Great Tang Idyll - Volume 4 Chapter 203:

River wind, river flow, river tide; river mountains, river’s heart, swirling drift.
Steep riverbanks lined with slanted cliffs; bare rocks by the water sing ancient songs.
A thousand waves, a thousand charms; a hundred ships vast and small.
One man, one rope, one shoulder pad; one step, one pull, one shout in time.

The towmen gladly accepted the ropes and sailcloth Zhang Xiaobao sent, deciding to use them as payment in place of silver. The leader of the towmen ran his calloused hand over the coarse yet sturdy sailcloth, his weathered face — its age hidden by years of sun and frost — lighting up with a childlike smile.

“With cloth like this on our shoulders, we won’t have to fear the skin tearing anymore. Where did this come from? Never seen sailcloth like this. Fine stuff. We’ll make sure the boats pass this gorge safely.”

Listening to him, Wang Juan felt a pang — like seeing her younger siblings light up over some little toy. The thick calluses splitting open on their hands, feet, and shoulders made her want, more than anything, to do something for these men.

“Is five thousand guan really enough?” she asked Zhang Xiaobao.

She knew with him it was always impossible to tell what was true or false. Sometimes what he said with a serious face was the biggest lie imaginable, and what he tossed off casually turned out to be true. But that wasn’t the point — she also knew that if she pressed him, even false words could become true. 

That was exactly what she intended to do now.

Zhang Xiaobao, still calm, acted as though he hadn’t seen the towmen’s hardship at all. His tone was light.

“That depends on whether anyone sneaks in later to pry off the steel fixed with cement. If people steal, not even fifty million guan would be enough to fill the hole. If no one steals, then a one-time cost of around three thousand guan can open a proper path. After that, a few hundred guan a year will cover maintenance.”

“Be serious. I want to know what you’re actually thinking,” Wang Juan said, glaring at him in frustration. People lived such hard lives, and he still spoke like it was nothing.

“Alright, serious it is.” Zhang Xiaobao’s tone grew mock-solemn. “Honestly, what I think doesn’t matter. What matters is whether the towmen can maintain what we build for them. We’re just passing through — that’s how it’s always been for hundreds of years. Give them the chance, and it’s up to them how far they take it.”

His words sounded serious, but his face still carried a faint smile.

That infuriated Wang Juan. She reached out and pinched both his cheeks, forcing him to look at her.

“My Xiaobao is the one who can fall from fifteen meters unharmed, the one who can scale a nine-meter wall barehanded. My Xiaobao is the one who can fool the whole world and take the life of a foreign leader. My Xiaobao is the one who uses tricked money to give the children of our homeland a brighter future — who would trade his own life to save a child from a criminal’s hands. The only rule that binds him is his conscience. When everyone else is powerless, he turns the tide. Do you understand, Zhang! Xiao! Bao!”

“Did you grow up too fast? Over-nourished and hit your menstrual phase early? I never said I wouldn’t help. What’s that got to do with my expression? My Juanjuan, don’t you trust me?” Zhang Xiaobao managed to mumble the words through the distortion of his squashed cheeks.

“Who’s your Juanjuan? Disgusting! And you’re the one hitting puberty early! We’re sleeping separately tonight. I’m going to see how they tow the boats. This matter’s yours — mess it up and we sleep in separate rooms.”

Satisfied, Wang Juan left in good spirits, leaving Zhang Xiaobao rubbing his sore face and muttering, “Afraid of you? Separate beds? Little brat, what could I possibly do? Just wait till I grow up. Hey, you — why are you standing so far away?” Once he felt his face was his own again, he shouted to a servant standing almost five zhang away on the verge of falling off the boat.

The servant hurried over, whispering, “Young master, whatever I saw just now — I saw nothing.”

“If you saw nothing, then you’re not fit to stay in the inner household,” Zhang Xiaobao snapped. “Didn’t see the towmen’s suffering? Didn’t see their hardship? Fine. I’ll give you the chance to see properly. You stay here. Find another man and organize the local towmen. Control the business. Right now they each earn only a few copper coins per ship, and no one knows how many goods or passengers those boats carry. The profit on the other end can be several or even ten times higher. Once you’ve organized them, raise the price. No need to spend our own money — let them handle it. Use cement and steel to fix the climbing sections. If the local bullies try to stop you, buy them off; if that fails, kill them. Don’t worry about being outmatched — I’ll get you some proper equipment later. You’ll coordinate with the local authorities. Remember — the assistant you keep must be a man. If it’s a woman, you’ll be sleeping alone.”

After lecturing the servant, Zhang Xiaobao felt much better and cheerfully went off to find the three old men, leaving the servant stunned for a long moment before slapping himself. “Serves you right, couldn’t keep your mouth shut.”

“Grandpa Bi, Grandpa Yao, Grandpa Zhang — have you eaten yet?”

Zhang Xiaobao jogged into the cabin where the three elders were sitting by the window drinking tea and watching the river scenery, his voice sweet and bright.

Old Man Bi flinched. Back in Sanshui, hearing Xiaobao and Juanjuan talk like this would have warmed his heart. But now that he knew the two better, he sensed trouble. The past few days they had been sulking at him, even refusing to answer study questions properly. Now, suddenly, the boy was acting sweet — that could only mean danger.

Old Man Yao, unaware of this, thought the boy simply wasn’t the vengeful sort — he’d played a prank a few days ago, and now, impressed by the Yangtze scenery, had forgotten about it. 

Smiling, he said, “Not mealtime yet, Xiaobao. Why aren’t you playing with Xiaobei and the others?”

“Not yet eaten? Perfect. Later Juanjuan and I will cook for you, Grandpas. You’ve had such a hard time traveling by boat, you deserve something good. What would you like? Whatever it is, we’ll make it. Juanjuan and I already think of you as our real grandfathers.” Zhang Xiaobao blinked his innocent eyes as he spoke.

Old Man Zhang suddenly felt a chill — maybe from the open window. The river wind was cold.

Old Man Yao didn’t notice Old Man Bi frantically signaling him to stop talking, and continued cheerfully, “As long as it’s made by you two, we’ll love it. We already see you as our own grandchildren.”

“Grandpa Bi, Grandpa Zhang, do you agree?” Zhang Xiaobao turned to them, eyes wide with pretend uncertainty.

The two old men nodded in unison, thinking silently, It’s over. Whatever he’s plotting, we’re finished.

“I knew you three were the best! Grandpa Bi, Grandpa Yao — may I borrow your name plaques?”

Their expressions froze.

“What for?” Old Man Bi asked, his voice trembling.

“Just borrowing my grandfathers’ name plaques for something. If you won’t lend them, that’s fine — so much for being real grandfathers.” His voice dropped, but they heard every word clearly.

While Old Man Bi was still trying to guess what the two youngsters needed them for, Old Man Yao, pleased, said, “Longze, if Xiaobao and Juanjuan need them, give them. It’s just a plaque. Wait, Grandpa will fetch it for you.”

He turned to get it, and under Xiaobao’s expectant stare, Old Man Bi lasted barely two seconds before sighing and going to fetch his as well. Old Man Zhang had none and could only watch.

Once Zhang Xiaobao had the two plaques in hand, he waved them triumphantly and dashed off, calling, “Thank you, Grandpas! Juanjuan and I will make you wontons — big ones with lots of filling!”

“Don’t cause trouble!” Old Man Bi shouted toward the empty doorway, then sighed. “Juanjuan and Xiaobao’s wontons are decent, but once they’ve got our plaques, they can get up to anything.”

“Then why did you give them the gilded ones?” Old Man Yao asked.

“That’s exactly what they wanted — the gilded plaques that show rank. I crossed them a few days ago; could I refuse now? If they asked for my life, I’d have to go with them. Forget it — let’s just wait for the wontons. Those two do make good ones. Drink your tea and save room — we’ll need it.”

Resigned, Old Man Bi sipped his tea. The kids had learned secrecy now — never saying what they were planning.

Zhang Xiaobao handed the plaques to the servant who stayed behind earlier, his arrangements complete, then went to find Wang Juan to discuss the wontons.

He found her watching the towmen climb the rocks, fists clenched tightly as if she could help pull by sheer will.

“River flows downward—yo!”
“Heave—yo—heave!”
“Lean up the mountain—yo!”
“Heave—yo—heave!”
“Back legs straight—go—!”
“Heave—yo—heave!”
“Whirlpool ahead—grab the lifeline stone—yo!”
“Heave—yo—heave!”
“Bend right, lean down—”
“Heh! Heh-heh! Heave—yo—heave!”

Each shouted line guided the team’s rhythm; every movement matched the chant, their combined force dragging the ship tightly along the whirlpool’s edge. No one could tell how such power came from mere flesh.

The lead caller’s voice was sharp, raspy, yet piercing; the echoes were deep and resonant. Together their cries rolled back and forth along the Yangtze’s cliffs — an ancient anthem of the river’s toil.

“I knew it,” Wang Juan said softly, listening to the sound reverberating across the water and mountains. “The songs we used to hear were all refined versions. The real ones aren’t for feeling — they’re for command.”

“Which sounds better, then?” Zhang Xiaobao asked, moved by the power in those raw calls.

“Of course this one,” she answered. “With green hills as accompaniment, waves crashing against the banks, and sweat and blood composing the melody — this is real beauty.”

In that moment, her heart felt purified. Only those bent backs and calloused hands, straining against the ropes, were worthy of these towering mountains and the mighty Yangtze.