The dockside was lined with numerous carts and stalls set up as Fupu, far more than Yuan Niang had seen at the boarding dock earlier. The Fupu boasted large umbrellas standing five or six feet tall, with wooden signs hanging at arm’s height, bearing names like “Li Popo Douhua” and “Xin…”
Wei was momentarily stunned by this sight.
After a long pause, he finally regained his composure, lowering his gaze to avoid direct contact. “It’s good that the young lady is unharmed.”
He appeared youthful, refined and handsome, yet every gesture seemed measured with a ruler, and his tone of speech was mature. Yuan Niang had never encountered such a person before, finding it intriguing and couldn’t help but smile, curiously asking, “Are all scholars like you?”
Chen Yuanniang’s bluntness caught Wei off guard. Though he avoided looking directly, he couldn’t resist asking, “How can you tell I’m a scholar?”
Yuan Niang raised her slender eyebrows, her eyes sparkling with a bright, triumphant and radiant smile. “I just know, and it’s quite obvious!”
The rivers converged, and the water flow suddenly became turbulent, causing the boat to sway. The passengers were not greatly affected, but Yuan Niang, holding onto the window ledge with both hands and leaning halfway out, felt a slight loss of balance with any movement, startling her pale-faced and stumbling forward.
She let out a small gasp of surprise.
The young man next door also grew tense, forgetting about propriety and decorum. He raised his head, his gaze following her, brows tightly furrowed, and loudly cautioned, “Be careful!”
Fortunately, this was a large vessel capable of navigating vast rivers; a mere confluence of tributary currents couldn’t cause it to sway for long, and it soon stabilized again.
Yuan Niang was agile; the earlier turbulence only appeared dangerous but wouldn’t actually throw anyone out.
When the large boat steadied, she remained firmly standing by the window, panting slightly and patting her chest to calm herself before laughing again, her voice like the chirping of swallows and orioles, captivatingly sweet.
After amusing herself for a moment, she leaned out again, tilting her head to look at the young man whose face still showed a serious frown. “I’m fine.”
Yuan Niang rotated her hands and feet and turned sideways to prove it.
Wei’s expression seemed to relax slightly, yet his face remained stern and earnest, like an old-fashioned private tutor, meticulously advising, “The river winds are strong and prone to turbulence; it’s best to be cautious.”
“Mm-hmm!” Yuan Niang nodded repeatedly with curved eyes, smiling charmingly and cleverly. “Thank you for reminding me, but your way of speaking is quite interesting, different from anyone I’ve met.”
Wei had been mature and precocious since childhood, stern-faced like a teacher, even rarely smiling when interacting with his parents. His younger siblings feared him, and he seldom had relaxed moments with others. Only his cousin on this same boat, whom he hadn’t seen for years, could converse a bit with him.
Bianjing had an open atmosphere, where women could be seen walking streets and alleys as vendors, and noblewomen often attended gatherings and banquets, even winning polo matches, so privately they frequently observed noble gentlemen, discussing and comparing them.
Wei’s father held a high position, he himself was exceptionally talented in literature, his words and actions were well-founded, and his appearance was top-tier handsome and fair-skinned, naturally attracting much admiration. He often encountered chance encounters, dropped handkerchiefs, and given sachets…
But he always adhered strictly to propriety, never showing favor, even rarely glancing at maids in his household, let alone encountering a young girl as bold and lively as Yuan Niang.
Regarding interesting, regarding different, these words should have come from Wei.
But such remarks were impolite and unlikely to be uttered by Wei.
Seeing that Yuan Niang was safe and unharmed, he shifted his gaze away again, avoiding direct eye contact.
Although the young man did not respond, Yuan Niang was simply overjoyed to finally feel better and to discover that, despite still being on the boat, she was no longer seasick. She paid no mind to his lack of enthusiasm and casually chattered away, sharing her thoughts on traveling by boat and such, chirping like a little sparrow.
The young man remained courteous, avoiding direct eye contact, but he would occasionally reply, ensuring the young girl did not feel awkward.
As they talked, Yuan Niang suddenly slapped her forehead. “Oh, right! I haven’t even asked your name yet.”
The young man paused for a moment. They were merely passing acquaintances, and she was an innocent young lady still sheltered in her boudoir. Was it proper to exchange names? But then he reconsidered—his name was no secret. Countless classmates, friends, and even noble ladies in Bianjing knew it. Why be so narrow-minded and secretive?
Having made up his mind, he was about to speak. “Wei…”
But just as he uttered the first syllable, the lively and curious girl suddenly acted as if she had seen a ghost, swiftly closing the window with a whirlwind-like motion, leaving only a gentle breeze brushing against his face.
After a moment of stunned silence, he couldn’t help but chuckle.
What a vibrant young lady.
Her family must always be in high spirits and full of smiles when they’re with her.
As if reminded of something, he entered the inner chamber, beckoned a servant forward, and gave a few instructions.
Meanwhile, Yuan Niang’s situation was quite different from what the young man imagined.
She wore a bright smile on her face but listened guiltily as her grandmother spoke.
“Who were you talking to just now?” Granny Wang had appeared silently behind the door without making a sound.
Yuan Niang’s hands moved faster than her mind. Like a thief caught red-handed, she quickly shut the window and, with a stiff expression, managed to come up with an excuse. “No, it’s not like that. I woke up and realized I wasn’t feeling sick anymore, so I opened the window to see if we were still on the water. But the waves were so rough—just now, with a sudden jolt, I almost fell out!”
Chen Yuanniang was well-versed in the art of seizing the initiative and controlling the situation.
She turned the tables, actively moving closer to Granny Wang, linking arms with her and resting her head against her shoulder. In a sweet, coquettish tone, she said, “Grandma, I was so scared just now. How can traveling by boat be so frightening?”
Although Granny Wang was usually quick to scold, her granddaughter had just suffered a whole day of misery, so she didn’t push her away or reprimand her.
Instead, she gently patted Yuan Niang’s back, softening her rough and heavy voice to comfort her. “That’s just how it is when traveling by water. Be careful and stay alert, and don’t get too close to the window.”
Chen Yuanniang nodded obediently, her expression full of agreement.
When she acted this docile, even Granny Wang, who knew full well she was a clever little imp, couldn’t help but be occasionally swayed by her charms.
Who could easily stay cold-faced toward such a sweet, well-behaved, fair-skinned, and pretty young lady?
Only Granny Wang, with her iron will, could resist. Otherwise, she too would have been fooled like most people.
Granny Wang poured the hot water she had fetched into a basin for Yuan Niang to wash up, also wiping her still-cold hands.
Without a bronze mirror, Yuan Niang certainly couldn’t style her own hair properly. After yesterday’s ordeal, her hair had become a mess, so Granny Wang simply undid it all. Using a fine-toothed comb, she slowly combed Yuan Niang’s hair five hundred times until the tangled strands were completely smooth and silky as satin. Only then did she begin to properly style and tie it up.
Since Yuan Niang was still young, Granny Wang simply used two silk ribbons to tie her hair loosely on either side of her ears. All her hair was gathered up, with only the green silk ribbons hanging over her shoulders, adding a touch of gracefulness to her already charming appearance.
After washing up, Yuan Niang finally looked better.
But having truly suffered, Granny Wang insisted that Yuan Niang return to bed and continue lying down, even though Yuan Niang said she no longer felt unwell.
After much persuasion, Granny Wang glared, “A person’s vitality is limited. If you don’t rest properly for a few days, recuperate your energy while lying in bed, what are you running around for?”
Chen Yuanniang had no choice but to obey.
However, since Granny Wang stayed with her the whole time, she couldn’t approach the window and thus had no chance to ask clearly—what exactly was his name?
Vaguely, it seemed she heard “Wei”? Or was it “Wen”? Or “Wei”?
Propping her chin with one hand, she began to dwell on it.
It wasn’t until Madam Cen and Chen Kuo Cang returned with a pot of porridge and two small dishes of pickled vegetables that Yuan Niang, with her empty stomach, finally forgot about the matter as she ate.
Seeing Yuan Niang eat with such relish, Madam Cen smiled, the fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes lengthening. “Eat slowly.”
Granny Wang remarked casually, “This porridge is beautifully cooked—it must have been simmered over a gentle flame. The rice has bloomed, and the rice oil floating on top is most nourishing. After vomiting all night, drinking some rice oil will warm her stomach best.”
“Mother is right,” Madam Cen replied gently, agreeing. “That’s exactly what I thought.”
As they chatted, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law began discussing the kind neighbor. “Yuan Niang’s recovery is all thanks to the medicine sent by the noble neighbor. Although our family has nothing of great value, we must still express our gratitude. Among the things we brought, aren’t there preserved meat and some dried delicacies? Let’s cook some porridge and send it over. Being on a boat all day, one’s appetite is never quite settled.”
“Ah, yes, I’ll listen to you, Mother,” Madam Cen agreed.
Yuan Niang, who was drinking porridge, pricked up her ears to eavesdrop.
Huh?
The neighbor, the one who sent the medicine.
Could the young man she saw earlier by the window be the one who sent the medicine?
Chen Yuanniang paused, her hand holding the spoon, secretly regretting. If only she had known, she should have properly thanked him. She had truly suffered enough yesterday—if not for him, she would have endured several more days of torment.
But then, her eyes blinked as an idea surfaced. Her grandmother couldn’t possibly stay with her all the time. Once she found an opportunity, she would personally thank him.
Hmm… and also ask for his name clearly.
However, this wait lasted two days. During this time, Madam Cen went to deliver porridge once. The recipient was not arrogant—not only did he accept it, but he also graciously praised it highly. So much so that upon hearing his servant complaining in the kitchen about his master’s poor appetite, Madam Cen discussed with Granny Wang about cooking another batch.
Coincidentally, the boat docked. Since Yuan Niang had the anti-seasickness pills, which lasted a long time after taking one, Granny Wang decisively decided to continue the journey by boat. Thus, they only disembarked to purchase some supplies. Remembering the porridge, Granny Wang specifically bought some vegetables and fruits, even fresh bamboo shoots still covered in soil, which could be made into side dishes.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law spent most of the day busy in the kitchen, unseen. Finally, after the porridge was ready, Granny Wang went to deliver it, only to find the neighbor’s room empty.
Upon asking around, she learned that the young gentleman next door seemed to have urgent business and had disembarked first in a hurry, leaving only his servants to pack up the luggage. Granny Wang was initially disappointed but was stopped by one of the servants, who said his master had left instructions. Not only was there a bottle of anti-vomiting pills, but also a small box of toys, explaining that upon hearing there was a child in their family, he had left them as gifts.
In the end, the carefully cooked porridge, enriched with many fine ingredients, and the refreshing side dishes all ended up in the stomachs of Chen Yuanniang and Chen Kuo Cang.
As for the gifted box of items, on the surface, it was divided equally between the two, but in reality, it all went to Yuan Niang.
The box contained shadow puppets, exquisitely crafted with each character painted in vibrant colors. They seemed intended for the children or young ladies of wealthy households, and the figures appeared to be part of a complete set, likely depicting a full story. Unfortunately, Yuan Niang couldn’t quite discern it clearly.
She had never played with shadow puppets before. In the countryside, she had only competed in grass-weaving contests with her girlfriends.
Seeing that Granny Wang and Madam Cen didn’t find it unusual, she felt reassured and kept it to study how to play with them.
Granny Wang truly had discerning eyes. With just a glance, she remarked, “This craftsmanship likely comes from the south. Northern artisans lack such refinement.”
This comment from Granny Wang puzzled Yuan Niang for a long time. How did her grandma possess such insight? But whenever she asked, she only received a dismissive glare from Granny Wang, who impatiently told her not to ask so many questions as a child.
Granny Wang often used this excuse to brush off Yuan Niang’s inquiries, but Yuan Niang had no way around it. She could only divert her attention and focus on playing with the shadow puppets to relieve her boredom.
As she played, the boat docked several times along the way. After drifting for over a month, Yuan Niang grew weary from the lack of fresh fruits and vegetables. Suddenly, Grandma informed her that the boat was nearing Bianjing and urged her to pack and prepare early.
The journey’s turbulence had dulled Yuan Niang’s initial fervor for Bianjing.
After all, many aspects differed from her imagination. For instance, she never expected that riding ox carts and boats for extended periods could become a hardship.
But when she followed Grandma off the boat’s deck, she realized she had been mistaken.
Unlike the quietness onboard, stepping out of the cabin brought an incessant chorus of hawking and vendor calls. As her vision cleared, from near to far, she first saw laborers unloading goods and luggage from the large ships ahead.
Further ahead were officials’ families boarding or sending off travelers, riding in dignified warm sedan chairs. Beside each sedan window stood seven or eight servants, followed by plain blue cloth sedan chairs, likely for secondary masters or esteemed elderly women.
Yet these people seemed insignificant in the vast dock, occupying only a small corner when viewed from afar.
Beside the dock, numerous carts and stalls set up floating shops—Fupu—far exceeding what Yuan Niang had seen at the departure dock. These floating shops erected large umbrellas about five or six feet high and hung wooden signs as tall as an arm, bearing names like “Li Popo Douhua,” “Xin Niangzi Lei Cha,” and “Sun Lao Han Shu Shui.”
Some even hung a row of palm-sized wooden plaques along the umbrella edges, listing prices for their goods: “dou tuan—one coin each,” “xuan zhi zhu pi rou—fifteen coins per piece,” “sha tang lü dou gan cao bing xue liang shui—ten coins per bowl,” all clearly marked.
Chen Yuanniang recognized few written words, but merely seeing the unprecedented foods sold at these floating stalls—things she had never seen or heard of—sufficed to convey the scene’s prosperity.
Nearby rooftops even displayed nearly human-height signs like “Jiu Zhu Wang Yuanwai Jia,” towering, large, and conspicuous, allowing disembarking passengers to spot them instantly. Such signs indicated lodgings for long-term stays owned by wealthy individuals, like a Mr. Wang.
Similar signs were countless.
On the bustling dock, besides laborers, boatmen, and travelers, many people carrying baskets shuttled back and forth.
There were men and women, old and young.
There were even little girls around the same age as Yuan Niang, about eleven or twelve years old, with their hair tied in double buns, carrying baskets of flowers and asking people if they wanted to buy them. There were also women in their thirties, their hair styled in wrapped buns tied with pearl-colored cloth, hawking steamed buns.
But it must be said, although they were likely at the very bottom of society, their hair was carefully combed, and their clothes were neat and proper—trousers, skirts, and even beizi, all complete. Unlike the women in the countryside, who, due to poverty, couldn’t afford to buy cloth. Many simply wore loose, oversized long trousers and plain, coarse long shirts, just enough to cover their bodies and allow them to work comfortably.
In comparison, Chen Yuanniang and her companions looked rather shabby.
They were like wild mountain folk entering the city for the first time.
However, they were accompanied by burly, intimidating-looking biaoshi. Zheng Biaotou was extremely respectful toward Granny Wang, and sharp-eyed merchants could tell there was something unusual about them. Even without them beckoning, a middle-aged man wearing a blue-gray cloth towel on his head and dressed in a long brown half-sleeved robe approached.
His attire was much more respectable than that of ordinary peddlers or laborers—more like a shopkeeper or manager.
As soon as he drew near, Zheng Biaotou raised a hand to stop him. The man immediately bowed, hunched over, and smiled ingratiatingly, “Is this your first time in Bianjing?”