On the morning of the eighth day, Mo Zi entered the kitchen and saw Bai He there. She said, “On such a freezing cold day, you shouldn’t have come—it’s over an hour’s journey by cart.”
Bai He stirred the iron pot with a large wooden ladle, her cheeks flushed from exertion, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “In years past, I always got up especially early on this day to cook Laba porridge. Don’t you remember? This year I had Xiao Yi take a pot to Grandmother’s place, and seeing as there was still time before dawn, I simply came here to help you. Aunt Ding has prepared most of the ingredients, and adding what I brought myself, everyone should be able to have a hot bowl. You go sit down quickly—I’ll give you a big bowl. Don’t you have a new ship trial later? You need to eat your fill.”
Mo Zi pushed open the kitchen door and saw quite a few people already wolfing down their food at the long wooden dining table in the mess hall, with others getting up for second helpings. “Are you sure there’s enough for everyone to have a bowl?”
“I knew Miss Bai He’s cooking would be good and would bring out everyone’s appetite, so naturally there wouldn’t be enough—that’s why I cooked plain rice porridge. You can only have one bowl of Laba porridge, no more than that.” Aunt Ding lifted the pot lid, revealing steaming hot plain porridge that had finished cooking.
Bai He was quite embarrassed. “I came to help, but instead I’ve caused Auntie more trouble.”
“Miss Bai He, you mustn’t say that. I’m decent at needlework, but I’m hopeless in the kitchen. Fortunately, everyone here is easygoing—as long as their bellies are filled, they don’t complain. But my husband said that Brother Mo doesn’t shortchange anyone working at this large site, yet I as the cook am ruining everyone’s stomachs. Thank goodness Miss Bai He often comes to help, which makes people feel that working at Hongyu is truly beyond reproach. Moreover, every time you come, I learn something. Recently quite a few people have even complimented me. I’d be happiest if you came every day—once I’ve learned even a fraction of your skills, I can use good food to silence my husband.” Aunt Ding served plain porridge to the shipyard workers asking for second helpings of Laba porridge, ignoring their quiet protests.
Mo Zi sat down. Before the bench could even warm up, Bai He brought over a bowl of Laba porridge, two large meat buns, plus a small dish of pickled vegetables she had made herself. The fragrant aroma immediately made Mo Zi’s stomach growl.
“Bai He, once you’re done here, head back early. Don’t forget there’s a dinner party tonight. I suggested going to Wangqiu Tower and having Cen Er settle the accounts, but you insisted on hosting at home.” Mo Zi took a sip of the porridge—it had a fresh taste of osmanthus.
“On such a cold day, and with only female guests, why bother eating out? Naturally it’s more convenient to host at home. We can gather around a table to play cards. If someone gets drunk they can lie down, and if tired they can stay overnight. There’s still one pot of porridge left—I’ll head back once it’s done cooking.” Having said this, Bai He went to the kitchen.
Mo Zi was eating with her head down when she suddenly felt the light in front of her dim. The slurping sounds of people drinking porridge around her also ceased. So she looked up and quickly stood—
“Master Min. What wind has blown you here?”
Min Yu, with his white beard and ruddy dark face, laughed heartily. “I heard there’s a new ship launching today—how could I not come? Brother Mo, this dining hall is built in such a novel way. And the Laba porridge smells so good it’s made this old man hungry.”
The spacious dining hall designed like a modern cafeteria, with cafeteria-style food display and self-service meal collection. Long rectangular tables with face-to-face seating—how could it not be novel?
Mo Zi asked Wei Qing, who had brought the old master in, to fetch a breakfast portion from the kitchen. “Old Master, you really should have given advance notice so I could make proper preparations.”
“Prepare what? One must arrive unannounced, otherwise you’d hide away all the good things and claim they’re secret techniques that can’t be shared.” Master Min was not polite. He took the large bowl from Wei Qing’s hands and drank in big gulps, praising it despite burning his tongue. “Such delicious Laba porridge—even the emperor might not get to eat this. Haha! Brother Mo, you really know how to enjoy life.”
Mo Zi was influenced by the old master’s straightforward cheerfulness. She laughed along. “In this one lifetime, eating is among the greatest matters. Not only must one eat one’s fill, but one must eat well—otherwise this life would be wasted.”
“Look at your limited ambitions, so petty and narrow-minded, thinking only about eating good meals instead of building good ships.” Master Min quite disagreed with these words. In his eyes, Mo Zi’s abilities were immense—she should be competing with the heavens themselves.
“I am indeed petty and narrow-minded. Old Master, you’re absolutely right—I admit it.” Mo Zi became playful and chuckled. “Ships are ships, meals are meals—two separate matters, done separately.”
Master Min pointed at Mo Zi’s head from a distance. “Brother Mo is so carefree, yet the ships you build are so stable.”
Mo Zi saw Min Song. Because Master Min had his back to him, Min Song paid no attention and walked straight toward her. Thinking that he was still concealing his identity from everyone and fearing he wasn’t psychologically prepared to have it exposed, she deliberately raised her voice: “Master Min, I believe a ship most resembles the person who designed it. If the person is stable, the ship is stable. If the person is carefree, the ship is carefree. I’m using existing ship designs, so this ship’s stability has nothing to do with me.”
Hearing Mo Zi loudly call out “Master Min,” Min Song’s eyes widened. His feet veered aside, and he took his porridge to another table, keeping his head down while stealing glances.
Master Min dug at his ear. “Brother Mo, suddenly speaking so loudly—you didn’t scare any mice, but you made my ears ring three times.”
Mo Zi laughed awkwardly. No, she had scared one mouse named Min Song.
After Master Min finished eating, Mo Zi took him to the riverbank. Only then did Min Song appear like a stranger, introducing himself, expressing long admiration, and showing utmost respect.
What could draw Min Yu to come in person was not the structure of the ship shed’s sliding rails, nor the very convenient and interesting dining hall design, but truly and genuinely the new ship about to be tested.
Since Hongyu opened for business, Mo Zi had been proper and honest. Apart from the Double Ninth Dragon Boat, which she had handled from design to construction, all other ships either followed existing designs or were built according to customers’ orders—conventional and proper. Though the quality was superior, there was nothing more outstanding or innovative, nothing worth mentioning.
As for that dragon boat, Min Song had later drawn a ship design based on what he had seen and experienced. However, for some unknown reason, the ship model produced was not ideal. The shipwrights at Risheng were still repeatedly studying and testing it, making progress but slowly.
As for today’s new ship, it was the first order that the new head of Yajiang Cargo Transport had given to Hongyu. All along, the Wei family had been a major client of various shipyards in the capital, but the head who had taken over less than two years ago was not a likable person. Temperamental, fault-finding, hot-tempered, and foul-mouthed. Even when commissioning Risheng to build ships, he paid his silver while giving them ugly looks, causing the shipyards to eventually become unwilling to accept his orders. Even Zeng Hai, who was so fond of taking advantage, had turned him down. After all, shipyards didn’t lack for customers—why subject themselves to such unpleasantness? When Boss Wei first realized he had offended the major shipyards, he wasn’t worried and turned instead to having private ships built. Cargo vessels over a thousand dan require extremely high technical skills—they can’t just be cobbled together. This past year he had lost three ships’ worth of cargo and was already frantic. He hastily hosted a banquet for the owners of all the major shipyards, including Risheng, entreating them to accept orders. In the winter season, with the freezing cold, ship production was naturally much slower than usual. By spring, everyone would be desperately rushing work—there was simply no way to squeeze in such urgent orders.
After the banquet, Min Yu mentioned Hongyu to Boss Wei. Four months ago, Hongyu lacked the manpower to build large river vessels. Four months later, Hongyu had over a hundred shipyard workers, nearly twenty shipwrights, four ship sheds—a picture of thriving prosperity. Song’er said that only Hongyu had no seasons—it was spring all year round. Today, without even needing to inspect the ship sheds, he had decided that Risheng should follow suit.
Min Yu had thought that even with his recommendation, it wouldn’t be easy for Mo Zi to secure this order from Boss Wei. Boss Wei wanted a sand ship for navigating shallow waters with strong winds, with a carrying capacity exceeding two thousand dan. Without ship designs, without wooden models, even with Mo Zi’s talent, lacking experience would be futile. But according to Min Song, in just a month and a half, after only three meetings, Boss Wei had paid the deposit. Min Song also said that perhaps Boss Wei had no one else to turn to, while simultaneously Mo Zi’s exquisitely crafted ship model and perfectly appropriate eloquence had made him willing to give it a try.
Two shipyard workers pushed open the large doors of the ship shed. A square-bowed, square-sterned, flat-bottomed vessel, propelled by twenty-some men, slowly slid out. The ship entered the water creating white waves. Over a dozen people loaded the masts and raised the sails, busying themselves for quite a while.
“Old Master, please board the ship.” Mo Zi climbed the wooden ladder first.
The ladder had railings on both sides and hooks overhead.
“Turning the sampan into a ladder with railings does seem more secure.” The old master made a mental note.
Later, such ladders became commonly used on large ships. Because Hongyu Shipyard was the first to use them, they came to be called “yu ladders.”
“Old Master, look around as you please. When you’re done looking, I’ll escort you off the ship.” Mo Zi was far less stingy about techniques applicable to civilian ships than military vessels.
“Aren’t we testing the ship? Aren’t we sailing?” Master Min saw that everyone was just staring at him.
“Old Master, testing a ship carries risks. I wouldn’t dare have you accompany us. If something were to happen—” like taking on water and sinking, “—ten of my little lives wouldn’t be enough to compensate your Min family.”
Master Min scoffed. “Bah! If I dare board your ship, I dare sink with it. What are you needlessly worrying about? Hurry up and set sail.”
Unable to dissuade him, Mo Zi had no choice but to instruct Min Song to accompany the old master on his tour, then gave the order to set sail.
The stretch of waterway before entering the river was navigated in a wobbly manner. Fei Xia, leading the team in managing the sails and turning the masts, was still getting accustomed to it. Shui She also had soldiers under his command practicing steering. Chou Yu, very sensitive to wind direction and wave speed, was specifically responsible for lookout duty. Mo Zi herself served as the ship’s A’Da, coordinating everything, testing various indicators, and keeping detailed records so that adjustments could be made after returning to port.
After more than half a shichen, the ship had long since reached the river. Master Min came up from the lower hold and stared at Mo Zi for a long while without saying a word.
Mo Zi felt uncomfortable under his gaze and asked, “Does Old Master think I’m being reckless?” This vessel, though called a sand ship, already incorporated very different technical craftsmanship.
“What do you call that hold?” He had never seen it before—the bottom hold divided into five compartments. But he understood at a glance that this design could greatly reduce the possibility of the ship sinking, especially in waters with many hidden reefs.
“Watertight bulkheads.” She hadn’t invented it but was using an existing technique.
“Watertight bulkheads?” Master Min repeated it, finding it catchy. “Just being able to conceive of such a structure, you could enter the official shipyards and make great contributions.”
For shipbuilding craftsmen, entering the official shipyards was the highest honor. Everyone knew that the Zhou Dynasty’s best shipbuilders were all there. While private major shipyards might approach them in number of craftsmen, the difference in technical skill was not just a little bit.
Mo Zi had no intention of making great contributions to the Zhou Dynasty. She laughed it off and glossed over it.
“Due north there’s a large piece of floating ice. Against the wind and waves, we’ll probably encounter it in two ke.” Chou Yu at the top had just finished his report when he let out two surprised sounds. “Brother Mo, there’s a person lying on the ice!”
Everyone was shocked.