Chapter 36

On the morning of the fifth day of the tenth lunar month, Zhang Weixin, along with Zhao Dawei, Fan Wucheng, Yang Xin, Zeng Zhilin, and Lu Yue, set out as the advance team to Liangxiang County to establish a liaison point and prepare for the auction to be held in half a month. Qingchen was also called along, mainly to facilitate interactions with the locals. Additionally, a shortwave radio, a manual generator, and four batteries were brought along to conduct the first long-distance communication test.

The group, driving several horse-drawn carriages loaded with equipment, arrived in Liangxiang City, dusty and tired. They stayed at the same Yuelai Inn they had stayed at during their previous visit, reserving the east wing. The inn's owner, Mr. Cui, welcomed them warmly, knowing that these Taoist priests were well-off and paid their bills promptly. Moreover, they usually stayed for a long time, allowing him to make a substantial profit each time. Therefore, he not only ordered his staff to help carry their belongings but also personally led the Taoist priests to the east wing, showing great hospitality.

After Zhang Weixin and his team settled in, they wiped their faces and began their work. Under Lu Yue's guidance, everyone worked together to set up the radio, generator, and antenna. The radio and generator were placed in a room, while the communication antenna was fixed to the top of a large tree in the courtyard, connected to the radio by wires. This setup ensured good communication and helped to keep it discreet. Once everything was ready, it was time to communicate with Yuxu Palace as agreed. Unfortunately, Zeng Zhilin was chosen to be the power source for the generator, sitting on a specially modified bicycle stand and pedaling with his strong legs to provide a steady power supply, marking the beginning of the first long-distance radio communication test of this era.

Lu Yue, slightly excited, turned on the radio's power switch. The indicator lights and digital display lit up as they had during previous tests, indicating a normal power supply. Lu Yue put on the headphones, adjusted the communication frequency to the prearranged value, and spoke into the microphone in a low, clear voice: "Advance team calling headquarters, advance team calling headquarters, please respond if you hear me, please respond if you hear me."

Although the wait was only a few seconds, it felt like hours to Lu Yue. Just as he began to feel anxious, the excited and joyful voice of Zhong Tao came through the headphones: "This is headquarters, this is headquarters, the communication is excellent, the communication is excellent." Besides Zhong Tao's voice, Lu Yue also heard cheers, indicating that the people at Yuxu Palace were celebrating the successful communication. Soon, cheers erupted on their side as well. Even Zeng Zhilin, who was pedaling the bicycle, waved his arms and shouted loudly.

The group's loud cheers and shouts puzzled Qingchen, who was guarding the courtyard gate. He didn't know why his senior disciples were so happy and didn't dare to move from his post. Senior disciple Zhang had given him a strict order: unless someone inside called him in, he was to guard the courtyard gate and not let anyone in to disturb them. So, the poor Qingchen could only grumble about his senior disciples not sharing their good news with him while faithfully guarding the gate.

After a brief celebration, the room returned to calm. Zhang Weixin took the headphones and microphone from Lu Yue and spoke with Wang Xiaojun on the other side, agreeing to communicate every hour. He then signaled Lu Yue to end the call and instructed Zeng Zhilin and Yang Xin to ensure that one of them was always by the radio. Zeng and Yang readily agreed. With this historic moment over, the others began their assigned tasks. Zhao Dawei and Fan Wucheng, accompanied by Zeng Zhilin, went to meet Mr. Chen of Tianfoulou and Mr. Fang of Fang's Jewelry Shop to prepare for the final arrangements of the auction. The rest stayed at the inn to rest.

After lunch, Zhang Weixin, with nothing to do, lay on his bed, lost in thought. He first pondered the auction, feeling that the trade team had made excellent arrangements, with the support of the Zhong family and the full cooperation of Mr. Fang and Mr. Chen, it would surely be a success. He then thought that if the auction succeeded, the穿越者们 (time travelers) would have their first substantial amount of money. With this capital, the team's development would have a good start and foundation, allowing them to implement their plans step by step. They could buy land, build a large residence, and start researching products beneficial to the team. They could also engage in business, open their own shops, and sell their products, providing funds for scientific research. This virtuous cycle would ensure a bright future for the team.

Once the team's development was on track, every member would benefit. While he didn't know what others were thinking, Zhang Weixin, once his career was established, would first want to find a wife to comfort his lonely heart. He was confident that this was the thought of most of the time travelers. Although most were still single, and except for Wang Feng, none of the others showed urgency in finding a wife, Zhang Weixin, who often communicated with them to build camaraderie, understood their thoughts.

Before the穿越 (time travel), many in the team were already married, and even those who weren't had girlfriends. Some, like him, even had children. What was once a happy family life had suddenly turned into solitude, and almost everyone found it hard to adapt. Although they had been counseled and were now mostly at peace, the personal emotional issues of team members needed to be addressed for long-term planning. If mishandled, it could lead to situations like the one with Lin Xiaoyu being pursued by multiple team members, with potentially disastrous consequences. This issue was indeed challenging, as the team was almost isolated in Yuxu Palace, with little interaction with the outside world, making it difficult to resolve personal issues—Wang Feng being an exception, having had extraordinary luck.

After the auction's success, with a solid foundation, Zhang Weixin would suggest to the committee that they help resolve the personal issues of the team members. At this thought, he began to fantasize about what kind of wife he would find. Suddenly, a familiar yet unfamiliar figure appeared in his mind. He realized it was Huang Ying'er, the girl he had met at this inn last month.

Surprised by his thoughts, he wondered if Huang Ying'er was still staying at the inn. After a moment, he shook his head, self-mockingly muttering, "What are you thinking, you fool? The auction hasn't even happened yet, and you're already daydreaming. As the old saying goes, 'When one is well-fed and warm, one thinks of lust.' But you haven't even solved your basic needs, so how can you start thinking about lust? You really deserve a beating."

After a self-criticism, Zhang Weixin got up, greeted Yang Xin and Lu Yue who were guarding the radio, and took Qingchen to stroll around the city. He wasn't just idling; he wanted to visit various taverns, teahouses, and inns to see if people were talking about the auction, gauging the interest of the wealthy.

After an afternoon of wandering, Zhang Weixin found the situation promising. The preliminary publicity by Mr. Zhong and Mr. Fang had been effective, and many people in taverns and teahouses were discussing the auction, including some well-dressed, wealthy individuals. Zhang Weixin was pleased and felt more confident about the auction. Returning to the inn in a good mood, he was greeted by the inn's attendant, Sanbao, who recognized him as an important guest and was very polite.

"Master Zhang, you're back. Would you like to eat dinner here or go out? I can prepare it for you," Sanbao said with a smile.

"Thank you for your concern, but my junior disciple is handling some business at Tianfoulou and will bring dinner back. No need to trouble you," Zhang Weixin replied.

Sanbao, hearing his polite response, said, "Master Zhang, you're too kind. Since you're staying here, I should serve you well. If you need anything, just let me know."

Zhang Weixin, tired from the afternoon, didn't feel like chatting but, after a few words with Sanbao, the image of the beautiful girl appeared in his mind again. After walking a few steps, he impulsively asked, "Sanbao, I have a question."

"Who are you looking for, Master Zhang?"

"Last month, I met a girl named Huang Ying'er. Is she still staying in the west wing?"

Zhang Weixin regretted his question as soon as it left his lips. As a Taoist priest, it seemed inappropriate to inquire so directly about a girl. Sanbao's strange expression confirmed his fears. Before he could explain, Sanbao leaned in and whispered, "Master Zhang, you're asking about her. Unfortunately, you're a bit late. A few days after you left, Huang Ying'er also settled her bill and left."

Zhang Weixin felt a pang of disappointment but, as he was about to leave, Sanbao added mysteriously, "However, I heard that she didn't leave the city. She bought a house here and plans to stay long-term, which is why she's no longer staying at the inn."

Zhang Weixin felt a glimmer of hope but, seeing Qingchen's increasingly amused smile, he felt embarrassed and couldn't ask more. He awkwardly chatted with Sanbao, gave him some money, and hurried back to his room.

On the fifteenth day of the tenth lunar month, the necessary renovations at Tianfoulou were almost complete. Based on Zhao Dawei's suggestions, the third floor of Tianfoulou was thoroughly reorganized. The entire floor was divided into three areas: the preparation area, the auction area, and the bidding area.

The preparation area, separated by partitions, was used to store the items to be auctioned, guarded by the security team 24/7. It was also where other team members could rest and handle various issues during the auction. For safety reasons, only team members, the Zhong family, and Mr. Fang from Fang's Jewelry Shop were allowed in without committee approval.

The auction area, adjacent to the preparation area, was a temporary wooden platform slightly raised above the original floor. It had two long tables, one for the auction items and one for the auctioneer, Zhao Dawei. Here, items would be displayed and the auctioneer would guide the bidding. The security team would provide full security during the auction.

The bidding area, the largest, had rows of tables and chairs for the wealthy bidders. They would sit here and bid, competing fiercely.

From the fifteenth to the twentieth, the third floor of Tianfoulou was completely closed, with only Yuxu Palace, the Zhong family, and Fang's Jewelry Shop allowed access.

After leaving Tianfoulou, Zhang Weixin saw it was almost noon. He sent Zhao Dawei and Fan Wucheng back to the inn to rest. They had been busy and tired, and with nothing to do today, they could rest before the upcoming work. Zhang Weixin, with Zeng Zhilin, went to the west city gate to welcome the main group from Yuxu Palace, expected to arrive by noon.

According to Wang Xiaojun's radio message, most of the team would come, leaving only seven or eight behind. The security team, except for Wu Peng and Mutel, would all come, bringing all the pistols and automatic rifles, even the machine guns from the tank, with specially made stands, to ensure the safety of the people and the auction items.

Zhang and Zeng walked leisurely to the west gate, chatting. Passing a silk shop, they met two women coming out. They were chatting and didn't notice the women, just slightly moved aside to let them pass. However, the women suddenly stopped, and one said excitedly, "Isn't this Master Zhang from Yuxu Palace? It's been a while, and I didn't expect to meet you here. What a coincidence."

Zhang Weixin recognized the voice and looked up to see two beautiful young women smiling at him, one of whom was Huang Ying'er. He had inquired about her whereabouts a few days ago, knowing she was still in the city but not her exact address. He hadn't expected to meet her so soon. The other woman, not the girl named Yu'er he had met before, was a few years older than Huang Ying'er, with a mature and charming beauty. Zhang Weixin said, "It's indeed a coincidence, Miss Huang."

He then looked at the woman beside Huang Ying'er and asked, "And this lady is...?"

"This is my cousin, Liu Yunyan. And this Taoist priest is...?"

"This is my junior disciple, Zeng Zhilin."

After introductions and greetings, Huang Ying'er asked, "When did Master Zhang enter the city, and how long do you plan to stay? Are you still staying at Yuelai Inn? Is it for another injured disciple?"

Zhang Weixin laughed, "Miss Huang, you're joking. My disciples don't get injured all the time. I'm here on official business for Yuxu Palace and have been here for a few days. I'm still staying at Yuelai Inn and will be here for a while."

"Have you heard about the auction at Tianfoulou in a few days? It's quite unique, with rare treasures to be sold to the highest bidder. If you're not in a hurry to leave, you might want to check it out."

"Ha, I'm just a small Taoist priest, I don't have the money to buy such treasures."

"Just to see the excitement. Even if you can't afford to bid on the third floor, they say a few items will be displayed on the second floor for a fee of 500 coins. Not many can afford the treasures, but it's still worth a look."

"In that case, I might consider it if I have time." Zhang Weixin didn't want to discuss the auction further, fearing he might slip up, so he changed the topic, "I heard you bought a house in the city?"

"Master Zhang is well-informed. I did buy a small courtyard on Jie Xiao Lane in the south. It's not far from Tianfoulou. If you go to Tianfoulou, I can be your guide."

As they chatted, Liu Yunyan interjected, "Since you two are acquaintances, why don't we find a teahouse to sit and chat? Standing on the street isn't convenient."

Zhang Weixin, though tempted, had to decline because he was waiting for Wang Xiaojun. "This isn't a good place to talk. I need to go to the city gate to wait for some senior disciples. Perhaps another time."

Huang Ying'er, though disappointed, saw that he wasn't deliberately avoiding her and let it go, bidding farewell to Zhang and Zeng.

Zhang Weixin watched her graceful figure walk away, lost in thought until Zeng Zhilin nudged him. He thought of making an excuse, but Zeng Zhilin said, "This girl is quite nice. According to Old Wang, Old Xu introduced her to you, and she admires you a lot. Although Mr. Zhong and Liang Ziyue think she might be a courtesan, she's probably a high-class one. I and Liang Ziyue think she has no ill intentions towards the team, just admiration for you. However, she's only 18 or 19, and you're 35, no, you had a birthday this month, so you're 36. The age difference is quite large. Wang Feng is only 10 years older than the Zhong family's little sister, but you're twice her age, which is a bit much."

Zhang Weixin was almost speechless with anger. He hadn't said he had feelings for Huang Ying'er, and she was just interested in his poetry. How did Zeng Zhilin jump to this conclusion? He said irritably, "Shut up, or I'll suggest to the committee that you never leave Yuxu Palace again."

Zeng Zhilin, undeterred, said with a sly smile, "Ha, you're blushing. I'm just looking out for you. What's the rush? Besides, Wang Feng can find a young girl, why can't you? The age difference isn't a big deal. In our time, there were 82-year-olds marrying 28-year-olds. It's not a problem here. I was just joking."

Zhang Weixin, seeing he was getting nowhere, ignored him and walked straight to the west city gate. Zeng Zhilin, unfazed, followed with a smile, thinking about how to talk to Wang Xiaojun about this. He wasn't a gossip, but he was thinking of the team. The gender ratio was imbalanced, and finding contemporary partners was necessary. While Wang Feng's case was unique, and the Zhong family's little sister was a special case, the team still had concerns. If he could help Zhang Weixin, it would set a good example for others. Of course, the necessary background checks would still be conducted.