Time Travel: A Fisherwoman Goes to the Sea to Raise a Baby

"If Mr. Wu doesn't want to come, I'll go and beg him! I'll do whatever it takes to get him to come."

Zhao Cheng stood in the pavilion with a worried look on his face. It would take less than half a day to reach Ping'an Town by boat. If Mr. Wu really didn't want to come, he had to make this trip tonight.

I can't let the master's injury drag on any longer.

……

Seeing that he could not help at the moment, Xu Yiyi thought of looking for Duoyu first.

Zhao Cheng naturally wanted to send him there personally, but he was called away when he was halfway there.

They continued walking along with a soldier.

Perhaps because that person saw how respectful Zhao Cheng was to Xu Yiyi, he guessed that her identity was not simple, and he was not on guard against Xu Yiyi in his heart.

He was another talkative person and soon started chatting.

"Did you come to the capital specifically to visit the Lantern Festival?"

Yang Baobao asked curiously, and Sanchuan and Sihai nodded hurriedly.

"The Lantern Festival is fun, right? I've only been to the New Year's Eve exorcism once in all my time here, and it was a lively scene."

Yang Baobao suddenly remembered.

"On New Year's Eve, a wizard would wear a mask, hold a magical instrument, and chant something. Behind him, people would wear masks and colorful costumes, acting as generals, door gods, and similar figures, imitating the movements of various gods and ghosts, while performing the Nuo dance in the streets. At that time, the streets were filled with the rich aroma of fireworks and the sound of firecrackers. Some people would throw copper coins and food to the Nuo team, praying for peace and prosperity in the new year."

Yang Baobao said this with a nostalgic look on his face, thinking that it had been four years since that time.

"I thought I could participate in the Lantern Festival this year, but unfortunately I got held up by those pirates."

There was a hint of regret in Yang Baobao's tone.

"Have pirates been committing many crimes recently?"

Xu Yiyi's mind was full of things happening in the restaurant recently, and she knew less about other news.

Yang Baobao nodded slightly, his expression somewhat solemn.

"It's more than just frequent. During the Autumn Festival, there are more merchant ships coming and going, which is a rare opportunity for pirates. They covet the rich cargo on the merchant ships and often set ambushes in the sea. If a merchant ship is not careful, it will be robbed. This month alone, several merchant caravans have had their ships hijacked, suffering heavy losses."

Yang Baobao smiled bitterly, "Even the captain was injured this time."

Xu Yiyi thought to himself that the sea was destined to be restless.

Now that the national treasury is in deficit, even if Lin Ke wants to suppress the bandits, he is restricted in every way due to insufficient military funds.

As he was speaking, Yang Baobao stood in front of a courtyard gate.

"This is Guiyan Courtyard, where Zhechongfu takes in the orphans of soldiers."

"Returning geese..."

Xu Yiyi repeated the name in a low voice, and a sudden pang of sadness welled up in her heart.

When wild geese fly south, there are always some lone geese that cannot return to their nests.

After a brief pause, he turned around a screen wall and the view in front of him suddenly opened up.

Unlike the solemn atmosphere in other parts of the military camp, this courtyard is full of vitality.

Before entering the door, I could hear the sound of reading aloud and the crisp sound of weapons clashing from inside.

Yang Baobao pushed open the mottled vermilion door and stepped aside to let Xu Yiyi go first.

More than twenty children of different ages were scattered in the spacious yard, doing their own things in an orderly manner.

On the east corridor, several children in their early teens were reading from books, and an older boy was standing in front of them, pointing with a ruler.

On the open space on the west side, several half-grown children were practicing basic shooting skills in pairs. Although their movements seemed immature, they were meticulous.

In the south corner, several younger children sat in a circle. In the middle, a one-armed old man was telling something, and the children listened attentively.

"Lots of fish!"

Sihai suddenly ran towards the open space on the west side like a happy little rabbit.

Xu Yiyi looked in the direction the children were running, and saw a group of children practicing basic shooting skills in pairs.

One of the thin girls had her back to them, holding a wooden spear that was longer than her height, and was sparring with a little boy.

Hearing the shout, the girl turned around suddenly, and a surprised smile suddenly bloomed on her slightly tanned face.

"The Four Seas!"

Duoyu dropped his wooden spear and ran towards them with a red face.

Her running posture was a bit clumsy, but she was completely different from the timid Duoyu in Xu Yiyi's memory.

Sihai hugged Duoyu's waist, and Duoyu giggled and ruffled Sihai's hair.

The two children were spinning around happily like reunited little animals.

"Sister Yiyi! Sister Erer! Brother Sanchuan! Sister Ayue..."

Duoyu took Sihai's hand and ran to Xu Yiyi and greeted everyone.

She had grown a lot taller, and although she was still very thin, her cheeks had a healthy rosy complexion.

The originally dry and yellow hair is now shiny black and tied into a neat little braid.

Xu Yi half-knelt down and looked at the little girl straight in the eye. "Are you living well here?"

Duoyu nodded vigorously and said excitedly.

"It's great! I have enough to eat every day, Grandpa Li taught me how to read, and Captain Lin praised my rapid improvement in marksmanship! My eldest sister and her husband even took me to the Lantern Festival yesterday, where we released lotus lanterns in the moat."

She suddenly remembered something, turned around and ran back to the place where she had just practiced martial arts, picked up the wooden spear, and ran back again.

"Sister Yiyi, let me show you how to practice!"

Duoyu took a deep breath and made a starting move.

Although the movements are still immature, each and every move is already well-produced.

The wooden spear turned flexibly in her small hands, and it even carried a bit of fierce momentum when it stabbed out.

You know what, it looks quite intimidating.

"Return carbine!"

Duoyu suddenly turned around and stabbed back. Although he almost fell because of excessive force, he managed to keep his posture steady.

Her little face was flushed and beads of sweat were oozing from her forehead, but her eyes were surprisingly bright.

Sanchuan and Er'er clapped their hands sincerely.

Now Duoyu's eyes lit up even brighter.

"Si Hai! I remember you practiced martial arts with Sister A Yue and Grandpa Lao Lu? How about we have a competition?"

Duoyu suddenly suggested.

Sihai took a look and said, "Alright then! Let's compete!"

This response was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, and the children who were originally scattered around the yard immediately gathered around.

Duoyu had already run to the weapons rack - it was called a weapons rack, but it was actually just a simple rack with a few wooden sticks stuck in the soil, on which were placed the children's homemade wooden swords and guns.

She stood on tiptoe and struggled to pull out a wooden spear that was much taller than her.

The gun tip is specially wrapped into a ball with cloth to avoid hurting people.

"then!"

Duoyu threw the wooden spear into the sea.

Sihai opened his arms to catch it. The weight of the wooden spear made him stagger, but he quickly stood firm.

This wooden spear is much heavier than the one Grandpa Lao Lu gave him.

Thinking of this, he gripped the gun with both hands, took a half step back with his right foot, and assumed a stance.

The sun shone on his tender but serious little face, and the broken hair on his forehead was stuck into clumps by sweat.

"Do you think A Yue will win or Si Hai?"

Er'er was whispering to Sanchuan.

"It must be Sihai! He started practicing martial arts much earlier than Duoyu."

In terms of momentum alone, the fat kid Sihai is much stronger.

Seeing this, Duoyu also got into position. The two little guys faced each other at a distance of five steps, looking very aggressive.

The children watching spontaneously formed a circle. Seeing this, Yang Baobao immediately stood at the front and acted as a referee.

"Start!" Yang Baobao gave the order.

Duoyu took the lead in attacking.

She was older than Sihai, taller and stronger. The wooden spear pierced Sihai's chest with a sound of wind.

Sihai was not in a hurry. He dodged to the side and the tip of the gun brushed past his clothes. He took the opportunity to counterattack and swept the gun across Duoyu's lower body.

It only took A Yue a moment to figure it out.

You need to practice more to catch more fish.

"Hey!"

Duoyu jumped up to avoid it, but lost his pace when he landed.

Sihai seized the opportunity and pointed the tip of the gun at Duoyu's throat, but stopped suddenly when it was about to touch it.

This is what I learned from A Yue: to stop when necessary.

The children watching around exclaimed and applauded.

"No, no!" Duoyu blushed, "I'm not ready yet!"

Duoyu wanted to show off his skills in front of Sister Yi Yi, but he was defeated in this move and felt a little embarrassed.

Yang Baobao forced a smile and shook his head: "If this were on the battlefield, the enemy would come at any time and would not give you time to prepare."

Just like this time when the captain was injured, pirates are cunning and don't play by the rules.

Sihai retracted his gun, his face full of pride, but when he saw Duoyu's expression, he quickly returned to seriousness: "Again?"

"Come again!" Duoyu regrouped.

This time Duoyu was much more cautious.

Holding the gun tightly with both hands, he moved slowly around the four seas, trying to find a flaw.

Sihai used stillness to control movement, adjusting his posture as Duoyu moved, keeping the tip of his gun pointed at her.

Suddenly, Duoyu took a step forward and shot out with his gun like a dragon.

Sihai was prepared and raised his gun to block.

With a bang, the two wooden spears collided, shocking both children and making them take half a step back.

The two men fought back and forth, and the wooden spears drew arcs in the air.

Duoyu's attack was fierce, while Sihai defended tightly, fighting back from time to time. Although his movements were still immature, his momentum was faintly visible in each move.

After more than a dozen rounds, both children were out of breath, and the sweat on their foreheads sparkled in the sun.

As time went on, the fish began to attack anxiously and became chaotic, but Sihai's eyes became brighter and brighter.

The final blow came suddenly.

Duoyu shot into the air and his center of gravity shifted forward.

Sihai seized this fleeting opportunity, thrust his gun, pushed aside Duoyu's defense, and placed the tip of the gun steadily on Duoyu's chest.

"bingo!"

Yang Baobao loudly declared, "Si Hai wins!"

Cheers suddenly broke out in the yard.

Sihai ran to the eldest sister with a gun in his hand, and Xu Yiyi wiped the sweat off his forehead.

Duoyu pouted, but soon smiled again: "Sihai, I remember you just started learning to use a gun when I came to the capital! When did you become so good?"

Sihai puffed up his chubby little face and said proudly, "I practice every morning and evening!"

In fact, it wasn't just mornings and evenings; whenever the restaurant wasn't busy, he'd be in the backyard practicing martial arts. And it wasn't just the gun! He also practiced swordplay, knife techniques, fist techniques, and bows and arrows. He taught Sihai everything Ah Yue and Lao Lu knew.

Although Sihai often makes Sanchuan angry when it comes to studying, he is very talented in martial arts.

When Duoyu heard this, she decided to practice more. She was sure to win the next time Sihai came.

……

Because Lin Ke was injured and unconscious, Xu Yiyi could not go to the shipyard.

After playing with the group of children in Guiyan Courtyard for most of the day, Wu Yuan felt sleepy after dinner, so he took the kids back to the inn.

At that time, the Zhechou Mansion's boat had docked at the Bichaowan Pier. Old Wu was sitting in the backyard of the clinic and didn't even raise his head when he heard what the visitor said.

"Get out! My old bones can't stand it any longer. The capital is too far away, I can't go there..."

Mr. Wu refused without any burden.