. A'Chu and other stories. Shiu Meng had inherited ashare in profitable salt mines, and with this, an oldsailing junk. The junk had brought salt from the minesto the market for generations of the Chang family. Nomatter what other repairs were neglected, the two largefishlike eyes, one at either side of the bow, had alwaysbeen kept bright with a fresh coat of paint. This wasconsidered necessary to successful voyaging. What sea-man would risk putting to sea on a dark night in a junkwithout eyes! No have got eyes, how can see whereto go? is his explanation in answer to your questionWhy? This junk
. A'Chu and other stories. Shiu Meng had inherited ashare in profitable salt mines, and with this, an oldsailing junk. The junk had brought salt from the minesto the market for generations of the Chang family. Nomatter what other repairs were neglected, the two largefishlike eyes, one at either side of the bow, had alwaysbeen kept bright with a fresh coat of paint. This wasconsidered necessary to successful voyaging. What sea-man would risk putting to sea on a dark night in a junkwithout eyes! No have got eyes, how can see whereto go? is his explanation in answer to your questionWhy? This junk had not lost a cargo at sea since her nowgray-haired captain had taken command. But it was notto the untiring watchfulness of her captain, but ratherto the big bright eyes at her bow, that the seamen gavecredit for this extraordinary record. In addition to thesalt mine and junk, Chang inherited also a fine houseon one of the big streets, the house where AChu wasborn. As eldest son of his family, he inherited not only 153. The Salt Merchants Son 155 the fine house itself, but also the position as head ofthe house to the family his father had left. This meant that he would be expected to provide forthat numerous family, together with all the friends andrelatives who might choose to come, as they say, to visitawhile. So long as feasts are frequent and good things i i ?;.rr, l\i ^ •/?? — ift • -f -? ; grljiMjMSP y WUKKr :.v. ^ % 1 . ^ AmT , FREIGHT AND PASSENGER BOAT to eat are plentiful, these visits are likely to last. Ifpresents of clothing are given by the host, such guestsare quite certain to stay a lifetime. But if Merchant Chang had inherited heavy respon-sibilities as head of a large family, nature had welladapted him to bear the burden. He was alert, quick to 156 AChu and Other Stories see opportunities. Keen foresight helped him to improveopportunities to profit. Best of all, he had a dispositionto work. Fortune favors our kinsman, observed the hangers-onat the big
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