C89 (2/2)

What would happen after she left, was no longer something she could anticipate or control.

However, no matter what happened, she would return safely.

Definitely, definitely, must come back!

The carriage did not travel very fast, and had to wait for more than two hours for the horse carriage with the birthday present before they arrived at Yangzhou Pier.

Due to the drizzle of early morning, the river was now suffused with a faint mist. From afar, it looked like smoke was drifting along the river, making the scenery extremely elegant.

At the edge of the dock, there was a three-masted red lacquer sailboat and a few small boats. Steward Li had already arranged for people to wrap a long tent around a path and two maids stood by the red lacquer ladders, ready to help them board the boat.

The horse carriage stopped in front of a clean clearing, and the servants came to and fro to carry the chests of the vans onto the boat, Steward Li went to pay respects to Jin Lan and Ye Jinwei, ”First Miss, Second Miss, the boat has been prepared, please board the boat.”

Jin Lan stepped off the horse carriage with Wan Ju supporting him, and then gently got off the carriage. With Si Ling leading the way, he steadily landed on the ground.

Ye Jinwei turned his head back to look at Jin Lan, and with a snort, she raised his head and walked along the path towards the side of the boat.

Jin Lan felt that it was funny and infuriating, he was too lazy to bother with her, he just glanced at the things they greeted and got on the boat with Ye Jinwei.

The three-masted red lacquered sailboat was divided into two decks. The rough maidservants lived on the lower decks and the two of them prepared three rooms connected to each other, one on the left and the other on the right.

Wan Ju and Bi He, as well as the Mama Shang, shared a room with Jin Lan. However, since it was night time for Jin Lan to stay up, it did not feel crowded. Ye Jinwei's side was also arranged in this way, and inside the small boat, there were guards as well as laid out birthday presents and big items.

After getting on the boat, Jin Lan's mood gradually improved. She sat by the window and lifted the bamboo curtain a little to look at the riverbank outside. Her nose was filled with water vapor. Wan Ju and Bi He were in their room cleaning and counting boxes and cages. Although the birthday present and most of the treasures were on the boat, they still carried some precious things with them.

Mama Shang placed the red lacquer on a plate, and placed the piping hot sugar bird nest soup on top. She then lifted the flowery curtain hanging on the plate and entered the room, ”Miss, please eat something to rest your stomach. Steward Li said that we have less than an hour before we set sail.”

He was indeed a little hungry now, so he nodded his head slightly and said to Wan Ju and Bi He: ”You guys are tired from the journey, you should go and rest first. It's enough as long as Mama Shang is here.”

The two of them looked at Mama Shang and increased their speed. They finished counting the boxes, bent their knees, and left.

After eating half a bowl of Swallow's Nest soup, Jin Lan placed the silver spoon down, used a handkerchief to wipe the corner of his mouth, and then softly said to Mama Shang: ”Mama, sit.”

The Mama Shang replied as she half sat on the small Wooden Pellet beside him. Her expression revealed a rare trace of apprehension.

Jin Lan looked at her for a bit, then the corner of her mouth suddenly curled up. With a smile, she slowly spoke: ”Since Mama chose to believe me, why are you still so nervous?”

Mama Shang's face stiffened. She opened her mouth but did not know how to reply.

Jin Lan just spoke, he did not have any intentions of teasing her, but seeing her like this, he did not continue, and reached his hand into his waist pouch and took out a folded four-sided object, ”Mama, what is this?”

Mama Shang looked up and couldn't help but to be startled. After looking carefully again, her eyes suddenly stared wide, ”This, this is...”

Even if the light in the cabin wasn't as bright as the light outside, it was still enough for people to read the words written on it. Jin Lan lightly shook the Xuan paper in his hand, ”I've already done what Mama asked me to do. I hope Mama does not go back on her words.” Saying so, he handed the Xuan paper to her.

Mama Shang shakily extended his hand, but just as she was about to touch a corner of the xuan paper, she withdrew it as fast as lightning. She swallowed a mouthful of foam and said with difficulty: ”This indenture contract, I think it's better for young lady to keep it first.”

Glimmers danced in Jin Lan's eyes, then she shook her head and said, ”Mama, there's no doubt about it. Since I'm giving it to you, I have my reasons, you can just keep it.”

Someone like the Mama Shang, who was proud and arrogant, would lower herself to her because she needed help. However, she would still hold back in her heart. What she wanted was wholehearted loyalty.

Mama Shang looked deeply at Jin Lan, and extended his hand to take the thin indenture contract. He then quickly swept his eyes over it, and folded it into his sleeves. She got up and curtsied for Jin Lan, ”Your servant will never forget your kindness for the rest of my life. I will never go back on my word regarding anything that I've promised. Otherwise, thunder will strike the heavens, and I will die a horrible death!”

Hearing Mama Shang's venomous oath, Jin Lan blinked his bright eyes, and his tender lips slightly parted. ”Why does Mama need to make such a venomous oath? If you truly treat me well, then I will not let you down. Come to think of it, I have seen Mama's daughter before. ”

”What?” Mama Shang's body trembled as she stared at Jin Lan in disbelief. She cried out involuntarily: ”Miss has seen this servant's daughter?”