I have a martial arts panel.

dong dong dong.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

A response came from inside the house.

The voice sounded languid and listless, lacking any vitality.

Xu Ning gently pushed open the door and went inside.

There was a middle-aged man with half-gray hair leaning back in a wide-backed chair covered with pure white felt.

He tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and the sunlight streaming through the window shone on his face.

Meanwhile, on the table in front of him, an incense burner was burning, emitting wisps of smoke with a gentle fragrance.

Next to the bookshelf, there was a birdcage with a small green bird inside, nestled underneath, dozing off with its eyes closed, just like the person.

Next to the birdcage, along the window, were several more potted plants, which looked just as good as those in the yard.

Even though it's almost deep winter, the flowers and plants remain lush and vibrant, undeterred by the cold.

"Captain Chen."

Xu Ning closed the door and stopped. "I am Xu Ning, here to report for duty."

"Xu Ning?"

Upon hearing Xu Ning introduce himself, Chen Ren, who had been keeping his eyes closed, opened them a crack.

"This is my identity card."

As he spoke, Xu Ning handed over his identity token and blue token with both hands.

Chen Ren glanced at it but showed no intention of taking it over.

"I see."

As he spoke, Chen Ren slowly straightened up and opened his eyes completely.

However, the weariness in his eyes was impossible to hide.

"You're quite lucky to have come to our Fengliu Lane Garrison," Chen Ren said. "Fengliu Lane is very peaceful, and we don't usually have much to do. Except for the occasional collective order from above, we can just stay in the garrison. As for the miscellaneous tasks, we can leave them to the city guards; there's nothing to worry about."

"I heard that you new recruits are under pressure to pass assessments. If you want to practice martial arts on your own, you don't have to come to the post station. We don't have the roll call system here, and your salary will still be paid in full."

Chen Ren's words struck Xu Ning as somewhat bizarre.

It's as if I've been assigned to this Fengliu Lane garrison post station, where I don't need to do anything, I can just wait to collect my salary and coast along.

For a moment, Xu Ning felt that his understanding of the Black Armor Guards was flawed.

Perhaps this group contains not only elites, but also some seasoned veterans who are just coasting along.

"Alright, you can go now."

Chen Ren waved his hand, as if he had no strength left after saying those few words to Xu Ning.

Seeing this, Xu Ning decided not to ask any more questions and took his leave.

Stepping out of the room, Xu Ning felt somewhat uneasy. Looking at the vibrant courtyard in the winter, he felt that the Fengliu Lane post station lacked vitality.

"Lord Xu."

At this moment, the city guard who had led Xu Ning in earlier came over.

"Is there anything else you need?"

The city guards were waiting beside Xu Ning.

"Where should I set up my study?"

Xu Ning asked.

The study was equivalent to a personal office in the garrison.

"In the next yard."

The city guard pointed.

Xu Ning glanced in that direction and noticed a small door leading to another courtyard nestled among the green trees.

"Shall I take you there?"

The city guard asked cautiously.

"Not now, I just want to go out for a walk."

Xu Ning felt that this place lacked vitality, so he took the opportunity to check out the environment under his jurisdiction.

"Yes."

The city guard nodded in agreement.

Xu Ning walked in front, with the city guards following behind.

"Captain Chen seems to really enjoy gardening and raising birds. Did he arrange all the flowers and plants in this yard?"

Xu Ning's nose and mouth were filled with the fragrance of flowers.

These colorful flowers that bloom in the dead of winter must be expensive.

"It's true that Captain Chen likes flowers and plants, but these flowers and plants were all provided by Dayuan Trading Company."

The city guard answered truthfully.

Xu Ning stopped in his tracks: "Dayuan Trading Company?"

"That's right." The city guard nodded. "Dayuan Trading Company is a very powerful trading company with a lot of influence in our Kangyun County. The core of their branch in Kangyun County is right here in my Fengliu Lane."

"From what you're saying, this Dayuan Trading Company is an outsider?"

Xu Ning grasped the information revealed in the city guard's words.

The city guard nodded: "Yes, it is said that the headquarters of Dayuan Trading Company is in Yunying City."

"Cloud Eagle City..."

Xu Ning's eyes twitched.

Yunying City is the capital of Feiyun Prefecture and the foundation of the Yuansheng Sect.

It seems that this Dayuan Trading Company may have some connection with the Yuansheng Sect.

"The fact that Da Yuan Trading Company could provide Chen Ren with these toys suggests that their relationship is quite special..."

Xu Ning also noticed the relationship between her boss and this foreign business association.

"What's your name?"

Xu Ning pondered for a moment, then looked at the city guard.

When Xu Ning asked the city guard this question, his heart skipped a beat, and a look of joy appeared in his eyes.

"My name is Feng Sigua, Lord Xu."

As a city guard with no special background, being remembered by Xu Ning would greatly benefit his future.

So when asked his name, Feng Sigua quickly answered.

"Feng Sigua..."

Xu Ning thought the name was very original.

Even in this era where names are chosen casually, the name Feng Sigua is still quite unique.

Xu Ning memorized the name and continued walking out of the post station.

Feng Sigua followed half a step behind Xu Ning, keeping a very proper distance.

After leaving the post station, Xu Ning suddenly realized something. He turned back and asked, "Why did I only see Captain Chen inside the post station? Where are my other colleagues?"

"Reporting to Lord Xu, the other officials in the garrison rarely come to serve," Feng Sigua said carefully, his answer cautious because it involved the other Black Armor Guards. "Our Fengliu Lane is usually very peaceful, with nothing major happening. The city guards are usually responsible for patrolling and handling disputes, so the officials rarely need to do anything themselves and simply don't come."

"Why is Captain Chen still here on official business?"

Xu Ning asked again.

Feng Sigua hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice and said, "Captain Chen came here not to run errands, but to tend to the flowers."

Upon hearing this, Xu Ning immediately understood.

At this moment, Xu Ning's impression of the Fengliu Lane post station was rather ordinary.

Back in Taojiazhuang, everyone around me was working hard to make a living, but here in Fengliu Lane, life seems to have become a tiring thing.

Xu Ning stopped talking and was led by Feng Sigua to wander around the Fengliu Lane area.

As they wandered around, the two came to a street.

Shops line both sides of the street.

Silk shops, herbal medicine shops, jewelry shops, calligraphy and painting shops...

All kinds, everything you could want.

Although unlike the previous life, there are no fixed business districts for various types of goods, the area is still bustling at a glance.

"It's really lively..."

Xu Ning muttered to himself.

Feng Sigua leaned closer: "It is said that thirty years ago, when the Black Armor Guard first took over Kangyun County, the county's population was less than 20,000. Now, thirty years later, with the growth and development of the population and the influx of outsiders, it is now close to 100,000. If it weren't for the Black Armor Guard, the people here would still be suffering from the ravages of war, unable to get enough to eat or wear."

Xu Ning nodded; the Black Armor Guards had indeed made significant contributions.

However, Xu Ning's experience at the Weiyi Post Station in Fengliu Lane made it difficult for him to truly appreciate the effort the Black Armor Guards had put in.

"You mentioned the Great Far Trading Company, where do they have any properties? Take me there."

Xu Ning was eager to see for himself.

"Strictly speaking, 70% of the businesses on this street belong to Dayuan Trading Company."

Feng Sigua's words surprised Xu Ning.

"Besides this street, does Da Yuan Trading Company have any other businesses?"

Xu Ning pressed for an answer.

Feng Sigua pondered for a moment: "Yes, there are three commercial streets in Fengliu Lane, and six-tenths of them are owned by Dayuan Trading Company. Moreover, it's not just Fengliu Lane; there are also shops of Dayuan Trading Company in other areas of the county, but none of them are as large as those in Fengliu Lane."

"This Dayuan Trading Company is considered a powerful force in Kangyun County..."

Xu Ning began to have the illusion that in this Maple Willow Lane, it seemed that the Great Far Merchant Guild was the boss.

This place is full of vitality, while the situation in Weiyi is completely the opposite.

"Leave the goods, take the money and get out!"

Suddenly, shouts and curses came from not far ahead on the street.

"Let's go take a look."

Xu Ning gripped the hilt of the knife at his waist and strode over.