Chapter 199: Where’s the Ship? Show Me.

Chapter 199: Where's the Ship? Show Me.

He Ziran modestly replied, "I've learned a bit by chance, enough to manage a conversation."

Hu Cong fell silent for a long while before speaking again.

"When I first arrived in the northwest, to make ends meet, I worked as a laborer at the docks. My wife brought me food one day, and she was seen by a passing foreigner.

That foreigner, using some unknown means, managed to convince my wife to leave with him willingly..."

For years, Hu Cong had harbored this incident as his greatest shame, never mentioning it to anyone.

Perhaps seeing the foreigners today stirred up the anger he had buried deep within for so many years, or maybe it was the sight of familiar faces that prompted him to vent his grievances.

Regardless of the reason, he couldn't help but share his story.

Mo Jiuye knew a little about Hu Cong's situation. He had climbed the ranks through the imperial examinations to become a deputy minister of works.

Moreover, Hu Cong was a decent man who had only married once. Even in middle age, he still didn't have any children.

Some people advised him to take more concubines to bear him offspring, but Hu Cong never did.

When Hu Cong was sentenced to exile, his family wasn't implicated. Therefore, only he and his wife were sent here together.

To have his wife, who had been his sole companion, taken away by a foreigner, it would be unbearable for any man, not just Hu Cong.

Mo Jiuye reached out and gently patted Hu Cong on the shoulder. "Brother Hu, it's all in the past."

Hu Cong nodded with difficulty, his gaze returning to Henry.

"Where's the ship? Show me."

Henry was still confused because He Ziran hadn't translated Hu Cong's words in time.

He Ziran hurriedly resumed her role as translator.

She first translated what Hu Cong had said earlier, then relayed the story of how his wife had been taken by a foreigner.

Henry could only try to defend himself.

"Ms. He Ziran, please convey this for me: This is my first time here, and whoever did such a thing, it wasn't me.

Also, there are good and bad people everywhere. I'm definitely one of the good ones from my country."

Hearing Henry's defense, He Ziran found it amusing but translated his words verbatim to Hu Cong.

Hu Cong sighed.

"I know, one mustn't blame the innocent. It wasn't him who did it, so I shouldn't take my anger out on him."

With that, Hu Cong stood up, calling for Mo Jiuye and the others to come see Henry's ship.

The outside of the mule cart could only seat two people. This time, Henry and Hu Cong sat inside the carriage, while He Ziran accompanied Mo Jiuye outside, driving the cart.

Following the coastline, they walked for about twenty minutes until they reached the dock.

It was a far cry from the bustling scene at the Salt Lake dock.

This place was on the border of the Great Shun Dynasty, and apart from a few cargo ships from coastal cities docking here, there was nothing else.

Today, only three cargo ships were moored at the dock.

One of the cargo ships was farther from the shore and looked completely different from the other two.

This cargo ship was not only tall but also had a sail standing on it.

Obviously, the other two local cargo ships of the Great Shun didn't have sails and relied entirely on manpower to move forward.

Without a doubt, Mo Jiuye and He Ziran could now conclude that the ship with the sail belonged to Henry.

The mule cart stopped, and Henry eagerly lifted the curtain to look outside.

Pointing to his cargo ship, he said, "That's my ship, that cargo ship right there."

The group followed Henry to the seaside, where an inconspicuous small boat was moored.

Clearly, since the cargo ship was so far from the shore, Henry had used this small boat to land.

He jumped onto the small boat first, then turned to beckon He Ziran and the others to join him.

They successfully arrived under the cargo ship, and Henry shouted a few words to the crew, prompting someone to lower a rope.

Considering the height of the ship, Henry explained, worried they might be afraid, "This rope is very sturdy, don't worry."

After saying that, Henry climbed up the rope first to prove he wasn't lying.

Mo Jiuye asked Hu Cong, "Can Brother Hu climb up?"

Hu Cong nodded. "No problem." With that, he began climbing like Henry.

Seeing Hu Cong safely standing on the deck, Mo Jiuye wrapped his arm around He Ziran's waist, leaped into the air, and landed lightly beside Henry.

This action left Henry and his companions staring in amazement.

In his understanding, he had never known anyone who could fly.

He gazed enviously at Mo Jiuye and He Ziran.

"You guys are amazing, you can actually fly."

He Zhiran shook her head with a smile, but she didn't explain anything. Hu Cong was used to such sights; back in the capital, he had seen guards leaping from roof to roof. How could Mo Jiuye, as a martial general, not possess such skills? After the foreigners recovered from their astonishment, He Zhiran urged them on. "Henry, weren't you going to fix your ship?" Henry reined in his wandering thoughts and led his companions, along with the others, to the top of the cargo ship. He Zhiran knew nothing about repairing ships, so all she could do now was serve as a translator for Henry. After some explanation, Hu Cong had a rough idea of what was wrong with the cargo ship and began examining it alone. Henry left his assistant there to assist Hu Cong and planned to take Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran on a tour of the cargo ship's interior. He Zhiran wasn't particularly interested in this primitive cargo ship. She knew that the foreigners who braved the seas to come here did so solely for profit. When they arrived, they would fill the cargo hold with goods from their own country, sell them in Dashun, and then take some of Dashun's specialties back home. Therefore, what piqued her interest were the goods Henry had brought. "Henry, can you show me your cargo?" Although Henry was visiting Dashun for the first time, during his few days searching for a ship repairer in Runcheng, he noticed that one could tell if the locals were well-off by their attire. He was certain that He Zhiran and her husband weren't wealthy. Thus, he never entertained the thought of doing business with them. Nevertheless, Henry readily agreed to He Zhiran's request. Since she had been so helpful, it wouldn't hurt to broaden their horizons. Henry led the two into the cargo hold and lifted the tarp covering the goods, revealing them to the pair. Henry pointed at the items proudly and said, "These are all good things from our country. Feel free to look around." He Zhiran was no stranger to these items. Apart from some grains not found in Dashun, there were also tiles that didn't appear to be finely crafted and fabrics woven by foreigners, as well as flat glass and glassware. Seeing the glass, He Zhiran thought about how her family would need to build a house in the future, and these glasses could certainly come in handy. Moreover, obtaining them openly from the foreigners meant there was no issue of secrecy or impropriety.