"Great-grandmaster, I am your granddaughter Tong Xiangbei, and from today onwards, I am also your great-granddaughter Tong Li Xiangbei. Please let Grandfather recognize you as his adoptive father, and let us live together, taking care of you in your old age."
"Oh, Xiangbei, heading towards the north. Little Decoction, Master understands your heart now, so I'll go along with Xiangbei's request. You can call me adoptive father. However, in my life, besides finding you, there was a vow I made before you appeared, and that was to taste delicious food everywhere! So now that I know you're safe and sound, I should continue chasing after delicacies."
"Great-grandmaster, did you know that Xiangbei is half the owner of this Fuhai Tower? The recent popular new products were all invented by me, and in the future, there will be even more unique flavors introduced every month. If you live with us, you can also research with Xiangbei, such as medicinal cuisine, such as tea soup, how about that?"
"Yes, Li YiZheng, the delicious flavors in Xiangbei's mind are unmatched in this world, and the Tong family estate constantly sends out new products to Fuhai Tower. Where else can you find such a good retirement place? After we freshen up, I and you will enter the mountain together to witness your kinship ceremony. After that, there are important matters that I need to entrust to you."
"Prince Mo, your orders, I dare not disobey." Seeing Prince Mo instructing people to rearrange the tea, Li YiZheng invited everyone to sit down and have a chat, Xiangbei and Chengmo stayed behind. He slowly recount decades of separation and longing as master and disciple.
Since they were here, XiangBei asked Chang Mo seized the opportunity to quickly go to the county government to check on the progress of the river channel and the new dock construction.
It must be said that Chengmo had many capable people under his command. Uncle Shan not only handled the affairs of the King's Mansion comprehensively, but also managed the county government adeptly, knowing how to use people and resources to his advantage.
Everything proceeded smoothly, even the river-centered island in Linsui County was said to have been anchored and the embankment fortified. With the new dock completed, could they now begin their plan for the city relay station? Xiangbei felt excited at the thought, but of course, there was also a sense of urgency.
So when Chengmo, who had been engrossed in discussing river construction matters with the Mountain Shan's detachment and Sea Hai's detachment, arrived at the foot of the Coal mountain to change horses, he noticed the two carriages following behind Xiangbei's carriage, loaded with people.
"Hehe, our esteemed Prince Mo, no worries, no worries. You don't need to worry about a thing. Just ride ahead, they can follow behind. They are all urgently recruited and trained by me. With the dock construction underway, we need to prepare for the North-South supermarket, and our city relay station also urgently needs manpower, right?" Xiangbei fawned over Chengmo, who had just entered his infatuation mode in recent days and was eager to please him. If Xiangbei were to bring up the supermarket work now, he would surely be forbidden from doing so.
"Alright, we're all here. Get on, let's go." With Li Yizheng joining them, uncle Shan personally led the old pharmacist, and Chengmo pulled Xiangbei onto the horse's back, leading the group towards the mountain estate.
When they arrived home, General Huo's siblings were in the hall chatting. They had learned in the morning that the old pharmacist, who hadn't left the mountain for decades, had left the estate. Despite leaving a message saying there was no need to worry, it was hard to truly put their minds at ease. Even curiosity was enough to distract everyone from him. Throughout the day, Mr. and Mrs. Tong toured every nook and cranny of the estate with their eldest brother, and they had no intention of leaving. They sat down, drinking tea and waiting for news from below.
Lieutenant General Huo Qixiang, on the other hand, with permission, meticulously noted down many novel techniques, such as the heating oil extraction method in the oil mill, the cement bricklaying method for new houses, lotusroot-like coal stoves, and even the meat grinder being prepared in the kitchen. Each of these amazed and impressed him.
When Xiangbei returned, he had many questions for her. He had no doubt that any of these innovations could bring about significant changes in people's lives if brought back to the capital. Moreover, there were many areas he hadn't examined closely yet, but just from the descriptions, he knew they were products of the commercial enterprise. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of mountain household his aunt had married into.
Li YiZheng was asked by the old pharmacist Tong to retire to the courtyard to freshen up, while Chengmo went into the hall to personally explain the day's itinerary and the reasons behind it.