Heavy snow covered both sides of the Yangtze River, but the water did not freeze.

Jiang Liusu was wrapped in a thick brocade quilt, sniffled and came to the deck, and said, "Damn, I clearly don't feel cold, but this wind is like a biting bone." ”

Wang Lucao and Shen Kang were each wearing thick hats, and there was a small square couch table in the middle, and next to the couch was a small tandoor with a charcoal fire, and the wine was warmed through the water on the crest, and the aroma of wine slowly overflowed, with a little warmth.

Shen Kang said with a smile: "The climate in the north and south is different, the land of Gusu hugs Taihu Lake in the west, and the Yangtze River in the north, with four distinct seasons, mild climate and abundant rainfall, which is naturally different from our Runing Mansion." ”

Jiang Liuxuan squatted down with his mouth shut, shrunk his neck, stretched out a hand to pinch the wine glass, drank a glass, and then quickly retracted his hand, and said while smashing his mouth: "In a land with a lot of rain, winter is so cold, eh, what is this called, I said that I came to appreciate the southern style, how did I catch up with winter, it really annoyed me." ”

Wang Lucao pursed his lips and smiled, and said: "There are three days before the New Year, and it is difficult to walk on the road, so I will stay in Gusu until the beginning of spring." ”

Jiang Liuxuan nodded and said, "I don't know if we will cause trouble for Brother Bai if we go rashly." ”

Shen Kang smiled and said: "You are also the one who talks about Brother Bai all day long, and you are about to meet, but you are afraid of causing trouble to Brother Bai, so why don't we bother?" ”

"That's not going to work!" Jiang Liuxuan retorted anxiously, then paused, and said: "I mean, Mr. Baishi once lectured on us, and he can be regarded as our mentor in terms of affection and reason, Changzhou Runing is separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, you say, how difficult it is for us to come on this trip, Mr. Baishi is getting older, in the future, we... If you go back, you will be busy with the imperial examination, and if you miss this meeting, you won't know when you can meet, is this reasonable! ”

Shen Kang agreed with the expected expression, looked at Wang Lucao and smiled, and the two shook their heads.

Wang Lu said: "You are so simple, we don't know how to talk to you." He smiled to himself again, and then said: "Relax, since we are here, we are going to take you to see Bai Gongzi, and you will not pass by." ”

Jiang Liuxuan heard Wang Lucao's assurance, although he was not very comfortable, he was very happy, and nodded: "That's good!" He stood up, raised his eyes to look at the mountains on both sides of the river, and said with a smile: "I probably can't hear the ape cry at this time, right?" ”

Shen Kang and Wang Lucao were just about to answer, but they heard a sound of grunting coming from the cliff on the left, which was high and urgent, like crying, which made people feel sad when they heard it.

Wang Lucao's pupils dilated, stood up, came to the side of the boat on the left, and looked at the cliff, but saw a black dot walking through the snow-white mountains.

Shen Kang said in surprise: "Brother Jiang, your mouth is open, right?" He smiled and said, "Could it be that like Luo Zhao, he was born with a "sage mouth", what kind of spirit do you say?" ”

Wang Lucao chuckled when he heard this, turned his head to look at it, and said with a smile: "Not only did he say something about the spirit, but also his luck was extraordinary, did you forget that when we were looking for the Nine Dragon Waterfall, didn't he find it first." ”

Shen Kang said with a smile: "Brother Jiang's blessing is not comparable to ordinary people. ”

Jiang Liu pouted and said, "Hehe, it's a coincidence." ”

"Childe!"

The boatman called out, interrupting the conversation and laughter of the three men.

Wang Lucao smiled and asked, "What does the boat family have to talk about?" ”

The boatman smiled: "In another hour, we will arrive at the ferry of Suzhou Mansion, so get ready to prepare." ”

When the three of them heard the good news, they all smiled and bowed their hands: "Thank you, boatman." ”

Jiang Liusu smiled lowly and asked, "Boat man, you have been running boats all year round, and the eldest lady in the family can be regarded as suffering, and the taste of being alone in the empty boudoir is not comfortable." ”

The boatman pressed the hat on his head to block the snow, and said: "My generation is like a son, surrounded by beautiful wives and concubines, my dead ghost and old woman, I will leave the West in the first ten years!" ”

Jiang Liu's heart was moved, a little unbearable, and asked, "Since you have already lost your wife, why don't you continue to have a room?" ”

The boatman smiled even more embarrassedly and said, "Childe, where are you talking about!" Our old coffin, and there is not a single brick or tile in the house, which girl can see it? ”

Jiang Liu said, "Huh." The boatman looked at it and was not confused, how could he say it so twilight. ”

The boatman grinned and said, "The son can see it, so he will use our boat more and let us save a few wives, hahahahaha!" ”

Jiang Liu patted his chest arrogantly and said, "Make!" What kind of great thing is this, your boat, even if I charter it, how about our trip? ”

The boatman was so happy that his smiling eyes narrowed into a slit, and he shook the boat vigorously and said, "Thank you, Son!" Thank you, Childe! ”

The boatman turned his head, blew his nose, and showed a mouthful of yellow teeth, laughing but not making a sound.

When they heard that they were about to land, they began to prepare their things, and as they had been arranged, they left the extra guards to wait at the ferry in turn, while the others accompanied them into the city.

This trip, Sanshao plans to stay in Changzhou until the beginning of spring, but it will take three months, so there are more things to prepare.

Shen Kang smiled and entered the cabin, found Liu Shu, and said, "Bring the drawings I took." ”

Liu Shu nodded and asked with a smile: "Did Childe mean that the drawing of the gyro?" ”

Shen Kang breathed a long sigh of relief and said, "Yes." ”

Liu Shu smiled and asked, "Childe is planning to find a craftsman to make things on the map?" ”

Shen Kang smiled and said, "After it is made, I will give it to you to play with." ”

Liu Shu arched his hand and smiled: "Thank you, son." Then he happily went to pack his things.

Shen Kang still remembers that according to the record of "Suzhou Mansion Customs Examination", Suzhou in the Ming Dynasty "in the east of the county city, all of them practiced the machinery industry, and the craftsmen had their own specialties." The craftsman has a permanent master, and the day is valued. The ownerless, the dawn bridges are waiting. …… Housing work is reduced, and there is nothing to feed and wear. ”

In a short paragraph, it contains many meanings.

First: the craftsmen of Suzhou in the Ming Dynasty were highly skilled.

Second, there is a labor market in Suzhou.

Third, there is often unemployment in the local area.

Fourth: the implementation of hourly wages.

As early as when he was in Fengyang Mansion, Shen Kang discovered the spherical sachet and studied the gyroscope inside, wanting to apply its technology to navigation. Since then, he has planned to take this important event to Suzhou, a place full of skilled craftsmen.

This is the most important reason why he agreed to go to Suzhou first and then Nanjing, and he can also predict that there is a difference between whether the composition is valid or not and whether it can be made.

Everyone often says that the ideal is very plump, the reality is very skinny, and Shen Kang wants to find scattered skilled craftsmen in Suzhou to fight a tough battle.

The Suzhou ferry port is getting closer and closer, he exhaled a long breath, his lips rose slightly, his ideals, although very grand, but always have to be down-to-earth step by step to do, at least he is constantly moving forward, so, why not be afraid of the long way?