Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

At this moment, in the kitchen, surrounded by more than a dozen people, Da Niu ate fourteen steamed buns, two bowls of porridge, and three bowls of vegetables before patting her belly contentedly.

"I am full!"

Her appetite astonished everyone; who had ever seen someone eat so much, especially a young girl?

Once she was sure she was full, the old lady in the kitchen quickly started kneading dough and making pancakes. The number of steamed buns was always limited; for girls like Xia Yu, she only counted one bun per meal. Who knew this girl would eat so much? If she didn't prepare some other food, those who arrived later might not get any.

After finishing her meal, Da Niu didn't rush back. Instead, several guards pulled her aside and started arm wrestling. Some of them had seen this little girl carrying a large wooden box by herself yesterday, and now that they had watched her eat, some wanted to test just how strong she was.

As a result, five people in a row were instantly defeated by the girl.

"Alright, alright, stop fooling around. After you finish eating, go do what you're supposed to do. If the higher-ups hear this, you'll get a scolding." A man who looked like a squad leader reminded everyone.

"That's enough, that's enough. I need to serve our young lady her meal. She was a bit seasick yesterday and isn't feeling well today. We'll find another opportunity to have a proper competition once we get to the capital." Da Niu wasn't afraid of these people at all, and shamelessly declared that she would challenge them to a competition in the capital.

"Alright, just as this young lady said, let's have a proper competition in the capital. Right now, let's focus on doing the work assigned to us first." The squad leader wasn't angry at what the young lady said; instead, he agreed.

Xia Yu had just finished combing her hair when Chang Yun brought Shen Luo to find her for breakfast.

"I see quite a few people eating on the outer deck, why don't we go eat there too?" Changyun suggested.

"I'm not going, you guys go ahead." Xia Yu shook her head, not wanting to eat on the deck. There were quite a few guards on the deck, and she felt uncomfortable being watched while eating by so many people.

"In that case, I'll go with Luo'er. After you've eaten, come up to the deck for some fresh air. We're about to set sail, and the scenery on both banks is worth seeing."

"I understand, brother. I'll come find you after I finish eating."

Xia Yu didn't really like going to the deck; looking at the water below always made her feel dizzy.

"Miss, dinner's ready!" Da Niu excitedly brought in the food.

Xia Yu carefully examined her expression and asked...

"Hey girl, aren't you seasick anymore?"

The girl chuckled and said

"I'm not dizzy now, but who knows if I'll feel dizzy when I leave!"

As it turned out, Da Niu started feeling seasick as soon as the boat left, and she vomited up all her breakfast. The sachet Shen Luo gave her couldn't stop the vomiting either. The plums Xia Yu gave her didn't work either. Da Niu felt sorry for the undigested steamed buns in the wooden basin.

"If I had known I would throw up after eating, I wouldn't have eaten so much. It's so uncomfortable... Ugh..." Before she could finish speaking, she threw up again.

He vomited up everything he had eaten that morning before finally drifting off to sleep, drowsy from smelling the sachet.

For the next two days, Da Niu spent her time like this, barely managing to eat a couple of bites during the day, but then vomiting afterward. She could only eat a little more when the ship was docked. After several days of this, her originally chubby face visibly thinned out considerably.

Just when Da Niu thought she was going to starve to death from seasickness, the ship finally docked at the pier in the capital.

Because Da Niu was limp, Xia Yu arranged for Shi Jiu to take care of her. Chang Yun supported Li Taifu, and Xia Yu held Shen Luo's hand as the group carefully stepped onto the high sampan.

Just as Xia Yu was walking carefully down the aisle, head down, holding Shen Luo's hand with one hand and lifting her skirt with the other, a hand with distinct knuckles suddenly reached out in front of her.

"Be careful, I'll help you down." Xia Yu looked up and saw only a beautiful profile; the words were actually directed at Shen Luo.

"Father!" Shen Luo exclaimed happily.

Hearing Shen Luo's voice, Xia Yu was a little stunned. The handsome profile in front of her was Shen Jingheng! Just as she was hesitating whether to bow to him, she heard Shen Luo say with great pride...

"Father, come and help Sister Xiaxia. I'm not strong enough, and Sister Xiaxia is squeezing my hand so tightly it hurts." As she spoke, she actually put Xia Yu's hand directly into Shen Jingheng's hand.

The two men quickly withdrew their hands as if they had been burned. Perhaps Xia Yu's movement was a bit too abrupt, because Shen Jingheng, who was already facing downhill, was startled and fell backward by Xia Yu's sudden movement.

"Father, be careful!" Shen Luo shouted anxiously.

"Watch out!" Xia Yu noticed Shen Jingheng's disheveled state and, in that instant, lightly pushed off the ground, leaping forward. Catching Shen Jingheng before he fell off the sampan, she had to spin around a few times to dissipate the force of his fall. Thus, to onlookers, it looked as if a beautiful young woman was embracing a handsome young man, their clothes fluttering as they gracefully spun from the sampan onto the dock.

Once they stood still, their eyes met. Shen Jingheng looked at the girl before him, feeling a sense of familiarity, as if he had seen her somewhere before but couldn't quite place it. His brow furrowed slightly as he pondered.

Xia Yu was also a little angry at his icy expression and silence. She had just saved him, and instead of thanking her, he was frowning – what was he trying to do? Was he trying to cause trouble the moment they met?

Xia Yu forgot that although they corresponded occasionally, they had never met in person. Twenty-one-year-old Shen Jingheng and twenty-six-year-old Shen Jingheng hadn't changed much. But eight-year-old Xia Yu and thirteen-year-old Xia Yu had undergone a transformation, like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly.

"Sister Xiaxia, Father, are you alright?"

"Xiaxia, are you alright?"

"How are you two? Are you hurt?" The stunned crowd finally came to their senses and gathered around to ask about their condition.

"Xia Xia?" Shen Jingheng seemed to have just heard someone address Xia Yu as such. He then saw Xia Yu curtsy to him and respectfully address him.

"Uncle, are you well?" Xia Yu thought for a moment and decided not to use the official title. Instead, she would rely on the personal relationship between the two families and try to establish a connection first.

Her address of "Uncle" made Shen Jingheng's face stiffen slightly. When did he acquire such a grown niece?

Actually, Xia Yu's address was also unexpected for Chang Yun. He never thought his sister would call Lord Shen "uncle." But since his sister had already called him that, it seemed a bit too formal for him to call him "Lord Shen" again. Besides, given his relationship with Shen Luo, it was only right and proper for him to call his father "uncle," since Shen Luo always called his father "uncle."

"Uncle, greetings. Your nephew greets you." Changyun bowed to Shen Jingheng with a junior's greeting.

"Get up, no need to be so formal, we're all family." Shen Jingheng had already regained his usual calm and composure, and his face showed no surprise at the sudden appearance of his nephews and nieces, as if it were only natural.