He Lingchuan smiled. "During those days the hurricane raged, we sold well over six hundred bowls a day."
The moment he finished speaking, several patrons in the dining hall looked up and quietly walked over to the open kitchen counter, ordering freshly made bowls of yellow croaker noodles.
With He Lingchuan present, Dou Wenguan set down his chopsticks and ceased eating, while Dou Wuxing continued conscientiously working his way through the last few dumplings.
"Your coming brings light to my humble abode," He Lingchuan said. He called for the shopkeeper to bring wine, but Dou Wuxing shook his head. "No wine for me. I'd like to look around later."
Knowing him to be an honest, straightforward man, He Lingchuan changed the order to a pot of hot tea. Seeing that Dou Wuxing hadn't had his fill, he ordered two steamer baskets of fresh bamboo shoot and pork buns and two of crab roe soup dumplings for the brothers.
Remembering that Dou Wenguan had a sweet tooth, he also called for a plate of small sesame shaobing made with aphid sugar.
Sure enough, Dou Wenguan couldn't praise them enough as he ate. "What a unique flavor! This isn't honey, is it?"
He Lingchuan smiled. "No. Even that hint of spice comes naturally with the sugar." The flavor of aphid sugar was blended personally by Zhu Erniang, making it far more versatile and varied than honey.
The awkwardness of meeting again after a year melted away over a few lines of small talk. Dou Wenguan sighed with feeling:
"These islands of yours are genuinely impressive—everything is in such good order. In Lingxu City, so many scions of wealthy families look glamorous on the surface, but they might not have an estate this grand under their own names!"
If Lingxu City lacked anything, it certainly wasn't second-generation officials and wealthy heirs; throw a brick down the street at random, and you would hit at least two of them.
Flaunting wealth, tossing money around, booking out entire venues—none of that was ever news.
Such a vast City of Heaven's Chosen was the very picture of an intoxicating vanity fair of wine, money, and renown.
When Dou Wenguan looked at He Lingchuan, his eyes held a touch of wistful admiration.
Back then, they were companions drinking and making merry together in Lingxu City, their standings indistinguishable from each other. After not seeing each other for a year, He Lingchuan had suddenly written them a letter, out of the blue announcing that he owned islands...
An entire archipelago of forty-two islands.
And what about the two brothers? They had traveled thousands of li just to work for someone else. The gap had widened in an instant.
He Lingchuan took a bite of a small shaobing. "They live in luxury, clothed in fine silks and dining on delicacies, with family estates managed for them. How could they compare to someone like me, born to toil and having to attend to everything in person?"
He inquired further into the Dou brothers' circumstances and learned that their dreams of staying in Lingxu City had indeed been shattered.
In fact, this had something to do with He Lingchuan himself. Ever since he had wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace and Fang Canran had unleashed the Thunder-Wielding Behemoth to cause massive destruction in the imperial capital of Beijia, both Lingxu City and the Heavenly Palace had been beside themselves with fury. Aside from further escalating the war in the east, the Demon Emperor had personally ordered a strict investigation into the backgrounds of all Mou Kingdom natives residing in Lingxu City.
Anyone whose background was suspect or could not be clearly verified was arrested as a spy.
When superiors gave a glance, subordinates knew what to do. The Demon Emperor had merely said "strictly investigate," but as the directive was carried out through each level of the hierarchy, the pressure escalated until it became outright expulsion.
The Dou brothers had clean records, or they would have been detained long ago. Even so, they had been on edge, knowing full well that a new storm was brewing.
Sure enough, the Lingxu Imperial Academy soon issued them expulsion notices, giving them ten days to leave Lingxu City or face prosecution under the law.
Dou Wuxing had been on track to secure a minor post under the Minister of Agriculture, and Dou Wenguan had gained the favor of the Director of Reception. With this upheaval, their prospects evaporated, and they had no choice but to dejectedly return to their home country.
Strictly speaking, the two were not truly from the Mou Kingdom, but the official records they had originally submitted registered them as scholars from Mou, so they had no ground to contest their expulsion.
He Lingchuan immediately expressed sympathy for their ordeal, then rubbed his fists in indignation. "And here I thought Lingxu City was enlightened and all-embracing. Who knew that in the end, it still judges people by their country of origin."
Dou Wenguan nodded. "Such is the way of the entire world; why should Beijia be any different? Wherever one is born, one is branded with that mark, and it can hardly be changed in this lifetime."
Upon returning to Shahe, the two had secured posts at the local yamen. Though the work was leisurely, with hardly anything to do all day, both felt their talents were going to waste.
When they received He Lingchuan's letter, the brothers discussed it for several nights and decided to come.
They were unattached anyway; what harm was there in venturing out to make a name for themselves?
They also asked about He Lingchuan's experiences over the past year. He merely said that he had traveled across various nations, sailed to the Yangshan Archipelago, and decided to take root here after seeing what an auspicious place of rich land and remarkable people it was.
Dou Wenguan said at once, "The Yangshan Archipelago is a wonderful place—it could easily serve as an heirloom estate for generations."
Having dealt with him before, He Lingchuan knew the man had begun probing. He glanced at him. "A mere archipelago—what talk is there of an heirloom estate?"
"Brother He, you mean...?" Dou Wenguan stroked his chin. "If I remember correctly, there isn't much unclaimed land around here."
Dou Wenguan's unspoken question was whether He Lingchuan intended to remain content in this remote corner or harbored far greater ambitions.
He Lingchuan said meaningfully, "There will be."
If he intended merely to live out his days quietly as an island lord, would the Dou brothers still stay?
Dou Wenguan looked visibly moved.
By this time, Dou Wuxing stuffed the last crab roe soup dumpling into his mouth and gulped down a large mouthful of tea. "The food here is delicious—far better than back home."
Seeing that they had eaten and drunk their fill, He Lingchuan personally took them out for a tour.
The palm harvest season was over, but the laborers were not left idle; instead, they had been reassigned to expand Suoding Island.
Before Fang Canran departed the Yangshan Archipelago, he had drawn up a detailed development plan for the islands' commercial district—thorough, well-developed, and thoughtfully conceived—so that He Lingchuan only needed to follow the blueprint.
Suoding Island would see the addition of inns, taverns, teahouses, and numerous entertainment facilities, as well as a number of private residences.
In any city or domain, real estate was a vital industry for absorbing and holding wealth. Seeing the Yangshan Archipelago flourish, Fang Canran had suggested that He Lingchuan keep an eye on residential land prices, so that property could be leased or sold at opportune moments.
Blade Harbor was an ice-free port, and many merchants traveled this shipping lane year-round. They would purchase residential properties and storefronts in valuable, promising areas along the coast as investments.
The other islands designated for farming and residence required zoning into markets, workshops, and residential quarters, along with infrastructure such as water supply and drainage systems.
This would enhance living comfort while minimizing pollution and inconvenience.
Thus, when the Dou brothers arrived on the island, construction was underway everywhere, and people were working in high spirits.
Dou Wenguan was thoroughly intrigued and could not help saying to He Lingchuan, "This place is fascinating! I want to take up a post under you, Brother He."
He Lingchuan clapped his hands. "That is precisely what I had hoped for!"
Dou Wenguan was eloquent, tactful, and sharp in handling affairs, with a real knack for dealing with people.
The position He Lingchuan assigned him was Commissioner of Trade—in other words, a trade representative. If the industries of the Yangshan Archipelago were to expand and diversify in the future, opening extensive trade routes and dealing with merchants from all quarters would be unavoidable.
When necessary, he would also serve concurrently as an envoy of the Yangshan Archipelago on diplomatic missions to other states.
Although He Lingchuan had people like Ding Zuodong and Guan Ke under his command, their existing duties were too heavy and their energy limited; they could not take on such tasks as well. Moreover, one could never have too much talent, and He Lingchuan had no desire to keep shearing the same two sheep until they were bald.
Sure enough, Dou Wenguan agreed without hesitation, his face beaming with excitement.
Chapter 1047