Chapter 12

「Under the bridge in front of the gate~~a flock of ducks swam by~~come on, come on, count them... 」Gan Tian still rode the little donkey humming a song.

However, this time he had one more companion traveling with him.

Wang Sanlang and Gan Tian filed a report in Zhenjiang, and that gang of traffickers was quickly apprehended. The reason it went so smoothly was, on one hand, the report was made in time, and the gang hadn't fled far yet; on the other hand, it's also because this world isn't that simple—investigating some criminals can borrow the power of immortal arts.

That gang of traffickers was still around Zhenjiang, so it wasn't easy for them to escape.

This time, the boys and girls they abducted were mostly seized in the chaos at the Jinling Cheng City God Temple fair; only one was not from Jinling Cheng—he had come with his parents to visit relatives in Jinling Cheng! But that doesn't matter; they could all be sent to Jinling Cheng together.

However, before the Zhenjiang government office had free hands to handle this matter, Gan Tian had already slipped away quietly, and Wang Sanlang chose to go with her.

At that time, Wang Sanlang had been searched by that gang; now that they've been caught, his belongings naturally returned as well. The little money he had was taken by a Zhenjiang petty clerk (externally explained as the thieves having spent it), but at least his other things came back.

Similar to pouches, pendants, and such, he pawned the most conspicuous gold necklace, exchanging it for some travel funds. After buying the donkey and other items, he set off with Gan Tian.

"I never expected you'd join me on this trip!" Gan Tian stopped singing, wrinkled her nose. She finally appreciated the benefit of having a travel companion! At least she could talk now.

Though still young, Wang Sanlang already bore the air of a graceful young gentleman, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth: "Like Miss Gan, I too rarely get to go out; since I've sent word that all is well at home, I also want to take this opportunity to wander about and see the sights. I have no particular destination, so traveling together with Miss Gan would be fine."

Although it sounds a bit casual, this is indeed the main reason.

Moreover, Wang Sanlang originally didn't care about anything concerning Cocoon Town; at that time he just wanted to get out of his predicament, so such trivial details weren't on his mind. After escaping, when Gan Tian brought it up again, he couldn't help but become a little curious...

They inquired in Zhenjiang and found that Cocoon Town is a town under Zhenjiang's jurisdiction. As for the Washing Silk River, it is the name of an important tributary of the Shaking Marsh Lake when it flows through Cocoon Town—many rivers are like that, having different names in different places.

"Cocoon Town is quite lively; I really can't see what's going on." Gan Tian looked around; they had already arrived at Cocoon Town. And Cocoon Town is a very typical Jiangnan water village, with a dense network of waterways, more canals than streets, and stone bridges everywhere.

Under the bridges, ducks swam to and fro, quacking.

"This place is a bit exclusionary." Wang Sanlang glanced around, noticing many people fixing their gazes on them, especially on Gan Tian. He shook his head: "Miss Gan, be careful; even if you want to find out what's happening here, don't put yourself in danger."

"Mm-hmm." Gan Tian fully agreed—she wasn't the type to court death!

"I think we should ask a local for information—" Gan Tian had just voiced her suggestion when she was cut off.

"Seeing off the bride!" "Seeing off the bride!" people kept shouting in the street, and from afar came the festive music and firecracker sounds of a wedding procession.

"Someone's getting married." I don't know if it's because that trafficker gang specially mentioned the "River God marrying a bride," but hearing the bride sendoff now feels a bit off.

"The newly polished bronze mirror shines bright, reflecting the bride like a flower; a melon-seed face with willow-leaf eyebrows..."

A group of children ran out first, clapping their hands and singing a nursery rhyme.

By the time they finished speaking, the wedding procession also came out, not differing much from a usual bride escort—some people played wind and percussion, the middle of the procession held a festive bridal sedan, and behind were those carrying the dowry. If one had to point out what's special, it's probably that the dowry is excessively lavish, which could be called a "ten-mile red dowry."

A ten-mile red dowry is the highest standard for marrying off a daughter; it's not impossible, but appearing in such an obscure little town still makes it overly conspicuous.

However, Gan Tian lacked experience in this area, so she didn't notice anything amiss. On the contrary, Wang Sanlang, being a man, pointed it out to her: "This dowry is too heavy—even a first-rate family in Jinling Cheng would rarely give such a dowry. In such a small place, even the local richest man would find it hard to marry off a daughter like this."

Although it's said to be difficult, they keep saying it's impossible.

But looking at it, it doesn't seem like that; the matchmaker walking beside the bridal sedan was loudly proclaiming: "The Ma family's daughter is getting married!"

"Could the Ma family possibly be the local richest?" Gan Tian kept that in mind and asked a half-grown child by the roadside for information.

The half-grown child didn't have many ulterior motives; when Gan Tian asked, he answered: "The Ma family is the Ma silver-smith shop on Xiaohe Street! Their daughter is beautiful, and suitors have practically broken their doorstep trying to propose!"

How could a silversmith's daughter possibly have such a dowry! When things go against the norm, there must be something uncanny. Gan Tian and Wang Sanlang hurriedly followed the wedding procession. Fortunately, many townspeople who came to watch the spectacle also followed along, so it didn't look too conspicuous.

The wedding procession walked out of town, going farther and farther, until it stopped before a large residence situated by the Washing Silk River.

This grand residence was also that of a high-ranking, wealthy family; one couldn't see what was inside. Only when the main gate opened did the wedding procession enter, and the onlookers trailing behind to watch the fun weren't stopped either.

However, some people stayed outside and didn't go in, while those who entered first presented congratulatory gifts and cash.

Gan Tian glanced at Wang Sanlang; the two didn't do anything out of the ordinary, and like the other "guests" they gave cash gifts. As for presents, all Gan Tian had was a box of pastries she'd just bought on the street.

"The gift money here is too expensive!" Gan Tian exclaimed, seeing that the person ahead of her had handed over at least a hundred taels of silver, which truly surprised her. At home she'd never had a chance to use money, so she didn't know outside prices. After leaving home, she first went to a pawnshop and sold the gold bracelet she'd casually brought along, getting sixty or seventy taels of silver.

In this world gold is relatively valuable, which is why she could get that amount for it.

And those sixty or seventy taels of silver—she'd been out playing for so long without saving, and had only spent a dozen or so taels so far! She didn't know how ordinary people's expenses work, but she also knew that a hundred taels of silver is definitely not a small sum.

Wang Sanlang had travel funds from selling his necklace, but they were just enough for the gift money. Gan Tian thought, then took off a pearl from the cord of her little cat pouch and gave it to the clerk collecting the gifts: "We two siblings are together; this is our congratulatory gift for the host's wedding."

Upon seeing the pearl, the clerk immediately knew what it was and hurriedly said: "Honored guests have arrived!"

The little attendant beside them also helped lead the two donkeys to the stables.

After giving the gift money, Gan Tian and Wang Sanlang then followed the other guests inside; the further they went, the more surprised Wang Sanlang became: "I never expected this place to have such a luxurious residence."

Earlier, from outside, they only knew the residence was large; they had no idea what the interior was like. Only upon entering did they discover carved beams and painted rafters, glittering gold and brilliant hues, and many exotic flowers and rare plants—it bore no resemblance to the display of an ordinary wealthy family. Wang Sanlang's own background was high enough; he had seen much of the world's riches and nobility, and for him to say this, one can imagine how grand the scene was.

On the other hand, Gan Tian had no idea what worldly wealth in this world should look like, so she also couldn't feel anything special about this residence.

Seeing Gan Tian merely looking around curiously with no other reaction, Wang Sanlang set aside his deep thoughts and once again focused his attention on this "wedding banquet."

On the surface, this wedding banquet seemed problem-free—the spacious main courtyard was already filled with round tables, pretty and neat maidservants came and went, waiting only for the bride and groom to appear and perform the rites before setting out the feast.

"Why hasn't the groom shown his face yet?" Gan Tian puzzled, earlier she had wanted to say, shouldn't the groom go to the bride's home to welcome the procession? How come he still hasn't appeared?

Wang Sanlang shook his head: "This is taking a concubine, not marrying a wife, so naturally there's no need to welcome the procession. As for the later rites, it's merely the new concubine offering tea and kowtowing to the principal wife."

Only when taking a concubine can a single sedan be sent through the gate; up to now we still haven't seen the groom.

Gan Tian stared, stunned: "But... such a grand display..."

"The power of this household's master is probably not ordinary." Wang Sanlang didn't elaborate much—this was almost obvious. The wedding spectacle of common folk can't compare to that of the wealthy taking concubines; such a thing isn't unheard of, today they merely widened that gap a bit more.

"Certainly not ordinary!" Gan Tian also got into the mood, muttering: "Maybe this concubine-taking is just for extortion... Ordinary guests give at least a hundred taels in gift money; how much would the local wealthy have to pay?"

Wang Sanlang stared... He truly hadn't thought of that; he is capable of reading people's minds, but many things are also easy to overthink. Like such a luxurious residence, such an unfathomable master—people marrying once just to collect gift money? However you think about it, it seems strange!

But upon further thought, it's quite likely exactly that!

Otherwise, how could the place for collecting gift money be right at the entrance, plain as day! Logically, someone this wealthy wouldn't deliberately collect gift money—relatives and friends coming to congratulate would just bring a present, and outsiders would be fine with a buffet meal; who would point at these people and demand gift money?

But this is merely Gan Tian's speculation; after all, there are too many things here they don't understand, so it's unwise to jump to conclusions.

Just as Gan Tian and Wang Sanlang were muttering to each other, someone suddenly shouted: "Look, the bride!"

They also surged forward with the other guests to the front of the hall, and indeed the bride wasn't wearing a red veil, nor was her festive attire the proper red. As Wang Sanlang had said, this is not taking a wife but taking a concubine.

The bride appeared to be sixteen or seventeen, with a well-proportioned figure, a melon-seed face and almond eyes—a pretty belle of the water village.

However, compared to the surrounding people's joyous cheer, the bride herself seemed somewhat dazed and vacant. Even the smile on her face looked extremely forced, more like a grimace of feigned happiness.

"The bride is quite frightened..." Wang Sanlang whispered in Gan Tian's ear. He could see that the woman in the wedding attire... her eyes were full of fear.

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Thanks to the little angels who cast king votes or irrigated nutrient solution for me during the period from 2020-04-16 06:33:13 to 2020-04-17 08:30:26~

Thanks to the little angels who irrigated nutrient solution: phoenix blossoms have bloomed again, and one bottle of Rowing Song;

Thank you very much for everyone's support; I will continue to work hard!