EFB Chapter 2504 Taiping City in Chaos
Chapter 2504 Taiping City in Chaos
Chapter 2504 Taiping City in Chaos
“This Baisong City was originally just a small town with less than three hundred people. Ten years ago, the Song Kingdom relocated two hundred thousand people here and expanded it into a city. In the following years, the population has been growing until it reached its current size,” He Lingchuan said. “Relocating people is not difficult. Now, a large number of ordinary people from rural towns are crowding into the city, making it hard to find local jobs. As long as the officials tell them that there are good opportunities, good jobs, and good salaries here, people will naturally come. However, the noodle shop owner was right; Baisong City doesn’t want older people.”
"That means these hundreds of thousands of people are very young."
"The first few years of the new town's expansion were indeed very tiring. But after four years, once the town was completed, it was just routine operation, and there wasn't much heavy work involved. Compared to other places, it's easier and safer to make money here, and life is much better. However, the authorities still don't allow elderly people to move in and even reward people for reporting each other. If someone is found to be secretly harboring an elderly person, the welfare benefits for the entire neighborhood will be reduced. There have been dozens of such incidents, but we've rarely heard of them in recent years."
"Collective punishment?" Ling Jinbao became increasingly curious. "How exactly does this city generate revenue?"
"Just like those porters said, there are mines to the north with a considerable amount of ore; there is a lake outside the city with abundant fish; in addition, there are fields near the city, but they all belong to the government, and they will organize tenant farmers to cultivate them on a large scale, but they will not sell them to individuals."
The others suddenly realized, "No wonder there are so few villages outside the city."
“Yes, farms where only tenant farmers work,” He Lingchuan repeated. “In addition, they would go into the mountains to collect herbs and hunt; also, the embroidery workshops and factories in the city supported a large number of embroiderers and artisans, whose products were exquisite and famous far and wide.”
Aunt Zhu still didn't understand, but Ling Jinbao shook his head: "That's it? It can't support the livelihood of a city's population."
"Here's the key point: Baisongcheng's main task is to facilitate the transfer of supplies to Yanxia Bay in the north."
"Supplies...circulation?"
“Yes. Goods from other places that are to be transported to Yanxia Bay will first be unloaded and sorted in Baisong City. Some will be left behind, while others will be loaded onto trucks and then transported north by special personnel. This is also the main livelihood of the young and middle-aged people in the city.” He Lingchuan summarized, “At least 200,000 people work for this. According to him, Baisong City is a huge transit warehouse!”
So the next question naturally arises:
"How many people are there in Yanxia Bay? Do they need so many supplies?"
"he does not know."
"Hey?"
“That place is very mysterious,” He Lingchuan said seriously. “The officials of Baisong City told them that there is a spacetime rift there, and monsters often pass through the rift from other worlds into the human world. Therefore, the Song Kingdom has stationed a powerful army there to protect the peace of the country. Baisong City is the army’s rear base, and a large amount of supplies are transferred from here. The city has benefited from the army and is living a very comfortable life.”
Dong Rui's eyebrows were raised very high:
"They believed it?"
"What reason do they have not to believe it? That's the official statement." He Lingchuan shrugged. "Besides, strange things have indeed happened before. Seven or eight years ago, several monsters entered the heart of Baisong City from the sea and devoured half a village. They were eventually killed by the army, and their corpses were displayed at the gate of Baisong City as a warning not to spend the night outside the city, as it was dangerous. See, doesn't that confirm the official statement?"
"The monster on the beach eats people..." Ling Jinbao pondered, "Then it's most likely a monster or demon puppet that escaped from Yanxia Bay, right?"
"In short, the people of White Pine City probably believe it. They probably just want a reason that puts their minds at ease." Who would give up a good life to needlessly suspect this and that?
Ling Jinbao scratched his head: "I was strolling around Baisong City today, and looking at the people on the street, I felt like something was off, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it."
"Say it as soon as you remember." Ling Jinbao was also very perceptive, especially sensitive to danger. This was why He Lingchuan brought him into the city for the adventure.
Just then, an eyeball spider slipped in through the corner of the window and wobbled onto He Lingchuan's shoulder.
Dong Rui laughed and said, "When did this little spy slip out?"
The eyeball spider usually stayed on He Lingchuan's body and rarely went out alone.
Unless assigned.
Aunt Zhu said, "You only walked four or five streets, that's too little. I'll go wander around by myself."
The three out-of-towners were too conspicuous. Before He Lingchuan returned to the inn, he encountered police officers checking his credentials along the street. Anyone without credentials was considered suspicious and would be arrested.
No one was watching the little spider anymore.
"Any new discoveries?"
"It gets dark quickly, and people here go to bed early. There aren't many lights on in the alleys," said Aunt Zhu's informant. "I haven't noticed anything else unusual, except that there are red osmanthus trees everywhere in the city. I don't know if they grow naturally or were planted later."
"Red sweet osmanthus?" Even Dong Rui had never seen this plant before. "Is something wrong with it?"
Due to climate and soil conditions, some plants can be called local tyrants. For example, there are osmanthus trees everywhere in Panlongcheng, while the jacaranda trees in Jucheng are particularly beautiful. When they bloom, the whole city is covered in purple clouds.
Lingxu City and Ju City also specifically planted roadside trees to absorb dust, beautify the environment, and improve air quality. Different cities, with different local conditions, often correspond to different tree species.
"You can see the yellow flowers and red thread by looking out the window."
There are five trees in the yard.
Hearing the sound, the three looked out the window. It was already dark, but with their sharp eyesight, they could easily spot one of the trees covered in small yellow flowers. The flowers were as tender as scrambled eggs, but there was a red line on the petals that disappeared into the flower spike.
That's probably where its name comes from.
A gentle breeze blew by, carrying the fragrance of flowers.
Aunt Zhu added, "Take a good sniff."
Ling Jinbao sniffed the air twice: "Now that you mention it, oh, this smell is quite refreshing. Is it poisonous?"
The scent of osmanthus is sweet yet invigorating.
"It's not poisonous. Its fragrance can excite people, making them mentally alert and full of energy, but it doesn't harm them." The little spider touched its front claws. "I've just walked a few streets and found red osmanthus everywhere. City people must be used to smelling it by now."
He Lingchuan asked, "Is there a problem?"
“Osmanthus can bloom all year round, but it is rarely seen on land. I have only ever encountered it on a small island in the Endless Sea. There are so many in White Pine City. Why doesn’t it change its name to Osmanthus City?” Aunt Zhu also followed He Lingchuan’s example of keeping secrets and saved the most important information for last. “It also has a very special effect: it gently invigorates Yang.”
"Hey? Lift or strengthen?" Dong Rui perked up immediately. "Tell me in detail!"
The little spider glared at him with its dozen or so eyes: "It's all the same thing, there's no need to go into details. It just has this use, but it won't harm anyone or cause any real damage."
(End of this chapter)