Yutai Bi

Chapter 40
Climbing high and looking far away, there is nothing blocking the line of sight.The western sunset covered the sky, and the wind blew up her skirts. Cen Sanniang suddenly felt that moving here would be a pleasure.

On the platform outside the water pavilion on the first floor, Liu Niang and Qi Niang look at the scenery by the lake.Baicao's chattering voice came from above her head, and Liu Niang was so angry that she raised her head and cursed: "It's so noisy!"

Upstairs, Cen Sanniang and Baicao looked at each other, giggling.

Cen Sanniang thought for a while, picked up her skirt and went downstairs briskly, sat next to Liuniang and Qiniang, and said apologetically, "Liu Niang, Baicao is a rough person, and the nanny walks heavily, why don't we change rooms? You live upstairs."

The scenery on the second floor is better and more spacious. Liu Niang was very eager, but suddenly remembered what Qiniang said, so she had to say against her will: "It's too troublesome to go upstairs and downstairs. It's more convenient to live downstairs, so I won't change."

"But... I'm afraid of disturbing you." Cen Sanniang said softly.

"Let your maids and nurses pay attention. Don't have to play a few boards to know the rules." Liu Niang gave Sanniang a warning look.

"Don't worry, Liu Niang, I've already warned them. If it's too noisy, I'll report to my cousin and go back to the original courtyard." Cen Sanniang's humble attitude made Liu Niang feel a lot better.

"Such a beautiful garden, not many in Longzhou City?" Cen Sanniang sighed.

This time, Liu Niang and Qi Niang were all proud: "Fang's garden is more than twice as big as ours, but it can't compare with this garden. The garden of our house was rebuilt by great-grandfather who invited famous masters from the south of the Yangtze River. Manlongzhou City Can't find a second one."

Cen Sanniang pretended to be surprised: "Isn't the family in the south of the city known as Fang Bancheng? It is said that more than half of the shops in Longzhou City are named Fang. His family is the richest man in Longzhou, right? I think Fang Jiuniang is also competitive. Could it be that she Are you willing to be convinced by our garden?"

There will also be comparisons between friends, and Liu Niang can't hide her pride: "None of her father and brothers are interested in repairing the garden. If you have money, you can't wait to cover it in the jar and give birth. When I came back, I said that if I could live in this garden, I would have sweet dreams when I slept."

Qiniang laughed and said, "Let's move into the waterside pavilion, why not invite Fang's sister and Wang's sister to play."

Cen Sanniang looked at Qiniang with satisfaction, and secretly praised in her heart, this girl is a candidate for a secretary, and she answered the words very well.

Liu Niang was really interested, but she glanced at Cen Sanniang with her eyes.

"Liu Niang and Qi Niang, I'm so quiet. On the day you treat guests, can I quietly go back to my small courtyard to rest? If you don't tell me, my cousin won't know, okay?" Cen Sanniang begged.

This is not at the pier, it is the Cen Mansion.Liuniang and Qiniang are the masters, and those who come are guests, so it is not convenient to run on Sanniang in their own home, but they still have to support her.The two refused to pull Sanniang into their circle of friends.Cen Sanniang herself was willing to retreat, it was exactly what she wished for.

"I'll pay you a hundred bucks and ask the kitchen to add some desserts for you that day. That's it." Before the two agreed, Cen Sanniang got up and left.

Liu Niang and Qi Niang want to invite girlfriends in the back garden.When the news spread, the fifth young master muttered something, and the third young master took the lead and planned to treat the guests as well.It is a good thing for the younger generations of big families to interact with each other to expand their social circle and get acquainted with each other.The elders are happy to see it succeed.I chose a day, and set up two large tents on the grass under the trees by the lake in the back garden, covered them with thick felt, and then spread a layer of snow-white reed mats, and set up several tables.

At this time, the folk customs of the Tang Dynasty were open, and young men and women did not shy away from meeting and talking.Sit in the same tent, drink wine orders, and play pitching pots.The Cen's family also specially bought a sheep and asked the servant to roast it in a downwind place.

In order to make the young people feel at ease, the elders of the Cen family will not show up in the back garden.Cen Sanniang claimed to be sick, and took Baicao to avoid the small courtyard where she used to live, leaving Mrs. Xu in the waterside pavilion.

The laughter in the back garden came faintly along the wind, making the small courtyard even more quiet.

Cen Sanniang sat at the round table of the Eight Immortals, with a piece of rice paper one foot square in front of her, holding a bamboo clip, carefully selecting tea.Gradually, my heart calmed down.

After choosing the tea, Cen Sanniang stared blankly at the handful of distinct tea tips on the white paper, and slowly put down the bamboo clip.The iron pot beside him was steaming, and the water boiled.

She looked up at the gate of the courtyard, and the snow-white shadow wall blocked her view.She lowered her head sadly, did he refuse to come?
"Third Lady, Young Master Fang is here." Baicao's deliberately low voice could not conceal her excitement.

Cen Sanniang took a deep breath and stood up.

Baicao turned around and disappeared outside the screen wall, and then Ninth Young Master Cen Zhilin showed his head and put it back.The courtyard door creaked and then there was no sound.

Fang Ming came out from the screen wall and stopped when he saw Cen Sanniang alone in the yard, with helplessness and confusion on his face.

Cen Sanniang walked out quickly to welcome her, and said blessedly, "Seventh Young Master, don't blame my ninth brother, I want to talk to you."

If the folk customs are open again, if people see the two of them having a private meeting alone in an empty courtyard, Cen Sanniang will stop thinking about gaining a good reputation.

Fang Ming hesitated, and turned his head to look back.

"From the back garden, you have to pass through the Moon Cave Gate. My nanny is guarding there now. There is a herb watchdog at the entrance of the alley from the front. You came through the back door of Uncle Sitang's yard. Uncle Sitang accompanied Aunt Sitang back to her mother's house today. Yes. Brother Jiu will always be waiting for you in the gazebo at the back door. Therefore, no one else will know that I invite you to drink tea." Cen Sanniang looked at Fang Ming quietly.

After he said everything he wanted to ask, Fang Ming couldn't help being happy: "San Niang, you are very thoughtful, why are you looking for me?"

He said all his worries, but he still didn't take a step forward.Cen Sanniang was standing on the porch.There was a distance of two or three feet between the two.Cen Sanniang was extremely disappointed, and said softly: "You should be cautious. I also know that it would be rude to invite you here. Sanniang just has no choice."

Fang Ming hesitated and said, "Need me...can I help you with anything?"

It seemed that it was impossible to sit down and discuss with Fang Ming.Cen Sanniang gritted her teeth and said, "Dragon Boat Festival, I know your boat will win."

Fang Ming was taken aback.That day he felt that Cen Sanniang seemed to know.How could a 13-year-old girl know.

"Your boat is longer, narrower, and much lighter than other boats. The hull is smeared with tung oil," Cen Sanniang said.

At this time, there was no custom-made standard for regatta boats, only 50 oars were required for each boat.To seat fifty people, the volume of the boat is much larger than the narrow and long flat boats seen in modern times.Duanwu Cen Sanniang looked over and could easily find that the Fang family's boat was different.

Fang Ming's eyes lit up: "Do you know how to build a ship?"

Cen Sanniang was stunned, and said with a wry smile: "I don't understand. I just know that a boat like yours will surely row faster than other boats."

Fang Ming was a little disappointed.

Cen Sanniang summoned up her courage and said, "I'm telling you this, just to let you know. Maybe I can help you."

Fang Ming couldn't help but laugh.

"What can you help me with?" Fang Ming thought in his heart, and couldn't help saying it out of his mouth.

"I do not know right now."

Fang Ming smiled.He looked over, and Cen Sanniang in front of him was peaceful.His heart moved, but for some reason, he seemed to feel the anxiety and pain under her calm face.

She doesn't have the beauty of Cen Liuniang who can compete with flowers, nor does she have the ostentatious vitality of her own sister.But Fang Ming was deeply impressed by Cen Sanniang.He clearly knew that it was wrong to see Cen Sanniang in private like this, but the smile of Cen Sanniang that night always appeared in his mind.Wearing a red dress, she raised her head to see the golden flowers and silver rain falling from the sky, as if she was the only one in the world.He didn't think about anything at the time, he just grabbed an oil-paper umbrella from the person next to him and walked over.

He remembered the recent rumors.Mrs. Fan begged Cen Sanniang for her son.Because she held up an umbrella and walked towards her, she had other ideas, right?Fang Ming was a little flustered, maybe she was thinking...Fang Ming's face gradually turned red, and he said casually, "Sanniang, I know it was my Jiuniang who was wrong that night, and I shouldn't ask the servants to mix in the crowd and push her away." You. I don't mean anything else, I just think Jiu Niang is too much..."

Chickens talk to ducks.Cen Sanniang had the urge to roll her eyes.

Fang Ming also had the urge to slap himself.But what should he say?He glanced at her hastily.Cen Sanniang was wearing a narrow-sleeved jacket and a long white skirt. Her height did not reach his shoulders, and she was pitifully thin.What my father meant was that he wanted to marry Wu Niang of the Wang family.Wang Wuniang was born in Wang's family, and she will have at least three shops as dowry.As beautiful as Cen Liuniang, her father thought her dowry would only be a hundred acres of land and a few thousand taels of silver.Will my father agree to marry Cen Sanniang who doesn't even have a hundred acres of land?Besides, the Fan family has already proposed a marriage, and I heard that the governor's wife has secured the matchmaker.If the Fang family proposes another marriage, wouldn't it be playing against the governor?The Fang family has no one who has become an official. No matter how rich the family property is, it cannot compete with the official.Is Cen Sanniang worth the Fang family's money?

"Fang... Seventh brother. I know you have a way to find the boat. I want to ask you to help me secretly leave Longzhou for Chang'an. I want to go to my grandfather's house. I can't tell you what I can do for you now. I can now I'll give you only money." Cen Sanniang saw that Fang Ming was lost in thought, and knew that she didn't have time to persuade him to cooperate.I can only make a promise.

"Ah?" Fang Ming came back to his senses and opened his mouth wide.Cen Sanniang was dissatisfied with the marriage and had no other choice, so she wanted to run away secretly.But if the Cen family knew about this matter, it would have a lot to do with it.

"Brother Fang Qi, I know you are a good person." Cen Sanniang called him Brother Fang Qi, dealt him another good person card, and promised a lot of money, "Brother Fang Qi should make a fortune for himself. Please send San Niang Go to Chang'an to find my grandfather."

(End of this chapter)