Chapter 2082: Prosperous City

He Lingchuan rode north on horseback, carried by the autumn wind.

On both sides of the broad official road stretched rice fields after harvest, extending all the way to the horizon. The rice stalks had not yet been bundled, standing straight and stiff in the fields, all sharp stubble.

As hoofbeats passed, flock after flock of birds pecking for grain on the ground were startled into flight.

The wind still carried the fragrance of green rice; however one smelled it, it was the scent of a bumper harvest.

In a few fields peasants were still toiling hard; seeing him gallop by, they all waved in greeting:

"General He!"

Along this journey, people grew more and more numerous.

Especially as he neared Panlongcheng, the scene on the official road was truly a crush of carriages and horses; no merchant caravan could move fast, all forced to follow at a slow pace.

However, with General Hu Yi leading his troops back, everyone voluntarily pulled to the sides, letting the army pass first.

He Lingchuan first went to the government office to report his arrival and handle some paperwork, then went to the Tizhen Office to select a few cultivation methods.

Coming and going he ran into countless acquaintances; everyone smiled and greeted him.

Zhong Shengguang spent the whole day receiving the envoy delegation; it was said he would also dine with the foreign guests in the evening, so he definitely had no time to see him. Therefore He Lingchuan changed direction and went first to the Shumin Academy.

By now the sky was almost dark, the street lamps just lit; the gate of Shumin Academy had also been fitted with two pairs of extra-large lanterns, perfectly reflecting the black flood dragon totem on the wall, looking particularly grand and imposing.

The horns on this flood dragon's head had already grown longer, the second pair of branches just showing their tips.

He stepped into the academy; here it was still quiet for the moment. Looking up, he happened to see a waning moon hanging over sparse paulownias; wind shook the trees and shadows swayed, accompanied by the chirping of autumn insects — a distinct atmosphere.

But this tranquility would only last until after the evening meal.

Because Shumin Academy also holds night classes, mainly for adults. He Lingchuan had seen the scene when night classes let out — not a bit fewer people than during the day!

At this hour, Master Sun certainly had not gone home yet.

Sure enough, he had only turned two corners, not yet reaching the library, when he heard Sun Fuling's voice coming from behind the round moon gate:

"Classrooms are easy enough to solve — renting civilian houses works — but the teaching staff is far too insufficient!"

Another master said: "Alas, why would the number of new students enrolling this autumn suddenly surge?"

"You forgot? This year Panlongcheng newly recruited seven tribes, and several major families in the north also..."

Master Sun's words were unfinished when He Lingchuan heard a faint sound of something breaking the air. He looked up; a small stone arced over the wall top in a parabola, flying straight at him.

He caught the stone in his hand, and the master behind the wall asked: "Who is hiding there?"

"Reporting, Master." He Lingchuan poked his head out from outside the gate, raising his left hand, "Don't get rough, it's me!"

The other master took one look at him and laughed, greeted He Lingchuan, then hurriedly slipped away, not staying here to be a nuisance.

Sun Fuling just looked at him with a beaming smile: "Just back? How did you get so dark, like a row of white teeth floating in the air!"

"The sun in the south is vicious; a few days of exposure and you'd be sun-dried into traditional soy sauce too." He Lingchuan very naturally took the thick stack of books from her hand, "Not seen for a month, Master has grown even fairer."

Master Sun gave him a sidelong glance: "Laughing at me for living in comfort and ease, are you?"

"You're working until this hour — how does that connect in the slightest with living in comfort and ease? Shumin Academy's overtime pay isn't high; He Lingchuan spoke up for her in grievance, 'Both of us are fated to toil. Come on, let's find a place to worship the Five Viscera Temple!'"

He was starving.

Finding the classroom building and dropping off the books, he and the master went strolling hand in hand.

Forty or fifty days since returning, Panlongcheng had opened new shops again.

Sun Fuling took him to "Fresh Flavor Pavilion"; the name sounded ordinary, but this past month it had been all the rage in Panlongcheng — at every mealtime a table was hard to get, queuing by number.

The proprietor of this restaurant, He Lingchuan also knew him — the fat white man who used to rent his shop, the owner of Yunzhen Island.

After Panlongcheng's economy boomed, although business competition grew fiercer, this dead fatty still thrived like a fish in water, instead mixing better and better.

Of course He Lingchuan had also heard that he flew a big banner outside, claiming General Hu Yi was his regular guest.

He Lingchuan had long been a celebrity in Panlongcheng. Even he loved to eat there — how could the taste be bad?

They arrived late; seeing a long queue already formed outside the wine shop, He Lingchuan didn't want to pull strings either, turned to leave — but the waiter inside had sharp eyes, not only spotting him but also raising his voice to call out loudly:

"General Hu Yi has arrived!"

This one shout, guests upstairs and down all heard it, turning their heads to look. Some familiar faces smiled broadly and waved at him.

At this point, He Lingchuan could hardly just turn tail and run; he had to step forward: "Business this good, no seats left, right?"

"Yes yes yes!" The waiter had just spoken when someone at the side chimed in, "Whenever General Hu Yi comes, Fresh Flavor Pavilion always has a seat!"

Hearing this fawning voice, He Lingchuan didn't need to turn his head to know the white fatty himself had come.

This fellow's waist circumference was a full circle larger than five years ago; when he walked the flesh on his cheeks trembled a bit.

"I don't like cutting in line; I'll come another day."

The white fatty shook his head: "No need to cut in line; I'll open my private room for a banquet for you! Normally I don't receive guests in my own room either."

He was very clever; he knew General Hu Yi disliked flaunting privilege. So he specially emphasized "my own room."

His own room originally didn't receive diners, so it didn't hinder others' meals. Does it count as privilege? It does, but not that specially.

With things at this point, and Master Sun watching from the side, He Lingchuan couldn't refuse either: "Fine, lead the way."

The white fatty delightedly led the two of them toward the back, and indeed, passing the wine shop's front hall, all the way to the rear elegant rooms.

This place had been newly open for just over a month; only upon entering did He Lingchuan learn that the two rear elegant rooms were separated from the front hall by the kitchen and two clusters of bamboo — quiet amid the bustle — reserved exclusively for heavyweight VIPs; ordinary guests simply didn't know Fresh Flavor Pavilion still had private rooms.

He Lingchuan smiled: "Looking at your build, one knows business is growing bigger and bigger."

"Aiya, it's all from inhaling cooking fumes." The white fatty wore a bitter face.

Sun Fuling teased him: "Lots of customers isn't good? Your place is packed full."

Truth be told, during the period when Panlongcheng attacked Xianyou and confronted Between Between Between Beijia, merchants and travelers came much less, and foreign trade shrank drastically. Businessmen look at expectations and want stability; at that time neither was very good.

But later General Hong violently beat Xianyou and seized the right of passage through the northwest corridor, and Between Between Between Beijia also withdrew troops. Clearly it was about to be thunderous and overwhelming, yet suddenly it turned into a gentle breeze and fine rain.

Everyone took a look: Panlongcheng is formidable, even Between Between Between Beijia can do nothing to you.

Thus Panlongcheng's commercial routes obtained further widening.

Today, this heroic city has become the most prosperous central city west of Xiluo in name and reality, with not only merchants traveling north and south, but also tourists coming from afar drawn by its fame.