The Imperial Age with the Resurgence of Han Style

Chapter 73 Southbound ([-])

On July 7, at 3:[-] pm, after the train passed the Song River (now Katherine River, Australia) railway bridge, it entered Songcheng (now Katherine, Australia), the capital of Beiling Province.

Songcheng is more than 310 kilometers away from Jianye. It is the fourth largest city in the northern region with a population of more than [-]. The city's main industries are leather processing, food processing, hardware processing, wool textile industry, and mining.

There are more than 60 large and small pastures scattered in Songcheng and surrounding counties and towns, raising more than [-] horses, cattle, sheep, camels and other livestock. Through railway transportation, they are continuously transported to Jianye Prefecture in the north and other parts of the country. Transporting various types of livestock, meat, and wool.Near the Song River Valley, there are several medium-sized mines that mine copper, gold, iron, manganese and other mineral resources.

Generally speaking, Songcheng is purely a city that supplies resources. In terms of overall economy, it cannot be compared with several cities under the jurisdiction of Jianye Prefecture in the north, and even some small coastal cities in the east.

Otherwise, it is mainly located in the hinterland, and the population is too sparse, lacking sufficient economic foundation and market space.The huge Beiling Province stretches from the sea to the north, to the desert to the south, to the east the Ruxi River (now the Nicholson River, Australia) and the Puri River (now the Georgina River, Australia), and to the west the Longtan River (now the Fitzroy River, Australia). River) and the Northwest Desert (today's Gibson Desert in Australia), covering an area of ​​one million square kilometers, but the total population is only over 50, which is not as large as the population of a city in Jianye.

As a provincial capital city, Songcheng is naturally a large station where trains stop. The stop time lasts for 10 minutes, which is enough for passengers on the train to get off the train and stretch their stiff bodies for a short time.

Li Yanliang squeezed out of the carriage, came to the platform, twisted his neck, and stretched his limbs vigorously.

"Roast chicken, roast duck, beer, mead, and spicy sorghum wine!"

"Melon seeds, peanuts, spiced beans, and various fragrant braised flavors!"

"Steamed buns, steamed buns, pancakes, spring rolls, burritos..."

"Xuanhua cut tobacco, Luzon cut tobacco, and local Weihai cut tobacco, all at favorable prices!"

"...High-quality crocodile leather and exquisite handmade products, come and take a look!"

""Ta Kung Pao", "Songcheng Weekly", "Northern Lianhe Zaobao", as well as various story novels and books!..."

Many vendors were carrying baskets and boxes, shouting and selling various foods and small commodities to the passengers on the platform.

"Sir, what do you need?" A middle-aged woman in her 30s saw Li Yanliang's wandering eyes and immediately walked up to him, hoping to ask: "Buy some food, some tobacco, or something else." Local specialty?”

"...I want some fried cakes or steamed buns." Seeing that her basket was full of tobacco and small commodities, Li Yanliang shook his head and turned to look at the other vendors.

"Eat!... There is something there!" The middle-aged woman hurriedly grabbed Li Yanliang to prevent the business from running away. She turned her head and shouted to one side: "Qiu Wazi, come here quickly. Here is something An army commander needs to buy some food!"

"...Sir, what do you want to eat?" A ten-year-old boy ran over quickly carrying a basket, then took away the cloth bag covering the food and introduced enthusiastically: "I have freshly baked food here. Hot buns are available with beef, mutton, pork, and vegetable fillings! Oh, there are also pancakes, rolls, brown sugar steamed buns, spring rolls..."

"Bring me two pancakes and two vegetable stuffed buns. Oh, these spring rolls look good, have one!"

Because he had a hangover last night, he had no appetite for food all morning. By this time, his stomach was already ravenous.

"Sir, do you need another bowl of milk and cocoa water?" The boy asked carefully when he saw that Li Yanliang had eaten two vegetable-filled buns in just a few mouthfuls and seemed to be choking.

"Milk cocoa water?"

"Well, it's mixed with cocoa powder and milk, and a little sucrose is added. It's delicious."

"Then pour me a bowl."

"okay!"

The boy placed the basket on the ground, took out an iron-porcelain bowl from it and placed it on the ground. He also took off a large kettle hanging around his neck, unscrewed the lid, and poured a full bowl.

The mellow milk flavor and the sweetness of cocoa blended together, and Li Yanliang immediately experienced an unprecedented taste bud stimulation. The delicate milky aroma and rich cocoa flavor blended in his mouth. It was "very delicious" as the boy said.

"Would you like another bowl?" Seeing Li Yanliang finish the drink in one gulp, the boy seemed to be still unsatisfied. He picked up the kettle and was about to pour another bowl.

"Okay, have another bowl." Li Yanliang licked his lips, nodded and said, "Why don't you go to school at your age?"

"Today is a day off." The boy filled the iron-porcelain bowl, held it in both hands, and handed it to Li Yanliang, "My family lives near the train station. After finishing my homework, I followed my mother to the station to sell some food."

"How did your homework go?"

"...It's okay." "Is it okay? Then...can you pass the senior high school? Can you go to a university in the future?"

"Why do you adults always worry about our children's studies?" The boy showed a bitter look on his face and pouted: "In our entire Songcheng, there are not more than [-] students who can pass the university entrance examination. I am not Geniuses and prodigies don’t dare to hope to go to university!”

"You kid, why are you talking to the commander of the army?" The middle-aged woman reached out and patted the boy, and said to Li Yanliang with some embarrassment: "This kid is used to being wild. In addition to being naughty and making trouble, he is very interested in learning. I don’t care at all. From now on, my only destiny is to work in a factory!"

"I'm not going to the factory!" the boy muttered, "I'm going to be a sailor in the future and go out into the world! Well, or be like this officer and join the army as a soldier to conquer the barbarians overseas! ...Sir, your uniform is so beautiful!”

Li Yanliang couldn't help but smile knowingly after hearing this.

I remember that when I was a child, I would often put the big military cap left by my father on my head, and also hold the scabbard of a saber, and play with the children on the street. I don’t know how many children attracted envious eyes.Probably, from then on, I was full of yearning for soldiers, and later was admitted to Daxing Army School and then joined the army.

Why don't the man take Wu Hook and charge Guanshan Fifty Provinces!
This is probably the dream that every teenager has chased.

"Go away, go away!... Don't block my way!"

"Hey, why are you pushing me away!...Hey, didn't you kick all my things into pieces?"

Suddenly there was a burst of rough scolding and quarreling in the distance. When I looked away, I saw two men in Chinese clothes surrounded by several vendors, making fierce quarrels.

"How much are these crappy things of yours worth?" Zhou Haoxuan looked disdainful, pointed at the vendors around him, and said sternly: "What's the matter, you still want to be violent with me? I'll lend you 1 courage. You dare to lay a finger on me? Huh, be careful, your whole family will go to jail and do hard labor!... Hey, where are the police in Songcheng? There are mobs who want to commit crimes, but no one cares about them!"

"Who is going to commit murder?" A hawker said angrily: "It's okay if you don't buy anything, but you can't just lift your foot and kick over my basket! Look, these things can still be used Sell ​​it?... They’ve all been ruined! I know you are rich and powerful, but you shouldn’t bully others like this, right?”

"Bullying people? Why do I think it's you people from Songcheng who take advantage of the convenient location to bully us passers-by?" Zhou Haoxuan glared at the hawker who kept complaining, and said with hatred: "You are blocking my way, trying to force someone to buy something." Selling? Then I have to tell you, don’t offend the wrong person! Hum, otherwise, you won’t be able to eat and walk around!”

"Which one wants to buy and sell by force?" the vendor said loudly: "I just ran to you and asked if you wanted to buy some Songcheng specialties. But you were so arrogant, you almost pushed me down and kicked over my basket. On the ground. Don’t you just rely on your own wealth and power! Humph, how amazing is it?”

"You guys..."

"Master Zhou, forget it. There is no need to waste words with these vulgar people. Our status has been degraded for nothing." Bai Xirong took a step forward, blocked Zhou Haoxuan behind him, and then said to the hawker: "How much are those things of yours worth? I will compensate you for the money, so don’t pester me any more. If not, you will be reported to the officials and taken to jail, and you will be punished severely!"

"Who are you afraid of? I don't care about you. Even if I meet the police or the official, how much more money can I give to you?" The vendor muttered, "The things are not worth much, so you just have to pay for it." Three...five dollars."

Bai Xirong smiled slightly, took out a five-yuan gold yuan coupon from his pocket, and handed it to the vendor.

The small commodities and tobacco scattered on the ground cost only three yuan at most.Moreover, after picking them up and tidying them up, most of them can be resold.

However, five yuan is an extremely small amount for Bai Xirong, who once worked as a senior shopkeeper in a Bangladeshi trading company.By helping Mr. Zhou out of the siege, you can gain some favor from him and bring them closer to each other. Maybe you can establish a relationship with the royal family through his father, who is the chief treasurer of the royal trading company, and squeeze into the empire. The aristocratic circle, and thus gain sufficient connections.

"Shopkeeper Bai, you shouldn't give in to those unruly people and compensate them."

After getting rid of the entanglement of the hawker, Zhou Haoxuan was still upset and couldn't help complaining.Everything went wrong during this trip to the north. Not only did he mess up the CCRE real estate business assigned by his family, but he also had several conflicts with strangers on the way.

In the morning, at Jianye Railway Station, I was angrily scolded by an army lieutenant, saying that he was cheating and bullying the people in the name of the royal family.When he arrived in Songcheng, he was besieged by a group of platform vendors again, which made him lose face and felt very depressed.

"Mr. Zhou, who are you, and what are the identities of those vendors? You're not worth it. You can't touch your gold, pearls, and jade with their earthen pots and clay pots, right? If you don't feel angry, you can spend a little money afterwards. You can just find someone to teach them a lesson, so why risk it yourself?"

"Yes, what Shopkeeper Bai said is true." Zhou Haoxuan nodded and said, "When I return to Chang'an, I must use my connections in the officialdom to mobilize something to rectify the dirty and dangerous environment at the train station. Tell me, temporarily. Even if a car can get some air, it can be attacked by a group of unscrupulous people. Does this still have the legal order of the empire?"

Bai Xirong smiled and did not answer.

This Mr. Zhou is really making a fuss out of a molehill!

"Well, what's wrong?" Bai Xirong noticed that Zhou Haoxuan suddenly stopped and stared at an army captain in front of him. He couldn't help but asked with concern: "Is this captain an acquaintance of Mr. Zhou?"

"I don't know you." Zhou Haoxuan snorted coldly, turned around and walked towards the first-class box at the back, "You're a nosy little Qiu Ba!"

(End of this chapter)