The further south you go, the more boats sail on the river and moored on both banks. Han Xiufeng was shocked by everything in front of him, and secretly thought that not to mention Ba County, even Yangzhou before the fall did not have so many ships.

I heard that it was almost time to Shanghai, and even Ren Yu'er, who was seasick and dizzy, came out to watch the excitement with the support of Yu Sangu. In the eyes of the boat boss, they were just a bun of dirt buns, and they felt as if, so they actually walked over and pointed to the shore, and said in an official dialect with a thick Tongzhou accent: "That is Hongkou Port, and now it is the trade wharf of Citiman." See, those houses were built by Citi people! ”

"That's the American Concession?" Han Xiufeng asked subconsciously.

"Young Master Han, is it really the first time you have come to Shanghai?"

"For the first time."

"Then how do you know that the Citi people are Americans?"

"It's in the book."

"I said, it turns out that there is a book, and it is really a show to know the world without going out." The boss of the ship still has a lot of respect for the scholars, so he hurriedly waved his hand, and pointed to the front and said: "In front is the English trade wharf, and then the English wharf, and then the French wharf, we can't rely on these wharves of foreigners, we have to go forward if we want to dock." ”

"The county seat of Shanghai is in the south?"

"To the south, you'll see you later."

"What about customs?" Han Xiufeng asked.

The boat boss didn't expect this Xiucai who fled from Yangzhou to know about the customs, and couldn't help laughing: "It's also ahead, just by the river, but we don't need to rely on the pass, because the wharves in this area are all passes." You don't have to go to them, the tax collectors will come to you as soon as the ship docks. ”

As he was talking, strange-looking foreigner buildings appeared in front of him. The statue is made of huge stones, which is not only taller than the palaces and temples of China, but also looks very sturdy.

Shanghai has no mountains like Taizhou, and Han Xiufeng was wondering where the foreigners had brought so many stones, when another foreigner's galleon was coming. The river is not as wide as before, and the two are so close that you can clearly see the foreigners on the boat without a peep.

The big head exclaimed: "Foreign woman! Fourth brother, look, there is a foreign woman on the boat! ”

"I'm not blind, what are you shouting!"

"Fourth brother, I mean these foreign women are shameless, they don't dress well, and most of them are exposed!"

Following the direction of his fingers, he saw several foreign women wearing flower hats but disheveled, revealing half of their breasts, white flowers, very dazzling. Han Xiufeng was made to laugh, and hurriedly turned around and said, "What to look at, don't look at it." ”

"Fourth brother, I'...... I just took a look. ”

"I can't do it at a glance, I'm going to land right away, go pack my things."

"Oh." The big head didn't dare not listen, but couldn't help but look at it a few times.

Seeing Pan Er, Su Jueming and Liang Liu, they were all staring at the foreign mother-in-law's breasts, Yu Sangu couldn't help but scold: "Obscene, I've never seen a woman!" ”

"Third aunt, what do you say?" Ren Yu'er's cheeks were hot with shame, and she hurriedly pulled Yu Sangu and said, "Let's go back to the cabin, and come out when we dock." ”

As soon as she finished speaking, the boatmen burst into laughter.

Han Xiufeng glared back, and no one dared to laugh anymore.

Today, with a good wind, the sand boat was moving very fast, and in a short time it sailed to the pier where the city wall could be seen in the distance. As the captain of the boat said, he finally found a gap and brought the boat to the shore, and a tax collector climbed onto the boat with two tax collectors.

How to send them away without Han Xiufeng worrying, Su Jueming and Pan Er opened a few boxes and a few sacks, let the tax collector see what they were carrying, bargained at the bow of the boat, and gave six yuan to get the tax stamp.

As soon as the tax collector and the tax collector had disembarked, the feet of the guards on the shore came up, and when they saw that there were only eight boxes of books and some luggage, and that there were no goods, they were a little disappointed, and asked where they were to be sent, and when they had calculated the money, they saw that there were two female dependents, and they proposed to hire another wheelbarrow.

Thinking that Ren Yu'er couldn't walk away wrapped her feet, Su Jueming agreed.

It was agreed before that Pan Er, Lu Daming and others would not enter the city, but first find an inn near the wharf to stay, and by the way, inquire whether the boat back to Jiangbei is good to hire, and inquire about the price of rice in Shanghai. Because when I went back, I had to buy two boatloads of rice, otherwise it would be difficult to hide the foreign guns and gunpowder I bought.

Everyone said goodbye at the dock, not only did the porter on the shore not suspect, but even the boat boss thought that they were really two groups of people.

Everything went more smoothly than expected, Han Xiufeng and Xiao Wuzi walked in front, Yu Sangu and Ren Yu'er sat on the wheelbarrow pushed by the porter left and right, followed behind, and then the seven porters carrying the wooden box, Su Jueming and the big head hall, for fear that the porter would pick the box away.

Unexpectedly, just after taking a few steps, there was a sudden bang, and a box slipped down, and I don't know if the rope was not tied tightly, or the porter deliberately, the box was broken apart, and the books in the box were scattered all over the ground.

"How do you work, who will pay for the damage of this box!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, the small one wasn't intentional, the small rope wasn't tied......"

"It's a trivial matter to break the box, my young master can't get a reputation because of the loss of the book, and your sin is big, don't pick it up quickly!" Su Jueming scolded while busy picking them, and the big head knew that these books were expensive, so he also put down his luggage and squatted down to pick them up.

The porter was busy making amends, attracting many porters and passers-by to watch the excitement.

How could Han Xiufeng not know that the porter was deliberate, and said quietly: "Jueming, forget it, just pick it up, just don't lose it." ”

"Young Master......"

"Forget it, when you're out of the house, you don't need to worry about people because of this."

"It's still this young master who is sensible, and the little one has made amends to you."

"No, it's not easy for you to make a living at the docks."

The porter who was watching thought to himself that he had just gotten off the boat was a poor scholar, not only was he dressed shabby, but even the books in the box were old, and many of the books were moldy, and he felt that there was no oil and water, so he gradually dispersed.

Han Xiufeng pretended not to see anything, and while waiting for everyone to help pick up the books, he looked around curiously. Shanghai is really a big wharf, shops, teahouses, restaurants, inns and warehouses are next to each other, and the signs and banners are dazzling, and the eyes are full of shops and people.

Yu Sangu had never seen such a lively place, staring at the foreign cloth hanging in the cloth village opposite and said excitedly: "Yu'er, when we have time, we will ask how this cloth is sold, if it is not expensive, buy a few feet, and make a few new clothes for you and your father!" ”

"I don't want new clothes, I don't want anything, I just want to find a place to rest." Ren Yu'er covered her nose and said weakly.

"Still uncomfortable?" Han Xiufeng looked in the direction of the city gate, then turned back and smiled: "It shouldn't be far away." ”

"Fourth brother, I'm fine."

"It's okay."

Packed up the books scattered on the ground, tied up the broken box and walked forward, entered the city from the small east gate, followed the porter around, dizzy, just when everyone doubted whether the porter was intentional, the porter who walked at the front suddenly turned back and said: "This master, this is the Wu family lane, there are many people living in the alley, where do you go?" ”

Han Xiufeng looked at it and said in a deep voice, "It's also the first time we've come, Jueming, you go in and ask." ”

"Okay."

As soon as Su Jueming ran into the alley, Xiao Wuzi couldn't help but ask: "This big brother, do you know where Rishengchang is, not far from here?" ”

The porter was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously asked: "Rishengchang seems to be a ticket number?" ”

Seeing Han Xiufeng frowning slightly, Xiao Wuzi realized that he had asked the wrong person, and hurriedly said: "Is Rishengchang a ticket number, I thought it was the Civil Information Bureau." ”

"You want to carry letters, there are many places where you can carry letters, and there is a civil letter bureau when you leave the alley, but I heard that some places can get it, and some places can't. Anyway, it doesn't matter if the letter can help you get it, but the foot money can't be missing. ”

"Oh, thanks."

As soon as Xiao Wuzi finished saying thanks, a familiar figure ran out of the alley with Su Jueming, and as soon as he saw Han Xiufeng, he arched his hand and said, "Fourth master, why did you only arrive today, is the journey still smooth?" ”

"It's okay, what about your brother?"

Zhang Guangsheng explained while motioning to the porters to pick up the suitcases and luggage in: "My cousin and my sister-in-law have already returned to their hometown in Qiantang, and the three houses in the alley are the property of the same villager. ”

"We don't have to live here, we can do it at the guest house." Han Xiufeng said with a smile.

"Fourth master, listen to me." Zhang Guangsheng pulled Han Xiufeng aside and said in a low voice: "My brother explained before leaving, he said that it is inconvenient for your business to be done in the city, so I asked my fellow villagers to help you rent a house in the north of the city, not far from the main road." I've asked someone to clean up the house, so go and rest first, and I'll send you there later." ”

Han Xiufeng has heard a lot of various place names, there are streets, alleys and alleys, but he has never heard of any roads, and subconsciously asked: "Avenida road?" ”

"It's the road in front of the foreigner's horse racing hall, the horse racing hall is not big, and the foreigner can't run away, so he often runs on the road in front of him, so that road is called the big road."

"So the house is in the foreigner's concession?"

"No, just close."

Thinking of seeing so many foreigners along the way, but not being able to see in the city for a few days, and then thinking of the officials and villagers who guarded the city gate and the streets and alleys, Han Xiufeng felt that it was better to live outside the city, after all, if buying a gun could not alarm the yamen, he would not alarm the yamen, and smiled happily: "Okay, I'll listen to you all when I get here." ”

"Fourth master, what are you talking about, Guangsheng can help you run errands is a blessing that Guangsheng has cultivated for eight lifetimes."

Han Xiufeng smiled, followed Zhang Guangsheng into the narrow alley, came to a low room, looked at the boxes and luggage that were almost piled up in the room, and couldn't help but turn around and said: "Guangsheng, we won't rest here, please help me find a few more porters and help me send my luggage to the north of the city." ”

"Let's go, I want to give you a few more to catch the wind."

"Be your own person, what kind of wind will you take." Han Xiufeng thought for a while, and then said: "You find another person to send Xiao Wuzi to Rishengchang, this is not a place to talk, what is the matter will be talked about when you wait until the mansion you rented for me." ”

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