novelraw Chapter 84: New Developments
Chapter 84: New Developments
Chapter 84: New Developments
As winter deepened, the gates of the inner city teemed with vehicles every day, with servants from various families queuing up. Some of the approaching vehicles came from the south, while others belonged to members of noble families returning home for the Chinese New Year after handling affairs. Carloads of goods, either supplies for the northern migration or holiday gifts, drew envious glances from many.
Recently, the military districts in the outer city area had also become more active, with the Xiànsòu Army returning. The commotion caused by large numbers of personnel could not be missed by those in quarantine. While those who had traveled from afar mostly had to undergo quarantine in the outer city area and might not have noticed the specific movements of other military districts, the sheer scale of the returning troops was undeniable, and some news inevitably trickled in. This news, carried by the returning travelers, eventually made its way into the inner city.
"Another part of the Xiànsòu Army's main force has returned!" He Da informed Wen Gu of the latest news. Wen Gu calculated that many of the Xiànsòu Army personnel who had been deployed were still out. He surmised that those who hadn't returned by now likely hadn't encountered any disasters. The Zhao family was in a cheerful mood; even when he had gone to request the shop sign from his cousin, there had been no significant obstacles, indicating his cousin was in good spirits. Therefore, as he had suspected, the Xiànsòu Army's main force had been dispatched on a different mission.
After giving He Da a few more instructions, Wen Gu went to urge the progress of the flying bridge construction. The construction site remained completely covered by tarpaulins, preventing outsiders from knowing what was happening inside. Guards were constantly posted around the area, prohibiting anyone from getting too close. The injured and retired personnel from the Patrol Division proved their worth at this time. They were not easily intimidated, and anyone attempting to secretly gather information, whether through bluster and intimidation, diversion tactics, or cunning stratagems, was sternly turned away. The secrecy was maintained exceptionally well.
With the delivery of some prefabricated components, the section of the flying bridge above the alley had actually been completed. However, the tarpaulins had not yet been removed, and maintenance and adjustments were ongoing. The outdoor temperature was too low, so localized low-temperature protection was being applied. Fortunately, only this section was being built; any longer would have been difficult to maintain in this weather.
As the Chinese New Year approached, heavy snow fell in the northern lands. Construction work halted, and it was likely that work would not resume until the weather warmed up. Jingxing District, which had been bustling for quite some time, also grew quiet. The topics of conversation regarding Jingxing District within the city gradually subsided. However, the loafers who gathered information still frequented the Jingxing District's canteen. Seven or eight of them would gather around a wooden table, either standing or sitting, exchanging news from various districts. They had saved up food ration tickets and would come here daily for a meal or two of hot food, finding warmth and shelter from the wind in the canteen.
With the recent snowfall, He Da no longer went out to read newspapers. He now read them inside the canteen. He read the latest issue with a pronounced and dramatic intonation, his voice filled with emotion. Now proficient in his work, even when presented with a new newspaper and encountering unfamiliar characters or incomprehensible words and phrases, he could smoothly gloss over them. While reading, he would also pay attention to the conversations of the loafers, looking for any news he needed. He overheard all the daily gossip from various districts, but there was no significant news. After tidying up the newspapers he had read, He Da began chatting with the person next to him.
At the same time, in a district within the core area of Xin Prefecture City, artisans were constantly entering and exiting. Initially, people around were curious, but they couldn't elicit any useful information, and the artisans themselves seemed unaware. Others only heard that the place was undergoing renovations and speculated about the identity of the future residents. However, as time passed and there were no new developments, people's attention was drawn to other matters in the city, and they stopped paying attention. After the snow, most people stayed indoors, paying even less attention to this area.
Today, several artisans arrived, removed the plaque bearing the original district name, and replaced it with a new one. Not far away, a loafer peeked around, observing the activity. He pretended to be passing by, glanced at the scene, then quickly darted away, tucking his head in. Many districts in the core area of the city housed noble individuals, whom the common people like them could not approach casually. When people were present, they dared not get close to the district gate. Yet, in that fleeting glance, he confirmed that the plaque had been changed and the district name altered, and his heart swelled with joy! He continued to observe from a distance, waiting until the artisans had left before stomping his numb feet and shivering as he approached. He took a burnt short stick from his sleeve – he had prepared it for a long time and it was finally useful! Although illiterate, he could trace and draw. He carefully copied the characters on his sparsely patched, thin clothing, stroke by meticulous stroke. After finishing, he took off at full speed and ran towards Jingxing District.In Jingxing District, the snow had been cleared from all the large and small pathways. Areas without pebbles or flagstones were covered with a layer of burnt charcoal residue, making it easy to walk without slipping and preventing muddy feet from melted snow. This loafer, running over, couldn't help but feel envious. Jingxing District was so much better. Many people now wanted to move in but couldn't, as entry was strictly controlled. Fortunately, entering the district gate did not have many restrictions. He entered the district and headed directly to his destination, his eyes fixed on the place where large plumes of white steam were rising. That was the Jingxing District's canteen. Inside, the stoves were hot, boiling congee, water, and ginger soup, with little interruption during the day. He entered the canteen, holding the sleeve with the characters he had written. The aroma of food wafted into his nostrils, making him swallow involuntarily. Controlling his gaze so as not to look at the stoves or the food on the tables, he found He Da and squeezed his way over. He Da was chatting with someone when he saw the panting man approach. He exchanged a knowing glance, and they walked, one after the other, into a small room behind the canteen.
"Boss He, the district you mentioned changed its plaque today!" He handed the characters written on his sleeve to He Da for him to see. He Da took out paper and a pen and, with great effort, managed to transcribe the somewhat scattered characters written by the man. "Is this correct?" He Da showed the man what he had written. "It seems so," the man replied hesitantly. He couldn't quite recall what the characters on the plaque had looked like. "Alright, I know," He Da said. He hadn't expected them to accurately convey the characters, and receiving the news was enough. He took out two Jingxing District food ration tickets and handed them over. The man quickly snatched them and tucked them into his clothes. He had already saved up quite a few food ration tickets; he planned to bring his family to the canteen here for some thick, hot congee during the Chinese New Year. After the loafer left, He Da personally went to the core area one more time before returning to report to Wen Gu.
Upon arriving at the Jingqing Public Office, He Da's usual casual demeanor involuntarily gave way to a serious and respectful one. A gatehouse had been built at the entrance of the public office. Within the window, outer wooden boards concealed inner glass. During the day, the wooden boards were retracted, leaving only the glass window, allowing the gatekeeper inside to see visitors. A plaque was mounted above the gate, and formal management was in place within the courtyard, requiring an identification card or facial recognition for entry. He Da was now a familiar face. He walked over, knocked on the glass window, and signaled, "Brother Luo, I have something to discuss with the Foreman!" The person inside glanced at him and pulled open the barrier blocking the entrance. This man was one of the ten members transferred over. After being injured and retired from the Patrol Division, he was reassigned and Wen Gu placed him here. Wen Gu's evaluation of him: "Typical, he even scrutinizes a dog; suitable for this position!"
Inside the courtyard, in the document room. Wen Gu looked at the paper that He Da had handed him. The district He Da had been instructed to monitor had a new plaque with a new district name today. "Sihai District?" Sihai? Sea? Wen Gu's heart skipped a beat. Those who were about to move in there would either be billionaires or extremely wealthy and influential families! New "nouveau riche" were arriving! Based on the current information, this was very likely a part of his maternal uncle Zhao's plan. Such importance indicated immense wealth. What did a "nouveau riche" look like? They exuded an aura of wealth that could be smelled from ten feet away. How to attract the "nouveau riche"? Exquisite and eye-catching things often required more direct methods. "Notify the artisans to conduct the final inspection of the flying bridge!" The goal was to ensure that upon their arrival in Xin Prefecture City, the "nouveau riche" from afar would immediately feel the undeniable potential and shining enthusiasm radiating from Jingqing Two Districts! Welcome to Xin Prefecture City!
(End of this chapter)