The Charming Ex-Wife

Chapter 663 In Perfect Harmony

“Then… why are we moving in circles?” Lysander questioned.

“I was simply testing the waters,” Josiah replied with a wry smile, summoning the courage to put his sailing lessons to use. Leaning forward with determination, he straightened his arm and, gathering his strength, plunged the oar back into the water with vigor.

This time, the boat didn’t merely spin in circles as it had previously, but instead, it began to veer off course, heading in the wrong direction. If it weren’t for the steps protruding from the shore, the boat might have crashed onto the land, creating a spectacle.

Seeing this, Nilou began to doubt Josiah’s proficiency in rowing. Wanting to preserve his dignity while offering gentle guidance, she advised, “Josiah, don’t rush. Take it slow.”

Nearby villagers, seasoned in navigating these calm waters while collecting lotus seeds, offered their insights. “The water in the pond is still; it’s nothing like rowing in a river. You can’t rely on the current to carry you here,” one villager noted, sharing a slice of local wisdom.

“Indeed, rowing a boat is more than just the physical action; you must harness the force created on the water’s surface to propel yourself effectively!” another added insightfully.

“No need to rush; otherwise, you’ll wear yourself out too quickly… chimed in another.

Their simple yet profound understanding, born from daily life rather than scholarly study, was straightforward and accessible.

Josiah wasn’t embarrassed by their guidance but was rather grateful for the communal knowledge. “Thank you, I’ll give it another try,” he responded with appreciation, his tone respectful.

He adjusted his technique, lightening his strokes, and finally, the boat began to navigate in the correct direction. Yet, after only a short distance, the boat showed a tendency to start spinning again.

Lysander, seated across from him at the bow, watched with a barely suppressed smile. “How about I give rowing a try? Perhaps my lack of sailing experience might actually be an advantage here,” she suggested, her voice laced with mild amusement.

experience with sailing–which did not involve oars–ironically seemed to hinder rather than help

of sorrow or stress. Rather than feeling embarrassed about receiving a lesson on

almost wilted; it thight be easier to collect the seed pods,” he proposed confidently, now steering the boat

initially concerned that the city youngsters might find themselves in trouble, now relaxed as they watched the boat navigate/successfully.

cluster of tall

of a

reached a promising cluster of lotus pods, Lysander had inadvertently collected

with a polite shake of her head. Instead, she stood up carefully, balancing on the edge of the boat, and began selecting the best lotus pods. “This is one of the village’s main sources of income,” she explained judiciously. “We can’t just pick

found their hands covered in mud as they worked to safely detach the pods.

Lysander smiled broadly, wiping her mud–streaked hands on her clothes before dipping them back into the water to rinse

engaged Lysander in light conversation. “People are often shaped by their environment. No matter how beautifully a water tank in a courtyard is

as they neared the shore, Josiah prepared to assist Lysander with the lotus

his pause, asked, “What’s wrong?”

the many eyes on them. Instead, he gestured to his own cheek,

Lysander’s expression froze. More than just a spot, her face was comically streaked with mud, resembling a patchwork of earthy tones. Flustered, she hastily cleaned her

tease

pods on your

at rowing,” another speculated, admiring their

look at that lotus pod; it’s the largest we’ve seen today,” pointed out

bystander and glanced down at the large, ripe lotus po she was holding. Intrigued by its