CHAPTER 411: CHAPTER 411: STROLLING THROUGH THE SMALL TOWN IN THE RAIN

Past Ling Mountain, instantly winter arrives.

Lingnan Dao was still in the bleak autumn wind, but as soon as Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan emerged from Ling Mountain into the Earth Realm’s Rongzhou territory in Lingbei Dao, they could already feel winter approaching.

Drizzling rain, piercing cold wind.

"Going further north, I suppose it will snow soon." Liu Qingyan held Lu Zheng’s hand, strolling in a small county town in Rongzhou.

Lu Zheng held an oiled paper umbrella, walking shoulder to shoulder with Liu Qingyan along a riverside street.

By the riverbank are shops lining the street, and boats ferrying within the inland river.

Every few steps, there’s a willow tree planted, its branches swaying in the wind, accompanied by the pattering rain, the breeze, and the water mist, giving Lu Zheng a feeling of strolling in a hazy, rainy Jiangnan.

"Honestly, filming a movie here would be genuinely natural!"

"What are you saying? Filming a movie?" Liu Qingyan looked at Lu Zheng curiously.

Lu Zheng smacked his lips, "A kind of entertainment from my hometown, somewhat similar to acting. If I ever go back, I’ll take you to see it."

"Alright!" Liu Qingyan said with a smile.

Previously, Lu Zheng had mentioned in passing; Liu Qingyan knew Lu Zheng’s desire to return home required a high Dao Practice as a prerequisite.

Previously she was a bit worried, but now she has enough confidence and patience to accompany Lu Zheng all the way ahead.

Persistent drizzle, although not heavy, wets clothes through and bites with cold, annoyingly clinging, leaving most passersby in a hurry; even those with leisure are tucked away in gazebos or teahouses. Few are like Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan, strolling and enjoying the rain.

However, they were enjoying it.

Strolling in a mundane small town, relaxed in body and mind, carefree, hand in hand, feeling the warmth of the person beside.

They wished the days would always be like this.

"What a beautiful round fan."

The two happened to walk past a shop selling fans, and Liu Qingyan saw a round fan on the rack at the shop’s entrance.

Pinewood as the frame, brocade silk as the surface, with a design woven in varied silk threads, forming a picture of myriad flowers.

"Impressive craftsmanship indeed."

Lu Zheng nodded, realizing the fans in this shop were of high quality.

"How much is this fan?" Lu Zheng looked at the shop owner, only to find it was a plump woman.

"This young man has an eye for quality; this fan is personally sewn by a craftsman with decades in weaving, taking a full ten days!"

Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan entered the shop, listening with amused smiles, not interrupting her self-promotion.

With nothing else to do, passing time.

Seeing they were not angry, the woman continued even more excitedly, "Look at these peonies, see this roses, they seem alive! Every stitch, tiny and dense, the skill profound."

After a long chatter, she finally got to the price, "This round fan of myriad flowers, you can’t even buy one like it in the Rongzhou Prefecture, a mere one thousand five hundred coins, truly not expensive!"

Not expensive indeed, Lu Zheng was about to nod, but Liu Qingyan abruptly pulled him back, "Five hundred coins!"

Lu Zheng: Σ(っ°Д°;)っ

"Oh dear, young lady, five hundred coins, I can’t even collect this round fan at that price." The woman exclaimed in grievance, "Young lady, don’t force me to lose money in business!

Five hundred coins can only buy the lowest single-flower landscape fans, but not this fan."

Liu Qingyan casually played with the fan, "This fan is indeed lifelike but lacks in mental realm, slightly workmanship-heavy, it’s not worth the price."

"Looking at the pretty lady, this fan truly matches you, I’ll compromise, one thousand four hundred coins."

Liu Qingyan shook her head, "Too expensive, although I love this fan, I’m not spending foolishly, sell it to me for six hundred coins, and it’s settled."

"Too low! Too low!" The woman shook her head repeatedly upon hearing, "I’ll give you a fair price, one thousand two hundred coins, no lower."

Liu Qingyan blinked, "Too high, if you sell it for eight hundred coins, I’ll pay right away."

"Young lady! Please raise it a bit! Just eight hundred coins, I truly won’t profit!" The woman exclaimed sincerely.

Liu Qingyan’s expression flickered as she shook her head, about to return the fan, "Eight hundred coins, if you won’t sell, then it’s over."

"Wait, wait!" The woman quickly waved, then nodded helplessly, "Young lady indeed has a knack for Gu Family, eight hundred coins just for you."

Upon hearing this, Liu Qingyan smiled radiantly, like a flower speaking silently, like a willow brushing against waves.

Of course, Lu Zheng was the one who paid.

After paying eight hundred coins, Liu Qingyan didn’t ask the woman to wrap it up, but held it in her hand, walking out with Lu Zheng.

Under the oiled paper umbrella, Liu Qingyan gently stroked the silk threads on the fan surface, intrigued.

"I really didn’t expect you’re quite skilled with finances." Lu Zheng joked.

Though he hadn’t thought much during the bargaining at the shop, Liu Qingyan blushed upon hearing Lu Zheng mention it again.

One was Lu Zheng’s teasing, the other complimented her knack for finances.

"That woman opened with a high price seeing your good nature. If we bought the fan for one thousand five hundred coins, she wouldn’t appreciate it, only be glad to have fleeced us."

"Hahaha!" Lu Zheng nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, you’re absolutely right!"

Liu Qingyan smiled with raised brows, "As winter is approaching, fan business won’t do well. If she doesn’t sell other things, the business might have to wait until next spring, and at eight hundred coins she certainly profits too."

When hearing the owner claim a loss at that price, it probably hinted the product’s bottom price in her eyes.

"So, you actually did a good deed, letting her earn the money early."

"Naturally!" Liu Qingyan nodded matter-of-factly, quite pleased.

Truly worthy of the merit-filled Lady Qingyi, doing a good deed every day!

Lu Zheng holding the umbrella, Liu Qingyan nestled on his right, one hand wrapped around Lu Zheng, the other holding the round fan in front, gently waving.

Fine rain continuously falls, the small town like a painting.

The two seemed to walk within the painting, following the small town’s riverside path, circling back to a small pier.

They descended the stairs slowly, arriving at the pier’s edge.

"Young man and young lady! Want to take a boat?" A boatman poked his head out from a black-awning boat.

"Yes, let’s take a boat." Lu Zheng nodded, letting Liu Qingyan step on board first, then followed her up.

"Come in, come in, come in to shelter from the rain!" The boatman hurriedly stepped out, ushering them into the awning, then picked a straw hat to put on, pulling a raincoat hanging by the boat’s side to drape over him.

"Where to, young man?" The boatman inquired.

"Just a round trip along the river, drop us off at Yuelai Inn by 5 p.m."

"Certainly!"

Knowing they were connoisseurs of rain, the boatman wasted no words, loosened the rope tied to the dock, grabbed the pole and paddle, with a light push from the shore, propelled the boat forward.

"Splash—splash—"

The small boat swayed and bobbed along the river channel, the boatman swayed with the boat’s motion, paddling rhythmically, creating a harmonious cadence.

In the black awning, Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan nestled together, watching the continuous drizzle outside, enjoying the silent serenity, yet cozy, sweet atmosphere.