Chapter Ten: Set Sail
Back in her own courtyard, Ling Qingyu sat on a stone stool and let a deep breath out. Her hand softened and the whip dropped to the ground.
Lu Yao and Ye Shiyi were practicing martial arts in the yard. Hearing the door, they stopped and watched as Ling Qingyu hurried in. She rushed to the seat. Then, the whip made a noise as it fell. Lu Yao blocked Ye Shiyi from approaching and walked over himself. He picked up the whip and frowned. This whip was actually made with metal. It was also covered by traces of darkened blood. But even so, the blood couldn’t hide the smoothness of its body. He murmured, “Panlong Eighteen Whip?”
“You like it?” Ling Qingyu glanced at him and said lazily, “If you like it, then it’s yours. Just remember to clean it.”
“Where did this whip come from?” asked Lu Yao.
“A gift with the purchase of twenty slaves.” Ling Qingyu felt her energy train out of her body. When she faced Zhou Zhou before, it was as if she had fought a mental battle. Seeing Lu Yao frown while looking at the whip, she said, “This is what the guards use to whip people. I bought some prisoners, so he gave this to me.”
“Prisoners?” Lu Yao didn’t understand.
But during lunch time, everything was clarified.
“Miss, look at your sailors.” Zheng Xi pointed to Lu Yao, who was filling his food bowl, and Ye Shiyi, slurping his food. “A little kid. A dry duck. Ah, no. A crowd of dry ducks. Those refugees also came from the north. Also, a bunch of dying prisoners! Who knows what they did to become exiled. With those evil people on the ship, wouldn’t they kill us? Even if they don’t create trouble, how can we sail with a group like this?”
“We can.” Ling Qingyu cleaned the bowl. She was surprised that Zheng Xi waited until they finished eating before showing his dissatisfaction. So, she patiently explained, “I have already thought about it. The reason why Uncle Ding had trouble was because there are people who don’t want us to sail. So, if we find the worst possible sailors, then the enemy will underestimate us and let us sail. Since we changed the Aeolus’ sail, before leaving Quan Province or even the Zhou Empire’s borders, we can’t let anyone see. We have to rely on rowing. And rowing requires a lot of strength. As for whether they would create trouble onboard. If they don’t have us, then they are asking to die. I don’t think these people would be so stupid.” A few hundred refugees were forced here to be laborers but only twenty remained. Ling Qingyu didn’t believe these twenty were simple people. Even though Zheng Xi is right about not knowing their backgrounds. To survive in their situation means they are like Gu Yu. They might be timed bombs. But right now, she can’t think of a better plan.
“Take those prisoners to the shipyard and ask Doctor Shi to treat them. Take care of their food and clothes. At least make sure they can row when we get onto the ship.” After thinking for a moment, Ling Qingyu continued, “I will talk to Wu Da and have him increased the speed. After ten days, we will go out to the sea.”
“Ten days? But miss, you haven’t purchased any goods.”
“We can buy from the people you mentioned before. Four thousand silvers. We will take everything.”
“Miss, are you sure? They only have second-rate goods! Porcelain is low-grade. Even some of the color has already disappeared.”
“If they weren’t second-rate goods, how could they be so cheap. Don’t worry. Other ships are heading to major cities and of course would want expensive goods instead. Oh right, you should lower the price by five hundred silvers and buy some more food.”
“You want to lower even more? Miss you’re too stingy. I don’t think Boss Dai will agree.”
“Then you should pester him until he does.”
The little kid and dry duck, Ye Shiyi and Lu Yao bit their chopsticks on the side. Watching Ling Qingyu and Zheng Xi walk away, they gained a new understanding of her. Ye Shiyi thought: Sister is amazing. We are about to go sailing. I can finally the the ocean and don’t need to hide anymore. Lu Yao thought: This girl has no bottom line! We are about to go sailing. I can finally see the ocean and don’t need to hide anymore. (Note: They really repeated the same thoughts).
—
Ten days later…
Chapter Ten: Set Sail
Back in her own courtyard, Ling Qingyu sat on a stone stool and let a deep breath out. Her hand softened and the whip dropped to the ground.
Lu Yao and Ye Shiyi were practicing martial arts in the yard. Hearing the door, they stopped and watched as Ling Qingyu hurried in. She rushed to the seat. Then, the whip made a noise as it fell. Lu Yao blocked Ye Shiyi from approaching and walked over himself. He picked up the whip and frowned. This whip was actually made with metal. It was also covered by traces of darkened blood. But even so, the blood couldn’t hide the smoothness of its body. He murmured, “Panlong Eighteen Whip?”
“You like it?” Ling Qingyu glanced at him and said lazily, “If you like it, then it’s yours. Just remember to clean it.”
“Where did this whip come from?” asked Lu Yao.
“A gift with the purchase of twenty slaves.” Ling Qingyu felt her energy train out of her body. When she faced Zhou Zhou before, it was as if she had fought a mental battle. Seeing Lu Yao frown while looking at the whip, she said, “This is what the guards use to whip people. I bought some prisoners, so he gave this to me.”
“Prisoners?” Lu Yao didn’t understand.
But during lunch time, everything was clarified.
“Miss, look at your sailors.” Zheng Xi pointed to Lu Yao, who was filling his food bowl, and Ye Shiyi, slurping his food. “A little kid. A dry duck. Ah, no. A crowd of dry ducks. Those refugees also came from the north. Also, a bunch of dying prisoners! Who knows what they did to become exiled. With those evil people on the ship, wouldn’t they kill us? Even if they don’t create trouble, how can we sail with a group like this?”
“We can.” Ling Qingyu cleaned the bowl. She was surprised that Zheng Xi waited until they finished eating before showing his dissatisfaction. So, she patiently explained, “I have already thought about it. The reason why Uncle Ding had trouble was because there are people who don’t want us to sail. So, if we find the worst possible sailors, then the enemy will underestimate us and let us sail. Since we changed the Aeolus’ sail, before leaving Quan Province or even the Zhou Empire’s borders, we can’t let anyone see. We have to rely on rowing. And rowing requires a lot of strength. As for whether they would create trouble onboard. If they don’t have us, then they are asking to die. I don’t think these people would be so stupid.” A few hundred refugees were forced here to be laborers but only twenty remained. Ling Qingyu didn’t believe these twenty were simple people. Even though Zheng Xi is right about not knowing their backgrounds. To survive in their situation means they are like Gu Yu. They might be timed bombs. But right now, she can’t think of a better plan.
“Take those prisoners to the shipyard and ask Doctor Shi to treat them. Take care of their food and clothes. At least make sure they can row when we get onto the ship.” After thinking for a moment, Ling Qingyu continued, “I will talk to Wu Da and have him increased the speed. After ten days, we will go out to the sea.”
“Ten days? But miss, you haven’t purchased any goods.”
“We can buy from the people you mentioned before. Four thousand silvers. We will take everything.”
“Miss, are you sure? They only have second-rate goods! Porcelain is low-grade. Even some of the color has already disappeared.”
“If they weren’t second-rate goods, how could they be so cheap. Don’t worry. Other ships are heading to major cities and of course would want expensive goods instead. Oh right, you should lower the price by five hundred silvers and buy some more food.”
“You want to lower even more? Miss you’re too stingy. I don’t think Boss Dai will agree.”
“Then you should pester him until he does.”
The little kid and dry duck, Ye Shiyi and Lu Yao bit their chopsticks on the side. Watching Ling Qingyu and Zheng Xi walk away, they gained a new understanding of her. Ye Shiyi thought: Sister is amazing. We are about to go sailing. I can finally the the ocean and don’t need to hide anymore. Lu Yao thought: This girl has no bottom line! We are about to go sailing. I can finally see the ocean and don’t need to hide anymore. (Note: They really repeated the same thoughts).
—
Ten days later…
