Chapter 10 The Sunken Ship of Xiao Bolo and the Treasure Beneath the Water
With the rumors swirling in the flower street. Bai Zimo also received the legendary 500 yuan and the banner. This 500 yuan—actually worth quite a bit. Although it was an antique firearm, he can neither hold it nor sell it. He was quite happy about it, but his grandmother was not pleased.
“Bai Zimo, I told you you wanted to pull off a big score. You said stealing watermelons was boring, but now fishing for weapons is fun, right?”
“No, grandma, let me explain, last night I couldn’t sleep, and I thought I’d not waste time, so I went to cast a line.”
“Huang Laosi said you’re becoming a fisherman! No home for you to waste away!”
Alright, there was no explaining this!
But his friends were excited.
At their age, it was the perfect time for gunplay!
They had only seen them on TV before. Or played with toy guns. The police and robber battles were a dream scene for many kids. Bai Zimo actually held a real gun. And got a reward of 500 yuan!
Although Bai Zimo’s money was immediately confiscated by his grandmother. But secretly, they could go to the village and maybe play with a gun.
“Zimo, tell me where you caught that pistol, let’s pull off another score!”
“Xie Wanghe, if you dare to get any ideas, I’ll have your dad break your legs.”
Liang Haipong was genuinely angry. Antique firearms were still firearms. What if they were usable, or if there were bullets? It would be regrettable!
Because of the pistol incident, the small courtyard on Flower Street seldom gathered to chat. Grandpa Zhou started telling his story about the sunken ship again.
“I think it sank in the late Qing Dynasty. The Grand Canal, that’s the main transport route. There was a ship, you know? On that ship, there was a foreigner, called Xiao Bolo, an Italian.”
Dahuazi’s mother questioned, “Over a hundred years ago, who on Flower Street would know?”
“Look at you, just ask Teacher Shao.”
“This matter I can attest to.”
“You see, I said that ship sank around here. Xiao Bolo must be related to it.”
“Old man, you’re talking about that ship again.”
Grandma Ma, with Ma Siyi, joined the conversation.
Ma Siyi, hearing about Italy, became curious.
“Grandma, did an Italian man sink a ship here?”
“Yes! Your Grandpa Zhou always brings it up.”
Only Bai Zimo listened carefully.
“Grandpa Zhou, where exactly is the location of the sunken ship?”
“They say, Xiao Bolo bought a ship and coolies from Hangzhou, and they traveled along the Grand Canal. In the end, they got stuck around Jining, and couldn’t go north due to silt.”
“You guess, the most likely place is our Flower Street section?”
“There’s a dock and sluice here!”
Shao Bingyi patted Bai Zimo on the shoulder.
“Haha, you really believe what Grandpa Zhou said.”
Ma Siyi’s great-grandfather was Italian. And the legendary “Xiao Bolo” was also Italian. A foreigner named Ma Defu settled in Flower Street, which was already unusual. Of course, Bai Zimo suspected it was near here.
Grandpa Zhou was probably also looking for the sunken ship. The Grand Canal had treasures—Two thousand years of history and had deposited treasures from different dynasties. Of course, most of these were just legends, lost with time in the vast canal. However, some stories were well-founded, and if there was evidence. That meant it could be a shocking fortune!
Bai Zimo had two advantages. One was his divine diving skills, which allowed him to stay underwater for long periods to search for things. The other was his system space, which allowed him to collect items directly underwater, solving the transportation problem.
Of course, the current problem was not knowing the exact location. And if it was deeply buried under the mud layers, even diving wouldn’t help.
Xie Wanghe muttered softly, “Zimo, you don’t actually believe Grandpa Zhou’s treasure ship is real, do you?”
“I believe it, is there a problem?”
“Right, right, Zimo’s got it right.”
Dahuazi’s eyes lit up when he heard treasure.
“Dahuazi, you don’t know anything!”
“Wanghe, you’re so arrogant!”
“How many people have tried to dive into Flower Street over the years? Guns are more reliable!”
“I think finding a gun is unreliable!”
Xie Wanghe was anxious.
“Tell me the location, and if we find it, we’ll split the money!”
“Mom said, if you go look for guns, your dad will break your legs!”
Bai Zimo, you’re good at chatting.
Just like Dahuazi, you can drive people crazy.
Xie Wanghe didn’t dare act out in front of Xie Tiancheng. Bai Zimo mentioned his dad, and he didn’t dare act recklessly.
Shao Xingchi whispered, “Don’t worry, Wanghe! Your dad hasn’t come back yet!”
The two boys were still itching to do something.
“Right, while my dad’s not back…”
The sound of a dog barking came from the alley outside!
Everyone looked towards the door!
It turned out that Captain Xie and Summer Lao Er had returned.
“Shao Xingchi, I think you better stop talking!”
It was exactly what they feared.
“Tiancheng, Lao Er, you’re back!”
“Woof, everyone’s here!”
His eyes gleamed as he put on small sunglasses. A gold chain hung around his neck. He carried a leather bag under his arm. A true image of a successful person in that era. The leader of the Flower Street section of the Grand Canal could clearly be seen.