Back in her yard, Qingyu sat on the stone bench and took a deep breath. Her hand softened and the whip fell to the ground.
Lu Yao and Ye Shiyi were practicing in the yard. They stopped when they heard the door ring. They saw Qingyu wandering in, sitting down unsteadily, and then the whip fell to the ground with a snap.
Lu Yao stopped Shiyi, walked over, picked up the whip, and frowned. This whip was actually made of fine steel. Although the outside was darkened by blood, it could not block the power of the whip itself. He said unconsciously: "Eighteen whips of the dragon?"
"Do you like it?" Ling Qingyu looked at him and said lazily: "If you like it, I'll give it to you, but remember to wash it well."
"Where did this whip come from?" Lu Yao asked. "It was a gift after buying twenty slaves." she answered.
Qingyu felt powerless at this moment. Facing Zhou Zhou just now was no less than a mental battle for her. Seeing that Lu Yao was still frowning at the whip she added, "This was used by the county magistrate servants to whip people. I bought some prisoners, so he gave this to me."
"Prisoner?" Lu Yao was puzzled. During lunch, he was relieved.
Zheng Xi spoke while pointing at people, "Miss, look at your sailors." He pointed at Lu Yao who was cooking food and Shiyi who was snoring.
He then added, "There's a little kid, a group of landlubbers, that group of refugees from the north and a group of prisoners who are about to die! Who knows what they did to be exiled? Those evil people, even if they don't do anything wrong, they may kill us. Can such a group of people go to sea?"
"Yes." Ling Qingyu answered while finishing the rice in her bowl. She was surprised that Zheng Xi could endure everything until he has almost finished eating before expressing his dissatisfaction. She said patiently: "I have already thought about it. What happened to Uncle Ding this time?"
She explained to Zheng Xi, " Someone doesn't want us to go to sea so the worse the sailors we find, the more the other party will despise us and they will let our ship go to sea. And our ship, with its improved sails and maneuverability, can leave Quanzhou waters. We cannot be seen before we leave the Great Zhou Sea so we need to row. As what you said, as long as they have enough strength, it will be fine. These prisoners are desperate. Without us, they will be dead. I don't think those people will be so stupid."
Hundreds of criminals migrated here to work as slaves and only twenty people survived. Qingyu never thought that these people are simple. Although Zheng Xi was right, he didn't know other people's details and if she was someone who could survive in that situation. Just like Gu Sui and the others, they were ticking time bombs. But now, she can't think of a better way.
Qingyu instructed Zheng Xi, "Send all the prisoners to the shipyard and ask Dr. Shi to diagnose and treat them. Pay more attention to food and clothing. At least they must be able to row when they get on the ship."
After thinking about it, Ling Qingyu added, "I'll go tell Wu Da to speed up. We will go to sea in ten days."
Zheng Xi asked worriedly, "Ten days? But miss, you haven't bought your goods yet?"
She answered, "Just the one you suggested last time. Use the entire four thousand taels to buy them."
Zheng Xi asked, "Miss, are you sure? That store's goods are inferior! The porcelain is inferior, and the silk has faded."
Qingyu answered nonchalantly, "If it's not a defective product, it won't be so cheap. Don't worry. Other ships go to big ports, so they naturally need high-quality and high-priced goods. By the way, save another five hundred taels and bring more water and food."
Zheng Xi asked in confusion, "You still want to lower the price? Miss, are you really stupid? I don't think Boss Dai would agree."
"Then you have to wait until Tang Monk agrees." Qingyu answered.
"What does Tang Monk have to do with this? He has been dead for many years, where should I go to find him?" Zheng Xi asked, even more confused than before.
The little brat and landlubber Shiyi who was directly despised by Zheng Xi, chewed his chopsticks while watching Qingyu and Zheng Xi talking and looking away. Each of them had a new understanding of Qingyu.
Shiyi thought: Sister is really awesome. We are going to sea soon. We can see the sea and don't have to hide here and there.
Lu Yao thought: This woman is getting more and more ridiculous! We are about to go out to sea. We can see the sea and don't have anywhere to hide in there.
Ten days later, in the small shipyard of Houshanshe, the ship had been repainted. According to Qingyu's request, the front and rear sails were stowed away. There was only a base, and a side with three diagonal lines and five stars was inserted on the base.
In order to cover up the collision angle of the ship's bow, a strange statue of a naked woman on the upper body and a fish tail on the lower body was put on the flag. Some traces of swords on the deck were deliberately left untouched. The boats originally hung on both sides were also put on the deck. The rear cabin is painted black, and from a distance, the Fengshen on the sea is smaller than before.
Ling Qingyu nodded with satisfaction and looked at the helm cabin at the front of the deck. Ding Dong was already in place, and several sailors were also in their positions. In the cabin at his feet, Gu Sui's gang and the prisoners were also there.
After putting on the clothes that Ling Qingyu asked Zheng Xi to customize, the shackles were stuck in place and they all sat down in their own places.
Ding Budong sat on the chair, sighed, and said to Wu Da, "Can it be done? Will these people be enough to go to sea?"
Wu Da sighed and thought, This is just a bunch of miscellaneous people. What kind of combination is this?
Both of them tried hard to persuade Ling Qingyu, but she had already invested all the money. Ding Dong and the others also wanted to find medicine to treat Ding Budong's leg, so the two of them were determined to go to sea. Wu Da and Ding Budong had no choice but to watch Qingyu and the others loading the cargo and people with worry.
Now that everything was ready, they were waiting for the government to come and inspect it before they could go directly to sea. Generally, sea-going ships must have their goods inspected and go to sea from the official dock in Quanzhou. However, Ling Qingyu asked Zheng Xi to submit an application and asked if the ship could be accommodated to inspect the goods directly at the shipyard and go to the sea from there due to the ship's issues.
Such an unreasonable request was actually approved by the newly appointed director of Quanzhou Shipping Department. It must be the gods' will! Wu Da and Ding Budong were helpless.
Zhou Zhou and another official in official attire came up from the cabin, handed Qingyu the pass stamped with the seal of the Quanzhou Shipping Department, and said with a smile, "Master Ling is very capable, but this time it is Master Fan who pities you for being a female. I gave you a special exception, but it won't happen like this next time."
Zhou Zhou thought about the prisoners he saw just now who were still shackled on their seats and looked like they were not full. It looked like a woman was leading the boat. Zhou Zhou shook his head unconsciously, "Yang Zhao, please wish yourself well."
The flag of ship was raised high. After Zhou Zhou and the clerk disembarked, Qingyu asked Zheng Xi to start collecting the planks of the ship in preparation for sailing.
"Get up!" Gu Sui sat at the head of the class and shouted. Twenty-eight of them got into the water and got ready to paddle.
"Wait a minute!" Three people shouted and ran towards the pier. One was dressed as a scribe and was carrying a book box, and the other two were dressed in short clothes and were also carrying a large box.
"Excuse me, could you please let us go on board the ship? We will pay the rent, and the three of us only need a small cabin." The scribe said loudly.
Behind the three of them, there was a young man carrying a big baggage who also panted and caught up, saying: "I, I, I will also rent a cabin."
Zheng Xi's eyes widened. With this matching boat, there are still people who have the courage to join the boat? The roads in Fujian are sparse and crowded, and many landless people cooperate with fishermen to rent cabins on sea ships to go out to sea, making small profits. Just for safety, they usually find big ship companies.
Qingyu also wanted to rent out the free cabin, but Zheng Xi ran out for ten days, and no one was willing to join the boat with them. Unexpectedly, when the boat was about to sail, four people who were not afraid of death actually came out!
"Let them get on the boat." Qingyu said with a smile. It was rare for someone to agree with her, and she was also willing to facilitate others.
Wu Da and Ding Budong watched with some dumbfounded eyes as the deck with four panting people slowly left the dock. They shook their heads unconsciously. This world is really difficult, so many people are willing to risk their lives.
The boat had slowly left the dock for more than ten meters. Ding Budong felt a gust of wind pass by him, and saw a figure floating on the boat as faintly as smoke.
Lu Yao stepped in front of Qingyu before Zheng Xi. Zheng Xi could only stand beside Qingyu and glared at the uninvited guest in front of him. The sound of the oar below was getting louder and louder, and the boat had already sailed a certain distance.
Ling Qingyu poked her head out from behind Lu Yao, and saw a man in black standing on the bow of the boat, which was empty just now. He looked down at the three of them with a squinting look, holding a sword and stepping on it. On the beautiful woman's head, her clothes were fluttering, and she looked at the man in front of the sea in a very cocky manner.
Lu Yao's hand tightened unconsciously. Could it be a new killer?
"Hey, calm down." Qingyu pulled away from Lu Yao and said to the man, "Let me ask you, do you want to rent a cabin or work part-time? If you want to rent a cabin, you must pay the rent first. The price is one hundred taels. If you work part-time, you'll get one hundred wages a day."
Zheng Xi unconsciously squinted at Qingyu again. He was a shady boss. He couldn't rent a cabin for 100 taels of silver. It was all for 50 taels of silver, plus a 10% bonus.
The man in black ignored her and raised his head even higher so Qingyu kindly reminded him: "Brother, the statue you stepped on will be taken down when it leaves the Quanzhou sea area. Are you sure you know how to swim? You can't drown even if you fall into the sea?"
The man looked at it and saw that the ship was moving very fast and was already several hundred meters away from the shore. With a little step of his feet, he flashed from the beauty's head to the front of Qingyu. The sword in his hand was placed on Qingyu's neck, and he said coolly: "Give me the best room."
"The best room? We have one but the rent is five thousand taels of silver." Qingyu stopped Lu Yao's movements and said.
"Why is it so expensive?!" The man in black stared wide-eyed. It was only one hundred taels just now, but now it has doubled fifty times.
"The best room is mine. I am the captain. If a captain does not get enough rest, he will point the wrong way. If he points the wrong way, he may get lost. If he gets lost, he may run out of water and food. Without it, people will die, so it's expensive."
The man in black glanced at her face, body, including the embroidered shoes on the soles of her feet, and said coolly: "I, Yan San, kill a person for five thousand taels of silver. You find someone, and I will kill it for you."
Qingyu pointed at Zheng Xi, and after Zheng Xi turned completely pale, she said: "This is my co-helmsman, that is my main helmsman, the few over there are my sailors, and the one sitting below is me."
Shiyi was raising his hands so she pointedat him and said, "That little kid is my servant." He pointed at the sullen Lu Yao, and added, "This is my tentative son-in-law, and no one on this ship can be killed. If you kill him, our ship won't be able to come back."
Yan San glanced at Lu Yao again and asked, "This son-in-law is still tentative, what's the use?"
"He is the hope of my life! Because he is here, I know that there is still someone willing to marry me. Only in this way can life be meaningful! Only when you are alive can you have thoughts!" Qingyu answered dramatically.
Lu Yao and Zheng Xi both got goosebumps but Yan San was moved, put away his sword, and said: "Yes. If you live like me and you reach the highest point, it will be meaningless. It's good for you to have these thoughts. When a woman grows up to be like you, there will be men who want her. It's really hard to find another one after killing him. Well, you have to work hard for your life goals!" He then walked to the cabin on the rear deck.
Qingyu was stunned for a moment, then her face darkened. She chased after him, saying: "Hey,Yan San! If you don't have money, I don't have any place for you. How about being ugly? Even ugly people have to eat. There are no freeloaders on this ship!"
"If you pay me a hundred yuan a day, you are insulting me!" Yan San answered angrily
"Tch, you don't have money, what do you have to do? I'll give you a choice. You can live in the dormitory, but you can't harass me. You have to be responsible for my safety. If I lose a hair, you have to pay me five thousand taels of silver!" Qingyu insisted.
"Tch, those yellow hairs on your head are worth so much money. I'm only responsible for you not to be killed. I don't care about the rest." Yan San argued back.
"You can't let me get hurt. If I get hurt, you ll have to pay five thousand taels of silver." Qingyu repeated her condition.
"I said I would be responsible for your safety and I will be responsible for it! You are such a verbose woman." Yan San agreed in annoyance.
"I don't trust just your words so you have to sign a contract with me." Qingyu declared.
"What kind of contract is that? Tell me what is says exactly. Don't lie to me with those dark things." Yan San asked with doubts in his mind.
Zheng Xi and Lu Yao looked at each other blankly. Zheng Xi patted Lu Yao's shoulder, shook his head, and looked at the helm cabin. Only Lu Yao was left standing there, with his heart beating so fast that it was about to jump out of his chest. Yan San, the number one killer in the world, actually got on this boat.
"Now we are all on the same boat, we need to be harmonious, you know!" Qingyu pointed to a small utility room next to her comfortable room on the upper floor and said, "That's it. Call me later. Let me build you a bunk."
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Xie Residence, Kapok Lane, Quanzhou
Xie Tingxuan and Quanzhou magistrate were sitting in the waterside pavilion drinking tea. The tea was worth one tael of gold. There was an incense burner burning next to them, and the elegant fragrance rose slowly. The magistrate sighed in his heart, just a little tea and a little incense would probably cost thousands of taels of silver, and it turned out that the maritime merchants were extremely rich.
"I heard that a ship went out to sea in Houshanshe yesterday?" Xie Tingxuan took a sip of tea, closed his eyes slightly and said.
The magistrate thought to himself, you still want to ask me this, don't you know more than me?
He only relied on the Wang family to have the title of magistrate, and the person in front of him had a sister who was Mrs. Ru, the eldest daughter of the Wang family. He couldn't offend her!
He could only laugh and say, "Yes. Originally, all ships going out to sea had to leave from the Ximen Pier, but yesterday the owner of the ship was a female. The director of the city's shipping department, Master Fan, personally approved it and allowed it to leave from the shipyard. I heard that the original captain and sailors on the ship had an accident and were unable to get on the ship. There was no master on board and they didn't know how to sail from the shipyard to Ximen Pier."
"Master Fan, really had really good intentions but actually caused a bad thing. The ship can't even go to Ximen Pier, so how can it find its way in the vast seas? Doesn't this mean they will die?" Xie Tingxuan sighed.
The senior government official secretly cursed in his mind, "People don't dare to go to Ximen Pier because they are afraid of your obstruction. You have already killed other people's sailors."
The magistrate said with a smile: "The one who ran into the sea did not escape death. Even if he could get to Ximen Pier, he might not be able to come back. Since she wants to run away, Lord Fan is just going along with the flow."
"I heard that Mr. Ning also sold some prisoners to that person named Ling?" Xie Tingxuan put the tea cup on the table and said. Among the prisoners, there was someone the Wang family had repeatedly told them to kill but was unexpectedly sold.
The magistrate sweated and said to himself, "Come on! Yang Zhao is the person who was ordered to die by the Wang family, and he strictly followed this order at first, but they were distributed together. Only ten of the hundreds of people who came over were dead, and Yang Zhao was not dead yet."
As a result, he received a secret order from the Dong family to save Yang Zhao's life. The magistrate felt worried because he could not offend either party. It just so happened that someone was willing to buy these prisoners and go to sea, wouldn't that be a good thing?
Later, when he learned about the personnel configuration on the ship, he was even more happy. To the Dong family, he could say that he had given Yang Zhao a way out and allowed him to escape through the sea, and to the Wang family, the magistrate drank a big mouthful of the expensive tea and said with a smile: "Second Master Xie also knows what the Ling family's ship looks like. It's not even fully repaired, and there are not a single skilled sailor."
He added, "If that ship and everyone on it can come back alive with a ship like this, I can give you my head. Yang Zhao has already gone to sea, and Lord Wang doesn't need to dirty his hands. Isn't it the best of both worlds?"
Xie Tingxuan smiled and kept quiet, not wanting to reveal the magistrate's real thoughts. He had already gone to check the ship and knew that neither Ding Budong nor his men were on board. There were only Ding Butong's adopted son and a few sailors who had not been to sea a few times.
There were a group of northern refugees and prisoners. It was a ship that was destined to die, not to mention, there is that person on the boat. Xie Tingxuan raised his tea cup and signaled to see off the guests.