in2ebook Chapter 258: Ministers Visit Beichuan
Chapter 258: Ministers Visit Beichuan
"That's why people should keep learning throughout their lives. Don't rely on ghost stories when you see something you haven't seen before." Ming Yu said cryptically.
When the plane reached the sky above Pingyang County, before it even landed, the ministers looked through the glass at the endless stream of people coming and going below.
On the other side, neat rows of small houses are covered with flowers. A stream flows slowly between the houses, and delicate little wooden boats float down the stream.
"Guard Ming, where is that down there? How come I didn't know there was such a beautiful place in Da Chu?"
"Sir, this is Pingyang County in Beichuan. Didn't the emperor tell you before coming here?"
"Beichuan? Guard Ming, this joke is not funny at all!
Everyone knows that Beichuan is a barren land. There are always sandstorms all year round, and the severe cold in winter causes many people to freeze to death on the streets.
Now, can you tell us that the prosperous place down there is called Beichuan?"
Ming Yu shrugged helplessly and said, "If the adults don't believe me, then there's nothing I can do. The plane is about to land, so I'll just ask the people down there myself!"
The helicopter landed in the central square of Pingyang County. People here seemed to be accustomed to airplanes.
Apart from a sideways glance at the person getting off the plane, there was no other glance.
After dropping off the ministers, Censor Xie and General Shan, father and son, drove a bus to pick them up and take them to the inn.
The ministers circled the bus again and again, asking curiously, "Your Excellency, what kind of new transportation is this?"
"car."
The ministers were still waiting for Censor Xie to continue explaining, and that was the end of it?
So what the hell is a car?
"Hurry up and get in the car. Chang Zhan and I were having a good time, but I was arranged to receive you." Censor Xie complained.
The car door opened, and Censor Xie and General Shan got in first and sat in the front row.
Those who get on the bus later can only sit down in order, and those who get on the bus early grab the window seats.
Touching the soft cushions, the ministers were amazed. "What kind of magical place have we come to? Planes can fly and cars can run on their own."
Because they were in the inner city, Shan Rongjie was not driving fast, and the ministers did not know his true speed, otherwise they would be surprised.
While driving, they also discovered an interesting place.
This thing called an asphalt road was divided into two halves by trees, with two white lines drawn on each side.
There are many poles erected on both sides of the road, with beautiful designs on top.
Someone thought of the lights at the palace banquet and pointed at the streetlights and couldn't help asking, "Could that be an electric light?"
"It looks quite similar. If this were a light bulb, it would be a complete waste of natural resources, just leaving it on the road like this."
Overhearing their discussion, Censor Xie couldn't help but turn around and complain, "What a waste of natural resources! They're meant to illuminate the night. Why are you so surprised by something so rare?"
After complaining, he turned around and sat up straight. The ministers all shut up, feeling that he was so ignorant!
They continued looking out the window. Every time they came to an intersection, cars slowed down and people walked on the many white lines when crossing the intersection.
Censor Xie and General Shan were both sitting in the front row, and it looked like they didn't want to pay any attention to them, so they could only hide their curiosity in their hearts and wait for an opportunity to ask again.
The inner city is very small, and it only takes a few minutes to get from the central square to the inn.
The inn is a long-established one in Pingyang County. Now, all industries are undergoing standardization and rectification. Even the traditional inns have improved a lot in terms of hygiene and service.
After settling the ministers, Censor Xie instructed, "The inn provides three meals a day, so don't miss them. We'll pick you up at 8:30 tomorrow morning, so don't oversleep."
After Xie Yushi and the other two left, the ministers said in shame, "We really misunderstood the emperor. The food, accommodation, and transportation have been arranged very well. This inn is much cleaner than the inns in the capital."
After putting down their luggage, they wanted to go out and explore this so-called Pingyang County before the sun sets.
The ministers went out in groups of three or five. The inn had human-powered bicycles that could be pedaled and were quite fast. If they just wanted to stroll around, it was enough.
We have both single and multi-passenger vehicles. You can rent one for a day for just 100 wen during the day. At night, when the vehicle is used more frequently, it's a bit more expensive, 150 wen per night.
If you don't want to ride by yourself, you can hire a waiter. He only needs to pay thirty cents to accompany you for a whole day.
Compared with the tens of thousands of taels that the emperor would spend to cheat them, this little money was nothing.
The two of them shared one tricycle, and the inn rented out ten tricycles and ten waiters at once. The innkeeper was so happy that he couldn't stop smiling.
I quickly took out twenty bottles of water and gave them to them. "This is free water from our store. You can drink it if you get thirsty during your trip!"
The ministers looked at the bottled water again and again. Pingyang County had already entered. Was drinking water also for sale?
"thank you boss!"
After getting in the car, the waiter asked, "Where do you want to go, sir?"
"We're new here and don't know much either, so why don't you just take us around?"
"Okay, then let's go for a walk in the outer city before it gets dark. After we finish touring the outer city, it will be dark, so we can go to see the night view of the inner city." The waiter pedaled the tricycle and asked the adults for their opinions.
"Okay, let's go shopping as you say!"
When you come to the outer city, the asphalt road is still the same as that in the inner city, but there are obviously more vehicles in the outer city.
"Waiter, why are there so many cars coming out of the city at this hour? What are they going to do?"
When they were following Censor Xie, they didn't dare to ask, but when they were with the waiter, they asked freely.
"There are people coming to purchase goods, look at houses, go to hotels in the outer city, and do all kinds of things." The waiter said with pride.
Who would have thought that last year they were on the brink of life and death due to drought, but this year the situation has developed at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The carriages were in an orderly manner, each driving in the corresponding horizontal line. Even if the speed increased, there was no need to worry about bumping into others.
The waiter took them to the trade center, where merchants from surrounding countries gathered. Although it was already evening, it was still bustling with people.
"My lords, this is the trade center. Many things from all over the country are purchased from here. Would you like to get off the bus and take a look around?"
The ministers disembarked, like Granny Liu touring the Grand View Garden. There were many things here that weren't available in the capital. Even if they were available there, the prices here were much, much cheaper.
They had originally just come to look around, but who knew they would end up buying too much. Fortunately, they listened to the emperor and brought some extra money, otherwise this trip would have been in vain.
Those who brought too little were very upset and started borrowing money from others!
They only gave up when they bought so many things that there was no room in the car.
On the way back, they passed by a hotel that was converted from a finished house. Looking at the novel appearance, the ministers stopped the waiter again.
"Waiter, what are those things that look like houses?"
The waiter looked up and said, "Oh, you mean that hotel?"
"What is a hotel? A place to drink?"
The minister's words caused the waiter to chuckle, "Your Excellency is joking. The place where we drink is a bar, on the pedestrian street beside the Qushui River in the inner city.
I can take you to taste the cocktails there later. They are both beautiful and delicious.
This hotel is a place to stay, an inn. It has been around since last year. There is nothing new about it, it is just more convenient to stay in.
You can use the toilet and shower right inside, without having to go out to use the public toilets. After using the toilet, just press the button and the dirty things will be flushed away. It's very clean!"
"Is there something so magical? Take us to see it!"
……