Chapter 140 I'll Go for a Walk By Myself
The small garden was planted with many rare flowers, and the maids walked in single file, their steps quick but orderly.
From dawn till dusk, someone will take care of you, and even wiping your sweat will be done by a dedicated person.
There were sixteen dishes served, even though there were only two people eating.
The ice inside the house was never stopped.
Yao Shisan has never enjoyed such extravagance before; it's probably rare to find someone in the capital who is so wasteful.
It's true that itinerant merchants still make money!
No one knows what Zhou Congxian is really up to.
As Zhou Congxian and Chai Sijiu had instructed, whenever she cried, someone would bring her beautiful clothes and fine garments.
She roughly estimated that the value of these items was enough to buy the boat she had her eye on!
If she can take everything with her, she'll save money on buying a boat.
No, this was originally sent by the shipping company owner.
Why don't we just ask the employer to give her a boat...?
As soon as Yao Shisan stood up, a maidservant immediately came forward to help him up.
"No need, I'll go for a walk by myself."
She waved to the maid, who then bowed her head and respectfully withdrew.
Now, wherever he goes, someone follows him. They say he's being waited on hand and foot, but Yao Shisan feels it's no different from being monitored.
As Zhou Congxian walked past under the corridor, she quickly called out to him.
"Zhou Congxian!"
These past two days, this person has been disappearing after meals, only to reappear precisely on time.
This person was dressed even more elegantly than he had in the capital, almost to the point of bathing in flower petals.
When are we leaving?
Yao Shisan doesn't care what he's doing right now; all she wants to know is when she can go back.
Before Zhou Congxian's smile could fade, his path was suddenly blocked.
"What's the rush? There's food and drink here. Just take this opportunity to relax."
"Relaxing?!" Yao Shisan looked at him, who seemed to have forgotten all about home. "I see you're having a great time, but Lord Zhou, do you know that we've been here for seven days!"
"I can't stop you from relaxing, but I'm going back now."
She reached out and pulled off the beaded hairpin from her hair bun, saying, "I'm going crazy from looking at this garden of flowers every day."
"I've only stayed for these few days because you saved me."
Whatever he wants to do, she can't interfere now, so it's better to go back sooner rather than stay here in fear.
Zhou Congxian glanced at the maid standing by the flowerbed.
Then, seemingly out of the blue, he said, "I know you're upset. Today I'll take you to see who I'm with."
"Who's upset..."
Before Yao Shisan could finish his sentence, Zhou Congxian grabbed his wrist and pulled him.
As she turned around, his voice, so soft it seemed to drift away on the wind, faded from her ears.
"You've worked hard these past few days. In a few days, I'll let you take a nice boat back without spending any money."
Yao Shisan suddenly turned around to look at him.
Zhou Congxian stopped looking at her and stopped speaking.
Yao Shisan blinked; she couldn't have misheard.
It costs no money.
In that case, it wouldn't be a bad thing for her to stay a little longer...
A horse-drawn carriage was parked outside the garden.
Chai Sijiu leaned out of the carriage, saw Yao Shisan, and then turned to look at Zhou Congxian.
He seemed to be asking how to bring her along.
Now, whenever Yao Shisan thinks of the free boat, she looks at Chai Sijiu in the carriage with a smile on her face.
"Lord Chai, it's been a long time."
Chai Sijiu: "...Long time no see."
If it weren't for the legendary story that Zhou Congxian told him these past two days...
He even began to suspect that she might be the daughter of some high-ranking official in the capital.
He stepped aside, saying, "I've caught up with the opening ceremony of the Chuzhou ships today; I can go and watch the excitement."
"The launching ceremony?"
Yao Shisan boarded the carriage, his face full of questions.
She grew up in Chuzhou, so how come she's never heard of a ship launching ceremony?
Chai Sijiu explained, "The launching ceremony was an event held when Lingge opened for business, but it has been preserved and is held every year."
The dock has been cleared out and replaced with long scaffolding that extends out to form a large platform.
Red silk was laid out on top, and dozens of drums were placed there.
At that time, the drumsticks will be struck simultaneously, and the sound of the drums will shake the heavens.
One can roughly foresee how massive the event will be!
There are stands on both sides of the platform, but they are not the best places to watch the game.
The seats directly opposite were given to ordinary people; those who arrived early could secure a front-row seat.
Some people have even turned reserving seats into a business.
For just five taels, you can hire someone to help you secure a good spot in front.
This was the first time Yao Shisan had ever seen the best seats reserved for ordinary people.
Now, regardless of whether they are high-ranking officials or dignitaries, they are all in the stands on both sides.
I walked up to the stands.
She spotted the girl on the boat that day, Wang Lingyan, at a glance.
I heard she's the daughter of the head of the shipping company.
Unlike the simple dress she wore on the ship that day, her current attire is gorgeous, like a beautiful peony blooming in the wind.
She is a bright and beautiful girl.
Yao Shisan noticed the joy in Wang Lingyan's eyes as she looked at Zhou Congxian.
The stiffness I felt when I finally saw her.
The steps that were about to meet them froze in place.
Yao Shisan understood perfectly well that Zhou Congxian was using himself as bait—a honey trap… no, a handsome man trap.
She wasn't invited to such a grand ceremony today.
Her status as a "distinguished guest" was not as significant as that of the Crown Prince of England.
"This humble girl greets Lord Zhou, Lord Chai, and Miss Meng."
Wang Lingyan clapped her hands and had some fine tea served.
Zhou Congxian gave a soft "hmm," but then turned his gaze to the opposite stands, where the empty seats were still empty.
A dozen or so people filed onto the stage from both sides and performed a hilarious opening act.
Cheers and applause erupted from the packed crowd.
Chai Sijiu had been in office in Chuzhou for three or four years, and he was very familiar with these things.
"Miss Wang, let's give the final prize to Lord Zhou today."
Wang Lingyan smiled and said, "Of course, my mother already told me."
As she spoke, she looked at Yao Shisan and said, "Miss Meng has been away from Chuzhou for many years. Such a grand occasion was never seen back then."
Yao Shisan raised his eyes and smiled, not minding at all that his past was being brought up.
"Back then, we were so poor that we couldn't even get enough to eat, let alone have the time or inclination to watch operas."
A hint of disdain flashed in Wang Lingyan's eyes.
She had already heard her mother say that if the Meng family hadn't all died on the battlefield, leaving no one to carry on the family line...
Why would anyone want to find the child of a runaway daughter?
Who knows who fathered this bastard child with?
Zhou Congxian leaned slightly towards Yao Shisan and said, "Then take a closer look later. I heard from Sijiu that there will be some novelties that ships will bring from foreign lands."
"Just pick whatever you like."
Yao Shisan glanced at him, then looked at Wang Lingyan.
"It's probably not appropriate for Lord Zhou to use Miss Wang's name to present this flower to her."
Wang Lingyan smiled and said, "Miss Meng, just tell me what you like. My mother has already said that admitting your mistake means accepting the punishment."
"It's just some gold and silver items; I'm not a stingy person."
She now sees clearly that these so-called noble ladies are not as good as her; they are just poor and stingy at heart.
How much benefit have they gained by crying and complaining all these days!
Insatiable greed!
Her mother told her to be humble and lower her head, but how could she lower her head in front of such a person?
Yao Shisan was unaware that Zhou Congxian had ruined her reputation, making her appear as someone who only cared about money.
They still think she was summoned by Zhou Congxian to help him provoke Wang Lingyan.
"Since Miss Wang puts it that way, I shall respectfully comply."
Seeing her impolite manner, Wang Lingyan lowered her eyes and chuckled softly.
She insisted that she had not misread the matter, and that her mother had said that they must treat her as an honored guest, and that if Lord Gongsun were present, she would personally make an appearance.
Seeing her "secretly shedding tears," Yao Shisan whispered to Zhou Congxian.
“I have already helped you hurt Miss Wang’s feelings. Whether your plan with your handsome man succeeds or not, you should remember my contribution.”
Hmm? A honey trap?
Zhou Congxian glanced at the somewhat smug Yao Shisan, "..."
never mind.
Although I misunderstood, it turned out to be a lucky accident.
At this moment, cheers erupted from the crowd.
One good show after another.
Juggling, monkey shows, magic tricks, and other performances were staged in turn.
There are probably more people than even on ordinary holidays.
Even Zhenzhen and the handsome young man, whom one could never see even if one spent money, came out with their zithers and played two pieces.
Even though they've been criticized so many times, they still applaud and cheer when they hear such wonderful music.
Although Yao Shisan's life in Beijing was not difficult, he had never seen such a wonderful performance.
Since leaving the capital, she has been obsessed with making money and has never taken Fu'er on a trip.
They always come and go in a hurry.
When she gets back this time, she plans to take her two children, her older brother, Shuang'er, and Wei Xun, on a trip together!
"good!"
Chai Sijiu shouted!
Yao Shisan's thoughts were interrupted, which startled her.
Zhou Congxian's gaze never left the opposite stands.
Gongsun Chang did not appear, nor did Wang Qing.
wrong……
He pinched his fingers together slightly.
He then got up and left the stands.
"Huh? Not watching anymore?" Yao Shisan glanced at him.
As Chai Sijiu stood up, he whispered to her, "Hold Wang Lingyan back."
She glanced up and saw that Wang Lingyan was two seats away from her, while Zhou Congxian and Chai Sijiu were in the two seats in between.
Now that the two of them have left, Yao Shisan sees that Wang Lingyan is about to follow them.
She grabbed Wang Lingyan's wrist.
“Miss Wang, what kind of stone is that? It looks like charcoal.”
Now, several maids on the stage are carrying rare treasures, which are almost unheard of in the Great Sheng Dynasty.
Wang Lingyan glanced at it and said, "That's black jade. It looks black, but it's green under candlelight."
She broke free from Yao Shisan's hand and gave instructions to the maid behind her.
"Miss Meng likes black jade. Tell the shopkeeper to send it over later."
Just as she was about to leave, another pink stone came up that caught Yao Shisan's eye.
"I want that one."
This time, they didn't even ask; they just asked for it by name.
The little hairpin I bought at the dock last time, with its pink stone on it, is quite different from this one.
It's like a tiny piece of something that was accidentally broken while being moved!
I doubt the stall owner spent a single penny! It was made from small scraps he picked up at the dock.
She also spent eight taels...
It's true that scarcity makes things valuable!
"Miss Meng, you shouldn't be so greedy."
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