"Feel uncomfortable?" Gu Changfeng took Shen Yanbei to lean on his leg, gently rubbing his abdomen with a gentle palm.
Shen Yanbei barely pulled out a smile. "It's still... okay..." The warm current passed through the skin, which made nausea relieve a bit. But even so, Shen Yanbei still felt terribly uncomfortable.
"Gōngzǐ, have a drink." Zhou Yu brought warm water over and looked at the half-dead Shen Yanbei with worry.
Gu Changfeng carefully helped Shen Yanbei up and brought the water to his mouth. Shen Yanbei opened his mouth and took a sip, but before he could swallow it, a swift wave hit and made the boat shake, which made his stomach overwhelmed. Shen Yanbei hurriedly pushed Gu Changfeng away, vomiting dimly while holding the boat.
"Yanbei..." Gu Changfeng worried. "Or, let's go overland instead?"
Shen Yanbei, who even vomited bile, took a long time to gargle with water. "...It's okay, just spit it out and get used to it." In ancient times when transportation was backward, travel could only rely on human and animal power. The boat was one of the important means of transportation. If he got seasick, how could he visit the rivers and mountains with his wife? So this seasickness problem must be overcome!
The boatman heard Shen Yanbei's words and said with a smile, "Gōngzǐ is right. When I first started doing this business, because of the seasickness the old man couldn't stand up. To overcome it and get used to the boating life, I asked people to tie me to the mast..."
So cruel? Shen Yanbei glanced at the boatman's still very strong body, deeply admired. "Lǎo gē, you are so brave!" The most swaying part of the ship was the bow mast. He felt goosebumps just to think about that.
The boatman waved his hand. "Now I have been old and useless. But nowadays the emergence of talents one after another!" As he said, his gaze fell on Gu Changfeng with profound meaning.
Hearing this, Shen Yanbei raised his eyebrows, instinctively that the boatman was someone with a story, so he talked to him.
Seeing that Shen Yanbei was dressed as a scholar but didn't act arrogant like a scholar he ever saw, but was polite and talkative, the boatman was very happy and immediately told the interesting facts about going out to sea for so many years. It turned out that the boatman also traveled north and south when he was young, so he had seen many types of people. Seeing Changfeng's walking posture was different from ordinary people, and he could also walk on a swaying boat easily and stably, he could know that he was a martial artist. Seeing that he stroked Shen Yanbei's abdomen with internal force, he immediately concluded that he was a master.
Shen Yanbei was shocked by the sharp eyes of the boatman and carefully remembered it when the boatman was still talking about his experience of going to sea.
Because was immersed in chatting, Shen Yanbei felt better and asked Gu Changfeng to bring him some pastries. He had vomited a lot which emptied his stomach. If he vomited again, it would hurt his stomach, so he had to eat something.
Knowing that Shen Yanbei was the famous Shenjia Village Shen Xiucai, and he went to Qingzhou to get acquainted with the environment before taking the exam next year, the boatman praised Shen Yanbei for his foresight. He had been on the boat for many years, and he had often sent candidates to Qingzhou for the exam. Some candidates had never taken a boat. As a result, they got dizzy and vomited all the way when they were on the boat. After arriving in Qingzhou, they couldn't completely recover. So most of them failed the qiū wéi.
Shen Yanbei smiled, and also secretly rejoiced. When it was time for dinner, he would eat some pickled vegetables, which could help greatly to relieve the discomfort of seasickness. It was also this time that Shen Yanbei remembered something. Actually eating something during the trip could relieve symptoms such as dizziness and stuffiness caused by motion sickness and seasickness, such as acidic foods, mustard pickles, soda cakes, and so on. Even though he didn't have mustard, he still had a lot of capers, sour radishes, and pickled cabbages!
What a good chance! Not only increased the appetizing for the main dish, but it also could relieve seasickness, his pickled could definitely open up the market!
Seeing this new dish, The boatman looked very curious. So Shen Yanbei gave him capers and sour radishes to let him taste it.
" What a unique flavor! It makes my appetite greatly increase!" The boatman's eyes lit up and praised a lot. He had been tired of always eating fish, so these spicy and sour side dishes were very suitable for his appetite!
Upon seeing this, Shen Yanbei generously gave the boatman a jar of every pickle.
The boatman accepted it politely and taught him how to adapt to life on the boat. Shen Yanbei had good perseverance, he would eat slowly after vomiting. When he arrived in Qingzhou, the symptoms of seasickness were significantly reduced, even though he could barely walk around on the boat.
"Thank you lǎo gē!" Shen Yanbei joined his hands in salute to the boatman on the dock.
The boatman smiled and waved. "Thank you too! When lǎodì returns to Dongjiang, let's take up the wine cup and chat merrily!"
After taking a waterway trip, the two became friends.
Several beautiful seagulls wiped the blue water, flapped their wings, and screamed. The wind brought the salty sea smell. The three of them stood at Qingyun Dock, watching the countless large and small boats moored at the wharf and busy unloading their cargo, and also the endless stream of carriages and horses. They were so excited. Zhou Yu was naturally excited because he could finally see the world, Gu Changfeng was excited because Shen Yanbei no longer had to suffer because of the seasickness, and Shen Yanbei...
Your uncle! This was what a big city should look like! Shen Yanbei silently held back the sad tears, feeling like a migrant worker coming to the city.
The servants of the Su's Family had been waiting at the pier a long time ago, watching all day long to see if there were any distinguished guests described by the young master. Seeing Shen Yanbei and others' appearance fit the description, they hurriedly stepped forward to inquire. "Are you Shen Gōngzǐ of Dongjiang County? This lowly person is a slave of Su's House, I came here by the order of xiǎo gōngzǐ."
After confirming his identity, Shen Yanbei smiled and said, "Xiǎo gē leads the way."
The three of them were dressed in ordinary clothes, but the servants who had been told so much did not dare to neglect at all. They brought the carriage over to invite the three to get on the carriage, and the remaining goods were sent to another carriage to take back to Su's house. Su's Family's Mansion was in the inner city, so they had to pass the outer city to come to the inner city. The horse-drawn carriage passed through the bustling downtown, and the streets were full of shops. All the carriages here were pulled by horse, which made Zhou Yu open his eyes widely.
"Gōngzǐ, why are those women who are applying cream and powder on their face are standing at the door?" The innocent kid pointed to a brothel and asked, when he saw a woman hug the man who came in, he couldn't help but stare. "This... Isn't it vulgar?"
"They opened the door for business." Shen Yanbei glanced at the green corridor. If it was not forced by life, who was willing to sell their flesh?
Zhou Yu was even more curious. "You have to pounce on customers when doing business? What kind of business is this?"
Shen Yanbei coughed twice. "The children are so curious about what to do."
As soon as the voice fell, he felt someone stare at him. As soon as Shen Yanbei raised his head, he met Gu Changfeng's quiet black eyes, he suddenly felt a little guilty for some reason. "What's the matter?"
"If you hadn't bought me back then, my life would have been worse than them." He had an ugly appearance, so he could only keep doing labor since he couldn't do business with flesh and blood. He was hurt so badly back then that he might be enslaved to death.
Shen Yanbei was taken aback, and he scolded distressedly. "What are you talking about! How can you talk "buy or not buy"? It's too miserable.”
Holding Gu Changfeng's hand, Shen Yanbei stared into his eyes and said with a serious face, "They say that it has been decreed by destiny that you meet someone. If God doesn't allow it, even though you traveled a thousand li, you still fail to meet. Because I was so sick back then which made me can't walk, God especially sent you to my side!"
Gu Changfeng was moved and delighted when he heard such words for the first time. The resolute facial lines gradually softened, and the corners of his lips were raised. "Yes."
The bright and handsome smile made Shen Yanbei's heart itchy. Because there was a minor, he could only hold their fingers together.
Zhou Yu, who was caught off guard again with a handful of dog food, turned his head decisively to look at the street scene.
About half an hour later, the carriage driver yelled, and the carriage gradually stopped. The servant got out of the carriage first, walked to the door, and said, "Shen Gōngzǐ, Su's Mansion is here, please get off!"
Shen Yanbei opened the curtain, and at a glance, he saw the majestic gate of the Su's Mansion, as expected from a big and influential family. There were mighty stone lions on each side of the magnificent vermillion lacquer gate, and the golden characters on the plaque on the lintel shone brightly in the sunlight. Looking at the half-branches of autumn showing in the glazed tile top, it was not difficult to imagine the richness and wealth inside.
"Gu Dàgē! Shen Dàgē!" Wearing a moon-white gown with flowing clouds and bright moon embroidered on it with silver thread, the young man with a jade belt wrapped around his waist and a ring of bells ran over excitedly.
The young servant who followed the young man was also full of joy. "Shen Gōngzǐ, you are finally here! My young master's neck had become long!"
Gu Changfeng looked up and down at the young man who looked thinner and more conspicuous than before and nodded. "Very well. I can see that you have exercised a lot."
"Stop talking..." Su Qingze was a little embarrassed. Since returning to Qingzhou, everyone's eyes have changed. Xiǎojiěs and gōngzis who flattered him because of his family's power looked at him with envy and jealousy. Those gōngzǐgēs* who would not spare a glance for him in the past looked at him in surprise. Now they all came to show him courtesy. The funniest thing was that his family's old lady rubbed her eyes in disbelief and shouted how it could be possible. The most ridiculous reaction was the old lady's favorite granddaughter, his third sister Su Ruizhen saw him with sour eyes. Su Qingze snorted inwardly. He had to admit that weight loss was indeed beneficial, at least it was easier to move around, but still his goal was...
*The children of large families are spoiled.
Seeing Gu Changfeng, who was as tall as a pine, calm and powerful as a mountain, Su Qingze was full of confidence. He has lost weight, was it still far to become like Gu Dàgē?
"It's a busy trip, Gu Dàgē, Shen Dàgē, come in and rest!" Su Qingze moved sideways and greeted people at the door.
"Excuse me for bothering you!"
They walked in from the side door with a smile. The first thing they saw was a picture hanging on the wall, with a pattern of flowers and full moon painted on it, which was lifelike. Worthy of being a famous mansion, all plants and trees were arranged extremely ingeniously. Shen Yanbei was amazed at the sight, and he really appreciated the beauty of ancient architectural art.
While Su Qingze introduced it to them as they were walking, a beautifully decorated small sedan appeared in front of the gate. The pretty-faced female maid got off first, and opened the curtain to invite people to get off the sedan chair. A snow-white arm stretched out and put it gently on the maid's hand, followed by a pink dress, and a graceful woman poked her head out of the sedan chair. Seeing the servants carrying a lot of sauerkraut jars from the carriage, the woman frowned. "What are you doing? What are these?" When she learned that this was the pickled vegetables brought by Su Qingze's friend, the woman covered her mouth and nose with her veil and her eyes were full in disgust. "I wonder why there is a strange smell, it turns out to be pickles? Where do these soil buns* come from, and yet still bring pickles when they come as a guest?
*tǔ bāo zi: refers to people who have never seen the world (including sarcasm).
"What kind of friends did the fourth gōngzǐ bring? How are they so poor? The won't come to seek financial help, will they?" The maid said contemptuously.
The woman's eyebrows raised lightly, her eyes contemptuous. She waved her veil, and walked toward the Moon Gate arrogantly. "The fourth brother is still young, so it is inevitable that he can't know people clearly. I have to tell my grandmother about this!"
Knowing that there were elders in the Su's Family, Shen Yanbei wanted to meet the old lady if it was convenient.
Su Qingze hesitated. The old lady didn't like him, so she probably didn't want to see his friends. But not seeing was one thing, If they didn't go to see her, she would regard Shen Yanbei as a rude person, so he asked Ming'an to go over and ask.
When he walked to a courtyard called zhī huá, Su Qingze smiled and said, "Gu Dàgē, you can stay here. See what is missing, I'll let someone buy it!"
Several osmanthus trees were planted in this yard. It was late autumn, so the osmanthus flowers bloomed brilliantly. The autumn breeze also brought the smell of the sweet-scented osmanthus, which had some secret fragrant that could be described as elegant. Looking at the exquisite furnishings in the room, the daily necessities were all available, and the pillowcases and bedding were all new, which made Shen Yanbei very satisfied.
After shaking on the boat for so long, he finally got a good sleep!
"I have sent someone to prepare water and lunch. Gu Dàgē, you can take a bath, eat, and rest. I will give you a banquet in the evening!" Su Qingze said cheerfully.
He was so happy when he finally met his friends who came from afar. When Ming'an came in, he said that the old lady did not want to see Shen Yanbei, and told Su Qingze not to take all the messy people home, and just directly gave some money to them then sent them away. Su Qingze's good moods were all gone.
"Ruizhen xiǎojiě is also there, i think she had said something to lǎofū rén!" Ming'an was very angry. Looking down on young master's friends meant that they also looked down on young master! Lǎofū rén was too partial!
"If she doesn't want to see, then don't see!" Su Qingze snorted angrily. Since recognizing the true face of the old lady, he no longer had any beautiful illusions about the old lady. But it was still too much to treat his friends like this!
When hearing that the old lady didn't want to see him, Shen Yanbei comforted Su Qingze by saying that the face was earned by ourselves, not given by others. Moreover, lǎo tàitài had her own grade, he was only a xiucai, so it was completely understandable that lǎo tàitài wouldn't see him.
"Shen Dàgē, you don't have to defend her!" Su Qingze frowned and said in an angry tone, "She is angry because I didn't promise to help Su Ruizhen climb to a higher branch!"
Seeing the two of them looking puzzled, Su Qingze explained expressionlessly, "Su Ruizhen is an arrogant person who looks down on the aristocratic children of the family in this county. She only wants to marry a powerful man in the capital. She might marry in the next year, so lǎo tàitài came to me to ask me to find someone for her, but I refused." He was going to marry someone so far away from home, instead of being worry that he might be bullied by his husband's family and became helpless, lǎo tàitài actually asked him to find Su Ruizhen a husband with a distinguished family background through his husband's family relationship.
Shen Yanbei and Gu Changfeng were surprised. "Are you going to marry? When did you engage?"
"My parents said that I had been engaged when I was still a child!" Su Qingze said angrily. After he returned, he specifically asked his father and mother who the person was, but his father and mother fooled him, saying that the other party had a good temper and a good-looking person. No need to question his family background and the family population was simple. He could take care of him as soon as he got married. At his family's house, he could never be wronged!
He casually said that although the other party's conditions were so good, he would only fall in love with him if he was blind. As a result, he was scolded by his parents!
This sounded strange, and Shen Yanbei couldn't help frowning. "What kind of person is the other party? Do you really want to marry him?" The teenager was only seventeen years old. In his eyes, he was just a child.
"I don't know what kind of person it is." Su Qingze laughed helplessly. "My family can't afford to provoke, so the decision to marry or not to marry isn't in our hands."
Looking at his parents' cautious appearance, the other party's background might be bigger than he imagined. It was just that he didn't understand why his father and mother's mouth so tightly, no matter how he persuaded his father and mother did not want to reveal the identity of the other party?
A blind and fool marriage? Shen Yanbei frowned more tightly.
"He's not happy." Gu Chang closed his eyes in worry. When they mentioned the marriage just now, the young boy's tone was indifferent as if the major event in his life was a task that was ordered to be completed without the slightest expectation or joy.
Shen Yanbei sighed. "If even the Su's Family can't afford to provoke the opponent's power..." At this point, Shen Yanbei was stunned and said in surprise, "Perhaps the dark guard was sent by the other party, wasn't it?"
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