Chapter 114: Arrived in Chuzhou · Report to the Authorities First

The north wind blew.

In Chuzhou,

at the hour of Wei (around two-thirty in the afternoon),

because the Gu and Xu family boats had been docked at the shore all morning, the boat of the Yongchang Count's Manor had raised its sails, taking advantage of the wind to sail far away.

At this moment, the Yuan family's boat had stopped at the location of the Chuzhou Great Sluice Gate, and after the Yuan family servants had inquired clearly, they returned to the boat.

"Reporting to the Master, the gate will not open for another two days."

Yuan Wen said purely, "Did you not tell them we are the Yuan family of the Loyalty and Diligence Baron from Bianjing? Just use some silver to feed them full, and that would be enough!"

"This humble one tried, but the gate guards said... said they have seen many nobles, and that our family is not..." The servant did not continue.

Elder Xiao Zhangshi slanted her eyes and said, "What lowly things, daring to say we have no shame!!!"

"No, no, no, they said we don't know how to behave..." the servant hurriedly said.

"You! Has your throat been poisoned mute? You can't even spit out words! Get out!" Elder Xiao Zhangshi said.

Yuan Bing said nothing, stood up, and walked outside the cabin; ahead, more than ten passenger or cargo boats were stopped, all having docked at the shore one after another.

Yuan Bing looked into the distance; most of the docked boats had extended long wooden planks, with people constantly boarding or disembarking.

As an important sluice gate on the Grand Canal, whether it was the previous river weir or the current river gate, Chuzhou always saw many merchants temporarily stranded, and officials and merchants who had smelled business opportunities had long built various courtyards and shops here to sell some Chuzhou specialties.

There were also human traffickers who had established trading houses here, gathering those children who had been sold, or female servants and servants who had been punished.

Yuan Wen came up behind Yuan Bing and said cautiously, "Father, having been confined on the boat for nearly half a month, Mother and your daughter-in-law are both looking unwell; since we cannot sail for another two days, I beg Father's permission to let us go ashore to rest."

"Mm, go then, and take the servants and the Guan Guan Pozi with you."

"Yes, Father." Yuan Wen's face showed joy as he returned to the cabin, and shortly after, the Yuan family masters, mistresses, and a group of servants went ashore.

After glancing at the female servants and the Guan Guan Pozi who followed down, Yuan Bing turned his head to admire the scenery of Chuzhou.

Looking at this scenery, Yuan Bing's heart still felt as if weighed down by a huge rock; thinking about it now, he wished he had simply written a letter in Bianjing, claiming his Second Son was ill, apologized, and canceled the marriage between the two families.

But he recalled what Elder and Younger Xiao Zhangshi had advised him: the Sheng family's concubine managed the household, so perhaps the Sheng family did not even know yet.

By the time their Yuan family, holders of a Count's title, arrived in Yang Zhou, would the people of Yang Zhou dare say anything to their faces?!

Moreover, relying on this boatload of betrothal gifts, if his family humbled themselves and gave the Sheng family enough face, perhaps it would succeed! Once the betrothal gifts were presented and the status settled, even if something else happened after the Yuan family returned to Bianjing, the Yuan family's matter would be over.

Thinking of these things, Yuan Bing sighed.

Yuan Wen led the servants ashore and found a shop by the water's edge; everyone walked in, and although in Bianjing the Loyalty and Diligence Baron was merely a small count,

here in Chuzhou, they were still formidable nobility.

All the attendants serving guests in the shop had sharp eyes.

Seeing the attire, fabrics, and jewelry worn by the Yuan family group, they immediately began to serve them respectfully, ushering them into the largest private room in the shop.

Elder Xiao Zhangshi had not come ashore for any Chuzhou specialties; mainly, she had been made uncomfortable by the rocking on the boat and came ashore to rest; she raised her eyes and looked at the old nurse beside her.

Understanding her intent, the old nurse said, "Shopkeeper, does your establishment have anyone who can sing Southern tunes or Huangmei melodies?"

"Replying to Old Cui Mama, we certainly do," the shopkeeper replied with bowed head.

"Then invite the best one; rest assured, there will be no lack of silver."

"As you command, please wait a moment, honored guests."

Shortly after, a troupe of street performers from nearby was invited into the private room, but upon hearing them, both Elder and Younger Xiao Zhangshi frowned.

Seeing the frown on their Lady's face, the old nurse hurriedly said, "Stop, stop, stop!"

Younger Xiao Zhangshi tugged at Elder Xiao Zhangshi's sleeve and glanced at the female servants nearby; Elder Xiao Zhangshi nodded.

Yuan Wen walked out, and the room resumed with the sound of singing.

Followed by two young attendants, he walked along the shore of the Chuzhou Sluice Gate; prosperity was certainly not what it usually was, after all, it was still the first lunar month.

Cheers and applause came from ahead,

and at this moment, Yuan Wen also saw a crowd gathered ahead, with several expensively dressed people who had just come off boats also watching.

Yuan Wen showed not a trace of worry regarding his younger brother's marriage; strolling leisurely, he thought secretly that it would be best if his brother married the most incapable village woman.

Then, Yuan Wen stroked the jade pendant at his waist and moved closer to see what the commotion was about.

The two Yuan family servants pushed through the onlooking commoners in front.

Mustache and Little Eyes were also watching here; suddenly, they felt themselves shoved to the side.

The Yuan family servants, having come from Bianjing to this remote backwater, were naturally arrogant; seeing Little Eyes looking over, they stared directly back.

Little Eyes, accustomed to being brave and fond of fighting, stared right back and was just about to curse and draw his knife when Mustache tugged his arm.

"Brother, he's just a fat sheep; why are you pulling me!"

"The Clerk's matter is paramount; do not create unnecessary complications."

After speaking, the two circled the crowd and found a less crowded spot to look inside.

Yuan Wen thought it was some kind of spectacle, but it turned out to be a woman dressed in a thorn hairpin and cloth skirt, with a dark and sallow complexion, playing pitch-pot here; the cheers from the surrounding commoners were because a young man dressed like a wealthy householder was bowing and admitting defeat.

Yuan Wen patted the commoner beside him and said, "Is this woman very skilled?"

"Oh, responding to your honor, she is very skilled; she has already defeated three people in a row! Look, see the wooden board behind her."

Only then did Yuan Wen notice a wooden board behind the woman, pasted with straw paper, on which was written 'Victories: Three'.

Yuan Wen smiled scornfully, patted his servant's shoulder, and said, "Go, return to the boat and bring our family's set of pitch-pot equipment."

"Yes."

Yuan Wen turned back to continue watching the pitch-pot game and whispered to the servant remaining beside him, "She is just relying on her familiarity with the arrows; wait and see me defeat her."

Having said this, Yuan Wen squeezed further forward.

Just as Yuan Wen entered the crowd, a group of people dressed as sluice guards passed behind them.

Most people were focused intently on watching the pitch-pot game, at most glancing at this group of sluice guards.

Before this,

Not yet a quarter past the hour of Wu (11:30 AM),

Xu Xu Zaijing and his party had already ridden to Chuzhou, but to avoid startling the snake by beating the grass, everyone slowed their pace upon entering the area where the Chuzhou government offices were located.

The guide sent by Marquis Hu Yan led the group directly to the entrance of the residence of the Department Magistrate of Chuzhou.

"Young Master, this is the residence of Lord Yan, the Department Magistrate of Chuzhou," the guide said.

The steward at Lord Yan's gate was just about to step out when he suddenly saw a group of over ten horses, all tall and magnificent, while people nearby were pointing and whispering; he immediately ordered the young servant, "Go, hurry and report this! Run!"

Seeing the steward's expression, the young servant sprinted toward the inner quarters.

"My lord! Over ten magnificent horses have arrived outside!"

Wu Da Da Niangzi, who was having lunch with the Department Magistrate, said:

"Have you lost your ability to count, boy? How can one see over ten horses in Chuzhou, let alone magnificent ones?"

No sooner had she spoken than the steward from the gate arrived, panting heavily.

Holding two exquisite calling cards sprinkled with gold dust, the steward went straight into the rear courtyard beyond the second gate.

Wu Da Da Niangzi frowned, but before she could say anything, the steward hastily bowed and reported, "My lord, Lady, people from two Marquis Houses have arrived outside."

"What? Have you investigated thoroughly?"

"Replying to my lord, I investigated carefully; they were frequently dispatched by Lord Hu Yan of the front platform. I even checked the brands on their horses; they are undoubtedly from the Marquis Houses!"

I got so caught up in revising that I lost track of time.

Also.

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(End of Chapter)