Chapter 1263: Wine Gathering and Old Friends

The harmonious relationship between the Yangshan Chamber of Commerce and the local community came about very naturally.

That lively evening passed quickly.

Several major business deals had already come in, specifically awaiting the opening of the Yangshan Guild Hall to be processed. Visiting cards from all parties piled up so high they overflowed the tables. Jiang Lishui, whom he had transferred from Jishi Village to serve as his secretary, was so excited he hadn't slept all night and worked like a man possessed.

"The long-sought opportunity has finally arrived!"

He took a visiting card from the stack and presented it with both hands to He Lingchuan, saying, "Island Master, this is the third visiting card from the envoy of Pei State."

He Lingchuan had glanced at the previous two, but this time he waved his hand without lifting his head, saying, "Ignore it for now."

"Yes," Jiang Lishui replied, finding it strange. The Island Master had specifically asked him to pay attention to the Pei envoy's visiting cards, but hadn't replied to a single one.

Pei State sent them three times in a row, but they all met with no response.

The Situ family had borrowed a large sum of money and provisions to support the war, which gave them a great advantage and caused Bhishar to suffer repeated defeats. This incident caused a great stir in the surrounding areas, and the Yangshan Chamber of Commerce became famous overnight as a result.

Pei State was also one of the seven states fighting Bhishar and among the earliest allies of Situ to join the war. Naturally, they were full of curiosity about the Yangshan Chamber of Commerce and He Lingchuan, hoping to make their acquaintance.

For an outsider to make such a splash in the central-western Goldflash Plain, they had to be either a swindler or a major financier.

Originally, the former was more likely, but the money and provisions the Situ family received, and the battles they won, already demonstrated the true strength of the Yangshan Chamber of Commerce.

People always flock to the powerful, and countless visiting cards from various forces, big and small, in the surrounding areas were sent to He Lingchuan. He also responded selectively.

Forces surrounding Pei State all received replies, but only Pei State was ignored.

Soon after, Situ He sent someone to inform them:

The drinking party had been arranged, and everyone was invited.

He Lingchuan immediately called for Dou Wenguan: "Put aside what you're doing for now; let's go meet some old friends."

At noon, at the Bamboo Seclusion Tavern.

Jucheng had just been recaptured and had not yet recovered from the state of war. In addition, the city's population was sparse. Now, only two or three out of ten shops on the main street were open, and pedestrians were few and far between.

There were four or five taverns open in the entire city. Bamboo Seclusion was not the largest among them, but it was the busiest.

Since it was called "Bamboo Seclusion," the private rooms were all distinctive bamboo-clad stilt houses. However, they had been built some years ago and creaked whenever anyone walked up or down.

As He Lingchuan and Dou Wenguan creaked their way up, the people inside exclaimed excitedly:

"They're here, they're here!"

There were eleven or twelve people sitting in the private room. Situ He was prominently among them, and more than half of the others were old acquaintances He Lingchuan had known in Lingxu City.

After more than two years apart, their reunion was a flurry of warm greetings.

For a time, laughter and joyful voices filled the air, as if they had returned to the good old days.

He Lingchuan held his wine cup and expressed his dissatisfaction to Situ He: "With so many old friends, why did you only bring these few?"

This gathering today was arranged by Situ He; he was also the one who brought these people together.

Yu Hai chuckled, "Situ wants to save you some money."

Situ He clarified, "No, no, I'm not that kind. With these battles going on, our good friends have scattered far and wide, and you, Old He, were pressing for it. It wasn't easy for me to gather even you few. The others will have to be found gradually."

With seven allied armies attacking Bhishar, the surrounding areas were very turbulent. Everyone knew to stay far away.

He then said to He Lingchuan, "These dozen or so people are all from nearby areas; the other classmates will have to be sought out further afield."

"Alright, you've done well; there's no hurry," He Lingchuan said, raising his cup. "Come, a toast to old friends and new!"

This gathering today was an "old-brings-new" situation; He Lingchuan got to know five or six new friends, all of whom had once studied in Lingxu City or Mou State.

These returning students formed several circles and usually kept in touch. It wasn't difficult for Situ He to find them for a drink, but during the war, some people were simply not in the vicinity.

Everyone chatted about old times, then discussed the changes in Lingxu City two years ago, debated the current situation in the Goldflash Plain, and sighed over the fleeting nature of life. The sun slowly set.

Wine is a broom to sweep away sorrows, but sometimes the more you sweep, the more sorrow you find. Someone, it's unclear who, started talking about the future of their homelands, and everyone drank in silence, suddenly becoming despondent.

They had all witnessed the prosperity of Beige and the power of Mou State, and knew that the outside world was vast and boundless, while only the Goldflash Plain remained backward and impoverished, unchanged for centuries.

For centuries, how many heroes and righteous individuals had vowed to restore their lands, only to end in failure. Everyone present knew very well that no matter how ambitious they were, they could not escape the same fate.

The time loop of the Goldflash Plain would only repeat itself once more.

Kang Lang, one of the newly joined students, sighed, "Ignorance is bliss. Sometimes I truly envy those peasants and country women who live in blissful ignorance all day, only concerned with their chores and fields."

Situ He didn't like to hear this. "When Bhishar attacked last time," he retorted, "over a hundred people from Cotton Village were abducted to be sacrificed to the Ghost King. The Bhishar people dug a large pit and buried them all, and their bodies were mangled beyond recognition by wild dogs! The peasants and country women you speak of cannot even protect their own lives in this chaotic world! Brother Kang, you have fertile land and large houses in your royal estate, you don't worry about food or drink, and you have military guards, so you don't fear bandits. How can you still envy those common people who live from hand to mouth?"

He had truly seen and endured enough these past few months.

Kang Lang was left speechless by his retort and felt somewhat ashamed.

At today's gathering, Kang Lang actually held the highest status. Others lived in mansions, but he lived in a royal palace—

He was the sixth son of the King of Poliu and the son-in-law of the Khan tribe leader. Both of these forces were among the seven allied armies attacking Bhishar.

Kang Lang went to Beige a year later than Situ He and studied at a different academy, not Lingxu Grand Academy.

When Situ He explained Kang Lang's background to He Lingchuan, he explicitly stated that this prince was so favored by his father that it almost brought him mortal danger, which was why he was sent to Beige to study.

His marriage was naturally also a political alliance, and it was said that "the bride was stronger than him"—Situ He's exact words.

Though a prince, he was still not his own master. He Lingchuan understood his feelings.

Yu Hai quickly raised his cup to smooth things over: "The common people's worries are about food and clothing, while our worries are about finding a way forward. However, once war breaks out and chaos ensues, we are all like rootless duckweed, our lives in others' hands. Alas, how much difference can there be?"

Kang Lang nodded, "It was a slip of the tongue; don't be angry, Situ."

Dou Wenguan also said, "Indeed. I heard that Situ was captured by Bhishar not long ago and almost had his eyes gouged out, his tongue cut off, and was hung upside down from the city gate. Am I exaggerating?"

Situ He raised his left hand, showing three fingers. "Of course not!" he exclaimed. "If it weren't for Brother He's timely rescue, you'd be burning ghost money for me right now."

Others had already noticed the disability in his hand but didn't want to ask. However, Situ He held his head high and looked proud, treating it as a warrior's medal, so everyone felt at ease asking about what happened.

They were chatting enthusiastically when He Lingchuan exchanged a glance with Yu Hai. The two quietly left the table to get some fresh air by the river.