What looks close seems to be far away. By the time the boat approaches the boat, it is already night.
If you look closely, you can see that the boat is quite large, with carved beams, painted pillars, and even the windows, all covered with expensive colored glaze. , you can also see the singer dancing.
"The organizer of the chess match is really wealthy." Su Ziji thought to himself: "It is better to live in a house like this than in a first-class inn."
He hurried back to the cabin and saw Ye Buhui lying on the table, already asleep. She was not yet fifteen years old, and she was sleeping. Su Ziji didn't laugh at her, but just nudged: "Buhui, Wake up and get to the place.”
Ye Buhui rubbed her eyes and stood up. After staying for a moment, she realized that she had just fallen asleep. She blinked and her face suddenly turned red.
"Why didn't you call me earlier? What time is it now?" She glared at Su Ziji and snorted.
"Don't worry, we came just in time. It is said that the organizer said that the days are short and the nights are long, so why not swim with a candle. The ancients had a good idea, so they played chess at night with a candle."
"You can sign up now."
Su Ziji pulled her up and walked towards the deck. When Guo stood here and looked over, he saw several boats rowing towards the painting boat not far away.
There were several servants standing on the boat. They had just put down the ladder to pick up the chess players when they saw another boat coming, and Yu Lu, who had been awakened, was also standing on the deck yawning. It was unclear who was coming to compete.
One of the middle-aged men in gray robes handed over his hand: "Three of you, the rules of the chess game are that the chess players can only bring one unrelated person on board the ship. I wonder which one is the chess player? Is there anyone traveling with him?"
"I am a chess player, and he is the companion who followed me on the boat!" Ye Buhui replied crisply, and even pulled Su Ziji to his side.
It was not uncommon for women to participate in chess matches. The middle-aged man only glanced at her, opened the roster in his hand, searched up and down, and asked after a moment: "Miss Ye?"
"Exactly."
"That's it, please get on the boat." With that said, a ladder was lowered.
Su Ziji was afraid that Ye Buhui would be timid, so he was about to help her up. Unexpectedly, the girl climbed up in a few steps without any help. During the process, the ladder shook, which looked a bit dangerous.
When she turned around, she stretched out her little hand with some pride and said with a smile: "Su Ziji, I'll pull you up!"
The villain succeeded, and was played vividly by this girl. Su Ziji chuckled, just grabbed him, and climbed onto the boat faster.
"Hmph!" Ye Buhui immediately took his hand back and snorted heavily.
Su Ziji felt that he had long been accustomed to this sister-in-law's dog-faced temper, and was not angry at all. He still had the leisure to shout to the people on the boat drifting away: "Brother Yu, if you can help me, come and pick us up tomorrow!"
Yu Lu waved his hand, his voice a little unclear, probably cheering Ye Buhui up and waiting for good results.
"I am one of the stewards of Huafang. My surname is Hu. You can just call me Steward Hu." The middle-aged man who just spoke was standing aside with a smile before he spoke again.
Su Ziji thought that although his appearance was mediocre and he was middle-aged, his eyes were clear and he couldn't help but take a few more glances.
Manager Hu was leading the two of them into the cabin, his eyes fell on the distance, and he was stunned: "Hey, it's here so soon..."
The next words seemed to be of concern for others, so he swallowed them alive.
Su Ziji looked in the direction and saw a much smaller boat. It was not too far away and not too close. This boat looked familiar.
Just as he was thinking about it, he saw a maid arrive on the deck of the painting boat. Soon a girl wrapped in a light green cloak came out of the cabin, with hanging sideburns decorated with jade, standing in the wind under the moonlight, like a fairy.
Su Ziji was slightly startled: "Is it her?"
"I once saw her in the fog. She was supposed to be faster than us, but why did she fall behind us? What's the reason?"
Su Ziji's eyes were as if they were real. Even though they were far away, the girl still looked at him with a frown. As a result, she was stunned when she saw Su Ziji standing on the boat where he was participating in the chess match and looking at her.
Why do I always see this young man, so entangled with him?
"Miss?" the maid reminded in a low voice.
Thinking of her third aunt's advice, the girl lowered her eyes: "Nothing, let's go back to the cabin to get ready, and then go to the boat to watch them one by one."
Just went back directly.
"Su Ziji, what are you looking at?" On the deck of the boat, Su Ziji was deep in thought when a sudden pain came from his waist. He turned his head and saw Ye Buhui looking at him questioningly, his hand returning Twist.
"What are you looking at? Are you thinking of bad ideas? You were smiling so strangely just now!" Although he didn't know who Su Ziji was looking at, Ye Buhui was so angry that when he realized what he was doing, he had already cast a "poisonous hand" ".
"I'm just thinking about something, but you, the competition is about to start, aren't you ready?" Su Ziji said half-seriously.
Sure enough, the next moment I heard Ye Buhui snort: "You are allowed to see it, but I am not allowed to see it?"
Su Ziji smiled and turned around to meet Manager Hu's thoughtful gaze.
Manager Hu didn't realize that Su Ziji suddenly turned around. He quickly calmed down his expression and returned to the mediocre manager. He said with a smile: "You two, it's getting late. In this chess match, seven ships are divided into seven divisions. The players Lots have been drawn beforehand, and I will send you to the arena."
"What if someone is late?"
"The competition is divided into seven days. On the first four days, everyone can participate in the preliminary round. The next two games will be played on one day. The banquet will be held on the last day. If you are late for the first four days, you will not be able to participate in the competition."
Manager Hu said with a smile: "You came early. After the preliminary competition, you can play more in the painting studio. There are flowing seats at noon and evening. It's free."
If you want to have a big meal, you have to order it yourself. Su Ziji nodded repeatedly. These seven boats have dozens of large and small rooms. It is indeed easy to go to the wrong place if there is no one to guide them.
"Laohu is in charge."
But on the way, Manager Hu was making insinuations, and seemed to be more interested in Su Ziji, the person accompanying him. Su Ziji gradually became suspicious, and he just smiled and played it off.
Ye Buhui was not stupid, and soon realized that Manager Hu's attitude was wrong, so he simply pulled Su Ziji to talk. Seeing her like this, Manager Hu didn't ask any more questions, took her to a quite large cabin, and left first.
"This place is very big." Ye Buhui entered and whispered.
"It's very big!" The cabin is fifty square meters, which should be the largest part of the boat. There are dozens of people inside. In addition to obviously chess players or accompanying spectators, there are also servants wearing uniform clothes. It should be a chess game. The person hosting the event.
If you need refreshments, you can ask. Su Ziji saw a plainly dressed student talking to one of the boys.
"You two, please show your numbers." A boy came up and said.
Ye Buhui showed it and followed him to the location, attracting the attention of many people.
At first, I thought Su Ziji was a chess player, but when I sat down at the competition venue, I realized that the person participating was this girl who had not yet reached the age of hairpins!
Immediately, several people showed disdain. Although they did not speak, it was obvious that they had contempt for Ye Buhui because of his age and gender.
This is human nature. Even with Ye Buhui's temper, he restrained himself from getting angry and just glanced at him hatefully.
Huh, if you meet me later, I will kill them all and leave no one behind!
First came a young master. Although his appearance was mediocre, he was more upright and his eyes were clear. He saluted Ye Buhui and Su Ziji and said, "I'm Zhang Modong, I've seen you two! Since we are sitting next to each other, why don't you just wait around for a chess game?" Sai, why don’t you talk first?”
"I'm not just Su Ziji, my sister's surname is Ye." Su Ziji bowed and said, "Since Brother Zhang said so, it is naturally very good."
Zhang Modong was somewhat famous among these people. When he came over, several people nearby also came over to greet Su Ziji and Ye Buhui and chat casually.
Through small talk, Su Ziji learned that among the dozens of people present, only a dozen were chess players, and the others were accompanying them to watch the game.
And Zhang Modong is not only a chess player, but also a scholar. No wonder he is so popular.
Although many chess players are scholars, some are children and have been unable to pass the examination for a long time. Some are not even children and are engaged in other jobs.
Only Zhang Modong is young and has a good family background. It is natural that such a person will be sought after.
"So Brother Su is here to take the government examination? With Brother Su's talent, he will definitely be admitted as a scholar this time." When he learned that Su Ziji was only fifteen years old and had already passed the exam, Zhang Medong looked at him differently and had a better attitude. .
"Huh, you're showing off again." Ye Buhui became the background, and Su Ziji took all the scenery. He snorted coldly, but then frowned and realized it carefully. He didn't seem too angry in his heart, and even had a feeling of anger. A touch of pride that even she didn't expect.
Do we share the same hatred for the enemy, so we are united in dealing with the outside world?
She was still thinking that some people were a little confused and even more angry when they saw Zhang Modong's courtesy to Su Ziji and Ye Buhui.
One of them learned that Su Zi was a child student and came to Fucheng to accompany his sister to participate in a chess competition and take the exam at the same time. He couldn't help but come over and say "loyal words that are offensive": "On the eve of the government exam, you still accompany your sister to participate in a chess competition? It's not good to be distracted like this. , young people have to concentrate.”
Su Ziji took a look and said calmly: "The chess game is in front, and the government examination is in the back. There are not many distractions."
The other party was reluctant: "It didn't take long. Linhua County is not a major imperial examination county. Since you are a child, how can you be worthy of a county school teacher if you don't work hard to become a scholar?"
"So your Excellency is actually a scholar? I'm disrespectful, I'm disrespectful." Su Ziji suddenly said.
"Why do you say this?" The other party choked: "I am not a scholar."
Su Ziji certainly knew that this man was not a scholar. After all, he had just chatted with him and found out that among these people, only Zhang Modong was a scholar. The others either had no fame or were just children.
Su Ziji deliberately complimented the other party first, and then responded: "In that case, you also want to take the imperial examination. If you have time to mind my business, why not study more by yourself? It should be noted that being strict with oneself and being lenient with others is what a gentleman does. "
The other party was stunned for a moment before he realized what Su Ziji meant. He immediately blushed and stretched out his finger: "You!"
As a result, "you" couldn't come up with a rebuttal after several "you" words. He tossed his sleeves and left directly.
Su Ziji didn't even look at it, why bother, such a fool might be wise if he just said a few words.
Just when Su Ziji picked up the tea cup and was about to take a sip, a girl's chuckle suddenly sounded in his ears. He just paused with his hand, but when he heard it again, the sound was gone.
Looking around, everyone in the cabin had natural expressions, and none of them seemed to have heard laughter.
