Chapter One, embarking on a boat to gaze at the maple forest in the evening

Suddenly, a horse approached, and an old man, around fifty years old, reached out from the car window to receive a very small package. He turned the horse around and came to Chu Huan's side, surprisingly handing over the package while still mounted on the horse

First, a young maid dressed as a servant emerged from the carriage, followed by a beautiful woman who appeared to be around twenty-three or twenty-four years old. She was elegantly dressed, with a soft and plump figure, wearing a purple cotton jacket with a fox fur collar and a blue Xiangshui skirt. She had minimal jewelry, her hair was as black as a crow, her eyes resembled autumn waters, her lips were like a touch of rouge, and her almond-shaped eyes and delicate nose made her look like a pure lotus gently rising from the water, exuding innocence and beauty that evoked affection

He is merely around twenty-two or twenty-three years old, and his appearance cannot be described as handsome. However, his face has distinct angles, exuding a sense of determination. His skin appears somewhat dark and has become a bit rough. From his face, one can discern a sense of weariness that seems inconsistent with his age.

At this moment, Chu Huan was lying on a pile of dry grass by the edge of the maple forest, with his arms crossed behind his head. His pair of spirited eyes was gazing at the setting sun, and a blade of grass was held at the corner of his mouth. His expression was calm. Beside his head lay a gray package, bulging and appearing quite heavy.

The maple trees form a forest, and from a distance, they resemble a rippling sea of red. When the wind rises, the red waves roll; when the wind ceases, they are serene and gentle, and the space between heaven and earth suddenly appears unusually quiet and graceful

However, speaking of which, he was indeed a bit hungry. He picked up the package and opened it, only to find a few pieces of bread and several glutinous rice balls inside. A fragrant aroma wafted out, and the presentation was quite beautiful, making it very appetizing

Chu Huan held a blade of grass in his mouth, the fragrance of the grass still lingering in his nostrils. He merely gazed at the sunset glow, not even casting a glance at the passersby who occasionally walked by him.

The splendid carriage came to a stop at the dock, and among the riders accompanying it was a man dressed in luxurious attire. The man appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, wearing a cotton padded robe with a blue background and bamboo patterns, and a colorful silk belt from which hung a piece of jade, green and translucent. He wore a blue leather hat, and while his appearance could not be described as handsome, he was not unattractive either

Linlang gracefully bowed and said: "Thank you, Linlang. It is getting late, Brother Lu, you should return early, I dare not delay any longer"

Feeling the carriage pass by, Chu Huan opened his eyes, only to see the luxurious carriage suddenly come to a halt beside him. He squinted to look over and noticed that it was quite an ornate carriage, accompanied by four or five attendants riding tall horses. He could faintly see that the curtains of the carriage were lifted, and although he caught a glimpse of a snow-white face peering out from behind the curtain, he could not clearly discern the appearance of the person inside the carriage. However, Chu Huan was certain that it was a woman.

Lu Shixiong watched as Linlang and a few others boarded the ship, and then he stroked his chin and sighed: "This woman is truly unapproachable. During her time in Taiyuan, I don't know how much effort I expended, yet I couldn't even touch her hand once... If I could just spend one night with her, it would be worth dying for"

Passersby occasionally walk by, all in a hurry, rarely casting a glance in his direction. Even if someone does take a look, they will immediately cover their nose and walk away quickly with a look of disgust.

The old man had a kind and gentle appearance, looking like a benevolent person. He smiled and said, "It is not easy out there; here are some provisions and snacks to fill your stomach!" He tossed the bundle beside Chu Huan and turned the horse's head to leave. At that moment, the carriage had already moved forward again, advancing towards the maple forest ahead, surrounded by several riders.

Linlang did not speak this time; with the assistance of the maid, she directly walked towards the passenger ship. The old man who had previously given the package to Chu Huan had already dismounted and smiled at Brother Lu, saying: "Young Master Shao, we part ways here, take care!"

Chu Huan sighed, nimbly turning over to stand up and stretch his body. Although he found it somewhat amusing that the other party regarded him as a beggar, it was evident that the person in the carriage was not entirely heartless. Having lain here for most of the day, he had seen dozens of travelers pass by, all of whom, without exception, quickened their pace to leave this place. Yet, on this occasion, someone had actually offered him food.

Hearing the sound of the cart wheels rolling by his ear again, Chu Huan knew that a cart was approaching on the road, and there were quite a few hoofbeats mixed in. However, he closed his eyes and chose to ignore it

Before he could finish speaking, the woman had already said: "I have understood your intentions, dear brother. This time I have already troubled you for many days in Taiyuan, and I feel very ashamed in my heart. Today, you have come to see me off again, and I am truly grateful. I dare not trouble you any further!"

The city of Taiyuan is merely fifty li away from here. Some travelers prefer to travel north by water and will hire a horse-drawn carriage in the city to take them to Fenglin Ferry, from where they can board a boat to continue their journey northward

Chu Huan's face was filled with astonishment, and she opened her mouth, then began to examine herself. Her clothes were tattered and covered in a layer of mud, and she was barefoot, with her straw sandals discarded to the side. Her skin was also caked with dirt, and at first glance, she bore no difference from a wandering beggar.

Adorned with a conical hat and a black veil obscuring her face, her expression remained unclear. Her voice was gentle yet composed: "Rituals must not be neglected. However, regarding the matters we have negotiated between our two families, I kindly ask for your further consideration, Brother Lu"

He could not help but chuckle in silence. During this period, he had been so busy traveling that he had not paid attention to his own appearance. No wonder the other party left behind a package; it seems that the people in the carriage saw his appearance and mistakenly thought he was a homeless beggar, which evoked their compassion, leading them to leave behind some food.

After the carriage came to a stop, the man immediately urged the horse to the side of the carriage window, displaying a refined demeanor, with a gentle smile on his face, and said: "Sister, we have arrived at the ferry, you may disembark!" He skillfully dismounted and courteously stepped forward to lift the curtain of the carriage.

... ...

Another attendant's eyes also glimmered with a lewd light as he said, "Young Master, I have followed you for so many years and have seen many beautiful girls, but compared to Su Linlang, those women are nothing. Just look at her waist, her hips... Oh, and her chest, tsk tsk... Truly, she is so tender and alluring to the core!" At this point, it seemed that this fellow was about to drool.

The man felt a mix of embarrassment and anger, a fleeting cold smile crossing his lips. He quickly jumped down from the carriage and instructed several attendants, "Make sure to help transport the items onto the ship. No matter how much silver it takes, ensure that a private cabin is arranged on board!" He then turned to the woman with a smile and said, "Sister, please be extra cautious on this journey. I had intended to escort you all the way back to Yunshan Prefecture, but..."

Lu Shixiong raised the whip in his hand and struck at the man, who exclaimed, "Ouch!" Lu Shixiong had already scolded in a low voice: "Keep your mouth clean. Those women in the past were merely my playthings, I never took them to heart, you could say whatever you wanted. But this time it’s different. This time I am serious, no matter how much effort it takes, I will get Su Linlang!"

Brother Lu clasped his fists and said, "Sister Shi, may you have a smooth journey. Once everything is prepared on this side, I will personally deliver the goods, and then we will be able to meet again!"

The woman stepped out of the carriage and immediately placed a black lace hat on her head, completely obscuring her delicate features. She extended a hand as fair as frost and snow, causing the man who had lifted the curtain of the carriage to swallow hard. He hurriedly reached out a hand, seemingly wanting to assist the woman in disembarking, but she retracted her hand slightly, her voice as melodious as a yellow warbler yet carrying a hint of coldness: "I cannot trouble you, Brother Lu..." Fortunately, the maid who had disembarked first was quite clever; she extended her hand, and only then did the woman hold onto the maid's arm to step down from the carriage

"I still do not know this point," Lu Shixiong said with a cold smile. "But in the end, isn't she just a widow? I do not believe she will live her whole life without a man. This time she came to Taiyuan, it is because she has a request from the Lu family. With this in hand, I will eventually climb into her bed!" He turned to mount his horse and said in a deep voice, "Everyone leave!"

Surrounded by the maple forest, listening to the breath and whispers of the trees in the autumn wind, it feels as if one is in a paradise beyond the world

He saw through the man's facade, and the old man, with a hint of melancholy deep in his eyes, said little more and turned to follow him

The man immediately waved his hand and said: "Sister Shi, saying this is truly being distant. Our two families have been friends for generations, and my father and your father have also been close friends. In my heart, I have long regarded Sister Shi as one of my own. There is plenty of time ahead, so Sister Shi should not say such distant things in the future!"

A line of people, including that cart, turned their horses around to head back, while Chu Huan had already finished her snacks at this moment, carrying her gray bundle and leisurely approaching with a blade of grass in her mouth

A person beside him cautiously said: "Young Master, Su Linlang is also a well-known figure in Yunshan Prefecture. It may not be easy to get her!"

Next to the maple forest lies the Jing River, which meanders from north to south. The reeds by the river have turned yellow and sway in the autumn breeze. Here is a dock known as Maple Forest Ferry. At dusk, with the slanting rays of the setting sun, a small passenger boat is moored at the dock. There are not many travelers coming to take the ferry at this time, and several sailors on the boat are helping the guests carry their belongings aboard. In the afterglow of the sunset, everything appears exceptionally tranquil.

... ...

Lu Shixiong nodded slightly, casually cupping his hands in a gesture of greeting, yet his eyes were fixed ahead, staring at the ample hips beneath the slender waist of Linlang. As that delicate waist gently swayed, the voluptuous hips also moved side to side, swaying gracefully. This young man, however, was already imagining the tender elasticity of those hips beneath the skirt, a peculiar expression appearing in his eyes.

A nearby attendant chuckled and said, "Young master, this is what they call dying under the peony flower; even in death, one remains charming."

Just now, the old man left a package for Chu Huan, and this man showed a look of disdain, clearly expressing his disgust for the filthy beggar by the roadside. However, it seemed that he refrained from acting out, likely due to the presence of the person in the car

Brother Lu patted his chest and said, "Sister, rest assured, starting from today, I will personally take care of this matter and will not delay it in any way"