Do you know: I, a commoner prime minister

Chapter 27 A Traveler Returns Home on a Snowy Night

"It's snowing."

Zhou An stood at the bow of the boat, a thick cloak draped over his shoulders, watching the snowflakes drift down from the sky as he gazed at the scenery on both banks.

"Young master, it's cold. My brother invites you to come over and have some wine to warm yourself up," Shi Tou said as he approached.

"Um."

Upon hearing this, Zhou An turned around and smiled, "This weather is perfect for a drink, let's go!"

Upon entering the cabin, Shi Keng waited at the door. Seeing Zhou An approach, he said reservedly, "Young Master Zhou, I warmed some wine because it was cold. It's nothing special, please don't mind."

"Brother Shi, you're too kind."

Zhou An smiled and said, "It's about who you drink with, not what kind of wine you drink."

Shi Keng was deeply moved upon hearing this. Zhou An was a scholar, someone he didn't even have the right to speak to normally, let alone sit down and drink with.

We invited Zhou An into the house, where several dishes were laid out on the table.

Shi Keng invited Zhou An to take a seat, and Zhou An, unable to refuse, sat down.

"Stone, you sit down and have a few drinks with Young Master Zhou."

Shi Keng gestured for Shi Tou to sit down, picked up the wine pot from the stove, and poured wine for Zhou An.

After drinking the warm wine, Zhou An felt warm all over. After a few cups, he started sweating and took off his cloak.

Zhou An could tell that Shi Keng had something to say, so he waited for him to speak.

After finishing the pot of wine, seeing that he still hadn't spoken, she took the initiative and asked, "Brother Shi, is there something you want to say?"

"that…"

Shi Keng said somewhat awkwardly, "Young Master Zhou was attacked outside Jinling City, which shows that things are not peaceful outside. In the future, Young Master Zhou will be taking the provincial examination and will also be going to Bianjing for the imperial examination. You will need a bodyguard by your side. If Young Master Zhou doesn't mind, let Shi Keng follow you from now on."

"I couldn't ask for more!"

Zhou An laughed and said, "This time, we owe it all to Shi Tou; otherwise, I really wouldn't know what to do."

"It's an honor for Young Master Zhou to let him stay, um..."

"Don't worry, Brother Shi, I won't mistreat Shi. When Shi gets older in a few years, I will arrange his marriage. Besides, I know Shi's character, so there's no need for a contract."

Seeing that he hesitated to speak, Zhou An knew what he was worried about and immediately spoke up.

"Thank you, Young Master Zhou."

Shi Keng said excitedly, "Shi Tou, from now on you will follow Young Master Zhou and listen to him. If Young Master Zhou is in danger, even if it costs you your own life, you must protect him!"

They had visited the stone several times in the past six months, and the brothers had talked a lot after meeting up these past two days.

The two of them had a deeper understanding of Zhou An's situation.

Even just being a follower of Zhou An is better than sailing with them.

After discussing it, the couple decided that Shi Tou would stay with Zhou An from now on.

Shi Keng actually wanted to ask if Shi Tou's child could be registered as a good citizen in the future, but he didn't expect Zhou An to not even want Shi Tou's indenture.

A scholar will die for one who understands him. Zhou An, a mere scholar, did this. What is there to regret when their lives are worthless?

"yes!"

Shi Tou was honest and kind-hearted, and Zhou An had never treated him badly since he started following him.

He was already willing to risk his life for Zhou An, and now that his brother had given him instructions, he didn't think twice. He puffed out his chest and said, "Anyone who wants to harm the young master will have to step over me first!"

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore, let's continue drinking," Zhou An said with a smile.

During their casual conversation over drinks, Zhou An also inquired about Shi Keng's boating activities.

Although Shi Keng was just a boatman, he traveled the Grand Canal and the Yangtze River basin, going to many places.

The docks are frequented by all sorts of people, and I know quite a few interesting stories about them.

Zhou An also learned from Shi Keng that some of them, who ran private boats, had established an organization called the "Grass Gang".

However, the Grand Canal Gang was a loose organization where everyone looked out for each other. Because of his loyalty, Shi Keng even managed to become a minor leader.

The three men drank three jugs of wine, and the drinking session ended only when Shi Keng could no longer speak fluently.

The next day, when Zhou An woke up, Jiang Fan came to report that Shi Keng and his wife had been waiting outside for quite some time. He wanted to inform them, but Shi Keng and his wife did not agree.

Zhou An got dressed and had Jiang Fan lead the two of them in.

"Brother Shi, what brings you here so early?"

"Young Master Zhou, my master has made a mistake. Since Stone has followed you, a contract of indenture is definitely necessary."

Che Sanniang said, "It's just that my husband and I have no children, and we still need Shitou to carry on the family line. We only ask that in the future, young master, Shitou's offspring will be allowed to be registered as good citizens."

"This…"

Zhou An hesitated for a moment, then said, "Alright then. As for the matter of the stone's offspring, they can all be registered as good citizens in the future."

He didn't really want to sign a contract, but he also knew that many people weren't opposed to selling themselves into servitude.

Historical records often use the analogy of selling one's children to describe how difficult life was for ordinary people at that time.

But this only refers to selling one's children against one's will.

Ordinary people, when it comes to selling themselves, are averse to selling themselves to slave traders.

Nobody knows where they'll end up being sold.

However, many ordinary people were willing to sell themselves to wealthy families they respected.

After a century of rule, the Great Zhou Dynasty had become severely plagued by land annexation.

Ordinary families often struggle to even afford basic food and clothing throughout the year.

Selling oneself to a wealthy family ensures one has enough to eat and wear, but freedom is insignificant compared to that.

Moreover, they would be uneasy if Zhou An refused.

In their view, without a contract of indenture, it would be impossible to truly gain Zhou An's trust.

After the ship arrived in Tongzhou, Shi Keng and his wife went to Tongzhou City with Zhou An and signed a contract of indenture at the yamen.

Because they still had to work on the ship, after signing the contract and giving Stone a few words of advice, they left.

Let's go!

Zhou An patted Shi Tou on the shoulder and said, "Go back and reunite with your brother and sister-in-law during the New Year."

"Thank you, young master!" Stone smiled upon hearing this.

The three of them boarded the oxcart again and headed to the inland river dock, where they boarded a boat to Qinghe County.

By the time they arrived in Qinghe, it was almost dark. Zhou An was eager to return home, so he didn't linger in the city. Instead, he spent more money to hire an oxcart to take him back to Youyang.

The fact that the driver was willing to accept the offer was due to the influence of his scholar's degree.

Scholars had special official documents, which served as proof of their identity when traveling to various places.

The driver took them to the alley where Zhou An's house was located, and then drove to the inn in town.

When he arrived at his doorstep, Zhou An took a deep breath before raising his hand to knock on the door.

He will be eighteen years old after the New Year, and this will be the first time in eighteen years that he has been away from home for so long.

Who is it?

A moment later, Zhou Li's somewhat wary voice came from inside the courtyard.

"Father, it's me!" Zhou An said.

"Big Brother, why are you back so late?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Li excitedly opened the door.

"I miss my parents and Yu'er!"

"How come you've lost so much weight?"

Zhou Li looked Zhou An up and down and felt that he had lost a lot of weight.

"My child has not lost weight at all; he has clearly gained some weight."

Zhou An doesn't skimp on himself when he's away from home; he can even feel that he's gained a lot of weight.

"Fat...who is he?"

Zhou Li then noticed that there were two other people behind Zhou An. He recognized Jiang Fan, but the burly Shi Tou really startled him in the darkness.

"Father, come in first, sit down and talk slowly, don't keep Mother waiting," Zhou An said.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Zhou Li quickly stepped aside, and after Zhou An and the others came in, he closed the door.