Chapter 154: The simple and honest customs of the great Zhoufu

It's over.

After the shopkeeper said that, Du Shanü understood that she was utterly finished.

Thanks to the law's "blessing," wherever one goes, a travel permit and official verification are required.

Only occasionally do locals go to nearby counties to do a bit of business or visit relatives; getting a travel permit is too troublesome, so enforcement is lax, and some turn a blind eye.

Previously, they could stay in inns and lodgings without credentials, thanks to this leniency.

But Zhoufu is no small place; the strictness of entry and exit is evident from the moment one enters the city and has their documents checked.

Thus, it was destined that they could not move freely in Zhoufu.

What's more......

Chinu is jealous.

Chinu is not just ordinarily jealous.

If he truly didn't care about the "status" label, he wouldn't come to her in the dead of night on their wedding night, repeatedly stirring that big vat of sour water, word after word.

Now it's fine—someone is actually specifically reminding him that he has no name or status!

During the city-seizing upheaval, facing hundreds of defending troops, Du Shanü chatted and laughed, calm and carefree.

But in that instant, feeling that gaze from behind, Du Shanü only felt a fine sweat break out on her back.

Du Shanü didn't dare look back, but Chinu simply turned and left without hesitation.

The shopkeeper waiting to collect money: "?"

The attendant preparing to guide: "?"

Du Shanü: "...... hateful (〃＞dish＜)"

If I had known, I wouldn't have stayed at the inn!

Every time I stay at an inn, there's trouble!

In this life, everything else has gone smoothly for her, so why does she always run into trouble at inns?

Du Shanü's face pained, she could only turn and chase after Chinu as they left the inn:

"Ah Nu! Nu Nu! Good Nu Nu!"

Chinu was determined to leave, not turning back even for a moment.

But perhaps because he was leading a horse, his steps were really slow, 'coincidentally' allowing the person behind to catch up.

Du Shanü didn't want to attract attention on the street, so she resignedly approached and lowered her voice:

"My little ancestor, what are you doing this time?"

"I only asked a question, you put on a face and left, so I already know everything......"

Chinu gripped the reins tightly and also replied in a low voice:

"Then can we produce the marriage certificate?"

"If we don't leave now, are we supposed to just stand there stupidly waiting for them to catch up?"

Walking side by side with him, Du Shanü muttered softly upon hearing that:

"Then let's just get two rooms......"

Not saying it would have been fine, but saying it was like stirring up a hornet's nest.

Chinu immediately let out a cold laugh:

"If you ever spend a night not sharing a bed with me, you'll never want to share a bed with me again for the rest of your life!"

"What nonsense! What nonsense!"

It made it seem as if she were willing to leave him, yet she also wanted to sleep holding Chinu, but isn't this forced by circumstances......

Du Shanü was left disheveled, and could only sigh heavily in her heart.

In her previous life she was a lone wolf, lacking much experience dealing with people; this life, after meeting Chinu, she truly experienced what it feels like to be bothered.

Chinu's little temperament has always been extreme.

She had long realized that, as long as they were together, Chinu would constantly expect and crave pity, constantly seek attention, constantly test Du Shanü's feelings for him......

But what does that prove?

Does it prove Chinu is annoying?

No, quite the opposite.

Du Shanü really can't get enough of this.

People don't understand; all the pity, gentle tones, slow coaxing......

Actually, it's not about how clever the suitor's tactics are, but about whether the beloved is willing to indulge; only then will there be a result.

She and Chinu.....

It's the same for them.

Really, she's fallen for it.

Du Shanü felt moved, reaching out to hook her hand with Chinu's hand hanging at his side:

"Really, don't make a fuss. We're unfamiliar with the place; drawing attention isn't good......"

"You said last night you wanted to try hooking and stacking? Since we can't stay here, let's go to a more laxly supervised small lodging and try again."

Upon hearing that, Chinu's steps paused slightly.

He's almost always causing a fuss, but he's not just mindlessly noisy; he always precisely grasps a 'degree' that's neither painful nor itchy, trying to win her over.

After just two breaths, Chinu hummed, wrapped his hand tightly around hers in reverse, and said to her:

"At least seven."

"Big addiction."

"Really just pure addiction."

After she finished fiercely scorning, Du Shanü discovered she herself was also hungry, and thus fell into serious thought:

"Let's turn around first, let's see what the environment of where we'll settle is like......"

We absolutely cannot have another 'awkward mishap' like Afang's earlier; otherwise it would really be awkward.

Chinu snorted again, but this time he drew much closer to Du Shanü, taking the reins from her hand, guiding the person to the inner side of the road to avoid bumping into fellow travelers, and then led the horse to the outer side.

The two walked slowly hand in hand in the afterglow of the setting sun, indeed having a bit of a composed demeanor.

Just then, a series of heavy footsteps caught up to the two; it was the waiter from the inn earlier.

The waiter seemed to have received the proprietor's order; upon catching up, he broke into a full-faced smile and politely said:

"...... You two guests walked too fast, and the inn is full of guests, so our proprietor couldn't shout loudly, thus he sent me to catch up."

"You two may have just arrived at Zhoufu and be unaware—actually, although the government office clearly orders inns to inspect and verify guests, this is Zhoufu, with many coming and going, so some people will inevitably 'forget' to bring their verification documents or other items."

The waiter emphasized the word 'forget' a bit more heavily; Du Shanü instinctively exchanged a glance with Chinu, both understanding the look in each other's eyes.

"But our proprietor is kind-hearted; how could he possibly let guests worry about this?"

The waiter still wore a cheerful grin, chattering away while reaching out and, in front of the two, patting the money pouch he carried for collecting guests' tips.

"There's always a way to get a place to stay; it's just the price......"

Understood.

Du Shanü this time truly understood completely.

But it's precisely because of this that it feels especially interesting.

Du Shanü faintly sensed something, making the excuse that she still wanted to look around and would return later, she sent away the waiter who was soliciting customers, and then plunged into other inns——

One inn, two inns, three inns......

She crossed the thresholds of six or seven inns along the street; three of them immediately demanded extra payment, while in the other four inns that had guests, the proprietors later sent their assistants, the waiters, to pursue her.

Du Shanü didn't agree to any of them; instead, she went into a pawnshop along the street, took the Peace Token that Yu Baobao had given her, and, claiming someone at home was ill, wanted to pawn something for some valuables.

The pawnshop owner glanced at it once and said the jade was fake, worth at most one tael of silver.

Du Shanü was only pretending to pawn, so she naturally couldn't accept that; she took the jade and went to three pawnshops.

Finally, when they came out, five or six shady men were furtively following behind them.

What else could Du Shanü not understand at this point?

If her previous impression of Zhoufu was of strict laws and lavish wealth, then now this impression has been torn open by this city with a huge gap.

The sky was growing dark, and their destination remained undecided.

However, Du Shanü didn't have time to dwell on these trivialities; she simply stroked her chin, thinking while muttering:

"This Zhoufu...... really is 'honest and simple folk customs'."

?? came, came! (*^▽^*)