Transmigrated from a post-apocalyptic world to become a village bully and set up a stall in ancient

Chapter 242 What do you need smuggled salt for?

"Just casual acquaintances? You must be kidding us!"

Lin Xi looked at Dou Weiyi, who was lying through her teeth, with a heavy heart.

A little past Shu'an is the border defense, and...

"Sir, your ancestral home is in Shu'an, isn't it?"

Dou Weiyi's heart tightened. She hadn't expected Gao Mengli to even know her ancestral home. The smile on her face instantly froze.

But she still tried to remain calm: "So what if it is? My ancestral home is in Shu'an, but that doesn't mean I have deep connections there."

Gao Mengli crossed her arms and chuckled softly, "Lord Dou, please stop hiding it. How could you not have someone you can entrust with something in Shu'an?!"

Shu'an is a place of outstanding people and beautiful scenery, but it's also known for "producing traitors"!

Stone monkey, lotus root starch, two-eyed boy, and those two bluish-white snakes!

Each of them, taken out individually, is a major figure who could bring about dramatic changes in the world!

Moreover, I remember that history says that during the civil war, that place saw more battles, large and small, than any other place!

They are truly patriotic, but that doesn't affect them. They're all unwilling to submit to each other, and it's a constant cycle of fighting each other!

Otherwise, Dou Weiyi wouldn't have agreed without hesitation at her "suggestion"!

He's inherently rebellious; she was just a catalyst that allowed his rebellious streak to surface!

Dou Weiyi pursed her lips, speechless for a moment, before looking up at the two of them: "Just tell me, what is it?"

Gao Mengli chuckled, leaned closer to Dou Weiyi, and lowered her voice:

"Lord Dou, we've been thinking, since you have some connections in Shu'an, could you perhaps find a way to have your old acquaintances bring some salt over?"

"Wha...what?! You're going to smuggle government-controlled salt?!"

Dou Weiyi's eyes widened, her voice rose involuntarily, and her face was full of astonishment.

Lin Xi quickly stepped forward, covered his mouth as he started babbling, and whispered, "Shh! Sir, please keep your voice down. You can't shout this."

Gao Mengli knew that this matter could be a big or small issue, and it all depended on how Dou Weiyi handled it.

Shu'an has well salt and is the closest to Ling'an Prefecture. Everything is ready except for Dou Weiyi!

"What...what are you doing with the salt? Are you going to sell smuggled salt?"

When Gao Mengli heard Dou Weiyi's question, she laughed and said, "How much money can you make selling smuggled salt?! Don't worry, we don't sell salt."

"Oh? You don't sell salt? Then what do you need salt for?"

Upon hearing that they wouldn't sell salt, Dou Wei's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, instantly felt half relieved.

Lin Xi didn't answer, but instead asked what he wanted to know: "Sir, what do the border guards usually eat?"

"We eat whatever is available! There are 30,000 troops stationed on the frontier, and they eat cornbread, pickled vegetables, and wild vegetables, occasionally hunting wolves for a treat."

"Is there no pork to eat?"

Dou Weiyi waved his hand: "There's no pork here, but their cooks do raise a few pigs."

They raise them after the New Year, and only slaughter them the following year during the Lunar New Year. It's considered good if all the soldiers can have a bite of meat on New Year's Eve.

Gao Mengli nodded knowingly: "Then should we buy pigs from somewhere else?"

Dou Weiyi sighed: "We can't buy them. The border region is far away, and the pigs can't be kept alive after they're slaughtered because they spoil quickly. By the time they get there, they'll all be rotten."

If you buy a live pig, it will be plump and fat, but after traveling without eating or drinking, it will be skin and bones, which is not worthwhile.

Gao Mengli and Lin Xi exchanged a glance and chuckled.

Dou Weiyi looked up and saw their actions, then narrowed her eyes: "Wait, what are you laughing at??"

Gao Mengli raised her eyes: "Sir, as long as you can get us some salt, I guarantee that you border soldiers can eat pork whenever you want!"

Dou Weiyi looked at Gao Mengli and Lin Xi with suspicion, wondering if they were exaggerating.

"Don't brag. I've already told you about the difficulties of transporting pigs from Xinjiang. It's not that easy to solve."

"Can a few bags of salt really ensure that soldiers can eat pork anytime?"

Lin Xi explained with a smile:

"Sir, you don't know this, do you? We plan to use salt to cure the pork and make it into bacon."

This cured meat is not only easy to preserve, but it can also be stored for a long time. Even if it is transported to the frontier over a long distance, it will not spoil.

This way, the soldiers on the frontier can eat pork anytime.

Dou Weiyi became more and more excited as he listened, and he quickly asked, "Really...really? You're not lying to me? You swear that the people of Yu Kingdom don't lie to the people of Yu Kingdom!"

Gao Mengli and Lin Xi: ...

There's so much to do, I suddenly don't want to do it anymore.

Gao Mengli waved her hand: "If you don't believe me, then I won't do it."

Seeing that the two were about to give up on the spot, Dou Weiyi became anxious: "Do it, of course we'll do it! How can it be done if we don't do it?"

Hey, hey, I believe you, I believe you, okay?

"I was rash just now; I shouldn't have questioned it. But this matter is too important for the border soldiers, and I was just anxious. Please don't take it to heart, hehe!"

Eating meat and eating vegetables will result in different physical qualities!

A strong army is what military families want to see. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it won't come again!

It's just salt, no big deal!

Dou Weiyi paced back and forth as she spoke, her eyes filled with joy:

"I immediately wrote to my old acquaintances in Shu'an. They have some connections there. We grew up together like brothers!"

Get some well salt; the emperor is far away, and the capital can't interfere!

You can focus on preparing the cured meat. If you need more manpower or materials, just let me know, and I'll take care of it.

Lin Xi's lips curled up slightly as she teased, "Your attitude changed quite quickly, sir!"

Gao Mengli nodded in agreement. Yes, things changed really quickly.

Dou Weiyi was a little embarrassed: "Hehe! Don't worry, just go ahead and do whatever you want!"

The Lotus Sect headquarters has more than two hundred members, and he arranged for them to dig a river channel when he came to the village today!

Once the river is widened and the dock is built, it will be very easy to transport this cured meat to Kyoto or the border!

Dou Weiyi is determined to take on this business!

Without waiting any longer, he set off to find Xue Ling!

After all, it was much easier for Xue Ling to manage well salt than for him.

Since his wife was the apple of his eye, he had no choice but to ask her to write a letter.

Gao Mengli and Lin Xi watched Dou Weiyi run out like the wind and clicked their tongues twice.

"What's Lord Dou in such a hurry for? Why are you running so fast?"

Hearing the sound, Gao Mengli and Lin Xi turned around and saw their mother and their third brother's wife, Yang Qing, walk in.

Lin Xi quickly stood up: "Mother, Third Sister-in-law, what brings you here?"

Jiang Shuzhi smiled, gently patted Lin Xi's hand, and led Yang Qing to sit down next to the two of them: "When I finished work today, Yang Qing's family sent over wedding invitations. Here, these are yours."

As he spoke, he placed the red wedding invitation on the table.

Gao Mengli quickly picked it up, opening it as she asked, "Is there good news in your family, Third Sister-in-law?"

Yang Qing nodded: "Yes, that's right. My youngest sister, Yang Qiao'er, is getting married in seven days, so I'd like to invite you to her wedding banquet!"

Gao Mengli nodded: "She and Zhuangzhuang got engaged a few months ago, and we thought the wedding wouldn't be until after the New Year! Okay, Xixi and I will definitely go then!"

After seeing the two off, the two men took the iron and examined it.

As Zhuangzhuang is also the pork supplier for their restaurant, they decided to prepare a generous gift.

"Xixi, does your family need to buy jewelry for your dowry?"

Gao Mengli had no knowledge in this area, since she simply wrapped her head in a headscarf every day and didn't wear any jewelry.

Lin Xi carefully examined the wedding invitation and nodded slightly: "According to custom, we should add some jewelry. It seems that a gold shop has opened in the county town. Shall we go and take a look?"

Gao Mengli thought for a moment, glanced at the sky, and realized it wasn't late.

So he tilted his head, gesturing to Lin Xi: "Shall we go?"

Lin Xi smiled and immediately stood up, took the wedding invitation back to her room, and took the money with her.

The two then got into a horse-drawn carriage and drove around the county town!

However, we waited for the bus or horse-drawn carriage for quite a long time.

Gao Mengli frowned: "There are many more people working in the county town and villages lately, so why are the horse-drawn carriages so busy and hard to wait for?"

Lin Xi pursed her lips and chimed in, "That's for sure. Now that the autumn harvest is over, everyone's free, so they're all out looking for work."

Unfortunately, our village has the most work, so there are many people coming and going. It's also cheaper to take a horse-drawn carriage, so most people walk here.

After a long day of work, I'll take a horse-drawn carriage home.

"What about the horses that were confiscated a few days ago?" Gao Mengli remembered this.

"It seems to be at the village chief's house. Shall we go check it out?"

Gao Mengli nodded slightly, and the two immediately headed towards the village chief's house.

Just then, the village chief came out. When he saw the two of them, his face lit up with joy: "I was just about to go to your house to look for you! I didn't expect you to come here first!"

Gao Mengli and Lin Xi exchanged a glance, their hearts filled with doubt.

Lin Xi looked at the village chief with a smile: "Village chief, what do you need us for?"

The village chief sighed, "I got some horses a few days ago, and I was going to send them to you, but my eldest son said you didn't have time to take care of them, so I took care of them for two days instead."

However, they've eaten way too much... so I was wondering if you have any plans for them?

After saying that, the village chief scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly.

After all, he wanted to help them raise the rice, but his family's rice bran wouldn't allow it!

Moreover, the horses need to be fed salt and bathed occasionally, and there are three of them. They are too precious for him to afford!

Gao Mengli chuckled and teased, "Village Chief, this is our fault. We should have taken over earlier, but we were just too busy and didn't think of it for a moment!"

Lin Xi nodded with a broad smile: "Yes, that's why we came to find you about this!"

The village chief slapped his thigh happily: "Hey, timing is everything! We were just thinking the same thing! So, what are your plans for the horses?"

Gao Mengli stroked her chin, pondered for a moment, and then:

"Village chief, I'm thinking that more and more people are coming and going in our village. Go find my father in a little while."

Ask him to make a horse-drawn carriage. There are three horse-drawn carriages in the village, but that's not enough. Add another one.

You, the stableman, can find someone in the village to do this job. The pay will be the same as Zhao Chen's, eight hundred coins, but they will have to help feed the horses.

"The remaining two horses, you have the bandits lead them to the river to dredge up the silt."

After all, without large excavators, clearing the river section by hand is still a lot of work.

All things considered, it will probably take about six months to build the dock.

The village chief's eyes lit up, and he nodded hurriedly:

"Oh my, your arrangements are perfect! Brother Lin's skills are superb, he'll definitely be able to build a carriage!"

"Among the candidates for Madam Ma, I have a few reliable and hardworking men in mind who will surely drive the carriage steadily."

After saying that, he immediately went to make the arrangements.

Gao Mengli and Lin Xi returned to the village entrance and sat by the roadside to wait for the horse-drawn carriage.

Lin Xi's legs hurt from standing, so she went to the public restroom next door and asked the "director" for a stool to sit on!

Of course the director would agree! He limped over and brought them a bench, placing it by the roadside.

The two sat by the roadside, calmly watching the end of the red brick road.

Before long, a light drizzle began to fall.

"It's getting colder and colder today," Lin Xi sighed, looking up at the somewhat gloomy sky.

"Who says it isn't?"

Gao Mengli tightened her clothes, but unfortunately she didn't turn up the collar, otherwise she would have had to turn it up to keep warm.

The number of people waiting for the carriage was increasing.

They can stand, lean, or sit.

Lin Xi glanced around at the people waiting for their "ride," their postures a jumble of oddities, and then tugged at Gao Mengli's hand:

"Mengli, why don't we have the village build a bus stop? It can provide shelter from the wind and rain, and people can sit and rest."

Gao Mengli's eyes lit up, and she nodded in agreement with Lin Xi's words:

“That’s a good idea! When we get back, we’ll mark the route for the carriage.”

Number one and number two will go directly to the county seat, while numbers three and four will go to Hetou Town!

The two sat on the bench chirping crickets for a while before the carriage slowly swayed over.

The crowd suddenly became restless, and everyone rushed toward the carriage, carrying bundles and baskets.

The two people sitting on the bench were dumbfounded, as if they were about to squeeze onto a bus.

This county town isn't necessarily a must-visit...

Fortunately, Zhao Chen spotted the two in a carriage behind them.

They immediately refused to let the "passengers" onto the bus, saying, "I'm sorry everyone, our boss needs the vehicle, so we can't let anyone on this trip. Please wait for the next one."

Upon hearing this, everyone realized there were no seats left in this carriage, so they quickly ran back to the carriage in front, crowding themselves so much that they were practically sitting on the wheels.

Lin Xi twitched her lips: "Mengli, it feels like the Indians are riding a train. It seems overloaded, a bit dangerous..."

Hearing Lin Xi's mutterings, Zhao Chen waved his hand and said, "Boss, don't worry, the horse can pull it!"

Lin Xi's lips twitched even more violently.

Is this a matter of whether the horse can pull it or not?

Gao Mengli also looked helpless. She patted Lin Xi's hand and said, "Let's get in the car first. This matter can be resolved when the village adds more cars."

The carriage wasn't going very fast, so it wasn't that dangerous and there was no need to worry too much.

"Yes!"

After Lin Xi responded, she quickly returned the stool to the director.

Then, the two got up and walked towards Zhao Chen's carriage.

Once inside the carriage, Zhao Chen flicked his whip, and the carriage slowly moved forward.

"By the way, boss, why did you decide to go to the county town today?" Zhao Chen asked curiously as he drove the carriage.

After all, these two people stay at home every day and rarely go to the county town.

"Let's go take a look at the Golden Pavilion. Do you know where it is located?"

Zhao Chen nodded: "Jinlou? I know it! But this one isn't in the west of the city, it's in the east."

"East City?"

Lin Xi and Gao Mengli exchanged a glance.

But after thinking about it, I understood.

After all, the east is considered the most auspicious direction.

Only wealthy and influential people like Qian Yun, Dou Weiyi, and the teachers of the academy lived in the eastern part of the city.

The western part of the city was a market town, where ordinary people lived, and the cost of living was not as high as in the eastern part.

It is estimated that the owner of Jinlou felt that there was not much business, so he opened it in the East City.

"Alright, then take us to the East City."

Zhao Chen agreed to Gao Mengli's request and then focused on driving the carriage towards the east of the city.