whale wave

Chen Yu, who is 14 years old, is not yet old enough to go out to socialize. This winter, because he didn't go to school and lived at home, Chen Duanli was afraid that he would be bored, so he took him to the banquet held in Shanhailou.

In winter, with the help of the monsoon, sea ships go out to sea together. Before going to sea, the Shi Ship Department (Customs) will hold a banquet to send off the sea merchants. These sea merchants include Han merchants and Fan merchants, and there are a large number of them.Han merchants always want to return to China, but they may not choose Quanzhou port for the return trip, but they can also go to Guangzhou and Mingzhou.

The sea trade is prosperous, and the goods entering and leaving the port need to be taxed (taxed). The imperial court can collect nearly one million yuan in taxes every year on the sea trade alone, which is extremely impressive.Maritime merchants brought spices, ivory, medicinal materials, and pepper from overseas, and sold ceramics, cloth satin, and burning beads from China, especially ceramics.

The ship dispatching banquet was presided over by officials of the Ship Ship Department, and many maritime merchants were recruited this year, and the promotion officer of the Ship Ship Department personally participated in the banquet.The promotion officer was surnamed Huang, and as the head of the Shipping Department, he looked rich and majestic. As soon as he appeared, he was surrounded by maritime merchants.

When Chen Duanli brought Chen Yu to Shanhailou, the banquet was about to begin. As a well-known local maritime merchant with an official position, Chen Duanli sat with the officials of the Shipping Department as usual.Chen Yu is still underage, so he is regarded as a little guest brought by Chen Duanli, sitting beside his father.

There was a large table of people, including officials, including Huang Tiju, and two other maritime merchant families, the heads of the Liu family and the Lin family.These two families, like Chen Duanli, contributed to the court and were awarded official positions.

Among a group of big shots, Chen Yu didn't have stage fright. He quietly observed everyone. Sitting next to Huang Tiju was a tall and strong man. Calling him Liu Chengjie, it is obvious that Chengjielang was bestowed by the court like his father, and this person should be the representative of the Liu family.

Chen Yu guessed right, this person is Liu Heyue, the son of Liu Enshao.

Even though Chen Yu was young and hadn't participated in the family's maritime trade business, he had heard of the Liu family's name.The Liu family has [-] seagoing ships in Quanzhou Port, which depart from Fashi Port all the year round, with routes all over the overseas ports.The number of fleets is not only in Quanzhou Port, but also among all Han Fan maritime merchants.

In the recent years when pirates were rampant, the Liu family organized their own warships to protect their own maritime trade, and also dispatched warships to assist the government in patrolling the sea.The Liu family is the most famous and powerful maritime merchant in Quanzhou City.

Chen Yu secretly watched Liu Heyue a lot, because he knew that his father had a rift with Liu Enshao, and the relationship between the two families was not good, but he didn't know why the two families formed a relationship.Seeing Liu Heyue's kind face, he thought he was a nice person when he chatted with everyone present, but he didn't know that this person had a title called: Smiling Tiger.

The representative of the Lin family attending the banquet was Lin Hemu, the eldest son of the head of the Lin family. He was a refined man. He said he was a businessman, but he was more like a scholar. He seemed to be very interested in Chen Yu. After looking at him for a long time, he said to Chen Duanli: "Xiao Lang is gentle and pleasant. , elegant and refined."

Chen Yu, who was praised, saluted the other party seriously, quite steadily.

Because Chen Yu was young and hadn't grown into an adult yet, the people present all praised him for being well-rounded, well-behaved and sensible, which belonged to being polite to each other.Even the promotion officer said that Chen Duanli taught his children well.

The center of their conversation was naturally not on Chen Yu. The adults had their own topics to talk about. Chen Yu silently ate the delicacies at the banquet and quietly looked at the people at the banquet.

The carved beams and painted walls of the Shanhai Tower are magnificent. The tables, chairs, spoons, and bowls in the building are all exquisite and exquisite. The wine utensils are all gold.The best wine, the most abundant and special food, satisfies the taste, and the participation of many maritime merchants, the vast number of countries they belong to, not only enriches the knowledge, but also satisfies the eyes.

There were staggered cups of toasts, amidst the hustle and bustle, there were also singing and dancing to watch, which was so wonderful that people couldn't help applauding and clapping their hands.Chen Yu watched intently. From the dancer's graceful figure and colorful dress, he thought of the ship banquet he attended in Guangzhou when he was young.

At that time, his father was sitting on his left, and Zhao Youcheng was sitting on his left. He was quiet, shy and introverted, while Zhao Yousheng was lively and bold, looked at him curiously, and even tried to scare him with a grass snake.

On the performance stage, the dancer has gorgeous makeup and a charming figure. On the seats, two children look at each other, and the adults are talking enthusiastically, and have no time to take care of them.

"Yu'er want to go outside to watch the fireworks?"

His father's words brought Chen Yu back to his senses from his childhood memories. At this time, the singing and dancing had stopped. He looked up and saw people leaving the table one after another. He walked towards the verandah. He stood up and said hello to his father.

Chen Duanli saw that everyone gathered in the outer corridor, fearing that there would be an accident, he said: "Go and find your brother, I think he just went out."

Naturally, Chen Fan also participated in the ship banquet, and he came with his father and younger brother, but he sat at another table and gathered with his acquaintances.Chen Fan is good at making friends, he knows many maritime merchants present today, and most of them are not recommended by his father, and make friends with his own ability.

Chen Yu walked along a long corridor and walked towards the pavilion in a leisurely manner. He looked for his elder brother in the crowd, and soon found that his elder brother was with several friends, talking earnestly about something.Chen Yu didn't go over, he knew that his elder brother didn't like him, although his elder brother never said his dislike or dislike to him.

Fireworks were ignited in the open space downstairs, and clusters of them bloomed in the air. Chen Yu stopped and watched, showing a joyful expression.He landed alone on the corridor, and he was the youngest guest at the banquet. Soon someone came to greet him and asked if he was Chen Duanli's youngest son.

The person who came was tall and looked young, maybe he was a few years older than Chen Yu. His attire was interesting. He wore a gold necklace of real wax around his neck and a pair of colorful pointed boots. He is dressed in a brocade robe, which looks like a Chinese. How about guessing whether he is a fan.

Chen Yu nodded and asked, "Do you know my father?"

Zheng Yuanya looked at Chen Yu as if he was mentally retarded, and said to him: "Who doesn't know your father." Chen Duanli, not only the people in Quanzhou Port know him, but also the maritime merchants in Mingzhou, Qiongzhou, and Guangzhou have heard of his name. .

"I am the son of the head of the Zheng family, Zheng Yuanya, how about you?"

"My name is Chen Yu."

A firework exploded in the air, which was extraordinarily gorgeous, and the people watching laughed and laughed.The fireworks illuminated Chen Yu's face, and he found that Zheng Yuanya was looking at him all the time, as if there was something on his face.

"I heard that you are the child of Shark Girl, so it seems that you are the same as us."

Chen Yu was a little unhappy, he thought of his terrible appearance after falling into the carp pond, and he didn't answer.

Zheng Yuanya is obviously an acquaintance, seeing Chen depressed, he said: "Hey, I really saw a half-merman. In the officialdom of Xuwen Daci (the trading market set up by the government), I met a man with white hands and face like The man from the dough, he is the sailor of a Puben boat, he can predict the storm, snow and fog within ten days, it is said that he once dived into the bottom of the water for half a month in order to avoid the pursuit of his enemies, and he never came up to take a breath."

Chen Yu's eyes widened, because of the extensive knowledge of the other party, and it turns out that there are really people similar to him in the world.As Ah Yuen said, overseas is so big, there must be people like him.

"Has Brother Zheng been to Puben?"

"I've been, I've been to many places. I grew up on a sea ship, and I only came back with my father in the past few years to recognize my ancestors."

Hearing Zheng Yuanya's tone, he was quite complacent, but his experience was indeed richer than most of his peers.If you think about it carefully, his experience is somewhat similar to that of Chen Yu, who lived overseas in his childhood.

"Is Puben far from China?" Because he said that half-merman was the boatman of Puben people.

Zheng Yuanya pointed to a thin and small fan merchant in front of him, with dark complexion, short hair, and wearing white clothes, he said: "It's not too far away, look at him, he is from Puben." Chen Yu looked at him curiously, thinking of his mother Should not be there.

The two got along well, you asked and I answered, until a burly man came, he put his arms around Zheng Yuanya's shoulders, and asked in a rough voice: "A new friend?" Zheng Yuanya turned back and said, "Father, he is Chen Duanli's youngest son Chen Yu."

Chen Yu looked at this tall and mighty man, and was surprised. Zheng Yuanya's attire was already very strange, and his father's attire, said to be a sea merchant, was more like a pirate leader. Which leader would wear a long sword on his body? A short knife, and wristbands are tied on the arms.

"Child, your father and I used to be old friends." Zheng Sanguan was condescending, making people feel very oppressive, although he was grinning.Chen Yushi was not afraid of him, he had seen similar people on sea ships when he was young, but he didn't know what to say for a moment, he just stared blankly at him.

Zheng Sanguan looked at Chen Yu curiously, as if he was special, and said, "Tsk tsk, Chen Duanli is a guy with thick eyebrows and big eyes, how could he give birth to such a delicate and delicate child like you?"

Not only teased, but also stretched out his hand to pinch Chen Yu's little face.

Zheng Yuanya frowned, he had a pair of bushy eyebrows.

Zheng Sanguan saw his son's frown, and said with a smile: "Haha he's not afraid, he's staring at your father with round eyes."

Chen Yu was not very happy to be touched on the face, and it was a very rough hand, but he still bowed politely: "Zheng Gangshou, my brother is in front, I will go to find him."

He looked at Chen Fan's figure on the attic, and his brother was nearby, which made him somewhat at ease.

"Go." Hearing that he was leaving, Zheng Sanguan's tone seemed a bit pity.

Chen Yu left without rushing.

"Father, you scared him away."

"The child looks very unique, wouldn't he be attracted to him? Hahaha..."

Zheng Yuanya swung his fist in the air, muttered something, and was immediately grabbed by his father, who scolded him even his father dared to scold him, did he owe a lesson?

Zheng Sanguan seemed a little drunk, with a strong smell of alcohol on his body, but he was not usually a decent person.Year-round sailing careers, especially for those on long-distance voyages who seldom come to shore, in a special environment, they will indeed develop a preference for handsome men of the same sex.

Chen Yu obediently stayed by his brother's side. He stayed there for a long time before Chen Fan found him and nodded to him, but didn't say anything.Although Chen Fan never said that he didn't like Chen Yu, Chen Yu still knew that his brother really disliked him.

The fireworks went off for a long time, lighting up the sky again and again, and finally the curtain call was grand. People in the attic left one after another. Chen Yu and the few people leaned against the railing to watch the moon scene. The banquet was still going on. He waited for his father Go home with your brother.

"Chen Yu, is this your first time participating in the Ship Banquet?"

Zheng Yuanya did not know when he came to his side, his face was shining with moonlight, his eyebrows and eyes stretched out, he was a young man with well-featured features.

"I participated once when I was young." Chen Yu saw Zheng Yuanya hooking his arms on the railing, and his standing posture was a bit outrageous. He asked, "Brother Zheng, are you going to go out to sea with the boat tomorrow?"

Most of the sea merchants who came to participate in the banquet will lead the ship to sea in person.In the early years, Chen Duanli also led the ship to sea in person, and later handed over the ship to a trustworthy subordinate to lead the ship, and let others conduct trade on his behalf.

Zheng Yuanya waved his hand and said, "My dad is going, I don't need it." He seemed to pause for a moment, and said, "Just call me Yuanya, big brother, big brother, call me old."

Chen Yu secretly smiled, this new friend is obviously old-fashioned.

After the banquet, Chen Duanli bid farewell to his friends, met Zheng Sanguan outside the building, and exchanged pleasantries with him, it seemed that they were indeed old acquaintances.From the conversation between the two old men, both Chen Yu and Zheng Yuanya felt that the two families should be family friends.

Zheng Sanguan said that he just moved his home to the seaport in the east of the city, and the two families often visit each other to catch up on the old days.

To the Zheng family father and son, Chen Fan's attitude was average, neither enthusiastic nor positive. On the way back, Chen Fan asked Chen Duanli: "Father, I heard that the Zheng family is originally a pirate?" Chen Duanli looked at the moon in the sky with his hands behind his back, and said calmly: " That was many years ago."

Chen Yu nodded. He felt that Zheng Yuanya was not like a pirate who killed people without blinking an eye. He even had an intuition that this person would be his friend in the future.Because many years ago, at the banquet in Guangzhou, he met his best friend Zhao Yousheng.

Returning home late at night, Chen Yu was still not sleepy. He was wearing close-fitting clothes and a robe, and wrote letters at his desk, to Zhao Yousheng.Tell him that I participated in the ship banquet today and met a new friend named Zheng Yuanya.Zheng Yuanya said that he had seen a half-merman, and that he was the sailor of a sea-going ship and had great prestige on board.Zheng Yuanya's family used to be pirates, but he no longer did anything harmful to nature, but his father was burly and rude, a bit scary.

A leftover, tonight's ship banquet reminds me of the time when I met you in Guangzhou. When will you come back?Ah Left, I miss you so much...

The letter was scribbled, then neatly re-copied, folded, and put in an envelope.

Chen Yu wrote many letters to Zhao Yousheng, but most of them were discarded after they were written. After all, letters were exchanged one by one, so the servants of Zhao's family couldn't send more than a dozen letters to Zhao Yousheng in Ning County.

With the letter written to Zhao Youcheng under his pillow, Chen Yu fell asleep peacefully in the quilt. His long hair was let down, and he was holding the quilt with one hand. The room was warm and a brazier was burning, which made him blush.

The author has something to say: "Zheng Yuanya" came into view, and You Sheng frowned, thinking: In the previous life, this person appeared very late, and his role was ignored. He should have been a passerby.

Director: Oh, look at my sincere eyes, believe me, I confiscated his red envelope.

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You Sheng (drawing sword): The next time you touch his face, you will chop your hands off.