Chapter 70
Meng Xi's hometown is quite a distance away from Changyu. According to the map, it is closer to Jidi. It takes some time to travel by water, but it is much better than riding in a carriage on the road. There are countless bandits waiting along the way.
Of course, the boatman could not be completely sure that nothing would happen during the journey, but although the boat of Meng Xi and others was not as big as a sea vessel, it was still relatively large among rivers and lakes. In the boatman's words, even if it leaked or capsized, there would be enough time to climb out.
This was of course a joke. Bamboo rafts and other items were naturally prepared on the boat, and occasionally some food could be caught from the rivers.
Besides the shallow carvings on the hull, the bow also had carvings of unfamiliar animals, likely local specialties. As we set sail, they placed various snacks and red cloth in front of us, and after singing an incomprehensible tune, they began loading their belongings aboard.
When Wen Yi boarded the boat, he realized the planks weren't spliced together, but carved from a single piece of wood. He couldn't help but sigh, admiring the extraordinary craftsmanship. He had also seen other boats on the river. While some were of similar size, most were made from several pieces of wood spliced together.
Thinking about it carefully, it made sense. There were no shortage of giant trees in the mountains and forests these days. Even around Pingyi, you could see many ancient trees that could be hugged by several people. Since the later buildings hadn't been built, the wood used as pillars or raw materials was naturally far less valuable. In comparison, the labor required to carve them was more expensive.
There were not many houses on the boat, and the space in the houses was fully utilized. Apart from the space used to store miscellaneous items and a kitchen, the remaining space was only enough for each person to have a narrow bed.
However, lying on it is not very comfortable, and it is easy to fall and bump into things when the road is bumpy. More people will just sit on the open ground with a blanket covering them. Anyway, they won’t be cold at this time of year, and they will reach their destination in a few days.
There is naturally cargo under the deck, and some is also piled at the bow and stern. Experienced guys can judge what is safe based on the ship's draft and the season, and can pass through the most dangerous sections of water.
Wen Yi did not stay in the narrow cabin all the time, but sat on the deck with Dao Cheng and others, feeling the wind blowing.
"No wonder the canal is so important," Wen Yi sighed. Travel had been slow for so long, but now he remembered the feeling of convenient transportation. Although it wasn't exactly smooth, if two sides were at war, one side that could rely on water transport for supplies would naturally be much stronger than the enemy.
"Would you like some tea?"
Meng Xi emerged from the inner chamber, carrying a bottle of water from the stove in front. While these areas didn't mandate drinking boiled water like those in Pingyi, those with better conditions were accustomed to taking precautions, even if it meant consuming more firewood. For them, if it improved their health, they would do it, no matter how much trouble it took.
The stove and pot I am using now were also brought from Pingyi. Although they are not as beautiful as the golden bronze utensils, they are also quite exquisite and will not be harassed because of their inappropriate status. They are really suitable.
Of course, she would not ask about the smelting technology, as it was a secret. Being able to reach a cooperation was already a good thing.
Wen Yi pulled out a cup from the side. There was already some tea in the pot, perfect for cleansing the palate. Seeing that everyone on the deck had finished their drinks, she ordered Dao Cheng to take the remaining tea to the cabin. She wasn't seasick, but several of her men had been unable to bear it and were currently lying in their cabins.
After passing several cities to the east, they finally stopped in a bay.
After getting off the boat and standing on the wooden board, you can vaguely see two words hanging on the city gate not far away.
Zeyi.
The place they settled wasn't within the city itself, perhaps because the entire Zeyi region lacked clear boundaries. Small lakes and swamps could be seen here and there, and where there was solid ground, there were scattered buildings resembling mountain villas. Of course, most of them were still thatched huts, with people coming in and out, busy with something unknown.
Meng Xi and others were very familiar with this place. Those who arrived earlier had already arranged the carriages, and they could set off as soon as they arrived.
After hearing what the steward said, Meng Xi excused himself and left, seemingly having something important to attend to. Wen Yi naturally said nothing, nodding to indicate that she understood. Judging from the steward's expression, the matter was not a small one. She was a guest here, and Meng Xi's arrangements were extremely appropriate, so there was no reason for her to disagree.
"You go ahead and do your work, we can handle it on our own."
This is the truth. There is no need for anyone to worry about the cargo in the cabin. There are people to help handle the transportation. Wen Yi left a few people here to look after it, and set off with Dao Cheng and others.
Compared to Changyu's seemingly understated outfits, Meng Xi and the others naturally didn't care about anything here. Everything from the frame to the various accessories was exquisitely crafted, with every touchable area covered in gauze. The wheels were also covered with a shock-absorbing structure made of some unknown mixture of fur and leather, so sitting on them didn't feel any bumps.
There was even an ice jar inside, which helped to block out most of the heat. There was also a fan at hand, and on the shelves beside him were a number of exquisite boxes, which probably contained various processed herbs. Some of them were recognized by Wen Yi and could be brewed, and he thought the same was true for those he didn't recognize.
Daocheng was sitting at the door of the carriage. When he saw Wenyi looking over here, he nodded and then turned his attention back to the outside.
There are a lot more plants here than in the north. You can also see many people sliding on the water on bamboo rafts with rattan baskets on them, and they seem to be picking something.
Wen Yi pushed open the exquisite carved window beside him, looked at the environment outside through the gauze, and couldn't help but sigh:
"It's indeed a wealthy place."
At least looking at these people outside, they are not as skinny and hungry as those people in Fengyi before, whose eyes are almost green. Food can be obtained here most of the year, and even irrigation is not a problem because of the extensive water areas.
There are still many edible shellfish and fish in the water. I think even if there is no model similar to Sangji Fish Pond at this time, the gifts from nature are enough for these animals and plants to grow in the water, and you can catch a lot of them with a coarse net or a net cage.
However, mosquitoes are a bit annoying. Even if you carry a sachet with you, you can't prevent them from flying towards you in groups. You can only wear longer clothes and a veil.
Perhaps this is the reason why the frame is surrounded by gauze. After walking for a while, I could see a lot of small black dots outside the gauze. If I looked closely, I found that they were all insects.
There are also unique diseases here. The most deadly one is schistosomiasis. There are also leeches and the like. Nowadays, there are no protective measures made of rubber. It is inevitable to come into contact with larvae when in water all year round. I still remember that many people working in paddy fields have been infected with serious diseases because of this.
Judging from the postures of people on the roadside, this place should not be an epidemic area for similar diseases, but you still need to be careful if you go into the water.
Wen Yi's absent-mindedness naturally did not escape the eyes of the guards outside, but his master had instructed that there was nothing important to do at the moment, and the collected things would not be spoiled for a while. If he wanted to take a look here, it would be fine, as long as he could get to the villa before nightfall.
However, Wen Yi only looked at it for a few seconds, then looked away and closed his eyes to take a nap.
Although I wasn't seasick, I felt a little light-headed when walking after being on the boat for a few days. There were always some places that were not stable, and I didn't rest well at night.
There seemed to be incense around, and under the soothing waves of cool fragrance, my originally tense nerves gradually relaxed and my breathing gradually became steady.
*
When he opened his eyes again, he saw a lush bamboo forest. The bicycle had been parked there for a while, but Wen Yi was still asleep, so he didn't wake him up. Instead, he waited in a relatively cool place.
The steward also came out early. After Meng Xi finished dealing with the matter, he instructed him to take good care of the people and naturally would not neglect them.
The ice in the frame had almost melted. Dao Cheng heard the noise and knocked on the frame. Wen Yi tidied it up and walked out.
Strictly speaking, the outermost bamboo can only be regarded as a cover, and there are many dark thorny frames hidden in it. If you are not careful, it is easy to bump into them. Further in is the wall made of glutinous rice juice and other materials. The hardness is not much different from the cement prepared by Wen Yi and others.
Led by the steward, Wen Yi and the others bypassed some traps and then saw another circle of courtyard wall.
The steward apologized, "It's true that someone has been trying to get in lately, so the master ordered me to set up some more traps here."
In addition to those inside the courtyard wall, there were also many ambushes outside, but Wen Yi had passed by them when he was resting, and the specific arrangements were not convenient for people to know, so he did not mention them.
"I see." Wen Yi naturally had no dissatisfaction with this, but from the meaning of this sentence, it seemed that this place was not as safe as he had imagined.
The manager saw Wen Yi's expression and guessed what she was thinking. He said bluntly, "With so many businesses under your command, it's inevitable that you'll have some grudges. Some people just want to make a quick buck and leave."
In fact, Meng Xi would deal with the most important things. There was a tacit understanding among several big businessmen. Even if they had wanted to swallow up each other in a certain place before, they would smile and be very polite when they met, as if the previous unpleasantness did not exist at all.
Such an opponent naturally would not think that they could overthrow Meng Xi by sending some people in to cause trouble. In fact, most of those who came were not smart enough, and they would cause trouble but not hurt him seriously. If they failed, it would be nothing, just the loss of some unimportant people. But if Meng Xi let down his guard, success would be a huge profit.
This was actually a bit out of line, and shouldn't be said to a guest here. But Meng Xi had previously said there was nothing to hide, so the steward spoke to him as if he were one of his own, and it seemed Wen Yi was adapting well.
After walking inside, the group went to wash up. They had no other plans for the day, so they went to rest after their meal.
Although there didn't seem to be any danger during their stay in Changyu, both Meng Xi and Wen Yi were very nervous. If there was any movement at night, they would always get up quickly to avoid any mistakes.
Arriving here, he felt a little more relaxed. After all, he was older and had a lot of things to do. He also had to deal with the people in charge in the city. So Meng Xi didn't force himself. After giving a few instructions to the manager to treat the guests well, he went to rest.
Wen Yi became more sober after cleaning. After confirming her residence, she waved to the manager to go about his own business and she just wanted to take a look around here.
"I'm just strolling around the courtyard. There's no need for the manager to be here."
The steward agreed and then left.
Dao Cheng and others who had not slept well during the past few days of night watch were also sent to rest by Wen Yi. Although they still trusted Meng Xi, they could not completely let down their guard. After discussing with others, Dao Cheng rearranged the shifts, leaving only one person who was still in good spirits, and the rest fell asleep quickly.
When I woke up the next day, it was already bright outside. Faint chopping sounds came from outside. It was probably because Dao Cheng and the others did not give up their early morning exercise.
There was no space on the boat before, so we have to make up for it today.
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