Chapter Thirty-Three: The Other Side of the Ocean

  The Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot said they wanted to investigate Qin Kan. All Qin Kan could do was to pose in any posture they required, let them investigate, not resist, and certainly not rebel. In this era, talking about human rights is a very foolish thing.

  Perhaps some people also talk about human rights, but they are all high-ranking officials who make Jin Yiwei and Dongchang fearful, Qin Kan is not among them.

  Xu Pengju, although only seventeen or eighteen years old, also had a discerning eye. He slanted his eyes and looked at Qin Kan's expression, smiling: "They're investigating you, aren't you happy?"

  Qin Kan stroked his nose and smiled wryly: "If I say it's as sweet as honey, that would be too cheap..."

  Xu Penghe burst out laughing and said, "I was mischievous since I was a kid, under my grandfather's rod, I learned a truth that everything has its rules, as long as you do things according to the rules, you won't get beaten."

  Qin Kan thought for a moment, then stood up and bowed deeply: "I've learned from your words, thank you."

  Xu Pengju was clearly not expecting that at his age, when he had lost all prestige and respect, someone would still pay their respects to him. He was startled for a moment, then beamed with joy, feeling complacent and self-satisfied.

  An unintentional courtesy, which unexpectedly gave the young master a few points of goodwill towards Qin Kan. Because for the first time in his life, he received the most equal recognition apart from his status.

  "Speaking of which, what on earth made you so blind back then and offend the son of the county magistrate?" Xu Peng's eyes sparkled with gossip.

  This question stumped Qin Kan.

  Until now, this matter seems to have become a mystery, and even now I don't understand how I offended the prefect's son, what thing made that former do such an impulsive thing.

  Qin Kan bitterly smiled and said: "I don't know..."

  Xu Pengju was shocked and said: "You don't know?"

  "After hanging his neck, many things were forgotten, as if they had happened in the previous life." Qin Kan said half-truthfully.

  "You'd better be careful, the Magistrate's office is also in Shaoxing City, and be careful not to run into that young Master of the Magistrate one day..."

  Qin Kan said expectantly: "I've run into Xiaogongzi, would you be willing to help me take him down?"

  Xu Pengju looked up at the sky and laughed: "Ha! What a joke, I only ate a few of your chickens..."

  This guy is absolutely a wolf that can't be raised, and it's a yellow weasel, eating as many chickens as possible is useless.

  The late sun shines brightly on the beautiful landscape, and the spring breeze carries the sweet fragrance of flowers and grasses.

  Qin Kan and Du Yan walked along the moat outside Shaoxing City.

  The willows by the river bank, under the warm spring sun, sprout green new buds, the gentle breeze stirs, and the willow branches sway in the wind, like a sentimental girl's slender hands, gently stroking her lover's face, ticklish, yet very comfortable.

  Qin Kan was dragged out of the government office by Du Yan, Qin Kan was unwilling at first, but Du Yan only gave him two options: either to stay in the government office dealing with those endless official duties or go outside and enjoy a day under the sun.

  Qin Kan was no fool and soon made a wise decision.

  He was originally a bit lazy, and the county magistrate's daughter gave him an opportunity to be lazy, how could he not be delighted? Although Xiaobabu has a slightly arrogant and unreasonable personality, she is also a tall and beautiful model, of course, more pleasing to the eye than the piles of official documents on his desk.

  Today, the little girl was playing wildly and looked very happy. She would sometimes shout strangely to scare away the ducks swimming in the moat, and sometimes climb trees to pick wild fruits without caring about her demeanor. The ladies and scholars outside the city wall who were out for a spring outing looked at her with disdainful eyes or smiled with envy.

  Qin Kan smiled wryly as he walked behind her, feeling like he had brought a wild monkey out to perform today, drawing everyone's attention wherever they went. He didn't know what kind of medicine this young lady had taken today, but she was having an unusually great time on their simple outing.

  Along the riverbank, Du Yan finally felt a bit tired after jumping and laughing, running back and forth for a while. Her fair and lovely face flushed with a healthy and charming red glow, breathing slightly, her nose and forehead were covered with fine beads of sweat, and the corners of her mouth still held a happy shallow smile.

  Qin Kan only now noticed that when Du Yan smiled, two beautiful dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth. Her smile was very fresh and clean.

  Du Yan gently lifted her skirt and sat casually on the riverbank, propping up her cheek with her hand and gazing quietly at the flowing water, her long eyelashes fluttering.

  Qin Kan revealed a warm and gentle smile that he had never noticed before.

  This woman, when she's crazy, is like a devil; when she's quiet, ...like an injured angel.

  "Qin Kan, look quickly! Kite! Kite!"

  Just after a moment of silence, Du Yan suddenly pointed at the sky and shouted excitedly.

  In the azure sky, several kites painted with eagles and swallows fluttered and swayed in the wind.

  "Let's fly a kite!" Du Yan begged Qin Kan.

  Qin Kan shrugged: "We don't have a kite."

  Du Yan pursed her lips and ran to a child flying a kite, said a few words, and handed over a few coins.

  The child took the money and without saying another word handed over the kite string to her.

  Du Yan pulled the thread ball, like a crazy old woman, running quickly along the river embankment, sprinkling down happy laughter like silver bells all the way.

  Qin Kan helplessly smiled and followed along.

  After running for a long time, Du Yan finally got tired and sat down on the embankment, panting heavily, but still tightly clutching the ball of thread in her hand.

  "Qin Kan, it's really beautiful, flying so high..." Du Yan gazed at the kite in the sky, murmuring as if in a dream.

  Qin Kan slightly furrowed his brow, today's Du Yan was not quite normal, what was wrong with her?

  "Unfortunately, no matter how high or far it flies, when the owner playing with the ball of twine gets tired, it has to come down and be taken home by its owner, from then on being locked in a house without sky..."

  Du Yan's voice was trembling, and her eyebrows were filled with a deep sadness. Her almond-shaped eyes stared blankly at the sky, and before she knew it, two streams of tears flowed down.

  Qin Kan's heart tightened for some reason, because of her melancholy, because of her tears, his heart inexplicably ached.

  "Du Niang, what's wrong with you? What happened?"

  Du Yan didn't answer, still gazing at the sky: "If it weren't for this string, it would definitely be happier, flying higher and farther away."

  Du Yan suddenly stretched out her hand and abruptly snapped the hemp thread that held the kite.

  The kite shook violently in the sky for a few times, and then a spring breeze blew by. The kite flew higher and higher, until only a small black dot was left.

  Du Yanluo smiled and murmured: "The clear wind is like a trusted friend, forever with the white clouds flying..."

  She stood up and casually patted the mud off her buttocks, and Du Yan regained her bright smile. She smiled at Qin Kan and said, "I'm tired of playing, let's head back to the city."

  Qin Kan had no choice but to get up and follow, just as he was about to take a step, Du Yan suddenly called out to him.

  "Qin Kan, wait!"

  "What's wrong?"

  Duan Yan bit her lower lip, gazing deeply at him. The two were only a few feet apart, but her eyes seemed to be looking at the distant shore of a vast ocean, far away and filled with longing.

  Walking up to Qin Kan, the two of them were close enough to feel each other's breath. Du Yan suddenly grabbed Qin Kan's shoulder and leaned her head on his shoulder, biting him hard.

  He bit down hard, Qin Kan only felt a severe pain in his shoulder, but he endured it silently, without any expression.

  Du Yan bit and then quickly ran away, giggling: "Nothing, just wanted to bite you."

  In that instant when he turned his head, Qin Kan clearly saw two crystal-like tears fall to the ground, like ice beads bursting and freezing the spring of Jiangnan.

  P.S. There is another update tonight.....