HCB Chapter 297 Passenger Ship
Chapter 297 Passenger Ship
Upon closer inspection, it was clear that there were not only horse-drawn carts carrying goods, but also oxcarts and donkey carts, completely blocking the road ahead.
Many busy workers are loading and unloading goods onto vehicles.
"Alright, let's park the carriage here then! We can go inside."
Long Chuqing and Ziguang got off the carriage one after the other, while Uncle Chen drove the carriage to the side to avoid blocking the intersection.
As you walk forward, you can see sails everywhere on the river at the dock, with the names of major trading companies embroidered on the sails. On the south side, ships from major trading companies and passenger boats are moored intermittently, while many fishing boats are moored on the other side.
"Wow, so many boats! The boats are all different sizes and shapes, this is the first time I've ever seen them!"
Zi Guang looked around, filled with curiosity and excitement about his surroundings.
Seeing Ziguang so happy, Long Chuqing thought it would be good to take her around: "Let's walk a little further, so we can see things more clearly."
Ziguang smiled and said, "Great! This servant also wants to see it up close!"
The two walked inside, while Long Chuqing and Ziguang could only stand on the dock and watch.
"Look over there, girl." Zi Guang pulled Long Chuqing's arm, gesturing for her to look to the left. "That ship is the biggest, it looks so impressive! It looks like it can hold a lot of people and cargo!"
“Those are grain transport ships,” Long Chuqing explained. “They are ships specially used by the imperial government to transport grain.”
The south side is a civilian dock, and the north side is a special area for official transport. The purple light refers to the barges loaded with grain, which dock here to unload their cargo.
Many porters carried sacks of grain back and forth between the deck and the shore, each with counting tokens made of bamboo tied around their waists.
Nearby, a foreman with a whip was supervising and inspecting, and shouts and curses could be heard from time to time.
There are some bluestone steps on the shore, covered with moss on both sides, while the middle is worn smooth and shiny from being trampled on.
The cast iron piles, deeply embedded in the ground, were already rusty, and the thick hemp ropes that towed the boats hung loosely on the ground.
Besides various goods piled up, the shore was filled with the busy figures of workers.
There was a teahouse next door, built with bamboo sheds. The rough wooden tables and stools inside were greasy and shiny, indicating that they had been there for many years.
Long Chuqing introduced the names of passenger ships, merchant ships, and fishing boats to Ziguang, along with some details.
"Girl, you know so much." Zi Guang's eyes sparkled with admiration.
"Now you know too!" Long Chuqing smiled, then asked Ziguang, "Would you like to experience taking a boat ride?"
Merchant ships and official ships are not allowed to approach, but passenger ships can be experienced.
The river isn't very wide, so it shouldn't take long to go to the other side and back. It's a rare opportunity to come here, and Ziguang seems even more excited than when we go shopping. Now that we have time, it wouldn't hurt to let her experience it.
"Is that okay?"
Zi Guang's eyes indeed shone even brighter, looking eager to try.
She really wanted to experience it. She'd heard that some people get seasick, and she wondered if she would. Anyway, she never got seasick in a horse-drawn carriage.
“Of course, let’s go…” Long Chuqing pulled Ziguang toward the passenger ship.
Passenger ships to the other side are for short distances, using ferries and small boats, while passenger ships for longer distances are larger and have cabins.
As you get closer, you can see many clusters of ice floes floating on the water near the shore. These ice floes were broken by the boat before they could freeze solid, and now they collide back and forth with the waves.
The small boat we just saw on the shore has already left with its passengers, and a larger passenger ship is heading to the other side.
Seven or eight people who needed to be transferred had already boarded the boat.
Long Chu paid for two people's share of the money and inquired about the boatman's departure time and other questions.
The boatman told us that he would be leaving soon. People usually bring their goods with them on the boat, and baskets and bags take up some space, so a trip can take about twenty people.
It's windy today, so for safety reasons we'll leave once we've picked up about fifteen or sixteen passengers.
The boatman asked, "You two young ladies don't look like you're from the other side of the river, do you? What are you doing going to the other side?"
"My sister has never been on a boat before, so I brought her here to experience it."
The boatman was speechless for a moment: "Coming to experience a boat ride in this windy and cold weather? Are you out of your mind? It's much better to stay at home."
I don't understand, I really don't understand.
Visiting relatives on the other side of the strait is understandable.
If it weren't for making a living, who would want to row a boat on the river in the freezing cold? He also wants to stay at home with his wife, children, and a warm bed.
Only pampered young ladies who have never seen the world would do something so boring!
Indeed, if one stays at home all day without going out, it's no wonder that one would become dull and stupid after a while.
The boatman shook his head helplessly and kindly advised, "Ladies, please don't wander around aimlessly once you're across. It's not as peaceful outside as in the city. Just wait and come back with me on my boat in a little while."
This girl is so beautiful, and the clothes she wears are made of the finest material. She must be from a wealthy family. I'm afraid some wicked people might have malicious intentions. It would be one thing if they were after her money, but I'm afraid they might kidnap her too.
Since he was his guest, it was only right to offer a few words of advice; it was my duty to do so.
Long Chuqing nodded in agreement: "Yes, we just want to experience taking a boat ride. We'll come back on your boat later."
Just as she was chatting with the boatman, two more people came aboard.
Long Chuqing understood the boatman's good intentions, and she led Ziguang toward the bow of the boat.
The wind was blowing in gusts, but it's stopped now; otherwise, standing at the bow of the boat would have given me a headache.
"Get out of the way, get out of the way... Anyone who doesn't want to die, get out of my way."
Those standing on the shore were so frightened by this that they scattered and ran away.
Just as Long Chuqing and Ziguang were enjoying the scenery on the river, a commotion arose from the shore.
Several people were seen running quickly towards them, carrying swords and knives, while a group of soldiers chased after them.
The boatman realized something was wrong; these people were clearly not good people and were obviously after his boat.
Merchant ships usually employ thugs, while government ships are guarded by soldiers. If one wants to escape by water, hijacking a passenger ship is the easiest and quickest way.
The boatman hurriedly tried to untie the mooring ropes, hoping to sail away before the villains arrived. However, the more nervous he became, the less agile he was. The villains with knives leaped over the boat in a few bounds.
When everyone turned around at the sound, a villain had already placed a knife against the boatman's neck.
"Stay put and behave yourself, or I'll take your life," a man with a thick beard said sternly.
The boatman knelt down with a thud, kowtowing and begging for mercy: "Hero, spare my life! Hero, spare my life! I'll do whatever you say!"
The bearded man kicked the boatman, saying, "If you don't want to die, get back to rowing the boat for me."
The boatman was kicked but dared not utter a sound. He clutched his stomach and staggered to his feet, saying in a humble tone, "Yes, yes, yes... I'll take care of it right away."
Several thugs suddenly jumped onto the boat, and the dozen or so passengers, frightened, all crowded towards the bow, causing the passenger boat to become unstable and rock violently.