Chapter 129 [Clear sky after winter rain]

   "Oh? Guest officer, do you want to go downstream along the river? Then my boat can't do it. You have to find a boat with sails." The boatman pointed to the shore and said to his own big black-covered boat.

   "But why?" Fang Chang was a little curious, so he asked.

  The boatman shook his head and told him:

   "It's easy to go down the river, let alone a boat, even bamboo rafts can do it, but it's not easy to go back upstream after delivering the guests."

   "Going back from the downstream, you still need a sail to borrow the wind. Otherwise, it is impossible to walk hundreds of miles against the current just by rowing the oars or paddles."

   "If the guests don't mind, I will help you find a friend. His boat has sails. If you go down the river, you will be paid according to the day, including three meals, and you can go fast and slow according to the orders of the guests. The price is not expensive."

  Fang Chang cupped his hands and said with a smile: "Very good, then I will trouble the boatman."

  The captain hung a large bundle of cables on his shoulders to a nearby wooden post, walked not far away, and shouted to another middle-aged man:

   "Hey, Zhou, there's work coming!"

   "Huh?" The old Zhou was busy folding a pile of fishing nets when he heard a voice shouting, "Is that the guest over there? What's wrong?"

   "The guest wants to go down the river to Xingqing Mansion. My boat can't do it, so I'm looking for you."

   "Okay, thank you, I'll treat you to a drink later." Old Zhou was overjoyed, immediately put down his fishing net and straightened up, and greeted Fang Chang, "Guest officer, do you want to hire a sailboat?"

   "It's me." Fang Chang said with a smile.

  He looked at the boatman opposite him, saw that his clothes, hair bun, shoes and socks were all in order, and he looked very neat. He also saw that the sailboat he was pointing at was very clean. He was satisfied, and said with a smile, "When will the boatman be able to set off?"

"We still need to load some food and firewood, and we can wait for the surrounding ships to open the waterway before we can make the trip. It will be about afternoon." The boatman Lao Zhou cupped his hands and said, "If the guests are in a hurry, go down and talk to the people around and ask them to postpone loading. Get out of the way in advance, and the trip can take place at noon."

   "No need," Fang Chang said, "I'm not in a hurry, don't disturb other people's livelihood."

   "The guest officer is benevolent."

   "Calculate the cost of the boat first. I'll pay a deposit and set off in the afternoon."

"Okay, guest, you can take a look around the nearby city. The market here is booming, and there are everything, suitable for bringing some specialties to the family. And the meals provided on the boat are simple, only rice, temporarily caught fish, and some vegetables, guests Or you can buy some non-staple food by yourself.”

  ...

  Winter is the dry season of the river, and the water surface is narrow, but it is still two miles away.

  A small sailboat sailed leisurely along the river with its ribs like ribs and spread like a fan. Taking advantage of the wind, it galloped faster than a horse without stopping.

  Fang Chang stood at the hatch, watching the water and sky in the distance, and waited quietly.

  The cold winter wind is coming, but he is not afraid at all, just looking at the world, the bow of the boat and the river surface that are constantly undulating in the wind.

  The dark clouds above the head slowly gathered, covering the reclining sun, and not long after, the thin winter rain came down with a bone-chilling chill.

  He looked up at the sky, then took a step back, standing in the hatch, avoiding the raindrops, still looking at the dark surroundings and the fine waves on the river surface hit by the raindrops.

   "Guests should be careful not to catch a cold."

  The boatman surnamed Zhou next to him was wearing a coir raincoat and said with concern.

  The name of the boatman is Zhou Changduo. While he is taking care of the sails and wind direction, he is also taking care of a few fishing rods beside the boat with his son. There is a small net thrown in the corner behind the two of them, obviously just used.

  Because this trip was carrying passengers, the newly arranged fishing net was put away by the boatman surnamed Zhou and was not used. He only used the small net and hook to catch some big fish and some shrimps when he was steering the sails and the helm, and he could cook them at night.

  Fang Chang expressed his thanks, and turned back into the cabin.

  The winter rain did not stop until the evening, of course, it may also be due to the speed of the boat, leaving the rain area.

  There are dark clouds billowing in the distance at the rear, and the sky is clear ahead. The golden light of the setting sun in the west makes the sails look like torches.

  The boatman saw that the sunset was approaching the horizon, turned around and furled the sails, let the boat gradually slow down, and then smiled at Fang Chang in the cabin: "We are ready to dock, and we need to find a place to make dinner."

  After the words fell, he took out the pole, and carefully propped the boat to the river to moor it.

   This sailboat is quite big, very spacious, and the equipment inside is also complete. The boatman cranked up the fire in the two small clay stoves, added some firewood, and began to cook and boil water for dinner for the three of them.

   Fang Chang looked outside.

  This mooring is a wild wasteland. Although the two sides are not rocky, the terrain is also rugged. Therefore, there are no farmland and villages on both sides, but there are many messy trees with vertical and horizontal branches, which looks very desolate, and makes this small boat look very lonely.

   "Guest, dinner is ready."

  The boatman called Fang Chang into the cabin, and served him rice. The main course was a simple cooked fresh fish, which was big and fat, and there was also a plate of stir-fried vegetables with shrimp roe in oil, and a pot of hot tea.

   After finishing these, the boatman and the boatman's son went to the small table next to them, not intending to disturb the customers eating.

   Seeing that the meals prepared by the father and son were far inferior to his own, Fang Zhang invited: "The boatman doesn't need to be so famous. Since we are in the same boat, we can help each other. How about we all come over and eat together? It's too deserted for me to eat alone."

   Seeing the boatman’s eyes full of hesitation, and shaking his head ready to open his mouth to refuse, Fang Chang immediately persuaded: "I just happen to be very interested in living on this river, why don't you come and eat and chat with me, and help me explain my doubts by the way."

  These words finally moved the boatman. He took the children with him, brought the rice bowl and sat down, still a little cautious.

  Fang Chang turned around and opened his green cloth package, took out a hanging sausage, and said, "Please ask the boatman to cut it to accompany the meal."

  The boatman responded, took the sausage, got up and cut it into a plate.

   Seeing the young man on the opposite side just silently chopping rice without moving his chopsticks, Fang Chang took a large piece of fish and put it into the other's bowl, and asked, "What's your name? How old are you?"

  The young man stopped his chopsticks, and politely replied: "If you are a guest, my name is Zhou Fan, and I will be eleven years old." Then he continued to grill rice.

   While talking, the boatman came over with a thick porcelain plate and put it on the table.

  The sausage on the plate is sliced ​​obliquely, and the knife is very good. This kind of sausage is made of sausage casing, filled with dough and minced meat. It is well seasoned and has a long shelf life. Stretching out the chopsticks to hold a piece, the side is powdery, revealing some minced meat and chopped green onion, which is a little oily under the light, which can arouse people's appetite.

   "Do you want some wine for the guests? But this trip is urgent, and now there is only poor rice wine on board, so I hope you don't feel disgusted." The boatman took two small bowls and brought a jar over.

   "No, just drink this from me." Fang Chang picked up the gourd at his waist, grabbed the wine bowl, and poured it for the two of them.

   "Then how!"

   "Just drink it, don't look at my small gourd, it can hold several barrels of wine." Fang Chang laughed.

  The boatman naturally didn't believe it, thinking that Fang Chang was joking, but seeing Fang Chang's attitude was sincere, he was afraid that he would offend the guests by being too modest, so he stopped making a sound, but took the wine bowl and touched Fang Chang lightly, and took a sip.

  After half a bowl of wine, Fang Chang asked, "How long have you been sailing?"

  The boatman surnamed Zhou sighed: "It's been more than ten years."

  (end of this chapter)