Dawn breaks. The dawn is beginning to appear on the horizon, the morning fog has not dissipated, and the calm and clear West Lake is full of love. Wisps and clouds of green smoke rose and filled the entire lake.

At the wharf in the east of the city, a flat boat gently rowed across the clear lake, looming in the misty West Lake, and the silky ripples slowly rippled around, gradually disappearing and disappearing.

The morning breeze dawned, and it seemed to be a little chilly. Inside the light boat, Changgui couldn't help but shudder slightly. Pulling the clothes on his body, he raised his voice and said, "Childe." It's windy outside and the fog is damp, so it's better to come in and drink tea and warm up

Standing at the bow of the boat, looking around, looking at the vast mist, Chu Zhi smiled helplessly, bowed down and walked into the tent, and sighed: "I still want to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the West Lake at the beginning of the morning, but I didn't expect it to be all foggy." ”

The boatman who supported the boat was a lean man of about forty years old this year, with a dark face and a slight back, obviously accustomed to living on the water, and did not seem to know the identity of Chu Zhen, and tapped the long pole at the stern of the boat, and said with a smile: "Childe, in winter, the fog is thick, even if the sun comes out, you can't see it, and the fog will dissipate until near noon." If Childe wants to enjoy the scenery of West Lake, I would like to advise you to come back in the afternoon. ”

Obviously, the husband is also an honest and honest person, otherwise he would not have put his business alone, but persuaded others

Go.

"Taught." Chu Zhen arched his hand slightly, but there was no disappointment. didn't change his mind and ordered the family to sail back, after all, it was probably not a private matter to let him go out early in the morning.

In fact, it is not very early, although the sun has just risen, but it is already the middle and end of the hour, equivalent to seven or eight o'clock in modern times, just the winter in December, the night is long and the day is short, the ancient people do not have a clear concept of time, they all get up according to the sky, and naturally feel that the time is still very early.

Therefore, when Chu quality is in accordance with the habits of the past. When I got up from the warm quilt, I was also a little surprised how the official office was much more deserted than before, and I didn't care about it at the time, so I called Changgui to go out, and the same is true in Hangzhou now.

You must know that as a magistrate, Chu Zhi's work and rest time is not fixed at all, especially now that the weather is cold, unless there are people beating drums and going to the church, they always sleep until they are about to eat lunch before getting up, which naturally ignores the meteorological changes in Hangzhou.

Now, it is not that he is suddenly interested and wants to enjoy the beautiful scenery of West Lake in winter. Instead, Fan Zhongyan instructed him to investigate the waters of the West Lake, because in the harsh winter season, the canal outside Hangzhou showed signs of depletion, and it was necessary to keep it running smoothly. The water of the West Lake is needed as a supplement, after all, this is also one of the goals of the original opening of the lake.

Now the lake is a success. Although we are confident that the water source of the West Lake will be able to meet the needs of the canal, we dare not slack off on the quality of the relationship, and we dare not leave this matter to my subordinates to handle, so we have to come to investigate it in person.

He took a sip of the steaming tea soup. A refreshing fragrance rises from the bottom of my heart. Slowly flowing the whole body, sitting in the boat, looking at the misty West Lake through the bamboo straw curtain on the canopy wall. Chu Zhen sighed and shook his head, wanting to show it. Early in the morning, after finding out the situation, he immediately reported to the state office. With Fan Zhongyan's character, he will definitely appreciate a few words, but unfortunately it is naturally good to have something, but he picked the wrong time.

Seeing this, Changgui next to him also understood that Chu Qian's mood seemed to be a little uncomfortable, and he immediately kept silent obediently, and continued to take the charcoal fire to make tea with his hands and feet, and after a while, the charcoal fire was dark red, and a thick light smoke and white mist rose on the delicate clay pot. The fragrance of tea overflows in the canopy, which is the spirit of the people

Refreshing.

Changgui gently picked up the clay pot and poured tea into the empty cup in front of Chu Zhen, but his eyes were confused. His fingers unconsciously tapped on the table, as if he was pondering, and couldn't help but say, "Childe seems to have something on his mind." ”

Well, Chu Zhen came back to his senses and didn't say anything. said directly: "It's not Li Mingda's business yet." It's been more than ten days, and I haven't even seen a single figure, and I don't know if those officials are derelict in their duties and perfunctory. ”

This matter has been boiling in Hangzhou City, and it is not a secret, besides, in the county government, Changgui also knows the inside story, and understands that Chu Qianbao is just talking at will, so naturally it is not good to say anything, just listen quietly.

Sure enough, I heard Chu Zhen say again: "But." You can't blame them all, after all, it's just a covert investigation. Identities are not allowed to be disclosed, and some places are indeed difficult to enter and exit.

There must be brave men under the heavy reward, and the huge power of human flesh search is unquestionable, in this case, there is no trace of Li Mingda. There can only be two reasons, one is that Li Mingda has fled Hangzhou, and the other is that he is hiding somewhere in a secret place in Hangzhou.

Of the two possibilities, Chu Zhi tends to be the second, however, no matter where he hides, he is always inseparable from eating, drinking, and Lazar, even if he is prepared, he has no worries about food and clothing. If you choose to stay, you must have a plan, and you must inquire about the news before you can act, so that there will definitely be a trace of the sister exposed.

But it didn't show up, which shows two problems, the officials all eat dry food. It's okay to bully the common people, but if you really want to poke the armor, you can't do anything; Either that, someone reported to him, and after repeated speculation and repeated dialectic, in the end, Chu was ...... Dizzy.

You must know that he is not Sherlock Holmes, and without sufficient information, the conclusions deduced are not only doubted by others, but even Chu Zhen himself cannot be convinced. On the contrary, because there are too many conclusions, I am confused.

Rubbing his forehead, Chu Zhen sighed: "It seems that I am still too reminded, I am too persistent." ”

Shaking his head, Chu Zhen sighed helplessly. He didn't understand that Li Mingda's absence from showing up for a long time was to a certain extent, and he also had unspeakable psychological pressure on himself, so he scared himself, if his psychological quality was not hard, maybe he would not be able to bear it, let Li Mingda know, he would definitely be very happy in his heart.

However, even if he understood his mentality under Fan Zhongyan's reminder, Chu Zhen was still a little relieved, and he always felt that there was a thorn in Ting's heart, like a Jiao in his throat, and he was unhappy.

Just as Chu Zhi was speaking, the sun gradually floated in the sky, hanging and shining, but there was no warmth at all, but it gave people a cold feeling, however. When the light was reflected on the thick fog, the two had a rapid ablation reaction, and it was a moment. The fog is a little lighter.

Although it was still a little hazy, but the surrounding lake could be vaguely seen, and under Changgui's reminder, Chu Zhen walked out of the small tent cabin and walked to the head of the boat again. If you look closely, the lake in this area is clear and blue. The scorching sun shines obliquely in the sky, projecting into the water through the mist, floating and dazzling.

Just when Chu Zhi leaned over to explore the depth of the lake, a medium-sized sailboat five feet long and ten feet wide shuttled briskly on the lake under the morning breeze, and passed by the flat boat, and the waves made the boat shake and did not shake Chu Zhi into the lake, but fortunately he reacted quickly and grabbed the edge of the boat with both hands, so he escaped.

Changgui next to him was startled, and did not wait for Xiaozhou to calm down. Hurriedly stepped forward to support Chu Zhen, and when he saw that he was fine, he breathed a sigh of relief and tilted his head. Looking at the sailboat that is gradually moving away, I open my mouth to scold. The words came to his lips and he swallowed them back, his eyes half-narrowed. A little uncertain, he said, "Childe, look." It's the Shen family over there. ”

"Reida?" Chu Zhen stood firm and looked at it. I saw a person standing next to the banner boat, wearing a scarf on his head. Holding a paper fan in his hand, a pure white shirt seems to be whiter than winter snow, hunting and fluttering in the wind, and there is a bit of charm like jade. It's a pity that the distance is a little far, and I can't see his face clearly. However, the figure is indeed very similar to Shen Liao.

After looking at Pian Xuan, Chu Zhen said affirmatively: "The sailboat is flying the flag of the Shen family, it should be him." ”

At the same time, I was also a little confused at this time. Shen Liao should have stayed at home, although it was Shen Kuo's father who died, the elders of his clan. You don't need to keep the exam for three years, but the March deadline is not over, so if it's okay, you can't run around. After all, as a junior, you must also do your best.

Changgui didn't think about it so much, and when he heard that it was really Shen Liao, he hurriedly beckoned: "Shen Gongzi,"

Chu Zhen didn't stop him, and let him greet him. But after a few calls, Shen Liao did not respond, and the sailboat did not stop, leaving leisurely, after a while. Disappear into the hazy fog.

Changgui immediately stopped. Said stupidly: "Childe, the little one screams very loudly, but Shen Gongzi doesn't seem to hear it, what should I do?" ”

Shaking his head, Chu asked, "Boat family, what is the place over there?" ”

"West Creek." The boatman smiled: "Childe wants to follow?" ”

"That's right." Chu Zhen nodded. Anyway, it's to explore the waters of Ximu, you have to look at every place, you can go anywhere, and by the way, you can satisfy your curiosity.

"Okay, Childe is standing firm." The boatman smiled, pulled up the long rod with both hands, put it into the water, and hit the boat like an arrow several times in a row, breaking through the layers of blue waves, and sailing in the direction of the sailboat.

The ship traveled for miles, but did not catch up with the sailboat. On the contrary, the lake suddenly narrowed, the lake became more and more urgent, and the waterway more than ten zhang wide was from top to bottom, pressing the current, and the turbulent boat was floating in the turbulence. His eyes were glued to the board, as if he was worried that the boat would suddenly flip.

Of course, how could the boatman who relied on carrying passengers to eat allow this kind of thing to happen, only to see that in the turbulent water, the bamboo pole in his hand always waved freely. Without the slightest hint of panic and difficulty, the boat quickly crossed the narrow river and came to a calmer water.

At this time, the boat slowly stopped, and the boatman said softly: "Childe, there is a river checkpoint not far ahead, after passing the checkpoint, it is the ocean, do you want to continue to move forward?" ”

"What is Rongda doing at sea?" Chu Zhen was even more confused.

"Childe, what does the sea look like, I haven't seen the little one yet, why don't you go and see it now." Changgui said a little excitedly, staying in the house all day, and he hadn't even swam in the West Lake a few times, if he could go to the sea, he would have to brag about it when he went back.