166 Chapter 166 Meng Huizhou
Chapter 166 Meng Huizhou
"Senior Uncle, this is!"
Bai Cen glanced at it and was so excited that he unconsciously ignored Meng Huizhou.
The reason was simply that the ship behind my master was too magnificent.
"Like a towering mountain, floating on the waves (excerpt from 'Illustrated Account of the Xuanhe Mission to Goryeo')"—the image is practically leaping off the page.
Bai Cen was excited.
Meng Huizhou stroked his beard and laughed, "Lofty as a mountain, floating on the waves, that speaks of the land of China, but it's more than that!"
Meng Huizhou's tone was full of pride and smugness.
"Then what is this?" Bai Cen couldn't find the corresponding words in his mind.
In just a few years, the ships here seem to have undergone tremendous changes.
Many of the majestic and magnificent sights were ones he had never seen before, yet they inspired awe and excitement in those who saw them.
Meng Huizhou led him up the platform: "This is not Shenzhou. Shenzhou mainly has official ships used for navigating near the sea. They have the majesty, but they can only be used for navigating near the sea."
"What about this?" Bai Cen asked curiously.
As Bai Cen looked around curiously from the pedals upwards.
He liked these strange and wonderful things at the Eight Treasures Restaurant before; they had a unique charm.
“This is a merchant ship capable of ocean voyages. Didn’t you notice how big it is?” Meng Huizhou remarked.
"Ocean voyage?" Bai Cen's eyes lit up. In other words, this was a merchant ship capable of going to the open ocean.
No wonder Bai Cen was amazed at first sight.
"Is it ready to go into the water yet?" Bai Cen was already imagining what it would be like to sail on the sea.
Meng Huizhou was speechless: "What are you thinking? It's still under construction, isn't it? It can't be that fast!"
"That's true," Bai Cen smiled.
No wonder my master is so engrossed in it; once you've actually seen it, you'll know how exciting it is to imagine the day it's launched into the ocean.
"See that? The entire ocean-going merchant ship has a pointed bottom and an inverted triangle shape, which is advantageous for breaking through waves and navigating in deep water." Meng Huizhou gestured for him to come forward and pointed it out to him directly in front of the merchant ship.
From childhood to adulthood, Bai Cen has always been the most studious one.
Meng Huizhou knew what he was interested in.
Bai Cen had indeed leaped lightly to the spot he pointed to and was examining it carefully.
Meng Huizhou's lips twitched slightly as he recalled how he was just like that when he was learning martial arts as a child—exceptionally intelligent.
"I understand now. By using the inverted triangle shape to break through the water in the waves, there won't be as much resistance. Ordinary merchant ships don't have this shape at the front, so it must be quite difficult to build one." Bai Cen not only knew how it happened, but also why it worked.
Meng Huizhou tapped on the deck again: "Do you remember the merchant ships that my senior uncle took you to see before?"
"I remember." Bai Cen followed suit, then immediately understood: "Such thick ship planks, and, moreover, multiple layers?"
Meng Huizhou smiled with satisfaction: "That's right. For ocean voyages, the materials used for the ship's planks and the effort put into them are essential. The compartments of the merchant ship also enhance its resistance to sinking."
"Xiao Bai, come here." Meng Huizhou then led him to see the ship's rudder.
Ordinary merchant ships do not have elevators, which allow large ships to cope with different water depths.
Bai Cen understood.
“Look up.” Meng Huizhou spoke of these things with undeniable pride and enthusiasm.
Although he's round and plump, he exudes an aura that's at least eight feet tall right now!
Bai Cen realized: "Multi-mast and multi-sail?"
Meng Huizhou nodded: "Ocean voyages are different from coastal voyages. More masts and sails are not only safer, but also increase speed."
"What else do you need?" Meng Huizhou tested him.
"Compass!" He knew perfectly well that without a compass, one would likely lose one's way at sea.
He remembered that Meng Huizhou was happy, but he also said, "But the compass will also fail. Ocean voyages are not like coastal voyages; there are dangers everywhere, but it can take you to see farther places!"
Meng Huizhou stood at the bow of the boat, pretending to reach out and look into the distance.
Bai Cen couldn't help but laugh.
I'm truly happy for my senior apprentice!
After all these years, my master is really close to his goal. Such a large merchant ship sailing on the ocean is truly magnificent and something to look forward to.
At the bow of the ship, facing the wind, Bai Cen sensed the direction from which the wind was blowing!
"Senior Uncle! Congratulations! When are you leaving?" Bai Cen faced the wind, the cloth ribbon hanging down from the wooden hairpin in her hair was a little messy in the wind.
"Where are we going?" Meng Huizhou asked in frustration. "The boat isn't even ready yet!"
Bai Cen was surprised and looked down at the ship, then looked at his senior uncle: "Isn't this good?"
How wonderful!
Meng Huizhou clenched his fist and coughed lightly: "What's so good about it! This isn't my ship. My ship is next door. This is for you to see!"
Bai Cen: "..."
Bai Cen followed his gaze.
Bai Cen: (⊙o⊙)…
A small boat, less than a tenth the size of this ship?
Bai Cen was petrified. He originally wanted to say "small boat," but "small boat" sounds like a covered boat, and his master's boat is a bit bigger.
"Uncle-Master, after all these years, all you've managed to get is this... a small boat?" Bai Cen was stunned.
I don't know if my senior brother is suitable for this job.
Meng Huizhou scoffed, "What do you know! Shipbuilding is incredibly difficult! Do you think you can learn it so easily? Your master is learning step by step, exploring little by little! A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step..."
Bai Cen understood. They were still at their feet, and far from their journey of a thousand miles!
Before Meng Huizhou could finish speaking, the ship's manager came up, looking impatient: "Why are you here again!"
Bai Cen: "..."
The manager said irritably, "Every day, more people come than the owner, and they even bring their own people to look around! They know whose boat it is like the back of their hand!"
Meng Huizhou: "..."
Yang Fan tugged at the old man's sleeve and said softly, "Let's go, sir, we'll come again tomorrow. We've come several times today already, no wonder they're chasing us away. We can't rely on just one sheep to fleece, nor can we rely on just one day, right?"
Bai Cen has a big head.
The renowned Hermit Yu'an, a figure of great renown in the martial arts world, actually came to hitch a ride on someone else's boat.
“Alright, come again tomorrow.” Meng Huizhou patted Yang Fan on the shoulder: “You go and clean up the mess.”
Yang Fan cupped his hands in greeting.
"Xiao Bai," Meng Huizhou called to Bai Cen.
This time, we disembarked from someone else's ocean-going vessel and boarded my senior uncle's small coastal boat.
However, to be fair, though small, it has all the essential parts.
My master's small boat is much larger than the Eight Treasures Pavilion that has been raised.
My master truly loved these ships, which is why he devoted his entire life to them.
"How is it?" Meng Huizhou didn't think his boat was shabby at all.
Bai Cen laughed: "You've got the hang of it!"
"What a smooth talker! Could he be my nephew?" Meng Huizhou was happy, anyway.
"They have their big ships, they've been building them for decades, through generations. I'm just getting started. I can't take too big a step. From that small ship before, it's now taking shape and is ready to sail the world. In time, Xiaobai, you'll see your master's ship sailing into the mighty rivers and merging into the boundless sea!"
Meng Huizhou stood at the bow of his ship, but in terms of imposing presence, he seemed to be standing on a giant ocean-going merchant ship.
Bai Cen crossed his arms, finally understanding what it's like for someone to be doing what they love.
It's roughly like when Wang Sumo is fiddling with seasonings, tossing the wok while stir-frying, tasting every drop of broth and sauce, or curled up in a hammock reading "The Tale of Delicacies"...
He was probably so engrossed in thinking that he started to laugh.
Meng Huizhou moved closer to him, but he just kept smiling to himself.
Meng Huizhou is someone who has been through it all.
Tsk tsk tsk, to be able to laugh like that, he certainly isn't thinking about his merchant ships!
The rotten wood has come to its senses.
"Let's go, we can't stay here any longer. Let's get back to the point, what brings you here to see your senior master?" Although Meng Huizhou was a bit round, he walked with a very good gait.
Bai Cen snapped out of his daze, his previous smile vanished, and he said seriously, "By the way, Uncle-Master, I wanted to ask about Senior Brother."
Meng Huizhou had been in a good mood until he was kicked off the merchant ship, but when Bai Cen suddenly asked this question, Meng Huizhou turned around in surprise: "You've seen him?"
Bai Cen thought for a moment, unsure how to answer his question.
Does that count as seeing him/her, or not seeing him/her at all?
Bai Cen took a deep breath and said truthfully, "Uncle-Master, actually, we encountered a strange thing. It's a complicated matter, but it's very likely related to Senior Brother, and also to Uncle-Master..."
Meng Huizhou's surprise gradually faded. He didn't ask about Senior Brother Bai Cen, but instead asked in a deep voice, "How are you feeling?"
Sometimes, the more carefree and jovial someone appears, the more genuine concern and seriousness they may be hiding.
Bai Cen smiled and said, "It's a long story. But, Uncle-Master, I know now, I wasn't poisoned by the Bone-Melting Poison."
Meng Huizhou asked in surprise, "Who told you that?"
Bai Cen said gently, "Fang Rushi, he has already treated me."
Meng Huizhou was fine before, but when he heard Fang Rushi's name, his eyes suddenly filled with provocation and resentment: "He saw it? He says it's not, so it's not?"
Bai Cen sighed softly: "That's why I said it's a long story. There's another person; you'll understand once you've seen the poison he was poisoned."
If that's the case, Fang Ru must have also discovered the illusion that the other party had set up in the pathology.
Meng Huizhou certainly did not doubt Fang Rushi's medical skills.
Meng Huizhou came to his senses: "You mean, you also found someone else who was poisoned like you?"
Bai Cen shook his head: "They are not the same poison, but Fang said that these two poisons should both come from the same person. Ordinary doctors can't even figure out the trick, and more skilled doctors are very susceptible to the influence of illusions and go berserk."
Fang Rushi had indeed encountered that.
"You brought the person here?" Meng Huizhou guessed.
Bai Cen nodded.
But to Meng Huizhou's surprise, Bai Cen smiled sullenly and said, "Not only him, I also brought Fang Rushi..."
Meng Huizhou: ? ? ?
Meng Huizhou: !!!
*
Fang Rushi and Meng Huizhou perfectly exemplify the phrase "enemies meeting are bound to be extremely hostile." In other contexts, this might be an adjective, but in their case, it's a true description.
Huo Ling lay in the middle of the sickbed.
On the left is Fang Rushi, and on the right is Meng Huizhou.
Huo Ling felt that she might not die of illness in the end, but would be caught in the rage in their eyes and die an innocent and wrongful death.
Huo Ling thought for a moment, then propped herself up and said, "I don't want to see a doctor anymore."
Fang Rushi and Meng Huizhou didn't even look at him, but surprisingly, they were in unison, each reaching out a hand to push him back down. However, neither of them looked down at him; instead, they kept looking at each other in a provocative manner.
For the first time, Huo Ling felt like a fish on a chopping board, waiting to be slaughtered...
Meng Huizhou ignored Fang Rushi and instead looked down at Huo Ling.
Huo Ling quickly lay down.
"Close your eyes." When facing Fang Ru, Meng Huizhou gave off a much gentler vibe than Fang Ru.
Huo Ling did as instructed.
But just as he closed his eyes, he suddenly opened them again: "You guys are just here to treat my illness, right?"
Huo Ling felt guilty.
Although Ding Bo and Qing Wu were both there, Huo Ling was still unsure.
Fang Rushi and Meng Huizhou wouldn't listen to Ding Bo and Qingwu. Just as they finished speaking, Bai Cen opened the door and entered. Huo Ling looked at him as if she'd seen a savior: "Brother Bai Cen, have you been here all this time?"
Bai Cen nodded: "Mm."
Huo Ling felt relieved, just as Meng Huizhou instructed, "Lie down properly."
Huo Ling stopped moving.
Outside, Wang Sumo saw Duan Wuheng.
"Duan Duan, what are you doing here?" Wang Sumo stepped forward.
Duan Wuheng took a deep breath, probably because he was also a little nervous. When Wang Sumo asked, Duan Wuheng said truthfully, "Huo Ling was a little scared, but Doctor Fang and Uncle Meng wouldn't let me go in, so I had to stay outside with him."
Wang Sumo looked at him with newfound respect: "When did you two become so close?"
Duan Wuheng hesitated for a moment, and after careful consideration, whispered, "He had a nightmare last night and cried."
Nightmare?
Wang Sumo asked in surprise, "What's wrong with him?"
Duan Wuheng leaned closer: "He said he had a nightmare in which his father fell into a deep, dark hole, and he woke up in fright and cried for a long time."
Master Huo...
Wang Sumo recalled that He Zhen had set off for Qingyun Manor more than ten days ago, and wondered how things were going with Manor Lord Huo.
Wang Sumo had a bad feeling about Huo Ling having such an unprovoked dream, but he still comforted her gently: "Have you heard that dreams are the opposite of reality? Master Huo is a lucky man and will be blessed by heaven."
Duan Wuheng nodded, then as if suddenly remembering something, he suddenly rested his chin on his hand and sighed, "I have to tell Brother Bai Cen that dreams are always the opposite of reality."
Wang Sumo blinked. What does this have to do with Bai Cen...?
Duan Wuheng whispered, "The other night, Huo Ling and I slept together. He was having some kind of wonderful dream, laughing all night, even laughing out loud, which scared Huo Ling and me. The next day, Huo Ling and I told him about it, but he didn't show any remorse at all. He was just basking in his own smugness. What do you know? This is called a wonderful dream~"
Duan Wuheng has perfectly captured the essence of the imitation.
Wang Sumo has a big head.
Duan Wuheng crossed his arms and grinned, saying, "Dreams are always the opposite of reality! Let him be smug!"
"Achoo!" Bai Cen sneezed, then quickly covered his mouth to keep himself from making a sound.
Meng Huizhou and Fang Rushi exchanged a glance, then Meng Huizhou pried open Huo Ling's eyes while Fang Rushi took her pulse; the two of them did so together.
Bai Cen focused intently, his brows furrowing slightly. His senior master and Fang Ru had told him that if the two of them were trapped in the illusion, they shouldn't rush, but if they both showed signs of distress, with cold sweat on their foreheads, struggling, and looking distressed, they should intervene to stop them.
Bai Cen took a deep breath.
[Author's Note]
Take a break, then continue. You can watch it tomorrow morning.
——————————————
Knowledge about the dissemination of information during the Song Dynasty was obtained from online searches.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com