The next day we set off on time at the same time, and after traveling for more than two hours, we finally arrived in Huai'an.
The boat in front moved slowly and finally stopped, and everyone knew that they had to wait to pass the lock.
Sure enough, the escort officers took the boat and announced along the way: "Stop the boat and wait. Do not go ashore. Check the grain bags and be careful."
Everyone stopped the boat as told and waited, otherwise what else could they do. They all started preparing lunch.
Huo Xi was also busy preparing meals for the family and lunch for the escort officer. In the past few days, he had earned some extra money along the way by selling meals. Even if the goods he brought with him could not be sold, he would still have money when he returned to the capital.
The money repaired the cabin.
The meals are cooked very carefully.
After lunch, we waited for an hour before the lockman came on board to measure the size of the boat. After another half an hour, the Bingzi No. 1 boat finally rowed to the back gate of the Qingjiang Lock.
Huo Xi was very interested in the Qingjiang Gate and stared at it intently.
Different from the wooden gates of the canal and the Yangtze River, the Qingjiang Gate is made of rectangular strips of black granite, which are stacked piece by piece. With so many strips of stone built together, according to current technology, they should be made of cooked glutinous rice.
It is made of lime mixed with paddles as a binder.
The gate was also much wider. Huo Xi gestured and estimated it to be two feet.
Her boat is about half a foot wide, so more than one ship can pass through this gate.
The water level of the Huaihe River is lower than that of the canal. If the ship locks are not repaired, the water from the canal can flow back into the Huaihe River and flood the fields near the Huaihe River.
Huai'an is the intersection of ships from the north and the south, and it has been a transportation hub in the past dynasties. The Water Transport Governor's Office of the previous dynasty was located in Huai'an, which was a place for transporting grain. It can be seen that sufficient attention was paid to the construction of this ship lock.
Looking towards the dams on both sides, there are several more people pushing the winches than at the Yangtze River Gate.
The gate official gave the order to "open the gate", and seven or eight strong and muscular men began to push the winch with all their strength.
The black granite gate slowly rises.
The rear gate opens, and the river water pours in. The boats begin to enter the box. When the boats enter the front box, close the rear lock, open the front lock, release water, wait until the water level reaches equilibrium, and the boats leave the box.
It's now time to apply.
As we drove further, the archway with the words "Huai'an Wharf" appeared in the distance, standing high on a platform made of dozens of steps.
Hundreds of thousands of water boats were moored at the dock along both sides of the river, waiting for the supervisor to board the boat to take grain samples, inspect the grain, and go ashore for exchange.
Huo Xi had read in the book, "Eighty miles of canal boats on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, with numerous lanterns rising up all at once," "Managing people to and fro, mountains of department stores," Huai'an, an important town for water and salt transportation, the throat of seven provinces, and the distribution center for north and south property, has arrived.
"Brother He, can we go ashore?"
He Feng informed along the way that he was waiting for the connection and the food inspection. This time he did not say that he could not go ashore. Huo Xi asked.
"You can go ashore. But there must be someone on board to guard the ship. There must be no mistake in the food supply."
"Okay. We understand. Thank you Brother He."
Huo Xi did not ask when the connection would be made or how long it would take for the transfer.
This matter is beyond the control of the shipping officers and escort officers who came from Jiangning and the capital. Everything must be listened to by the local grain inspectors and cashiers in Huai'an.
And from what He Feng said, it is estimated that this time will not be short, otherwise it will be like passing through Guazhou, making it impossible for everyone to get ashore.
Huo Xi looked at the sky and saw that it was already dark. It would be dark soon.
Look at the canal boats parked in front of it, which is about ten miles away. There are six numbers A and B in front of number C in her house, and there are 120 boats.
You have to take grain samples, inspect the grain, go ashore to exchange it, and wait for the porters to move the grain...
Just wait.
"Xi'er, can we go ashore?" Yang Fu asked her.
Huo Xi nodded: "Yes."
Seeing Yang Fu and Huo Xi's eyes shining brightly, Huo Erhuai couldn't bear to stop them: "Your uncle and nephew should go ashore to relax." They had been on the boat for three days, and they were probably exhausted.
Huo Erhuai actually didn't want his two children to go ashore. None of them had been to Huai'an before, and they were unfamiliar with the place. If they encountered two and a half-year-old children, where would they go to find them?
"How about, after we exchange the food, Dad will take you ashore to have a look?"
Huo Erhuai looked at Huo Xi's boyish appearance and felt relieved, but when he looked at her small and delicate face, he felt uneasy.
"It's okay, Dad, I'll call everyone here, and we'll be together."
Huo Erhuai breathed a sigh of relief: "That's okay. You two don't want to walk alone. We have never been to Huai'an, so we are not familiar with the place."
"I know, Dad."
At this moment, everyone parked their boats on both sides of the river, end to end, and the boats were next to each other. Yang Fucai shouted and asked if he wanted to go ashore, and everyone responded in unison.
Everyone thought it was like the previous piers where they were not allowed to go ashore and were just lying on the board bored. Who wouldn’t want to go ashore now?
There are only a few people like Yu Jiang who come out. Most of them bring their families with them and make boats their home. There are many people who stay on boats to guard the food.
"Yang Fu, Huo Xi, can we really go ashore?" Qian Xiaoxia still couldn't believe it.
"Yes, Xi'er has asked the escort. But someone must be left behind to guard the food."
Upon hearing this, Qian Xiaoxia hurriedly turned to his brother and said, "Brother, I'll go ashore to explore first, and I'll replace you next time."
Qian Xiaoyu nodded: "Okay. But don't be reckless and listen to Huo Xi."
Qian Xiaoxia curled his lips, the little brat should listen to me. When he saw his brother glaring at him, he agreed honestly. His mother, Sun, also said that she wanted to go ashore and have a look.
Grandma Zou Sheng also explained to Zou Sheng, and Zou Sheng followed everyone ashore.
"Brother Yu, if you don't pay for the food tomorrow, I'll help you look after the boat and you can go ashore to take a look."
Yu Jiang smiled at Yang Fu and waved his hand: "You go ahead. I'll help your brother-in-law look at the food. You guys also look around to see if there's anything good, so we can take it back to the capital."
"Don't worry." Yang Fu responded and reached for Huo Xi's hand.
Huo Erhuai pulled the two of them before they landed and warned them, "Fu'er, you have to watch Xi'er. Don't get separated. If you encounter danger, run away and shout loudly."
"Dad, I remember. Dad, you have to guard the food and don't let anyone get on the boat."
"Don't worry. Dad knows."
When they arrived on the shore, it took Huo Xi a long time to recover. The feeling of stepping on the ground was completely different from that on the boat. Her whole body felt shaking when her feet stepped on the ground.
"Xi'er, are you okay?"
Huo Xi held Yang Fu's hand, closed her eyes, and shook her head, "It's okay. Just wait for me to get used to it."
Qian Xiaoxia and others were in a better situation than Huo Xi, and quickly adjusted themselves. Facing the bursts of noise coming from the pier ahead, they felt like cats scratching their heads.
I wanted to rush over, but I remembered my parents and brother's instructions to only follow Huo Xi and Yang Fu, so I had to endure it.