Chapter 415: Guests at Home

The Kui Pavilion was brightly lit, with five stories of buildings shining through the night.

The large ship relied on the long wind, crossing layers of wave shadows along the waterway, drifting like flying in the moonlight.

Liang Qu came to the very front of the deck to look into the distance against the wind.

The singing, thin as silk, suddenly rose in the driving wind, turning a few times gracefully, flying toward the Great Lake along the night breeze.

Liang Qu turned his head to look.

Past the Long Hekou of Pingyang Prefecture, the orange light was soft and bright, stretching into a continuous expanse.

The bamboo poles sending off guests broke the full moon, and the pole-men poling the small boats appeared and disappeared among the painting boats on the full river.

The boatwoman held a pipa, sitting alone at the bow of the boat singing a song, the river breeze blowing her skirt and hair softly, as if they would fly away with the wind at any time.

The fat catfish had never seen such a magnificent sight, opening its mouth wide, its eyes full of orange light.

As the blessing ship passed, the boatwoman bowed, and as she raised her head, she only saw the person on the deck nod vaguely.

Liang Qu withdrew his gaze, stretched his body, and a faint sense of comfort arose.

Two years ago, Yixing Town was still Yixing Market. After nightfall, apart from the fishing fence lights, there was only the starry sky and the lonely sound of water for company.

Today, however, the river was full of painting boats, making the moonlight look dim.

It was completely different.

No wonder there was the saying of "singing the 'Back Courtyard Flower' across the river."

In this situation, even the ambush in Huaiyin and the Flood Dragon's rage could be thrown to the back of his mind for a moment.

Traveling to Shangrao.

Otter-Otter-Open hugged the mast and slid down to the deck, gathering the sails and dropping the anchor chain.

The blessing ship slowed down gradually, successfully sliding into the exclusive dock, the large expanse of white foam brought up washing onto the pier, leaving faint watermarks.

The two young clerks in the fishing fence put down the hanging tags in their hands, saw the Chishan on the ship, hugged the gangplank, and ran out of the small hut.

"Master Liang!"

"Good night, Master Liang!"

Liang Qu jumped onto the pier and asked with a smile: "Why is it always you two? Is there no one to change shifts at night?"

"Change shifts? No changing shifts! We two live in the small hut every day. After playing two rounds of cards, we go to sleep immediately."

"Master Liang, you went out quite fast this time. Last time it was two months; this time it only took half a month, right?"

"It must be to handle major matters that benefit the country and the people. Every time Master Liang goes out, doesn't he get promoted upon returning?"

Liang Qu laughed loudly. He took a gangplank in each hand and set them on the ship's edge.

"It's been more than half a month. I didn't catch up with Pingyang County becoming Pingyang Prefecture. I heard that the changes in the town and the prefecture are huge?"

Hearing this, the two clerks were beaming and talked endlessly.

"Huge! Terrifyingly huge! Master Liang, you came by boat from the north. Have you seen the Long Hekou? During the day and at night, there are so many painting boats and pleasure boats!

All are two-story buildings, and some are even three-story, not smaller than the houses on land. They are all carrying beautiful girls. It's a pity that while they are beautiful, they are dead expensive. Getting on a boat costs at least fifty taels of silver."

"Apart from the prefecture, the changes in our Yixing Town are also huge. Many new shops have opened in the town, and there are two flower-character shops. In mid-April, we two thought it was fresh and went to buy three bets. In ten days, the jars will be opened for the prize!"

The other clerk interrupted.

"Not just that! The Confucian Temple and the Water God Temple in the prefecture were all built before the end of April, all near our town. When the imperial examination comes next year, scholars will come, and it will definitely be lively."

"Who is worshipped in our Pingyang Water God Temple?"

"The Great King of Pingwater."

"The Great King of Pingwater..."

Liang Qu was thoughtful.

Pingyang Prefecture used to be Pingyang Town. There was no Water God Temple locally, and to find the Water God, one had to trace it back to Chaojiang County.

But Chaojiang and Pingyang were quite far apart, one east and one west, and the related influence gradually weakened, resulting in no specific image benchmark in the nearby area.

Each township mainly believed in things that were not unified, and there were a little bit of all kinds of sayings, including but not limited to the Golden Dragon King, the Great King of Pingwater, the White Dragon Mother, and Yixing Town just calling it the Jianghuai River God...

The Great King of Pingwater was considered a relatively mainstream saying. The prefecture should have considered it comprehensively and chosen the most widespread one to build.

"Alright, you two go and get busy with your own things. Don't worry about me."

"Okay, Master Liang, just call us if you have anything."

"Hmm."

Liang Qu returned the two jumping boards, came to the side of Chishan, mounted his horse, and instead of going home, went first to the River Patrol government office to report.

Huaiyin County was ambushed, and he had set a deadline of May 10th to arrive; he couldn't really cut it close.

The River Patrol government office was illuminated by lanterns all around.

In the large courtyard, there were only two registrars and several river officials on duty, which was quite deserted.

Hearing the sound of horse hooves outside the door, a river official raised his head and only saw a shadow extending, crossing the threshold. A tall young man strode through the courtyard, and a heroic feeling rushed toward his face.

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Registrar Huang Pingchang recognized the visitor at a glance, his face astonished.

"Master Liang? You have returned from Xiangyi County?"

Master Liang? Xiangyi County?

Several small officials heard the key points, and their hearts skipped a beat.

Could it be...

"Just returned. The ship docked, and I rode over immediately. Am I not delaying anything?"

"No delay, no delay. The time set for you by the Embroidered Cavalry should have been before the 10th, right?"

"Yes."

Liang Qu pulled out the document from his waist and placed it on the table. It was the order for him to return to Pingyang Prefecture before May 10th.

Huang Pingchang took out the official seal, licked the ink, and registered for Liang Qu: "Master Liang is swift and decisive. No wonder you were first in the year-end assessment."

First in the assessment!

Several small officials looked at each other, completely confirming that it was indeed that Liang Water Official!

Since entering the River Patrol as an official, Liang Qu's great name had become like thunder to the ears; from a fisherman's son to a Water Commandant, every single deed was a great achievement.

Dealing with the snake demon alone a while ago had reached its peak. He hadn't expected to see the real person today!

Liang Qu raised his head and looked around. The second and third floors were dim, with no lights to be seen.

"No one in the government office?"

"Huaiyin Prefecture was ambushed in late April, and everyone was busy and exhausted. Only in the last two days have we handled most of the matters. Today, after the time passed, everyone went back to rest.

Oh, Supervisor Xu has gone fishing on the Great Lake for the last two nights. He shouldn't be too far away. Master Liang might as well go and look nearby; you might be able to bump into him."

"Fishing?"

Liang Qu hadn't expected such a big thing to happen, and Xu Yuelong, as a supervisor, still had the leisure to go fishing.

But thinking about it, he felt it was very reasonable.

Huaiyin County was ambushed, the news reached Pingyang Prefecture, and then Embroidered Cavalry were sent to recall officials handling matters in various places. Not to mention others, by the time Liang Qu returned, at least ten days had passed, and the critical moment had long since passed.

Calling him back in a hurry this time was purely a procedure.

He would go and wander on the Great Lake in a while to see if he could find Xu Yuelong to understand the situation. If he could find him, he would chat; if not, so be it.

Huang Pingchang handled the documents, and while pressing the seal, he congratulated him.

"Before the notice was posted, everyone thought the snake demon matter in Xiangyi County was tricky. Those who were capable didn't want to do it, and those who wanted to do it couldn't do it. I never expected Master Liang would be willing to go, and even solved it smoothly. The joy of promotion is probably close at hand."

"Everyone knows?"

"Such a joyous event is worth celebrating. Deputy Commander Ran posted it personally, so no one doesn't know."

Liang Qu took two steps forward. In the center of the courtyard notice board was the ambush in Huaiyin County, and next to it on the left was his reply about solving the snake demon, which even had a piece of snake scale pasted on it, nailed together with the letter.

Hmm, it wasn't the letter he wrote.

Finished reporting.

Liang Qu ignored the whispering, envious river officials, found a sampan at the entrance of the government office, and drifted toward the Great Lake.

Moonlight flowed.

Xu Yuelong raised his fishing rod, sighing, when his peripheral vision suddenly glanced to the side, and he smiled.

"Yo, isn't this our snake-slaying hero? You solved the snake demon in mid-April, and only returned today. Did someone send you a young lady, making you stay in Xiangyi County and not think of returning home? Eh, your clothes..."

Xu Yuelong stopped halfway, staring at the cloud-brocade white fish on Liang Qu's chest, stroking his chin.

"Dragon Spirit Gauze? Where did it come from? You haven't worn it before, have you?"

"After slaying the snake demon, I happened to discover a Mermaid relic in the nearby waters and looted a few supplies."

Xu Yuelong leaned back slightly, gripping the fishing rod that hadn't caught anything, feeling quite bitter.

After a long while.

"Why can you bump into every good thing underwater? White Ape, Mermaid tribe—I've been in Huaiyin Prefecture for over a year and haven't bumped into one."

Flicking his fishing rod, Xu Yuelong felt listless.

Fishing was really boring.

"Speak, what's the matter looking for me in the middle of the night?"

"Regarding the ambush in Huaiyin Prefecture, the Embroidered Cavalry who notified me told me to speak freely. I feel it's quite suspicious, so I came to ask what the situation is."

"You haven't been home yet?"

"No." Liang Qu didn't understand what Xu Yuelong meant. "I came to report as soon as I returned."

"You'll understand once you go home."

"My home?"

83 Chinese Website Latest Address ===== CHAPTER 416 =====