Since the island was not large anyway, he simply acted as a tour guide, taking He Lingchuan on an on-site inspection.
After walking less than half a lap around the island, He Lingchuan had to admit, "Indeed, the scenery is magnificent." Few could resist the allure of the vast ocean.
Along their route back and forth, they saw a long pipeline made of thick bamboo stems; they even followed along it for over a hundred zhang.
"The supply post hollowed out thick bamboo stalks and joined them section by section, spanning several hundred zhang to channel down stream and spring water from the hills." Otherwise, the fresh water passing ships needed would have to be scooped out by hiking into the hills.
"That is quite convenient."
Registrar Yang also presented the compensation agreement signed with the tenant, complete with signatures and thumbprints from both parties.
With vast sums on the table, the Lu family would not fret over a few scraps of silver.
Afterward, the party set off for Suoding Island.
Of the six outer islands of the Yangshan Archipelago, only the two closest to the shipping lanes had supply posts established on them.
Suoding Island was surprisingly three times larger than Heiye Island. The terrain was quite flat and similarly dominated by shale. To He Lingchuan's surprise, the supply post here was built remarkably neatly. The jetty was broad and level, while the buildings ashore had their exterior walls smoothed with grayish-white plaster, studded with white specks of locally sourced seashells, and roofs uniformly thatched with thick seagrass.
Viewed from afar, the several rows of houses were arranged in orderly tiers, resembling plump, solid round mushrooms nestled amidst glossy palm groves.
Inspecting them up close, the functions of the buildings were sensibly partitioned: a warehouse area specifically for unloading cargo from ships, a provisions section designated for food, tobacco, and spirits, as well as a kitchen and a lounge hall.
Naturally, the food and water had already been cleared out.
The rows of buildings behind served as guest quarters. Along the seaside were single-occupancy VIP suites boasting front-row sea views and peaceful seclusion.
Closest to the warehouse area were communal bunks accommodating seven or eight people, and standard guest rooms for four or five.
Utensils and furnishings of every sort were neatly arranged, as though the owner had merely stepped out for a moment.
Perhaps because the contrast with the supply post on Heiye Island was so striking, He Lingchuan found the place exceptionally pleasant to look at. The original post master must have poured considerable effort into it.
"This place was built quite well." It was not overly large, but clean and tidy. There would be no need to tear it down later—only to expand it.
Registrar Yang smiled. "Indeed, most vessels prefer to moor here. Ah, behind this is a sulfur hot spring where people can soak right in. A dip does wonders to wash away fatigue."
He led He Lingchuan to see the hot spring, which was really just a small pool in a half-bay off to the side. Steam rose from its surface, and the smell of sulfur wafted over as soon as one drew near.
It was a seawater hot spring, and the outflow appeared quite copious. Reaching down to test it, He Lingchuan found it was around forty-five or forty-six degrees.
He Lingchuan was pleased. A natural hot spring was a definite bonus; yes, well worth developing.
"This supply post is truly well made. With the lease not yet expired, was the original owner willing to leave?"
"Once the compensation was paid, they had nothing to complain about."
In He Lingchuan's original world, this was called a contract cancellation fee.
After circling less than half the island, He Lingchuan spotted two more small villages, both situated alongside a stream, though sparsely populated.
Elderly villagers sat on benches outside their houses, watching them impassively.
"And these are?"
"They are island residents. They have lived here for decades and hold land deeds that the Lu clan's ancestors recognized as well." In other words, a historical legacy issue. "Other islands have small hamlets like this too—as few as twenty-some people, and fifty at most."
So this was the protected private property mentioned in the transfer agreement for the Yangshan Archipelago? According to the agreement, He Lingchuan could not forcibly evict them.
"Across the entire archipelago, how many villages are there in all?"
"Uh, six. Heiye Island has three; this island is larger, so there are slightly more villages."
"Is this village the most populous?" He Lingchuan pointed ahead. "What is it called?"
Registrar Yang was not sure either. Only after sending someone in to ask did he learn: "Luding Village. Named after Luding Stream beside it."
"With so few people, do they make a living just by farming?"
"Presumably so."
Registrar Yang's reply was tantamount to "I have no idea." He Lingchuan glanced at him. "Do they not pay rent or taxes?" Otherwise, the authorities would at least know the basics.
Registrar Yang coughed. "The population is just too small."
Meaning they did not pay.
Traveling across several islands just to collect a paltry pittance would not even cover the labor costs of tax collection. Since running those petty accounts was a losing proposition, Bailie simply did not bother collecting.
He Lingchuan nodded and walked on.
Palm trees grew all over the island. There was even a farmstead in the woods equipped with numerous tools; behind the house were piles of fruit and fruit husks that resembled chestnuts, only much larger.
He Lingchuan picked up a husk and examined it. "What is this?"
Registrar Yang said, "Those are palm fruits. They have been harvesting the fruit and pressing oil here without authorization, never reporting it or paying taxes!"
The archipelago had previously belonged to Bailie, so naturally the island's produce also belonged to Bailie. The supply post had organized the villagers to build a workshop and press oil without paying extra to Bailie, so Registrar Yang was naturally displeased.
Of course, these islands would soon belong to He Lingchuan, and would have nothing to do with Bailie.
"There are many palm trees on this island. Are they high-yielding?"
"They can be seen everywhere," Registrar Yang replied offhandedly. "I have heard there are even more in the depths of the archipelago."
"Oh? Heard?" He Lingchuan eyed him. "Registrar Yang hasn't gone into the depths of the archipelago to look?"
Thinking back, the palm trees on Longji Island had indeed been countless. He had seen heavy clusters of fruit both on the trees and fallen below, utterly unharvested.
Registrar Yang caught himself—he had almost let something slip! He hastily smoothed over his words: "I dread rough seas and rarely board a ship. Other affairs concerning the Yangshan Archipelago were all handled by my colleagues."
He Lingchuan grunted an acknowledgment and did not press the matter, returning to the shore under Registrar Yang's escort to board the vessel.
Yet no sooner had they reached the beach than sounds of bickering drifted from the jetty ahead.
He Lingchuan looked up. The dozen or so guards Registrar Yang had brought were blocking the jetty, as if surrounding someone.
He Lingchuan could not see the other party in the argument, but he could hear a clear, furious voice ringing out:
"Everything here was built by my family! By what right do you just give it away to someone else? Did you get our permission?! There are still seven years left on our lease. By what right are you kicking us out? Don't you know a sale doesn't break a lease?!"
It was a woman, her voice quite young, speaking at a rapid-fire clip like popping beans, pouring out words in a torrential rattle.
Facing her, more than a dozen grown men could not out-argue her, unable to even drown out her voice.
Furious, one of the guards reached out to shove her, but before his fingers could even touch her, the woman grabbed his arm, yanked him hard outward, and unleashed a flying kick straight into his belly.
Splash! A grown man of over a hundred and fifty jin was actually kicked right into the water by her.
The other guards saw this—Oho, you dare fight back?—and immediately lunged to seize her.
Moving a step faster, the woman leapt back onto a small skiff, grabbed a wooden oar, and swept it violently at the guard rushing down after her.
Another man splashed into the water.
She was exceptionally nimble, and the remaining guards had no desire to take a blow from the oar. So they seized the mooring ropes, pulling together to drag the boat toward the jetty. That way, her only options would be to fall into the water or be captured—what third choice could there possibly be?
Chapter 898