Zhao Wujiu trained his younger brother like drilling soldiers, showing not a shred of leniency. Bai Shiqi oversaw the overall operation, with canal workers providing one-on-two close protection and instruction. Zhao Wujiu himself was responsible for being the iron-hearted disciplinarian, suppressing Zhao Ziheng's lazy tendencies and enforcing a strict daily schedule. By the time the boat reached Huai'an, even the hopeless Zhao Ziheng had been propped up against the wall, successfully learning a doggy-paddle style of swimming. Though his form was somewhat unsightly, he could finally swim happily under the watchful eyes of the canal workers.
Shu Changfeng and the others had already mastered the skills to ride the waves. In the water, they were equally agile and vigorous, fully displaying the excellent physical condition they had maintained from years on the battlefield.
Huai'an was the hub of north-south water transport and a bridge for east-west traffic. The Governor-General's Canal Administration oversaw seven provinces directly and two more remotely, with its head appointed by the central court from among high-ranking officials of the Six Ministries or imperial relatives. The current Canal Governor, Xun Bai, wielded significant power. Not only did he manage canal transport, but he also served as the Provincial Governor. His yamen was a massive institution, comprising storage granaries, shipyards, canal defense garrisons, and more, with a staff of civil and military officials totaling over twenty thousand.
Upon arrival in Huai'an, canal boats had to undergo inspection by the Canal Administration. Thousands of grain boats, their crews and sailors, merchants trading goods from north and south, and travelers all converged here. Furthermore, Huai'an housed granaries like the Ever-Full, Ever-Stable, Reserve, and Estate Granaries. Shops, inns, and taverns lined the streets inside and outside the city walls, earning it the nickname "Ten Miles of Crimson Banners, Boats on Both Shores." Its bustling scene was no less impressive than Yangzhou's.
Though born in the capital and accustomed to the grandeur and splendor of the imperial palace, Zhao Wujiu had grown up on the frontier. He had joined the military at sixteen, familiar with the long river setting sun and lone smoke in the vast desert, but had never set foot in Jiangnan. Seeing Huai'an's prosperity for the first time, though his face remained impassive, his heart was profoundly stirred. The wealth of Jiangnan was indeed well-deserved.
His guards, from Shu Changfeng to Yu Jinsheng, were all visiting the south for the first time, their eyes scarcely able to take in all the sights.
The weather in Jiangnan was still warm. Along both banks of the Huai River, besides the various canal and merchant ships, there were also charming young women paddling small boats selling food. Bai Shiqi, sitting at the bow of their boat, teased a boat girl below selling pickled fish, asking her things like, "Is it fragrant? Is it sweet? Won't you let me have a taste?"—risqué talk that made the canal workers on board roar with laughter. The young girl's face flushed like a summer lotus, both shy and angry. She tossed her oar, planted her hands on her hips, and looked up to scold, "Bai Shiqi, are you buying or not?"
Bai Shiqi's large eyes darted mischievously as he continued to seek verbal advantage: "If you give me a sweet kiss, young master here will buy your whole stock!"
The little boat girl was feisty too. She looked up and retorted, "You come down here and try! See if I don't break your legs! Have the guts to come down!"
Teasing young women was Zhao Ziheng's specialty. Moreover, the girl below was about fifteen or sixteen, wearing a fitted green skirt and a white blouse with pale yellow floral patterns, looking fresh enough to squeeze water from. It made his heart itch, and he urged Bai Shiqi, "How about we both go down?"
Zhao Wujiu gave a heavy cough. Zhao Ziheng instantly clammed up like a chick with its neck wrung, stammering and not daring to make another sound. He secretly nudged Bai Shiqi's back twice, urging him to go down and steal a couple of kisses from the boat girl to satisfy their craving.
Bai Shiqi grabbed a rope hanging from the gunwale and slid down with a whoosh, dangling upside down to the level of the boat girl's head. He tugged at the small braid at the back of her head, casually brushed his hand against her cheek, tossed a silver ingot into her hand, and was swiftly hauled back up by the rope. The canal workers above cooperated seamlessly—clearly accustomed to indulging their young gang master in such antics—pulling him up just before the oar in the boat girl's hand could smash into him.
The watching canal workers erupted in laughter. Someone even shouted down to the little boat girl, "Hey, Miss Liu! Our young gang master always buys from you on every trip. Why not go back with him and become his concubine? You'll live in luxury, better than selling pickled fish on the Huai River!"
Liu Ya'er was nearly driven to tears by that little scoundrel Bai Shiqi. Though he was a big customer who bought her out every time, he always pulled this stunt, infuriating her. She cursed back, "Let your young gang master look at his reflection in the Huai River water! Even if he sent a grand sedan chair with eight bearers to marry me, this lady wouldn't give him a second glance!"
Bai Shiqi pretended to peer down at the water as a mirror. From the height of the gunwale, he couldn't possibly see his reflection clearly, but he still struck a cocky pose, saying, "Young master here is peerlessly handsome. If even I don't meet your standards, I wonder what celestial brother you plan to marry?"
Liu Ya'er packed the pickled fish while scolding, "Definitely not you, that's for sure!"
A canal worker lowered a basket, hoisted up all the pickled fish from Liu Ya'er's boat, and the crowd jostled at the side to grab some, deliberately leaving a portion for Bai Shiqi and the others.
Bai Shiqi picked up a few pickled fish and popped them into his mouth. Taking a porcelain plate handed by a canal worker, he filled it to the brim and brought it to Zhao Wujiu. "Cousin, try this. That girl has a sharp tongue, but her pickled fish is absolutely unique. Even the bones are crispy, filling your mouth with flavor when you chew."
Zhao Wujiu frowned, looking at him disapprovingly. "Why do you have to tease that young lady?" If any soldier under his command harassed a civilian woman, they would surely face military caning, their backsides beaten to a pulp.
Shu Changfeng and the others held their breath, and even the canal workers scrambling for the fish stopped, staring dumbly at Zhao Wujiu.
Bai Shiqi's eyes shone like stars, a playful smile dancing in them. "...Because she's pretty."
Zhao Wujiu's face darkened. "So if she's pretty, you get to tease her?"
Bai Shiqi was stumped by the question. Racking his brains, he dredged up the "origin of their feud" with Liu Ya'er from his memory. "She was fierce even as a child. When she was three or four, she bit me once." He pulled up his sleeve to show a faint tooth mark on his wrist. "See? Back then, she nearly took a chunk out of my flesh."
He had been about eight or nine at the time and had thought about being a kind older brother. He had merely complimented Liu Ya'er's older sister, Liu Ye'er, on her beauty, when this little girl pounced on him, sinking her teeth into his wrist and refusing to let go. If not for Bai Zhenting and Liu Cheng arriving upon hearing the commotion, it wouldn't have been strange for Bai Shiqi to lose a piece of flesh.
In modern terms, Liu Ya'er had been adorably fierce since she was little.
Zhao Wujiu hadn't expected the two to have known each other since childhood. But he found it hard to believe Bai Shiqi still remembered such an old incident. He lectured him with a stern face, "You're a full-grown man. How can you be so petty? Can't you even be forgiving toward a little girl? How many years has it been, and you still remember!"
Bai Shiqi didn't care, grinning cheekily. "If she weren't so fiery and hard to handle, making for an unstable household, I'd definitely marry her home and tease her slowly."
Zhao Wujiu: "...You scoundrel!"
Bai Shiqi: "Thank you for the praise, cousin! My father often says the same."
He offered the pickled fish again. "Want a taste?" This lord seemed to have grown his moral compass straight out of a book on loyalty and righteousness. Moreover, he couldn't stand others being crooked, always feeling the urge to straighten them out. Who knew where he got that habit? Since arguing with him was futile, the best strategy was to stuff his mouth with delicious food.
Zhao Wujiu picked up a pickled small fish from the plate and fed it into his mouth. It was indeed crispy, fragrant, and delicious, just as Bai Shiqi had said, with a hint of subtle sweetness that grew more flavorful the more he chewed. His original resolve to severely correct her bad habits softened considerably, replaced by a long sigh: "Can't you just change? Teasing young girls really isn't a good thing."
He had figured it out by now. Bai Shiqi's teasing of young girls was purely mischief; there wasn't a trace of lust in her eyes. Yet, such a mischievous character was truly a headache.
Bai Shiqi had grown up crooked from a young age and had no intention of straightening out now that she was older. She fed herself several more pickled fish in succession, grumbling inwardly: Even my own father doesn't manage me like this, Brother, you really have too much free time!
On the surface, however, she was the picture of compliance, nodding repeatedly: "You're right, Cousin."
The canal boat docked. The canal management officials and their soldiers came aboard for inspection. The leader was a man around forty with a square face and broad forehead. He seemed extremely familiar with Bai Shiqi, and their meeting was very cordial: "Young Master Seventeen is back?"
Bai Shiqi greeted him: "Magistrate Tian, you've worked hard. I see dark circles under your eyes, has official business been busy lately? I still have a bottle of refreshing medicinal oil, I'll have Qin Liu'er send it over to you later?"
Tian Zongping didn't stand on ceremony with her: "Then thank you, Young Master Seventeen." He then swept his gaze over the people on the boat, reassuring them: "Routine inspection. Nothing illicit smuggled aboard, right?"
Bai Shiqi's smile was steady: "Running regularly on this river, how could I not know the rules?" She was about to invite Tian Zongping aside to discreetly pass him some silver, but unexpectedly, Zhao Wujiu gave Shu Changfeng a meaningful look.
Shu Changfeng walked straight over, stood before Tian Zongping, and said stiffly, "Magistrate Tian, is it?"
Tian Zongping, who inspected canal boats coming and going, was adept at reading people. Seeing Shu Changfeng's bearing, he immediately sensed the noble air of someone from a high-ranking family and his expression turned respectful: "How may I address you, sir?"
"My surname is Shu." Shu Changfeng made a gesture. "Magistrate Tian, this way, please." He led Tian Zongping aside alone and took out a token from his robe.
Tian Zongping took it and examined it closely, his face instantly changing dramatically, almost kneeling: "Zhou... Zhou..."
Shu Changfeng gave him a meaningful look: "My master does not wish to attract attention. Could Magistrate Tian provide some... convenience?"
Tian Zongping dared not say another word. He hurriedly gathered his men: "Disembark immediately. This vessel is exempt from inspection." With His Highness the Prince of Zhou aboard, how dare he go below deck to inspect? Even if the boat were loaded with goods, he couldn't lay a finger on any 'grease' today.
In a matter of moments, Tian Zongping and his men had withdrawn completely, leaving the silver Bai Shiqi had prepared utterly unused.
