Master Qiu Yunping's reputation was well-established, having long ago garnered a group of ardent admirers. Zhao Ziheng, an expert in the pleasures of eating, drinking, and merrymaking, was one of them.
In a moment of thoughtless enthusiasm, he signed up for the competition. But when he finally understood the events, he was utterly dumbfounded.
The men of the Cao Gang made their living on the water, and the events were designed around the various tasks performed on grain transport ships. These included climbing the mast, diving into the river to catch fish, two-person small boat racing, weight-carrying and height-climbing competitions, and so on.
Long voyages were tedious, and this set of competitions was something the brothers on the ship were thoroughly familiar with for fun. Everyone collected their number tags and dispersed to prepare.
Bai Shiqi had Zhao Wujiu seated next to Qiu Yunping and even had an attendant bring melon seeds, pastries, and tea to entertain him.
After figuring out the events, Zhao Ziheng ran over to complain: "Seventeen, the person who designed these events must have something wrong with their head! Climbing the mast? Does he think I'm a monkey?"
Bai Shiqi: "..."
Qiu Yunping wore an expression that said "you're in trouble now," gleefully reminding him: "Young master, the events on the Cao ships were all designed by our Young Gang Leader."
Zhao Ziheng faltered: "No... I mean, Seventeen, why would you create such strange events? Aren't regular tournament events usually things like archery, horseback riding, or the refined arts like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting?" While horseback riding and archery weren't his forte, he was quite skilled in the refined arts or composing a few lines of flowery, romantic verse.
Bai Shiqi: "Young master, you want a bunch of Cao workers, most of whom can't recognize more than a few big characters, to compete with you in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting?"
Zhao Ziheng: "..."
Zhao Wujiu had already finished flipping through the competition regulations written on the placard. It was a handwritten booklet, not only comprehensive in its events but also clear in rules, with distinct rewards and penalties. The handwriting was open and unrestrained, forceful enough to pierce the paper.
"The competition setup is quite reasonable," Zhao Wujiu remarked. As a man who had commanded troops for years, he didn't view problems superficially like Zhao Ziheng. Like an examiner setting questions, he saw through the purpose of each event at a glance: they were entirely aimed at improving the professional skills of the Cao workers on board through various contests.
"Did you really design all these events yourself?" He was skeptical—could a slippery, untrustworthy lad who hung around with his unreliable cousin truly have such capability?
Bai Shiqi was unperturbed by his doubt: "Everyone was bored, just having some fun. Cousin, you needn't take it so seriously."
Qiu Yunping, however, held Bai Shiqi in high esteem and vigorously vouched for her abilities: "Our Young Gang Leader is accomplished in both literary and martial arts. This booklet was written by his own hand." He further explained: "The Cao workers make their living on the water. Besides working, they love gathering to drink and gamble. In the first year the Young Gang Leader took charge of escorting the grain shipment alone, he saw the workers on board were undisciplined and lax. Some would lose all the money they earned on a voyage gambling, not even leaving enough to buy food for their wives and children back home. That's why he organized these competitions—to attract their attention and break their habit of gathering to gamble. Those with real skill could even win a substantial cash prize. This has been going on for several years now. How could it be fake?"
Zhao Wujiu rarely offered praise, but he conceded: "I truly didn't see it. Young Gang Leader Bai is quite a talent."
Bai Shiqi was both shocked and flattered: "Am I hearing things? Cousin actually praised me?" She shamelessly leaned closer: "How about praising me a few more times? I'm really enjoying it."
If Zhao Ziheng praised her, it was mostly careless flattery. But Zhao Wujiu was a man of few words and stern disposition. Being praised by him was a rare occurrence!
Zhao Wujiu very much wanted to slap that face, but meeting her brilliant smile and those dazzlingly white teeth in the sunlight, his biting retort took a detour and was swallowed back. He said with feigned haughtiness, "The handwriting isn't bad either."
Bai Shiqi, excited, grabbed his large hand and shook it vigorously twice, her eyes shining: "A kindred spirit! Cousin, you are my kindred spirit! When you see my father later, you must tell him that! He's always scolding me, saying my writing looks like ghostly scribbles!"
Bai Zhenting had barely studied for a few days in his youth. In his mind, brush calligraphy should be square and proper. Because of this, Bai Shiqi had been chased around with a stick by her father more than a few times as a child.
Zhao Wujiu: "...It's only slightly better than ghostly scribbles!"
Bai Shiqi instantly deflated, released his hand, and her smile vanished. Not wanting to harm the feelings of a disabled person, she instead vented her frustration on his cousin: "Ziheng, if you can't even beat the brothers on my ship, you'd better admit defeat now!"
Zhao Ziheng refused to lose face, even though the events made him apprehensive. He couldn't admit defeat before even starting: "The competition hasn't begun yet! Who loses remains to be seen!"
The corner of Zhao Wujiu's mouth lifted slightly, and a hint of a smile appeared involuntarily.
Shu Changfeng was observant and alert. Although he had also joined the fun by signing up, he was still responsible for his master's safety. Catching a glimpse of that smile on his master's lips from a few steps away, he was stunned.
—Since his legs lost sensation, when had he ever seen His Highness the Prince of Zhou show even a trace of joy?
Young Gang Leader Bai was truly remarkable. Not only was his skin exceptionally thick, daring to forcibly push his master outdoors for a walk, but he could actually provoke a smile from his master.
Shu Changfeng resolved to stick close to Bai Shiqi, for no other reason than to see His Highness the Prince of Zhou smile happily again.
The competition officially began, and the first event was the very one Zhao Ziheng deeply despised: mast climbing.
The ship they were on was the largest flagship of the Jiangsu Cao Gang, a three-decked vessel with five masts, nearly eighty feet tall. Five contestants per group, using an elimination format.
Zhao Ziheng unfortunately drew the first round. The other four were all Cao workers from the ship—some tall and burly, others dark and lean. Everyone took their positions. Steward Guan raised a copper gong and struck it heavily, bellowing simultaneously: "Begin—" The five men at the base of the masts sprang into action.
The other four Cao workers all hugged their masts and climbed up. The leanest among them, a youth, scurried up shua shua shua, his body agile, truly like a monkey. But looking at Zhao Ziheng, he hugged the mast but simply couldn't get up. His body would just leave the ground before sliding chiliu back down.
Undaunted, he hugged the mast and tried again. His feet left the ground by about two feet before he slid chiliu back down.
Bai Shiqi pounded the table with laughter, mercilessly mocking her good friend, shouting at the top of her voice: "Ziheng, did you not eat? Or do you have a weight tied to your backside?"
Many Cao workers on the ship were doubled over with laughter. Even Zhao Wujiu couldn't help but smile at his cousin's hapless, awkward appearance, though he also felt a strong urge to thump Bai Shiqi—what kind of question was 'a weight tied to your backside'?
Zhao Ziheng's handsome face flushed crimson. Looking up, he saw even the burliest competitor in his match had slowly climbed about a man's height. Gritting his teeth, he mustered every ounce of strength, clung to the mast, and began inching upward. Finally, he managed to get about half a man's height off the deck. Feeling pleased with himself and about to boast to Bai Shiqi, he opened his mouth, lost his breath, and slid chiliu back down, landing on the deck.
Bai Shiqi laughed uproariously, nearly choking: "Ziheng, are you even capable?!"
Zhao Ziheng was almost driven to tears!
—A man fears nothing more than being questioned about his capability!
He clung to the mast, summoning every ounce of his strength to climb desperately, but his limbs were clumsy, utterly failing to match the nimble, swallow-like agility of the young canal worker. Huffing and puffing with labored breath, sweat pouring down his face, he resembled a clumsy bear, drawing roars of laughter from the surrounding crowd. Everyone was thoroughly amused by his antics, and the one who abandoned all decorum the most was undoubtedly Bai Shiqi, who laughed without a shred of dignity.
"Ziheng, we really should let all those young ladies in the capital and Suzhou who admire you come and witness your heroic grace," she shouted, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.
Zhao Wujiu couldn't help but chuckle, unable to bear the sight of his cousin's discomfiture. When he had first read the competition rules, he merely thought the events were well-organized. But once the contest began, he realized they were also quite cunning. Take this first event, for instance: the scrawny canal worker, Qin Liu'er, was already nearing the top of the mast, while the other three workers struggled. The second-place climber was about ten feet behind Qin Liu'er, with the others trailing further back. Zhao Ziheng was dead last and a constant source of comedy.
Some canal workers remarked, "That Qin Liu'er kid usually seems so quiet and unassuming. Who'd have thought he could climb a mast so darn fast? It's like he's the reincarnation of a monkey."
Another added, "Imagine, he just started working on the boats this year and might actually take first prize. If he wins the prize money, he can go home and get himself a wife."
"I wonder who's faster, him or the Young Gang Leader?"
"How about we ask the Young Gang Leader to race him later?"
"…"
Zhao Wujiu sat beside the judging platform, surrounded by a crowd of canal workers. These men laughed with the same earth-shaking gusto as Bai Shiqi and discussed people without restraint, their voices booming, allowing him to overhear their conversation.
Lost in thought, he couldn't help but turn to look at Bai Shiqi. The young man's profile was as fine as jade, carved and polished. He was laughing wildly and freely, his spirit radiant. Sensing Zhao Wujiu's gaze, Bai Shiqi turned to him, a smile still lingering on his face, carefree and happy, seemingly having already forgotten the earlier displeasure caused by Zhao Wujiu's teasing.
Almost involuntarily, Zhao Wujiu spoke up, "Do you know how to climb a mast?"
In the past, he would never have had the slightest interest in engaging in casual chatter about such trivial matters with anyone. But amidst the roaring laughter and clamor, surrounded by the boiling crowd, with cheers and jeers filling his ears, his long-tense nerves had unconsciously relaxed.
Bai Shiqi probably didn't expect him to be curious about this. With a clear, loud laugh, he replied, "It's mainly because my father had great foresight in raising his child. The old man was too strict with me when I was little. When the beatings got too severe, my only escape was to climb a tree. So, climbing a ship's mast when I grew up was no trouble at all."
Zhao Wujiu hadn't anticipated such an answer and was momentarily amused. "Your father… certainly has a unique approach to parenting."
Having traveled together for several days, Bai Shiqi had never seen him smile so openly and happily. It was as dazzling as a clear breeze under a bright moon, leaving Bai Shiqi momentarily stunned. "Cousin, you look quite handsome when you smile. You should do it more often. It would make it easier for you to find a wife."
Suddenly, Zhao Wujiu deeply understood Old Gang Leader Bai's unique parenting method—the brat really ought to be given a few more thrashings, otherwise he'd never learn to speak properly.
Seeing Zhao Wujiu's expression darken, Bai Shiqi inquired with utmost concern, "Cousin, do you find this place too noisy?"
Zhao Wujiu thought to himself: Is there anyone here whose laughter is louder than yours?
