The river slapped the boat gang, and the black and thin man took the lead in putting the fainted Zha into the sack of the cargo, disguised as carrying the cargo and loaded it onto the boat.
The old boatman sat on the pedal with the smoke pot bag and sighed.
Lu Min dragged the horse into the boat with great effort, tied it up, and went to pull the one brought by Mr. Jin Shui. The horse became nervous when he saw the water, and kept twisting its neck and hooves on the shore.
The scholar was in shock, sitting on the box he was carrying with his baggage.
"Come on, step up!" The old boatman stood up and urged.
The coolies buried their heads and worked, and no one dared to show a strange expression. From a distance, this ship was no different from other merchant ships: there was only one carriage, not many people carrying goods, and stingy small merchants. It's usually like this.
However, there is something wrong with this ship. When you board the ship, you can see that the so-called goods, in addition to the unlucky people who were put into the sacks, are some broken cotton jackets and cotton wool, together with a few pots and pans.
Coupled with the nervous appearance of the old boatmen and coolies, it looked like a group of dock coolies were preparing to sneak away.
Also absconded, Mr. Jin Shui: "..."
He couldn't help but wonder, how did things get like this? He specially chose to go out on the day of the spring festival. It was not until he left the capital that he dared to show his face and look around, for fear of being discovered, and he was hit by the carriage halfway and sprained his foot. Fortunately, I met someone to help, and when I got to the dock, I was almost "sold" by someone.
In the end, the twists and turns were taken, and the guy who was blocking the road was taken down.
- It's really ups and downs, it's just scaring people to death.
Not far away, a coolie whispered, "Why bring them along? Isn't this a trouble? If they turn their heads and report to the official, we will be all over."
"That scholar is the person that Master Cha wants to arrest. If they can't run away in time, how can they make trouble for us?"
The black and thin man calmed down and continued to persuade everyone, "There are so many people on the pier, if they talk to anyone casually, or find someone to inquire about us and Mr. Cha, things will be bad! Now we just need to send people across the river, here at the pier. No clues were left, and when the brothers were found, they would all be gone."
"That's right, the mouse is right, you can't leave people on the dock... You have to send them across the river even if you don't need money!"
"Nonsense, the money still has to be collected!"
Meng Qi's smile deepened. These people thought they were whispering in a low voice, but it was actually the same as speaking in person.
This black and thin man nicknamed "Why Mouse" was surprisingly courageous. After the so-called "Master Zha" passed out, he was stunned for a while, but he didn't care how the shoes flew to Master Zha's face. A few sacks began to be filled with people. In the end, he barely maintained his composure and came over to greet them to board the boat and cross the river, which turned out to be the idea.
"This guy's brain is turning very fast." Meng Qi whispered to Mo Li and laughed.
Mo Li looked at him strangely.
Don't you find it strange that your gerbil praises a man nicknamed Rat
The cabin was filled with the smell of fish and the sweat of the coolies, but the bulkhead was washed clean. The old boatman saw that everyone was almost on board, put down his bong, and took the initiative to walk over and stroke the stubborn one. The mane behind the horse's head.
The horse turned out to be really obedient, and was soon led by the old boatman onto the boat.
Lu Min was stunned, and when he regained his senses, he hurriedly caught up with him and wanted to learn this technique of riding a horse.
The old boatman pulled the anchor and pulled the sail in silence.
Lu Min followed behind him, helping out knowingly, so he was busy with him.
Mo Li was speechless for a while, and this inexplicably became a helper. He didn't know whether to say that Lu Min was easy to be kidnapped, or to praise him for being simple-minded, studious and diligent.
"Let's sail."
The old boatman greeted and propped up the pole against the bluestone of the pier, letting the boat drift away from the ferry slowly along the water. The coolies picked up the oars and worked hard.
There are boats near the pier, there are in and out, and the boat gang occasionally encounters.
"Hey, He Mouse! You're not staying on the pier, why did you come to paddle for Lao Yangtou?"
"No, there is a shortage of people on Lao Yang's boat. There is a merchant who is eager to charter the boat, so I will come over to get some wine money." The black and thin man said with a smile on his face, and casually invited people, "We will have a drink when we come back. what!"
"Come on, your kid is so loud, he's always so stingy that he can't even give up a plate of dried tofu." The boatman complained a few words and then propped the boat away slowly.
He mouse just laughed with him, and his face slowly became melancholy.
The Qingjiang River was in a hurry, and not long after the punting boat left the dock, many boats dispersed.
The boat they were on was neither big nor small, and its appearance was even more shabby and rough, and it was not at all eye-catching.
"Wait, the ferry is over there!" Mr. Jin Shui said nervously.
The boat seems to be going downstream along the river rather than to the other side of the river.
The old boatman didn't lift his head and said, "It's dangerous there. We have to go along the river to the next ferry."
Lu Min didn't grab the oar, so he just squatted on the side of the boat and looked around.
Mr. Jin Shui was frightened when he saw it, and he was restless. When he saw Meng Qi Mo Li, who was with him, calm down as usual, he reluctantly calmed down and asked in a low voice, "Do you two understand water?"
Mo Li didn't speak because he didn't know how to answer.
Meng Qi laughed and said deliberately, "Sir, are you afraid?"
The scholar was dumbfounded. People were on the river. If the boat was scuttled, who wouldn't be afraid
"Will not."
The voice coming from behind startled Mr. Jin Shui, he turned his head quickly and saw Lu Min's face.
The second prince returned to the cabin in despair, because the old boatman had spoken and thought he was squatting outside to get in the way. As soon as he entered the cabin, he heard Mr. Jin Shui's worried words and almost laughed.
Then, when he met Mo Li Meng Qi Qiqi's eyes, Lu Min instantly became half shorter.
"Cough... There are so many boats on the river, although they are far away, if they really sink, someone must be able to see them. Besides, digging boats is nothing more than trying to make money and kill people. I don't have this money, and the doctors and the others don't have it. , and you don't look like you, sir."
Mr. Jin Shui's face turned blue and then white.
"As for killing people, they are so miserable, they don't have to use a boat to win your enemy's favor...or someone else's favor. It doesn't cost money to lead the way, and it's different to chisel a boat."
"Well said." Meng Qi nodded with a smile.
Mo Li found that the second prince was really enlightened. He hadn't thought about the key relationship here, but Lu Min had already said it perfectly.
- Mainly because a fish is afraid of cutting a boat.
Mr. Jin Shui was extremely embarrassed. When he was on the pier, he told Lu Min that the people following him were all local snakes who "receive tolls", and he took the initiative to give money, but He Rat took them into danger.
If he was really afraid that he would miss the boat, he would probably be in danger if he stayed on the dock.
The more the scholar thought about it, the more terrified he became. In addition to being nervous and worried, the whole person was in a daze, and even his eyes darkened.
"gentlemen."
The sound was like a basin of cold water, and the scholar was thrown awake.
He looked up in a trance, and saw Mo Li had another book in his hand at some point, Meng Qi was sitting next to him, leisurely holding a packet of lotus leaf cake, the sweet and refreshing fragrance seemed to be poured into him. brain.
This low and dilapidated cabin, which was full of fishy smell and strange smell, has become less dark and depressing.
The sound of the water flowing in contact with the oars was heard regularly, the scholar's tensed body gradually relaxed, and his pale face slowly improved. He calmed down and smiled bitterly.
"For my business, I am ashamed to disturb everyone and not be at peace."
"You're welcome, sir."
Meng Qi took the oiled paper bag and brought the lotus leaf cake to Mo Li, who waved his hand.
"Chestnut cake?" Meng Qi reached out to touch the car again.
Mr. Jin Shui: "..."
Apart from female family members and young children, how can anyone bring cakes on the road? This thing is easy to break, expensive and inadvertent, steamed bread pancakes and jerky pickles are the common ones!
However, Lu Min felt very happy, so if he was sensible, he would get out of the way. If he wanted to stay with him, he could only be blind and deaf like him. As long as he didn't watch or listen, he wouldn't embarrass himself.
"This is the end of the matter, can you tell me, sir, what is the origin of this Master Cha?" Meng Qi asked, stepping on the sack next to him with his foot.
Mr. Jin Shui hesitantly glanced outside the cabin.
He still didn't know what the group of people wanted to do by tying Lord Cha onto the boat.
At this time, the old boatman came in, picked up the smoke pot bag again, and clasped his fists at the crowd.
Because they were elders, everyone stood up and paid their respects.
In fact, Meng Qi was still holding a lotus leaf cake in his hand, and out of the corner of his eye he saw Mo Li's movement, and he only reacted.
- This is nothing to be unhappy about, isn't it just a gift? Sitting and not returning the courtesy is senior, standing up shows that you are young!
The old boatman speaks a hoarse and aged Gyeonggi dialect with bright eyes.
"As the saying goes, if you can get on the same boat after ten years of cultivation, and you can get on the boat of Xiao Lao'er today, it is all fate and fate. In this case, Xiao Lao'er will cut to the chase and explain it clearly!"
The old boatman pointed at the sack and said solemnly: "This Cha Qi is a figure in our Gyeonggi area. He is not very skilled, and his background is not small. It is said that his Laoziniang is the assistant room of the high-ranking family in Beijing. He has received grace and a good record, but he is still working as a clerk behind his back. Several people don't ask him the name of the master, he can say anything about it, but he bullies the market and acts as a blessing on the dock side. It's been two days. If I walk too much at night, I will hit a stone. This guy has encountered a few hard points. He was even tossed to the Xuncheng Si Yamen, but he came out whole after a few days. I'm afraid Not even a single strand of hair on his head is missing."
These words were sonorous and forceful, without stammering for a while, Lu Min listened with relish, and almost grabbed a handful of melon seeds and ate it.
Telling stories in the teahouse is a taste. I feel that there will be a plot of bullying men and women, doing many evils, and finally being beaten by a certain hero and crying.
Thinking about it again, this hero is not the king... the person from the king's side! Lu Min peeked at the two calm masters.
"If it's a rogue with someone behind him, that's fine. This Cha Qi has also practiced a horizontal kung fu. With one punch, he can smash the bulkhead of the little old man into a hole, and he also made friends with the people in the martial arts hall of the escort bureau. Sprinkling money is even more generous, so no one in the capital dares to provoke it.”
Meng Qi didn't take it seriously. The so-called "no one dares to provoke" is actually a person with great ability and high status who has never heard of it.
For example, the deputy commander of Gong Jungong can arrest Zha Qi with just a few words, and by the way, he can turn over what this guy does, but there are hundreds of thousands of people in Taijing. I don't know how many dog legs there are.
The old boatman looked at him while talking, but found that Meng Qi Mo Li seemed unmoved, and the boy dressed as a coachman pouted and looked sarcastic.
The old boatman's brows furrowed into a tuft, and he scolded He mouse bloody in his heart, holding his face with anger, and said loudly: "Now, for everyone's sake, it is considered to have offended Master Zha, and no one dares to stay in the same place. I'm afraid that he will make a fuss and make a lot of bad luck for the brothers who are eating on the dock. When you get off the boat, this person will be given to you. You can take it wherever you like, no matter if you kill it, bury it or throw it away. , the little old man doesn't know."
"The old man's words are serious." Meng Qi took the lotus leaf cake and took off the hat he was wearing.
His face was exposed, and the old boatman opened his eyes first, then his expression became more ugly, and he secretly scolded He Mouse for not knowing who he was provoking.
Mo Li pressed Meng Qi back and prevented him from speaking.
Wanting to ask things clearly, Mo Li felt that he had to do the work himself.
"As you said, it was just a coincidence that we just arrived at the block." Mo Li slowed his tone and said casually, "The old man's boat is parked here, and the brothers outside have also packed up their belongings. I think they were prepared. , I don't want to stay in this pier any longer."
Regardless of whether Master Cha or their carriage, they were unintentionally involved in the "absconding" plan of this group of coolies.
Coolies are people who work hard to eat.
If you can't stay here, it's not unusual to go elsewhere. He mouse and this group of people have to sneak around and run away without telling everyone, there is a problem here.
Although Mo Li exposed the matter, his demeanor and tone were all as peaceful as he was talking to an old boatman about trivial matters, and he would not feel unpleasant at all.
This can be seen from the frowning frown of the old boatman. Mr. Jin Shui was secretly amazed by the side. Then he thought of Mo Li coming to ask for silver needles. The doctor is very personable and has a bit of a favorable impression.
"… "
Mr. Jin Shui fought a cold war and dared not think about it.
Mo Li then asked: "Zha Qi is blocking the carriage. I heard that brother He outside said that Zha Qi has arrested a lot of scholars at the ferry terminal these days. Is there any such thing? What about the people who were taken away by them?"
The old boatman took a sip of his tobacco pouch and raised his eyelids, "You should ask him about this."
Yan Guobao pointed at Mr. Jin Shui, who was silent for a while, then said with a wry smile: "You...you were seen by the Cha Qi group of people, unless you never return to Taijing, there will be a catastrophe."
The scholar said, stood up and bowed in a group, and said ashamedly, "This is an ugly thing, and I am ashamed to mention it. Now if I continue to hide it, I am afraid that you will suffer the disaster of the fish pond because you do not know the beginning and the end of the matter. already."
***
Mr. Jin Shui's real surname is He, he only said his surname and did not sign up.
The ancestors of the He family practiced medicine, and they were skilled in acupuncture and bone setting. Although they were not famous doctors, they were quite famous in the workshops where they lived.
It is not that He Sheng is not interested in practicing medicine and diagnosing diseases, but his family did not intend for him to inherit his ancestral business since he was a child.
When I was in my twenties, I could write an eight-part article that recited smooth and comfortable, and rhymed together.
Although the literary talent is slightly insufficient and the intention is not high, it can be regarded as outstanding, and he has been admitted to fame all the way. He was waiting to study hard behind closed doors, ponder the articles, and take the jinshi gold list titled Guangyao lintel when the Chu Dynasty perished.
Taijing was bloody, and many people died in chaos.
He Sheng's father and grandfather died, and he held grudges in his heart, and he refused to be an official of the Qi Dynasty to test the fame of the Qi Dynasty.
Because the family has four walls and cannot make a living, they can only write letters on behalf of others, plus needle making and selling needles.
After so many years of peace and stability, I don’t want disasters to fall from the sky—
"Someone recruited a group of scholars who did not continue to take the imperial examinations, intimidated them, and even forcibly kidnapped them. It was not for anything else, that is, fraud in the examination field, and for some people to take the test on their behalf."
Mr. Jin Shui gritted his teeth and said, "Some of us are because when the dynasty was changed, relatives within three generations were convicted and gained fame, and some were disabled in the chaos when Emperor Qi entered Taijing, and even the family had no money. , family members are seriously ill, etc."
"How do I take the test on my behalf?" Meng Qi asked in surprise, "Isn't there a rule in the Chu Dynasty that when entering the examination room, in addition to searching the entrainment and looking at the portrait, he also asked people from the same village to enter together, and asked the scholars to report to him loudly. The name. It’s okay to be a scholar below, and if you pass the exam, who doesn’t have a classmate, how can you pretend to be?”
"We took the number plate with our own name, surname and place of origin written in, each of us entered, waited for the test to start, and finished writing the essay, but the name of the other person was written. The test paper handed in by those people was written in our name." Mr. Jin Shui looked sad and clenched his hands.
Lu Min was dumbfounded.
Meng Qi shook his head.
Whether it is official management or fraud, there are always countless loopholes to exploit.
Even if it was made up in the front, a new crack appeared in the back.
"This kind of method can be used for a while, but it won't last a lifetime." Meng Qi raised his eyebrows and explained to Mo Li, "This article must be written neither too good nor too bad. It is too good to attract people. Attention, too poor may not be able to be admitted. It is necessary to take the test for people who write articles of this level, you need to know that even the Jinshi who is admitted to the test may not be able to pass the anonymous answer sheet mixed into the next subject."
Mr. Jin Shui said with a wry smile: "Yes, so I am the only one who can take the exam on behalf of the people. They mainly do their work in the township exam. If they pass the exam, they will be recruited, and they can spend money to be an official. Emperor Qi Mr. Lu, who was born in a warrior, looks like a Li Xian corporal, but he can't pass the imperial examination questions, and he doesn't care about the articles written by people outside the first grade. , Emperor Qi was wary of his subjects and did not let them have disciples every year. The characters on this scroll are written in the style of the pavilion. If you want to identify the problem according to the handwriting, it is better to follow the grammar habits? But even so, it is almost ten years. Now, there is no examiner to distinguish the second-class in a certain year, and the articles in the third-class in a certain year, as if they were written by one person."
He waited desperately, unable to break free.
"Because of greed for life and fear of death, I have no intention of breaking the boat and sinking the boat, and these years have lived in a mess. People on the street, such as Zha Qi, have known us early on. It is a fabricated debt under various pretexts, so I live at home, and I have to be monitored by the neighbors of Baojia, and I am not allowed to run away..."
Mr. Jin Shui murmured, "There is even more unfortunate, I was directly detained in the yard prepared by them, eating delicious food, and not allowed to go out. I struggled to get on the Fengxing Pavilion, and at first I just wanted to use the script book. Opportunity to stab this matter out, but after Fengxing Pavilion listened to it, he didn't take it seriously. These news can be bought directly, as long as someone asks about fraud, they can get detailed information, the result? No one cares, no one Investigate the case, no one will pursue it…”
He mouse stretched out his head outside the cabin, the oars in his hands did not move, he should have overheard the conversation and forgot to row the boat.
The old boatman shouted, and He mouse immediately shrank back.
Mr. Jin Shui sighed heavily and said with a burden, "You can't do things for a lifetime. If you know too much and do too much, one day you will lose your head. I don't want to run away, do I have to wait to die?"