The half-old wooden boat sliced through the picturesque green water like a pair of scissors.
Seeing they were about to reach their destination, Zhuge Yuan, who had been sitting in the boat's cabin, could no longer contain his curiosity and anticipation. He grabbed his book basket, went to the bow, and gazed forward.
"Steady now, young man. If you fall in, this old man will have to fish you out," the boatman said with a cheerful smile.
"Sir, haven't we arrived yet?" Zhuge Yuan asked impatiently.
"Don't you worry, now. It's less than an hour to Baixia City. You'll see it once we get past that bend up ahead," the boatman replied. "Baixia City's scale-prawn cakes are one of a kind, but you can only get those prawns during the Awakening of Insects. Afraid you won't be in luck this time of year."
Hearing it would still be an hour, Zhuge Yuan sat down at the bow in disappointment. The tips of his white cloth shoes dangled over the water, tracing a thin line on its surface.
