"Meng, this is the person who stole the ship's supplies."

Captain Schiller looked particularly angry, he pointed to a meat steak and kept waving his hand, constantly expressing his dissatisfaction: "In the last two days, there have been always missing supplies in the storage warehouse, especially food. I asked Trafigura's chief officer to inspect it carefully, and then found food in the cargo hold, yes, one of the cargo holds where the Chinese were staying. ”

The "thief" who was caught was called You Yuecheng, but he was old, thin and short, and it was estimated that he was only in his early fifties. He couldn't hear English at all, just waved his hand desperately:

"I don't know where this came from, I don't know where this came from."

A marinated steak the size of two palms can be cooked or eaten as is.

It's no wonder that Captain Schiller was so angry, the crew valued the captain's food and fresh water the most, especially for these long-distance cargo ships, where food was rationed.

And even more so with the British.

During the years when they became the "empire on which the sun never sets" and were invincible at sea, they conquered, plundered, and colonized everywhere.

And in order to ensure endurance, their control of materials is simply harsh.

Every day, the "Cumbria Breaking Waves" will conduct routine inspections of materials, after all, there are more than 300 people, and the daily consumption is very huge.

Since yesterday, they have found out about the loss of supplies.

Mainly meat, but also alcohol.

From yesterday to today, a total of 25 pounds of meat and two bottles of whiskey have been lost.

Enraged, Captain Schiller immediately ordered the entire ship to be inspected.

As a result, in this luggage named You Yuecheng, the first mate of Traucer found this meat steak.

Although Captain Schiller was angry, he still understood very well that this ship was originally contracted by Meng Shaoyuan, who was the current owner of the "Cumbrian Breaking Waves".

The Chinese stole the ship's supplies, and it depends on what Meng Shaoyuan disposed of.

Meng Shaoyuan looked at You Yuecheng: "Captain Schiller, how many things did you lose yesterday?" ”

"15 pounds of meat, two bottles of wine."

"What about today?"

"10 pounds of meat."

"It must be him." First mate Traucer looked equally angry: "I asked the guy who was in the cabin with him that he had been missing for a full hour between 8 and 9 p.m. last night before he returned. He must have stolen the meat and wine, eaten it all, and destroyed the stolen goods before returning. ”

"Really?" Meng Shaoyuan changed to Chinese and asked, "You Yuecheng, where did you go from 8 to 9 o'clock last night?" ”

"I'm so stuffy in the cabin." You Yuecheng was very timid: "But the regulations don't allow you to leave the cabin without permission, so I quietly slipped to the back deck and stayed for an hour, and then it was very cold, so I went back." Sir, what's wrong? I don't really know where this steak came from, it's not mine, I swear it's not mine. ”

Of course, Meng Shaoyuan knew that it was not him, and of course he knew that he was framed. But before he could speak, there was a sudden "poof" laughter behind him.

"What are you laughing at?"

Meng Shaoyuan turned around and found that it was Su Yao.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Meng." Su Yao panicked: "I just think it's fun." ”

"Fun?" Meng Shaoyuan was interested: "Where is the fun?" ”

Su Yao hesitated.

"Say it." Meng Shaoyuan encouraged her: "Say what comes to mind." ”

"Because it's simply not possible." Su Yao said boldly: "If I'm not mistaken, 15 pounds of meat is twelve or thirteen catties, right?" There are also two bottles of wine. Can you imagine that in the past hour yesterday, You Yuecheng first went to steal meat and wine, and then hid alone, ate more than a dozen catties of meat, and drank two bottles of wine. ”

Meng Shaoyuan also smiled.

From the moment he pointed out that You Yuecheng was a thief, he knew that this was nonsense. In two days, a short, thin man can eat 25 pounds of meat and two bottles of wine?

Are you kidding.

"He must have stolen it." First mate Traucer insisted on his opinion: "Maybe he has a part. ”

Meng Shaoyuan said lightly: "But he is the only one who left the cabin, which comrade have you ever seen who will assist his companions in eating meat, but he is hungry?" ”

"Then, it was he who threw the leftover meat into the river."

"But what about this piece of meat?" Meng Shaoyuan pointed to the meat chop: "Why did he bring it with him as evidence of his crime?" ”

Teucer was speechless for a moment.

Captain Schiller couldn't stand it: "Perhaps, this Chinese looks short, but his appetite and alcohol are amazing?" I've met people like this before. ”

"Well, let's say that reason is valid." Meng Shaoyuan said unhurriedly: "He ate twelve catties of meat, although I think it's incredible, but it's still possible after all." And what about wine? I don't care how much a person drinks two bottles of wine, but when he returns to the unventilated cabin, shouldn't he smell of alcohol? Why didn't a single one of the people in the entire cabin smell it? ”

Captain Schiller was stunned, and he didn't know how to explain it.

"Su Yao." Meng Shaoyuan shouted: "You say, what's going on with this matter?" ”

"Me?" Su Yao didn't expect Mr. Meng to let him say it.

"That's you." Meng Shaoyuan's voice was a little encouraging: "Let's see if you can solve the case." ”

"I think the answer is actually very simple."

Su Yao is also not stage frightened: "Someone deliberately framed You Yuecheng. The whole process was like this, when he entered the cabin to search, while others were not paying attention, this person quietly stuffed the meat steak into You Yuecheng's luggage. ”

Meng Shaoyuan smiled a little strangely: "So, I want to find this person, how to find it?" ”

"It's simple." With Meng Shaoyuan's support, Su Yao's courage became even bigger: "This meat chop was discovered by the first mate of Tuoke, so it is very likely that the person who framed it was the first mate of Tuoke." ”

"You're talking nonsense." First mate Teucer shouted, "This is an insult to my personality. Captain Schiller, I strongly protest that this is an insult to the crew of the 'Cumbrian Breaking Waves', to an Englishman! ”

"Don't get excited." Meng Shaoyuan was casual: "If my people really wronged you, I would beat her severely and throw her into the Yangtze River." Su Yao, do you have any evidence? ”

"Absolutely." Su Yao was not afraid at all: "Such a big piece of meat chop, it is impossible to put it in a pocket, it can only be placed on the chest, if you let the first mate untie his clothes now, you will see the oil stains in his clothes." ”

First Officer's face changed drastically.

"Teucer, it's time to prove your character." Captain Schiller's face was a little unpleasant: "In front of everyone, untie your clothes and prove that you have been wronged." ”

First mate Teucer was slow to make a move.

"Untie it!" A pistol suddenly appeared in Meng Shaoyuan's hand, and the muzzle of the gun was aimed at the first mate of Trafier: "I don't have much patience, now, untie your clothes immediately." ”

"Untie it, Teucer, this guy is really going to shoot." Daniel, who had not spoken, finally spoke.

He knew Meng Shaoyuan too well.

Teucer finally hesitated to untie his clothes.

Soon, the truth was revealed.

The oil stains on the clothes and on the chest are clear.

"Teucer, Teucer, you've let me down so much." Captain Schiller kept saying, "You have made me lose face, and you have made the British lose face." ”

"There's always a reason."

Meng Shaoyuan cared about this: "Teucer, why did you wronged You Yuecheng? I think you must have your own reasons. Say, this will determine what kind of punishment I take against you, otherwise, I will throw you into the Yangtze River. Mr. Daniel can vouch for me, and I will do what I say. ”

"Ode to the Teacher."

Unexpectedly, Teucer actually said the word thunder in non-standard, but absolutely understandable Chinese.

This guy can actually speak Chinese?

Ode to the Teacher?

What is Ode to the Master?

Meng Shaoyuan was confused, but then he sent You Yuecheng's complexion changed.

"Hey, wait." Meng Shaoyuan interrupted Tuo's words: "You Yuecheng, can you explain to me, what is the Ode to the Master?" ”

"That's, a pair of words." You Yuecheng's tone was difficult: "Do you know the famous calligrapher Suo Jing of the Western Jin Dynasty? ”

Suo Jing? I don't know, Tota Li Tianwang Li Jing knows.

Meng Shaoyuan is a big layman in terms of art, where does he know what Suo Jing is?

"Suo Jing is a person who is both civil and military. He served as a great general, but he was also famous for his calligraphy. But the only work he has left in the world is this 'Ode to the Master'. You Yuecheng opened his mouth and came: "In this work, there are as many as 29 prints densely scattered on both sides of the text, which is very rare."

What's even more commendable is that in the calligraphy and painting industry, there is such a sentence, called 'paper longevity for a thousand years and eight hundred silk,' although the life of paper is longer than silk, but it is only a thousand years, but this 'Ode to the Master' has a history of 1,500 years, and it is still well preserved, which is simply incredible, it is simply a miracle.

In the 1,500 years of circulation, how many wars and wars it has to escape, and how many people have paid their hearts and even lives for it, so that it can be almost preserved intact. So in that sense, it's not too much to call her priceless. The last time she appeared in the eyes of the world was during the Qianlong period. ”

She should be stored in Ningshou Palace. Unfortunately, this work later disappeared with the fall of the Qing Dynasty.

There are three theories about her disappearance, one is that the emperor rewarded the nobles or meritorious officials of the royal palace; There is also the theft; The last theory was lost after being brought to the northeast by the last emperor Puyi.

For such a long time, there was no news of this "Ode to the Teacher", and its whereabouts have always been an insoluble mystery that lingers in people's hearts. How many people have been searching for it but have no way, and finally end up depressed.

Only then did Meng Shaoyuan understand what was going on.

He suddenly asked: "You Yuecheng, is this 'Ode to the Master' in your hands?" ”

You Yuecheng hesitated, and in the end, nodded with a little difficulty.