Su Jinyao rubbed her eyes (shēn), and there was no basin or water in the house to wash her face. She had to rub and pat her face with her hands, so that the skin of her face was stimulated by massage, and people could wake up faster.

When Su Jinyao folded the quilt and walked out of the cabin, she saw that the goods on both sides of the deck had been piled up (tǐng) high.

Su Jinyao looked around the deck, and a swarthy and sturdy young man walked over. asked, "Childe, is it the guest introduced by the big head brother?" ”

"It's me. You are...... The head of the boat. Su Jinyao nodded and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't say hello to you and stayed, and I still slept until now." ”

"It's okay, it's okay. My surname is Zhang, and everyone calls me Zhang. "This one doesn't look so philistine. He said politely to Su Jinyao (tǐng): "Since it was introduced by the big head brother, it is a distinguished guest." And the little grasshopper also told me, you are going to Xiyuezhou. For the next three days, we were all brothers in the same boat, so we didn't care so much. ”

Su Jinyao said "thank you", and then said, "My surname is Liu." Since you said that we are all brothers in the same boat, then I will not say anything else. You're also eating on the boat, and I don't know the rules of the boat, so you can tell me the real price. ”

Tou Zhang thought for a while and said, "I don't know if anyone has told Liu Gongzi that this boat ride is different from hiring a car, the boat goes on the river, and it is all night in order to hurry." Therefore, (rì) is counted as the distance, and the night is also counted as the distance, and the boat money is also calculated separately (rì) from the night. ”

Su Jinyao hurriedly waved her hand and said, "This, I heard the big head brother also say it, I understand." You should tell me the price. ”

Zhang nodded immediately and said, "Refreshing people." In that case, then two hundred. Counting food and lodging, the journey of two hundred in three days and two nights is really not much. ”

Su Jinyao smiled, shook her head and said, "Brother Big Head said, it's not the price of taking the Liu family's boat." ”

"That'...... One hundred and eighty, no less. You must know that the ship does not dock, and the food and drink, including the firewood for cooking and briquettes, are all picked up by our brothers and stored on the boat. That's why you need money for everything. I only calculated the boat money for you, but I didn't ask for anything before the meal, and you drank the water for nothing. ”

"One hundred and fifty, no two prices." After Su Jinyao finished speaking, she directly took out the silver and said, "I'll give the silver." ”

"Silver...... Yes. He hesitated slightly, nodded in agreement.

Su Jinyao already knew that if the silver was exchanged for copper plates, a good piece of silver could be exchanged for several more.

And Su Jinyao's silver was all exchanged from Tongli Yinzhuang before, it was the best silver tael, and there were more than 100 copper plates.

After receiving the money, he carefully put the silver in his arms. Then he said: "Young Master Liu, our ship is all boatmen, and there are no guys who specialize in serving guests. It's a little grasshopper who is half an idler, if you have something to call him. I have to keep an eye on the boat, it's my job inside and out, and I don't dare to relax. Therefore, if there is any negligence, please bear with me. ”

Su Jinyao said: "It's polite to Zhang Zhang." I don't need special care, it's okay to bring me one (rì) three meals, or ask me to come over to eat. I'm not a picky eater, don't mix sand with rice, and I can eat the vegetables as long as they are washed and don't put oil. ”

"Okay. Liu Gongzi looks thin and tender (ròu), but this person who talks and does things looks like he knows that he is a person who often runs outside, and the doorway is clear. You rest, and there is at most one hour to sail. Rest assured, go down smoothly and ensure fast. ”

After saying that, he opened his head and shouted at the people who were working, and left.

Su Jinyao stood on the deck and stretched, looking at the sunny sky just now, I don't know if this trip to Xiyue Prefecture can still catch up with the heroes of Felt Village.

The first Zhang said that it was good, and it didn't take an hour for the ship's cargo to be loaded. When the ship officially sailed on the river, it was not yet ten o'clock in the afternoon.

All the way to the boat, the boatmen were busy, and they didn't see any other guests in the cabin, and no one came to talk to her. Su Jin Yaosuo (xìng) returned to her small cabin to recuperate.

Until it was dark, Su Jinyao lay in the cabin and listened to the sound of the water quietly, always feeling as if something was going to happen, and she was a little uneasy.

Because she had something on her mind, she didn't fall asleep either. In the middle of the night, I suddenly felt the boat (shēn) shake violently, followed by a "bang" sound.

Su Jinyao sat up, because she was always alert, so she didn't need to be awake, and walked out directly.

As soon as I arrived on deck, I heard the head open and shouted, "Turn the rudder, there are nails under the water." ”

Nail? Underwater? Su Jinyao didn't understand, but she shouted her head so loudly that she knew that things (qíng) were not simple.

Water bandits scuttle boats

Although Su Jinyao didn't understand the words of Zhang Zhang, she knew that the matter (qíng) must be very urgent.

And the ship's shipwrights, who were resting in shifts, also got up, even though it was winter, but they were all bare-armed.

Many people picked up a long bamboo pole, stood on both sides of the ship, and stabbed, stabbed, stirred, and dragged into the water.

Seeing this (qíng) scene, Su Jinyao also understood. It's not that the boat has hit the rocks, but that there is something in the water, and these people are poking it with bamboo poles, which is supposed to get that thing away.

To tell the truth, in the middle of the night, the boat was walking on the wide river, and suddenly something ran under the boat, and it caused a constant "bang" sound, which is really cautious.

But Su Jinyao didn't have time to speak, and saw the little grasshopper running out from behind.

He was originally thin (shēn) because of his young age, and he always wore very few clothes. But this time, I took off my clothes while running, and finally took off one of the shoulders inside, but I was still unbuttoning.

Su Jinyao stepped forward, grabbed the little grasshopper's arm, and said, "Are you sleepy, or are you scared?" Why do you take off your clothes at this time? ”

The little grasshopper shook off Su Jinyao's hand and said anxiously: "There are water ghosts under the boat, I have to go down." ”

Kelpie? Su Jinyao couldn't help but stir up, but then said: "Nonsense, there are no ghosts in the world." ”

"Not the ghost. Liu Gongzi, don't pull me, I have to go down and have a look. After that, the little grasshopper shook Su Jinyao's hand away and unbuttoned it.

Su Jinyao knew that the little grasshopper was determined to go into the water. But he's still a twelve- or thirteen-year-old!

And the weather is cold and the water is cold, just saying that there are "water ghosts" below, it doesn't sound like a good thing, Su Jinyao can be regarded as a meeting in Pingshui, but he also got a sentence reminded by the little grasshopper, saving a lot of boat money, and he can't watch him go on an adventure.

Therefore, Su Jinyao instead pressed the little grasshopper's shoulder and said, "That's not good, you're still young, you can't go, it's too dangerous." ”

"Young Master Liu, what are you doing? Hurry up and let go of the little grasshopper and let him go, or we'll all be finished." Ran out at this time, and when he saw Su Jinyao holding down the little grasshopper, he was so anxious that he came over and broke Su Jinyao's hand.

How could Su Jinyao be the one he said to break his hands? With a flick of the wrist and a push, he pushed his head away.

He was stunned for a moment, then pulled out a dagger from his back with his backhand, and shouted at Su Jinyao through gritted teeth: "You went all the way with the water bandits, right?" Brothers, solve this little white face for me first, don't let them fit in and out. ”

"Wait!" Su Jinyao shouted, pulled away and said, "I'm not a water bandit you said, I just do things with my conscience." Little grasshopper, any of you are small, why let him go into the water to take risks? ”

The little grasshopper also knew that Su Jinyao had good intentions to stop him, so he hurriedly blocked in front of Su Jinyao and said to Zhang: "Boss, I believe that Liu Gongzi is not a water bandit, he is for my good." ”

"Since it's not, you get out of the way." The dagger in Touzhang's hand had not yet been put away, and he stroked at Su Jinyao and said, "The little grasshopper is the best one among us. He swam down the river, and the loaches were fast. The water ghosts below are only he can deal with. Hurry up and let him down, or the clothes will be chiseled and pierced, and we will all be finished. ”

Water bandits? Scuttling a ship? Only then did Su Jinyao react and asked, "When you talk about water ghosts and nails, do you mean that there are water bandits chiseling the boat board underneath?" ”

"Yes, yes." Taking advantage of Su Jinyao's stunned effort, he glanced at the little grasshopper.

The little grasshopper was really like a loach, twisting in Su Jinyao's hand, getting out of her (shēn) side, and at the same time taking off (shēn)'s shoulders, and jumping into the water again.

The little grasshopper had just entered the water and threw down the dagger in his hand.

Su Jinyao only saw the dagger in the dark night slashing an arc, and then there was a "plop" sound. Look at the surrounding water, where is there still the shadow of a small grasshopper (shēn).

"What the hell is going on? He is such a young child, you can bear to let him die. Su Jinyao was so angry that she ran to the side of the boat and looked into the water on her stomach.

But the water was dark, except for the "bang" of the boat, and there was no figure in sight.

At the same time, the boatmen with bamboo poles also stopped, holding bamboo poles and staring closely at the water. It should be that I am afraid of accidentally injuring the small grasshopper that has gone into the water.

He walked to the side of the boat and poked his head out to look into the water.

While watching, he also said: "It is not easy to make a living on a boat." The little grasshopper is only thirteen, but he can eat in this boat, who will hire him if he has no idea ability? For generations, their family has eaten this bowl of rice, and they have practiced water (xìng) to help people catch water ghosts in the water. ”

When Su Jinyao heard this, she felt uncomfortable for a while. The little grasshopper is good, honest and sensible, but who would have thought that he was not a handyman on this ship, but a man who wanted to work on the ship.

Just as he was thinking about it, there was another "bang" on the bottom of the boat, and it was the same as the first time, and a loud sound came.

Su Jinyao suddenly felt a pang of worry, grabbed her head, and shouted, "I have to think of a way." You can't let the little grasshopper fight hard underwater alone, don't you all go and help? In case there is not one person, but several people, and he is a child who is only thirteen years old, can he deal with it? ”

"That can't be helped, if you go down one more, it's also a death. I can only gamble. He shook his head, also with a helpless face.

"What do you mean by gambling? It was you who put the lives of the whole ship on the grasshopper alone (shēn); Or are you betting on the grasshopper to be dead or alive? Su Jinyao was so angry that she pushed her head away and looked left and right, and saw a bundle of rope on the deck.

Su Jinyao ran over and brought the rope over, tied one end to the noose of the anchor, and threw the other end into the water.

When he saw his head, he shouted loudly in fright: "Young Master Liu, are you really with the water bandits?" The little grasshopper ventures underwater, also for the people of this boat. But if you throw the rope down, if the water ghosts below crawl down the rope, we will die even faster. ”

Su Jinyao said: "But if you don't throw the rope, how can the little grasshopper come?" ”

"He took his head and threw it again." Holding his head tightly on the rope, he said, "Young Master Liu, we also want to help." But we can swim, but there really isn't a grasshopper in underwater kung fu. Don't make a mess. ”

Su Jinyao was about to say something when she heard a boatman shouting from the side: "I saw it, I saw it." See blood! ”

See blood! Su Jinyao didn't want to argue with Zhang anymore, and the two of them ran to the side of the boat together, lying on the side of the boat and looking down......

Born to meet death

It was dark at night, and the lights on the ship's lamppoles didn't illuminate much of the place. As the wind blows the lanterns, it looks even more shadowy.

In the middle of the river, the boat faced the turbulent current, splashing waves and waves, and the waves continued to rise and fall.

And Su Jinyao saw that the original gray-white waves were flushed red. It's blood red!

Almost at the same time, the constant sound of "thumping" chiseling suddenly stopped.

Su Jinyao's heart shrank suddenly, not knowing whether to be happy, nervous, or angry?

"Little grasshopper!" Su Jinyao couldn't help but shout loudly into the water, hoping that the little grasshopper would show its head.

However, before her voice fell, another blood-colored splash appeared, and then a black figure burst out from below.

Su Jinyao was nervously looking into the water, and the height of the boat was more than a person's height from the water. But the figure suddenly emerged from underwater, which still startled Su Jinyao.

"No, no, this isn't." The horse had the boatman and the sailor shouted.

Su Jinyao took a breath and looked into the water again, only to understand that when the boatmen said "no", they meant that this came out was not a small grasshopper.

There was a boatman who approached and picked it up with a bamboo pole in his hand. The other two also rushed over to help, and three people dragged the man out of the water with bamboo poles.

It wasn't until she threw the man on the deck that Su Jinyao could see that the top of the bamboo pole in the hands of the boatmen had a big and sharp hook.

The "man" who was thrown on the deck remained motionless, and the water (shēn) flowed on the deck, which turned out to be red.

A boatman turned the "man" over and saw that he was wearing a one-piece suit made of special material, and his entire head and face were also covered, revealing only a pair of closed eyes, and he could not see his original appearance.

"Another one." The boatman exclaimed again, and then, as he had done earlier, hooked another "person".

Su Jinyao breathed a sigh of relief, she knew that since someone had been brought in one after another, it proved that the little grasshopper was fine.

But when I thought about it again, I felt that something was wrong. This little grasshopper has jumped into the water just now until now, and it has not been three and a half minutes in five minutes, no matter how large a person's lung capacity is, how long can he hold it? What's more, there are fierce fights.

"Little grasshopper, can you hear me? Come on. Su Jinyao ran to the side of the boat and shouted underwater again.

At the same time, she kept circling around the side of the boat, trying to see if there could be a shadow of a grasshopper from all directions.

Then, another body in a jumpsuit floated in. But I still didn't see the shadow of the grasshopper.

"Let's go down and have a look. It's been so long, and even if you are a person with super physical strength, this limit should be reached. Su Jinyao ran to the front of Zhang, pointed to the rope she had tied just now and shouted.

He glanced at Su Jinyao and waved his hand to the boatmen on the left and right.

When Su Jinyao thought that Touzhang was about to send someone into the water to check and help the little grasshopper, Touzhang actually shouted: "Turn around, start the boat quickly!" ”

"What? The grasshoppers are still down there. Su Jinyao didn't know what was wrong with her, she was so angry.

She was originally a person who didn't care about herself and hung high. But now he was so full of blood that he couldn't wait to jump down and see the condition of the little grasshopper.

"I can't stop, I don't know how many water ghosts there are. We're going to have to get out of the waters. He said as he opened his head and shouted to the boatmen, "Leave two people on each side of the boat to check, and keep their eyes open and keep an eye on the qíng condition in the water." The rest of the people went to sail the boat, and the sooner they left, the better. ”

"Little grasshopper, you don't care? He jumped for you, and his life and death are uncertain. It's okay for him, but you guys ran away, how can he catch the boat when he comes out of the water? If you can't chase it, this vast river is freezing cold, how can you let him live? ”

Su Jinyao was shocked and felt that this matter was incredible. She had a hunch, or rather a strong hope, that the grasshopper was still alive.

But she could imagine how desperate the little grasshopper would be if he came out of the water and saw his companion who had already sailed away.

And in that kind of despair, he may soon sink into the water again because of his physical exhaustion, because of the sudden drop in body temperature, and never come again.

Su Jinyao's heart throbbed inexplicably when she thought of the bravery of this little boy and the outcome he was about to face.

Back then, the tempering she had received, the inhuman purgatory-like experience, came out of her mind vividly again. It makes her no longer numb (qíng) sad and heartless.

"Young Master Liu, if we don't leave now, if we are stared at by the water ghost again, it will really be over. This is the time that the grasshoppers are desperately trying to get, and we are trying to escape from here now. Water ghosts also have water restrictions, leaving their territory and will not chase anymore. He shook his head and said again: "This is his life, his duty, what he should do." ”

Su Jinyao was stunned for a moment and gritted her teeth fiercely.

Of course, she understands that for some people with special tasks, they are born to meet death. And most of the endings of death are the same