Chapter 415: Are You Serious?
Xing Honglang and Tie Niaofei had agreed on the guiding arrangements, but this wasn't a matter that required immediate departure. There was no rush; just unloading the massive amount of grain from the cargo ships alone was a colossal task.
Gao Chuwu, though simple-minded, was intimately familiar with the rules of Gao Family Village. He bellowed at the dockworkers gathered at Gudu Ferry: "Brothers, come help unload the cargo! Get all this grain off the ships and stack it in a dry place. Each of you will receive three catties of flour as payment for your labor."
This shout was met with an immediate, enthusiastic response.
The dockworkers surged forward, and even some fishermen and farmers joined the throng, instantly transforming into temporary laborers. Unused strength was wasted strength, and who wouldn't be eager to earn three catties of flour?
They boarded the ships, shouldered the heavy sacks, descended to the dock, and carefully placed the flour bags in the spots designated by the Gao Family Village Militia, smiles spreading across their faces.
Lao Nanfeng stood on a raised platform, surveying the terrain in all directions. He leaned closer to Gao Chuwu and whispered, "This ferry will be our permanent station from now on, a crucial bridgehead for transporting grain from Shaanxi and salt back from here. It's a vital strategic location that we must manage diligently. A few bamboo fences won't suffice. We need to feed these workers well, give them strength, and have them help us erect some simple defensive structures. We also need to build wooden houses for our several hundred men."
Gao Chuwu grinned, "Sounds good, sounds good!"
Seeing his agreement, Lao Nanfeng immediately turned and issued orders. A militia soldier ran out and spoke to the workers still moving cargo: "Once you've finished unloading today and taken your wages, eat well, sleep soundly, and return tomorrow. We need to construct a wooden stockade here. We'll ensure you're well-fed, and you'll receive another three catties of flour per day for your work."
No one was unwilling to take on such work. The dockworkers were overjoyed: "Excellent!"
He walked a few more steps. "The stockade wall will open here..."
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"And right opposite the gate, another arrow tower."
Before long, he had sketched out a substantial wooden stockade along the riverbank. One side faced the water, the other was encircled by wooden walls, making it look quite formidable.
"There are too few people at Gudu Ferry," Lao Nanfeng said, returning to Gao Chuwu. He shook his head. "Counting merchants, fishermen, and farmers, there are only a few hundred people in total, even fewer than our soldiers. There simply isn't enough manpower to build this stockade."
Gao Chuwu suggested, "Our soldiers can build it too."
Lao Nanfeng shook his head. "We're not some massive army of tens of thousands. Our cavalry and infantry combined are only a few hundred. If they all go to build the stockade, and bandits suddenly attack when the soldiers are exhausted, it would be extremely dangerous."
Gao Chuwu asked with innocent sincerity, "Then what should we do?"
Lao Nanfeng pointed at Xing Honglang. "Have your wife figure it out. She's a local powerhouse here; she'll definitely be able to find people."
Gao Chuwu happily ran toward Xing Honglang.
At that moment, Xing Honglang and Tie Niaofei were discussing how to discreetly reach the south of Xie Lake to contact the salt artisans. Suddenly, Gao Chuwu ran up, stopped about half a zhang in front of her, and extended both hands: "Honglang!"
Xing Honglang instantly turned, extending her hands as well: "Chuwu!"
The two embraced with a soft thud.
Xing Honglang said, "Chuwu, you came to find me, do you have something to say?"
Tie Niaofei felt a cold sweat break out instantly: *Terrifying! Boss Xing actually has such a tender side. Terrifying! More terrifying than bandits attacking.*
Gao Chuwu nodded. "We need to build this dock into a stockade, but we don't have enough manpower."
Xing Honglang nodded, understanding. "I know! I'll go around the surrounding villages far and wide and rustle up some people."
The area around Gudu Ferry was essentially Yongji!
At this time, Yongji was still a town under Puzhou's jurisdiction; it wouldn't be upgraded to a county until the Qing Dynasty. But it was already quite prosperous and bustling, with a large population. Its distance from the county seat was similar to the distance between Qichuan Ferry and Heyang County.
The town center wasn't far from Gudu Ferry, a straight line distance of over thirty li, about the same as from Gao Family Village to Chengcheng County. This was also Xing Honglang's hometown.
Xing Honglang swung onto a spirited horse. Zao Ying rode up beside her. "I'll take fifty cavalry to accompany you."
"Good!"
The two bold women turned their heads together, smiling at Gao Chuwu and the others. "You all hold down the ferry. We'll be back after a quick circuit."
Gao Chuwu waved, "Be careful!"
The two women, with fifty riders, departed like the wind.
No sooner had they left than a large group of merchants, led by Tie Niaofei, immediately swarmed around Gao Chuwu, giving him strange looks.
Gao Chuwu felt a little flustered. "Why are you all staring at me like that?"
Tie Niaofei asked, "Big Simpleton brother, did you... really marry Boss Xing?"
Gao Chuwu grinned, "Oh, *that*? Is there any doubt?"
Tie Niaofei insisted, "If you're being threatened, just blink."
Gao Chuwu quickly widened both his eyes.
His eyes, wide as brass bells, shone with lightning-like... *wisdom!*
Everyone exclaimed, "Wow, he didn't blink. They really did get married."
Tie Niaofei wiped cold sweat from his brow. "Brother, are you alright?"
Gao Chuwu asked, "Do I look like something's wrong?"
Tie Niaofei ventured, "You weren't... forced to marry her because you couldn't beat her, were you?"
Gao Chuwu beamed. "She married me after I defeated her! On our wedding day, she was still complaining that I'd 'forcibly abducted a woman!'"
Everyone: "!!!"
The group instantly huddled together, whispering, "This guy seems serious."
*My goodness! What kind of vision does he have? He tried to 'forcibly abduct a woman' and ended up with Boss Xing?*
"If he can defeat Boss Xing, his martial arts must be incredible."
"No, no, that's hard to say. Maybe Boss Xing deliberately lost to him. Otherwise, where would she find a man willing to marry her?"
"Then he must have married into her family! Definitely!"
Tie Niaofei turned back to Gao Chuwu. "Brother, did you marry into the Xing family?"
Gao Chuwu grinned. "Marry in? How could I! I'm the only son, a single heir for three generations, so I definitely can't marry into her family. Honglang and I already discussed it. Our son will take my surname, and my house and land will all be passed down to him."
Everyone clutched their heads. "Completely incomprehensible, utterly incomprehensible."
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