Chapter 304: Strong Person

……

After finishing the meal, the family continued to stroll.

When they reached the city gate, they saw a crowd gathered around a notice board, pointing and gesturing.

Zhu Yong leaned over to take a look.

The notice said that a circus troupe had recently arrived in Jingzhou Prefecture and would set up a stage outside the city to perform, featuring acrobatics, animal taming, and a magician from the Western Regions.

Zhu Qiongjiong heard the words "animal taming," and his eyes lit up instantly.

"Dad, I want to watch the circus!"

Zhu Yong looked down at him.

The little fellow wore a face full of anticipation, his eyes shining like stars.

He glanced at his daughter; Zhu Huanhuan said nothing, but there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

Zhu Yong smiled.

"Alright, let's go take a look."

……

Outside the city, a large tent had indeed been erected, and a crowd gathered in front of it—vendors selling snacks, others selling toys—making the scene as lively as New Year.

Zhu Yong bought several skewers of candied hawthorn and handed them to two children.

Zhu Qiongjiong took one and began to gnaw, while Zhu Huanhuan ate in small, dainty bites, behaving elegantly.

The circus began shortly thereafter.

First came a troupe of acrobats, somersaulting, stacking human pyramids, walking the tightrope, drawing waves of applause.

Then came the animal taming.

A few bears were led up, clumsily stepping on wooden balls and turning in circles, endearingly goofy.

Several monkeys dressed in colorful garments rode on the backs of goats, circling the arena, causing the children to burst into laughter.

Zhu Qiongjiong watched with his eyes fixed, forgetting to eat the candied hawthorn in his hand.

The final act featured a man from the Western Regions, high nose and deep-set eyes, wearing a flamboyantly green robe, holding a bronze kettle.

He placed the bronze kettle on a table, covered it with a cloth, and muttered incantations.

Then he lifted the cloth; the kettle vanished, transformed into a bouquet of flowers.

The audience gasped.

Zhu Qiongjiong opened his mouth wide, unable to close it for a while.

"Dad, how did it change?"

Zhu Yong laughed, "Magic, a trick."

"A trick, but I clearly saw the kettle disappear," Zhu Qiongjiong said, blinking.

"It was just quick hands; you simply didn't see it," Zhu Yong patted his head.

Zhu Qiongjiong nodded, half‑understanding.

……

When the circus ended, night was already falling.

Zhu Yong led his family back.

Halfway along, Zhu Qiongjiong suddenly stopped, pointing at a stall by the road selling whole roasted lamb.

"Dad, I want that!"

The whole roasted lamb rested on a spit over the fire, sizzling and dripping oil, its aroma drifting far away.

Zhu Yong glanced; the stall was run by Huihui, the lamb meat roasted golden, looking truly tempting.

"Alright, buy one."

He walked over and gestured with Huihui, buying half of it.

Huihui moved deftly, sliced the meat, wrapped it in lotus leaves, and handed it over.

Zhu Yong took it, tore off a piece, and gave it to Zhu Qiongjiong.

The little fellow took it and gnawed, his mouth full of oil.

"Is it tasty?" Zhu Yong asked.

"Delicious!" Zhu Qiongjiong nodded vigorously.

Zhu Yong tore another piece and handed it to Zhu Huanhuan.

Zhu Huanhuan took it, tasted a small bite, and also nodded.

"More fragrant than the roasted lamb of Yingtian Prefecture."

Zhu Yong ate a piece himself; it was indeed good.

The meat was cooked to perfection, crisp outside and tender inside, the spices well used, with no gamey smell.

"This skill is not inferior to that of the Imperial Kitchen," he praised.

Huihui heard this and, speaking stiff official Mandarin, said, "The guest knows quality; our family's third‑generation roasted lamb is a hereditary craft."

Zhu Yong smiled, took out more money to buy another half, and let Zhang Wu and the others share it.

Just after leaving the city, as they passed a narrow lane, a gang of thugs surrounded them; these Strongmen each brandished weapons, their greedy eyes fixed on Zhu Yong and his party.

Ahead, a swaggering Strongman stared straight at Guanyin Nu… the greed in his eyes grew ever more intense.

Seeing the Strongman's gaze, Zhu Yong instantly furrowed his brows.

Since he was a child, he had never been bullied, let alone encounter these Strongmen.

When he left the village to enlist, he had never met any Strongmen.

Hmm! He might have crossed paths before, but judging by his previously poor‑looking state, they probably weren't interested in him.

However, now he has encountered them, and the way those people look at his wife makes him very angry.

"Sir, big brother, just now seeing you act so generously, it seems you aren't short of silver; I, the younger brother..."

"Hiss..."

"Swish..."

Before the Strongman's words could finish, a Long Sword already appeared before his throat.

At once, the Strongman's voice ceased.

"What a fast speed..."

"Audacious..." Zhang Wu, holding a Long Sword, looked at the Strongman with a fierce murderous intent.

"Zhang Wu, this is yours now; we'll head back first," Zhu Yong showed no interest in these so‑called Strongmen, since none could withstand his single punch.

"Yes, Prince..."

Zhang Wu extended his hand, and within moments over a hundred armed soldiers began to surround those Strongmen.

Immediately....

The faces of these Strongmen turned very grim.

The weapons in their hands fell to the ground, clanging with a metallic "dang dang dang" sound.

……

Back on the ship, the sky was already completely dark.

The river surface reflected the lights on the shore, speckled like stars, very beautiful.

Zhu QiongJiong ate half a roasted whole lamb, then ran to look at the parrot, only to be grabbed by Xiao Zhu and Xiao Ying and taken back for washing up.

Zhu Huanhuan sat in the cabin, lit a lamp and read the newly bought "Classic of Poetry".

Guanyin Nu was mending clothes, occasionally looking up at the two children with a smile at the corner of her mouth.

Zhu Yong stood at the bow, gazing at the distant night.

The river wind blew in, carrying the scent of water and a faint hint of fireworks.

Footsteps sounded behind.

It was Guanyin Nu.

"Prince, what are you thinking?"

Zhu Yong shook his head, "Nothing, just that days like this are quite nice."

Guanyin Nu looked at him and said softly, "As long as the Prince likes it, that's fine."

Zhu Yong grasped her hand, saying nothing.

In the distance, Jingzhou's city walls were faintly visible in the night.

Farther away lay continuous mountains and an unknown horizon.

The fleet was moored at the dock, quietly awaiting tomorrow's departure.

……

Early the next morning, the fleet continued westward.

Zhu QiongJiong leaned over the ship's rail, waving toward the shore.

"Jingzhou, I'll come back!"

Zhu Huanhuan whispered beside him, "You fool, you don't even know where Jingzhou is."

Zhu QiongJiong glared at her and kept waving.

Zhu Yong stood at the bow, watching his daughter and son bicker, a smile curling at his mouth.

Guanyin Nu walked to his side and said softly, "Prince, what do you think Tie Mu Er's side will be like?"

Zhu Yong thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"I don't know; we'll find out once we go."

He paused, then added, "No matter what it's like, we'll know once we get there. Anyway, however it turns out, as long as our family is together, that's enough."

Guanyin Nu nodded and leaned on his shoulder.

The river wind blew, stirring ripples upon ripples.

In the distance, the sunrise dyed half the sky red.

A new day, a new journey.