A Gallop on the Embankment with Spring Breeze

Chapter 42: The Daughter of Sea Dragon King Returns

Translator: Liu Yanyan

Proofread by Fu Tianying

Ma Tian’en felt very frustrated, and she fell onto the chair. Wu Zhong knew she was sad, but he could do nothing but serve her a cup of water. Ma Tian’en took a sip, feeling a little warm.

“Sir, we always compete with Tian Family, but neither of us try to kill each other. However, since the new charger of Tian family came, Everything that he has done aims at Ma Family. Moreover, I have met him for several times, and his sinister eyes made me very uncomfortable. He must feel hostile towards Ma Family. He may be only a few years older than I, and I have no idea of when Ma Family has wronged him.” At this time, Ma Tina’en paused for a while, wishing to say something but stopped on a second thought.

“Have you thought of anything?” Wu Zhong knew from her look that she must have remembered something. He would not ask her at other times, but at this critical moment, one word would work in providing the answer to the problem.

“A few days ago, Tian Fugui told me unconsciously that the new charger of his family looked like my dad.”

Actually, Wu Zhong felt a sense of familiarity when he saw Guo Qi, but he couldn’t tell clearly whom he took after. Now, hearing what Ma Tian’en had said, he also thought so. Maybe Ma Tian’en looked more like Madam Ma in that they both had round faces. Guo Qi and Master Ma had long faces; especially their eyes and foreheads looked very similar. One would not find anything special if he didn’t observe carefully, but when one did, he would find that even their figures looked very similar.

“You mean, Guo Qi may be your big brother?” Wu Zhong asked doubtfully. If it did, it could make sense. As the illegitimate child of Master Ma, he must be resentful for not coming back to Ma Family. However, Ma Tian’en was a girl. If Master Ma knew he had an illegitimate son, he might be willing to accept him as a member of the family.Why did he crack down on Ma Family?

“I don’t know. Actually, I want to ask my dad at a right time. But you know, today my father vomited blood; I am afraid of irritating him.” Ma Tian’en said with perplexity.

“However, there are lots of people who look alike in this world, and you can’t draw a conclusion hastily. The most important thing is to deal with these patches of Zhuanghua. They couldn’t be manufactured into winter clothes. However, these patches of Zhuanghua were made according to the style of clothes. If they were changed into another style, prices might be different. Besides, such valuable things could only be sold to the rich.”

Ma Tian’en couldn’t come up with any good idea but only sighed: “even fairies can’t help me this time. It’s time to return money to Yinhao ( private bank in ancient China), but Zhuanghua can’t be sold. Oh!”

“Fairies…” Wu Zhong was lost in contemplation after hearing Ma Tian’en’s complaints. Suddenly, Wu Zhong got an idea. He sat down with a smile, pointing at the cup on the table and said:“pour a cup of tea and I would like to drop you some hints.”

Looking at Wu Zhong’s expression, Ma Tian’en jumped down from the chair immediately and said, “Yes, sir.” Filling the cup, she asked thoughtfully, “should I try the temperature of water for you?”

Ma Tian’en pretended to try but was stopped by Wu Zhong, “please put it down, I seldom meet girls like you…” Saying this, Wu Zhong remembered that this student was educated as a boy from childhood. The concept that man and woman should have a boundary in communication was meaningless for her.

Of course, Ma Tian’en wouldn’t try. Then she delivered the cup to Wu Zhong happily, “what can I do for you, sir?”

“No, no.” Wu Zhong refused decisively. He knew this naughty student would do any astonishing thing. It was better not to bother her.

“You just mentioned fairies. I think it is great. Do you remember when we first met, you cheated me that you were the daughter of Sea Dragon King？People just believed you.”

“Yes, I do. At that time, I just did it for fun. I didn’t think you all believe it.” Thinking of that day, Ma Tian’en thought it were a coincidence. She saved a man accidentally, but what surprised her was she saved a teacher for herself.

“These patches of Zhuanghua are easy to break. Besides, the experts can definitely tell they are made of inferior materials, so we can’t sell them to the rich as before. But we manufacture these Zhuanghua into shawls, waiting for people to buy them. Shawl doesn’t belong to clothes, and even they break occasionally, it will not make big differences. In addition, before selling, we can tell them to be careful when they wear because they are easy to break. .” Wu Zhong said joyfully, and Ma Tian’en looked at him as if observing a fool.

“Sir, are you a fool? Firstly, how come so many people buy our shawls? Secondly, if we tell them they easily break before selling, then why do they buy?”

“Yes,we should not only tell them they easily break, but also let them know there is only a patch left.” Wu Zhong added.

Ma Tian’en wanted to touch the forehead of Wu Zhong. Wu Zhong dodged a little, avoiding her hand.

“Don’t do things which do not conform to the rites!”

“I want to see whether you get fever and talk gibberish. How do you know they will buy these shawls? Hasten them to send money to Ma Family?”

“Ummm, it’s because of you!”

“Me? Why?” Ma Tian’en was confused.

“Come, I will tell you…” Wu Zhong asked Ma Tian’en to get closer, telling her his ideas.

In Tian Family, Tian Fugui was punished to kneel down in the front of the ancestral hall after being taken home by Tian Ronghua; moreover, he was not allowed to eat anything. This time, Tian Ronghua really got angry. This bloke rummaged his room, found all tael and rescued Ma Family from a siege. If he was not taught a lesson, he would become the son of Ma Family.

Scolding, beating, punishing still couldn’t relieve Tian Ronghua’s anger, and he ended up drinking liquor alone in his room.

At this time, Guo Qi came. Tian Ronghua didn’t greet him as he was in a bad mood. However, Guo Qi sat directly in front of Tian Ronghua, and served himself a cup of liquor.

“Such a deliberate plan! I didn’t expect that Ma Family could excape this trap. When Ma Chaosheng showed up, every problem was solved. He is a shrewd man! In a few days, when they sell out all the Zhuanghua, their cash flows smoothly again. What do we do for?” Tian Ronghua became angrier, thinking of this.

“You are wrong. It’s not the end; the game is just beginning.” Guo Qi said confidently.

“What do you mean?” Tian Tonghua didn’t know where his confidence came from. Bu he really looked like that cunning Master in spirit.

“They are not genuine Zhuanghua. If they were manufactured into winter clothes, they would easily break. When these clothes were sold to the rich, that would be the climax of the game.” Saying this, Guo Qi drained his wine.

“Great!” Tian Ronghua felt good now, and he also considered himself lucky because he was not the aim of Guo Qi.

The legend told that Sea Dragon King was proud that rivers could flow into sea with the construction of Datong River. . So he often took his five daughters swimming across this river to Wengshan Lake. Pingjin Zha and Er Zha were his favorite places, so many legends about the Sea Dragon and his five daughters had been spread out around these two places. This was also the reason why the news that Ma Tian’en simulated the daughter of Sea Dragon King could spread swiftly.

Legends were legends. Except that time, no one had ever seen Dragon King’s five daughters.

Although Winter Solstice Festival was coming, the river was not frozen yet. Peddlers and pedestrians on streets were not as many as in summer, but they came and went, making the streets busy as usual.

Suddenly, one spot on the river gave out a beautiful yellow radiance. Some curious men looked over and found that there stood a fairy in white in radiance, wearing a shinning shawl. Her face couldn’t be seen clearly among the light and mist.

“The daughter of Sea Dragon King is coming again!” Someone called out. Some busybodies ran to the river, and the rest ran after them. People in other places all flocked here, calling and claiming all along the streets.

As they approached the radiance, a fragrance wafted. Looking at people coming around, the fairy stood calm and serious. A man ran fast to the fairy, but others didn’t dare to go too close. The man was so audacious that he even reached his hand out to the fairy. The fairy turned back. At this time, the celestial song rang, and the fairy walked towards the river. The man pulled down a piece of shawl which was as beautiful as glittering flowers. Suddenly, the shawl was on fire. Half of it fell down onto the ground, with its beautiful patterns clear and distinguishable.

At this time, the fairy walked on the surface of the river as easily as walking on earth. In the middle of the river, she jumped into the river and disappeared.

The celestial song and radiance almost disappeared simultaneously. The man who pulled down the shawl from the fairy picked up the left piece and shouted, “I got the shawls of the fairy!”