Chapter 8: Land and Memories

Hehe! Lao Gao is used to it; it's just that the road is too rough. If it were on a cement road, it wouldn't be so bumpy. However, riding a sidecar is the only way to truly feel it on such roads. Sima hung his helmet on the handlebars and said, perhaps due to psychological reasons, he felt that standing on this land was completely different from the past. But how was it different? Sima couldn't quite find the words to describe his feelings at that moment. Hmm! Perhaps it was a psychological reason; standing on this land felt completely different from the past. But how was it different? Sima still couldn't think of the right words to express his emotions. Hmm! It felt a bit like peace of mind! Perhaps that feeling of standing on one's own territory is exactly this feeling!

The young master is thinking too far ahead; given the current chaotic situation, how much worse can it get? Besides, I am already over fifty years old, how many more years can I endure? Gao Chuanliang did not understand why this young master Sima appeared so melancholic. He spoke in response to the conversation. It is only when one grows old that they realize the business they conducted outside in their youth has left them with lingering health issues. Nowadays, my health declines day by day. Fortunately, I am now with the right people; at least the younger generation, my son’s generation, will not have to worry about food and drink while following the young master. As for what the future holds, who can predict so much?

Sima could even see the white smoke rising from the steam locomotives traveling on the railway several kilometers away. Sima could hardly believe that this vast land now bore his surname, Sima, if it were not for the land deed in his pocket and the soil and stones he held in his palm. How much would such a large piece of land be worth in the twenty-first century? Sima dared not imagine how much his family's land would be worth if it had not been confiscated after the founding of the nation; it would probably be worth as much as this now

"Young Master, from now on, this vast expanse of land will belong to the Sima family," Gao Chuanliang said, looking at Sima, who was lost in thought. To be honest, even Gao Chuanliang himself felt an overwhelming sense of comfort at the thought of such a large piece of land belonging to him; it was far more satisfying than earning several thousand dollars. Unfortunately, this was a barren, rocky land where nothing could grow. If only it were arable land, even if it were thin soil, it would be much better. The thought made Gao Chuanliang chuckle; if his family had such a large piece of thin land, even if it were only about a thousand acres, he would probably prefer to sit at home collecting rent.

Building a warehouse here would be too conspicuous, but constructing a factory would easily allow for better concealment of everything. The anomaly in space-time could be repaired at the center of the factory area, where a large steel structure warehouse could be built. Surrounding it, a reinforced concrete wall could be erected, with the factory area situated on the periphery of the warehouse. Considering that Europe is currently at war, this type of wristwatch is far more convenient than a pocket watch, and selling it to the Allied soldiers in the trenches in Europe should have a certain market. Additionally, producing gold and silver watches could allow for sales in the United States and Shanghai.

"Young Master, you nearly scared me to death." After Sima parked the motorcycle, Gao Chuanliang, still feeling apprehensive, steadied his trembling legs as he got off the sidecar and took a deep breath. Gao Chuanliang had previously thought about asking the Young Master for a motorcycle like this to show off, but after enduring such a life-and-death trial over the past several miles, he had completely given up on that idea.

Bandits! At this moment, Sima realized how naive he had been. The stories of bandits often depicted in television and movies had led him to encounter the slain civilians upon his arrival, which he had chosen to selectively ignore. It could be said that he was completely blinded by the glimmer of silver. Although he feared encountering them, he always harbored a sense of luck. However, now that he was building houses and factories in this place, it was no different from raising a flag for the bandits to see. It would be strange if those bandits did not come surrounding him. If, at that time, while building the factory, a group of bandits attacked every few days, it was likely that within two months, before the factory was even completed, the workers would either be killed by the bandits or scared away. Although he feared encountering them, he always harbored a sense of luck. However, now that he was building houses and factories in this place, it was no different from raising a flag for the bandits to see. It would be strange if those bandits did not come surrounding him. If, at that time, while building the factory, a group of bandits attacked every few days, it was likely that within two months, before the factory was even completed, the workers would either be killed by the bandits or scared away.

"Young Master, is it true that the cement road is referred to as a concrete road in the book? I fear that even the capital cannot afford to build such a long concrete road," Gao Chuanliang said as he stretched his muscles. He remarked that concrete costs several silver dollars per barrel, and to repair such a long stretch of road, it would require a significant amount of money. Gao Chuanliang was too lazy to calculate how many silver dollars would be needed to properly repair this section of the road.

Sima suddenly recalled the glorious past of his family as recounted by the elders at home. He suddenly understood why many of the older generation would involuntarily fall into reminiscence; they were not reminiscing about the family's glory, but rather about the proud feeling of standing on their own land. More often than not, the land he inherited represented the family's honor, with historical records documenting the family's past splendor. However, all of this became a distant dream decades ago, as countless families with histories spanning hundreds of years were destroyed in an instant. The histories and honors of innumerable families were lost with that revolution.

My dear sir! You may not know that every year, our Kong Family Village has to send over a thousand loads of grain as protection money to the bandits; otherwise, they would have probably come to kill us long ago. If you were to build a watch factory here, wouldn't that be inviting these bandits to come and rob us?" Gao Chuanliang quickly explained. Gao Chuanliang realized that it seemed he had bought this land for nothing, and it cost him over a thousand silver dollars. "Are the bandits here really that powerful?" Sima felt somewhat incredulous; even the villagers had to pay protection fees? Gao Chuanliang realized that it seemed he had bought this land for nothing, and it cost him over a thousand silver dollars. "Are the bandits here really that powerful?" Sima felt somewhat incredulous; even the villagers had to pay protection fees? Is this even possible?

Suddenly, Sima felt a twinge of sympathy for Old Master Kong of the Kong family estate. The Kongs could hardly have imagined that decades later, the tens of thousands of acres of land their ancestors had toiled for over a century would be taken away by a mere notice, and that their descendants would be reduced to "black five categories," suffering immense persecution in that tumultuous era, much like what his own family had endured in the past

"Young Master, you... haven't you heard of Cao Shang Piao?" Gao Chuanliang tentatively asked. Having roamed the outskirts for decades, he was well aware of the formidable nature of the bandits in the area. However, it seemed that this gentleman before him was completely unaware that bandits had been rampant in these outskirts for decades. Establishing a factory here was akin to holding a golden doll while venturing into a den of bandits. "Cao Shang Piao?" Sima was momentarily taken aback upon hearing the name, sensing that it did not sound like something good, reminiscent of some character nicknames from movies. Gao Chuanliang, having spent years in the outskirts, understood the power of the bandits well, yet the gentleman before him appeared to have no knowledge of their existence. "Cao Shang Piao?" Sima was momentarily taken aback upon hearing the name, sensing that it did not sound like something good, reminiscent of some character nicknames from movies. "Young Master! He is the largest horse caravan leader in the outskirts, dominating the area for over ten years. Even those Mongolian princes have to steer clear of his banner when they see it." Gao Chuanliang noticed that the gentleman seemed unfamiliar with the name, and a sense of foreboding arose within him. It appeared that this gentleman truly had not heard of this title and was only vaguely aware of the bandits in the outskirts.

As far as the eye can see, there is a chaotic growth of weeds, yellow earth, and gravel. Sima bent down to pick up a handful of soil, and upon inspection, he found it to be half soil and half gravel. This type of gravelly land, even in the 21st century, holds no value whatsoever; however, if used for construction, it is a different matter. Although it has no agricultural or pastoral value, it is difficult to excavate for building foundations, yet once established, it is extremely solid. This would be the perfect place to construct a large warehouse.

"Lao Gao, do you know why I bought this piece of land?" Sima asked, trying to gather his thoughts. After all, many matters still required Gao Chuanliang's assistance, so it was always better to inform him in advance. "Young Master always does things that are hard to understand. This piece of land is certainly not suitable for farming. I wonder if the Young Master has other uses for it." Gao Chuanliang was also quite puzzled as to why the seemingly astute Sima would engage in such a business, purchasing this gravel land that seemed to have no use at all.

Lao Gao, do you know? In the past, our family's land was much more than this. In our area, stepping out of the door and walking in any direction for half a day, one could find fields that were more fertile than those of others. Sima said softly, looking sadly at the gravel land before him. Perhaps one day he could go there with Tushu to take a look, to personally verify the glory of his ancestors, to see what the wealthy families spoken of by the elders were truly like. Sima did not know; he only remembered the sweet expressions that appeared in the eyes of those elders as they reminisced about the past. Perhaps one day he could go there with Tushu to take a look, to personally verify the glory of his ancestors, to see what the wealthy families spoken of by the elders were truly like. Sima did not know; he only remembered the sweet expressions that appeared in the eyes of those elders as they reminisced about the past

Young Master... do you want to establish a large factory here? High Chuanliang realized for the first time that he truly could not understand what this Sima Young Master was thinking. Others build factories near large cities like Tianjin; not to mention, establishing a factory in such a place poses the problem of the numerous bandits outside. Once those bandits learn that this place produces watches worth hundreds of dollars each, it would be no surprise if they swarm here like cats drawn to blood. Just thinking about the scene of bandits running amok sends chills down High Chuanliang's spine. Once those bandits learn that this place produces watches worth hundreds of dollars each, it would be no surprise if they swarm here like cats drawn to blood. Just thinking about the scene of bandits running amok sends chills down High Chuanliang's spine

The term "caravan" suddenly reminded Sima of the cargo-carrying caravans introduced in a television program, but upon further reflection, he felt something was amiss. Could it be bandits? He suddenly recalled the doctor he had seen upon first arriving in this time and space, who had been shot multiple times. If it weren't for those gunshots, he might not have noticed the existence of this anomaly in time and space at all. Sima felt an inexplicable chill run through him and silently thanked his luck. During these days, carrying so much gold and silver, he had fortunately not encountered any bandits; otherwise... He suddenly remembered the doctor he had seen upon first arriving in this time and space, who had been shot multiple times. If it weren't for those gunshots, he might not have noticed the existence of this anomaly in time and space at all. Sima felt an inexplicable chill run through him and silently thanked his luck. During these days, carrying so much gold and silver, he had fortunately not encountered any bandits; otherwise...

Hehe! The land of the young master’s family must be much more than this, and it is certainly all fertile land, unlike this place where nothing grows. Gao Chuanliang did not notice the word "past" in Sima's words and continued to speak to himself. Gao Chuanliang even thought that this young master in front of him might be feeling homesick, but he suddenly realized that this was the first time Sima, the young master, had mentioned his family in front of him

Young Master! When was this place established? This is the outskirts, where bandits have roamed for hundreds of years. Even during the reign of Emperor Kangxi, bandits attacked the city. A few years ago, during the revolution, those bandits, both big and small, were pacified and became the Iron-Blood Army. For a few days, it seemed stable, but who would have thought that President Yuan would disband the Iron-Blood Army shortly after, and those pacified bandits scattered and reverted to being bandits. In these outskirts, it has been a hundred-year custom to pay protection to the major bandit groups. Gao Chuanliang calmed himself and spoke to the gentleman before him, even doubting how this gentleman managed to survive in this place, completely unaware that the outskirts were essentially a den of bandits.

"Lao Gao, if you have money, do not invest in real estate like the Kong family. In this chaotic world, things will only get messier. The more property you acquire, the more it ties you down. In times of turmoil, taking your money to Hong Kong or Macau is a good choice. There, you can buy some properties and live off the rental income for generations without worrying about food and drink." Sima did not understand why he said this to Lao Gao. Perhaps it was because over time, feelings had developed, and he did not want Lao Gao's family to go through the same experiences that his own family had endured in those years.

Indeed! These are fertile fields, rich enough to ooze with nourishment at a mere touch of the soil. What a pity! What a pity! Sima suddenly understood why he had always harbored an inexplicable fervor for land since childhood, even developing a somewhat obsessive affection for it. It turned out that the family's century-long obsession with land had long been etched into his very bones, destined from the day he was born. Sima was suddenly overwhelmed with the urge to cry; even when he first earned his first million, he had not felt such an impulse. Yet, when faced with this vast expanse of gravelly land where nothing could grow, he felt the urge to weep, to weep profusely. Sima still remembered the sound of his grandfather's sobs at the time of his passing, and he recalled the look of longing in his grandfather's eyes as he held Sima's small hand while walking through the fields during his childhood.

This place is conveniently located near the railway, and I want to build a factory here to produce watches like the ones you are currently selling, as well as other items. At that time, we will not only sell those watches to the capital and Tianjin, but also to Shanghai and Europe.