Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Liu Lin and Nian Yao led the way. When Qin Jiu passed Nan Fei, he turned his head and whispered, "Let's have dinner together, add one hundred taels."

Qin Jiu didn't stop walking, while Nan Fei rubbed his ears, wondering if he was hallucinating. How could Qin Jiu, that miser, be so generous? But... what if it really was true?

Nanfei said, "Young master, the small dining hall is closed today, we need to go to the large dining hall."

Nanfei and Luo An lagged behind, while Zhou Yan and Yan Zeyu, who walked slowly, gradually caught up with them.

Nanfei noticed Zhou Yan staring at Luo An and asked, "Brother Zhou, what's wrong?"

Zhou Yan laughed and said, "Nanfei, I heard you only call Liu Lin and Xu Lai 'Uncle,' and everyone else 'Brother'? Are we not worthy of that title?"

Nanfei pointed ahead at Qin Jiu: "Brother Zhou is joking. If I call you brothers, wouldn't that mess up Brother Jiu's seniority?"

Yan Zeyu said, "Seniority has nothing to do with age. Brother Zhou was among the first to fight alongside the old gang leader, so he's naturally a senior."

Nanfei said, "If I remember correctly, Ninth Brother started working more than half a year earlier than us. How did he become a senior?"

Zhou Yan pondered, "Perhaps he's just very capable?"

Nan Fei said, "In terms of skill, you are a divine physician, and should be considered a senior."

Why does Nanfei have to make things difficult for him? Qin Jiu turned around: "I'm just old."

Nan Fei spat and said, "Qin Jiu, you wait. One day, I will pluck your beard hairs one by one."

The dining table at the ship's headquarters was separated from the dining table at the Chongming Island brothers' table by a screen. The steaming hot food wafted out with a fragrant aroma, making one's mouth water.

No one dared to sit down while Liu Lin stood there. The group of hungry people followed Liu Lin's gaze to the unhurried Luo An.

Liu Lin said, "Young master, please sit here."

Luo An dislikes noise and bustle, preferring to eat in the small dining room or have Nan Fei take him to the tea room or his room. This was the first time in three years that he had come to the large dining room.

Luo An sat down casually, without any ceremony. Nian Yao glared at him, but no one else seemed to care or notice anything amiss.

Nianyao sat in the main seat, Liulin sat on Nianyao's other side, and Nanfei was about to sit next to Luo An when a fragrant breeze wafted over.

Su Hexiang's voice was soft and sweet: "Nanfei, I'll switch seats with you."

As the only woman among the eighty-eight ship captains, Su Hexiang was always fragrant, delicate, and charming. Because she was the only one, she was always seated at the main table with the Jingjiang No. 1, which served as the outpost, and Jiangxinzhou, which connected the Xiang River and the Jing River.

Such a beautiful woman's request could not be refused. Nan Fei nimbly sat down next to Yan Zeyu, while he, as the only boat captain on the Xiang River, sat at the head table.

Nianyao's gaze swept over Luo An and Su Hexiang before landing on Nan Fei: This guy is a heartless traitor who forgets his principles for the sake of beauty.

Nanfei ignored him, chuckled, and reached for a chicken leg: "We're all family, so don't be shy."

"Aren't there chopsticks?" Nianyao was about to get angry when Liu Lin picked up a chicken leg for her and said gently, "Eat..."

Unless there are special circumstances, the Dahe Gang usually holds a general assembly on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month each year to mark the beginning and end of the year. This year, however, things are different: the sixteenth is the day of Nian Yao's wedding, and also a temporary general assembly of boatmen…

Frequent contact leads to familiarity, and good relationships bring joy and excitement. Today, the kitchen put in extra effort; both the ingredients and the taste were significantly better than usual. The main dining room was bustling with activity.

Su Hexiang also picked up a chicken leg and put it in Luo An's bowl: "Dr. Luo, judging from Nanfei's appearance, this chicken leg should be good. You should try it too."

Perhaps it was because Su Hexiang's voice was too soothing, but Nanfei felt his bones go numb, and the big chicken leg that was right in front of his mouth suddenly... didn't smell so good anymore.

Luo An said politely, "Thank you!"

Why are you being so polite, young master? Nan Fei put down the chicken leg that had lost its flavor and picked up his chopsticks to eat the white rice.

Su Hexiang said, "I had heard that Doctor Luo could speak before, and now that I have heard it with my own ears, it is truly heavenly music. Doctor Luo, your voice is the most beautiful male voice I have ever heard."

Luo An said, "You flatter me."

Su Hexiang said, "To tell you the truth, there is absolutely no falsehood. Dr. Luo, I've been feeling tightness in my chest and shortness of breath lately. Could you take a look at me later?"

Luo An said, "Okay."

Always ready to answer questions and respond to every word? How come she never knew Luo An was so polite and courteous? All men are like that, they lose their bearings when they see a beautiful woman. A god, my foot!

Nianyao picked up a chicken leg and took a vicious bite: "Chest tightness and shortness of breath are serious matters. If you can't catch your breath, you could die. Why don't you ask Doctor Luo to go to Baguazhou for long-term treatment, Sister Su?"

Su Hexiang said, "That's exactly what I was thinking. Since the leader has agreed, Doctor Luo, let's set off together after lunch. Don't bother packing clothes; we'll get you some when we get to Baguazhou... Nanfei is your medical apprentice, so I won't separate you; you'll both go together."

Luo An was very decisive and didn't hesitate at all: "Okay."

Nianyao's eyes widened in shock. Was Luo An possessed? How could he be so obedient and let others do as they pleased?

Nanfei lost his grip on his chopsticks and they fell to the ground. The once bustling dining room gradually quieted down as their conversation subsided, and the clatter of Nanfei's chopsticks falling was like a silencing spell, instantly silencing everyone.

Yan Zeyu bent down, picked up Nanfei's chopsticks, wiped them clean, and broke the silence in the room: "Nanfei, here you go."

Nanfei took it blankly and said thank you in a daze.

Liu Lin looked over and said, "Ze Yu looks familiar. Have we met somewhere before?"

Yan Zeyu smiled and said, "I was newly appointed as the ship manager last autumn. The ship manager selection competition was presided over by Uncle Liu. I had heard of Uncle Liu's great name before, but when I met him last year, I realized that seeing is believing."

Liu Lin smiled and said, "You don't seem as famous as you've been to me?"

Yan Zeyu quickly said, "Uncle Liu is too modest. Uncle Liu is indeed as wise and kind as the brothers have said..."

Once the conversation started, the dining room became lively again.

Nanfei glanced at Luo An from time to time: What is the young master thinking?

Luo An was focused on eating the chicken leg, and he casually placed the clean chicken leg bone next to Nian Yao.

He sat to Nianyao's right, holding a chicken leg in his left hand and casually placing it on his left side—it was impossible to find fault with him. Nianyao looked at the chicken leg bone beside her, and the chicken leg in her hand suddenly lost its appeal. She even found it difficult to breathe, as if a surge of anger was spreading from the bottom of her heart, making her feel suffocated.

Chest tightness and shortness of breath? No wonder, these are common symptoms of the recent sunny, hot weather.

This shipbuilding conference was like a reassurance; everyone was in high spirits, ate and drank their fill, except for Nianyao, who ate half a chicken leg, and Nanfei, who ate half a chicken leg and half a bowl of white rice.

Nianyao and the councilor saw the ship owner off, while Suhexiang lagged behind, following Luo An slowly.

Qin Jiu said, "Ship Manager Su, the young master is the son-in-law of the Great River Gang, and it is really inconvenient for him to leave right now. Once things have settled down, we can have the gang leader and the young master visit Baguazhou."

Su Hexiang said, "Jingjiang belongs to the gang leader, so how can you call me a guest? Qin Jiu, speak properly and don't beat around the bush. Do you think I don't know about Doctor Luo's fake marriage with the gang leader? I'm not clinging to Doctor Luo. Once I've recovered, I'll send him back myself."

Qin Jiu said, "Ship Manager Su, there's no such thing as a fake marriage. Once you've gone through the wedding ceremony, you're a real couple. Whether the relationship is good or not is another matter. After all, people who quarrel in bed make up before they get out of bed."

Su Hexiang nodded: "Qin Jiu is right. The problem is, don't they fight in bed?"