After he finished telling the whole story about Mao Wenlong, he said bluntly: "Miss Azhu, when I see you again today, I know that the friendship in my heart is still there. I am a Han Chinese from the Ming Dynasty, and I am still alone after wandering for several years.
I would like to marry a Japanese girl from Hirado. If you don’t dislike Yan and are willing to marry me, I will be overjoyed. From now on, I will definitely put you at the top of my heart and love you..."
When Yan Siqi said this, he suddenly paused.
His eyes were still fixed on the stone table, but a few self-deprecating smiles crossed the corner of his mouth between the frowns, as if he himself had not thought that the dignified man would make a warm and emotional confession at such a awkward moment.
That's how it came out.
However, he did not continue to ignite his emotions. When he raised his head and looked solemnly at the woman opposite, his calm expression returned.
"Miss Azhu, when I was in Longxi, you were like the bright moon on the sea. I was content to look up at the moonlight in my small room and didn't dare to have any delusions. Now, I finally have a small childbirth, but I see you.
I have already combed my hair, and I don’t want to use my power to force you back. Therefore, if you still want to return to land after all, Yan will also send a trustworthy brother to escort you back by boat."
When Zheng Haizhu first arrived on the island, he could already see from a few details that Yan Siqi's demeanor was calm and measured, which was already beyond the level of an ordinary twenty-seven or eight-year-old man.
Now that I hear his sincere and candid words, I feel even more amazed.
A leader who had already created the world and vaguely showed the demeanor of a maritime hegemon could respect a woman's thoughts so much in an era where men had absolute dominance.
While listening attentively, there was even a moment, whether it was because the audience was moved by the affectionate male protagonist on the stage, or whether a piece of the original Miss Zheng's soul still existed in the body, Zheng Haizhu felt that her heart suddenly jumped.
Faster.
On the grape trellis, the light of late summer flashed by, causing Zheng Haizhu to squint her eyes and turning her mind from trance to clarity.
Traveling into this era of great strife, we must face the reality that less than thirty years later there will be the Tenth Day of Yangzhou and the Three Massacres of Jiading, and the beautiful and prosperous Jiangnan will be reduced to a scorched earth.
If she could marry Yan Siqi now, she would be able to avoid the hell-like war on the mainland. Although according to true history, Yan Siqi would die of typhoid fever ten years later due to a hunting trip, but that was already in Taiwan.
According to later records, Yan Siqi's descendants successfully spread their branches in Taiwan without being massacred.
However, the life gained through time travel is also a life that should be taken seriously.
How can you sleep with an ancient man who has no feelings just for the sake of a bite of food?
More importantly, Zheng Haizhu discovered that after time travel, perhaps thanks to the independent struggle experience of a modern woman in her previous life, she was actually quite energetic about exploring and taking risks in uncertainty.
She originally wanted to test her ambitions in Zhangzhou, but the bitter-faced patriarch of the Zheng family bullied her, leaving only two aunts and nephews in her family, and insisted on marrying her off to a wealthy family from abroad as a concubine, so she became furious.
I sold my house, took care of myself, and took my nephew to the north to pursue a career.
Liufu in the south of the Yangtze River was a place she was more familiar with in her previous life. Han Ximeng was still such a good master who was bound to become a famous family. She, Zheng Haizhu, quickly gained respect in the Han Mansion and tasted the achievements of developing velvet and embroidery with Miss Han.
Feelings, why should we give up the happy life now because we are worried about the historical trend in thirty years?
She will definitely go back to the mainland.
However, this old relationship that fell from the sky and a legend about Daishan Island in later generations made Zheng Haizhu have a new plan after landing on the island today.
If you don’t want to be Yan Siqi’s wife, you can be his partner!
Thinking of this, Zheng Haizhu bit her lips and said softly: "Brother Yan, actually, two years ago, I slipped and fell across the seaside cliff, and was saved by acupuncture by the doctor in the town. I don't remember many things clearly.
My brother and sister-in-law are no longer alive, and life in Longxi is not easy, but after traveling north to Songjiang Mansion, Miss Han treated me very well, not like a master or a servant, but more like a sister. So, I still want to go back to Songjiang."
Yan Siqi's eyes suddenly dimmed, and a feeling of disappointment appeared on his face.
At this time, Yue Lan came in with a tea tray. Seeing the two of them facing each other in silence, she couldn't help but stop in her tracks and felt a little panicked.
Yan Siqi heard the footsteps and turned around with a normal expression: "What's the matter, let's serve tea. Yuelan, my house doesn't have a maid, it's not convenient, so you can stay with Miss Zheng in the courtyard. She will be there soon."
I'm going back to Jiangnan, I won't delay you for a few days."
Yue Lan hurriedly put down the tea tray and waved her hands repeatedly: "Master Yan, what you said is so offending to Yue Lan. My husband and I have received so much favor from you, and we deserve to be your cows and horses."
But I muttered in my heart, Hey, is this Miss Zheng not going to be our boss’s wife?
After Yue Lan poured the tea, she still felt that the atmosphere was quite awkward. She wanted to save the situation and started talking: "Master Yan, Miss Zheng looks more like a fairy than Mazu in this outfit."
When Zheng Haizhu heard what she said, she pursed her lips and showed her face, and said to Yan Siqi: "Brother Yan, I forgot to thank you. This dress is really good-looking."
Yan Siqi smiled and said: "As long as you like it. By the way, after drinking tea, I will take you to see something."
…
Outside the small xuan window, birds chirped.
The loquat trees are like canopies, with thick branches and dense shade. The vast greenery seems to penetrate the hearts of people inside the house.
Under the window is an ordinary long willow table, but it is full of things, including scissors, bamboo rulers, markers, wire boards, needle hoops, glue, and irons, all of which are more colorful than a shelf.
The most eye-catching thing among them is that there is a piece of velvet-like material in a large flat rattan basket lined with cotton.
When Zheng Haizhu followed Yan Siqi into this small but bright elegant room, she was immediately attracted by the piece of clothing on the table under the window.
She approached the rattan basket and said in surprise: "Is this the Zhangrong from our hometown?"
Yan Siqi nodded, picked up the velvet and handed it to Zheng Haizhu: "It's still a flower velvet. The indigo silk thread is fluff, and the carmine red silk thread is loops. I have been running boats all year round and have seen the sunrise on the sea many times. The sun is still there.
When I'm not up, the sky looks like this, with patches of red popping out of the dark azure color, which is particularly beautiful."
Zheng Haizhu stroked the surface of the fabric as soft as baby skin and couldn't help but echoed "Yes, it's so beautiful."
Zhangrong, originated in Zhangzhou, Fujian, was the most famous fabric variety during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. After mastering silk for two thousand years, China's skilled craftsmen were no longer satisfied with flat fabrics. They got inspiration from imported velvet and incorporated thin iron wire circles into the textile
In the process, the weaving edge uses a unique process to lift or separate the warp threads to form warp loops or warp velvet patterns.
In modern times, Zheng Haizhu only had a general understanding of Zhangrong in museums. Only after traveling to Zhangzhou did he have a profound experience of the miraculous skills of this craft.
But the piece of velvet in front of you is not only exquisite in craftsmanship. In the eyes of modern people, it has the beauty of an impressionist oil painting.
I heard Yan Siqi's deep voice again: "Miss Azhu, I remember that the last time you came to my shop, you said you wanted to make a cloud shoulder. At that time, I was thinking about what kind of pattern would be suitable for you.
Where is the cloud shoulder? I thought about this for many years until my craftsmen woven this piece of velvet."