Chapter 6 Encountering Passerby B on the Bridge

Zhang's home is not far from the market. In the past, Zhang Qingtong would stride with vigor, reaching the destination in the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, without even breaking a sweat. However, the current Zhang Qingtian has developed a habit of taking small, delicate steps, swaying side to side, stopping every five steps and resting every ten. At times, she complains about the mosquitoes buzzing around, and at other times, she laments about the dew soaking her shoes. After nearly half an hour, they have yet to cover half a mile. Zhang Jinbao does not dare to say much, merely leading the way with a forced smile.

Ah! The person opposite also exclaimed in surprise, their figure wavering.

This gentleman, it is not my intention to make things difficult for you, but as you can see, the bridge is narrow and the water is swift. If I were to retreat and then come back, the hardships and troubles in between would be hard to describe

"What is wrong with me?" Zhang Qingteng stood proudly, fanning himself with his sleeve in the gentle breeze, "Anyway, I am going to cross the bridge, whether you allow it or not is up to you!"

Zhang Qingteng is not entirely unreasonable; he intends to make things easier. However, upon turning back and seeing the small wooden bridge that he had managed to cross with difficulty, he feels a sense of trepidation.

You! That young man was both angry and annoyed, regretting his words. When he spoke, he was quite impolite, saying, "With such a sharp tongue, marrying into any family would likely make her a troublemaker!"

The young man, in a state of desperation, bowed deeply to her and said, "Miss, I am truly in a dire situation! If there is any delay, it may lead to a loss of life! I hope you can do me a favor and let me pass first"

Zhang Qingteng pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly to Zhang Jinbao, "It's you, come with me!" Taking a strong young man along does provide a sense of security after all

"You, don't come over here again!" The young man furrowed his brows, resolutely standing his ground, "I will not yield any further!"

The young man suddenly jumped back a large step, narrowly avoiding falling off the bridge

Zhang Jinbao shouted from behind, "Sister, don't back down! We were the first to step onto the bridge; if anyone is to yield, it should be him who yields!"

Zhang Qingtian leaned in slightly, raising an eyebrow, with a smile that was not quite a smile, and lightly uttered two words through clenched teeth, "impropriety"

Zhang Jinbao felt immensely radiant and eagerly led the way ahead.

"Why are you being unreasonable?" The young man, in a moment of frustration, stamped his foot, causing the wooden bridge to tremble again, which frightened Zhang Qingtian, turning her face pale. Once she steadied herself, her anger surged up immediately.

Miss Zhang responded with action, indicating her disagreement

It is now Zhang Qingtian's turn to feel depressed. Which woman does not pay attention to her appearance? With this attire, even she cannot bear to look at herself.

Oh no! Zhang Qingtian exclaimed, stumbling and nearly falling into the river

You let me go first

The young man, infuriated to the point of internal injury, ultimately realized he could not win against her and turned around to retreat.

In the midst of the chaos, the two individuals grasped each other, swaying left and right, and after a few moments of rocking, they finally managed to stand still.

"Feigning modesty! Dong Shi imitating the frown!" The young man scolded angrily, suddenly noticing her attire. He deliberately covered his nose with his sleeve, "With this greasy, dirty, foul-smelling, and messy appearance, I really don't know which family's daughter you are. How embarrassing! It's a wonder you have the nerve!"

Zhang Jinbao finally put his heart, which had risen to his throat, back into his stomach at this end of the bridge, "Hey! That person, quickly step back and let my elder sister come over!"

Cross the bridge

Oh! Look at how poorly he is dressed, yet he still speaks in an official tone. What gives him the right to make me go back? Zhang Qingtian is certainly not a selfless gentleman; she is simply a genuine young lady.

This remark precisely strikes at the heart of the young people's concerns, and he became anxious at once, saying, "You, young lady, speak in such an impolite manner! I am upright and honorable; how could I engage in such despicable acts?"

Although young and fearless, during the summer flood season, the river water rises high and flows rapidly; falling in is no trivial matter. Moreover, early in the morning, the dew on the bridge had not yet dried, making it somewhat slippery. He exercised extra caution and slowly made his way across.

Is that so

The young man scoffed, feeling that he had regained some ground. With his hands behind his back, he strolled with measured steps, equally holding his head high as he walked away.

I apologize, esteemed sir, but I also have urgent matters to attend to. I kindly ask for your understanding and request permission to proceed first.

If we speak reasonably, matters have their priorities and urgencies. Why can't a young lady assist in fulfilling others' wishes, acting with a sense of justice and urgency

The waning moon has not yet faded, and the starlight still lingers

Sister, it's all right! Come over here.

At that moment, both of them were frozen there

Why are we being unreasonable? Clearly, I was the first to get on the bridge. Look at you, like an educated person, yet you seem to have no understanding of the rules and etiquette of precedence

Zhang Jinbao found it somewhat difficult to understand why the usually bold and straightforward elder sister was acting so shy today. It was truly amusing, yet he was afraid she might notice. So, he simply squatted down to pull some grass leaves and weave a grasshopper, choosing to ignore the situation.

That person ignored him but bowed to Zhang Qingtian, saying, "Miss, I have urgent matters to attend to. May I ask you to step aside for a moment, allowing me to pass first?"

What a distressing night this has been

Zhang Jinbao wiped the cold sweat that had not yet appeared on his forehead, thinking to himself, finally arrived. After crossing this ditch, the market is right ahead. Accompanying my elder sister on this trip is more exhausting than running back and forth twice myself

You say you are in a hurry, so should I blindly believe you without discerning right from wrong? Look at you sneaking around early in the morning, your actions are suspicious, what kind of scheme are you up to?

Zhang Qingtian was in high spirits, completely forgetting the fear he had felt earlier. He was not in a hurry, and instead walked over with a leisurely gait, lifting his chin with a swagger.

As she advanced slowly with small steps, the young man, unable to maintain his composure, retreated step by step, saying, "What... what are you doing?"

Zhang Qingting inhaled sharply, good, good, good! If she concedes on this road today, she will no longer be called Zhang Qingting

For a moment, he was not paying attention, but he saw someone rushing headlong onto the bridge. By the time he noticed, it was no longer necessary for him to remind anyone, as the two people on the bridge collided head-on.

The Erdaozigou is a tributary of the Moon River, the mother river of Beian, and a small distributary of the Lotus River. While the Lotus River nurtures the lush vegetation of their Zhalan Fortress, Erdaozigou serves as an important water source for several nearby villages and is also a necessary route to the market

Sister, is it time to start working? The whole family is inexplicably excited. With pigs to be slaughtered, there will be money to earn; with money to earn, there will be food to eat. If we can earn a bit more, we can renovate the house and finally sleep indoors.

I! I! The number of people signing up for recruitment is enthusiastic and active

Zhang Qingtian harbored suspicions in his heart; it is quite possible that he is indeed a scholar.

At the break of dawn, I finally arrived beside Erdaozi Gorge

As one gets closer, one can see that the young person has a slightly fair complexion, and there is a subtle scholarly aura about their features, which is quite different from the style of most people in Beian.

Zhang Qingteng slept on the only bed made from a dismantled door plank in the family, enduring a night of arduous struggle against the hard bed board and the incessant harassment of mosquitoes, almost keeping his eyes wide open until dawn

Which of you will accompany me to the market? If it weren't for her lack of direction, she would never want to see this group of impoverished relatives who only consume and do not contribute again.

After Zhang Xiaodie called for clean water and simply washed her face, Zhang Qingtian, unable to contain his impatience, was about to head out with a sharp knife in hand.

At the narrowest point of this ditch, three thick logs were locked together side by side to create a simple small bridge. Although the bridge is not long, it is unobstructed on both sides, allowing only one person to pass. If one were to ride a horse or drive a carriage, they would have to detour an additional 2 miles to take the main road

You ... ... you ... ...

Zhang Jinbao took the lead and went onto the bridge, "Sister, I will go first. Be careful later."

Zhang Qingteng looked down and exclaimed, oh my, the river water was swaying so much that it made her dizzy. Feeling too embarrassed to ask Zhang Jinbao for help, she could only take small, cautious steps, trembling as she carefully made her way onto the bridge, inching forward bit by bit

Oh! There is indeed a flaw in this statement. Zhang Qingteng would certainly not let it go, sneering twice, "If it is indeed aboveboard, then why is it entangled with such sordid matters? It is likely that there is something to hide, which is why there is such urgency, unable to wait for the light of day."