Yutai Bi

Chapter 56
The Zhike monk set up a tea table in the Tingtao Pavilion and served fruit, cakes and other things.

With Cen Sanniang's instruction, all the maids and women who came with them were paid by Baicao and placed in the Kua courtyard to have tea and rest.There are only two siblings in Tingtao Pavilion.Ah Fu stood guard at the door.

Standing on the edge of Tingtao Pavilion and looking out, you can have a panoramic view of the emerald green valley.

"Brother Jiu, my sister is leaving for Hongzhou the day after tomorrow." Cen Sanniang said quietly.

Cen Zhilin didn't take it seriously: "It's not like going for a lifetime, but just staying for a few months, at most until the Chinese New Year, and you will come back."

Family reunion in the Spring Festival.The second master who is far away in Chang'an will rush back to his hometown in Longzhou with his wife and belt to celebrate the New Year.What Cen Zhilin said was not wrong.

Cen Sanniang had a strange feeling.From the very beginning, she felt that it would not be a short stay for a few months.She couldn't explain why she felt this way.That's why she asked Mrs. Cen to agree to bring Mrs. Xu and Baicao with her that day.When Xu was packing her luggage, she subconsciously told her to take everything she could take with her.Fortunately, she didn't have a lot of luggage, so she took all of them away, only two boxes.

"If... I mean, if something happens, I won't be able to make it back. Remember to come and offer incense sticks to your parents during the Chinese New Year," Cen Sanniang said.

Cen Zhilin was stunned, then nodded: "Don't worry. I won't forget."

Ah Fu walked in: "Master!"

Cen Zhilin whispered to Cen Sanniang: "Don't take too long. I'll wait over there."

Cen Sanniang smiled and said, "Yes!"

Cen Zhilin was sitting at the table in the pavilion eating fruit, watching Cen Sanniang's skirt disappear before his eyes.He turned around and told Ah Fu: "Go to the door and guard it. Don't even let a fly in!"

Ah Fu withdrew and became the door god honestly.

Turning around the corner, Cen Sanniang saw Fang Ming.

It feels really different to book a pro.Fang Ming didn't know what to say for a moment, he stared blankly at Cen Sanniang walking towards with a smile.

The mountain wind blew the cloak around her arms, she was combing a long bun, her black hair fell half down on her cheeks, revealing a pair of gold bell-shaped ears.The sun shone over, reflecting a faint glow on the white jade-like face.

Fang Ming held his breath involuntarily, his heart beating fast.

"Brother Fang Qi." Cen Sanniang blessed him.

Fang Ming came back to his senses, and hurriedly bowed to the end.

Seeing his clumsy return, Cen Sanniang covered her lips and smiled, turned her body slightly, looked towards the valley, and said calmly, "I will accompany Liuniang to Hongzhou for a short stay in the future."

Fang Ming stood three steps away from her, took a deep breath and said, "I see."

It's not polite to make a private appointment to meet Ben.But Cen Sanniang asked brother Jiu to deliver the letter to him.Fang Ming also came at the appointment.

"Sanniang, do you have something else you want to tell me?" Fang Ming didn't think that Cen Sanniang fell in love with him.

Cen Sanniang turned her head with a smile: "Aren't we engaged? I can't..." Cen Sanniang suddenly saw Fang Ming's red ears. She coughed twice and swallowed her teasing words.The ancients are not casual jokes.

"Brother Seven, I have to tell you something before I leave." Cen Sanniang suppressed her smile and looked at him solemnly.

Her eyes are clear, neither dodging nor shy, calm lake water.Fang Ming was a little flustered: "What is Sanniang worried about? As I said, it was my idea to propose marriage. I...I don't mind if you and Longxi Li's..."

His eyes were burning, and his cheeks were slowly turning red.

Cen Sanniang looked at him seriously, her heart softened: "Brother Fang Qi, if the Cen family wants to retire, will you blame me?"

"What?" Fang Ming stared at Cen Sanniang, his eyebrows gradually frowned, "Sanniang is not satisfied with this marriage?"

"It's not me..." Cen Sanniang's clear eyes were full of melancholy, "I'm just worried. If one day the Cen family proposes to withdraw from the marriage, even if it's not my intention, Brother Seven, please don't take it to heart. If not, just treat it as if I never Didn't say it. Okay?"

She couldn't tell Fang Ming her worry.

Fang Ming felt that there was a fog in front of his eyes.He understood the worry in Cen Sanniang's eyes, but he didn't know where her worry came from.Her tone was sincere, as if she was afraid of hurting herself.

The two looked at each other for a long time.Fang Ming smiled freely: "San Niang, no matter what, I can promise you that I will try my best to fight for it."

Cen Sanniang smiled, and her tone was brisk: "Seventh brother, does the Fang family have business in Hongzhou?"

Fang Ming quickly reacted: "I opened a rice grain shop, Fangji Grain Shop. My elder brother is in charge."

Cen Sanniang bit her lip lightly, hesitated and said, "Brother Seven, I want to do business with you. Is that okay?"

As soon as the business was mentioned, Fang Ming's eyes lit up: "Sanniang wants to open a shop in Hongzhou? Didn't you accompany Liuniang to live for a while?"

Cen Sanniang lowered her head: "I don't know. Seventh brother, I feel very uneasy about going to Hongzhou. But I can't explain why. Although I live in the third uncle's house, Hongzhou is not familiar with people after all. I always want to leave a way for myself... Seventh brother, I don't know anyone else, so I can only beg you."

Cen Sanniang took out a land deed from her sleeve: "I have a mulberry garden under my name, and I use it as a share capital. It doesn't matter if Brother Qi sells it, or sells silkworm seeds to open a silk workshop, it's up to you. I only take [-]% of it." Stock. I just want a place to retreat if something happens to me in Hongzhou."

"You really believe me?" Fang Ming blurted out.

Cen Sanniang nodded heavily: "I believe in you."

Fang Ming's face turned serious: "San Niang, is it not as simple as just accompanying Liu Niang to go to Hongzhou? Can you think of a way not to go?"

"I promised to go with Liuniang for my reasons, but I just feel uneasy. I don't know if my feelings are wrong." Cen Sanniang admitted frankly, "I also hope that nothing will happen. But I have a kind of intuition , I have to make some plans. In case something happens, there is a way to deal with it. Seventh brother, I am just uneasy, can you help me?"

Fang Ming accepted Sangyuan's deed paper, and said solemnly: "I understand. Sanniang wants to have another way in Hongzhou besides relying on Mr. Cen San. Don't worry, I will make arrangements."

A bright smile appeared on his face: "San Niang, two years have passed in a flash. Just wait..."

Cen Sanniang blushed for no reason, she lowered her head with a smile on her lips.

Fang Ming stared at her blankly, his heart beating again.

Sanniang and Liuniang resigned from the Cen family and boarded the boat.Traveling by water from Longzhou to Hongzhou, the boat entered the Yangtze River from Jialing River, and landed at Hongzhou Wharf more than ten days later.

The third master of the Cen family received the letter and sent the steward to wait on the shore.

After getting off the boat, Cen Sanniang's footsteps were sloppy, but fortunately Baicao and Zhiqiu supported her firmly, otherwise she would definitely fall.She turned her head to see that Liu Niang was also holding the girl's hand tightly, her bright face was pale.

The two smiled wryly at each other.

The ship passed through Bazhou and passed through the Three Gorges, and almost half of the people in Cen's mansion on board fell down.Cen Sanniang also went to the Three Gorges in her previous life, and went out to sea on a sea vessel.However, compared with today's wooden ships, [-]-ton heavy ships are completely different concepts.

The deck outside the cabin was basically untenable, and when I looked out, I felt sick and wanted to vomit.A heart is sometimes lifted to the top of the waves, and sometimes falls into the abyss.

Baicao was so frightened that she screamed and cried.Xu Shi also fell down.Only Zhiqiu held Cen Sanniang's hand tightly and comforted her: "It will be fine after passing this waterway. The old boatman is at the helm, and nothing will happen."

Even though she belonged to Mrs. Cen, Sanniang was still infinitely grateful: "I'm too weak, I'm not afraid."

The 13-year-old's body has not yet developed and is already thin.After tossing and turning on the boat, Xu's hard-earned flesh lost again, and his wrists were so thin that they could hardly wear the bracelet.

Liuniang's situation is similar to Sanniang's, her chin is pointed, exuding a distressing beauty.

After passing the Three Gorges, the river was calm, but the two of them remained dizzy, as if the turbulent waves had not stopped.

When I landed on the shore now, it was like stepping on cotton on the soles of my feet.

The old steward, Cen Fang, went up and down to check, and went to the sedan chair of the two to greet them personally: "Go back to the house and drink a bowl of soothing soup, so that you can rest for two nights and you will be fine."

Xu and Baicao were in a close situation, and Cen Sanniang sent them to the carriage behind, leaving Zhiqiu, who was not seasick, to wait on them.

Without waiting for Cen Sanniang's order, Zhiqiu took out a small ingot from his sleeve and stuffed it into Cen Fang's hand: "Third lady, thanks to Manager Cen for taking care of me all the way, let's have a pot of wine and eat."

Cen Sanniang lay dizzy in the carriage, glanced at Zhiqiu, thinking to herself that this girl is really clever.She has no energy and leans against the wall of the car to rest her mind.

Zhiqiu poured a cup of hot tea and handed it to her: "Third lady, drink some hot water, it will make you feel better."

The carriage shook at this moment, and Cen Sanniang was so annoyed that she pushed Zhiqiu away, ignoring etiquette, she threw up the curtain of the window.

The carriage stopped.Cen Sanniang fell on Zhiqiu weakly: "I'm fine, let the car go, I'll just rest for the night. When the tea is brought, I'll rinse my mouth and take a few sips."

Zhiqiu brought the tea to her mouth, Cen Sanniang rinsed her mouth, then gulped down the hot tea, feeling better.

When we arrived at the Junjun Mansion, it was time to hold the lanterns.The girl and mother-in-law were waiting at the door, and the lantern in her hand illuminated the door brightly.

Seeing the arrival of the carriage, some went in to report the news, and some stepped forward and lifted the curtain.Seeing that the two girls were pale and dizzy, the woman in charge hurriedly ordered them to carry the soft bags.

Cen Sanniang held Zhiqiu's hand and reluctantly stood.There are two wide open black lacquered gates in front of you, with two stone drums on the left and right, and a wooden lintel above it, with two lanterns hanging on it, clearly reflecting the word "Cen Mansion" engraved on the lintel.A screen wall in the door blocks the vision, only human voices and chatter and laughter can be heard.

(End of this chapter)