“Looking for someone?” the boatman asked timidly. His dark reddish soy sauce-colored face suggested he had been rehearsing this for some time.
“Yes, we have friends looking for someone ahead. I’m not sure if they’re still around,” I smiled politely, which made the boatman’s eyes widen in amazement. He stammered that all the boatmen on this waterway knew each other and could easily inquire.
Along the way, he called out and exchanged answers with passing boats. Due to the local dialect, I couldn’t understand much and let them continue their back-and-forth shouting.
I don’t know how many boats we passed, but the boatman’s voice grew hoarse. Watching him row and chat under the sun, sweating profusely, warmed my heart.
“Found them, found them!”
The boatman excitedly shouted at me, then sheepishly scratched his head and laughed bashfully when he realized he was too close.
“Oh?” My eyes lit up. I hadn’t hoped to find them, only planning to confirm at the point of separation that they weren’t there. But unexpectedly, they were found!
“It’s that person wearing white, carrying a white cat! They seem to have taken Wang Er’s boat, going downstream to Yingcheng to find someone!” The boatman was thrilled.
“Yingcheng? Are you sure?” I became excited too.
The boatman shouted to the opposite boat, which quickly responded. Turning back, he looked certain: “No mistake! Wang Er said someone with such outstanding temperament is unforgettable!”
I couldn’t help but laugh with him, then boldly waved my hand: “Let’s go! To Yingcheng!”
“Squeak—” A black object shot towards me. Without looking, I knew it was Wangzai, who always jumps at me.
Then came a splash, and Wangzai fell into the river, yowling loudly. I stood at the bow, watching him struggle. Serves you right!
Realizing I wouldn’t rescue him, the little fellow stopped struggling so dramatically.
Instead, he tried to minimize the water splashes and fixed his bright green eyes on me, attempting to guilt me.
Facing those innocent yet accusatory eyes, a subtle feeling arose in my heart. Leaning on the boat’s edge, I looked back deeply: “Baby—don’t worry, I won’t let you die… I’ll just close my eyes!” And I really did close my eyes.
“Hua Piaoli! You bastard!” A sudden roar startled me into opening my eyes. What is this thing grabbing the boat, face-to-face with me?
Elegant eyebrows, jade-like face, red lips, and white teeth, but he actually has a pair of emerald green eyes! I fell back, watching him warily. Those eyes were too scary—green like top-quality gemstones, transparent yet deep, now glaring at me as if wanting to bore a hole through me. Seriously—do we have a grudge?
“Brave sir, did I kill your entire family?” I wasn’t joking. That look seemed worse than avenging a murdered father. Besides wiping out his family, I couldn’t think of any reason this handsome guy would hate me so much.
“You actually watched me die without saving!” The voice was beautiful, the person absolutely beautiful, but the tone was fierce! Oh parents, your unfilial daughter is about to depart; please don’t worry, I’ll watch over you from above…
The beautiful man suddenly leaped onto the boat, his black clothes dripping wet, water cascading from his hair, chin, fingers, and feet—a genuine “water product”!
I suddenly realized something, my fear slightly diminishing. Standing up, I cautiously called: “Wangzai?”
The black-clad beauty snorted and entered the cabin. A stunning femme fatale was riding fiercely on a handsome man, gripping his hand. Wang Zai immediately grasped the situation and cried out: “Help! Hero, save me— She’s sexually harassing me—” I was stunned.
After muddling through a few days, I realized I had inexplicably gained another husband! Rumor has it that a certain fox was crying, insisting that his innocence was ruined by me and he could no longer show his face.
Damn it, even if it was ruined, it was my doing! Besides, do I look like someone who would pounce on a handsome man? I’m definitely not a bad person! I’ve been wrongly accused! Husbands, please judge!
Unfortunately, I seem to have no credibility with these two husbands, who believed the accusations without a second thought! Now I’ve ended up with an extra husband. How infuriating. But I dare not speak out; who knows when this little troublemaker might frame me again!
Evil, truly evil!
【062】 Young Master from Jiangnan
“Flower falls, peanuts!” Tap tap tap, peeled peanuts brought to his mouth.
“Flower beautiful. Tea!” Tap tap tap, freshly brewed tea placed before him.
“Are you trying to scald me to death, murdering your husband!” Tap tap tap. I puffed out my cheeks and desperately blew on the tea, wishing I could blow the entire cup onto his face.
Cough, the cup didn’t land, but my saliva did…
Quickly ducking my head, I darted out. Behind me, Wang Zai’s loud wails rang out. The moment I stepped out, my back straightened: Hmph, it’s not that I, Hua Xiaoxin, am afraid of him, but… well, honestly… cough cough, I’m just afraid of him.
I now deeply resent not being a hunter in my previous life, just shooting this little wimp dead with one shot—bang—then I wouldn’t have all these annoying troubles.
Wu Chen smiled faintly: “I only discovered we had no money when disembarking, and the boatmen didn’t charge us. They’re really good people.” I knew the following days without him explaining – it must be that this foolish Wu Chen felt taking a free ride was wrong, so he took Shi Ran walking to Ying City, and their meals along the way – I looked at Shi Ran, hmm, I went through the same back then. Then I looked at Xiao Zi and Feng Qingyin.
Wu Chen ended up like this because of money, but I recall they didn’t have any either, right?
Xiao Zi looked at the scenery nonchalantly: “We just borrowed some from passersby.”
Borrow? I blinked. This kid is really clever. Huh, borrow?! I widened my eyes and turned to Feng Qingyin: “How did you… borrow?”
Feng Qingyin furrowed his brow but answered honestly: “Borrowed by holding a knife to someone’s neck…”
After Meng Yu’s mediation, I suppressed my urge to strangle them, “calmly” accepting the fact that they had robbed people and tried to discuss the next steps.
“Okay, since we think Yi Qing was most likely picked up by the Mu family of Ying City, let’s check them out first,” I summarized after Wu Chen’s explanation.
“The Mu family of Jiangnan?” Meng Yu interjected.
“Do you know them?” I asked, excited.
Meng Yu shook his head: “Just heard of them. The number one young master of Jiangnan.”
“Number one young master of Jiangnan?” I looked at him in surprise. “Normally, with ‘south hot, north cold’, this title should belong to Hong Junyi, so how…” I stopped mid-sentence, realizing why myself. No need to explain! Just look at Hong Junyi’s character! Young master… about ten thousand miles away from that description.
Qing Cong turned back, sitting high on his horse with a faint smile: “Are you hurt? If you don’t mind, please come to the mansion for a cup of wedding wine.”
Little Zi pulled me to dive into the crowd, but I shook her off: “I’ll go!”
The man on the horse gave me a strange glance and rode on silently.
“Make way!” The sedan bearers pushed me aside and continued carrying the wedding sedan.
I felt abandoned, wanting to laugh and cry at the same time. I stared blankly as they hurried past me.
“What’s wrong?” Feng Qingyin and Meng Yu finally emerged from the crowd, looking at me. After checking and finding nothing wrong, they sighed in relief.
“The groom is Yiqing,” Little Zi said flatly, causing everyone’s heart to tighten.
“Follow!” I blurted out, startling everyone.
“Ling’er, you…” Feng Qingyin looked at me worriedly.
I waved my hand: “Nothing could be better.” Then I led the way, running to catch up with the wedding procession.
