Chapter Thirteen: Difficult to Die
Clear skies with a slight breeze.
The deck was full of people. In the early morning, Ling Qingyu told Zheng Xi to gather everyone on board, including the merchants who had not left their cabin in the last ten days.
Ling Qingyu stood on the observation terrace of the tower. After seeing Zheng Xi signal that everyone was here, she cleared her throat and said, “Everyone. Our Aeolus has been at sea for eleven days. Since many people were seasick in the previous days, I did not have the chance to tell everyone about the ship’s rules. Last night, Chen Erhu, Chen Sanhu and Chen Sihu wanted to seize this ship and have been thrown overboard by me.”
Hearing this, there was suddenly chattering below. Some had good relationships with Chen Erhu and knew what they were doing last night. They immediately yelled, “What do you mean they wanted to seize the ship? How can the three of them accomplish that? You must have used some trick. Release the three of them!”
The people below started pushing and yelling.
Zheng Xi and Ding Dong were with a few sailors, ready to intervene. Gu Sui and his underlings maybe intentionally, or maybe unintentionally, blocked off those troublemaker’s path.
“That’s right. Even if they didn’t plan to seize the ship, if I want to throw them into the ocean, I can still throw them into the ocean.” Ling Qingyu’s cold words shocked everyone silent. She continued, “On this ship, I am the law! Since you have been sold to me, you are my property. I can deal with you however I want to. So what? If I someone is not pleasing to my eye, I will throw him into the ocean. If you guys have opinions, they don’t matter. Just don’t take my ship. This ocean is vast and doesn’t care about a few more ghosts. Who
wants to get off? I will fulfill your desire!”
The noise below immediately calmed. Zheng Xi and Ding Dong still watched the prisoners who were making trouble. Gui Sui looked at Ling Qingyu with some anger as he clenched his teeth. What do you mean you own us!
“Where is our big brother? You also threw him in the ocean!?” Asked two young prisoners loudly as they pushed past the people in front. There were a few people who followed them. They didn’t look like the same prisoners who made trouble before. But, they still showed signs of anger.
“I am here.” A deep voice like a hacksaw sounded. Ling Qingyu moved to the side and let the man behind her be seen. She only learned in the morning that his name is Yang Zhao.
Seeing those few prisoners below were relieve, Ling Qingyu changed her fierce tone and said, “Everyone. You are all employed by me, sold to me, or partnering with me. Since I, Ling Qingyu, am in charge of this ship, I have the responsibility to ensure everyone’s safety. I will not tolerate any thoughts or actions that are against others. However,” Ling Qingyu glanced the people below and slowly said, “We are here for treasures. I, Ling Qingyu, will guarantee now, that if people do not have wrong thoughts and are willing to work together, I will ensure everyone will be filled with fortune. When we return, I will give freedom to those sold to me. There will also be a bonus worth twenty percent of the ship’s profit that will be given to those with the greatest contributions. On the voyage back, leaders can bring four stones worth of commodities. Sailors can bring two stones worth.”
This time, even Gu Sui’s brothers began to whisper. Zhang Dahu moved closer to Gu Sui and asked in a low voice, “Boss, can we believe this girl’s
girl’s words? Two stone’s worth of commodities. Wouldn’t that be worth a couple hundred silvers when we get back?”
Gu Sui smiled faintly, “That is only if you have the life to go back.” This little girl is pretty good. She knows to reward and punish. Looks like this voyage is worth going on.
“Each person two stones and leaders four stones.” Zheng Xi said as he followed Ling Qingyu. “Adding Ding Dong and others, we would be losing over a hundred stones worth of space. Family head, you are too generous!”
“Our ship can load twenty thousand stones. You won’t even give up a few hundred stones of weight?” Ling Qingyu laughed. “Besides, they will need to find their own products to buy. We are simply providing them with a bit of space.”
“I think those prisoners will still make trouble.” Zheng Xi remembered those who first yelled out. It would be better to throw them overboard and have less to worry about.
“They haven’t done anything after all.” Ling Qingyu frowned, then suddenly turned to look at the horizon. She sniffed the wind and laughed. “Zheng Xi, go get some empty barrels.”
“Why do you want them?”
“To get ready for a bath. It’s about to rain.”
Rain? Zheng Xi looked at the blue sky with a few scattered clouds.
—
When the storm came down, Zheng Xi was directing Lu Yao and Shi Fang to bring the empty barrels up.
“Wow! It’s raining! It’s raining!” Ye Shiyi, who had been prompted by Ling Qingyu, had already undressed earlier. Now, he danced joyfully in the rain.
Ling Qingyu was hiding in her own room, looking out the window at the ship’s stern and the ocean surface while listening to rain falling on the deck.
“Thank you!”
Hearing that hacksaw sound voice, Ling Qingyu turned her head and saw Yang Zhao standing in the room. He was dressed in green. His posture was straight. Just, his head covered
head covered in messy hair and a full-faced beard looked out of place. “Why don’t you go wash up?”
“Zhao will definitely return the miss’ favor of saving my life.” Yang Zhao bowed deeply and left.
After he left, Ling Qingyu was dumbstruck. How did I earn the favor of saving his life?
Thinking about this, she stared with dislike at Lu Yao sitting in the captain’s room, outside of her bedroom.
Lu Yao was turned toward the lower deck and watching the joyful Ye Shiyi in the middle of a water fight; ignoring Ling Qingyu’s resentment.
“I estimate two more days before we reach Sanyu. Turn the wheel left,” said Ling Qingyu to Ding Dong after looking at her compass.
“Okay!” Ding Dong excitedly turned the steering wheel. In less than a month, they will be reaching Sanyu. Even though the ship encountered a few small storms, the waves didn’t affected the Aeolus at all. It really is a good ship. Of course, this navigator’s performance was quite satisfying to him too. He imagined the Golden Feathered King Swallow, that is worth a thousand gold each, appearing in front of his eyes.
A sailor standing next to Ding Dong quietly left when he noticed Ding Dong and Ling Qingyu not paying attention. He greeted the other sailors and walked to the back deck.
Hearing they were about to reach Sanyu, the atmosphere on the ship became more relaxed. The rowers also became more used to the moving of the ship. With the sun out, they were tanning in twos and threes on the deck.
The sailor went to the cargo compartment. Since the Aeolus split the compartment into more than ten separate rooms, in order to maintain balance, each room was only half-filled with cargo. By the time the sailor reached the cargo compartment, a few people were already squatting there.
“Tian Keng, is what you said true? We can go ashore and go ashore and find a way out?” asked a man who had followed Chen Erhu.
“Of course. Our Xie family’s fleet covers this ocean. If you can help me accomplish my task, I promise that I will recommend you to join our Xie family’s fleet when we get to Sanyu. I ensure that you will become rich within a year,” said Tian Keng with a laugh.
Hu Yu looked at the half-filled room with cotton, then lowered his head and drew on the floor. Someone on the side couldn’t help but interject, “Brother Hu, this Ling girl can only afford to buy such cheap goods. Not only will we not earn a profit, I’m afraid even she will end up with a big loss. Also, after brother Chen, the girl has been guarding against us. Even if there were to be advantages, they would still be given to Yang Zhao. By the time they reach us… Also…”
“Don’t say any more.” Hu Yu interrupted his words. Most of the people trading across the ocean dealt in silk and high-grade porcelain. Yet, this ship’s goods were simply regular cloth, ordinary porcelain and low quality tea. Like Tian Keng said, this Ling girl could only buy the last goods of a merchant closing down. Can they really sell these things? Even if they can sell, how much money would they earn. Also, he and the others had been exiled by Yang Zhao after breaking military law. They were whipped a lot. Most of the people originally carried old wounds. After being tortured by them collaborating with the guards, the only ones left were Yang Zhao and the few of them. This hatred won’t be left alone by Yan Zhao. If they remained, the day that Yang Zhao recovers would by their death.
“Okay, Master Tian, we will do as you say,” said Hu Yu as he patted clean his hands covered in dust.