Chapter 2082: Prosperous City

He Lingchuan rode north, galloping with the autumn wind.

The wide official road was flanked by harvested rice paddies stretching to the horizon. The rice stalks, not yet bundled, stood stiffly in the fields, bristling like spikes.

As his horse galloped past, flocks of sparrows, pecking for grains on the ground, scattered into the air.

The scent of fresh rice stalks still lingered in the air, a fragrance that spoke of a bountiful harvest.

In some fields, farmers were still diligently working. Seeing him ride by, they all waved in greeting.

"General He!"

The further he rode, the more people he encountered.

Especially as he approached Panlong City, the official road became incredibly busy with traffic. No merchant caravan could move quickly; all had to proceed at a slow pace.

However, with the Tigerwing General returning with his troops, everyone instinctively moved to the side, allowing the army to pass first.

He Lingchuan first reported to the official yamen, completed some paperwork, and then went to the Enhancement Bureau to select some cultivation techniques.

He met countless acquaintances everywhere he went, and everyone greeted him with a smile.

Zhong Shengguang had been meeting with delegations all day and was reportedly scheduled for a dinner with foreign guests that evening, so he would definitely not have time to see him. Therefore, He Lingchuan changed his plans and headed to the Shumin Academy first.

By now, dusk was settling. Street lamps were just being lit, and two pairs of oversized lanterns had been hung at the entrance of Shumin Academy, casting light on the black flood dragon totem on the wall, making it look exceptionally grand and imposing.

The horns on the flood dragon's head had now grown longer, with the beginnings of a second pair of branches emerging.

He stepped into the academy, which was still quiet for the moment. Looking up, he saw the crescent moon hanging amidst the sparse phoenix tree branches, casting swaying shadows as the wind blew, accompanied by the chirping of autumn insects – a scene of unique tranquility.

However, this peace would only last until after dinner.

Shumin Academy also held evening classes, primarily for adults. He Lingchuan had seen how crowded it got when night classes ended; there were no fewer people than during the day!

At this hour, Tutor Sun was surely still there.

Indeed, he had only turned two corners, not yet reaching the library, when he heard Sun Fuling's voice from behind the Round Moon Gate:

"...The classrooms are easy enough to resolve; we can rent civilian houses. But teaching resources and personnel are far too scarce!"

Another tutor sighed, "Alas, why has the number of new students enrolling this autumn suddenly surged?"

"Have you forgotten? This year, Panlong City has newly absorbed seven tribes, and several prominent families from the north also..."

Before Tutor Sun could finish speaking, He Lingchuan heard a faint whoosh. Looking up, he saw a small pebble arc over the wall, heading straight for him.

He caught the stone in his hand. From behind the wall, the tutor asked, "Who's hiding there?"

"Reporting, Tutor," He Lingchuan peeked his head around the gate, raising his left hand. "Don't use force, it's me!"

The other tutor smiled upon seeing him, quickly greeted He Lingchuan, and then discreetly left, not wanting to intrude.

Sun Fuling looked at him, smiling, "You just got back? Why are you so much darker? You look like a row of white teeth floating in the air!"

"The sun in the south is scorching. Just a few days of sun, and you'd be tanned like traditional soy sauce." He Lingchuan naturally took the thick stack of books from her hands. "It's been a month, and you've gotten even fairer, Tutor."

Tutor Sun rolled her eyes at him. "Are you making fun of me for living in luxury?"

"You're working this late; how can that be considered living in luxury?" He Lingchuan interjected on her behalf, noting that overtime pay at Shumin Academy wasn't high. "We're both destined for hard work. Come on, let's go find a place to satisfy our hunger!"

He was starving.

After finding a classroom to drop off the books, he and the tutor went for a stroll, hand in hand.

Having been away for forty or fifty days, He Lingchuan found that new shops had opened in Panlong City.

Sun Fuling took him to "Fresh Delights," a restaurant whose name sounded unremarkable. However, it had become incredibly popular in Panlong City over the past month. During meal times, it was almost impossible to get a table without queuing by number.

He Lingchuan recognized the owner of the restaurant: the plump man who used to rent his shop, the proprietor of Hidden Treasure Isle.

After Panlong City's economy boomed, even though business competition intensified, the fat man thrived like a fish in water, becoming even more successful.

Of course, He Lingchuan had also heard that the man often boasted publicly that the Tigerwing General was a frequent patron of his establishment.

He Lingchuan was already a celebrity in Panlong City. If even he enjoyed the food, how could it be bad?

They arrived late to find a long queue outside the restaurant. He Lingchuan didn't want to use his connections and was about to turn away when a sharp-eyed waiter inside not only spotted him but also called out loudly with a full voice:

"The Tigerwing General is here!"

At this announcement, guests upstairs and downstairs all heard and looked up. Some, already familiar with him, waved with a smile.

At this point, He Lingchuan found it awkward to simply leave, so he stepped forward and said, "Business is so good, there aren't any seats left, are there?"

"Oh, we do, we do!" Just as the waiter spoke, someone nearby interjected, "Fresh Delights always has a table for the Tigerwing General, no matter when he comes!"

Hearing the fawning voice, He Lingchuan didn't even need to turn around to know it was the fat man himself.

The man's waistline was even larger than five years ago, and the flesh on his cheeks quivered slightly when he walked.

"I don't like cutting in line," He Lingchuan said. "I'll come another day."

The fat man shook his head. "No need to cut in line; I'll open my personal room for you! I don't usually entertain guests in my own room."

He was smart, knowing the Tigerwing General disliked flaunting privileges. That's why he specifically emphasized "his own room."

His own room didn't usually host diners, so it wouldn't disrupt other customers' meals. Was it a privilege? Yes, but not overly ostentatious.

With Sun Fuling looking on, He Lingchuan found it hard to refuse. "Alright, lead the way."

Beaming, the fat man led them to the back, past the main dining hall, and into a private room at the rear.

The restaurant had only been open for just over a month, and He Lingchuan only realized upon entering that the two private rooms at the back were separated from the main hall by the kitchen and two clumps of bamboo. This provided a quiet retreat amidst the bustle and was reserved for important guests; ordinary customers had no idea that Fresh Delights even had private rooms.

He Lingchuan smiled, "Looking at your physique, one can tell your business is growing bigger and bigger."

"Oh, this is all from breathing in cooking fumes," the fat man said with a wry face.

Sun Fuling teased him, "Isn't it good to have many customers? Your place is completely full."

To be honest, during the period when Panlong City was attacking Xianyou and confronting Beijia, fewer merchants visited, and foreign trade significantly shrank. Businesspeople look for expectations and stability, and neither of those was good at the time.

However, General Hong later decisively defeated Xianyou and secured passage rights for the Northwest Corridor, and Beijia also retreated. What seemed like an impending storm suddenly turned into a gentle breeze.

Everyone saw that Panlong City was formidable; even Beijia couldn't defeat it.

As a result, Panlong City's trade routes were further expanded.

Today, this majestic city has evidently become the most prosperous central city west of Xiluo, attracting not only merchants from north and south but also tourists who come specifically to see it.