Zhan Zhumen

Chapter 2 Qinhuai Riverside
On the banks of the Qinhuai River, the outer city wharf.

In the river, sails and masts are like forests, and boats and boats are like training.The boats waiting to dock are crowded and there is no end in sight.

The goods on both sides of the river are piled up like mountains, and the boatmen are beating, pulling, rowing, and pole-pulling... All kinds of chants resound through the sky, creating a lively and prosperous scene.

Huo Xi and his uncle Yang Fu squatted on the river bank not too far away, with their arms folded and their eyes shining, staring closely at every boat that came ashore.

Yang Fu followed Huo Xi's example, with his feet spread apart, his buttocks pouted, and his sleeves and hands resting on his knees.Both eyes were equally bright, looking at the pier from time to time, and looking back at Huo Xi from time to time.

It will be just after mid-autumn, and the weather will be a bit cooler in the morning and evening, but the sun is still shining brightly at noon, and the power of the autumn tiger remains undiminished.

Seeing that the sun was shining brightly, Yang Fu hurriedly set up an awning and leaned over Huo Xi's forehead to shield her.

"Anchor! Out of the barn! Hey ho, hey ho..."

As soon as a medium-sized cargo ship was about to dock, the boatmen shouted the call to stop the boat and dock.

Yang Fu's eyes lit up, he stood up and was about to trot over.Huo Xi's sharp eyesight and quick hands grabbed her tightly.

Yang Fu looked puzzled, and turned to look at Huo Xi.

Huo Xi didn't explain, but let go of his hand, put his sleeves on again, and looked towards the pier.

At this time, following the boatman's call to stop the ship, the porters squatting on the shore rushed towards the docked ship like arrows flying off the string.

"Don't squeeze, don't squeeze!"

"Go, go, come and move the goods if the hair is all grown, let the goods move you! Go and go!"

A few burly men on the boat saw a group of half-sized men rushing towards them, they frowned, rushed forward and waved away heavily.

Several half-sized boys were pushed back and staggered a few steps, while several thin boys were directly pushed to the ground heavily.

"Hiss..." It must be painful.

Yang Fu bared his teeth as if empathetic.He turned his head and looked at Huo Xi again.Fortunately, if Huo Xi hadn't stopped him when he rushed up just now, he would have been thrown to the ground by now.

The money for one day's transportation is not enough for the medicine.

Yang Fu happily pressed the money bag on his chest, and then shook it up and down again. Seeing the sound of copper plates clashing inside, he grinned happily.

He followed Huo Xi's example and squatted on the ground with his arms folded.

After waiting for a while, two boats were emptied on the pier in succession. Seeing that Huo Xi hadn't moved yet, Yang Fu looked up at the sky, feeling a little anxious.

"Anchor! Out of the warehouse! Hey ho, hey ho..." Another cargo ship was about to dock.

Yang Fu stared at it greedily. This ship was bigger than the previous two ships, and the cargo was piled up like a mountain top. No matter how many decorations were made, the ship might be submerged in water.

So many goods can be moved many times.

Seeing that Lie Xin was happy, Yang Fu licked his lips and was about to discuss with Huo Xi when he saw Huo Xi had already got up.

Yang Fu stared blankly at Huo Xi as he turned his neck left and right, and then his feet.

"My feet are numb." Huo Xi said.

"Oh, that uncle will help you beat it." Yang Fu stood up after speaking, ready to go over and give Huo Xi a beat.

His hand was pounded empty.

Seeing Huo Xi running towards the shore like an arrow leaving the string, without looking back: "Uncle, hurry up!"

Yang Fu came to his senses and ran after him: "Oh, here we come!" He chased after Huo Xi.

Huo Zhong, the second steward of the merchant ship, was standing on the bank of the river with his arms folded, looking at the two boys who were less than ten years old with a toothache.

Why are these two boys here again?
Seeing the two of them staggering, unsteady on their feet, one behind the other, they worked together to lift a cargo weighing tens of kilograms, moving step by step, Huo Zhong felt his heart tremble.

The head is wrapped in raw silk. Although it is not afraid of falling, it hurts when it hits the foot.

The owner is also kind, and if the mover is smashed by the goods, he will pay for the medical expenses.Guanshi Huo only felt that the back molars were sore and numb.

Finally, a ship of goods was moved clean.

Huo Xi and Yang Fu sat on the ground paralyzed, regardless of whether they were clean or not, they fell on their backs.I just feel that my hands, feet, and every part of my body are my own.

This is really not a human job.

On the pier, a few stewards took a small book to the porters, and settled the moving costs according to the amount.

Seeing that Huo Xi's uncle and nephew couldn't get up, Huo Zhong walked towards them with his hands behind his back.

"Guan Huo." Seeing Huo Zhong approaching, Huo Xi hurriedly pulled Yang Fu up.

"Huo, Manager Huo."

Yang Fu glanced at him, greeted him, and lowered his head timidly.

Huo Zhong looked at the two boys who had been exhausted, and secretly sighed.

"If you can't do it, don't come here. This kind of work is not something you can do. You are still growing, and you are overwhelmed. I am afraid that you will not grow taller in the future."

Maybe there are some who die young.Huo Zhong couldn't help reminding him.

"Hey, we will pay attention. There are some rest among us." Huo Xi raised his head and smiled flatteringly at Huo Zhong.

Other merchant ships don't want them, but Huo Zhong and his company are kind-hearted.

Huo Xi was grateful.

Huo Zhong looked at the patched and patched clothes of the two of them, and then at the straw sandals on their feet... It's already autumn, but these two boys don't even have a pair of meat-covered shoes on their feet.

Can't help but sighed again.

He took off his purse, took out a handful of copper coins, thought about it, added a few more, and handed it to the two of them: "Take it."

Excited, Yang Fu rubbed his hands together, but he didn't dare to pick it up, so he hurriedly looked at Huo Xi.

Huo Xi generously took it, without counting, and put it in his chest pocket.

He bowed to Huo Zhong: "Thank you, Guanshi Huo, for your care. My nephew and uncle will keep it in mind. If there is anything to do in the future, I will definitely repay Guanshi Huo for taking care of me."

Yang Fu also followed Huo Xi's example and bowed to him: "Thank you, Manager Huo, you will be rewarded for being a good person."

Huo Zhong comforted him, this young boy seemed to have been educated, and his speech was polite and polite.

Nodding at the two of them: "Well, go home. Rest for a few more days, and don't come back tomorrow."

"Yes."

Huo Zhong watched his uncle and nephew leaving briskly, the corners of his mouth curled up.I don't know if I was in a daze or what, but I was moved by what the kid said, and I agreed with the two of them to join the transporting team.

It was a family five hundred years ago?Maybe.Besides, it's just a few copper coins.

Huo Zhong shook his head, turned and left.

"Xi'er, take a quick look, how much copper Guanshi Huo gave, is it enough to buy your mother a pig's trotter?"

After leaving the pier, Yang Fu urged Huo Xi to count the copper coins.

Huo Xi knew roughly, but who wouldn't be happy counting money?Then he pulled his uncle, and the two walked to the opposite side, Huo Xi took out a handful of copper coins from his bosom.

A handful of copper plates were squeezed in his hand, but he couldn't hold them, overflowing and getting in between the fingers of Huo Xi's little hand.Yang Fusheng was afraid of falling, so he hurriedly stepped forward to protect him with his hands in his hands.

Huo Xi held the copper plates in one hand, and counted them one by one with the other, and put one into Yang Fu's hand.

"One article, two articles, three articles..."

Yang Fu looked at the copper plate in his palm, and couldn't believe it: "Wow, there are eighteen coins! In addition to what we earned this morning...wow, we actually earned 26 coins today! Xi'er, this is too much!" All right!"

Huo Xi was also a little happy.They earned 26 coins today!

Guanshi Huo gave more than the other boats put together.

Although the other boatmen were kind and did not drive people away, they let them pick up light goods and move them, but because the combined labor of uncle and nephew was not enough for an adult, some boatmen just donated a penny and a penny. There are also.

Uncle and nephew are not too little, and they have earned eight coins all morning.

"Xi'er, let's go, let's go buy pig's trotters."

"Okay, let's go buy pig's trotters!"

The two happily held hands and trotted towards the butcher's shop.

(End of this chapter)