Chapter 32: Having a Boat Like a Mountain (Part 2)

  Xiao Ziyang heard the name Weiguo Gongfu, and his heart skipped a beat. He secretly remembered it and took out a silver coin from his pocket, handing it to the boatman, saying: "This young man is indeed knowledgeable and insightful, listening to your words has broadened my horizons."

  The sailor hastily took over the helm and thanked him a thousand times.

  Xiao Ziyang asked: "I wonder if this large dragon ship is willing to take on passengers. If I can ride on such a giant boat once, then this trip will not be in vain."

  The sailor replied hastily: "Of course, of course! This big dragon ship has a huge space and the cabin conditions are more than ten times better than our small boat. It's just that the cost of this ship is also ten times that of our small boat!"

  Xiao Ziyang exclaimed: "Ten times! Isn't that more than twenty taels of silver!"

  It's no wonder Xiao Ziyang was surprised. In the past, he worked as a porter at the Golden Dagger Escort Agency, and after a year of toiling in the wind and sun, he would only earn around ten or more taels of silver. However, this amount was enough for a family of three to live on for a year in Hengshi Town.

  Jin Dao Biao Bureau monopolized the Ao Tou in Dangyang County, and after a year of operation, excluding expenses, the income was only about 200-300 taels of silver, but it had already made Lei Geng Hu's family one of the wealthy families in Hengshi Town.

  The sailor didn't think much of Xiao Ziyang's strangeness, and explained: "The cabins on this large dragon ship are no worse than the top rooms in a high-end inn. Each guest has their own personal attendant, and the ship is equipped with famous chefs from all over. Riding on this large dragon ship is not like suffering on our small boat, but rather a kind of enjoyment. Those who can ride on the large dragon ship are all high-ranking officials and nobles, so they naturally wouldn't care about a little silver."

  Xiao Ziyang nodded and asked: "Then where should I go to board this large dragon ship?"

  "There is a warehouse of Heshun Business Firm on the dock, you can ask around when you get ashore and it will be clear. If you go to that warehouse and explain your intention, someone will naturally receive you."

  The cargo ship slowly docked at the wharf, and Xiao Ziyang disembarked from the cargo ship.

  He tossed a few coppers to a coolie and inquired about the location of the Ho Shun trading company's warehouse. It was easily found.

  Xiao Ziyang had just approached the warehouse gate when a shop assistant came up to him, "Sir, are you here to take a boat?"

  Xiao Ziyang asked strangely: "How did you see that I'm a stowaway? Can't I be here to ask you to deliver goods?"

  "Who doesn't know that our Shun Shing Shipping's boats only transport goods within the company?" The apprentice's tone subtly revealed a hint of pride.

  Xiao Ziyang smiled slightly, "I'd like to take your fleet's Shunhe number great dragon ship to Xiang'an City in Chu State, is it on the way?"

  The fellow smiled and said: "This time, our Chui Xun Hao is going to Jiangzhou Guian City. Along the way, we will stop at Xiang'an City for a day. However, if you want to take the big dragon boat, it won't be cheap."

  The fellow held out two fingers, "Twenty taels of silver to Xiang'an, not one less. And you must pay the shipping cost first."

  "Alright, take me to see your boss then." Xiao Ziyang hesitated for a moment before agreeing.

  The shopkeeper, with a smile all over his face, led Xiao Ziyang into the warehouse. As soon as they entered, he shouted at a burly black-haired man, "Zhao Da, the ship's captain, this guest wants to take a boat to Xiang'an City."

  At the shout, the helmsman turned around.

  This man's face was dark and coarse, his skin extremely rough. His physique was no less robust than Xiao Ziyang's. He glanced at Xiao Ziyang and said expressionlessly: "First pay the twenty taels of shipping fee, come to the warehouse before dawn tomorrow, and someone will take you on board. No latecomers allowed."

  Xiao Ziyang asked: "If I want to occupy a cabin alone, how much more silver will I need?"

  Zhao Zhangshu smiled proudly: "Our Shun Xiang Hao is no small boat, there's plenty of space on board, and each passenger has their own cabin."

  Xiao Ziyang paid the silver coins with a smile and took over the copper plate for boarding.

  The obverse of the copper medal has a beautiful sailboat pattern, which is exactly the same as the He Xiang number. The reverse side has four characters "He Xun Da Long" written in positive script, with two small characters "Shi Ba" below.

  Seeing Xiao Ziyang's straightforwardness, Zhao Daboat's dark face also revealed a hint of a smile. The contemptuous look in the eyes of that fellow was slightly reduced, but it did not disappear. It is likely that in his heart, Xiao Ziyang's status had only been elevated from a country bumpkin to a somewhat wealthy country bumpkin.

  Xiao Ziyang did not mind his partner's contemptuous gaze. He turned around and left the warehouse, finding a nearby inn to stay in.

  The next day, Xiao Ziyang arrived early at the warehouse entrance. There were already over a dozen horse-drawn carriages parked here and there. Judging from their luxurious decorations, it was clear that the people riding in them were either wealthy or of high social status.

  Even if they came from nearby inns, passengers who didn't take carriages all had porters carrying their luggage. Someone like Xiao Ziyang, who was alone and without a servant to attend to him, not to mention wearing a shabby outfit, was truly one of a kind. So at this moment, he couldn't help but feel a bit like a chicken standing among cranes, drawing constant sideways glances from the crowd.

  However, Xiao Ziyang had been traveling north and south with his adoptive father since he was twelve years old, and didn't know how many white eyes he had received. He stood in the middle of the crowd with his arms around his chest, as if he felt nothing.

  There were three apprentices at the entrance, one of whom was the one who led Xiao Ziyang into the warehouse yesterday. Seeing that his two companions seemed to want to drive Xiao Ziyang away, he pulled them aside and explained a few sentences. The two apprentices looked at Xiao Ziyang for a few moments after hearing him, then ignored him no more.

  Xiao Ziyang smiled slightly and turned to observe the passengers who were about to board the same boat. These passengers appeared to be merchants, scholars, and several young knights with long swords at their waists and dressed in fine clothes. There was even a former official with his family, servants, and seven or eight guards.

  After Xiao Ziyang, more than a dozen passengers arrived one after another. The three shop assistants led everyone to the ship.

  The porter led the crowd down to the ship and handed them over to three sailors who had been waiting there, then bid farewell and left.

  Among the three crew members, a middle-aged man with a smile on his face stepped forward and bowed: "Ladies and gentlemen, I am Li He Sheng, the third captain of this Harmony ship. The small number on the back of your cabin card is your room number. Rooms 1 to 10 will be led by me, rooms 11 to 30 will be led by Mr. Li Quan, and rooms 31 to 50 will be led by Mr. Zhao Zheng. Please follow me." As he spoke, he made a welcoming gesture with his right hand and led the way onto the ship.

  Three sailors led the crowd from the stern of the ship and dispersed, Li He-sheng went up to the upper deck along a staircase, behind him only followed by the official and several young men in fine clothes with swords.

  Li Quan and Zhao Zheng went towards the left and right sides of the boat.

  Inside the ship's side was a corridor two zhang wide, and inside the corridor were rows of cabins. Li Quan invited guests into the cabin according to their boat number.