Page 74
Over the next few days, the journey became easier and easier.
Villages and large tracts of fertile farmland began to appear in the surrounding areas.
From time to time you can see farmers working in the fields.
The convoy traveled for another five days and finally arrived at Nanyang Prefecture.
From a distance, I could see a black line that stretched from east to west. When I got closer, I realized that it was a city wall of unknown length. Compared with Nanyang Prefecture, Qingshan County was just a small courtyard.
For such a large area, it might take two or three days to walk from the south to the north of the city.
"It's really magnificent." Chen Mu exclaimed.
This is just one of the thirteen prefectures of Daliang. Who knows what the more prosperous Daliang Shengjing will look like.
As the group of people were sighing about the city like country bumpkins, seven or eight fast horses came straight towards the convoy.
A two-meter-tall, white-robed, fair-skinned, handsome young man with a handsome face jumped off his horse in the middle of the convoy.
The person who came was Zuo Sheng, the eldest son of the Zuo family.
As if noticing Chen Mu's gaze, the other person turned around and looked over.
When he saw Chen Mu, he was startled, then smiled and nodded.
Chen Mu also responded with an awkward but polite smile.
As a murderer, I felt a little uneasy when I met a witness.
Zuo Sheng withdrew his gaze and jumped into the large carriage to meet his relatives.
Chen Mu, like everyone else, looked at Zuo Sheng's entourage nonchalantly.
They were all wearing tight vests with murderous eyes, and their exposed arms were muscular. It was obvious that they were not easy to mess with.
"They are from the Jinghong Gang." County Lieutenant Du, who had always had little presence, spoke up.
Arriving at Nanyang Prefecture, the former county lieutenant who had been so cautious all the way finally relaxed and seemed to be ready to talk: "The Jinghong Gang is the largest gang in Nanyang Prefecture. It controls the Jinshui River in Nanyang Prefecture and has a huge influence."
"Are they still accepting people?" Zhang Ye asked with great interest.
He was born a gang leader, and even after moving to a new place, he still couldn't give up the gang career he had been involved in for half his life.
Chen Mu also pricked up his ears to listen.
Jie Jia once said that within some powerful gangs, there is a heritage of divine intentions.
"Forget it. They only recruit children and train them themselves. If you are old enough, you will only be a peripheral staff if you join. There will be no benefit, and you will be exploited for nothing."
Zhang Ye's face was not looking good. He had been the leader of a gang after all. If he could become the core, he would be willing to accept orders. But if he was just a peripheral minion, he would be a cannon fodder.
Chen Mu was also disappointed.
If you cannot join the core, you will not be able to inherit God’s will.
As for accumulating great merits to receive rewards, how much merits must one have to receive this kind of inheritance?
Moreover, there are countless struggles for power and profit within such gangs. Chen Mu did not travel through time to fight with others.
……
Nanyang City looked not far away, but it was not close when we walked. When the convoy slowly arrived at the city gate, it was already afternoon.
At this point, the people who had traveled together began to go their separate ways.
The first to leave was Miss Bai.
The impressive maid Cuicui drove up, nodded to Jie Jia, and then drove away.
The second one to leave was Du Huai.
As soon as he arrived at the door, a man who looked like a butler in his fifties came forward to greet him.
Du Huai bowed and said goodbye to everyone, then got into a luxurious carriage with his entourage.
Chen Mu was thoughtful. It seemed that the Du County Wei's family was doing quite well in the city.
"Big Brother! I'm here!" Cheng Ming, who had been leaning on the car window to look at the crowd, suddenly shouted.
A middle-aged man in a Taoist robe, driving a horse-drawn carriage, quickly approached.
"How did you get ahead of us?" Cheng Ming jumped onto the other carriage, hugged Cheng Yi's neck and asked excitedly.
"Because I'm good at kung fu and can run fast." Chengyi said with a smile.
"Sincerity, the temple master is here too?" Taoist He, who had been standing behind, came forward.
"Uncle He, go back first. Settle down first." He said sincerely.
He immediately jumped off the carriage and saluted to Jie Jia: "Thank you for your hard work in escorting me all the way."
Jie Jia nodded calmly.
"Goodbye, Brother Chen!" Cheng Ming shouted to Chen Mu.
Chen Mu smiled and waved his hand, then took out the last two packs of jerky from the package and threw them over.
"Thank you, Brother Chen!" Cheng Ming couldn't wait to take out a piece of dried meat and chew it.
"By the way, Brother Chen, where can I find you after we enter the city? I will also ask my senior brother to treat you to a big meal!" Cheng Ming said with his big eyes blinking cunningly.
"Don't be rude!" Chengyi scolded softly.
He immediately turned to look at Taoist He: "Uncle He?"
Taoist He immediately stepped forward and gave a brief introduction of the situation along the way.
"Uncle He, please get in the car first. I will make arrangements." Cheng Yi nodded to show that he understood, and let Cheng Ming and He Daoren get into the car.
Chengyi walked slowly and looked at Chen Mu quietly and said, "Mr. Chen, we meet again."
Chen Mu politely bowed in return. He always felt that this Taoist priest didn't like him very much.
"My junior brother is young and ignorant, so I'm sorry to trouble you, Mr. Chen, to entertain me along the way." As he said this, he took out a silver note from his sleeve and handed it to Chen Mu.
"We don't plan to stay in Nanyang for long, so we can't repay your kindness, sir. Please accept this small token of gratitude."
"It's just a little food, there's no need to be like this." Chen Mu frowned slightly.
"Mr. Chen, it's better to accept it." Cheng Yi said lightly: "I hope that Mr. Chen will never appear in front of my junior brother again."
Chen Mu stared at the sincerity.
Feeling the other party's faint threat and strong rejection, I really don't understand how I have offended the other party.
Glancing at the banknote in the other person's hand, Chen Mu chuckled, leaned back in the carriage, and stared ahead calmly.
He kicked the horse lightly with his toes, and the carriage slowly passed in front of Chengyi.
Chengyi took back the banknote expressionlessly.
"Outside of the evil spirits..."
"Humph!"
Cheng Yi looked at the car going away indifferently: "I hope you know what's good for you, otherwise..."
"Senior Brother, why did Brother Chen leave? He hasn't told me how to find him yet." Cheng Ming poked his head out of the car and asked curiously.
Chengyi smiled and looked at Chengming amiably: "Junior brother, Master Chen is just passing through Nanyang and will leave soon."
"Let's not delay other people's trips."
"Leave? Didn't Brother Chen say he wanted to settle down here?" Cheng Ming was puzzled.
Chengyi got on the carriage, drove the horse, and said calmly, "How can you take my words seriously when they are just a joke?"
"Brother Chen won't coax me."
"Okay, if he doesn't coax you, I will."
"Big Brother, don't treat me like a child."
"Okay, then you can be the little adult..."
"Elder brother..."
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 59 Settlement
Nanyang Prefecture, east of the city, Taohuafang.
In a small courtyard with a private entrance.
Chen Mu sat at the stone table under the grape vines.
Take out all the money you have and count it.
"Two hundred taels for the journey, twelve taels for rent, and about five taels for various groceries."
"There are still four hundred and two ounces of silver, and seven hundred and sixty-seven copper coins."
"There is never enough money." Chen Mu sighed.
Nanyang City is prosperous and the consumption is high.
One tael of silver could rent a house for a year in Qingshan County, but a house of the same size could only be rented for a month in Nanyang Prefecture.
Eating is expensive too.
A pound of white wheat costs thirty-five copper coins, and the cheapest fish costs more than sixty copper coins per pound.
"Wouldn't it be more expensive to practice the form technique?" Chen Mu pondered to himself.
"What are your plans?" Chen Mu looked up and asked Jie Jia.
The other party was squinting at the silver in his hand.
Chen Mu put the silver into his purse expressionlessly.
"I'm already registered with the Zhuyi Pavilion in Nanyang Prefecture." Jiejia said lightly.
Qingshan County was destroyed, with people dying or leaving. It has almost become a deserted city and we definitely cannot go back.
Chen Mu was envious. This was what a craftsman was like. He would never go hungry anywhere.