boyutpedia Chapter 405 Rivers and Streams
Chapter 405 Rivers and Streams
After listening to the boatman's words, the old beggar looked around along the small boat, which swayed from side to side due to the ripples of the river.
After looking at it, he pointed his hand, which was covered in glutinous rice flour, at the surging river water, and said with an incredulous expression, "There is river water all around. How am I supposed to get on? I just sat on your boat. I can't swim. Are you trying to kill me?"
"I...! Don't talk nonsense!"
"I'm talking nonsense?" the old beggar said shamelessly. "Besides, I didn't dirty your things. The young lady didn't say anything, so what are you doing here giving orders and trying to kick me off the ship? If I really have to get off the ship, it has to be the young lady who decides!"
"you…!"
"What do you mean, what do you mean!"
At this time.
Xin'er, the maidservant accompanying the bride, listened intently for a while before nodding and stepping forward to say, "Stop arguing, everyone. My young lady said that everyone was frightened because of her, and she asked me to apologize to everyone on her behalf. Also, our young lady paid for the old man's round-trip boat fare."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone around him was stunned for a moment, and then they all said that the young lady of this family was well-educated, gentle and virtuous, and whoever married such a girl would be blessed.
Upon hearing this, a smug look appeared on the old beggar's face, and he slightly raised his chin at the boatman.
His expression seemed to be saying something.
Didn't you want to kick me out? Now someone's backing me up. Let's see what you do now.
The boatman was taken aback by his provocation and was also furious. He immediately said, as if nothing he said would work, "I won't do it. Let him ride whose boat he wants, just don't ride my boat. This is a wedding boat, not a boat for beggars."
Hey! You...
Seeing that the two were about to argue again, Xin'er spoke up again: "Brother boatman, our young lady knows that you were frightened. As long as you are willing to take this old man back, our young lady is willing to pay double the boat fare."
"This……"
The boatman's expression softened when he heard that the young lady was willing to pay double the fare.
"Wait a minute!" This time the old beggar objected, retorting, "Who said I was going back? I came by boat, so of course I'm going to take a cruise ship!"
"just you?"
The boatman said with a look of disgust.
"What's wrong with me? It's not like I can't afford the boat fare!"
As he spoke, to prove he could afford it, he pulled out a string of coins from his chest and waved them in front of people, the coins clinking together.
He shouted to the pleasure boat, "Quickly lower that gangplank, I want to get on the boat!"
"I'm not trying to be mean, but most of the people boarding this ship are people with refined tastes, and there are many important people among them. Dressed like this, with your hair all messy and dirty, aren't you just spoiling their fun? Even if you have money, the manager of this pleasure boat might not let you board."
The boatman conceded, saying, "I promised this young lady I would take you home. You'd better stop making a scene here. It's a joyous occasion; if you keep causing trouble, it won't look good."
"Who's making a scene!"
The old beggar was unconvinced, looking determined to board, and stubbornly said, "No matter how beautifully it's decorated, it's just a slightly larger boat. Since I can afford the money, I can naturally board this pleasure boat."
He looked up again and shouted at the pleasure boat, "Lower the gangplank for me, I want to get on!"
"Please make way, everyone!"
As the shouts rang out, a richly dressed man emerged from the crowd, looking every bit the businessman.
"In charge!"
The steward, panting heavily, asked his men, "There was such a commotion here just now, and the pleasure boat was tilting and about to capsize. I managed to squeeze through the crowd. What happened?"
After respectfully calling out to the boat manager, the boatman closest to him approached the manager and quietly explained the situation.
Having learned the whole story, the person in charge calmed down considerably.
He wiped the fine sweat from his brow, and with a slightly embarrassed expression, stepped forward. He spoke politely and respectfully towards the pleasure boat, saying in a loud, soothing tone, "Old sir, it's not because of your attire, but mainly because what happened just now frightened many of the guests on this pleasure boat. I see many are still shaken. If any guests are unwilling, it will be difficult for us. I hope you will understand. The young lady doesn't need to pay for your return journey; I will cover it myself. I will make sure the boatman properly escorts you home."
The old beggar, knowing full well what he was talking about, said, "That sounds nice. If you say it's not because of my clothes, then what are you mentioning?" He glanced at himself and said matter-of-factly, "What's wrong with my clothes? I'm comfortable wearing them, so I like wearing them!"
"Yes, yes, of course you can dress like that, but we're in business, and we have to consider the feelings of most of our customers. How about this, I'll give you double the money, and you can travel by other boats tomorrow?"
As he spoke, the steward glanced into the distance, his face filled with panic. He quickly pulled out some money from his chest, intending to use the money to settle the matter and get the man to leave.
The old beggar was originally quite calm and didn't get too angry when arguing with the boatman. He was quite adept at bantering with him. However, he was somewhat angered by the actions of the boat manager.
The old beggar couldn't stand it anymore and said with some displeasure, "Who cares about your money? Even inns and taverns know to smile and not be too friendly to rich people. What's so great about your pleasure boat that you look down on people?"
He waved the string of money in his hand, "This money wasn't stolen or robbed; I earned it honestly as a beggar. It's completely clean!"
"How can this be? Is the word 'refined' only for high-ranking officials, noblemen, and scholars? Why can't a beggar like me ride this pleasure boat and enjoy the beauty of the mountains and rivers? Am I not a citizen of Northern Qi just because I am a beggar?"
"Sir, that's not what I meant. You've misunderstood."
"Misunderstanding?" He sneered, then said sarcastically, "If these high-ranking officials and noble families don't even have this much tolerance, then their so-called elegance and nobility are nothing but empty words and self-admiration!"
Just saying.
The steward of the pleasure boat kept glancing at the three ships slowly approaching from behind, his expression tense.
The people on the boat also heard the commotion coming from the pleasure boat. As they got closer to the pleasure boat, one of them stepped out of the cabin.
The person who came out was dressed very elegantly, and although he was somewhat old, he had a humble air about him.
They saw this person come out.
The boat manager, quick-witted as ever, instructed the crew to prepare the gangplank so that it could be lowered down as soon as the small boat approached. He then respectfully clasped his hands and bowed to the man.
The man looked at the elder and said, "I heard this elder's eloquent discourse on the boat just now, and I think what he said was correct and quite reasonable. It was truly enlightening and I have learned a lot from it."
Having said that, the man looked at the manager and said, “Since it is a boat that travels on rivers, which accommodate all rivers, there should be no distinction between the noble and the lowly. We welcome guests from all directions. This old man can afford the money, and what happened just now was only a false alarm. Nothing serious happened, and there is no one on his hands. So let this elder board the boat.”