klisemfg Chapter 535 Shipyard
Chapter 535 Shipyard
The group walked through the bustling main street and turned into an open area by the river.
After showing the token, A-Yue led them inside.
The timber was piled up like mountains, and the air was filled with the smell of tung oil and sawdust. The sounds of hammering and sawing were incessant.
It was a government-run boatyard.
There were countless skilled craftsmen inside, who specialized in building ships for the government.
A-Yue led them inside, saying as they walked, "Yi-Yi, the craftsmen sent me a message a few days ago saying that the big ship you ordered was almost finished. They kept asking me when you would come to the prefectural city so they could prepare for the launching ceremony. I happened to have some free time today, so I came to take a look."
I walked to a dock and saw a mini boat.
Compared to other boats, this one wasn't particularly large, but it had smooth lines, a straight mast, and brand-new planks that gleamed warmly in the sunlight. The tung oil it had just applied wasn't completely dry yet, making it shiny and glistening.
Fatty Wang had only been to the boat market in town, but it was worlds apart from this place.
It was my first time visiting a place like this, and I was completely mesmerized, like Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden.
He exclaimed, "So big! So new! How much money must this ship have cost! The wood, the craftsmanship..."
Sanchuan and Sihai had been here once before with their eldest sister. Although they found it novel, they had seen it before, so they weren't too out of line. They just walked around the boat and touched the side of the boat.
Xu Yiyi held Wu Yuan in her arms, carefully examining the ship's hull, a look of satisfaction in her eyes.
Old Lu, however, walked at the very back with his hands behind his back, looking rather uninterested.
Just after everyone boarded the ship, he finally moved, took two steps toward the dock, reached out, and tapped the wooden planks near the waterline with his knuckles.
"Bang...bang..."
The sound was deep and solid.
He withdrew his hand, patted off non-existent dust, and finally added, "The keel is alright, and the materials are quite solid. Before launching it into the water, remember to check the caulking again carefully."
Just then, the owner of the boat shop came over.
"Captain Lin, Boss Xu!"
The shop owner, Ding Li, clenched his fist and greeted the two of them.
He was clearly more familiar with A-Yue, and then turned to Xu Yiyi, speaking respectfully: "Mr. Xu, let me show you around."
As he spoke, he walked at the front and introduced Xu Yiyi to him.
"This ship was built to your specifications, using only the finest materials and employing the best craftsmen. The mast, the rudder, the cabins..."
He pointed to various parts of the ship and began to introduce them one by one.
As Xu Yi listened, he held Wu Yuan and slowly walked around the boat, examining it very carefully. He would occasionally reach out and touch the mortise and tenon joints and seams at key points, and then bend down to look at the part below the waterline.
After watching it, we got back on the ship.
Ding Li followed beside her, behaving very cautiously.
Once she straightened up, Ding Li rubbed his hands together and asked cheerfully, "Boss Xu, look, the boat is all set now. When would you like to pick a good day for our launching ceremony? Let's have a good time! After that, you can sail the boat straight back!"
After Xu Yi finished her inspection, she said calmly, "No rush."
Ding Li was taken aback: "Huh?"
Xu Yi said, "There's no rush to hold the launching ceremony. I'll let you know once I've made the arrangements."
Although Ding Li was puzzled, he didn't ask any more questions and quickly nodded: "Okay, okay! I'll do whatever you say, Boss Xu, and I'll be ready to give you any orders at any time."
The group stayed in the shipyard for a while longer, watching the craftsmen work and listening to the owner tell interesting stories about shipbuilding, before taking their leave.
After coming out, A-Yue couldn't help but ask Xu Yi-Yi, "Yi-Yi, today is also a good day, why don't you just take the boat back? It would be so convenient. You wouldn't have to squeeze onto passenger ships anymore. You have your own boat, so you can leave whenever you want, and it would save you money. You could be as free as you want."
Sanchuan and Sihai walked to the side and exchanged a glance upon hearing this.
"We know why."
The two children said in unison.
"You know?" A-Yue raised an eyebrow. "Then tell me why?"
Sanchuan gave Sihai a look, signaling him to speak.
Sihai, the chubby little boy, immediately puffed out his chest and exclaimed loudly, "Master, you don't understand!"
A-Yue looked down at him: "Oh? What don't I understand?"
Sihai, with a "doesn't that even need asking?" expression, said crisply, "Of course we're waiting for Second Sister to come back! At such an important moment, our whole family can't be missing a single one!"