NOVEL NEXT Chapter 61: Pingyang County
Chapter 61: Pingyang County
Xu Lian mentioned the business trip.
As expected, Wang Cuiyun, Li Xiya, and Yang Chan’er expressed their concerns. They had spent their entire lives confined to the house, usually peeking through the cracks of the door to see the people on the street, or going out for a brief moment in the evening to get some fresh air. Their understanding of the world was limited to the small area of Green Bamboo Town, and the vast unknown beyond it filled them with fear.
Thankfully, Xu Lian had gone on a business trip once before and returned safely, which gave them a little reassurance.
Li Xiya’s autumn eyes dimmed. “Brother Lian, sometimes I think that if you hadn’t been promoted and were still working in the mine, carrying stones, and we were still stuck in that old mud house on Old Street, life might be hard, but at least we could be together, day and night.
Wang Cuiyun frowned. “What good is that life? Hungry all the time, dizzy, bleeding to deal with the night guards. Now look at us – every meal is meat and fish, and no need to bleed. Brother Lian has given us such a good life. You poor girl, you don’t know how blessed you are. So many women would envy what we have, but you don’t appreciate it.”
Li Xiya forced a smile. “Mother is right, maybe I’m just not meant to live a life of luxury.”
Xu Lian wrapped his arms around Li Xiya from behind. He had been spending less time with her lately and whispered in her ear, “Sister Xiya, when I return, I’ll make sure to spend more time with you.”
Li Xiya shook her head gently. “I know, Brother Lian, you are an ambitious person. You don’t want to live a simple life, you want to achieve something great. I don’t want to be a burden or hold you back. You don’t have to make time for me.”
What great ambitions… Xu Lian didn’t want to achieve great things. He simply didn’t want to live in constant fear in this treacherous world. Although he was respected in Green Bamboo Town, surrounded by a beautiful wife and concubines, and wealth was easy to come by, his foundation was still weak and unable to weather any storm.
If the White Fox Quarry Patrol Inspector ever stopped appreciating him, he’d be nothing.
If something happened within the Yi Sect, or if they faced powerful external enemies, the whole group would be in danger.
Or if some strange beasts or monsters wandered into Green Bamboo Town, everyone in the town would be at risk.
Anything could happen in this chaotic world.
Having the strength to withstand storms was the only way to avoid being swept away by the tides of this dangerous world.
His strength at the Bone Refining stage could only withstand small winds and waves, but anything stronger would easily crush him.
“Business is important, but I also want to accompany you, Sister Xiya.”
Xu Lian found that whenever he held Xiya in his arms, a warm, steady feeling filled his heart. Xiya was not only his woman; he also felt a sibling-like reliance on her.
Li Xiya unknowingly grew emotional, her autumn eyes hazy as she softly murmured, “Brother Lian, will you make me pregnant? With a child to keep me company, I won’t feel lonely when you’re not home.”
Xu Lian immediately picked up Li Xiya and left for the main house.
By noon, the rain had stopped.
After lunch, Xu Lian rode to the mine on his horse, explaining that he was going on a business trip. He left Pu Ling in charge of the mine.
Then he called Yang Ye to the stone house and asked him to gather a few familiar people to form a patrol team. The team would no longer be needed at the mine, but would instead guard his house, preventing any small-time thieves from sneaking in.
Since Xu Lian was going to Pingyang County, his White Cat clone would definitely follow him, and he couldn’t leave his home unprotected. He had to think about the safety of Xiya and the others.
As for Pei Zhaoxi, there was no need to worry. Pei Zhaoxi had been trained in martial arts since childhood and had an excellent constitution. Ordinary people were no match for her, and with the many guards of the Pei family, she would be just fine. She was more likely to avoid trouble than to cause it.
With everything arranged, Xu Lian set off, and his White Cat clone followed silently.
He arrived at the city’s dock.
Stones mined from various places were loaded here and shipped to Pingyang County to build city walls or large estates for wealthy families.
The workers from Xu Lian’s mine greeted him when they saw him.
“Manager Xu.”
“Manager Xu.”
Xu Lian nodded slightly and said a vague word of encouragement, “Do well, I believe in you,” and then walked toward a two-masted ship.
Ordinary people from Green Bamboo Town couldn’t even leave the town, let alone travel to Pingyang County. No one knew where Pingyang County was, or even its general direction; it was only mentioned in rumors.
Xu Lian didn’t know either, but he was aware that the ships at the dock traveled to Pingyang County, so he came here.
The person in charge of the dock was an elderly man with a stocky build who looked like someone who practiced martial arts. With a neutral expression, he reached out his hand and stopped Xu Lian. “The mine’s manager, what brings you here?”
Xu Lian pointed at the two-masted ship. “I want to take a ship to Pingyang County. How much silver is it?”
The old man replied, “This is a ship for guiding cargo ships, not for passengers. You can’t board just because you have silver.”
Xu Lian asked, “I just saw someone board the ship. Why were they allowed?”
The old man coldly answered, “That person is from the Lin family in the county town, and he has a travel permit for the ship. Do you have one?”
Xu Lian thought for a moment before pulling out the purple jade token. “Can this be used as a permit?”
The old man glanced at it, and his pupils contracted instantly. His face changed and he hurriedly bowed, raising his hands in an apologetic gesture. “I did not recognize your identity, my lord. Please forgive my offense. Please, allow me.”
“Do not reveal my identity,” Xu Lian reminded him.
With a final bow, the old man said, “Rest assured, my lord, I understand!”
While they were talking, a white cat quietly crept onto the ship… What ill intentions could a little kitten have?
To prevent people from leaving the town, the Yi Sect not only set up no-go zones around the town, but also strictly controlled the ships. Ordinary people had no chance of leaving the town, living their entire lives within its confines, never knowing the world beyond.
Xu Lian took a walk around the deck and noticed that it was worn and shabby, with no captain, helmsman, or sailors – no one at all.
Entering the ship’s cabin, he found it dark, damp, and covered in moss, as if it hadn’t been inhabited for a long time. It felt like a derelict ship.
How could a ship sail away with no one to steer it?
When Xu Lian was working as a stone carrier, he had found it strange that the stone carrying ships would follow the two-masted ship. Now, with his growing experience, he suspected that there might be some kind of creature in the water pulling the ship along.
It seemed that Xu Lian’s footsteps had triggered something, as a cabin door creaked open and Lin Chengyu stuck half his body out to look. When he saw Xu Lian, he froze for a moment, clearly not expecting to encounter him here.
“Young Master Lin, what a coincidence.”
Xu Lian cupped his hands in greeting.
He had doubts about the ferry and knew nothing about Pingyang County. It was a perfect opportunity to ask this young master from Pingyang County.
Lin Chengyu was someone who had seen the world, so he would likely know.
“I didn’t expect to meet Manager Xu here,” Lin Chengyu said, bowing slightly in return. He was unsure of Xu Lian’s background.
After the Fang family broke off the engagement with the Pei family, the Pei family immediately married Pei Zhaoxi to Xu Lian. Obviously, this Xu Lian was not just a mine manager, and using the ferry required a pass, which was not something that ordinary people could get.