Aggrieved Fish Sprite

The river slapped against the side of the boat, and the black and thin man took the lead to pack the fainted Mr. Cha into the sack of the cargo, pretending to be carrying the cargo and loading it onto the boat.

The old boatman sat on the step with a pipe bag and sighed.

Lu Min struggled to lead the horse into the boat, tied it up, and went to pull the horse brought by Mr. Jinshui. The horse became nervous when it saw the water, and kept twisting its neck and kicking its hooves on the bank.

The scholar was still in shock, and sat on the box he was carrying with his bundle in his arms.

"Quick, hurry up!" The old boatman stood up and urged.

The coolies buried their heads in their work, and no one dared to show strange expressions. From a distance, this ship was no different from other merchant ships: there was only one carriage, and there were not many people carrying goods. Usually.

However, there was a problem with this ship. After boarding the ship and taking a closer look, the so-called goods, except for the unlucky people who were put into sacks, were some torn cotton jackets and batting, together with a few pots, pans and spoons.

Coupled with the tense appearance of the old boatmen and coolies, no matter how you look at it, it looks like a group of dock coolies preparing to abscond quietly.

Mr. Jin Shui who also absconded: "..."

He couldn't help thinking hard, how did things become like this?He specially chose to go out on the day of the spring outing, and he didn't dare to show his face to look around until he was out of the capital, for fear of being discovered, but he was hit by a carriage halfway and sprained his feet.Fortunately, I met someone to help me, and I was almost "sold" by someone when I arrived at the pier.

In the end, the peak turned around, and the guy who blocked the road and ambushed was taken down.

——It was so ups and downs that it was frightening to death.

Not far away, a coolie muttered in a low voice: "Why did you bring them with you? Isn't this troublesome? If they turn around and report to the police, we will all be finished."

"That scholar is the one Mr. Cha wants to arrest. He has no time to run away. How can he cause trouble for us?"

The black and thin man made up his mind and continued to persuade everyone, "There are so many people on the pier, if they casually tell someone, or ask someone to ask us and Mr. Zha, things will be bad! Now we just need to send people across the river, here at the pier I didn’t leave any clues, and by the time the brothers were found, they would have disappeared long ago.”

"That's right, the mouse is right, you can't leave people on the pier...you have to send them across the river even if you don't need money!"

"Nonsense, you still have to collect the money!"

Meng Qi's smile deepened. These people thought they were whispering softly, but it was actually the same as talking face to face.

This black and thin man nicknamed "Mouse" was surprisingly courageous. After the so-called Mr. Cha passed out, he was stunned for a while, and he didn't care how the shoes flew onto Mr. Zha's face. A few sacks began to fill people.In the end, he barely maintained his composure and came over to greet them to board the boat and cross the river. It turned out that this was the idea.

"This guy has a quick brain." Meng Qi joked to Mo Li in a low voice.

Mo Li looked at him strangely.

Isn't it strange that my gerbil praised a man nicknamed Mouse?

The cabin was filled with the smell of fish and the sweat of the coolies, but the bulkhead was cleaned cleanly. Seeing that everyone was almost done, the old boatman put down his bong and walked over to stroke the stubborn horse. The mane on the back of the head of a poor horse.

The horse really became obedient, and was soon led onto the boat by the old boatman.

Lu Min was dumbfounded, and when he came back to his senses, he rushed to catch up and wanted to learn this skill of horse riding.

The old boatman pulled the anchor and the sail in silence.

Lu Min followed behind him, helping him knowingly, so he was also busy walking around.

Mo Li was speechless for a while, and he became a helper out of nowhere. He didn't know whether to say that Lu Min was easy to be kidnapped, or to praise him for being simple-minded, studious and diligent.

"Let's sail."

The old boatman greeted, propped the boat pole against the bluestone of the pier, let the boat float away from the ferry slowly, the coolies picked up the oars and put their heads down.

There are boats near the pier, coming in and out, and the boat gang occasionally bumps into them.

"Hey, what a mouse! You're not staying on the pier, why did you come here to paddle Old Yang?"

"No, there is a shortage of people on Lao Yangtou's boat. There is a businessman who is eager to charter the boat away, so I'll come over to get some money for drinks." The black and thin man said with a smile on his face, and casually invited people, "We'll have a drink together when we get back." ah!"

"Come on, you're the one who speaks loudly, and you've always been so stingy that you can't even give up a plate of dried beans." The boatman complained a few words, and then slowly left with the boat.

He Mouse just laughed along with him, and a melancholy gradually appeared on his face.

The Qingjiang River was rushing, and the punting boats left the pier for a while, and many boats dispersed.

The boat they took was neither big nor small, and its appearance was even more dilapidated and crude, not eye-catching at all.

"Wait, the ferry is over there!" Mr. Jinshui said nervously.

The boat seemed to be going down the river instead of going across the river.

The old ship's foreman said without looking up: "It's dangerous there, you have to go along the river to the next ferry."

Lu Min didn't grab the oar, so he just squatted on the side of the boat and looked around.

Mr. Jin Shui was terrified when he saw it, and he was restless. When he saw Meng Qi Moli, who was with him, calm as usual, he managed to calm down again, and asked in a low voice, "You two understand the nature of water?"

Mo Li didn't speak because he didn't know how to answer.

Meng Qi laughed, and deliberately said: "Sir, are you afraid?"

The scholar was dumb, he was on the river, if the boat was scuttled, who would not be afraid?

"Will not."

The voice behind him startled Mr. Jin Shui, he turned his head quickly and saw Lu Min's face.

The second prince returned to the cabin in despair, because the old boatman had spoken and thought he was in the way by squatting outside.As a result, as soon as he entered the cabin, he heard Mr. Jin Shui's worried words, and almost laughed out loud.

Then he met the eyes of Meng Qi Qiqi, the ink carp, and Lu Min instantly became half shorter.

"Cough...there are so many boats on the river, although they are far away, if they really sink, someone will be able to see them. Besides, the purpose of digging boats is to seek money and kill. I don't have the money, the doctor and the others No, and you don't look like you, sir."

Mr. Jin Shui's face turned blue and then pale.

"As for killing people, they are bitter, and there is no need to use a boat to win the favor of your enemy...or someone. It doesn't cost money to lead the way, but digging a boat is different."

"Well said." Meng Qi smiled and nodded.

Mo Li found that the second prince was really enlightened. He hadn't thought about the crucial relationship, but Lu Min had already said it clearly.

——The main reason is that a fish is afraid of cutting a boat.

Mr. Jin Shui was extremely embarrassed. At the pier, he told Lu Min that the people following him were local snakes who "collected tolls", and offered to give the money, but He Mouse led them into danger.

If he was really afraid of missing this boat, he might still be in danger if he stayed on the pier.

The more the scholar thought about it, the more frightened he became. Coupled with nervousness and worry, the whole person was in a daze, and even his eyes turned black.

"gentlemen."

The sound was like a basin of cold water, waking up the scholar at once.

He raised his head in a daze, and saw Mo Li holding a volume of books in his hands at some point, and Meng Qi sitting beside him, leisurely holding a pack of lotus leaf cakes, the sweet and invigorating fragrance seemed to be infused into his body brain.

This low and dilapidated cabin, which was originally full of fishy and strange smells, has become less dark and oppressive.

The slapping sound of the water flowing in contact with the oars was heard regularly, and the scholar's tense body gradually relaxed, and his pale face gradually improved.

"For my business, I am ashamed to disturb your peace."

"You're welcome, sir."

Meng Qi took the oiled paper bag and brought the lotus leaf cake to Mo Li, who waved his hand.

"Chestnut cake?" Meng Qi reached out to touch the car again.

Mr. Jin Shui: "..."

Except for the female relatives and young children, how can anyone bring pastries on the road?This thing is easy to break, expensive and not easy to store. Steamed buns, oil cakes and dried meat and pickled vegetables are common!

However, Lu Min felt very happy. If he was sensible, he would go away quickly. If he wanted to stay with him, he would have to be blind and deaf like him.

"The matter has come to this, sir, can you tell me, what is the origin of this Lord Zha?" Meng Qi asked, stomping on the sack next to him.

Mr. Jin Shui glanced hesitantly outside the cabin.

He still didn't know what the group of people wanted to do by tying Master Zha onto the boat.

At this time, the old boatman came in, picked up the pipe bag again, and made a gesture of clasping fists at everyone.

Because they were elders, everyone stood up and returned the salute.

In fact, Meng Qi was still holding the lotus leaf cake in his hand. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the ink carp move, and he realized it.

——It’s nothing to be unhappy about, isn’t it just a gift?If you sit down and don't return the courtesy, you are old, but if you stand up, you are young!

The old boatman spoke a hoarse old Gyeonggi dialect with piercing eyes.

"As the saying goes, if you can cross the same boat after ten years of cultivation, it's fate and fate that you can get on the boat of the little old man today. If that's the case, the little old man will cut to the chase and explain clearly!"

The old boatman pointed at the sack, and said in a deep voice: "This Chaqi is a personage in the area of ​​our capital. Granted grace, granted good citizenship, but secretly still working for the master's family. Don't ask him the name of the master's family, you can say anything about this matter, but he bullies the market and acts as a tyrant on the pier. It's been two days. If you walk too much at night, you will bump into a rock. This guy has encountered a few hard ideas, and was tossed into the city patrol office, but he came out in a few days. I'm afraid It’s not even a single strand of hair missing from my head.”

These words were sonorous and forceful, and Lu Min listened to them with great relish, so he almost grabbed a handful of melon seeds and ate them.

It's the same taste as the storyteller in the teahouse, and I feel that there will be a plot of bullying men and women, doing many evils, and finally being beaten by a certain hero until he cries for his father and mother.

Thinking about it again, isn't this hero the king... from the king's side!Lu Min peeked at the two calm masters.

"If this is a rascal with someone behind him, it's fine. This Zha Qi has also practiced horizontal kung fu. He can smash a hole in the bulkhead of the little old man's ship with a single punch. He also made friends with people from the martial arts school of the Escort Bureau. It is even more generous to spread money, so no one dares to provoke him in the capital."

Meng Qi didn't take it seriously, the so-called no one would dare to mess with him, but in fact, he had never heard of anyone with great ability and high status.

For example, the Deputy Commander of Gong Jungong can arrest Cha Qi with just a word, and by the way turn upside down what this guy has done, but there are tens of 10 people in Taijing, and they do things like this secretly I don't know how many dog ​​legs there are.

The old boatman looked at him while talking, but found that Meng Qi Moli seemed unmoved, while the boy dressed as a coachman curled his lips with a sarcastic expression.

The old boatman frowned, scolded He Mouse bloody in his heart, held his breath on his face, and said loudly: "Now for the sake of everyone, I have offended Mr. Cha severely, and no one dares to stay in the original place." I'm afraid that he will yell and yell and make the brothers on the pier unlucky. When you get off the boat, this man will be given to you. You can take him wherever you like. You don't care if you kill him, bury him or throw him away. , the little old man doesn’t even know.”

"The old man is too serious." Meng Qi accepted the lotus leaf cake and took off the bamboo hat he was wearing.

His face was revealed, and the old boatman opened his eyes wide at first, then his expression became more and more ugly, secretly cursing He Mouse for not being able to figure out who he had offended, this trouble probably cannot be shaken off.

Mo Li pushed Meng Qi back, not letting him speak.

Wanting to ask the matter clearly, Mo Li felt that he had to do this job by himself.

"As you said, it's all a coincidence, I just arrived at this place." Mo Li slowed down his tone, and said casually, "The old man's boat is parked here, and the brothers outside have also packed their belongings. I think they have already prepared for it." , I don’t want to stay in this pier any longer.”

No matter Mr. Cha or their carriage, they were inadvertently involved in the "absconding" plan of this group of coolies.

A coolie is a person who works hard to eat.

If you can't stay here, go somewhere else, which is a very common thing.He Mouse and his group wanted to sneak around and hide from everyone, so there was a problem.

Although Mo Li exposed this matter, his demeanor and tone of voice were as peaceful as if he was talking about trivial matters with an old boatman, and he would not make people feel unhappy.

This can be seen from the frown of the old boatman. Mr. Jin Shui was secretly amazed at the side, and then he thought that Mo Li came to ask for silver needles. The doctor is kind and has a good impression.

"..."

Mr. Jin Shui shivered, not daring to think about it.

Mo Li continued to ask: "Zha Qi came to block the carriage. I heard from Brother He outside that Zha Qi has arrested many scholars at the ferry terminal these days. Is there such a thing? What about the people they took away?"

The old boatman took a puff of his cigarette, rolled his eyelids and said, "You should ask him about this."

The smoke pot pointed at Mr. Jin Shui, who was silent for a while, and said with a wry smile: "You... you were seen by Chaqi, unless you never return to Taijing, or there will be disaster."

As the scholar said, he got up and bowed in a group, and said in shame, "This is an ugly thing, and I am ashamed to mention it. If you continue to hide now, I am afraid that you will suffer from the fish pond because you don't know the whole story. gone."

***

Mr. Jin Shui's surname is He, but he only said his surname and did not sign up.

The ancestors of the He family practiced medicine for generations, and they were good at acupuncture and bone setting. Although they are not famous doctors, they are well-known in the community where they live.

It's not that He Sheng has no interest in practicing medicine, but that his family didn't intend for him to inherit his ancestral business since he was a child. He was a bright young man, and he was very good at reading. His parents saw hope and counted on him to become an official through the imperial examination.

In his twenties, he can write stereotyped articles that read smoothly and comfortably, and rhyme together.

Although his literary talent is slightly insufficient and his intentions are not high, he is still outstanding, and he has been admitted to the Juren Fame along the way.He was just about to study hard behind closed doors, ponder over the articles, and take the exam for a Jinshi gold list title Guangyao Menlin, when the Chu Dynasty fell.

Blood flowed into rivers in Taijing, and many people died in chaos.

He Sheng's father and ancestors were all dead, and he harbored resentment in his heart, and he refused to be an official of the Qi Dynasty and test the Qi Dynasty's fame.

Because the family is destitute and unable to make a living, they can only write letters for others, and make needles and sell needles.

After several years of peace and stability like this, I don't want disaster to happen from the sky——

"Someone recruited a group of scholars who did not continue to take the imperial examination, threatened and lured them, and even forcibly abducted them, for no other reason than to cheat in the examination room and pass the exam for some people."

Mr. Jin Shui gritted his teeth and said, "Some of us are because when the dynasty changed, relatives within three generations were convicted and lost fame, and some were disabled in the chaos when Emperor Qi entered Taijing, and even had no money at home. , relatives are seriously ill and so on.”

"How to take the exam under a fake name?" Meng Qi asked in surprise, "Didn't the Chu Dynasty have regulations that when entering the examination hall, in addition to searching and entraining and looking at portraits, people from the same village were also ordered to enter together, and scholars were ordered to report themselves loudly. It doesn’t matter if you are a scholar or below, if you pass the Juren examination, whoever has no classmates, how can you pretend to be a fake name?”

"We took the number plate with our name, surname, and place of origin to enter. We went in individually. When the exam started and the article was finished, we wrote other people's names. The exam papers handed in by those people were written in our name." Mr. Jin Shui looked sad and clenched his hands.

Lu Min was dumbfounded.

Meng Qi shook his head.

Whether it is official administration or fraud, there are always countless loopholes to exploit.

Even though it was repaired in the front, a new crack appeared in the back.

"This method can be used for a while, but it won't last forever." Meng Qi raised his eyebrows and explained to Mo Li, "This article must be well written, neither too good nor too bad. It's so attractive Note that if you are too poor, you may not be able to pass the exam. It also depends on the level of the person who wrote the essay for the exam. You need to know that even the admitted Jinshi himself may not be able to pass the anonymous answer sheet mixed into the next exam."

Mr. Jin Shui smiled wryly and said: "That's right, so I'm the only one who can take the national exam on behalf of me. They mainly play tricks on the rural exam. If you pass the exam, you can raise people, and you can be an official with money. Emperor Qi Mr. Lu, who was born in a warrior, although he looks like a corporal, he can't write the imperial examination questions, and he doesn't care about the articles written by people other than Yijia. , Emperor Qi was wary of his courtiers and prevented them from having disciples every year. The characters on this scroll are written in Guange style. If you want to identify the problem according to the handwriting, it is better to follow the grammatical habits? But even so, almost ten years Also, no examiner can distinguish between the top two articles in a certain year and the top three articles in a certain year, as if they were written by one person."

He waited desperately, unable to break free.

"Because of being greedy for life and fear of death, and not having the heart to sink the boat, I have lived in a muddle these years. The people on the street, such as Cha Qi, knew us early on. In the Taijing government office, we still have a lot of debts. It’s a fabricated debt under various excuses, so I’m staying at home, and I’m being watched by my Baojia neighbors, and I’m not allowed to run away…”

Mr. Jin Shui murmured, "It's even more unlucky. I was directly detained in the yard they prepared. I was not allowed to go out with delicious food. Opportunity, to expose this matter, but after Fengxing Pavilion heard it, it didn't take it seriously at all. The information can be bought directly, as long as someone asks about the fraud, they can get detailed information. The result? No one cares, no one Investigate the case, no one will pursue it..."

He Mouse stuck his head out of the cabin, holding the oars in his hands, motionless, probably eavesdropping on the conversation so much that he forgot to row the boat.

The old boatman shouted, and He Mouse immediately shrank back.

Mr. Jin Shui sighed heavily, and said with a burden in his arms, "I can't do things for a lifetime. If I know too much and do too much, one day I will lose my head. I don't want to try to run away. Do I have to wait to die?"