Li Daoxuan watched the scholar diligently recording everything he saw, and his interest was quietly piqued.
So he continued observing.
With swift, practiced strokes, the scholar sketched and described the grand train on his paper. After a moment of contemplation, he let out a long sigh and added a special note at the bottom:
"This contraption is far too miraculous. Those who have not witnessed it personally will surely doubt its existence. Disseminate with caution."
Li Daoxuan couldn't help but chuckle.
Not long after, the train slowed and arrived at Sanhuan County, thirty li from Xi'an.
This was no longer the final stop. Zhu Cunji's construction teams had been highly efficient; the West Yan Railway had already been extended all the way to Luochuan County, covering nearly half the distance to Yan'an.
Sanhuan County had become merely an intermediate station.
But Li Daoxuan needed to get off here.
His reason for boarding the train today was simple and very personal:
Sanhuan steamed meat and Sanhuan liáohuā sugar.
The Gourmand Heavenly Lord had very few hobbies. Shut in at home most days, aside from playing with the little people, his passions were limited to research and food.
He stopped paying attention to the scholar surnamed Gu, picked up his birdcage, and stepped off the train.
The moment he exited Sanhuan Train Station, a bustling commercial street came into view, its signboard boldly proclaiming:
"Sanhuan Delicacy Street."
This was clearly Zhu Cunji's handiwork.
He had shamelessly copied Li Daoxuan's Xi'an East Gate project, erecting rows of simple stalls and gathering vendors to sell Sanhuan County's local specialties.
The street was positioned directly at the station exit—an absolutely ruthless choice of location. Any traveler stepping off the train would be helplessly ensnared by aroma and temptation.
Li Daoxuan carried his birdcage over, found a seat, ordered several snacks, and began eating with great satisfaction.
Just as he was halfway through enjoying himself, the group of scholars from earlier appeared once more.
It turned out they had also come to Sanhuan County for a spring outing.
They immediately set up camp among the stalls, laughing loudly and eating heartily, making a remarkable contribution to Sanhuan County's GDP.
Li Daoxuan was just about to stop paying attention when he heard the scholar surnamed Gu speak up.
"Gentlemen," Gu said, "have you not noticed that the Prince of Qin's railway and this Sanhuan Delicacy Street are… rather remarkable?"
The others blinked.
"Brother Gu, what insight do you have?"
Gu explained patiently, "The train is fast and convenient—it brings us from Xi'an to Sanhuan County in under an hour. Naturally, more and more people will be willing to come here for spring outings. Then, upon arrival, there's this food street offering local specialties. When these two things are combined—"
He gestured around them.
"—observe. Sanhuan County, once poor and obscure, now appears as lively as even the prosperous counties of Jiangnan."
The other scholars stared blankly.
"Huh? Is that so?"
Seeing their confusion, Gu could only sigh inwardly.
Hopeless. Their vision is shallow; they know only how to eat, drink, and amuse themselves. There is no common ground for discussion.
Li Daoxuan, however, found this deeply amusing.
This scholar named Gu had real insight.
Having already eaten his fill, Li Daoxuan decided to quietly follow along and see what else might unfold.
After finishing their snacks, the scholars prepared to continue sightseeing.
One of them asked a stall owner, "Is there anything interesting to see in Sanhuan County?"
The vendor immediately brightened.
"Esteemed gentlemen! Sanhuan County is the hometown of a great historical figure—Li Jing! You've heard of him, haven't you? A few days ago, people from the Prince of Qin's Residence came and identified Li Jing's former residence. If you're interested, you can go take a look."
As expected, the scholars were instantly intrigued.
"Li Jing's former residence?"
"Let's go see it!"
Following the vendor's directions, they exited the city. Outside Sanhuan County's East Gate, rows of carriages were already lined up, drivers shouting enthusiastically:
"Carriages to Li Jing's former residence! Twenty wen per person, one way! Only twenty wen!"
The scholars were hardly short of money. They paid without hesitation, boarded the carriages, and soon arrived at a scenic spot nestled among green hills and clear waters.
A ramshackle house clung to the mountainside. A small river flowed beside it, its waters emerald-green, lending the entire scene a poetic charm.
That crumbling house was, of course, the so-called "Li Jing's Former Residence."
Li Daoxuan took one look and nearly burst out laughing.
The people from the Prince of Qin's Residence must have dug this place up from who-knows-where. The scenery was genuinely excellent—but the house itself was ancient, dilapidated, and barely standing.
Of course, whether it was real or fake didn't actually matter.
A wooden plaque reading "Li Jing's Former Residence" hung by the door. Inside were displayed a rusty iron spear and a small pile of tattered books.
Despite the meager exhibits, tourists crowded the place enthusiastically.
Ancient travelers had not yet been "hardened" by endless fake attractions. They were still innocent—almost adorable—in their enthusiasm.
The group of scholars was no exception. They circled the residence repeatedly, scrutinizing every item with wide-eyed fascination.
Someone suddenly recited aloud:
"Beneath Shentou Ridge stands Wei Gong's shrine,
Lofty towers, vaulted halls, and Jia's stele.
Laughable is the brat Han Zhen,
Commanding warriors with an infant's decree…"
A nearby scholar immediately exclaimed, "Excellent poem! Truly excellent! Young Master Zhang's literary talent is outstanding!"
Brother Gu, however, shook his head slightly and murmured under his breath, "That's a poem by Wang Han of the late Yuan and early Ming. One man copies, the others applaud… alas."
His voice was soft—too soft for anyone else to hear.
But Li Daoxuan, using his Focus ability, heard it clearly.
He paused, slightly surprised.
So it was written by Wang Han? Learned something new.
The others continued enjoying themselves, completely unaware.
Brother Gu, meanwhile, found a stone table by the river, sat down, took out his paper and brush, and began writing again.
"Sanhuan County is vigorously developing tourism. The flow of people between Xi'an Prefecture and Sanhuan County has become frequent. Wealthy officials and dignitaries from Xi'an spend money here, and the poor locals earn it… this is excellent. Even if Li Jing's former residence is fabricated, it is still worth promoting."
Amused, Li Daoxuan walked over and sat down directly opposite him.
Gu sensed someone across from him and looked up in surprise. He saw a young man who looked vaguely familiar, though he couldn't quite place him.
"Esteemed brother?" Gu asked.
Li Daoxuan smiled. "My surname is Li. People call me Steward Li."
"Ah, Steward Li." Gu clasped his hands. "I am Gu Yanwu. May I ask what advice you have for me?"
At the sound of that name, Li Daoxuan's heart skipped a beat.
I knew it. This one truly is different.
This was indeed a prominent figure—but at the moment, still very young. Barely in his early twenties, he carried traces of youth and even a touch of naivety.
Li Daoxuan smiled faintly.
"We shared the same carriage earlier. On the train, I already noticed you stood apart from the others. Here, even more so—you stand like a crane among chickens. Are you recording what you see on this journey through writing and sketches?"