Chapter 372: Changsha Pier Arrived
The next morning, Sun Boming led everyone to gather at the place designated by the escort agency early. They were going to continue heading north.
Zhan Biaotou abandoned the horse-drawn carriages and carts and instead used wheelbarrows and mules to carry goods.
As for travelers like Sun Shan, there were no buses available and they had to walk to Chenzhou.
The biggest challenge for the Guangdong-Hunan Ancient Road is about to come.
Guangdong-Hunan Ancient Road
Sun Shan and others carried packages and followed the escort team, walking with difficulty.
The road winds up and down the mountain, circles around the mountain, then up the mountain and down the mountain again.
Sun Shan was so tired that he was out of breath, and Sun Bomin felt sorry for him.
Sun Dali also said that he could carry Sun Shan on his back, showing his legs' endurance.
Sun Shan quickly refused, saying that he could still walk and it would not be too late to carry him when he could no longer walk.
The ancient road not only has poor road conditions, but is also dangerous.
There were many wild animals roaming around, and Sun Shan slept outdoors in the mountains at night. It was the first time that he heard the cry of wolves so clearly.
The wolves howled loudly, scaring everyone so much that they huddled together tightly.
Fortunately, there was a escort team following them. They were accustomed to this situation and had prepared well in advance.
Sun Shan also encountered the legendary bandits.
He is the type who says, "I opened this mountain and planted these trees. If you want to pass through here, you have to leave some money for passage!"
Sun Shan was afraid and curious, so he glanced at the bandits stealthily. In fact, they were no different from the farmers, except that their eyes were a little more fierce.
The escort team was accustomed to this kind of situation and sent people to negotiate very skillfully. No one knew how they talked, but the bandit just took a bag of money and left.
It seems that Zhan Biaotou's strategy is to solve problems with money if they can be solved with money, and if they cannot be solved with money, Sun Shan doesn't know how Zhan Biaotou will solve them.
Because they encountered three gangs of bandits, Captain Zhan used money to get rid of them.
Sun Shan did the math and charged 10 taels per person for the escort fee. It seemed expensive, but Zhan Escort and his men wouldn't make much.
For services like this that require money, the escort agency will bear the cost alone and does not need the passengers to share the cost. The escort agency also needs to spend a lot of money to build relationships.
Along the Hunan-Guangdong Ancient Road, there are a large number of ancient streets, ancient docks, ancient villages, academies, ancestral halls, temples, archways, ancient bridges, post stations, ancient wells, pavilions, stone carvings, etc. As Sun Shan walked along the way, his horizons were truly broadened and he finally no longer had to talk about things on paper.
The escort team's arrangements are very reasonable. The daily itinerary is fixed. They try their best to find accommodation in gathering places. If there is no other way, they will find a place with an advantageous geographical location in the mountains to spend the night.
Sun Shan felt that the ten taels were well spent. If he were allowed to go on the journey alone, he would have died before he reached his destination.
I don't know how many days had passed, but when they were crossing Qitianling, Sun Shan couldn't stand it anymore and couldn't walk anymore.
Sun Dali carried a basket, putting Sun Shan and the books in one side.
He is just like the porters carrying goods along the way, except that others carry goods while Sun Dali carries people.
Sun Shan said embarrassedly, "Uncle Dali, thank you for your hard work."
Sun Dali laughed and said, "It's not hard. It's not as heavy as carrying grain. Sit tight and don't move. Be careful not to fall down."
When Sun Bomin saw Sun Dali carrying Sun Shan on his back, he didn't know whether to be happy or sad.
The good thing is that Sun Shan doesn’t have to walk and is not so tired.
The sad thing is that he is too thin and much lighter than other boys of the same age.
Sun Bomin was puzzled. He ate a lot, so why didn't he grow taller or fatter?
Gui Ge'er also wanted to carry Sun Shan, but it was a bit strenuous and he could not compare with Uncle Dali. He thought that if Uncle Dali got tired, he would carry Shan Ge on his back.
It's not hard to carry someone.
Sun Dingnan asked quietly: "Shanzi, what are those porters carrying?"
They were carrying loads one after another, and among them were women.
Sun Dingnan stared at it intently. It was too tiring to carry the load like this.
In ancient times, Guangdong and Hunan were actually called the "Ancient Private Salt Road". This road was created by the sale of private salt. The baskets carried by the porters were probably filled with private salt.
Sun Shan shook his head and signaled Sun Dingnan not to ask.
Selling illegal salt is a serious crime, and no one wants to do this business unless it is absolutely necessary.
Moreover, the porters who carry goods are just hired to carry goods. They earn little but take great risks.
When you are out, it is better to watch more, listen more and talk less.
It’s better not to ask too much about what’s going on in the underworld.
He didn't know how many days they had walked, but when Leader Zhan said they had come out of Qitianling, Sun Shan wanted to sing a song or at least play some erhu music.
They finally walked out of Yizhang County and arrived in Chenzhou.
After climbing the mountain with great difficulty, we finally climbed out.
Sun Dali was finally freed. He quickly put down his burden and lifted Sun Shan out of the basket with both hands.
Sun Shan was embarrassed. He really wanted to say that he could get out of it without Sun Dali having to lift him up like a child.
During a day's rest in Chenzhou, Sun Boming and Sun Dali still never left the guest room except to go to the toilet and take a shower.
As for Sun Shan, Sun Dingnan, and Gui Ge'er, they stayed within the inn and did not go out.
Sun Shan came here to study, not to travel, so he didn't go anywhere.
Early the next morning, Zhan Biaotou and a group of passengers who continued to head north hurriedly arrived at the Chenzhou Wharf.
The Chenzhou branch of Guangsheng Escort Agency had already helped to book a boat, and after verifying your identity, you can board the boat and head north.
Yizhang County to Chenzhou takes the land route, while Chenzhou to Changsha Prefecture takes the water route.
First board the boat at Chenzhou Wharf, pass the Xingbian River, arrive at Leishui, then go along the Xiangjiang River, and finally arrive at Changsha Wharf.
You can take a boat along the way instead of traveling by land, so it will be much more relaxing for everyone.
Sun Shan and his five companions boarded the ship, and according to the instructions of Team Leader Zhan, they found an empty seat and sat down.
The so-called big ship is actually two to three times larger than a small boat, not as big as a cruise ship.
Guangzhou boats, usually boat porridge is sold on board
After the boat was filled with cargo, people crowded on it.
As for sleeping like a reclining board, that's simply impossible.
It is very rare to be able to find a seat for you among a pile of goods.
Of course, if you have money, you can take a big ship or charter a boat to your destination.
As for Sun Shan, he was equivalent to a pauper in the eyes of the wealthy family and it was impossible for him to enjoy a luxury cruise.
The boatman was very experienced and found a place to dock and resupply on time.
When night falls, Sun Shan and other travelers need to go ashore from the boat and rest in a designated inn.
The next morning we boarded the ship again and headed north.
When they arrived at the large dock, the cargo on the ship reached its destination, and Sun Shan and other passengers needed to disembark, change ships, and continue heading north.
I don't know how many times he had to go on and off the boat back and forth. Not only Sun Shan couldn't stand it, but even farmers like Sun Boming and Sun Dali, who were used to hard lives, couldn't stand it.
Sun Bomin said thankfully: "Shanzi, it's a good thing we came with you. If it were just you, you wouldn't be able to stand it halfway."
Sun Shan agreed with this statement very much. Such a bumpy journey was really uncomfortable.
Thinking about how tiring it was to transfer trains every time in his previous life, Sun Shan couldn't even remember how many times he had to transfer trains. No wonder he wouldn't travel far unless it was necessary.
When they take the boat, they don't go from one destination to another, but instead go around in circles between the starting point and the end point, and they don't know when they will reach their destination.
Sun Shan was sleeping soundly next to the cargo on the deck, drooling.
Suddenly, the boat collided, and Sun Shan was startled and woke up from his dream.
The boatman scratched his head and said embarrassedly: "Sun Xiucai, we have arrived at Changsha Pier."