Shui Ling stood up and shouted, "Dad, I have a guest here who wants to charter a boat, I will send her over, and I will stay at my second aunt's house for the night." ”

The boat on the opposite side had already approached, and the boatman was Shui Ling's father, and said, "Okay, then you should be careful." ”

Shui Ling said again: "Ming'er, I'll pull a few guests from Jiangkou and come back." If you don't have any guests here, don't make any more trips. I'll wait a little longer and forget about the people coming back. ”

Shui Ling's father agreed, "It's okay." But you have to come back at noon at the latest, don't wait until it gets dark and don't go home, your mother is worried. ”

After saying these words on both sides, the two boats had already gone in opposite directions.

Shui Ling smiled and said to Su Jinyao: "Look, my father is relieved that I will hold the boat over, you should also rest assured." ”

Su Jinyao said: "I've been on the boat for so long, how can I feel at ease." Besides, I can swim too, and I don't have to worry about it. ”

After saying that, the two girls laughed again. It's a joke along the way, and I don't feel that the waterway is long.

Because it was a smooth wind, I could already see the estuary before evening.

Shui Ling said: "I have to stop the boat a little further." The water near the mouth of the river is fast, and my boat can't hold it, and if I turn into the river down the river, it will be difficult to come back. You walk from the shore and go to the mouth of the river and ask if there is a boat to where you are going. ”

Su Jinyao nodded and said, "Then you should be careful." ”

Shui Ling pointed to the shore and said, "My second aunt's house is over there, and she has opened a small restaurant guarding the mouth of the river, and she also stays with guests." If you don't have the boat to leave tonight, come to my second aunt's house and stay overnight. ”

The goods of the Liu family

Su Jinyao felt that this water spirit was really (rè) (qíng), nodded, and took out a small piece of silver from his pocket, at least no less than four cents.

When the boat docked, Su Jinyao handed the silver to Shui Ling and said, "Thank you, I'll go first." ”

"Hey, it's too much, these silver are at least fifty copper plates." Shui Ling is also (tǐng) real, and insists on retrieving a few copper plates for Su Jinyao.

Su Jinyao said: "No need, thank you for talking to me all the way and showing me the way." If I really can't find the boat, I'll stay and see it. ”

Shui Ling said: "Then you come, stay in a room with me at night, and don't want your money." However, the meal has to be counted separately, not by me, but by my second aunt. ”

"Okay." Su Jinyao agreed, lifted things and jumped off the boat neatly.

Shui Ling also dismounted, dragged the boat to the shore, and carried the oars away.

Su Jinyao walked a short distance forward and came to the wharf at the mouth of the river. There are seven or eight boats here, and all of them are big boats, and there are many workers carrying them back and forth, and it seems that this waterway is still thriving.

Su Jinyao looked around, she didn't understand the matter of the waterway (qíng), and found an old man who didn't seem to be busy, like a manager, and asked, "Uncle, let me ask, is there a boat here to Xiyuezhou?" ”

The old man nodded, pointed at You, and said, "Yes." The third boat over there was a cargo ship carrying guests. But it is slow, and it will take at least five days to arrive. ”

Su Jinyao frowned, it wasn't that she didn't have time, but she didn't want to delay in the waterway if she had time. "Is there a faster passenger ship?" he asked. ”

"There is no special passenger ship that goes that far, unless it is a chartered ship by itself, and then there are cargo ships with passengers." The old man looked around the ferry, pointed to a boat, and said, "The boat over there passes through Xiyuezhou, but it is the Liu family's own cargo ship, and you have to ask if you want to carry the guests." ”

Su Jinyao said "thank you" and walked towards the Liu family's boat over there, wanting to ask if she could take her to Xiyuezhou.

She pondered that she didn't want to charter a big boat as a last resort. The waste of money is still two things, mainly because she doesn't want to be too public. Walking in such a low-key way, it is good to be free and comfortable all the way.

At this time, it was already evening, and there were workers busy under the Liu family's boat. Some load goods, and some carry baskets of rice and vegetables to the noodles. It seems that when you go a long way, you have to be prepared for these things.

Su Jinyao stood under the boat and watched for a while, when a man with a small head came over and asked, "Childe, I don't know if you're looking for someone?" Or is there something? ”

Su Jinyao arched her hand and said, "This big brother, I want to go to Xiyue Prefecture, I heard that your ship is passing by, come and ask if you can take me." ”

"Oh, I see." The head said politely: "Our ship did pass through Xiyuezhou, but the ship has already taken a few guests, and the cabin is full." I'm going to ask the captain of the ship to see if he can take you with him. ”

Su Jinyao said: "Thank you very much." ”

The head of the head asked again: "Does Childe have a lot of luggage?" If there are still goods, then I am afraid that it will not work. ”

"No, no." Su Jinyao raised the umbrella and burden in her hand and said, "These two." ”

"Hehe, that's not a big deal. Let me tell you about it. So saying, the little man sailed away. It seems that he is still a (rè) heart.

The little head came back after a while, and with an apologetic face, he said: "I'm sorry, Childe, let's talk about it, the guests who took the boat first have already paid a deposit, let this boat take a few of them, and no longer take other guests." ”

This is also similar to the form of charter boats, some people are not willing to ride with other people, just pay more silver. It's just that while carrying passengers and pulling goods, you can save a lot of silver.

Su Jinyao originally had no intention of forcing it. Since someone else arrived first, and someone wanted to charter a boat and paid for it, they had to abide by their rules.

If it was her, of course, she didn't want others to disturb her after chartering the boat.

However, Su Jinyao was about to turn (shēn) kung fu, and casually glanced at the ship, and saw that a window in the cabin on the second floor was suddenly closed.

It stands to reason that it is normal to open and close windows.

But Su Jinyao turned her head to look at the past kung fu to close the window, and she closed it so urgently? Isn't it too weird and too coincidental?

Therefore, Su Jinyao looked at the ship again, and saw that the workers had been moving goods to the ship, but it seemed that the goods were not heavy, and the boat (shēn) did not have much draft.

Su Jinyao asked casually: "Dare to ask big brother, what kind of goods are you going on this trip?" Other people's ships take five days to pull goods, but your ship still arrives in three days? It's fast. ”

The little head smiled and said, "It's still silk and medicinal herbs." These two things seem to be incompatible, but they are the two best businesses that our Liu family and Helian family have done. This time, I just passed through Xiyue Prefecture and directly delivered the goods to the estuary terminal in Xinghai. There it was directly loaded into a sea ship and transported to Nanyuan State. ”

This order is a business with the Helian family, a merchant ship sent to the Nanyuan Kingdom?

Su Jinyao's heart beat a small drum, and she always felt that this matter was not just a coincidence.

"Childe, I'm really sorry, we really can't give you a pick-up. Look at ......" The little head thought that Su Jinyao was unwilling, so he had to say: "Otherwise, I know the brother who ran the boat, let them help Gongzi ask you, see whose boat is still going to Xiyuezhou, let them carry you." ”

Su Jinyao nodded and said, "Thank you, big brother." I'm not familiar with this area, and I really don't have a clue. If you can help, help me ask, I'm in a hurry to go to Xiyuezhou, and I'm going to arrive before the first day of junior high school. If it takes five days to travel by water, it will definitely not be able to arrive on time. ”

After speaking, Su Jinyao also took out more than a dozen copper plates and sent them away.

Since it is asking someone to do something, I have to express my heart to some extent. It's not about paying for a relationship, it's about being polite and respectful.

And it's not good to give too much money, a little heart, let people know that you are an understanding person, and sincerely help you do things.

The little head took the copper plate and said in a loud voice: "Wait a minute, Childe, I'll go and ask you." My name is Yu Datou, and this dock is still familiar, so I'll go back and forth. ”

With that, the fish turned (shēn) and went to a nearby boat.

Su Jinyao saw that he had said a few words to the person on the boat, and trotted over to the boat in the distance, it seemed that he was really doing things with his heart.

Su Jinyao stood here, ostensibly waiting for Yu Datou to reply to her, but secretly she had quietly paid attention to the condition of the ship's cabin.

The window has not been opened since it was suddenly closed, but Su Jinyao always felt that the people inside were quietly watching this side.

Small grasshoppers

Su Jinyao could already clearly feel that someone in the cabin was looking this way. But she was not in a hurry, and waited safely at the dock for Yu Datou to reply to her.

After waiting for a while, the big head of the fish came back, followed by a boy of twelve or thirteen.

The young man looked like he had been working outside all the year round, and he was tanned. On such a cold day, he was still wearing a single coat, and his face was pale and his lips were blue.

Yu Datou ran to Su Jinyao with the young man and said, "Childe, his name is Little Grasshopper, and his master's boat also passes by Xiyuezhou." Our ship is loaded tonight and leaves early tomorrow morning, and our ship is half a day late. But their boats are smaller and lighter, and I guess the road can catch us. Do you think it's okay to take their boat? If you can, let the grasshopper take you there. Their boat was still anchored in the estuary downstream, and they would wait until our boat had left, and they would come back to load it. ”

Su Jinyao said: "Okay, be able to arrive on time." Thank you Brother Yu for your help. Then he said to the little grasshopper: "Then please take me there." ”

The little grasshopper nodded and said to the big head of the fish: "Brother big head, then I'll go." ”

Yu Datou waved his hand and said, "Go, go, treat this son well." ”

The little grasshopper led Su Jinyao to trot downstream. It's not that he's in a hurry, it's that his clothes are thin, and he walks slowly and coldly.

Su Jinyao followed him (shēn) and had to go all the way. He asked, "It's so cold, why don't you wear more?" Is it difficult at home? ”

The little grasshopper nodded and said, "The family is poor, but there are cotton clothes, and I took them off in the cargo hold of the ship just now." The eldest brother called me to pick up someone, and I ran out quickly, forgetting to wear it. ”

Su Jinyao took out five coins, handed them to him, and said, "Please let you run away from the cold, this is a thank you." ”

The little grasshopper looked at the copper plate, but did not reach out to take it, but hurriedly waved his hand and said: "No, no, I am running an errand, how can I ask for money to lead the way." Childe, take it. When you go out, you have to leave more money in (shēn). ”

Su Jinyao smiled and walked a few steps to stop the little grasshopper, stuffed the copper plate into him, and said, "There is not much money, not enough to buy you a bowl of noodles to eat." Don't worry about it, just keep it. In the past two days, I may need you to take care of your boat. ”

The little grasshopper pursed her lips, looked at the money again, and then took two copper plates, and returned the rest to Su Jinyao. "That's enough," he said. No one has ever given me a tip before. Thank you, Childe. ”

Su Jinyao felt that this kid was real, and he didn't even want to give money, and he didn't want much.

But this is really rare, and the remaining three dollars are recovered. Anyway, I'm on the ship these days, and I'll find another opportunity to give it to him.

The grasshopper began to trot again, but it talked a lot.

He said to Su Jinyao: "My master's boat is not as big as the Liu family's boat, but it goes fast, and the head and sailor are also good hands. I heard the eldest brother say that the son is in a hurry, so don't worry about the son taking our boat, it's fast and safe, maybe he can really chase the Liu family's boat. ”

Su Jinyao said: "Yes, I have to arrive before the first day of junior high school, and I am really in a hurry." ”

Because I was in a hurry, it didn't take long to arrive at a river mouth. This is not the confluence of large rivers and small rivers, but a bay of this river, and there are several cargo ships parked here.

The little grasshopper pointed to the outermost cargo ship and said, "That's my master's ship." ”

Su Jinyao looked in the direction of the little grasshopper's finger, and saw that the boat was indeed not as big as the one just now, and it was single-decker, only the middle part was a few cabins, and the front and rear were used to store goods.

However, this ship looks (tǐng) new, and it is estimated that it can indeed run fast.

The little grasshopper led Su Jinyao's boat, took her all the way to the cabin, and arranged for her to live in one of its rooms.

The grasshopper said, "We are all at home when we don't sail the boat, and we don't come here until the boat is sailing." However, he has a good relationship with the eldest brother, and the eldest brother arranged for your son, so you can stay here with peace of mind. When we get back, I'll bring him to you. As for whether the cost of this ride is more or less, you have to talk to the head yourself, what I said doesn't count, and what the big head brother said doesn't count. ”

Su Jinyao said: "Okay, I understand. Thank you. ”

The little grasshopper was about to go out, so he stopped when he walked to the door, turned back and said to Su Jinyao in a low voice: "Childe, our boat usually carries a guest, and the money is collected separately for the day and night, and thirty each is collected during the day and night, and there is no food." If the son wants to eat and drink on the ship, he must count the money separately. Don't look at this boat walking on the river, but the river water can't be drunk directly, so a pot of boiling water costs money. You have to walk for at least three days by water to get to Xiyuezhou, and you talk to the boss about it, and give a total of 150, and eat, drink, and live on the boat. You said that the big boss gave you this price, and the head boss agreed. ”

Su Jinyao understood that this was a little sweetness for the little grasshopper, and he kindly told himself some internal low-cost lines (qíng).

It seems that no matter ancient or modern, as long as you go out, you may encounter all kinds of black-hearted unreasonable charges. However, there is an insider who reminds you that you can save money and trouble.

Su Jinyao said, "Thank you, little grasshopper." I'll talk to him when I get my head up. ”

The little grasshopper nodded, said "no thanks", and turned (shēn) away.

Su Jinyao slowly looked at the cabin. The cabins of the ship are very small, simple enough to be described as rudimentary. Entering the house is a place as large as the foot of the station, a small wooden (chuáng), four (chuáng) legs nailed to the floor, and nothing else.

Su Jinyao has neither luggage nor picky about the environment. As soon as she put her things down, she sat down (chuáng) and took out the scallion pancakes that the guy had prepared for her earlier and ate them.

While eating, the little grasshopper came again, carrying a steaming copper kettle, placing it on the table, and said, "Childe, drink some water." I didn't sail the boat, but this water doesn't cost money. ”

Su Jinyao asked with a smile: "Then what about the boat, can I stay here tonight?" ”

The little grasshopper said, "Of course." Tomorrow before dawn, we will go to the dock to line up, and when the big ship of the Liu family leaves, we will immediately dock to load the goods, and then we will set off. Our ship is small, and we make this quick money. It takes half a day for the other ships to solicit business. So you stay tonight, don't get up tomorrow morning and leave the boat tomorrow morning, and leave directly when the goods are loaded. If you go to live elsewhere, you will have to wait for your ship, and you will be delayed. ”

Of course, Su Jinyao understands that this small boat and small business also have their own way of survival.

After the little grasshopper finished speaking, Su Jinyao began to wonder what was going on with the Liu family's boat and the thief with a thief brain.

There are nails under the water?

In Su Jinyao's mind, those people lived in the cabin, and they should not be the crew of the ship. And they didn't follow them after they left, and they shouldn't have come for them.

So, they originally came for the Liu family? I don't let myself ship, probably because I am afraid that I will mess with their affairs (qíng).

Of course, it may also be that Su Jinyao thinks too much, and those guests may be more timid, or (shēn) have a lot of money, so they are so cautious in order to avoid being discovered.

But what if they were really for Su Jinyao's goods? The goods were shipped to Helian's family, does that prove that these people are likely to come to Helian's family?

Thinking of this, Su Jinyao felt that it would be fine if it was really fine, but if there was something, I was afraid that the involvement would not be small.

While pondering like this, I also ate a piece of bread. There was only one scallion pancake left, and Su Jinyao wrapped it again and put it in the baggage. I poured a glass of water and drank it slowly.

The condition of the boat is not good, and the bedding, although thick, is not so clean. And it is estimated that it is placed on the ship all year round, and there is a musty smell of dampness.

Therefore, when Su Jinyao saw that it was dark, she just lay down in her clothes, pulled the quilt and covered it to the mouth of the (xiōng), and did not cover it again.

In the second half of the night, Su Jinyao heard the boat moving, as if it was a human ship.

Su Jinyao is estimated to be the leader that the grasshopper said, and he is also the captain. But no one came to greet her, and Su Jinyao pretended not to know, turned over (shēn) and continued to sleep.

After a while, Su Jinyao felt the boat move, and then when the anchor was lifted, the "creak" sound of the noose.

It's a boat. However, the boat walked on the river surface quite smoothly, and Su Jinyao could feel a slight shaking while lying on the small wood (chuáng), but it was not uncomfortable, so she slept even deeper.

When I opened my eyes again, it was already dark, the ship was parked, and I could hear footsteps walking back and forth on the deck, and the "thump" sound of cargo being put down.