Yu Dadan

"This..." The waiter's eyes shifted, and a troubled look appeared on his face.

Shen Luo understood at once. He took a small piece of silver from his sleeve and set it on the table.

The waiter glanced at it, and his eyes immediately lit up as he reached out to take it.

"Tell me first." Shen Luo gently covered the silver with his hand, a mild smile on his face.

"Ahem... If I remember correctly, there's only one family surnamed Yu. They work as boatmen along the Yellow Reed Marsh stretch. For more than ten li upstream and downstream, the waters are full of hidden reefs and jagged rocks, and the current is swift. Only the man from the Yu Family can navigate a boat there." The waiter coughed dryly, withdrew his hand, and said somewhat resentfully.

Shen Luo was delighted to hear this. He picked up the silver and placed it in the waiter's hand, but did not let go immediately. He continued asking:

"Where is Yellow Reed Marsh? Is it easy to find?"

"Easy, easy. Leave through the west gate and head southwest for fifty or sixty li. If you can't find it on the way, just ask anyone. Say you're looking for Yu Dadan, and that'll do." Feeling the cool silver in his palm, the waiter beamed and spoke rapidly.

"Thank you, brother." Shen Luo smiled and released his hand.

"Not at all. If you need anything else, just say the word. The city gates have been closing early lately, usually at the hour of Xu. If you're going sightseeing, be sure to watch your return time." The waiter's smile blossomed as he repeatedly thanked Shen Luo and put away the silver.

Shen Luo waved a hand, and the waiter bowed as he withdrew.

After eating, Shen Luo led his horse out of the city and headed southwest. About half an hour later, he arrived at the riverbank.

The Luan River had many tributaries flowing into its upper reaches, making it quite broad. Along the man-made embankments on both sides and the waterside flats, thick elms and willows grew everywhere. Dense willow branches hung down and swayed ceaselessly in the summer breeze.

Shen Luo traveled along the riverbank. After more than ten li, he found that the Luan River's channel had begun to narrow bit by bit. The once broad river surface shrank by several dozen zhang, and the previously gentle current gradually became more turbulent.

The farther he went, the more sandbars emerged from the river. Clumps of dense reeds grew upon them, their green leaves rustling in the wind as water birds occasionally took flight and landed among them.

After traveling another dozen or so li on horseback, Shen Luo finally spotted an ancient elm tree several dozen zhang tall near the riverbank ahead. Beneath its shade stood a simple thatched shelter.

At the water's edge not far from the shelter, a small black-canopied boat was moored, with a bamboo pole some ten zhang long planted beside it.

He dismounted some distance from the elm tree and slowly approached while leading his horse by the reins.

"Boatman, are you here?" Shen Luo called loudly from outside the hut.

"Hey, coming..." A response soon sounded, the voice rather rough and hearty.

Immediately afterward, a burly middle-aged man emerged from the thatched hut.

Shen Luo looked him over and found that aside from his overly sun-darkened skin, the man's facial features bore a thirty to forty percent resemblance to Yu Meng's. Shen Luo could not help marveling inwardly, feeling that this man might well be one of the Yu clan's ancestors.

"May I ask if you are Boatman Yu?" Shen Luo asked.

"Haha, sir, what a thing to ask. Along several hundred li of the Luan River's Songfan County waters, is there a second Yu Dadan?" The middle-aged man laughed heartily, sounding rather pleased with himself.

"I came precisely because of your reputation, Brother Yu," Shen Luo said with a smile.

"Does sir wish to cross the river? But bringing a horse makes things difficult. I'm afraid my boat can't hold a horse." The middle-aged man who called himself Yu Dadan sized Shen Luo up and said awkwardly.

"I'm not crossing the river. I simply want to borrow a boat from you. As for the price... that can be discussed." Shen Luo blinked as he spoke.

Upon hearing Shen Luo's words, Yu Dadan could not help looking him over again, unable to figure out what this young man, who looked like the son of a wealthy family, actually wanted to do.

Shen Luo merely smiled at Yu Dadan and waited for him to speak.

"Sir, you look like an outsider, don't you? Yellow Reed Marsh isn't a place for swimming and frolicking. That reed marsh may look picturesque, but beneath the river are hidden currents and reefs, with a huge field of jagged rocks in the middle. Even an experienced boatman can crash into them if he isn't careful. Renting a boat and going by yourself isn't a good idea." Yu Dadan frowned and advised him.

"It's fine. I know a little about the water. I only want to take a look inside the reed marsh, enjoy the scenery, and return." Shen Luo said.

"If sir wants to enjoy the scenery, I can pole the boat over for you. I'll only charge the round-trip ferry fare, which is cheaper than renting the boat, and there's no danger. Doesn't that sound better?" Yu Dadan still felt it was inappropriate.

"Sir, don't listen to that fool..." Before Shen Luo could reply, an anxious woman's voice came from inside the thatched hut.

Then a middle-aged woman in brown clothes, her head wrapped in a cloth scarf and her belly greatly swollen with pregnancy, emerged from the hut.

Her dark complexion was tinged with red. Clearly, she too had lived a hard life of wind and sun.

"Oh, what a handsome young man..." The woman praised the moment she saw Shen Luo.

Shen Luo smiled faintly and did not take it seriously.

"Why did you come out? Don't let the wind get to you." Seeing this, Yu Dadan hurriedly turned back to meet her, his face full of concern.

The woman shot him a fierce glare, slapped away the hand he had extended to support her, and said:

"You country bumpkin, do you know what elegance is? This young master wants to enter the reed marsh and enjoy the scenery alone. Perhaps poetic inspiration will strike, and he'll write a poem known throughout the world. What are you, a rough lout, doing tagging along? Aren't you afraid of being an eyesore?"

Of course, Shen Luo knew the woman wanted to earn the silver from renting out the boat, but he did not expose her. Smiling, he said, "You flatter me, sister-in-law. I only want to go alone and clear my mind. What poetic talent could I possibly have..."

Hearing Shen Luo say this, and seeing his wife continually giving him meaningful looks, Yu Dadan could only sulk quietly to one side.

"Hehe, Young Master, how long do you wish to rent it for? Our boat may not be large, but it does plenty of business in a day. You mustn't shortchange us." The woman said with a smile.

"I'll rent it for three days. From now until this time three days later, I'll give you ten taels of silver. How does that sound?" Shen Luo asked, stroking his chin.

"How much..."

Upon hearing this, the woman's expression changed. She truly had not expected Shen Luo to be so generous.

"Ten taels of silver," Shen Luo repeated.

"No, no... that's too much." Yu Dadan waved his hands repeatedly.

"This... is truly too much. It would be more than enough to buy our boat outright. Not to mention ten taels, even one tael would be more than enough." Even though the woman was greedy for money, she felt they should not accept so much.

"Don't worry about it, sister-in-law. Brother Yu and I get along well. Consider these ten taels my way of making a friend. I'll take the boat as rented." Shen Luo said in a tone that brooked no argument.

"Young Master has an extraordinary bearing and such grand generosity. You are surely destined for wealth and a long life of a hundred years..." The woman grinned from ear to ear. The more she looked at this young man before her, the more pleasing he seemed.