted and gave a dry laugh.
"Well... I'm not a very good sleeping position, and I'm afraid I might disturb Your Highness. Why don't you lie down to the side?"
Pei Yuan remained silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled softly.
"Chen Chu, what are you being so awkward about? It's not like we haven't slept together before."
Shen Chu's heart skipped a beat.
"When did we ever sleep together? Your Highness, don't talk nonsense."
Could it be that he discovered what happened at Jingguo Temple that night?
Pei Yuan sneered, "The night you dug up the grave, you secretly climbed onto my soft couch. Have you forgotten so quickly?"
Shen Chu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Oh, so that's what he meant.
"It's getting late, go to sleep." Pei Yuan lay down, clasped his hands together, and rested them behind his head.
Shen Chu pursed her lips, pressed herself against the wall, and tried to keep her distance from Pei Yuan.
She was so tired today, and she was sleepy and exhausted. She lay down and quickly fell asleep.
In a daze, I heard Pei Yuan's hesitant voice.
"Chen Chu, are you asleep?"
She gave a vague reply, "Mmm."
Pei Yuan paused, then lowered his voice, "Could you move a little closer?"
Shen Chu: ?
My sleepiness was completely gone.
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