lcionline Chapter 272 Drowning
Chapter 272 Drowning
After Nianyao returned from Qinzhou, she discussed with the council members the matter of disbanding the Dahe Gang and set a general meeting of ship owners at the end of September.
The peaceful disbandment of the Great River Gang was indeed one of the solutions her father had planned. After all, it represented many years of her father's hard work, and Nianyao stood in the Immortal Continent Garden, somewhat disheartened.
Just then, the wet nurse carried Xue Chenxi out and, seeing her, casually remarked, "Such a big child, all she knows is to join in the fun. She's happy as soon as she goes out, but she'll cry if she stays at home."
Nianyao took Xue Chenxi from her: "I'll take her out to play."
The vast rice paddies are golden, and the islanders are busy with the autumn harvest with their families, while children run and play in the fields.
As autumn gradually cools, the place feels warm and inviting. It's a lively atmosphere completely different from the boisterous drinking, rock-paper-scissors, and playful banter with brothers—warm and comforting.
The warmth of everyday life is what truly comforts the human heart. What ordinary people seek in life is nothing more than three meals a day, four seasons of tranquility, chatting around the fire, serving their parents, and raising their children.
Nianyao carried Xue Chenxi along the ridge of the field and suddenly felt relieved: This is fine too.
Tiger, with a towel hanging from his sleeve and a sickle in hand, ran over to claim credit: "Boss, this is all thanks to Eighth Sister."
Nianyao said, "I'll give you our share too, so you won't run out of seeds."
Tiger wiped his sweat: "Alright. Boss, Eighth Sister said she wanted to buy chicks and piglets..."
"Buy, buy, buy..." Nianyao said, "Buy whatever you want."
Tiger said, "Eighth Sister said..."
Nianyao couldn't take it anymore: "Tiger, you're supposed to be a respectable member of the Great River Gang, and now you're always talking about Eighth Sister. The wet nurse said you tied Eighth Sister up, what's going on?"
Tiger scratched his head: "I told you the rice was ripe and there was a huge field of it, and Eighth Sister insisted on coming to see it. The wet nurse said that she absolutely cannot go out before she's finished her confinement period, otherwise she'll have a lot of illnesses when she gets old."
Eighth Sister wouldn't listen, and I couldn't persuade her otherwise, so I had to tie one of her feet to the bedpost. "Don't worry, Chief, the rope is long enough it won't restrict her movements around the house."
I knew it! Nianyao regretted her loose tongue and walked quickly forward.
Tiger followed behind, chattering, "Eighth Sister said that now that I'm a father, safety comes first. Going out on a boat is dangerous, and making a living by farming is more reliable. Eighth Sister also said..."
Nianyao suddenly stopped and turned around. Hu Zi almost bumped into her and quickly raised his sickle: "Boss, be careful, I have a knife."
Nianyao said, "You can't do heavy work after you finish your confinement period, otherwise you'll get a lot of illnesses when you get old. You should hurry up and harvest the rice, otherwise your eighth sister will be out of confinement in a few days and she'll take your work away from you."
Tiger was skeptical: "How do you know? You've never given birth."
Nianyao wanted to stomp on his feet: "That's what the wet nurse said."
Tiger went to work before he could even say anything.
Nianyao turned around and found that Xue Chenxi was already asleep. She held Xue Chenxi and sat under a tree, gazing blankly at the fields.
For some reason, these past few days I've felt uneasy with the emptiness of both the room and the tea room. On the contrary, this vast expanse of fields is much more refreshing and pleasant.
Nianyao looked down at Xue Chenxi in her arms. Her fair face had an angelic smile that made her irresistible. Nianyao couldn't help but lower her head to kiss her.
"Chief, Chief..." Xuesong ran over, shouting, "Chief, Uncle Xu, Uncle Xu is dead."
In Xianzhou Garden, Su Hexiang stood with a group of brothers. A person lay in front of her, covered with a white sheet. When Nianyao approached, neither Su Hexiang nor her brothers moved.
Nianyao slowly walked over and knelt down. She hesitated for a long time when her hand touched the white cloth, and finally lifted it little by little.
Xu Lai was dressed very neatly, even appearing to have had some makeup applied, showing no signs of drowning. The silk and cotton burial clothes he wore were of the finest quality. He seemed to have been treated well in every way.
When Dongyang and Nanyue cooperated, Xu Lai volunteered to defend the Xiang River to prevent Jin Hu from crossing it. When Jin Hu attacked Wancheng, Xu Lai fought alongside the Wancheng garrison commander and repelled Jin Hu.
Nianyao was determined to disband the Dahe Gang, so she naturally sent a message to Xu Lai immediately.
Xu Lai is a senior member of the Chongming Island council, highly respected in the Dahe Gang. He must attend the Shipowners' Conference and return to Chongming Island as soon as possible to discuss plans with her, provide support, and help her navigate the situation.
Xu Lai, for reasons unknown, chose to sail down the river back to Chongming Island. He stopped at Jiangxin Island and had a few drinks with Zhou Yan. However, the boat sank near Bagua Island.
The brothers on Chongming Island are all excellent swimmers. Xu Lai's soldiers, including himself, were top-notch swimmers; it would be hard to believe they drowned.
But the facts were staring them in the eye. By the time Su Hexiang saw the signal fireworks and rushed to the camp, Xu Lai had already drunk too much water and was beyond saving.
Nianyao's hands trembled more and more as she lifted the white cloth. She abruptly covered it back up and stood up. Perhaps she had knelt too hard, for her legs were still weak when she stood up, and she almost knelt down again.
Xuesong helped her up from behind and whispered, "Chief!"
Nianyao seemed to only then realize where she was. She glanced at Su Hexiang and the brothers behind her, and bowed slightly: "President Su, you've worked hard, and the brothers have also worked hard."
Su Hexiang had been quietly staring at her until this moment when she returned the greeting: "Chief, please accept my condolences."
Nianyao said to Xuesong, "Brother Xuesong, Captain Su and his brothers must be tired from their journey. Please treat them well."
"No need," Su Hexiang refused. "Chief, I still have things to attend to in Bagua Continent, so I have to go back first. We'll meet again at the Shipbuilding Conference at the end of the month."
Suhexiang and her brothers from Baguazhou left. The dozen or so people left behind were survivors of the shipwreck. Even now, safely standing on Chongming Island, fear still lingered on their faces.
Nianyao didn't have the energy or inclination to ask further questions. She waved her hand to dismiss her brothers and said to Xuesong, "Brother Xuesong, could you please go and call Brother Yuan?"
Song Yuan arrived quickly. Even though he was shocked by Xu Lai's death, he calmly and meticulously examined him: "Chief, he did indeed drown."
Nianyao knelt in the mourning hall, keeping vigil for Xu Lai, and thought about many things. For a long time after Liu Lin's death, Nianyao hated Xu Lai. But her father was dead, Liu Lin was dead, and Nianyao depended on Xu Lai.
The previous generation had many grudges and entanglements that couldn't be judged by simple right and wrong. In any case, Xu Lai had never harmed her, nor had he ever held a grudge against her. Apart from Liu Lin, Xu Lai was the elder in the Dahe Gang who cared for her the most.
Now, the elder who took the best care of her in the Dahe Gang is also gone, dying in such an unexpected way, in the Jingjiang River where she had dominated for more than a decade.
If she hadn't sent a letter to Xu Lai, and had tacitly agreed that Xu Lai had left the Dahe Gang and returned to Dongyang, wouldn't Xu Lai have avoided danger?
Liu Lin and Xu Lai were like the pillars of the Great River Gang, each with their own stance, yet together they maintained the gang's balance. With Liu Lin gone, the Great River Gang seemed somewhat unbalanced, but Nian Yao was slowly maturing.
Now that both pillars of strength have fallen, coupled with Suhexiang's attitude just now, Nianyao seems to be seeing the Great River Gang completely collapse.
Nianyao clearly felt a pang of panic; she had ultimately overestimated herself. When the day came that her seniors were truly gone, she didn't have the confidence she had anticipated to face everything the Great River Gang might face, including the Shipyard Grand Assembly.