While the boat boss was rocking the oar, Xiang Xiaoqiang kept stealing glances at Xiu Xiu. He noticed that Xiang Xiaoqiang was looking at him, grinned awkwardly, avoided his eyes, and lowered his head to continue rocking the oar.
Xiang Xiaoqiang was suspicious that Xiuxiu had been recognized. But looking at Xiuxiu again, she was wearing a big mask and pretending to cough twice from time to time. It should be said that she pretended to be very similar. The boss of the boat is also a man, in his forties, and it is normal to like to look at beautiful girls.
Although Xiuxiu covers half of her face with a mask, her two thick black eyebrows, delicate almond-shaped eyes, and delicate nose bridge are still very attractive. In addition, Xiuxiu is wearing a dress.
Gorgeous, but also very elegant, sitting there like a hibiscus out of water, you can tell that she is a well-educated young lady from a wealthy family.
Not to mention the rough guy like the boat boss, even Xiang Xiaoqiang himself would feast his eyes as much as possible if he saw such a girl on the street.
Moreover, Xiang Xiaoqiang himself was also wearing a coat and a suit, and he also brought a few followers. This "gorgeous" group hired a boat to go to an inconspicuous countryside instead of going to Wujiang, Taicang, Huzhou, or Jiaxing.
The town is indeed eye-catching.
Xiang Xiaoqiang winked at Xiuxiu, and she noticed it. The two of them looked at each other and smiled, but neither took it seriously.
He probably didn't recognize her. People who make a living by rowing boats on the river don't often buy and read newspapers like people in the city. Moreover, the one who appears in more newspapers is Xiang Xiaoqiang, while Xiu Xiu has not been photographed by reporters very often.
The black-topped boat rolled out of Jinji Lake and entered the river southward. Xiang Xiaoqiang held Xiu Xiu's arm, got up and got out of the cabin, sat on the bow, and enjoyed the scenery on both sides of the river. Xiang Xiaoqiang deeply inhaled the unique smell of water vapor in the water town, feeling comfortable.
It spreads from the mind to the whole body. Although it is still February, in this land in the south of the Yangtze River, the first breath of spring has been smelled. Many plants on the river bank are still green. Even in the depth of winter, they have never withered and turned yellow.
There was a group of ducks swimming on the river in front. The big boat was approaching. They quickly swam to the shore, spread their wings and landed on the shore. They screamed "quack" and waddled around. They were interested in Xiaoqiang and stared at them. Waiting for the boat to sail.
After that, the ducks crowded into the river again and rearranged themselves like a fleet. From time to time, one or two ducks plunged into the water and came up again.
Xiang Xiaoqiang sighed:
"Spring River Plumbing Duck Prophet. Xiu Xiu, you are so lucky to grow up in a place like this."
Xiuxiu smiled charmingly, leaned on Xiang Xiaoqiang's shoulder, and said with a smile:
"Your Majesty grew up in England. You envy me, and I even envy you. Haha."
Xiuxiu said as she leaned down, reached out and fished a handful in the water, and said happily:
"Ah, the water is no longer cold!...Sir, you are indeed the duck prophet of spring river water warmth!"
Then he scooped up some more water from the river and splashed it onto the bank, looking very happy.
Xiang Xiaoqiang was very pleased to see Xiuxiu so relaxed this time. He let Xiuxiu play for a while, then put his arms around her slender waist to prevent her from being naughty anymore. Xiuxiu smiled coquettishly in Xiang Xiaoqiang's arms.
, he raised his face happily and kissed Xiang Xiaoqiang.
Xiang Xiaoqiang was overjoyed to see Xiu Xiu kissing her. Xiu Xiu lowered her head, her face turned red with embarrassment. She suddenly said "ah" and turned to look towards the cabin to see if the guards had seen her just now.
.But it was dark in the cabin and nothing could be seen. Xiu Xiu had the courage to pretend that no one had seen her.
After a while, another awning boat came forward, also slowly. As it approached, the boss of the boat at the stern looked enviously at the young man and woman at the bow. When the two boats crossed, the boat
The boss of the ship smiled and asked something, and the boss of the ship also shouted with a smile, looking quite proud, as if the ship was carrying a distinguished guest, which was very encouraging.
Xiang Xiaoqiang didn't understand, but he probably asked the two of them, so he asked Xiu Xiu. Xiu Xiu laughed softly:
"The boatman over there asked where this was, and the boatman here answered Tongli."
Ah...Xiang Xiaoqiang lamented that when two boats meet in the Jiangnan water town, this kind of reply is exactly like two acquaintances in the north meeting each other and asking "Have you eaten?"...
Xiang Xiaoqiang now understands why "the boat goes south and the train goes north". The water network in the south of the Yangtze River is really dense, especially in southern Jiangsu. It can be called the densest water network in the world. There is a water network almost every three or five steps.
There are not always bridges over the river, so driving a car would be difficult. He also understood why the Nanming Army did not pay attention to tanks.
But the boat is different. It is like a fish in water in this environment. Xiang Xiaoqiang originally thought that there can't always be a river at such a long distance. If you encounter a place that the boat can't pass, wouldn't you have to go ashore and change boats? Who knows from Suzhou?
Starting from the Jinji Lake, this same boat has been shuttling in the large and small rivers. It was clear that there was no river in front of it, but the boatman turned the helm and sailed into a new river.
Although the big awning boat looks bulky, it is like a nimble fish. It can squeeze in even a very narrow river. The long grass on both sides almost reaches the bow. Xiang Xiaoqiang is worried that the river will be too big.
It's narrow and can get stuck in big ships, but it's always just right and you can move through it with ease.
When driving in the wider river, you can often see factories on both sides of the river. They are all light factories, 80% of which are textile factories. Textile factories, silk weaving factories, embroidery factories... In the Suzhou area, textile processing
Industry is the best in the world and has been so since ancient times.
The sun was gradually setting in the west and the twilight was getting thicker. Xiang Xiaoqiang and Xiu Xiu were sitting on the bow of the boat, looking at the scenery and never tired of it. It was Xiang Xiaoqiang's first time to take a boat trip like this, and Xiu Xiu returned to his hometown.
, all she saw were familiar and kind things, and she also really liked sitting with Xiang Xiaoqiang like this. She not only hoped to get home quickly and see her mother and brother, but also hoped that this trip would never end.
Let Xiang Xiaoqiang hold him like this forever.
…
The six guards in the cabin had been playing poker all afternoon. When Xiang Xiaoqiang was in the cabin, they were not very relaxed. But after Xiang Xiaoqiang and Xiu Xiu sat in the bow of the boat, they were unrestrained.
From time to time there was a burst of laughter in the cabin. It was getting dark now, so they asked the boss of the ship to light the ship's lantern and continue to play poker in the cabin.
At around seven o'clock, the boat sailed into Tongli Lake. The lake was open, but it was already dark at this time. Only the lights of villages and towns in the distance and a few fishing fires could be seen. Xiuxiu stood up excitedly and tried hard to see in the darkness.
He pulled Xiang Xiaoqiang and said:
"Sir, we're here, we're here, my house is about to arrive!"
Xiang Xiaoqiang also stood up and looked around, but couldn't see anything. At this time, the boat boss shouted loudly, as if he was asking something. Xiuxiu was very excited and immediately answered back, pointing his arm in the left direction. The boat boss responded
He made a sound and continued to rock the oar.
Without waiting to ask Xiaoqiang, Xiuxiu told him that Tongli Town was on the shore of the lake, and the boat boss was asking her which waterway she used to enter the town.
Xiang Xiaoqiang wondered:
"Can a big ship still enter the town?"
Xiuxiu smiled and said:
"Not just into the town, but all the way to the back door of my house!"
Sure enough, the awning boat sailed into a waterway and crossed a stone bridge. The field of view suddenly narrowed again. There were bluestone bases on both sides. There was a narrow bluestone road on one side, and there were white walls and black tiles on the other side.
of residential houses.
The ancient town in the south of the Yangtze River in Xiang Xiaoqiang's mind was right in front of him... Unfortunately, it was already dark, and there was basically nothing to see.
But after driving for a while, we crossed another stone bridge. The town became more lively, and the stone roads on both sides of the river were wider. We could see many pedestrians walking leisurely, saying hello to each other, and sitting down.
On the stone railings on the river bank, people were chatting in unintelligible words. On both sides of the river, there were often stone steps stretching all the way into the river. Women in twos and threes, wearing clothes made of batik blue cloth, squatted on the stone steps, washing rice and washing vegetables.
Talking and laughing.
At this time, Xiuxiu seemed a little shy, and pulled Xiang Xiaoqiang to hide in the cabin. Xiang Xiaoqiang knew that she liked to keep a low profile. She had grown up in this small town since she was a child, and everyone in the town knew her. Now she suddenly "returns to her hometown in rich clothes", and her heart is filled with excitement.
I feel very uncomfortable and am afraid of greeting my fellow villagers and neighbors like this.
Xiuxiu pointed to the awning boat docked behind a house and said:
"It's right here, stop."
The boss of the ship stared at Xiuxiu and suddenly laughed in realization, hehehe said:
"I said what's going on? From the Suzhou side, I look just like you, wearing these clothes and a big mask. I haven't dared to recognize you... You are the little Xiu'er from Teacher Shang's family, right?"
Xiuxiu took off her mask, nodded shyly, and said with a smile:
"Uncle... do you recognize me?"
The ship boss laughed and said:
"Then why don't you recognize it? My nephew is studying at your mother's place. Teacher Shang's daughter, Xiao Xiu'er, is so beautiful that no girl in this area can compare with her! Hahaha..."
When Xiuxiu heard what he said, her face turned red with embarrassment, and she lowered her head and smiled.
As usual, Xiang Xiaoqiang didn't understand these words. But he knew that his guard platoon leader Hu Jiong was from Hangzhou and should understand the Gusu dialect, so he winked at Hu Jiong. Hu Jiong smiled and said,
He whispered in Xiang Xiaoqiang's ear and translated.
Everyone in the town knows that Xiuxiu is pretty, so Xiang Xiaoqiang is not surprised. He is a little bit curious why Xiuxiu's mother is also named Shang? She seems to be a teacher?
Xiuxiu thanked the boat boss, exchanged a few shy greetings, paid the boat fare, and the group lined up and jumped from the boat board to the stone steps by the water one by one.
There is no river bank here. The bluestone foundation of the house goes directly into the water. A small door is opened on the white wall above. The stone steps in the water go up a few steps and lead directly to the small door. There is a wooden sign nailed next to the small door.
Four words are engraved on it: Pinxian Academy.
Everyone climbed up the steps. The back door was ajar. Xiuxiu was so excited that she pushed the door open and went in. Then she stood by the door and bowed politely:
"Welcome to my home... Sir, please come in... Platoon Leader Hu, please come in... Squad Leader Zhang, please come in... Squad Leader Song, please come in..."
Entering the backyard, there is a patio. It is very narrow, but very neat. The floor is paved with blue bricks. The small courtyard is filled with various bonsais and a canna plant. The wooden pillars of the surrounding small buildings are very simple, but
Full of elegant taste. It can be seen that Xiuxiu's mother is also a very cultured person.
Xiu Xiu excitedly shouted several times in her hometown dialect, but no one answered. There seemed to be no one in the backyard. Xiang Xiaoqiang and Xiu Xiu looked at each other, a little confused.
At this time, there was a faint noise coming from the direction of the front yard. It seemed to be a woman, scolding something in a high-pitched voice.
Only Xiuxiu and Hu Jiong can understand here:
"Shang Xiaojun, you bitch...it's amazing how many words you know...I know all the bad things you did back then...don't force me to expose it...I picked up a bastard from somewhere and raised him now."
, the old Hu Meizi raised him, and he was also a little Hu Meizi... He was released to help you climb the dragon and the phoenix... Now his tail is raised to the sky... Humph, the whole family is shameless..."
Although Xiang Xiaoqiang didn't understand, he knew it must be extremely unpleasant. He saw that Hu Jiong's face was full of embarrassment, while Xiu Xiu's face was pale, her whole body was trembling, and tears were rolling in her eyes.