Chapter 96: Infrastructure Map Lights Up Several States! ...
Mid-April.
The rain and atmosphere of Qingming Festival hadn't subsided yet, and the riverbanks were bustling with activity. It was the perfect time for everyone to call out to friends and family, roll up their trousers, and head out to collect snails. The air was fresh, and the mountains were also filled with figures of people cutting down trees; needless to say, these were all new carpentry apprentices.
Once the bicycles started selling, they immediately became a sensation throughout Liuzhou.
Although the cost was beyond the reach of ordinary people, even young people from middle-class families couldn't resist this novelty. The older generation felt that riding a two-wheeled vehicle was too unstable, and even though the prince himself was using it, they didn't dare to say it openly, but secretly they urged the carpenter to make some modifications.
The four-wheeled bicycle was born, its shape resembling a modern racing car or a large spider with its legs spread out. People could sit on it steadily, and two flat bamboo baskets could be attached to the front and back to carry some odds and ends, making each one more eye-catching than the last.
Hu Hong is a student from a poor family. His elderly mother and elder brother used to work themselves to the bone to support him, but now they earn money by grinding tofu and selling breakfast. Although it's still very tiring, they earn much more money than before, but setting up a stall from dawn till dusk every day is still exhausting.
Today marks the day Hu Hong takes his ten-day leave to go home.
Relying on his good stamina, the young man strode along the cement road carrying a bamboo box. He had already covered more than ten miles on foot. His thick cloth clothes were soaked through, and his legs felt heavy as if they were covered in mud. Liuzhou City was in sight. Hu Hong felt full of energy when he thought of home.
Suddenly, a group of large, spider-like wooden objects whizzed past him, and occasionally a few people on two wheels, like acrobats, would pass by. His gaze immediately fixed on them: "..."
What's this new and interesting thing?
For the first ten years or so of his life, Hu Hong lived in poverty and monotony, surrounded mostly by new faces who had been exiled. But in the last year or so, since Prince Rui arrived, Liuzhou had changed rapidly. His family could afford to send him to the academy, and he could even have some meat in his meals. But most importantly—
Every ten days when he returns home, he sees many new changes.
At first, Hu Hong was stunned, but later he became amused and curious, observing what new and interesting things had appeared in Liuzhou City, and he wasn't so easily surprised anymore. But the reason he was stunned again now was...
“This auspicious insect…” Hu Hong murmured, immediately captivated, “It’s so stable.”
When he saw that giant spider-like thing, he immediately thought of how his family used to carry slabs of tofu around every day, or how they would occasionally borrow a car to carefully transport them to the city to sell.
Livestock are too expensive. If the family were to buy one, they would have to worry about how to raise it and keep it healthy. One wrong move and their savings would be gone. The Hu family was terrified of poverty and overly honest, so they didn't dare to buy one. They also couldn't afford to rent it every day.
But this big cricket… he didn’t see any livestock pulling it; it seemed like a person was controlling it by moving their legs. Look at those two flat bamboo winnowing baskets stacked in front and behind—aren’t they perfect for storing tofu? Cover them with a thick cloth, and it’ll be very stable to ride! Mother and my elder brother won’t get so tired.
As Hu Hong pondered this, he turned a corner, touched the three large vouchers that the academy had awarded him in his pocket, and nervously headed to the Prince's Mansion to inquire on the street.
Amid the continuous flow of people, a cheer suddenly erupted.
Hu Hong stared blankly as several young men rode by on strange-looking two-wheeled vehicles. This time, the wooden contraptions seemed to lack pedals, allowing them to simply glide along. The young men laughed and cursed, casually pushing off with their feet, their long hems billowing in the air, looking incredibly smug.
Two carpentry apprentices cleared their throats, walked to the door, put up a sign, and started calling out again: "The latest style of bicycles!" "This is called a scooter, a mobility scooter, very convenient for getting around... first come, first served!"
"..." Hu Hong was practically paralyzed with shock.
If he could have a scooter like this when he goes to the academy, how easy it would be for him!
Being relaxed isn't the most important thing.
Hu Hong's eyes shone with longing and envy—to travel by gliding all the way, that's so cool!
He hurried inside, but after asking the price, Hu Hong was deflated. He could only obediently hand over three receipts as a deposit, then reluctantly glanced one last time at the half-finished scooter in the yard before resolutely turning away.
He had already made arrangements with the carpenter apprentice so that his 'four-wheeled bicycle' could be made next month. He also had to study hard this month. As long as he got first place in the two newly added courses, "mathematics" and "physics," he would still receive the extra three taels of silver voucher that the prince gave to the students of the academy!
He'll pay the rest of the money later.
Later... he'll eventually save enough money to buy a scooter, boohoo!
Hu Hong left with a heart full of envy, feeling as if his own flesh had been torn away.
Qi Chengming waited until the crowd that had been watching for so long had mostly dispersed before he dared to take a newly made scooter out and ride it with great delight: "...It seems that young people really like it."
It seems that the introduction of scooters caused a greater sensation than bicycles.
Bai Xuan agreed and got on the scooter. The two of them began to glide along the streets of Liuzhou City, dodging and weaving through crowds from time to time: "Because scooters aren't difficult to learn, and they're fun."
Qi Chengming nodded slightly with a serious expression, but inwardly he was secretly laughing and couldn't refute it.
...That's why, after cycling, he had a sudden inspiration to build a scooter!
He wants to create a world where everyone can openly and legitimately ride a scooter!
Haha, now when he's having a blast, everyone can join in the fun.
Qi Chengming rode his scooter with a sense of exhilaration. The all-wood scooter was heavy and had a substantial weight to it. Unlike modern scooters, it had a large diagonal bar at the front, which could be used to tie and place goods. This was a small modification that the carpenter had made after Qi Chengming's guidance.
With just this one change, Qi Chengming suddenly realized that the people would probably prefer scooters in the future.
First, it's easier to use; second, it can carry just as much cargo; and third, it requires less wood and parts, so it can be sold cheaper. Unless you're going on a long trip or carrying heavy loads, people will definitely prefer to travel by scooter.
"Let's have a competition, who gets to the top of the hill first?" Bai Xuan asked provocatively after they left the city gate.
"Let's compete then." Qi Chengming, eager to win, leaned forward, gripped the handle tightly, and prepared to unleash his power.
"Ready... Go!"
Qi Chengming skated with all his might, feeling the light rain sliding down his cheeks. In this tense and exciting moment, he started to think.
'...It seems a new road traffic law needs to be implemented,' he thought to himself.
Previously, these were all established rules, such as not allowing horses to gallop freely in the city or riding bicycles at high speeds, and these rules could be followed. However, as the variety of bicycles increased and more people used them, the safety of pedestrians on the official roads became less guaranteed.
This needs to be clearly stipulated... for example, vehicles should drive in the middle, and pedestrians should walk on both sides of the main road...
Qi Chengming was pondering these things, which inevitably slowed his actions. Bai Xuan, full of youthful vigor, forgot about me while playing and laughed triumphantly: "—Hahaha, Your Highness, I won!"
He laughed for a moment and then suddenly stopped, as if he had been choked.
Bai Xuan suddenly realized that he had actually dared to be so arrogant as to mock the prince?! Although it was normal for the two to play together and have their wins and losses, but... but mocking...!
Bai Xuan's smile froze, his expression stiffened, and he began to sweat profusely.
"Dare to laugh at me? You'll be the one watering the plants with fertilizer later!" Qi Chengming didn't even frown. He finished speaking as if he were talking to a close friend, then picked up the bike and sped up the mountain.
"..." Bai Xuan stood there silently for two seconds, then raised his eyes, a mixture of relief and unease in his smile, a hint of guilt in his expression. The next second, he hoisted his own bike and charged forward in one breath, his expression returning to normal as he continued shouting.
"Your Highness! We need to build a parking area at the foot of the mountain! Carrying...huff, carrying the car up the mountain...huff...oh, so tiring..."
Despite Qi Chengming's impressive speed, he was exhausted even before he reached the top.
“You’re right…” the young prince said weakly, his back bent. He couldn’t go up to the estate anymore. “It’s no use. Call someone… we need to build a parking lot…”
Bai Xuan was too exhausted to agree, so he could only raise his hand and sit on the scooter like a cushion, panting.
That day, the incident ended with people from the Prince's Mansion coming and dragging the two disheveled people away.
Finally, Grandpa De solemnly reprimanded everyone, silencing them.
...
While Qi Chengming was excitedly playing with his scooter, after several months of development, several southern states gradually adopted the rationing system. However, this meant they could no longer use copper coins. And because they arrived late, the rationing system had taken a heavy toll; it was no longer possible to exchange one copper coin for an equivalent ration like it was in Liuzhou and Lingnan initially… Despite this, everyone still flocked to it.
For Qi Chengming, who had just finished washing up and returned to his study to listen to his confidants report on important matters, all of this was good news, a sign of a fresh start.
Although he was passively taking blood and flesh from the people of other regions, this calamity actually allowed Liuzhou to grow rapidly, snowballing its influence so that the territory Qi Chengming could actually control expanded from Liuzhou to several prefectures.
The infrastructure map is now lit up.
Lingnan, Liuzhou, Guizhou, Yongzhou, Wuling.
Qi Chengming let out a soft breath.
"That's why... the more chaotic the world is, the happier the wealthy and noble families are."
As things progressed according to plan, Qi Chengming stared calmly at his enormous infrastructure map, showing no joy but only a melancholy sigh.
It was like a chaotic carnival, where everyone was completely satisfied, except for the people who suffered silently and were oppressed to the point of having no place to protest. Oh no, perhaps the only person who resonated with the people now was Emperor Hongren.
He probably felt like he was having his own flesh torn apart, just waiting for these people outside to ruin him too, that would be the time for him to make his appearance after lying low for so long.
While Qi Chengming was frantically babbling to his cricket father, Bai Xuan, who had just returned home, inexplicably delivered a large basket of crabs and solemnly invited Qi Chengming to go snail catching and small fish gathering together the next day.
"...Your Highness, have you prepared these for tonight?" Aunt Fang dared not casually use the ingredients sent by His Highness's friend, so she came to ask.
"Do it!" Qi Chengming stared at the flamboyant letter paper stained with red maple leaves, a happy smile playing on his lips. "Do it all, and give a bigger share to my cousin so he can try some local specialties."
He knew perfectly well that this was Bai Xuan's subtle way of apologizing and making amends for his inexplicable reaction earlier that day. He was going to treat Bai Xuan to a lavish crab feast today, and then reconcile with Bai Xuan tomorrow.
When the time comes, go and catch plenty of plump snails—bring them back and stir-fry them with lard and chili peppers. Let Mr. Huang eat a lot of them, as a way of thanking him for his hard work! (?)
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Author's Note: Second update!
Now that the territory has snowballed, Liuzhou's remoteness is no longer a problem.
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