Chapter 141 [Cangsha Ferry]

Jiang Lili thought about it, it seems that having a stable job and enough food to eat every day would be quite attractive to these pirates.

After the pirates had their meal and rested, they continued to work on modifying the ship.

Merchant ships and the plywood of the ship were equipped with traps such as spikes and tripwires, while the strong pirates stayed on the shore and made catapults and kerosene tank launchers according to Xincheng's drawings.

The convicts looked at the pirates, who were putting their empty lunch boxes back into the barrels one by one, and seemed to be thinking about something.

Previously, on Qinglin Mountain, Jiang Lili's family showed them the way and provided them with wild fruits and mushrooms, and they had many delicious meals.

But once they reached the sea, the food conditions returned to what they were before liberation overnight. Seeing the pirates eating their delicious boxed meals, they felt envious.

Among the prisoners, a man in his early thirties came over and asked Jiang Lili, "Miss Jiang, we're free anyway, could you come and help us? We just want to exchange breakfast for tomorrow."

The man's name was Lu Yuansi, a civil servant. Because a poem he composed casually was copied down by his colleagues and reported to Emperor Qingning, he violated the emperor's taboo and was exiled to Haizhou.

After hearing Lu Yuansi's words, someone scoffed, "Pirates know about ships, but what do you know? What if you damage their ship?"

"Besides, you have skinny arms and legs, and you're a civil servant, what can you do?"

Master Liao shook his head when he heard this. It is true that it is difficult for people with liberal arts degrees to find jobs, and it was like this even in ancient times.

Lu Yuansi smiled awkwardly and said, "My wife has been listless these past few days and has no appetite, so I wanted to prepare a delicious meal for her."

After hearing this, the others didn't know what to say. They all turned their eyes to Jiang Lili to see how Jiang Lili would answer Lu Yuansi.

In fact, they also wanted to exchange for that box of food, but when they saw the weapons made by the pirates and the changes made to the merchant ships, ordinary people like them could do nothing.

Jiang Lili was being stared at eagerly by many eyes, and was pondering how to deal with these fugitives.

She caught a glimpse of the Dawn anchored at sea, and suddenly an idea came to her mind.

Jiang Lili asked Wen Qiao that in order to change the appearance of the Dawn, paint would be needed to change the color.

Paint is generally made of a mixture of pigment and tung oil.

Both of these can be purchased in modern building materials markets and paint stores. Jiang Lili has asked Zhang Xiaopang to find the source of supply.

Tung oil and paint also protect the boat's wood planks from water and insects.

In addition to changing the color, you can also adjust the shape of the hull to change the appearance of the Dawn.

These are big projects that require the help of many people. However, Xiaopang is still purchasing the paint and tung oil for the color change.

Jiang Lili said loudly, "Let's put it this way. After more than two months of exile, everyone has become somewhat familiar with each other."

"What I want you to do can only be done after we get to Haizhou."

Jiang Lili called over the young adult Xin Yan and said, "Those who are willing to participate, please come to Xin Yan to register. I will distribute lunch boxes to you during this period. I don't need you to contribute much."

"After we reach Haizhou, I will organize everyone to start the work. This task is open to all, male and female, and children."

"But let me tell you in advance, this job is not easy."

It is easy to get into trouble when tossing around on the sea. If these traffickers can survive well at sea and retain their energy, she will be an extra help when they reach Haizhou.

When the prisoners heard Jiang Lili's words, they knew that the children would also get lunch boxes, and they were all ecstatic: "Don't worry, Miss Jiang, one thing is one thing, if we want to eat delicious food, we have to pay for it!"

The convicts signed up enthusiastically. The aroma of the pirates' lunch boxes seemed to still linger in their noses, and they were all looking forward to breakfast tomorrow morning.

The night deepens.

Wen Xiaomei's military training team ended, and after today's training, they dispersed and went their separate ways. After Wen Xiaomei's devilish military training, and with the help of Master Liao, Master Liao's Yuanbao Gang, those little brats have now trained to be somewhat decent.

They were all lazy and scattered before gathering, but once they gathered, they looked like a team.

After the team disbanded, Wen Qiao called Wen Xiaomei aside.

Jiang Lili guessed that Wen Qiao was probably asking her younger sister for her opinion on whether to stay in Haizhou.

Since they had kidnapped a group of pirates who could sail and robbed another ship, in order to allow Wen Qiao's merchant ship to reach its destination as soon as possible and make up for the time delayed by the storm, Wen Qiao and Jiang Lili discussed and decided that Wen Qiao's Tianxuan would leave first tomorrow, and the remaining two pirate ships would be used to carry the convicts to Haizhou.

The next day at the hour of Mao, the morning light was dim over the sea. Wen Qiao's prediction was very accurate. He said that the sun would rise and the sky would clear up at the hour of Mao today. It turned out to be clear, even though the sky was still covered with dark clouds half an hour ago.

Not to mention the boatmen, even the pirates were amazed at Wen Qiao's ability to observe astronomy and meteorology.

The supplies Xiaopang gave to Jiang Lili were wrapped wontons, which could be cooked on the boat with cooking bags. The wontons weighed nearly 60 kilograms, enough for 100 people. Jiang Lili asked Su Sanniang to move them to the kitchen.

The hot and fragrant wontons came out of the pot, and the fresh aroma of seaweed made the pirates and convicts feel extremely happy. In the past, they would never have been able to eat this!

Food is the most important thing for people, and Jiang Lili's status in people's hearts is rising steadily.

After breakfast, Wen Qiao's Tianxuan was about to set off.

Wen Xiaomei held Wen Qiao's hand. Although she was reluctant to leave her sister and mother, she understood that it was the best choice for her to live in Haizhou with Sister Jiang.

I can play with my friends and my sister and mother can worry less.

So after hugging Wen Qiao and Su Sanniang goodbye, Wen Xiaomei got off the Tianxuan.

The children of Yuanbao Gang were stunned when they saw that Wen Xiaomei would not go with the Tianxuan. When they heard that Wen Xiaomei also wanted to live with them in Haizhou, the children were in tears!

Damn it! This is going to teach them a lesson for the rest of their lives!

Wen Xiaomei looked at the Yuanbao Gang children's wrinkled faces and asked, "What? Are you unhappy that I'm staying?"

"Happy, of course I'm happy!"

The naughty kids nodded vigorously, fearing that if they nodded too late they would be caught and forced to run in circles in horse stance.

Then, the two pirate ships also set sail.

Xin Che had limited poison on him, so he could only give some to the helmsman at the helm to prevent them from secretly deviating from the route and causing trouble.

The two pirate ships sailed on the sea for six days and five nights. Finally, at dusk on the fifth day, the shadow of a huge island appeared in the distance.

Wen Xiaomei shouted excitedly: "Look, it's Haizhou Island! We're finally here!"

After enduring nearly three months of torture on the road of exile, the convicts were overwhelmed with thoughts the moment they saw Haizhou Island. They felt a sense of temporary relief as they finally didn’t have to travel through wind and rain anymore!

However, as the ship approached, everyone gradually realized that something was wrong.

Looking around the island, it is all covered with dense dark green forests, as if there are no gaps, it is all trees!

There is not a single trace of human life in sight!

Aren’t there two villages near Cangsha Ferry?