"Mhm, I'll have to ask Uncle Qi about this when I get back and see what his thoughts are. Then I'll give you a definitive answer."
"Just keep it in mind."
"Such a good thing, I'll definitely keep it in mind."
In the evening, Fu Xin Ci returned home. After Qi Ge He came back, she recounted everything that Xiang Tong and Lan Tian Yao had discussed with her, word for word, to Qi He.
Qi He was also surprised to hear about this thing called coal.
"There's such a good thing in the world?"
"Of course there is." Fu Xin Ci then told Qi He about the benefits of coal before telling him to go find Uncle Qi and learn how to explain what she wanted to tell Uncle Qi.
Uncle Qi had never disappointed Fu Xin Ci. The message he sent back with Qi He was, "Bring that thing over for me to see, and then I'll go see General Liu."
Fu Xin Ci readily agreed and then wrote a note, asking Xiao Bai to deliver it to her friends in Long Cheng.
Xiao Bai: Why do you still make this Bai go out in such cold weather?
"You're a natural fur coat, don't make me, a human, laugh at you."
"Squeak squeak squeak." Smirked.
Fu Xin Ci: "You can go find trouble."
"Squeak squeak squeak." This Bai isn't coming back today.
After Xiao Bai finished speaking, it darted out, escaping before the human could lose her temper.
Only after it had successfully escaped the human's attack range did Xiao Bai relax. It wiggled its little chubby waist before rushing towards the thick snow.
"Squeak squeak squeak." Yoohoo, yoohoo.
If Fu Xin Ci were here, she would be stunned. Xiao Bai's skiing skills were quite good, the kind with a running start.
Its furry big tail swished and swished as it slid quite quickly, disappearing into the snow-covered mountains and forests in no time.
When Xiang Tong personally escorted a cartload of coal to the nearest guard post and stated that they were sent by Miss Fu, they were immediately allowed to pass.
Once they entered the borders of Da Ming, the driver whispered to Xiang Tong, who was on horseback, "I didn't expect Miss Fu's name to be so effective in Da Ming's guard posts."
"It's even more effective in our Long Cheng."
"That's true. Anyone who dares to disrespect Miss Fu is guaranteed to be mobbed."
"If they aren't beaten until they can't take care of themselves, I'll personally go and beat them again."
"Isn't that the truth?"
As they spoke, the two looked curiously at the somewhat desolate wilderness by the roadside.
"I didn't expect Liaodong to be so desolate in this era."
Xiang Tong, to block the biting north wind, tightened his thick fur coat and pushed back his slightly obstructive fur hat before replying, "This is the border. What kind of prosperity do you expect in the middle of winter?"
"Can't we see a single person for miles?"
The driver pointed at the desolate official road and flicked his whip, complaining to Xiang Tong, "Town Chief Xiang, we have food and drink. Why are we still out here in the middle of winter?"
"Consider it us out sightseeing," Xiang Tong said optimistically.
"Sightseeing? The north wind whistles like little knives, the mountains are bare, and the river is frozen. There's really nothing to see."
Xiang Tong knew the journey wouldn't be easy. He glanced at the driver before continuing, "This is our first time selling coal. How would these ancient people understand the benefits of burning coal?"
"Then we could have waited until spring next year. We're not in a hurry."
"You're an idiot. If winter passes, fewer people will buy coal."
"Then..."
"Then what? Waiting another year means losing a year's earnings. Do you know how much money is delayed in a year?"
"I don't know."
Xiang Tong looked at the dejected driver and gave him a shot of adrenaline.
"When we distribute meat next time, I'll give you an extra two catties."
"What about the wages?"
"Wages and meat aren't the same thing."
"Hehe, Town Chief, you're too kind. Giddy up, giddy up!!"
Xiang Tong hadn't expected that two catties of meat would settle the matter. If he had known two catties of meat were so effective, he would have said so long ago.
Looking at the driver's speed, as if he were being chased by dogs, Xiang Tong couldn't help but laugh.
By the time they reached Qingxi Town the next day and were led to the Meng family courtyard, Xiang Tong envied Fu Xin Ci's spacious courtyard.
"Xin Ci, your home is the best courtyard we've seen on our journey."
"You're just easily impressed. When you travel more in the future, you won't say such things."
"Perhaps." Xiang Tong finished speaking and happened to see an elderly man with excellent spirits and a kind smile walking out of the courtyard.
Without a doubt, Xiang Tong knew who it was. He quickly stepped forward to greet him, "Grandpa Meng, hello. I'm Xiang Tong."
Grandpa Meng had heard about Xiang Tong from his granddaughter and knew he was the town chief of Long Cheng.
However, the old man hadn't expected this young man to personally escort this cartload of black coal here.
Especially when he got closer and saw Xiang Tong's face covered in black dust, he quickly called out to him to go inside and wash.
Xiang Tong was in no hurry. He first clarified where the coal was to be placed, and after unloading the cart with the driver, the two of them simply washed up and ate.
Grandpa Meng squatted in front of the coal pile, looking at the pile of black, stone-like material. He couldn't associate it with fire at all.
Fu Xin Ci saw her grandfather frowning and struggling with the pile of coal. She was powerless to help and could only wait for Xiang Tong and the others to finish eating and come out.
Fortunately, Xiang Tong and the others worked quickly. In a short while, the two had finished eating.
Xiang Tong came out of the side room and, with the driver, set up a stove next to the stove in the east room where firewood was used.
They had brought all the necessary items, and the stove was quickly assembled.
Then Xiang Tong personally demonstrated to Grandpa Meng. As the bright red stove fire burned, Grandpa Meng's eyes lit up, and he exclaimed:
"This coal is indeed a good thing!"
Fu Yu Gang, having just finished teaching the children, heard his old father's voice and came over to watch.
"This is coal?"
"Yes. With it, we no longer have to worry about the kang being cold at night."
"Is it really that good?"
"It looks good to me. It's been over half an hour, and this coal hasn't finished burning yet. If it were firewood or branches, it would have burned out long ago, and the ashes might even be cold by now."
Grandpa Meng spoke with increasing enthusiasm. Before the current stoveful of coal had finished burning, he had already fallen deeply in love with this good thing.
Qi Yuan Shan also hurried over after receiving the news. After exchanging pleasantries with Xiang Tong, he also became very interested in the coal.
"I'll go to the General's mansion and show it to General Liu," Qi Yuan Shan said, and then learned from Xiang Tong how to start a stove.
Afterward, he loaded a bag of coal and went to the General's mansion.
When he returned the next day, he immediately placed an order with Xiang Tong for twenty thousand catties of coal on behalf of General Liu.
Xiang Tong was very pleased. their trip had not been in vain.