Under the orange-yellow lights, with the girls fawning over him, Fu Chengyi wore a playful smile on his face. The look in his eyes and the expression on his eyebrows instantly changed.
The boatman's eyes flickered. He thought to himself that a young master like Master Fu Qi must be a womanizer in private. He wondered how Red Peony and Smoke Plum would charm him.
Red Peony, the girl in the red gauze dress, was almost hanging on Fu Chengyi's body with her curvy figure, as if she were about to fall into his arms the next moment.
Another girl in a pink dress leaned on Fu Chengyi's lap. Holding a wine cup with her delicate hand and with her rosy lips, her gentle manner could make most men in the world infatuated.
Caught between the two, Fu Chengyi sat still in his place. To others, it seemed as if he was hesitating and couldn't decide between the two girls.
The boatman's mouth curled up even higher.
The two girls were bought by him at a high price. He had originally kept them in his backyard. After he got tired of them, he would resell them, which was a sure - fire deal.
It just so happened that he could use them on Master Fu Qi.
Which man didn't love women?
The boatman's smile was greasy. He flattered Fu Chengyi, "These two girls are both beauties. Their bodies are as soft as cotton and extremely pleasing. If your honor takes a fancy to them, I'll offer them to you right away and let them serve you together."
Fu Chengyi, who had been sitting casually, changed his expression upon hearing this.
He suddenly stood up with a cold look in his eyes. "Do you think any filthy thing can get close to me? Get out!"
His sudden outburst made the boatman tremble. "I've raised them with the finest food. They're not filthy things. Please understand, your honor."
Fu Chengyi sneered. "I'm talking about you. If I were flattered by a fool like you, wouldn't the whole shipping industry laugh at me, Master Fu Qi, as a stupid man?
"Don't let me see you in Silver Bay again."
After saying that, he threw the remaining wine and strode out.
The boatman's face turned ashen. Looking at Fu Chengyi surrounded by servants outside, he gritted his teeth in hatred but didn't dare to show it.
The two girls in the room were so frightened that they hugged each other and trembled.
It seemed that this plan had backfired.
As Fu Chengyi walked, he gave an order, "Buy all the fishing boats under the boatman's name, and poach all his boatmen for me."
Just then, a figure emerged in front of him. It was Pei Xia.
Fu Chengyi was slightly surprised. "I called you just now but you didn't come. Now that the feast is over, what are you doing here?"
Pei Xia knew that the boatman would do his best to curry favor with Master Fu Qi tonight.
As an elder brother, he had to check on behalf of his sister.
If Master Fu Qi was tempted by wine, women, wealth, and pride, then he wasn't worthy of being A Jin's husband.
Fortunately, this young man was sober - minded.
Pei Xia said, "I'm going to the city. I just dropped by to see you."
Fu Chengyi felt a bit embarrassed. Fortunately, his future brother - in - law hadn't seen what had just happened.
Fortunately, it was dark enough. Even with the lanterns, Pei Xia couldn't see the change in Fu Chengyi's face.
Fu Chengyi laughed. "It's so late. Are you going to meet Beauty Jiao?"
Pei Xia shot him a glare. "I thought the boatman and his men had gotten you drunk. Since you're fine, I'll leave now."
Fu Chengyi stopped him. "Don't be in a hurry. The city gates are probably closed by now. Take my carriage. Otherwise, you'll be making a wasted trip."
Pei Xia nodded. He had the token bestowed by Lord Hui, so he wasn't worried about such things, but the carriage would save him a lot of effort.
He would bring Jiao back tomorrow and let her sit comfortably.
Pei Xia didn't stand on ceremony with Fu Chengyi. He turned around and got into the carriage.
Fu Chengyi and his men rode their horses back to Baiyun Village, which will not be described in detail here.
**
Fu Chengyi returned to the Pei's small courtyard.
He saw that the light was still on in the west - wing room, which was Pei Li's room.
He walked to the room next to the lit one and paced outside the window, quietly listening to the sounds inside.
Fu Chengyi laughed at himself. He really looked like a peeping Tom.
Thinking that he had decided to go to the boatman's feast on a whim today and hadn't told Pei Jin about it, he felt a bit guilty.
He whispered to himself, "A Jin, I'm back. I avenged you today. That boatman won't bother your family anymore. It's cold at night. Rest well and don't kick the quilt. I'm going to bed."
After saying this, there was a faint cough from inside the room.
Fu Chengyi grinned and turned to enter Pei Li's room.
The next day, Fu Chengyi got up early and pretended to go to the kitchen to make breakfast.
Tang Guiniang and Aunt Zheng quickly stopped him. "This isn't your job. Go and rest!"
Fu Chengyi showed his row of white teeth and smiled. "It's okay. I may not be as good as A Jin and Jiao, but I can still make breakfast."
Tang Guiniang couldn't persuade him, so she had to give up.
Unexpectedly, half an hour later, Fu Chengyi really made a decent breakfast.
As Pei Li and Tang Guiniang ate, they found that most of the food was A Jin's favorite.
Pei Jin silently picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and chewed it slowly, pretending not to notice the looks that Pei Li and Tang Guiniang were exchanging between her and Fu Chengyi.
Fu Chengyi lived in the Pei's small courtyard. He waved his servants to stay quiet and only kept a regular attendant to help him. He did everything himself. Where did he look like a noble young master?
After the meal, Tang Guiniang faintly felt that Master Fu Qi and her A Jin were really a perfect match.
Thinking of this, Tang Guiniang thought to herself that she was getting old and having such inappropriate thoughts.
She sighed sadly. Young Master Qi was really a good boy, but unfortunately, there was a big gap between their families.
Otherwise, he would definitely be a good match for A Jin.
After the meal, Pei Jin finished tidying up and was about to go to the Chen's to discuss the land purchase.
Fu Chengyi learned about the basic situation of the Chen's from Tang Guiniang. He knew that Chen Laosan and his wife, A Lian's step - mother, were not easy to deal with.
He told Pei Jin not to be in a hurry.
"Wait a minute. Let me help you."
Pei Jin muttered, "What's in your mind?"
Fu Chengyi smiled brightly. "You'll know later."
On the other side, Chen Laosan and his wife Li were worrying about money.
The family was on the verge of running out of food. Li put her hands on her hips and cursed, saying that Chen Laosan was useless and couldn't earn much money.
A few words made Chen Laosan furious. He simply turned his back and walked out.
He had only walked a few steps when he saw a cousin - uncle from his clan running towards him.
The cousin - uncle shouted from afar, "Laosan, congratulations! Your family is going to make a fortune!"
Chen Laosan was confused. "What do you mean, cousin - uncle? I don't understand."
He laughed self - deprecatingly. "You know my family is poor."
The cousin - uncle disdained him in his heart. Originally, Chen Laosan's family was quite wealthy in Baiyun Village. Maybe he had done too many immoral things and lost his good fortune. His second wife didn't know how to manage the family. His two sons didn't behave well at a young age. They quickly squandered the family fortune. They couldn't even raise their own daughter and let her go out to work early, which was really unseemly.
Although he had such thoughts in his heart, the cousin - uncle put on a smiling face. "Didn't your family buy a piece of land at the foot of Xiaofeng Mountain? There's news from the village entrance that a rich man wants to buy it."
Chen Laosan obviously didn't expect this. He exclaimed, "That piece of useless land? Which fool would want to buy it?"