Please pull the trigger for this world one more time.

The next day.

Winter mornings often begin with the sky still dark, as people rest as night deepens and begin their work before darkness fades.

The same was true for the trains; the first train from Tianhe Port to Guangwu City departed on time.

"Knock knock knock..."

Mo Zian opened the sliding door of the carriage.

"Hello, what do you need?" a waiter asked.

"Two bowls of fried vegetables, two hot steamed buns, four fried cakes, and four tea eggs," Mo Zian recited as if reciting a text.

"OK."

The waiter turned and left, and Mo Zian closed the sliding door.

"I'm so hungry." A hamster sprawled on its bunk, dozing off as it complained, "Why did it have to be so early?"

"Of course I'll go back early to prepare; there's plenty of time to catch up on sleep on the train."

Mo Zian said, "We've already talked to Chen Xing. The team will arrive on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year. We need to get the dormitories in the factory ready as soon as possible. There are quite a few people in the dorms, and it will take time to buy bedding and other supplies. We need to find a shop and order before the Lunar New Year."

"Okay." Han Dafu seemed much more energetic when the topic came up, but then a look of regret appeared on his face. "I just didn't expect that Ju Zi wouldn't leave."

"Ju Zi is very responsible," Mo Zian praised. "She's a little younger than us, but she understands very well that Chen Xingge passed the Imperial Senior Auditor exam this year and joined the Ministry of Commerce."

(Please remember the website 20 ...

Although his collar only has three lotus flowers now, I reckon it will soon have four, five, or even more, and so will your sister Zao'er... They won't be going back to the riverside courtyard."

Han Dafu remained silent for a long time before speaking with a hint of reminiscence, "Old Bi, do you know how I got this casual name?"

Mo Zian thought for a moment, "It has nothing to do with the Supreme Gospel?"

"..."

"Are you sure it's okay?"

"No!"

......

"Really not?" Chen Zao'er asked with some suspicion.

"No." Chen Xing sighed. "They made it very clear that those kids would be apprentices, with food, lodging, and literacy lessons provided... You asked them ten times last night."

"Oh, I just feel...it's so fast," Chen Zao'er said with a sigh. "I even named Dafu."

"You have the nerve to say that?" Chen Xing glanced at her younger sister. "Is that what you call naming a child? When you found her, she was wrapped in a small cotton quilt with a big 'Fu' character on the outside and the character 'Han' embroidered inside."

"How auspicious!" Chen Zao'er said, sticking out her neck.

"Yes, yes, yes, Gilly's mom opened the door for Gilly, Gilly's home."

"Hmph, anyway, that girl is doing pretty well now... By the way, what about the gifts that young man gave us? Have you seen them?" Chen Zao'er seemed to suddenly remember something. "Hurry up and open them. I have to go back to the brothel after I've looked at them."

"Here it is." Chen Xing took out two beautifully packaged boxes, which felt a bit heavy in his hand. He took one out and handed it to Chen Zao'er.

"Open it and take a look."

Upon opening the packaging, Chen Xing found an exquisite wooden box inside. Opening the lid, he stared blankly at the beautifully crafted pistol lying quietly within.

The pistol was entirely silver-white and quite small. Looking to the side, I noticed that Chen Zao'er's box contained a pistol that looked exactly the same.

Chen Zao'er was rather impatient; she had never been so close to a handgun before.

So she took the pistol from the box and examined it closely. Then she noticed a line of small characters engraved on one side of the gun barrel: "Lingling Yu Mian Nuan Xiang Yu".

Chen Zao'er snatched the weapon from Chen Xing's hand and found another line of small characters in the same place—"Longlong Bingjia Tiexuebing" (meaning "Iron-blooded Soldiers of the Military Family").

Chen Xing picked up the instruction manual from the box and read: "United Eight Directions · Mo's Brand [Exquisite] Civilian Self-Defense Pistol..."

Chen Zao'er stared at the pistol in her hand and suddenly said, "Brother, why don't you find a place to live? Rent... a decent place."

"No way." Chen Xing shook his head. "If I really leave this rotten muddy place called Qitiaoshi, are you going to leave Ju Zi here alone with a bunch of kids?"

Chen Zao'er looked at the pistol in her hand, but Chen Xing still shook his head.

"Brother Chen Xing, just listen to Sister Zao'er," Ju Zi said, opening the door to the inner room. "I can do it."

"What can you do!" Chen Xing frowned.

"Brother Chen Xing, this place is too far from your workplace, and... I know it's a place where appearances matter," Orange said stubbornly. "Just come and visit here more often in the future, I'll have that."

Ju Zi pointed to the small pistol in Chen Xing's hand.

......

"Old Bi, are you sure it's okay for you to teach Ju Zi how to shoot a gun?"

Han Dafu broke a cornbread into pieces and soaked it in the pickled vegetables. "She's only 16."

"No problem. Orange is a meticulous and opinionated girl. Let me tell you a secret, I killed three Japanese devils when I was eight years old."

As Mo Zian spoke, he peeled his tea egg. "Moreover, when I designed the Linglong, a civilian handgun, I took into account its ease of operation."

"That's not what I meant. I meant what if there's a gunshot, then..."

Han Dafu took a bite of the fried cake and said, "You have to eat this fried cake while it's hot; it won't taste as good when it gets cold."

"You mean, what happened next?" Mo Zian picked up the fried cake.

"Um."

Mo Zian did not answer immediately, but thought about it carefully for a few seconds before saying with certainty, "According to imperial law, as long as the invasion occurs in one's own residence, the owner's level of self-defense is very high."

"Even if Deputy Commander Guo isn't part of the same system as the Garrison Command, your sister-in-law is, so it won't be difficult for her to say a word later."

After saying that, Mo Zian took a bite of the golden-brown fried cake.

The delicate aroma of peanut oil, enhanced by high-temperature cooking, immediately fills the nostrils, followed by the soft yet crispy dough, and finally, the sweet red bean paste filling dominates the taste buds, instantly waking up the somewhat sluggish brain and sense of taste in the morning.

It turns out that sweets really can make people happy.

You have a point.

After hearing Mo Zian's words, Han Dafu seemed completely relieved and began to seriously deal with his scrambled eggs.

"Wow, the flavor is pretty authentic. It's definitely made by a master chef."

This was the first time Mo Zian had ever eaten a food called "Gaba Cai" (嘎巴菜), both in his past and present lives.

To be honest, it doesn't look very appealing.

Mo Zian followed Han Dafu's example and soaked the cornbread in the braised vegetables, then took a bite after mixing them together.

What a pleasant surprise!

It's an unassuming yet comforting flavor, derived from the simplest grains. Just one bite evokes images of bustling streets and alleys, filling your stomach before you know it, leaving a lingering, subtle fragrance on your lips and teeth.

Cornmeal buns were one of the cheaper dry rations in the Guangwu Empire. Freshly made buns emitted a unique corn aroma, which slowly unfolded under the influence of braising liquid, giving the buns a new life.

This unique, slightly salty aroma contrasts sharply with the rich sweetness of the fried cakes, yet they don't clash; they complement each other perfectly in a meal.

"beep--"

Mo Zian looked up and saw a cargo ship with a deep draft sounding its horn on the river outside the window, as if it were greeting the train.

During this season, cargo ships sailing from Tianhe Port to the inland areas along the Tianhe River are most likely loaded with seafood. As the weather turns cold, simply placing some large blocks of ice in the hold can transform it into a decent cold storage. This seafood is a rare commodity inland, and selling it at the end of the year will surely fetch a good price.

Mo Zian suddenly slapped his thigh, startling Han Dafu.

"What are you doing?" one of the hamsters protested, holding up its chopsticks. "I almost choked!"

Mo Zian rubbed his forehead in annoyance, "I forgot to buy some seafood to take home..."

"Ah, I bought it."

Mo Zian looked at Han Dafu with surprise and delight, "But you didn't bring it."

"I went directly to the port yesterday. I know someone there. Sea fish are the same price as cabbage, and all kinds of shellfish are sold by the sack."

I bought a lot, and an acquaintance arranged a ship for me to deliver it directly to Guangwu City. They should all have arrived by now.

The hamster opposite Mo Zian gave him a smug thumbs-up, revealing its little white teeth.

......

Guangwu City.

"Hello! Your order!"

Early in the morning, at the entrance of Shuofeng Military Garrison, a postman was driving a horse-drawn carriage and calling for help.

A little girl with a pigtail peeked out from under her head and asked sweetly, "Uncle, what's that on top of here?"

"Seafood is a rare commodity; I can already smell the sea," the postman said with a hint of envy.

Gui Haiye pulled his head back inside and shouted, "Father! Mother! A cartload of seafood has arrived!"

The postman wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he thought he heard a slight breeze from inside the door. Then, a woman wearing an apron and with a blank expression suddenly opened the door.

Maple Leaf hurried forward, opened some burlap sacks and wooden boxes, and found that they were full of sea fish and shellfish mixed with ice.

A very obvious smile appeared on that usually expressionless face.

The postman unloaded the seafood from the carriage and handed Maple Leaf a letter. "Madam, I have delivered the goods. Farewell."

Maple Leaf casually opened the letter. The letter contained little information, mainly explaining the origin and type of the seafood.

Gui Haishuo, who hadn't gone to the factory yet, walked to the gate, a look of joy and nostalgia on his face. "Oh my, I've been in Guangwu City for so many years, and it's been so long since I've had such delicious seafood, especially from my hometown."

I'll go to the ice shop and get some ice. It's good stuff, we need to store it for a few days to eat during the New Year.

......

The day.

Guangwu City Station.

Mo Zian and Han Dafu got off the train and stood on the platform. They declined the offers from the horse-drawn carriages and went straight to the station's storage area to retrieve their locomotive.

"Where are we going?" Han Dafu sat down in the back seat with practiced ease.

"Let's go to Zhongjie first," Mo Zian started the ether engine, and a pleasant, faint hum came from inside the motorcycle. "Let's take care of the purchasing now."

The motorcycle sped along the main road into the city, the biting wind from the high speed lashing against Mo Zian's face, while a certain hamster had completely huddled behind Mo Zian, using him as a windbreak.

Mo Zian suddenly remembered that he was missing a motorcycle helmet.

The two first found a shop selling bedding and ordered the bedding. Then they went to several other shops and ordered some necessities.

Passing by Shunxinzhai, Mo Zian bought some candied fruit and dried fruit.

Winter days are short, and it's already completely dark by now.

Zhongjie Street is lit up with lights that symbolize prosperity, stubbornly leaving life on the earth.

"Shall we go back?" Han Dafu asked.

"No." Mo Zian shook his head. "Let's go to the clothing store again."

"Why are you going to the clothing store?" Han Dafu asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Of course, I'm going to buy clothes."

Mo Zian stood under a tall street lamp and said with a smile, "We wear new clothes for the New Year. We can't wear this military uniform every day during the New Year."