Love Lock

Chapter 279 Paradise
"Sir, look! The mandarin duck hairpin, the Drunken Immortal Wine, and this Brocade Pavilion—all of these were just sold to me by Young Master Wei at a discounted price yesterday. Look at this transfer document; the official seal of the Jingzhao Prefecture is still shining brightly!"

Ge Xu took the document, squinted as he scanned the neat, official script line by line, and suddenly sneered: "Eight thousand taels of silver, indeed. The monthly turnover of Jinxiufang is more than that. Take it away!"

"Sir, sir!" Lin Yuanshan was being dragged away by two soldiers. As he struggled, his hair became disheveled, resembling a clump of withered grass. "I bought this shop with real gold and silver! That young master Wei said he urgently needed the money..."

“Since you have the documents,” Ge Xu didn’t make things difficult for him, but simply waved his hand and said, “Then come with me to the Jingzhao Prefecture for a confrontation and to clarify the matter. Let’s go!”

Lin Yuanshan was taken to Jingzhao Prefecture, while Tang Xiaotong, the owner of Yuanjing Embroidery Workshop, and Yang Haibo's family were leisurely traveling in a carriage on the official road leading from the northern suburbs of the capital to Cangzhou.

The warm winter sun hung lazily in the sky, casting its soft light on the snow-covered official road. The snow shimmered with tiny golden light under the sunlight, as if it were covered with a layer of broken silver.

The carriage moved very slowly, its wheels crunching over the snow. Tang Xiaotong lifted the curtain, his breath condensing into frost in the cold air.

Looking at the distant, rolling mountains, he sighed, "Luckily, Da Jiu and the others delivered the message in time yesterday, which allowed us to escape so smoothly. If it had been half a day later, we probably would have been stuck in the city."

Yang Haibo rubbed his hands, which were red from the cold, and replied with a smile, "The Princess's walkie-talkie is really useful. It can reach the message in the blink of an eye, even over such a long distance. In the past, if we had to wait for the message to arrive, it would have been too late."

As he spoke, he pulled out the delicate black walkie-talkie from his pocket and carefully stroked it.

Upon hearing this, Yang Xiaomei, sitting opposite, brightened up and turned to look at Tang Xiaotong: "That's right, that's right, the Princess is truly an extraordinary woman. The Princess just received the order to send you to Beiguan to be the 'President of the Foreign Trade Association,' and then something happened in the capital."

She wrapped her thin coat tighter around herself and rubbed her hands together. "It's as if... as if the princess could foresee the future."

Yang's mother, who had been silent all along, suddenly raised her head, the wrinkles between her brows deepening: "But if we just leave like this, what will happen to Da Jiu and the others?"

She frowned anxiously, "And what about Lin Yuanshan... what if something happens to him?"

Tang Xiaotong lowered the carriage curtain, turned around, and revealed a confident smile: "Mother, don't worry. The Princess has already made all the arrangements. Manager Lin will definitely be safe and sound. Da Jiu and the others have powerful weapons, so there's even less to worry about."

Yang Haibo nodded and continued, "Yes, Mother, the Princess is always thorough in her work. You can rest assured, we will have backup along the way."

Tang Xiaotong also comforted Yang's mother: "Brother Yang is right. The Prince and Princess have already built communication stations in Jingzhou. After we arrive in Jingzhou, each communication station will have hot tea ready to welcome us."

The carriage continued to move slowly across the snow, leaving a trail of deep ruts.

The distant mountains shimmered with a faint blue hue in the sunlight. A few sparrows took flight from the withered trees by the roadside, fluttering their wings as they skimmed over the roof of the carriage before disappearing into the vast snowfield...

Half a month later, Tang Xiaotong and his group arrived at Tuomugou Fortress, weary from their journey.

From a distance, the concrete fortress resembled a giant beast perched on a strategic point on the official road, its gray-white walls gleaming with a cold, hard luster under the sunlight.

"This...this is the cement bastion?" Tang Xiaotong pulled on the reins and couldn't help but gasp.

He remembered that a few months ago, when he came to request the prince and princess to establish trade with the Turks, this place was still a bustling construction site when he returned to the capital from Cangzhou, but now it stands tall and majestic.

The bastion is multi-pointed star-shaped, with attack points on each protruding corner; the dark muzzles of guns are chilling.

Yang Haibo helped his mother down from the carriage, while Yang Xiaomei had already skipped and hopped to the foot of the city wall.

"Brother! Mother! This wall is so cold!" She stood on tiptoe and curiously rubbed the bluish-gray wall.

Mother Yang couldn't help but reach out and touch it: "I've always heard you mention that the fortress at Tuomugou was so formidable that even the imperial army couldn't do anything about it. Now that I've seen it, it's truly extraordinary. The walls are so smooth that you can't even feel a crack."

Tang Xiaotong looked up at the city wall, which was three zhang high, and suddenly noticed a small inscription carved at the corner of the wall: "In the autumn of the sixth year of Jinghe, Cangzhou Construction Office supervised the construction."

The entrance to the fortress was bustling with noise.

Several farm women carrying fresh vegetables were chatting and laughing with the gatekeeper: "Brother Wang, we just picked some cabbage this morning, and we saved two bundles for you!"

"No, no..." The bearded soldier waved his hands repeatedly, but the peasant woman had already stuffed the vegetables into the guard post.

An old man selling steamed buns nearby chimed in, "Sir, don't be so polite. With you here guarding things, we ordinary folks can do business in peace."

"Young Master Tang!" A familiar voice called out.

Tang Xiaotong turned his head and saw a familiar soldier striding towards him from the fortress, his armor clanging loudly.

"When I last saw you, this fortress was only at the foundation stage!" the soldier boasted to Tang Xiaotong, patting the city wall. "Now, not only would the imperial army stand firm, but even a bolt of lightning wouldn't budge it!"

"Yes! This bastion is really sturdy," Tang Xiaotong exclaimed.

The fortress was built here, not only for its sturdiness but also to create an environment for the local people to engage in small businesses.

Tang Xiaotong looked at the soldiers patrolling the city wall; their armor shone like burning charcoal in the sunlight.

A candy vendor walked by, striking a gong. The crisp sound mingled with the laughter of children, creating a touch of human warmth amidst the steel fortress.

Tang Xiaotong and his group were travel-worn, their bags still covered in dust from the journey. Several sharp-eyed and opportunistic vendors surrounded them.

"Honorable guest, you've come from afar, please try our Tuomugou's specialty candied fruits!" A woman with a headscarf and carrying a bamboo basket greeted us warmly.

The old man selling cloth nearby wasn't to be outdone: "Young master, how about some fine Jizhou silk for your wife?"

Just as Tang Xiaotong was about to politely decline, she suddenly heard a gruff voice coming from the wonton stall: "Make way, make way! This is my honored guest!"

A burly officer with a pockmarked face strode through the crowd, his sword jingling with each step.

He walked up to Tang Xiaotong, suddenly grinned, revealing a set of white teeth: "Brother Tang, Brother Yang. We've been waiting for you!"

Tang Xiaotong was taken aback at first, then recognized the person as Ma Zi, the garrison commander of the fortress.

Tang Xiaotong clasped his hands in a fist and smiled, "Pockmarked guy. It's only been a few months, and you've become a general now. Congratulations!"

"Hey! This is all thanks to His Highness's high regard." The pockmarked man patted Tang Xiaotong's shoulder casually. "The Princess Consort sent word three days ago that you were coming, and I've been keeping watch over this wonton stall every day. Come, come, have a hot bowl first!"

The wonton stall owner, a lean old man, hurriedly put wontons into the pot upon hearing this: "General Ma's distinguished guests are my distinguished guests. These wontons have thin wrappers and generous fillings, I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"

It was only about ten miles from Qingshui County. Since it was still early, Ma Zi decided to personally escort them to the Prince's Mansion in Qingshui County to meet Han Lei. By the time they arrived in Qingshui County, it was already dusk.

The afterglow of the setting sun gilded the ancient city walls, and pedestrians came and went in an endless stream at the city gate. Several uniformed yamen runners were maintaining order, and they would make way for their carriages.

"We've arrived," Ma Zi said, pulling on the reins and turning back to the carriage.

Tang Xiaotong lifted the carriage curtain, and her eyes were suddenly filled with light. The city was brightly lit, and the wide streets were bustling with people, even more lively than during the day.

He couldn't help but exclaim "Eh!", which drew curious attention from Yang Haibo and his family in the carriage.

"This...this is the county town?" Yang Xiaomei's eyes widened, and she unconsciously clenched the handkerchief in her hand.

Tang Xiaotong jumped off the carriage shaft, turned around and said to the carriage, "Mother, why don't we get off and take a walk? The night view of Qingshui County is quite unique."

With her son's help, Yang's mother shakily stepped down from the carriage, and was immediately stunned by the sight before her.

She rubbed her eyes and murmured, "Good heavens, how come this place is even more beautiful than the capital?"

The main streets of Qingshui County are all paved with cement, and the solar lights lined up on both sides of the road emit a dazzling light, illuminating the entire street as if it were daytime.

They had used solar lights in the capital that hadn't yet been provided, but only at home or in shops, and only a few of them.

They never imagined that the solar lights, lined up along the roadside, would look so spectacular.

At this time of day, shops in Beijing would have already closed, but the shops here were still open.

The cries of street vendors rose and fell, some selling sugar figurines, others roasted sweet potatoes...

A peddler carrying a load of various glasswares passed by them, which glittered under the lamplight.

"Wow! What's that?" Yang Xiaomei exclaimed in surprise, pointing at the goods on the urinal.

Tang Xiaotong said, "That's glass. It's not a rare thing in Cangzhou now. When I came to Cangzhou last time to see the Prince and Princess, I heard that they were already planning to build a glass factory."

Tang Xiaotong then turned to Yang Haibo and explained, "When I came here, it wasn't this lively and prosperous. I didn't expect it to change so much in just a few months."

Just then, a three-wheeled motorcycle sputtered past them, startling Yang's mother so much that she took a step back and almost stepped on the hem of her skirt.

"Is this what you call a three-wheeled vehicle? It's really agile when it runs." Yang's mother asked, still shaken.

An older woman selling roasted chestnuts nearby chuckled and said, "Is this your first time in Qingshui County, sister-in-law? This is a tricycle that our princess brought here. She says it runs on oil and is much faster than a horse-drawn carriage."

Looking at the three-story brick building under construction in the distance, Yang Haibo couldn't help but exclaim, "The road is as smooth as a mirror, and the building is so tall. This is nothing like the poor and remote place that people talk about. It's clearly a paradise on earth."

"Absolutely!" Tang Xiaotong said, pointing to a shop with a "Xinhua Bookstore" sign on the roadside. "The changes here are simply earth-shattering. Who knows what it will be like in a few more years? The Prince and Princess are truly amazing."

As Yang's mother listened, she suddenly wiped away her tears: "If my old man were still alive today, how happy he would be to see such a wonderful scene!"

Yang Haibo quickly comforted his mother, but Yang Xiaomei looked around like a country bumpkin visiting the Grand View Garden, finding everything fascinating.

She had already run to a cotton candy stall, gazing longingly at the fluffy sugar flakes.

The stall owner, a kind-looking old man, chuckled and tore off a "white cloud" (a type of coin) and handed it to her: "Is this your first time visiting Qingshui County, young lady? Here, it's a gift!"

Yang Haibo hurriedly reached for his money, but the old man waved his hand, saying, "No, no, our prince said we should treat guests from other places with hospitality. Besides, this sugar is produced in our own county and isn't worth much."

At this moment, a simply decorated carriage stopped beside them. The curtain was lifted, revealing a middle-aged man dressed in official robes.

Ma Zi immediately bowed and said, "Greetings, County Magistrate."

The county magistrate nodded kindly: "It's Young Master Tang who's back. And these gentlemen are..." His gaze fell on Yang Haibo and the others.

Ma Zi quickly introduced, "These people are all the Princess's people. I'm about to take them to the Prince's residence. They will be staying in Cangzhou from now on."

"Great! Great!" The county magistrate grinned from ear to ear. "Our Qingshui County is desperately short of manpower, you're welcome..."

Watching the county magistrate's carriage disappear into the distance, Yang's mother was still somewhat dazed. "In this place, no one picks up lost items on the road, and doors are left unlocked at night. Even the county magistrate is so kind. Where else in our Great Jing, besides Cangzhou, can we find such a good place?"

Everyone laughed upon hearing this. A young man who looked like a scholar, who happened to be passing by, overheard this and interjected, "The old lady is absolutely right. Our Qingshui County is now a 'mini-capital,' even more convenient than the real capital!"

Night had completely fallen, but the streets of Shimizu Prefecture were even more bustling than before.

The lanterns in the restaurant were hung high, and the loud voice of a storyteller came from the teahouse. In the distance, it seemed that someone was performing acrobatics in the square, and the cheers grew louder and louder.

Tang Xiaotong and the others walked along as if they were strolling through a modern night market.

Seeing that they were curious about everything here, Ma Zi tightened the reins and pointed his rough fingers at the building with a sign hanging on the side of the street.

Ma Zi proudly introduced, "The princess first set up pilot projects for breeding and medical clinics in Qingshui County. She also organized the reclamation of wasteland for farming. At the beginning, when the refugees from Jingzhou who fled here due to the flood came, they relied on the government to provide porridge every day to survive. But now the people of Qingshui County are living a much better life."

"Huh? What's that breathing metal thing?"

Yang Xiaomei pointed to a knee-high cylindrical iron stove standing under the eaves of the clinic, with medicine pots on top spewing white mist, which looked like a fairyland under the lantern light.

"That's a honeycomb briquette stove, a rare find!" Pockmarked man introduced as he stepped forward and lifted the stove door, the crimson flames immediately licking his dark face.

"The design was drawn by the princess, and the fat young master led the craftsmen to create it. Look at these honeycomb-like holes. One coal briquette can burn for three hours. It can be used for cooking, boiling water, and as a charcoal fire for warmth when it's cold."

"Wow! Three hours? That's amazing!" Yang Xiaomei and the others thought it was a fairy tale.

Ma Zi chuckled and continued, "This stove is handmade after all, and it was made hastily before winter. Although we can't have one stove for every household yet, several households can share one. This winter, we've hardly heard of any people freezing to death in Cangzhou."

As everyone toured and chatted along the way, they soon arrived at the Cangzhou Prince's Palace.