"We've entered the territory of Dongbin.
On the south side of the city gate, there's a direct road to Guangfu, and the next coastal defense city is more than a five-day journey by carriage.
The town with some population, Jin'an, takes about two days to reach. When you arrive here, everyone is covered in dust and dirt. Moreover, what comes from that side is mostly seafood and dried goods, with a pungent smell.
So, people often joke that those coming from the south lack distinguished guests, even the city defenders are those who have been punished and forced to come here,"
said Cheng Mo.
Except for occasionally handing a cup of honey water or fragrant tea, he silently accompanied Xiangbei without saying a word. She looked at the scenery outside the window, and he looked at her by the window. Now that they had reached the county border, she stood up and he took the initiative to act as a guide.
"Really? The sea merchants heading to Nanyang also come through here, don't they?"
"Yes, river navigation stops at Dongbin County, so this place can be considered a bustling town where water and land meet."
"Same city, same city. Yes, our first same-city postal route is just outside this south city gate. I want to buy a small estate about ten miles outside the border. Can we go to the city first to inquire about the market? The estate doesn't need to be too large, but it must be near the express road, connected to farmland. About ten acres would do. I have a thousand taels, and if it's not enough, you can contribute, and we can share the ownership proportionally. What do you think of this collaboration? Within a year, I guarantee everyone will say that guests from the south are rare."
"Uh, Xiaobei, the land within a hundred miles outside Dongbin City is designated as Dongbin Wang's contribution land, equivalent to tribute fields. It can only be leased and cannot be bought or sold."
"Ah? Is that so? Why does Dongbin Wang occupy so much land when he can't even consume it all?" Cheng Mo's eyes twitched at the corner, feeling awkward and unsure how to respond. "Wait, Dongbin Wang, isn't that you? That means these lands belong to you?" Xiaobei just realized, pointing her finger almost at Cheng Mo's nose.
"Yes, they are all ours. You can open wherever you want. Let's extend the same-city postal route all the way to Guangzhou Prefecture." Cheng Mo held Xiaobei's little finger pointing at his nose and smiled like a cunning wolf grandma.
"Okay, Cheng Mo, oh no, King Mo, you're like a big landlord. Great! We're in a partnership! The same-city route is yours," Xiaobei smiled flatteringly, extending two fingers to indicate a small amount, "I'll take just a tiny, tiny share."
"We'll split it fifty-fifty. Whatever we do in the future, we'll share the ownership equally. All decisions will be up to you. I'm only responsible for providing money, land, and effort."
"Yes, that's right. My technical contribution is valuable; you won't lose out. Cheng Mo, has anyone ever told you that you are a really, really ideal business partner?" After a few 'reallys,' the conclusion froze Cheng Mo's sweet anticipation into a bitter melon face.
As the boat stopped under a stone bridge spanning the river, preparing to dock on the left channel, the bridgehead already had a pilot calling for all boats on both sides to wait for the passage of this painted boat.
"If there's a lane change like this during the New Year, won't it congest the entire river?"
"Yes, during the New Year, passengers traveling by water and land may wait here for four or five days. Mountain Uncle and the others have been trying to find a solution. Boats are already restricted to single-side passage, all forced to turn around at Rebound Bay. However, during the wait for boarding and unloading, the queue can still extend far beyond the county, sometimes they prefer to disembark upstream in the county, even if it means traveling an extra day or two by land."
"Alright, Cheng Mo, show me the navigation management here first."
"I wanted to take you shopping for clothes."
"We can go shopping any day. Is Yang Dajia's clothing not good enough? To establish our same-city route, we need smooth transportation. I want to see how to adjust the navigation first." Xiaobei glimpsed at two arched bridges near the city gate, the large rocky beaches extending from several tributaries on the other side of the city, reaching towards the foothills. There were some vague ideas in her mind.