This was a big deal! The man, disregarding his own belongings, eagerly picked up the basket to help deliver the goods.
Seeing that the old woman didn't object, Zhu Changle didn't refuse either.
Naturally, given her personality, she wouldn't remain silent the whole way. As soon as they left the dock, she started chatting with the man in a very familiar manner.
"The Yunbei dialect is quite easy to understand. Do you understand the official language? Is it easy for you?"
"We can understand a bit," the man replied cautiously, adjusting the basket higher. In Yunbei, unfamiliar faces were rare, and the few outsiders who came usually left quickly. This was the first time he had seen someone who seemed to be planning to stay long-term, so he couldn't help but think a bit more about it.
"How many docks are there in the county town?"
"Just this one."
Zhu Changle was very surprised, "Isn't this place by the sea? How can there be only one dock?"
The man's eyes wandered, and he lowered his head without answering.
Zhu Changle glanced at him and nodded, "That's right, every place is different."
Seeing that she didn't press further, the man visibly relaxed.
"Let me ask you something else, brother. Why does everyone here use bamboo rafts? I haven't seen a single boat."
"We have a lot of bamboo here, we can afford it."
Well, that was another difficult question to answer. Seeing him stutter, Zhu Changle decided not to inquire about these matters anymore. However, it was impossible for her to say nothing at all.
Scratching her chin, Zhu Changle thought of another question, "Why does that old lady have to go out to sea at such an advanced age?"
"Uncle Liang can't move, so only Aunt Liang can go out."
"Doesn't she have any children?"
The man buried his head and walked forward without speaking again. Well, she had asked another difficult question.
Just as Zhu Changle was about to give up, he suddenly answered her question, "They're gone."
Gone... Zhu Changle fell silent. She realized she had been thoughtless. If there were any other option, why would they let an elderly woman go out to sea? Even if people helped her, even if others might do the heavy work for her, she still had to work at the dock as if she were a man.
Zhu Changle's mood visibly dampened, "It's a good thing I didn't ask the old lady directly."
The man was quite surprised by her words. He glanced at her quickly before lowering his head again. If he hadn't already seen her kind heart when she deliberately bought Aunt Liang's basket of crabs, he wouldn't have answered her questions.
Zhu Changle stopped talking, and even her footsteps didn't seem as light as before.
Qiuli, watching her drooping head, felt a bit like patting it. She was more suited to a cheerful and lively demeanor. He didn't care what Yunbei was like, but he was very curious about one thing: how did someone who grew up with Zhong Ningmei develop such a compassionate heart? If it was due to the influence of her father and brothers, they surely wouldn't have included Zhu Changle in their political discussions. Even if they did let her listen in, how could someone with such a restless nature sit still? And if they talked to her about ideals every day... they couldn't possibly have that much free time.
Yet he saw that this Zhu Changle indeed had the potential to become a great hero.
Could it be that Zhong Ningmei was actually a bodhisattva on the inside? Who would believe that if it were said out loud? He didn't even believe it himself.
"Fourth Young Miss," Xu Zheng came towards them, and upon seeing the Fourth Young Miss, he quickly came over to pay his respects.
"Where are you going? Has my big brother woken up?"
"The Young Master hasn't awakened yet. I'm out to purchase some items." He glanced at the people following behind the Fourth Young Miss. "You are...?"
"I bought a basket of crabs, quite a lot actually. Everyone will have some to eat later." To Zhu Changle, Zuo Qing and Xu Zheng, who had followed her big brother for many years, were like family. "Oh, by the way, help me buy some yellow wine. How can we eat crabs without wine?"
Xu Zheng smiled and agreed.
"Go on then, don't let me delay you."
"Yes."
This interruption helped Zhu Changle's mood recover, as evident from her bouncy footsteps.
"Later, have someone send a couple to my father. It's a pity we can't send him wine while he's at the government office..."
"Bang!"
Zhu Changle turned to see the basket fallen on the ground, its lid open, and a crab tentatively extending its large claw.
The man hurriedly pushed the claw back in and covered it with the lid. Hugging the basket, he knelt down in the middle of the street, "This lowly one, this lowly one didn't know, didn't know..."
Zhu Changle understood everything now. He had realized her identity.
"It's alright, it's alright. I don't eat people." Zhu Changle wanted to help him up, but Qiuli quickly grabbed her hand and shook his head at her.
Zhu Changle thought for a moment and understood. In the past, when she was out and about, people didn't know she was an official's daughter. She could talk to people and approach them without causing fear. For example, in the new village, the children there even dared to fight with her for food!
But now she was an official's daughter, and the common people's fear of officials was ingrained in their bones. They were afraid even when she got close to them.
Giving herself a few moments to adapt to the constraints of this identity, Zhu Changle said gently, "Please stand up. I really don't eat people, and I won't randomly demand your heads. The family members of officials don't have that kind of power."
The man dared not disobey. He stood up with his head lowered, his body bent, his waist sunken. Zhu Changle worried that if she raised her voice even slightly, this man might immediately kneel down again.
"Put the basket down and go back to your business."
The man did as he was told without a word, extremely obedient. He put the basket down and retreated a few steps before leaving quickly.
The county town was small, and news traveled fast. He had heard yesterday that the new county magistrate had arrived, but that had nothing to do with him, so he had only half-listened. How could he have imagined that these two unfamiliar faces were people from the government office, and even the daughter of the county magistrate? Strange, how come the county magistrate's daughter had also come to Yunbei? This had never happened before.
Zhu Changle was about to pick up the basket when Qiuli swatted her hand away. He inserted his fan into the bamboo ring and lifted it.
Zhu Changle looked at him, then at the fan, "If I'm not mistaken, that fan is quite valuable."
"So?"
"So Qiuli is a great person!"
Having received this flattery, Qiuli used his fan to carry the bamboo basket back to the rear courtyard and handed it over to the servants to deal with. Smelling the odor all over his body, he wrinkled his features in disgust.
"Fourth Young Miss, you're back." Lady Li hurried over to pay her respects, then curtsied slightly to Qiuli, "The Madam had the skilled embroiderers make you a set of clothes. They're placed in the room next to where you're staying in the guest house. They were made in the same style as what you're wearing now. If there's anything not to your liking, please let me know, and I'll have them altered."
For Qiuli, who hadn't brought any luggage and looked down on the ready-made clothing stores in this small place, this was a timely relief!
Qiuli cupped his hands, "Please convey my thanks to Madam Zhu."
Lady Li stepped aside, not accepting the gesture, "Just leave your changed clothes in the next room. We'll wash them and return them to you."
"Thank you for the trouble."
Lady Li curtsied again, then turned to the Fourth Young Miss, much more at ease, "The Old Madam says she hasn't seen you for half a day and misses you!"
"When I'm around, she dislikes me. When I'm gone, she says she misses me. Ah, the hearts of adults are always changing."
Zhu Changle shook her head and sighed dramatically, but her body was very honest. Without looking back, she waved to Qiuli and ran off.
