Chapter 4, Take Out the Finest Treasures

He seems to have been a bit too hasty, expecting the children in these mountains to become proficient in rowing immediately; it now appears to be quite laughable.

After much effort, the boat was reattached to the shore and began to drift with the current. Only then did the children have the mood to appreciate the scenery along the bank. However, at this moment, Zhao Xing was already at a loss for words.

Within the clan, individuals referred to as "Aqi" or "Awu" indicate that they belong to the younger generation. Only those who attain the highest rank within the clan may be addressed as "Laoqi" or "Laowu".

Cheng Xia witnessed everything in the ancestral hall; he sensed Zhao Xing's displeasure, but he did not understand why Zhao Xing was so gloomy. Of course, even if he knew, he would not be able to comprehend it, as his education did not include the concepts of "intellectual property" and "private rights"

The children erupted in cheers, and the boatman, a man in his forties, paused his inspection and asked in surprise, "Chengjia'ao? That small village with ten households is managing boats now?"

Yes, they are changing their homeland

Although life in the mountains is quite pastoral, the film "The Contract" has revealed this truth: the affluent gentleman reminisces about his life as a sent-down youth during the Cultural Revolution. However, when he actually arrives in the village and steals all the chickens, what he misses most is returning to his original life.

As the vessel approached the shore, the crew observed this peculiar ship. It was long and had an odd shape, its appearance overturning the established notions of the boatmen. They found it hard to imagine that such a sharp-bottomed wooden box could actually navigate, especially since it was being piloted by several children who had no understanding of boating. Seeing the kids in a flurry of activity, they could not help but jump into the water, wading towards the ship to assist the children in docking it at the pier

Cheng Tongshun said: "It's settled then... It's getting late, everyone should disperse."

The labor imposed on the artisans in Jianghu Ying was burdensome. During the Song Dynasty, artisans often fled or committed suicide due to their inability to fulfill labor obligations. Local officials, in order to meet their quotas, frequently apprehended ordinary citizens to fill the gaps. Therefore, Cheng Tong's intention was that during the busy farming season, everyone should focus on their respective tasks, and when the farming season was over, they could then see how Zhao Xing would arrange things. It is presumed that by that time, the Master would have fully integrated into Chengjiacao and would provide guidance for the next development plan of Chengjiacao. Thus, Cheng Tong's meaning was that during the busy farming season, everyone should focus on their respective tasks, and when the farming season was over, they could then see how Zhao Xing would arrange things. It is presumed that by that time, the Master would have fully integrated into Chengjiacao and would provide guidance for the next development plan of Chengjiacao

The children also paused, gazing up at Zhao Xing standing at the top of the slope, captivated by the teacher's charisma

Fortunately, the water flow in Xishui is not turbulent, making the sail somewhat optional. However, handling the sail is a technical skill that cannot be mastered without several years of study. Therefore, Zhao Xing gave up his efforts to make the sail.

In the south, there are still many clans that maintain this "thousand-year second" seat, but they mostly establish this position due to the belief in "feng shui." For example, the Qian clan often invites individuals with the surnames Ding and Cui to sit in this chair, hoping that the Ding will help the Qian clan thrive and that the Cui will bring financial fortune.

Well, since I cannot change it, I will accept it—this is life

Xishui, originally named Xishui, was renamed "Xishui" during the Southern Liang period, referred to as Lanxi in the Tang dynasty, and called Qishui in the Song dynasty. Zhao Xing preferred to continue using the name "Xishui" because the "Hubei Map" he had still marked it as Xishui

Cheng Tong paused for a moment, brandishing the fire poker, and interrupted Cheng Laowu's interjection with an undeniable tone: "If our Cheng clan is to retain the teacher, we must present our finest treasures. What does your daughter look like? Has the teacher ever even glanced at her... Let A Zhu go, it's settled!"

The wooden boat has been completed and has undergone three trial voyages. This time, Zhao Xing from hetushu.com plans to sail further, all the way to the nearby county town. If this endeavor is successful, the next step will be to mobilize the villagers to build roads, and the improvement of external transportation will undoubtedly transform the landscape of the mountainous area

Chengjiacao is situated in a valley, bordered to the east by Xishui and to the west by Bahe. In comparison, it is slightly closer to Xishui, requiring only to cross a mountain peak to the east. However, this mountain is quite substantial—five miles up and five miles down. Walking along the small path through the mountain to the riverbank takes approximately five hours.

The Master said nothing, only stating, "This year's arrangements." Cheng Tong replied sternly, "Whoever wishes to enter the craftsman's camp may continue to work... Now, everyone is dismissed.

It is a misunderstanding, purely a misunderstanding

The elder with a daughter at home has already rushed out in impatience. Cheng Lao Er, who has no daughter, remains stubbornly seated in his chair, saying: "Clan leader, the tasks for this year have not yet been assigned. How should we proceed? You should say something."

Zhao Xing stepped ashore and wandered aimlessly along the street. The boatman quickly guided him, leading him to the inn. Along the way, various people hurried home under the dimming twilight. However, there was a peculiar figure: an old man who appeared somewhat eccentric, showing no intention of returning home. He incessantly tugged at the sleeves of passersby—regardless of their status—engaging them in conversation. Some stopped to talk with him, while others brushed him off and continued on their way. However, there was a peculiar figure: an old man who appeared somewhat eccentric, showing no intention of returning home. He incessantly tugged at the sleeves of passersby—regardless of their status—engaging them in conversation. Some stopped to talk with him, while others brushed him off and continued on their way.

Isn't this Pu Songling from the Song Dynasty? ... Oh, no, that's incorrect. Pu Songling was from the Qing Dynasty; he must have imitated this person's behavior during the Qing Dynasty—who is this person? Is he well-known? Why did Pu Songling choose to imitate him?

Although Cheng Laoqi is timid, he is not a fool. His daughter marrying a shop assistant in the city means she would be a wife, while marrying a scholar could mean she might become a concubine. How could Cheng Laoqi accept that? Therefore, when Cheng Laowu contested, he immediately took advantage of the situation: "If Fifth Brother is willing, then, well, let’s call off the engagement... Azhus reputation will be completely ruined."

What identity should be used

I need several boatmen, Zhao Xing interjected: "Going upstream is beyond the children's capabilities, but we need to steer the boat back. Who among you is available? I will hire him."

But now he had to head to the county, and the Xishui Wharf was right at the edge of the city. The children's rowing skills disrupted his plans, so he had no choice but to direct the children to steer the boat into the wharf

This is sufficient

Zhao Xing did not respond; he looked at the boatman with confusion. However, at that moment, the children had already asked, "How do you know the name of my family’s teacher?"

He remembered that building a ship requires first constructing the keel, so a large tree was completely sawed down to create a keel measuring 15 meters in length. Then, thick wooden beams were installed on the keel in a rib-like fashion, with wooden planks nailed between the ribs... This is the ship built by Zhao Xing

Due to Zhao Xing's mysterious background, Cheng Tong issued a gag order to the entire Cheng clan early on, prohibiting clan members from discussing Zhao Xing in front of outsiders. Zhao Xing was aware of Cheng Tong's command, which is why he felt puzzled—information in ancient times should not spread so quickly!

The wooden boat lay on the shore, and the children began joyfully pushing the boat into the water. They were excited by the beautiful scenery depicted by Zhao Xing, and their enthusiasm for work was high

Then let's break off the engagement! Cheng Tong decisively said: "As for how much betrothal gift to return, my Cheng clan will bear the burden... It's a matter of fortune. That innkeeper can provide for you, but it cannot compare to a teacher providing for you. If the teacher does not support me, my entire clan will be responsible for your support. Tell that young man in the city that as long as he is willing to break off the engagement, my Cheng clan will negotiate the price with him. Once we receive the money, we will use the * map * and * book * to keep his mouth shut, and he can marry another girl!"

Only after several people fell into the river did they realize that the water was not deep, and the teacher was fully capable of rescuing them, thus stabilizing their emotions... As for rowing the boat, they should not expect that from them

Zhao Xing roughly estimated that it could carry nearly five tons of stone blocks. Considering that modern flat-bottomed sand barges, even made of cement, can stack cargo very high and transport fifty to sixty tons of goods, Zhao Xing believes that even such a rudimentary wooden box could transport a month's worth of production from the village in one trip

In Chengjia'ao, when it comes to the sinister tactics of large families, no one understands them better than Cheng Tong. It was precisely because he was well-versed in the clan rules that he stood out among the villagers and inherited the position of clan leader. The others, having limited knowledge and not usually paying attention to such matters, only vaguely recalled this rule upon hearing his explanation.

Cut! This statement instead confirms the boatman's suspicion

Once one enters the artisan's household, it becomes a lineage of artisans; descendants for generations must inherit the title of artisan.

The scenery is beautiful, but Zhao Xing has no time to appreciate it

Now Cheng Lao Qi was satisfied, but the other parents immediately became unwilling. Cheng Lao Wu jumped up and shouted: "Let’s all go, let’s all go. In the teacher's big room, A Zhu can't manage alone, our daughter should go too. Whoever the teacher picks is a blessing for that family, we can't let outsiders take advantage of it for free"

Zhao Xing was filled with a sense of failure; he finally understood that even the simplest boat required skill to maneuver. Without the help of a boatman, it was possible that the boat would not return to its starting point—navigating upstream demanded even more expertise. He sighed as he walked out from the stern of the boat, muttering helplessly to himself: "I was wrong, it seems I was wrong... Well, you all take care of this boat, how much compensation do you need, just say it"

To be honest, this finished ship now resembles more of an open wooden box than a "ship".

At this moment, it was noon, and a group of people had reached the top of the hillside. The sound of the forest and waves mingled with the faint sound of water—this scene was something Cheng Xia would remember for a lifetime. At that time, Zhao Xing stopped in his tracks, looked up at the picturesque landscape, pointed casually, and said with elegance: "Look—the sun and moon are unchangeable, but what can change are the seas, the fields, and the fortunes of people! And now, we are changing our homeland!"

Zhao Xing is currently feeling this way

In the past, the mountain villagers had no awareness of water transportation; they preferred to traverse mountains and hills when entering and exiting the village. The main reason for this habit was that there were few people in the village originally, and the demand for external transportation was not strong. However, with the development of the village, the capacity for external transportation gradually became a bottleneck for further development

The boatman is "singing a vow," which is a form of etiquette, akin to bowing while expressing greetings and blessings—similar to how the Japanese bow while saying "hei." The phrase "crossing hands without leaving the center" is also a form of etiquette from the Song Dynasty, referring to the natural crossing of the hands placed on the chest. This gesture often appears during listening, indicating that one is respectfully attentive.

Zhao Xing shook his head: the truth cannot be concealed forever. As time goes on, he will inevitably be frequently mentioned by outsiders; continuing to "speak and act cautiously" is no longer effective. What he needs now is a new identity

This is, in fact, an extremely adventurous voyage: a teacher who does not know how to navigate, a group of children who are unaware of the situation, and in complete ignorance of the hydrological conditions, they set sail in a solitary boat, venturing into the spring stream.

He did not know that the length-to-width ratio of ships at that time was quite small. For example, the Song Dynasty ship "Nanhai No. 1," which was salvaged, has a length of over 26 meters and a width of more than 10 meters, resulting in a length-to-width ratio of approximately 2.5:1. In contrast, the ship he built has a length-to-width ratio close to 7:1, resembling a shuttle with a streamlined shape. This type of vessel appears elegant by modern standards, but it does not conform to the aesthetic values of that era.

Zhao Xing is not a shipbuilding engineer; this is his first attempt at shipbuilding, and despite his utmost efforts, he has only managed to create such an unsightly shape

Old Cheng Qi regarded his daughter as a precious gem, thus he named her "A Zhu." This girl was betrothed to a shop assistant in the city. This Wang Xiaosan was the third child in his family, without any burden of supporting the elderly, and his income was quite decent. Old Cheng Qi hoped that after his daughter got married, the young couple would take care of him in his old age, but the clan leader's instructions disrupted his plans

In this era, Zhao Xing is an outsider; however, for the people of the Song Dynasty, Chengjia'ao is also an outsider to this era. Therefore, Zhao Xing must leave Chengjia'ao

A person dressed as a boatman (captain) jumped onto the ship, swaying his body left and right to gauge the stability of the vessel, and was immediately taken aback: "This ship is stable... No wonder a few clueless children can navigate it to Qishui."

Cheng Tongwei cast a stern glance at Cheng Laoqi and patted the empty chair behind him: "What is this chair? It is the second most important seat in the village! Who can sit in this strategist's chair—Marry me, a Cheng clan woman, as a concubine? He is still an outsider; can that work? A Zhu must go as a wife! This time, I will put my old face on the line, relying on the favor of the Cheng clan to plead with him. Does he dare to take a daughter of the Cheng clan as a concubine?"

Zhao Xing stood at the back of the boat with a smile. The boatman on the shore coughed lightly and then struck up a conversation with the child: "Where are you from? We cannot sail tonight; we will leave tomorrow. How does that sound?"

Teacher, then what is 'changeable' and what is 'unchangeable'? Cheng Xia felt a sudden weakness in his legs, and he only felt dizzy and disoriented. He stopped in his tracks and hazily continued to question Zhao Xing

He understood that in order to prevent the deformation of the ship, the wooden planks used in shipbuilding needed to be thoroughly air-dried. Therefore, he placed those planks in a shed by the river after drying them with fire, allowing them to air dry for a full year

The passerby finished telling the story, leaving no more stories to tell, and he said, "Why don't you make one up?" ... Later, everyone avoided him ... Only a few uninformed individuals were caught by him. ... Ah, he must be telling ghost stories again.

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He has been in this world for three years. During these three years, he has cautiously explored the outside world while hiding in Chengjiaao. Now, with his wounds healed, he is eager to see the world beyond.

This person possesses an extraordinary demeanor, clearly indicating that he is a scholar, and one would not dare to jest lightly. After waiting for a while and seeing that Zhao Xing showed no signs of displeasure, they began to secure the boat while quietly asking the child: "What kind of boat is this, so peculiar? Who made it?"

Elder Cheng Er was puzzled: "But Mr. Ke didn't say anything, did he? Eldest Brother, you mustn't speak carelessly. Everyone else has land; I rely entirely on the money I earn from hunting. If I am not allowed to do that..."

The three characters "Jianghu Ying" sent a chill down Cheng Lao Er's spine; at this point, the people in the ancestral hall finally "guessed" Zhao Xing's intention

The children noticed Zhao Xing's gaze; they were quite curious and, lacking the ability to control themselves, before Zhao Xing could speak, Cheng Laowu's son, Cheng Shuang, pointed at the mad old man and asked the boatman, "Who is that? What happened to him?"

Old Cheng Qi had no sons, and his wife had long since passed away, leaving him without descendants. He also had no qualifications to sit by the fire pit. When the clan leader Cheng called out, he stood up from among the crowd, timidly saying: "My daughter is engaged! She is engaged to Wang Xiaosan from the city..."

At this time, shipbuilding was an extremely complex task. The mortise and tenon structure between the planks was intricate, and merely calculating their joints could drive a skilled carpenter to madness. However, Zhao Xing, adhering to a strategy of simplicity whenever possible, directly bypassed the mortise and tenon structure, using long nails to connect the planks, thereby minimizing the workload. Unintentionally, he ended up taking a path that was closest to modern practices.

Cheng Tong suddenly quoted an excessively high price. Among those present, Cheng Laowu had a suitable girl. Upon hearing Cheng Tong's offer, he glanced at the empty chair beside him, mustered his courage, and interjected, "On what basis? Big Brother, you cannot show favoritism. Our family also has a daughter, and she often brings meals to the brothers who are studying. She is well-acquainted with the teacher, so why shouldn't our daughter serve the teacher? Big Brother, you must be fair in your dealings..."

Since it is impossible to repair the road, let us build a boat—construct a simple winding road leading to the riverside, and then create a basic dock; this can still be accomplished. Thus, Zhao Xing began to entertain the idea of boat building.

Zhao Xing's planning of this initial voyage is an effort to integrate into the external world. Chengjiacao is a mountain village suitable for seclusion, but not for development. Coming from modern society, he understands the importance of information exchange; only through continuous communication with the outside world can Chengjiacao fully integrate into this era

Chengjia'ao is now prosperous, having continuously annexed several nearby small villages. If the officials of the nearby counties are tempted by greed and wish to take this as a political achievement, then Chengjia'ao will end its fate of being "unmanaged." Moreover, those skilled villagers may be classified as "craftsmen" during the household registration process.

Fortunately, Zhao Xing comes from the information age, and he still remembers several key points in shipbuilding

At this moment, the misunderstood individual is still unaware of the village's decision. He is happily leading his students over the mountain and arriving at a mountain stream. As he walks, he reminisces about the scene in the ancestral hall. After a long while, he speaks to himself with a sense of realization: "Look, there are always so many helpless situations in the world, but as one walks through life, one must learn: to change what can be changed, and to accept what cannot be changed"

The boatman immediately bowed respectfully to Zhao Xing, clasping his hands and replied with utmost reverence: "The neighbor of this old man married into Chengjiadao last year, and gave birth to a child at the beginning of the year. The neighbor's mother-in-law went to assist with the delivery. I heard her say that Chengjiadao has invited a teacher, and this teacher is quite capable, helping the children plan for the Cheng clan... It turns out it is you, sir. This old man pays his respects here."

Coastal navigation is entirely different from long-distance sailing. The wooden boat drifts along the river, the rushing waters produce a clamorous sound, and the wooden boat rises and falls unpredictably. The previously calm children immediately become flustered, unable to even stand steady.

Qishui is a county-level unit under the jurisdiction of Huangzhou. Following the course of the Xishui River downstream, one arrives at the end of the river, which is precisely Huangzhou Prefecture. ... By the end of the Southern Song Dynasty, Huaixi was on the front line, prompting the Southern Song to establish the Huaixi Pacification Office and construct Qizhou City in Qichun, thus the name "Qizhou" emerged

He understood that the stern of the boat must resemble a fish tail to effectively control direction, and he also recognized that a rudder is necessary to adjust the course of the vessel. Thus, this boat became a large wooden box with a slightly pointed bow and a somewhat narrower stern

Zhao Xing was puzzled, is this ship strange?

"We are from Chengjia'ao," the children said, turning their faces towards Zhao Xing. Zhao Xing responded accordingly: "Then let's stay here. Is there a place to rest near the dock? ... Each person 50 wen, let's go together and return by lantern-light, and no wandering around is allowed."

Cheng Tong spoke of a kind of clan regulation: when a clan requires assistance from an external family, it will offer the second-ranking position of the clan, inviting the external family to participate in the decision-making body. This position is referred to as the "Thousand-Year Second." Generally speaking, through means such as marriage, the "Thousand-Year Second" will quickly be assimilated into the clan, yet that position will be passed down through generations within their family. Sitting in this position does not confer decision-making power, but does grant veto power. Generally speaking, through means such as marriage, the "Thousand-Year Second" will quickly be assimilated into the clan, yet that position will be passed down through generations within their family. Sitting in this position does not confer decision-making power, but does grant veto power.

The three trial voyages of this ship all involved crossing the Xishui River to the opposite bank. On the calm and undisturbed waters of the Xishui, the difficulty of maneuvering near the shore is not great, yet its cargo capacity far exceeds expectations

The children's responses were filled with pride: "We built it, the teacher drew the blueprints, we built it ourselves"

Look at this group of children, how impressive! The ship's crew exclaimed in unison

The Master has already expressed his position," Cheng Tong replied, "This year, the matters of kiln firing and basket weaving will all wait until after the autumn harvest.

Building roads in mountainous areas is a significant undertaking. Given the productivity levels and the financial capacity of the local villagers at that time, constructing a road leading to the nearby county town was nearly impossible

The sun and moon are immutable, all else is subject to change

He knows that if the seams of the planks are not tightly connected, it will lead to water leakage in the ship. Therefore, he made large grooves between the wooden boards, similar to the grooves on the edges of modern "composite wood flooring"

The boatmen looked at Zhao Xing with confusion. One of the young boatmen tugged at the sleeve of the oarsman and gently said: "Chengjia'ao, I heard that a new teacher has arrived in Chengjia'ao. My wife mentioned it earlier. Could this scholar be the one?"

Zhao Xing paused for a moment, feeling a strong urge to turn back and take a look, but he quickly resumed pace with the children.

The pole master glanced over and immediately led the child into the alley, responding nonchalantly as he walked, "It's nothing, that old man is a guest of the renowned physician Pang, and he often comes to Xishui. Every time he goes out, he acts a bit crazy, grabbing passersby and asking them to tell ghost stories.

Due to his concerns, Cheng Xia observed Zhao Xing closely as he walked, carefully watching the changes in Zhao Xing's expression. Although Zhao Xing's mutterings were soft, every word reached Cheng Xia's ears. These few well-honed sayings from modern society resonated deeply, each word striking like a heavy bell, captivating him completely.

The small boat struggled to navigate through each mountain pass, and by evening, Xishui County was already visible ahead.

As the sun rose high in the sky, Zhao Xing pushed the boat down the riverbank. At this moment, the spring snow was melting, and the water level of the Xi River was at its peak. A dozen or so students joyfully jumped onto the boat.

One of the solutions is for Chengjia'ao to produce a gentry! In other words, Chengjia'ao has produced a cultured individual, and others benefit from his protection. Cheng also believes that Zhao Xing taking students to obtain citizenship is a preparatory measure for Chengjia'ao.

It is said that there resides a renowned physician in Qishui County, named Pang Anshi. Although Zhao Xing is gradually shedding his identity as a "famous doctor" and often appears as a "teacher," he still harbors a natural sense of trepidation towards the "county physicians" due to his past as a "mountain village doctor." He fears being questioned about medical principles, which could expose his true identity; therefore, he had never ventured into Qishui County before.

"Hey, a few kids who haven't even grown their hair yet are trying to take our jobs?" a young boatman joked. He was about to say more when he spotted Zhao Xing at the stern of the boat and immediately fell silent

This ship has no mast, because Zhao Xing does not know how to make a mast