novelaction Chapter 192 Suzhou
Chapter 192 Suzhou
of course it's true.
Suzhou was bustling with people. Qin Jiu got off the carriage as soon as they entered the city, saying he would take Bu Zhi to buy candied hawthorns and that they should find a place to stay first.
Duan Mingzhu chose Qingchuan Inn, which was said to be the largest inn in Sugu City. Qingchuan Inn was located by Lianxiang Lake, with small courtyards built along the lake. The environment was elegant, and the lake view was visible from the windows. The only drawback was that it was expensive. Each courtyard had five rooms and cost fifty taels of silver.
Liang Qingcheng sighed, "Little Suzhou is more expensive than Bianjing."
The innkeeper smiled broadly and cheerfully: "Madam, Suzhou is quite large. In Nanyue, besides Qinzhou, Suzhou is second to none. You can go out the back gate for a stroll along the lake, and there are also free boat rides and free performances. If you had come any later, there wouldn't have been any courtyards left, and you would have had to stay in the front building. By the way, who will be paying?"
Nianyao was naturally heartless; the shopkeeper took the money and left.
Duan Mingzhu said she was tired from the car ride and suggested that they take a walk along the lake and then have dinner when they got back.
Liang Qingcheng said, "But Qin Jiu, he..."
Nianyao said, "Let's go, let's go together. Why do you care about him? How could he get lost?"
Nianyao pulled Liang Qingcheng along and led the way, while Duan Mingzhu supported Xue Yunting as they followed behind. A lake of clear water rippled, dotted with several painted boats, and a few swans grazed leisurely on its surface.
Nianyao said, "This place is nice, no less than Chongming Island."
Liang Qingcheng said, "The gang leader has deep feelings for Chongming Island, and he doesn't forget it even now."
Nianyao replied naturally, "Of course, Chongming Island is my home. As the saying goes, a child doesn't despise its mother for being ugly, and a dog doesn't despise its home for being poor..."
Liang Qingcheng glanced at Nianyao. Nianyao quickly tried to salvage the situation: "No, Chongming Island isn't poor, it's just not this lively... My mother is a fairy descended to earth, and my father says she's very beautiful..."
Behind her, Duan Mingzhu said, "Of course, just look at Sister and Yunting, and you'll know that Aunt must be extremely beautiful."
Nianyao readily agreed, "Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder..."
Wait, something's not right! Nianyao thought to herself: Damn it, it seems I still can't pretend to be a cultured person.
Duan Mingzhu said, "Even in the eyes of her enemies, someone like my aunt would definitely be considered Xi Shi (a legendary beauty)."
Liang Qingcheng said, "The young mistress is so intelligent, no wonder the young general is so attentive to her and obedient to her."
Duan Mingzhu said, "Ninth Brother is so proud. He has lived in seclusion for the Princess all these years, avoiding women. Now, in order to be worthy of the Princess, he has returned to his homeland to acknowledge his ancestors. The Princess is truly charming."
Xue Yunting watched quietly as the two flattered each other. Nianyao was very proud of herself: Duan Mingzhu and she were on the same page!
Just then, a pleasure boat sailed towards them, and a man wearing a straw hat sat on the bow. The hat was pulled low, obscuring most of his face.
Without a second thought, Nianyao stood on the outermost side, her hand outstretched, blocking Duan Mingzhu and Xue Yunting.
The painted boat stopped at the side of the river, and a beautiful young woman stepped out and called out to Nianyao, "Brother."
Nianyao was surprised, but teased, "Although we say all men are brothers, this young hero has no shortage of brothers, but he does lack a wife. I see that your hands are as soft as tender shoots, your skin as smooth as jade, and your neck as... as... as..."
I know the Book of Songs very well, but I couldn't remember it when it really mattered. It's true what they say, you can't put your fists down and your books out of your sight.
The girl replied, "Her neck is like that of a cicada, her teeth like those of a melon seed, her forehead is broad and her eyebrows are arched, her smile is charming, and her eyes are bright and beautiful."
Nianyao nudged Liang Qingcheng with her elbow: "The girls from Suzhou are beautiful, rich, and well-read in poetry. They are no less beautiful than the girls from Bianjing."
Liang Qingcheng could only say, "The leader is right."
The man sitting at the bow of the boat finally stood up, took off his straw hat, and said with a smile, "Sister, we are from Qinzhou. I am Su Wuming."
Sister? Su Wuming? Qinzhou?
Nianyao turned to look at Xue Yunting. Xue Yunting nodded, seemingly knowing what she was thinking: "Sister is clever; she was calling for me."
"Smart my foot!" Nianyao laughed, "Indeed, 'Don't worry about having no friends on the road ahead, for who in the world doesn't know you?' What a coincidence to run into Lord Su here."
Su Wuming showed no respect whatsoever, helping the girl up: "Unfortunately, we arrived yesterday and were waiting here for you, sister. The courtyard where you stayed is the one we stayed in yesterday."
As the group walked back, Nianyao suddenly realized something was wrong: "Wasn't it supposed to be fifty taels per courtyard? You paid fifty taels, and the shopkeeper charged me another fifty taels?"
Su Wuming said, "We told the manager this morning that we weren't staying there, so this courtyard is available for you."
Nianyao asked, "Where are you staying?"
Su Wuming said, "Of course I'll live with my sister. There are five rooms in that courtyard. Yunting and his wife will have one room, Ninth Brother and Ninth Sister-in-law and their child will have one room, you will have one room, and we'll live in the remaining two rooms."
Was it all arranged so clearly? Wasn't it obviously a scam to rip her off? Nianyao decided not to be a sucker: "You split it twenty-five taels."
Su Wuming said, "Okay, put it on Ninth Brother's tab."
Liang Qingcheng blurted out, "Why put it on his tab?"
Su Wuming said, "Qingchuan Inn is run by Ninth Brother. If we don't charge him, who should we charge? My bill from yesterday was also charged to him."
Liang Qingcheng fell silent instantly. Nian Yao gritted her teeth. The girl's gaze hadn't left Duan Mingzhu the entire way.
Xue Yunting led Duan Mingzhu to the door of the room: "You rest first, I need to discuss something with them, I'll be right back."
Duan Mingzhu said, "Aren't we going to have dinner together?"
Xue Yunting said, "You can't stand the smell of meat, and your eating habits are different from ours, so there's no need to force yourself."
The girl then said, "You really are something, always so considerate to girls since you were little."
Duan Mingzhu smiled and said, "Yun Yao, right? Yun Ting always talks about you. He dotes on you. If it weren't for you, Yun Ting would probably be a rough man too."
The girl said, "I..."
Xue Yunting suddenly said, "You should rest first."
Duan Mingzhu's heart skipped a beat, and before she could think further, Xue Yunting led her to the room. Xue Yunting closed the door behind him and was about to help her to the bed.
Duan Mingzhu suddenly lost her temper: "I don't want to rest."
Xue Yunting said, "Then you can read and write in your room. I have something to discuss with Wuming and will be back soon."
Duan Mingzhu said arrogantly, "I don't want to read or write."
Xue Yunting released his grip, frowning slightly, his eyes clearly reflecting the unreasonable Duan Mingzhu. Duan Mingzhu slightly averted her gaze and pursed her lips.
A child's voice rang out from the courtyard: "I bought a lot of candied hawthorns, there are many flavors, and Dad said everyone will get some."
Xue Yunting said, "Would you like some candied hawthorns? I'll get you two skewers."
Duan Mingzhu nodded, and Xue Yunting came out to get the candied hawthorns. Seeing that Xue Yunting was taking two skewers, she said, "Uncle, Dad said I can only eat one skewer a day, otherwise my teeth will rot."
Xue Yunting took another string of skewers: "One for me, one for Auntie. Auntie has a baby in her belly, so she wants one too."
When Xue Yunting brought in the candied hawthorns, Duan Mingzhu was already asleep in bed, lying on her side facing inwards.
Xue Yunting looked at it for a while, then gently stuck the candied hawthorn into the cabinet, turned around and left.