There was a man in the cabin, much neater than the barefoot sailors outside, pacing back and forth in a pair of thick-soled felt boots, frowning, and not knowing what he was thinking. Jing Feng walked in and shouted "Uncle Lian" coldly, this person was startled, and he calmed down, before he reprimanded: "Seeing that the boat is about to sail, you kid still know to come back!" ”

"Didn't I go find you a star puller?" Jing Feng smiled, turned back to Cheng Ruoxuan and said: "This is the fire chief, the ship boss we usually say, the entire fleet is under his control, you just listen to his orders in the future." ”

"Wait." The fire chief surnamed Lian was angry and funny, and reprimanded: "I haven't spoken yet, you are in charge of your own affairs?" It's getting harder and harder to find a star puller now, but don't just grab a little girl to blind me. ”

"What's wrong with the little girl? It's a bad guy who dares to get on board. Jing Feng was not polite to him, and said sarcastically, "Uncle Lian, the one you originally raised on the boat is a real man, I just mentioned a few words casually, and I was scared like that, and I don't know where to hide." ”

Cheng Ruoxuan remembered what Jing Feng said before, raised his eyebrows, and said in his heart that this position was really "forged" by him.

Huo Chang was so angry that his beard shook twice, and finally sighed as if compromised, and said to Cheng Ruoxuan: "Will the star-pulling board be used?" ”

Cheng Ruoxuan knew that the star-pulling board, which was a necessary tool for the night boat to identify the direction, and after the Son of Heaven issued a ban, there was no record, but he didn't expect that the boat was still in use today. It seems that the people's attitude towards the stars is really more tolerant than in the court.

According to the records in the history books, the use of the star-holding board is quite simple, and you can master it with a little knowledge of mathematics. But she hadn't used it herself after all, and she couldn't help but hesitate when answering. I heard Jing Feng boasting on the side: "Don't stop the star board." Early in the morning, Xu Laosi bragged on the dock, saying that the mackerel in the sea had become fine, and ran to his dream to tell about the storm. The 'ears' of your old man's men like to join in the fun, and they must report it. Now, this shark fairy who can see the heavens is standing in front of you. ”

Cheng Ruoxuan remembered that the Pei family was still on the cusp, and said that this time he returned to Mingzhou, and he might have to reveal his identity on the voyage, so he couldn't be careless, so he made up without a trace: "I can't talk about understanding celestial phenomena, but I have seen a lot, and I can conclude it." Isn't it the same with the old sailors who are used to seeing the wind and waves at sea? ”

The fire chief was suspicious, looked at her a few times, and said, "If you can distinguish the weather, that is also a rare talent." However, I need a star puller here, so I can help determine the direction at night. In broad daylight, it's not good to test you with the star-holding board. Well, I ask you, which star shall we look at as our ship is heading southwest? ”

Cheng Ruoxuanxin said that since Huo Chang dared to ask, he might also understand something. She thought for a moment and said calmly: "There are thousands of weather at sea, and naturally there is whichever one you have, you will see which one." ”

The fire chief was surprised and amused, and blurted out, "What is this?" He listened to Jing Feng's blow, and originally had some hope for Cheng Ruoxuan; Now that I heard this crazy remark, I felt that the little girl in front of me was just here to fool people.

When Jing Feng heard this, he was also a little surprised. He raised his eyelids, glanced at Cheng Ruoxuan with interest, and then copied his hand, making it clear that he was going to watch the play, and he had no intention of helping at all.

Cheng Ruoxuan said: "Don't worry, it's not at night, it's not good for me to explain to you empty-handedly." Do you have a star map on this ship? I'll show you one by one, and you'll know I'm not talking nonsense. ”

Suspicious, the fire chief took a roll of vellum and handed it to her.

Cheng Ruoxuan unfolded it and took a look, the leather paper was tattered, obviously some years old, the stars were scattered, the ink was floating, fortunately, the handwriting on it was still barely legible. She glanced at it, and saw that the names of the stars marked were no different from those she had read, and then she was relieved. She had long remembered the location of the heavens and stars, and she specially came to the star map to confirm the matter. After all, what appears in the book is the record of the previous dynasty, and if it does not match the common sayings of the people, it will be troublesome to explain.

"With our location, we only need to find the Beiluo Division, and it will not be a problem to calculate the location. If you happen to be covered by the clouds, then go back to Beichen. Cheng Ruoxuan said, pointing his fingers to the star map one by one. She used to play chess pieces in the boudoir with such a gesture, elegant and neat, without the slightest hesitation and entanglement, "When you enter the sea area of Mingjiang Province and the southern sky is clear, you can go to see Si Buxing, pointing directly to the southwest, which is much more convenient." It's just that the Booth Star is not very conspicuous, and the fog on the sea is heavy, so it must take some effort to find it. In this case, it's better to watch the old man's star......"

She said arose, leaning over slightly, and a dilapidated star map was reflected in her eyes, as if there was really a little starlight jumping.

Suddenly, one asked, "What if a thick cloud rises in the south and spreads all the way to the north, covering everything you have just said?" ”

"That's fine." Cheng Ruoxuan said without thinking: "There are many stars in the sky, as long as the trajectory can be calculated, why bother with a few bright stars!" For example, there is a small star on the right wall of Ziwei, located in the extreme north, which looks almost close to the ground from the area of Mingjiang Province, but has never fallen, and can also be used to point—" Her finger had already drawn to the location of the small star, and she did not admit that the old star map had been imprinted. She kept an eye on it, skipped Xiaoxing's name "Xuanshuo" and replied, "Besides, even if the clouds are cloudy, there will always be a time to dissipate." I really have to ......"

Halfway through her words, she had already reacted, the dialect of Zhuxiang was similar to Mingjiang, and there were a lot of awkwardness, although this person also had some accents, but he spoke gently and moistly, which was completely different from Jing Feng, and it was not like it came from the mouth of the fire chief who was not confused by the old age. As soon as she looked up, she saw a green-shirted person at the door, this person was long and jade, and his eyes fell on her silently, and he dyed her in a trance.

There was silence for a moment. Suddenly, a strange thought arose to her: Could it be that they had met somewhere?

She obviously had no impression of the face.

The man met her eyes and smiled faintly: "What? ”

She felt rude, quickly withdrew her gaze, and continued, "...... It is really a last resort, just hold the fleet, and when the weather is clear, you can naturally find your way. ”

The man nodded and said, "It's really good." ”

The fire chief has already greeted him, "Sir is here." ”

The person who came said "um", walked closer, and asked Cheng Ruoxuan, "What's your name?" ”

It was offensive for others to ask about the name of their daughter's family, but this person opened his mouth with his own demeanor, drizzling clothes, idle flowers on the ground, and no one could feel that it was abrupt. Cheng Ruoxuan was about to answer, but Jing Feng suddenly stepped forward and interjected, "Her name is Ah Xuan." Without waiting for the man to speak again, he hurriedly said to the fire chief: "Okay, now that I have passed the exam, you see that the position of this star puller really belongs to her, right?" ”

He stood on the side and watched the play, and suddenly ran out to kill what kind of hero? Cheng Ruoxuan glanced at him inexplicably, Jing Feng ignored her, just kept the pestle in the middle, and really didn't know who he was confronting against.

The fire captain looked at them and hesitated: "What the hell is a little girl, walking with the boat for a month, it won't work, right?" ”

When Cheng Ruoxuan heard this, his eyebrows furrowed, thinking that according to what Jing Feng said before, when he arrived in Mingjiang in a few days, he could get off the boat at any time; What about this month's voyage? was about to make an inquiry, when he saw Jing Feng with one hand behind his back, and said "shhhhhhhh

The first to speak was the man in the green shirt: "I think the fire chief is too worried." As long as you can take on the responsibility, whether you are a little girl or not, you can be a star puller. ”

Jing Feng seemed a little surprised, raised his eyes and looked at him again, and said, "That's exactly the truth." He was obviously agreeing, but for some reason there was a sense of unwillingness between his eyebrows.

Cheng Ruoxuan stood in the middle and suddenly felt funny. It's obviously her own business that is being discussed, why are the people who are talking about it? She said to the fire chief: "I don't think there will be a problem with the stars." If the fire chief still has any concerns, he might as well say it, and we will discuss them one by one. ”

Huo Chang pondered for a long time, but did not say a single concern worth discussing, and the atmosphere suddenly became awkward. The man in green shirt on the side smiled and said, "Since this is the case, it is better to make up for it." Huo Chang still seemed to be a little hesitant, but he also obeyed, and there was no more objection.

They seemed to have something else to say, and Jing Feng had no intention of staying longer, so he pulled Cheng Ruoxuan and left. The two returned to the dock, Jing Feng entrusted someone to bring a message to Fourth Brother Xu, and said that the big thing was negotiated, and it should be celebrated, leading Cheng Ruoxuan to walk around for a while, and finally stopped in front of a noodle stall.

"That's it," Jing Feng said with satisfaction, "the place is a little off, and the price is cheap." Boss, two bowls of shredded pork noodles! ”

The hot noodle soup was served on the table, and the hot air came to his nose wrapped in fragrance, Cheng Ruoxuan took a deep breath and couldn't help but move his index finger. She was used to seeing jade delicacies, and she never imagined that she would one day be impressed by such a rough and ordinary bowl of noodles.

Maybe she's really hungry. Or maybe she finally saw the hope of going home, her limbs were refreshed, and a mouthful of hot soup was enough to warm her heart.

Seeing this, Jing Feng smiled, "I'm right, right?" Eat it while it's hot, and when we're on the boat, we'll never be able to eat it again. ”

Cheng Ruoxuan remembered what happened in the cabin, and said casually: "Who is that person?" ”

Jing Feng's cheeks bulged, and he replied vaguely: "Who are you talking about?" ”

"The man in the blue clothes." Cheng Ruoxuan said, "You don't seem to like him very much." ”

"Why should I like him?" Jing Feng was a little dissatisfied: "The spice merchant got on the ship, he really came to find trouble. ”

"Spice Merchant?" Cheng Ruoxuan suddenly understood that her previous delusional acquaintance with the man in green shirts may have been due to a faint smell of green wood on that person's body. Dignitaries and nobles are accustomed to using spices to smoke clothes, and the three generations of the Pei family are no exception, such as green wood incense, tonka incense, etc., which she often has at home. "But," she wondered, "this is a pearling ship, how can there be a spice merchant?" ”

"Pick incense on the boat. There is a kind of ambergris in the sea, which is very valuable. Jing Feng said, "Pity the pearl divers on the ship, it's not enough to desperately pick up pearl mussels, you have to salvage spices for them." How much effort is spent on this, and the rising wages are not even enough to plug the teeth, and sometimes it is simply in vain. ”

Cheng Ruoxuan was puzzled: "How can there be such a thing? ”

"These people are imperial merchants, and it couldn't be easier to requisition the fleet. If the fire chief wants to deal with the government, he has to rely on these people to help pull the strings, and it is too late to convince them, so how dare he ask for more wages? Jing Feng said angrily, waved his hand and said, "Don't mention it!" Eat it while it's hot, as soon as the noodle soup is cold, the taste is much worse. ”

The noodle soup is still warm, but Cheng Ruoxuan's heart is no longer delicious. She thought she had some insight, but she really didn't know what to say at this time, so she had to expose it and eat noodles with her head down.

The fleet departed in the early afternoon. There is a narrow attic on the top of the cabin, which is specially designed for stargazing and lookout. Cheng Ruoxuan shrank in this attic, frowning and studying the tools used by the star puller.

In fact, most of these things are simple and easy to use, and she relies on the foundation of astrology and mathematics, and uses the Tao to control the technique, and she knows it in her heart when she looks at it, and she doesn't need to figure it out. She shouldn't have spent time tossing around tools right now. The star puller should look at the stars at night, and his work and rest are different from those of the boatmen, and the fire captain specially told her to sleep well, otherwise it will be difficult to survive the whole night. She squinted for a moment wrapped in a blanket, and in less than half an hour she got up and retched by the window.

She was seasick.