Translator: Fan Translation Studio

  Before these reckless pirates found out what was going on, however, they heard several screeches. There were twenty pirates in total, including five sailors and those men who had climbed onto the deck of the cargo ship first, and now there were only seven or eight of them on board their ship.

  After those pirates heard the screeching how would they dare to climb aboard the ship again. They thought that this ship was either haunted or there was some kung fu masters in it, so the men still in the pirate boat rowed away, fleeing as quickly as possible without regard for their ship mates’ lives.

  However, behind them came flying knives which took down three or four of them all at once and they died from their own weapons.

  The rest of pirates almost pissed their pants in terror, rowed off their boat and escaped.

  The river became tranquil again and the lanterns in the cargo ship were lit up once more. Xiao Baoshan went inside the cabin, informing Wen Lei and the boatman.

  Wen Lei shrank in the corner shuddering as did the boatman, asking Xiao Baoshan in a trembling voice, “Pi, pirates, where are they?”


  “They’ve been dealt with!” said Xiao Baoshan.

  He had also thrown their bodies into the river.

  This river was broad and many corpses were pushed by the water to the bank. As the bodies had been carried down by the water from upstream most of them were unrecognizable, so their relatives could not find them and the government would just burn them all at once.

  Wen Lei and the boatman heard that the pirates had been taken down so they quivered and crawled out.

  Wen Lei still asked in doubt, “I only heard several screeches, how many pirates were there?”


  “It was so dark that I couldn’t tell.”


  Hearing Xiao Baoshan’s answer, Wen Lei dared not come out again as he was afraid that there might be some others still around. Meanwhile he was also on guard against Xiao Baoshan since he was afraid that Xiao Baoshan may turn out to be one of the pirates.

  Xiao Baoshan did not explain or anything. He took some wine with him and went back to the deck.

  The wind was strong at night and he needed some wine to keep himself warm.

  The boatman was hired so he could not possibly hide down there like Wen Lei did, so he had to go and sail again but did so with extreme fear. Wen Lei did not dare to come out until morning.

  On the deck Xiao Baoshan was leaning on the bow and drinking. The view of his back was tall and straight against the broad river behind him which made him look like a lonely, heroic soul.

  Wen Lei thought to himself, “I suppose I’ve hired the right man. We won’t have to worry about pirates at all for the rest of our trip.”


  It took one more day for them to arrive at Fu dock. Wen Lei brought someone to unload the shipment, gave Xiao Baoshan eight taels of silver and booked another returning cargo ship for Xiao Baoshan, then they bid each other farewell.

  Xiao Baoshan was not talkative from the very beginning and he went aboard the other cargo ship after bidding farewell to Wen Lei, then disappeared into the cabin.

  Wen Lei stood on the dock and thought, “I should ask this guy, Xiao Baoshan, to sail with my ship again next time.”
……

  Three days later, Xiao Baoshan went back to the dock of Qinghe County.

  Skinny Monkey saw Xiao Baoshan returning and went to report to Third Xing right away. “Boss, Xiao Baoshan came back alive!”


  “This is good. I knew he’d be all right,” said Third Xing confidently.

  Recently so many people were talking about the pirates around Fu Province and said they saw several bodies in the rive, wondering if those were the bodies of pirates or the cargo traders. All in all, there was nothing good about it.

  Skinny Monkey was worried about Xiao Baoshan by then.

  Although Xiao Baoshan was not his relative, he was sent from Qinghe County and the dock would be involved in his case if anything happened to him, moreover, Xiao Baoshan went to sail in a hurry and did not even inform his family so it would be bad if his family came and caused trouble at the dock.

  As Xiao Baoshan now came back safely, Skinny Monkey was terribly excited.

  “Boss, Xiao Baoshan was indeed capable, but about those bodies in the Fu river, do you think it was him that did that?” Skinny Monkey wondered.

  Third Xing hinted at him with his eyes to shut up. “Don’t talk nonsense. We only sail in the ship and don’t kill others.”


  “Yes, yes, we surely don’t.”


  While the two were talking, Xiao Baoshan entered.

  Third Xing changed into another expression and patted Xiao Baoshan’s shoulder with warmth. “Brother Baoshan, you finally came back. We were so worried about you.”


  “Sorry to trouble you,” Xiao Baoshan said plainly and took out four taels of silver. “Eight taels in total and here you are, four taels.”


  “Right, thanks.” Third Xing patted Xiao Baoshan’s shoulder again and took the money as agreed.

  Xiao Baoshan said again, “I’ve been away from home for some time so can I ask for a break of several days while I go back to see my family.”


  “Sure, certainly. The sailing is indeed exhausting, as you have to eat, drink, wee and poo and everything in the ship, so it’s time for you to reconnect with the land. Then go back and see your family. Don’t you have a little bride too? I met her once last time.”


  Xiao Baoshan did not make small talk with Third Xing but just turned around and left the room……

  Xiao Baoshan said that he missed his family but actually what he cared the most for Lately he had been living aboard the ship and eating solid food like dried buns and jerky without even any hot soup. What he thought about most frequently were Ye Xiaoxian’s sweet and sour ribs, fish fillets in hot chili oil or the appetizing crystal chicken feet.

  On the way to the restaurant he passed by a stall which sold accessories. He spotted a jade-green pearl hairpin and thought that it suited Ye Xiaoxian’s disposition very well, so he bought it.

  However, when he put it in his clothes he suddenly realized another problem which was what if Li Hongmei and Xiao Baozhu asked him about this, how could he answer?

  If he brought a gift for Ye Xiaoxian it meant that the only one he cared about was Ye Xiaoxian. Although it was true he must not be biased morally. After a second thought he bought a horn comb and a beaded necklace as well and then went back to the restaurant……

  Xiao Baoshan went in from the backyard and went straight to the kitchen. Ye Xiaoxian was cooking in the kitchen and while she was stirring with the spatula she felt there was a large, tall figure looming and she turned around hurriedly.

  “Baoshan!” said Ye Xiaoxian surprised.

  They had not seen each other for almost a month and Xiao Baoshan had become thinner and his skin darker. However, as he had handsome features along with his special aura, his looks not only had not been affected but he had an even more heroic spirit.

  Xiao Baoshan went in front of Ye Xiaoxian, looked at the big wok and in it were the sweet and sour ribs which he had been longing for all these days.

  “Baoshan, do you want to eat?” Ye Xiaoxian had seen it.

  Xiao Baoshan nodded. “Is it okay?”


  “Sure, it’s okay. I’ll give you this and cook another for the customer,” said Ye Xiaoxian.

  It had been one month that he had been away. Why was she finding Xiao Baoshan begging her for food like a child? Still, Xiao Baoshan behaving in this way actually seemed rather cute.

  Xiao Baoshan said, “Thank you so much.”


  “You’re welcome. It’s rare for you to come back. It’s smoky here in the kitchen so why don’t you go to the hall to eat. Ask Ma to arrange a table for you,” said Ye Xiaoxian.

  Xiao Baoshan, however, still did not move.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Ye Xiaoxian. “Is it not enough?”


  “And any fish fillets in chill oil left?” Xiao Baoshan felt that he could eat an ox.

  “Fine, you take a seat first and I’ll cook it for you later.” Ye Xiaoxian could tell that Xiao Baoshan was very exhausted now.

  Xiao Baoshan still did not move. After a while he fished out the pearl hairpin from his clothes and held it in front of Ye Xiaoxian. “Little Ye, this is for you.”