Chapter Six: Respite
The few days on the ship were the most peaceful since Ling Qingyu appeared in this world. After crossing over, she had been overwhelmed by changes that occured one after another. Her mother's passing filled her heart with anger and sadness. Even though she crossed over from another world, this world's mother looked the same as her own. More so, she had inherited the previous owner's memories. During their brief time together, the mother focused on how her daughter could live a better life, even as her own health was declining. This love of a parent for her child quickly merged the two different mothers in Ling Qingyu's mind. In the end, she could not protect her mother from dying of anger. Ling Qingyu felt an angry remorse that filled her heart with the thought of revenge.
Ling Qingyu spent all of her time in the cabin. Even food was brought over by Shan Yao. She silently focused all of her attention on planning.
These actions gave Shan Yao an even more favorable impression of this quiet little miss. Considering the presence of her master and the sixth young master, many servant girls were having lively thoughts. Two days ago, Shan Yao worried that this little miss might do something inappropriate. Who could have thought that she wouldn't take a single step out the door. This made her mission of watching the girl much easier. So, when Ling Qingyu followed Zheng Xi off the ship and bowed once again, Shan Yao informed her, "My master is the new director of the Quan Province Maritime Affairs Department. You can find me at the Fan mansion in the future."
Ling Qingyu thanked her. "Thank you sister Shan Yao. If I can be of any assistance in the future, please let me know as well." She grabbed a few more silver ingots and gave them to Shan Yao. Waving her hand, she jumped off the ship's docking plank.
—
Ling Qingyu held a list that detailed goals she wanted to accomplish. As she read, she murmured, "Find a small house to settle down." She raised her head and looked at the house in front of her. It was not big; only three main rooms and two side rooms. There was also a stock room and a kitchen. The courtyard contained a huge tree. Its branches were like clouds that sheltered the courtyard from the burning sun. Underneath the tree also stood a stone table and four stone stools. In the west corner of the courtyard, there was an old well. The courtyard itself was covered with bluestone. The entire yard was small, but clean and tidy.
Ling Qingyu nodded in satisfaction. She jotted down "one hundred liang" after the item on her list. Then she continued reading, "Find the Aeolus and ask about how to obtain a license for sea shipping. Query prices. Find crew. Buy commodities. Draw a navigation chart. Hmm. I did this already."
She placed a map on the table in the courtyard. She started creating this map from the moment she had the desire to participate in maritime trade. Using many years of sailing experience, she drew the world map with islands, ocean currents, and monsoons; along with longitude and latitude. She also labeled foreign port names that Zheng Xi was able to learn and those from her own memory. Since she was afraid of people stealing this information, everything was written in pinyin or simplified characters.
Ling Qingyu checked the map carefully for omissions. Even though it's a parallel world, there could be differences in land masses and the divisions of countries. She was so focused on the map that she didn't notice Zheng Xi bringing someone into the courtyard to wait behind her.
"Is this Master Lin's navigation chart?"
"Ah!" Ling Qingyu jumped as she heard a deep voice sounding suddenly behind her back. She quickly rolled her map (it was definitely the right choice to use silk instead of paper!) and yelled, "Who is this thief! My big brother is about to be back. You better disarm and surrender!" She dodged behind the table, then saw that behind her, no, right now it is in front of her, that a man stood there, with a shocked expression, facing herself.
"Miss, this person is the former captain of the Aeolus. He is currently master Ding of the Du shipyard in the back mountains," said Zheng Xi with embarrassment behind Ding Budong.
"Ding Budong? Ling Qingyu stared at this person in front of her, whom Zheng Xi had been speaking about the entire trip. According to him, this person is capable of anything. He was also a loyal and righteous man. Facing him, she could see that he is barely 170cm tall. His upper and lower bodies are thick. His head is covered in gray, messy, short hair. His pair of small eyes were shining, which gave his ageless face an enticing look.
"Master Ding, it is a pleasure." Ling Qingyu started reaching out her hand, then immediately changed it to a bow as she remembered people in this era did not shake hands. But, before she could bow down, her hand was grabbed by Ding Budong. As she was registering this surprise, the map in her hands had already been taken and spread on the table.
"You have the abilities of a navigator?" Ding Budong asked with a glance at Ling Qingyu as he stared at the sea map.
"Of course." Ling Qingyu nodded. A navigator is equivalent to the modern pilot. Ling Qingyu participated in a sailing club in college and competed in many global amateur competitions. Her job then was the pilot.
Ding Budong kept looking at the map, but subconsciously frowned. Even though Lin Jiashen protected his sea map well, Ding Budong had seen the map once during a storm. It was far inferior to this map's details. Could it be that Lin Jiashen added more to it afterwards? But, he had see all the routes Lin Jiashen traveled. Yet, this map actually contained many locations he never visited before.
"You want to fix the Aeolus?" Ding Budong asked as he rolled up the sea map and returned it to Ling Qingyu.
"Yes. Not only do I want to fix the Aeolus, but I also want to invite master Ding to sail again." Ling Qingyu paused to think about Ding Butong's expression when he saw the map. "Master Ding should have seen my father's map before and know that my sea map contains many locations father had not traveled to. I wonder if Master Ding has the the ambition to do so?"
Ling Qingyu decided to gamble a hand. Other than herself, no one could understand this map. But Ding Butong's expression showed a general understanding. There was no doubt of his experience. But, since she still have not figured out why her father died and why this Master Ding disappeared for the year after, there could be a secret involving him. However, her main goal now is to sail. She requires the best help. The only person suitable is this righteous and daring Ding Budong.
"Girl, do you know why your uncle agreed to give you the Aeolus and the shipyard?" Ding Budong asked as he stared at Ling Qingyu. Seeing her consider this, he faintly shook his head and said, "Come with me. Take a look at the Aeolus."
—
Quan Province, back mountains. Here stood the best ship construction yard in the province; maybe even the kingdom. But when they arrived, the entire complex had been abandoned. The only things left were construction debris and a small dock with more than half of a large ship tilted toward it. Even considering it as a large ship was more than deserving. The main mast had broken in half. Both sides of the hull had large holes. The bulkhead plate splintered into pieces. There were also blade and axe marks everywhere.
Ling Qingyu laughed coldly, "It really was a bloody storm."
"The Aeolus was filled with outstanding people. They were all companions of Head Lin. With the number of people on the Aeolus, if the opponent did not have three times more, there was no way the entire ship's crew could have been killed."
"Girl." Ding Butong glanced at Ling Qingyu, then said softly, "Miss Lin, are you sure you want to run sea shipping again? The money needed to fix this ship can buy you a few hundred acres of farmland and help you find a man to marry. Wouldn't that be better?"
"I had originally wanted a peaceful life. But, enemies wouldn't let my mother be. They probably don't have a good plan for my future either." Ling Qingyu gazed at the Aeolus. She imaged that night must have been filled with wind and waves; the ship sailing in a bloodstorm. She closed her eyes and said, "Besides. Even if I can have a peaceful life, I cannot forget about this blood feud. The reason Lin Jiaxuan left this Aeolus for me to see is to warn me that he was able to killed my father, not to mention a little girl."
Ding Budong couldn't help but laugh. "So you know that you're just a little girl. What can you do to take revenge? Two years ago, I had told Head Lin not to participate in politics. We were only after money. Enough is enough. Your father also wanted to retire from this line of work. No one could have imagined for it to end this way."
So it wasn't just Lin Jiaxuan and the Wu Family? Ling Qingyu keenly detected a conspiracy. She subconsciously looked toward Ding Budong. Seeing that he did not want to continue, she realized that he was afraid of dragging her down the hole as well. Recognizing his good intentions, her heart warmed. "Uncle Ding, I know the road to revenge will be difficult. Right now, I have no power nor influence. I will not participate in a senseless struggle. As for my father. He lived for maritime trade and died for maritime trade. As for me…"
Ling Qingyu raised her head and gazed at the distant coastline with seagulls flying above snow-white spray.
Ling Qingyu's arms gestured at the sea, "This world is so vast. I want to see the world that my father traveled. Uncle Ding, please believe me. I will become a navigator who surpasses my father."
(To be continued in Part 2)