Chapter 787: Rebuilding the Outercity
Just as dawn broke, the guards at Xi'an Prefecture's East Gate witnessed a peculiar sight outside the city walls.
A large group of workers, identifiable by their Yellow Hats, streamed into the ruins of the East Outercity.
The East Outercity had been in decline for years, a desolate wasteland of dilapidated wooden houses and collapsed shops, an expanse of post-apocalyptic decay.
The Yellow Hats stormed into the ruins, swinging sledgehammers, utterly demolishing the already crumbling wooden structures.
The city gate guards were greatly puzzled, exclaiming, "Good heavens, what are they doing? Is the Outercity not ruined enough? Do they mean to smash it even further?"
The gate guards quickly dispatched someone to inform the Prefect.
However, the Prefect of Xi'an appeared completely unconcerned. "Never mind them, never mind," he waved off. "That Outercity land belongs to the Prince of Qin's estate. The Prince of Qin's people informed us this morning that they intend to rebuild a market street there. It's his land; he can do whatever he pleases with it, and it's none of our business."
And so, the city gate guards settled into spectator mode.
They watched as the Yellow Hats swung their sledgehammers, utterly leveling the Outercity ruins. Next, the Blue Hats arrived, scrutinizing the cleared land, then sketching and scribbling on paper, their purpose a mystery.
They were erecting structures, but not sturdy houses. Instead, they built rows upon rows of frames, completing each by simply raising it and adding a rain canopy on top.
This method was far quicker than constructing proper, permanent buildings.
Within just a few days, the entire Outercity was filled with vast areas of these makeshift shelters.
Then, with a resounding "whoosh," a large steam train arrived, carrying a multitude of merchants. These were all highly experienced vendors, top-tier hawkers who had survived the fierce market competition and battles within the Gao Family Village commercial hub.
Their goods were all exceptionally distinctive, filled with novel and delightful curiosities.
"Selling snacks from the Celestial Realm! Oreo cream cookie crumbs, a special gift from the Heavenly Lord! I'm the only one in the entire world with five catties left – you won't find them anywhere else, absolutely not!"
"Chips Ahoy chocolate mini cookies! General Lao Nanfeng achieved great merit to specially receive these as a reward from the Heavenly Lord. He couldn't finish them all, so this rare commodity has entered the market. Only three catties remain in the entire world! Miss this chance, and who knows when you'll ever get them again!"
"Xi Zhi Lang Jelly! From the Gao Family Village Huanglong Mountain Labor Reform Camp Fighting Competition, a special grand prize from the Heavenly Lord! The last ten catties in the entire world!"
"Sachima! Sachima! Unique under heaven, rarely seen in the world! I guarantee I'm the only one with stock!"
"Crispy Shark Wafers!"
"Daliyuan Chocolate Pies!"
"Want Want Senbei! Last ten catties!"
These incredibly outlandish goods instantly filled the entire Outercity. The city guards stared in bewilderment. "Are these people insane?" they wondered. "The Outercity has been ruins for years! The city folk would never come out here to browse. How could they possibly sell anything here?"
Indeed, how could there be business in a place with no foot traffic? What good were even the most exotic goods if no one came to buy them?
But that very evening!
On the Immortal Treasure Mirror in Xi'an City's vegetable market square, the last segment of the Gaojia News broadcast announced: "Now for business news... A large number of vendors have flooded into the East Outercity, outside Xi'an's East Gate, setting up stalls to sell a variety of goods..."
As Gao Yiye spoke, the camera cut to the Outercity. An aerial shot swept over the area, revealing the newly reconstructed Outercity to be neat and orderly. Rows of small shops stretched along the uniformly planned commercial street.
A dazzling array of goods, items no one had ever seen before, were displayed in abundance.
The common folk watching before the screen were utterly dazzled...
Especially Zhu Cunji, the Prince of Qin's heir, who had developed a habit of watching the Gaojia News broadcast every evening. He had even spent a fortune to buy the house directly opposite the Immortal Treasure Mirror's street display, setting up his exclusive "TV viewing platform" on its second floor.
Every evening, he would sit there, snacking on fruits and treats while watching the broadcast.
Now, suddenly seeing all sorts of bizarre snacks in the Outercity on the screen, items he had never encountered before.
The candied fruit he held in his hand suddenly lost all its sweetness...
Zhu Cunji's eyes widened. "What are those?" he demanded. "Why have I, the Prince of Qin's heir, never seen or tasted them before?"
His steward replied, "Your Highness, you have tasted chocolate. Your humble servant procured it specifically from the salt smuggler Xing Honglang for you. Have you forgotten?"
Zhu Cunji brightened. "Ah, yes, yes, yes! I've had chocolate, it was absolutely delicious! What a shame I only had it those few times, and then never again. I heard Xing Honglang ran off to become a roving bandit, and then was later pacified. It's been ages since she came to sell chocolate to me!"
At this, Zhu Cunji's mouth watered profusely. "What are we waiting for?" he exclaimed. "Quick, prepare the carriage and horses! I, the Prince of Qin's heir, must go to the Outercity!"
His guards immediately sprang into action, eager to ready the carriage and horses. However, every evening, the vegetable market square was thronged with people watching the Gaojia News broadcast, a dense, surging mass where not even a drop of water could pass. Let alone a carriage and horses, even a living person would struggle to squeeze in or out.
Zhu Cunji's carriage and horses couldn't possibly get through. Unless his guards were to wildly hack at the crowd with their swords in the street, but Governor Lian Guoshi was also present. Where would they get the audacity to publicly slaughter common folk?
The carriage and horses remained stuck on the periphery, unable to advance!
Zhu Cunji fumed impatiently, unable to go.
Just then, the Gaojia News broadcast ended, and the screen began playing "Corn Planting Methods." While this was fascinating for farmers, it held little interest for city dwellers.
With a collective roar, the crowd dispersed, running.
All of them sprinted towards the East Gate.
Zhu Cunji understood immediately upon seeing the direction they were running. "Blast it!" he cried. "These scoundrels are all heading to the Outercity! They're going to snatch up those rare snacks! Heavens, quickly, quickly! We must get there before them; those treats are scarce and will be bought up by this mob!"
With the crowd gone, the carriage and horses finally managed to approach.
Ordinarily, Zhu Cunji preferred to ride in a carriage, but this time, he leaped onto a horse, clenching his legs against its flanks. "Faster, faster!" he urged.
"Your Highness, the horse can't run fast," a guard called out. "The streets are still packed with people!"
"Then cut across!" Zhu Cunji blurted out, a sudden idea striking him in his haste. "Don't go to the city gate, go to the city wall beside it!"
Instead of following the common folk down the main street, he cut through another, dashing quickly to the city wall. He scrambled up, glanced towards the gate, and saw that the small gate arch was already crammed with people.
The city gate was blocked!
Zhu Cunji declared, "A rope!"
The guards understood. They quickly tied a rope around his waist and lowered him from the city wall, setting him down directly outside the city.
As Zhu Cunji's feet touched the ground outside the city, he burst into laughter. "Still, I, the Prince of Qin's heir, have my ways! Hahahaha! A bunch of commoners, how could they possibly be as fast as I?"
He bolted forward, sprinting furiously towards the Outercity.
Splash! He tumbled into the moat.
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