Chapter 2, Do Not Underestimate the Young and Poor

Inside the cabin, there are three single compartments. The man in black and his two companions are sitting in front of the door of the left single compartment. All three compartment doors are closed, and those who can stay in a single compartment are either wealthy or of high status

When one is out and about, no one knows anyone's background, and thus, one does not dare to provoke disputes. Chu Huan casually glanced around and noticed the burly man in black who had just helped him out of a predicament was inside the cabin. He nodded slightly to the man in black, who also nodded in return but did not say much. Beside him, there were two other men dressed in the same black attire sitting in the cabin, indicating that the three were clearly together

The old man stepped out, and immediately someone in the cabin called out: "Old Su, come sit here, there's room for you!" Another person said: "Old Su, this time we really are fated to be together, able to share the same boat. Back in Yunshan Prefecture, I always wanted to find you for a drink, but you were always too busy. Today is just right; I brought a jar of good wine, let's enjoy it here!"

The burly boatman shouted, "You are truly seeking death!" He raised his fist and stepped forward, ready to strike Chu Huan. Suddenly, a cold and stern voice rang out, "Stop!"

Chu Huan turned around and glanced, teasingly saying, "If you can't even stand steady, how can you be a shipmate?" Shaking his head, he looked at the man in black, this time taking the grass from the corner of his mouth and smiling, "Thank you!"

A short distance away from the dock, two fine horses suddenly came to a halt. The crowd could vaguely see that the riders on the horses were dressed in black attire, but all wore wide-brimmed hats, obscuring their features.

Old Xue Liu hurriedly recounted what had just happened. Captain Pan, with a long face and a lowered voice, said: "Upon arriving at Yunshan Prefecture, collect the fare from this beggar in advance. If it is not available, you must go find that person to demand the fare. If you cannot collect it, then make up the difference with your own wages...!" Without saying more, he turned and left.

At that moment, a boatman raised the sail of the sampan, preparing to set sail

The elder known as "Old Su" smiled as he cupped his hands in greeting. Upon catching sight of Chu Huan in the corner, he was momentarily taken aback, but then walked over and sat down between the scholar and Chu Huan, kindly saying: "Young brother, are you also heading to Yunshan Prefecture?"

The burly sailor chuckled heartily, while two boatmen approached nearby. One of the boatmen jokingly said, "Smelly beggar, if you lie on the ground and bark like a dog, we will let you on the boat without even charging you a fare. What do you think?"

The boat owner, whose surname is Pan, has seven or eight boatmen under his command. He walked to the bow of the boat, looked around, and saw that the shore was desolate and indeed devoid of any figures. He nodded and said, "There are enough people on the boat, let's proceed like this"

The old man slightly nodded, just about to say something, when suddenly he heard the sound of crying nearby. The crying came quite unexpectedly, and everyone in the cabin was somewhat taken aback. Following the sound of the crying, they saw that it was the scholar beside Chu Huan who had begun to wail uncontrollably.

The one who summoned the elder was also a person dressed in luxurious garments, clearly not an ordinary commoner, possessing considerable wealth. Observing their expressions, it was evident that they held a great deal of respect for this elder

... ...

The burly boatman let out a cold laugh, while a sailor nearby had already grabbed a wooden stick and was preparing to take action. However, Chu Huan showed no fear and strode forward along the sampan.

Chu Huan said: "I do not wish to conceal from you, my esteemed elder. I was born in Yunshan Prefecture, but I have been away for many years and have not returned to my hometown."

This man was stoutly built, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, a square face, and a black band tied around his forehead. He had a broad back and a strong waist, and even had a knife hanging from his waist. He strode over and frowned, saying: "He wants to board the ship, what is the problem? Isn't this a passenger ship? As long as one can afford the fare, who cannot board? Do not underestimate the youth for their poverty; this saying is quite true!"

The man in black sneered and said: "How do you know he can't produce it? If he really can't, you can come to me later, and I will pay for his fare."

Chu Huan smiled faintly and said, "Who needs your reward? I want to take a boat to Yunshan Prefecture!" As he spoke, the blade of grass at the corner of his mouth seemed to be stuck there, not falling off.

The old man shook his head and smiled, saying: "No need to thank me. When one is out in the world, who doesn't face difficulties? By the way, although your accent is not quite the authentic Yunshan dialect, it still carries a hint of the Yunshan tone. Could it be that you, young brother, have lived in Yunshan Prefecture before?"

Chu Huan furrowed his brows and turned around, only to see the burly boatman glaring at him fiercely. Before he could speak, he suddenly heard the faint sound of hooves coming from the shore. Looking up, he saw two galloping steeds approaching rapidly in the glow of the setting sun. The other boatmen had evidently also heard the sound of the hooves and, thinking that passengers were arriving, turned their gazes toward the shore.

Chu Huan said little and boarded the ship. Although the burly man reluctantly allowed Chu Huan to get on board, he harbored a deep disdain for him. As Chu Huan passed by him, the man deliberately turned and bumped into him. It seemed casual, but he exerted considerable force. Little did he know that this collision felt like hitting a stone. At the moment of impact, Chu Huan also intentionally or unintentionally leaned into it, causing the sailor to stagger back two steps. Fortunately, a companion nearby was quick to grab him; otherwise, he might have fallen overboard into the river.

Chu Huan noticed an empty seat in the corner, so he walked over and sat down. Next to him was a middle-aged man in a long gown, with a thin, elongated face that appeared somewhat pale. He was holding a book in his hand. Upon seeing Chu Huan sit beside him, he frowned and shrank inward, seemingly trying to create some distance between himself and Chu Huan

Chu Huan could tell that this man in the long gown was evidently a scholar, but noticing the two patches on his gown, it was clear that he had not achieved any official title

Several boatmen were evidently wary of the burly man. A stout boatman forced a smile and said, "Sir, this is a beggar; how could he possibly have the fare? It takes three to four days to reach Yunshan Prefecture from here, which requires a full boat fare. How could he afford that?"

Captain Pan was right beside him, listening to him curse. With a stern face, he scolded, "Xue Laoliu, how many times have I told you to change this bad habit? Have you eaten something foul? Why does your mouth have to be so foul-smelling?"

The two individuals remained motionless, and as the crowd was puzzled, they suddenly turned their horses around and galloped away, quickly disappearing from sight. The boatmen exchanged glances, still in confusion, when an old man in his fifties came over from the cabin's corridor, scolding, "What are you all standing there for? Don't you have work to do?"

Chu Huan felt a certain fondness for the old man, who clearly held an extraordinary status. He was unreserved about his appearance, sitting beside him and smiling as he nodded, saying: "I am indeed heading to Yunshan Prefecture. Thank you very much for your assistance by the shore earlier!"

Chu Huan said lightly: "I am going to take a boat now, and I will give you the fare later. At this moment, I am your master, so you should be more careful with your words!"

The burly sailor was halted by a shout, and upon turning around, he saw a man dressed in a black tight-fitting outfit emerging from the cabin.

The burly boatman clenched his fist and sneered, "Get lost! If you come up again, I will throw you into the river to feed the fish!"

As Chu Huan entered the cabin, he immediately felt that it was somewhat cramped; a small space accommodating more than twenty people. Upon his entrance, many gazes turned towards him, and upon seeing his disheveled appearance, several individuals frowned, while a few others covered their noses, displaying expressions of disgust.

The burly boatman seemed to have thought of something, and hurriedly turned his head to look at the cabin door, only to find that the young man, who looked like a beggar, had already vanished without a trace, and he couldn't help but mutter under his breath: "Damn it!"

The man in black nodded slightly, saying nothing more, and turned to return to the cabin. However, Chu Huan followed closely behind, wanting to enter the cabin as well. The burly boatman shouted angrily, "I have already said that in your current state, you cannot enter the cabin; otherwise, you will not be allowed to board this boat"

The robust boatman, Xue Laoliu, awkwardly said: "Captain, just now a beggar boarded the ship...!" Before he could finish his sentence, Captain Pan was already searching around, shouting in a sharp voice: "Where is he? Hurry and chase him off!"

A few boatmen finally reacted, and the burly boatman said: "Captain, the sun has already set, and it is likely that no more passengers will come. Should we leave now?"

Chu Huan, with a blade of grass in the corner of his mouth, shook his head and sighed: "Pressing too hard against others brings no benefit to you. You are merely reacting this way because of my attire, yet I know that only the guard dogs at the gate judge a person by their clothing... Do not underestimate the youth in poverty; today, I am determined to board this ship!"

Upon hearing the man say this, several boatmen exchanged glances and dared not speak further. The burly boatman glared at Chu Huan and coldly remarked: "Consider yourself lucky this time, encountering a benefactor. However, let me make it clear beforehand, in your current state, you absolutely cannot enter the cabin, lest you startle the guests inside. You may stay on the deck at the bow or stern of the boat... Heh heh, you are someone who uses the ground as a bed and the sky as a quilt, so you naturally won't mind this!"

... ...

Chu Huan stepped forward, just about to board the boat, when the burly boatman had already taken two steps to the edge of the boat and waved his hand, saying: "Go away, go away, there is no spare money here to reward you."

The boatman, who was anchoring on the shore, called out loudly: "Are you two planning to take the boat south? We are about to set sail, so please board quickly, esteemed guests!"

Chu Huan, neither anxious nor angry, calmly said: "My parents gave birth to me so that I could speak human language, not to bark like a dog." After saying this, he had already stepped onto the sampan, preparing to board the ship

The burly boatman glanced a few times and said in a gruff voice: "So even beggars change places. Stinky beggar, let me give you a piece of advice: Taiyuan Prefecture produces the most grain, and those lords and ladies have plenty of surplus to spare you a bite. When you get to Yunshan Prefecture, there won't be as much food as here, so don't starve to death over there"

Chu Huan carried a package and walked to the dock. At this time, the sky was gradually darkening, and a small passenger ship was moored at the dock, looking somewhat worn. At the bow of the ship, a sturdy boatman was shouting something, and a boatman in gray had already jumped from the bow onto the dock, preparing to weigh anchor and set sail

However, scholars often pride themselves on their lofty ideals, and although they may not achieve much, they always consider themselves as literati, naturally looking down upon lowly figures such as beggars

Only in the cabin, yet he did not see Su Linlang and her two attendants. Chu Huan knew they must be in one of the three single cabins. Before he could think much further, the door of the single cabin on the right opened, and a person came out, immediately closing the door behind them. Chu Huan clearly saw that the person who emerged from the room was the same old man who had given him alms on the shore.