Chapter 506 Farewell on Board
Everyone said goodbye reluctantly at the dock.
Sun Dali, Gui Ge'er and Sun Dingnan moved the luggage onto the boat and waited until everything was ready.
The merchant ship's steward Chen said to the crowd, "My fellow candidates, the time has come. Everyone should get on board."
Mrs. Su and Aunt Sun held Sun Shan's hands tightly. Their eyes were red and tears were falling uncontrollably.
Su choked up and said, "Shanzi, come back as soon as you finish the exam. Your mother and father are waiting for you at home."
If crying wasn't considered unlucky, Su would have burst into tears.
Aunt Sun brushed Sun Shan's hair off his forehead and said, "When you get to the capital, write back to let us know you're safe."
Sun Bomin looked at Sun Shan from afar, wanting to say something but not knowing how to say it, so he could only shout, "Shanzi, don't wander around on the road, just follow the others. Dad and Mom are waiting for you in Sunjia Village."
The village chief was much more normal, and urged: "Shanzi, hurry up and get on the boat, it's time to sail, so that others won't have to wait for you."
Fatty He held Sun Shan's clothes tightly and said reluctantly, "Brother Shan, have a safe journey."
After a pause, he continued, "Remember to help me try some Shangjing Roast Duck when you get to Beijing to see if it tastes good. If it tastes good, find a way to bring it back to me. If it doesn't taste good, forget it."
By the way, remember to bring some local specialties. I heard there are a lot of new things in Beijing, so bring some that I haven’t seen yet.
Oh, and bring some back for my eldest sister, and bring some back for my younger sisters and brothers, too. They envy you for being able to go to the capital."
Sun Shan was speechless and was about to shake off He Shuqiang's big fat hand.
Old Master He San, who was standing next to him, couldn't stand it anymore and slapped him, saying angrily, "Shanzi is going to the capital to take the exam, not to eat, drink and have fun. Let go of your hand and don't get in the way of Shanzi getting on the boat."
He Shuqiang touched his big head that was hurt by his grandfather's beating and said aggrievedly: "Going to the exam is going to the exam, and bringing local specialties is bringing local specialties. The two things are unrelated and can be done at the same time."
Old Master He San was so angry that he raised his hand again. He Shuqiang dodged and hid behind Sun Shan.
I thought to myself that it hurts when my grandfather hits me. What if I get hit again and end up being stupid?
Sun Shan smiled silently. After being treated like this by He Shuqiang, his sadness about separation was reduced a lot. He bowed and said goodbye to everyone.
He led Gui Ge'er, Sun Dali and Sun Dingnan towards the merchant ship.
Sun Shan didn't dare turn around and look at his relatives and friends until he got on board.
Su shouted loudly: "Shanzi, remember to eat well, sleep well, and don't get sick."
Sun Shan waved his hand as a sign of agreement.
The village chief also said nervously: "Nan Ge'er, Gui Ge'er, Dali, please take good care of Shanzi. You must be extra careful on this journey."
The village chief wanted to give a few more instructions, but since no one else was that excited, he was too embarrassed to make a scene.
Sun Bomin raised his head, looked at Sun Shan steadily, and shouted, "Shanzi, Guige'er, Nange'er, Dali, you must stay together at all times and never get separated. It's a mess outside and you can't get home if you get lost."
Sun Bomin was afraid that Sun Shan would get lost, and then he was afraid that Sun Dali would get lost. If the four of them got lost, they wouldn't know how to get home.
Sometimes I thought that if Sun Shan got lost, since he could read and was a juren, he should know how to go home.
But then I thought of Shanzi, who was young and honest, and was afraid he would be cheated and sold. What if he was sold to a black coal mine, he would be helpless.
He also thought of Sun Dali, who was illiterate. If he got lost, he would be even more miserable than Sun Shan. How could he get home by himself?
Then he thought of Gui Ge'er and Nan Ge'er. They were not very old and it would be difficult for them to walk home if they got lost.
Sun Bomin had a lot of wild thoughts and wished he could let the four of them get off the boat and not go to the capital.
Sun Shan stood on the deck. After a while, the boat weighed anchor, set sail, and slowly moved forward.
Sun Shan waved to his relatives and friends at the dock again.
The village chief of the Su family, Sun Bomin, shouted loudly, and the voice gradually faded away until there was no figure left. Only then did Sun Shan turn around and prepare to go back to the cabin.
This trip was on the Chen family merchant ship, and Manager Chen was responsible for everything from route planning to three meals a day.
There were a total of three merchant ships on this trip, each loaded with cargo.
Sun Shan was assigned to be with the He family and the Chen family. The Lu family and the Luo family were also assigned to be with each other.
As for the other boat, it was led by Steward Chen and a young master Chen from the master's family.
Sun Shan didn't need to pay any travel expenses, as Old Master He San had already paid for him.
As for how much, Sun Shan did not ask, thinking that he would ask He Shuqiang or He Banyun when he returned.
But it must have cost a lot along the way.
The boat that Sun Shan was on had two floors. The bottom floor was for cargo, and the upper floor was for living and activities.
Because Sun Shan was a juren, he had a very small room, which was only for him to sleep.
Gui Ge'er, Sun Dingnan and Sun Dali were going to sleep on the big bunk bed with the crew members and servants.
Gui Ge'er said cheerfully, "Brother Shan, this ship is much bigger than the last time we went to Changsha Prefecture. Haha, you can live alone and don't have to sleep next to the cargo."
Sun Dingnan was also very satisfied with the environment of the merchant ship: "Haha, the last time I went to Yuelu Academy, the boat I took was so small and crowded that I couldn't even turn around. This time I can even breathe on the deck. It is indeed a merchant ship of a big merchant, so big and majestic."
Sun Dali has the simplicity and honesty of a countryman. He smiled and said, "This time is much better than last time. The boat we are on is big, fast and very comfortable."
Seeing how low their requirements were and how they adapted so quickly, Sun thought that he should learn from them and be able to adapt to any situation.
He smiled and said, "It's been a long journey. Thank you for your hard work."
Sun Dingnan and Sun Dali blushed a little, and quickly waved their hands and said, "It's not hard, not hard at all. Come out and see the world. The villagers will envy you."
Sun Shan put his valuables in the small room. After all, the big bunk bed was full of all kinds of people. Even if he could trust the He family and the Chen family, there were also many ship staff members mixed in, so it was inevitable that they would be stolen.
Gui Ge'er said quietly: "Brother Shan, don't worry, we will hide the money that our aunt gave us for self-defense tightly and will not lose it."
Gui Ge'er pointed to his crotch and said that he should hide the gold leaves that Aunt Sun had exchanged in his crotch so that they would not be lost.
Not only he hid it like this, but Sun Dali and Sun Dingnan also hid it like this.
The corners of Sun Shan's mouth twitched, and he didn't know what to say for a moment.
I wondered if it would have a unique smell if I took it out and used it.
Thinking of this, I couldn't help but shiver and feel a chill.
On this trip, Sun Shan not only brought silver notes, but also silver, gold, gold leaves, and a small amount of copper coins, focusing on currency diversification.
There is a big head in Sun Shan’s small room, while Sun Dingnan, Sun Dali, and Gui Ge’er have small heads.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket. If one person loses money, at least the other still has some.
A cunning rabbit has three burrows, so you should leave yourself a few more escape routes.