It was early sumr, and the midday sun was already sowhat scorching.
Gu Chengyu stood at the bow of the boat, watching the rippling waves rise with the wind, accompanied by shimring golden light, they leaped and ran across the river surface.
A sense of joy grew in Gu Chengyu’s heart, and his face was filled with a cheerful smile.
In at most two days, they would arrive at Jingyuan Prefecture.
Even the blazing sun at noon couldn’t affect Gu Chengyu’s good mood.
It’s been more than ten days since boarding the ship, and Gu Chengyu indeed felt sowhat bored staying onboard.
However, the journey was always dull, so Gu Chengyu would find things to do to pass the ti.
Sotis, after staying in the cabin for too long, he would co out to the deck for so fresh air.
At this ti, the boat was not in the center of the river, not too far from the banks along the way. Gu Chengyu could still see fishing boats leaving the shore, heading towards the wide river.
There was so wind today, the small boats swayed in the waves, but the fishern steering them were not exerting much effort, as they were going with the wind and water.
Gu Chengyu was attracted by the fishern’s movents and saw them throw fishing gear like nets into the river.
Gu Chengyu looked at the spot where the nets were thrown, wondering how many fish they might catch.
"Jinyu! You ca out without calling !"
Upon hearing this voice, Gu Chengyu wanted to hold his forehead, turning to look back, who else could it be but Zhu Pang?
Unexpectedly, Zhu Pang actually managed to convince Mr. Zhu and his wife to accompany him back ho.
According to Zhu Pang, Mr. Zhu’s idea was that traveling a thousand miles was more valuable than reading a thousand books. With him around, Zhu Pang would definitely not misbehave outside.
Before the wedding day, he had to bring Zhu Pang back in one piece.
Gu Chengyu actually didn’t want to bring Zhu Pang back ho, this guy was quite adept at causing trouble.
Out of the Capital, away from his parents’ watchful eyes, wouldn’t he cause chaos?
Sighing helplessly, "Weren’t you complaining about the heat outside? Why would I call you?"
Zhu Pang exited the cabin, stood beside Gu Chengyu, and felt the breeze without feeling hot.
Looking at the broad river and the fishing boats, a sense of heroism arose within him.
"Ah! The river is truly beautiful..."
Zhu Pang smacked his lips, originally wanting to compose a poem to praise the beautiful and serene scenery.
Unexpectedly, when he opened his mouth, he found himself at a loss for words, and could only utter such a dry sentence.
He couldn’t help but lant, you truly regret not reading enough when it’s ti to use learned phrases!
At that mont, he suddenly felt that his father’s words had so truth to them.
Gu Chengyu didn’t mock him, as it was well-known that Zhu Pang wasn’t fond of reading, although this scene indeed called for a poem to complent it.
"Pfft!"
Zhu Pang suddenly heard a faint laughter beside him, feeling sowhat embarrassed and angry.
He imdiately looked to the side and saw a small, thin scholar.
The scholar wore a tea-green Daoist robe made of fine cotton cloth, half-new and half-old. With a crown already on his head, Gu Chengyu appraised his appearance to be about twenty years old.
Although his appearance was ordinary, it bore a scholarly flair that added so charm to him.
Instantly, Zhu Pang felt sowhat discontented, was he being laughed at?
He quickly looked at Gu Chengyu, hoping he would rattle off seventy or eighty poems, letting the scholar feast his eyes.
Gu Chengyu glared warningly at him to behave.
The person just chuckled, without naming nas, nor saying anything sarcastic, would they assu it was for them?
If their identity was revealed in the end, wouldn’t it appear as bullying with power?
Moreover, when traveling, it was unwise to turn hostile over a disagreent or inappropriate action.
Yet the scholar indeed had a hint of mockery, Zhu Pang rely expressed a sentint casually and did not deserve mockery.
Therefore, Gu Chengyu’s expression was sowhat displeased too. However, ultimately, he didn’t go forward to argue, as it was unnecessary.
The scholar noticed the two’s unfriendly looks towards him and suddenly felt he was quite impolite.
His face showed an embarrassed look, wanting to say sothing but unable to open his mouth.
Seeing this, Gu Chengyu’s expression softened. The person was able to realize his mistake, though he didn’t apologize, it was evident he wasn’t inherently bad.
Of course, such a person he didn’t want to associate with either. He probably had a sowhat willful character, without much guile, but would offend people.
Soon enough, a fisherman on another side was preparing to retrieve his net, and Gu Chengyu beca a bit interested.
He wondered if there might be so fresh and delicious fish in the net, if he could buy a couple, it would be a nice change for the food onboard.
Zhu Pang’s mother, Mrs. Tian, although unable to persuade their esteed husband from taking their son to Jingyuan Prefecture, was ultimately uneasy.
Therefore, Zhu Pang was thoroughly prepared for this trip, even bringing a cook and a maid each.
Gu Chengyu always traveled light, even when taking a boat, he didn’t carry much luggage.
He kept important belongings in a space, while outside were just everyday items, which were mostly not valuable.
A mother worries when her son travels a thousand miles, although Zhu Pang arrived with big and small packages causing Gu Chengyu to marvel, yet he didn’t complain.
This was a mother’s intention for her son about to travel far.
His mother would also pack for him before he left ho.
From food to necessities, even though previous poverty limited her imagination, certainly not as thorough as Mrs. Tian prepared for Zhu Pang.
Yet even simple ho-baked buns, his mother insisted he carried dozens for eating on the road.
"Hey? Jinyu, look! There are fish in the net, lots of fish."
Zhu Pang’s attention was imdiately captivated by the fishern retrieving their nets, this was all novelty to him.
Gu Chengyu followed up with his gaze, indeed feeling thrilled by the haul, with all sizes of fish jumping in the net, the fisherman struggling by himself.
Fortunately, it was already pulled onto the boat, and Gu Chengyu’s sharp eyes noticed there were bass in it.
Looking from here, it indeed appeared to be bass.
Actually, Jingyuan River originally had bass, the fish were tender and delicious, with few bones, whether stead or braised, all very tasty.
"Xiaotou, today’s catch isn’t small!"
At this ti, fishern on another boat saw the haul in the net, feeling envious.
"Uncle, I’ve been here for more than two hours, and only caught this netful."
Xiaotou grinned at the speaking fisherman, his face was clearly filled with joy.
Gu Chengyu cast a glance at the person called Xiaotou. Like most fishern, he had tanned skin, but still appeared to be a small teenager.
Zhu Pang was quite excited, "Jinyu! Look at how peaceful and smooth their life is, netting so many within a day, their life should be pretty abundant."
Upon hearing this, Gu Chengyu shook his head. Zhu Pang hadn’t traveled far before, and the Zhu family was from an official background, naturally unaware of the hardships of the common folk.
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