Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 363 Youth

On the 1th day of the twelfth lunar month (January 19, 1638), the cold wind was still biting, but the festive atmosphere in the city of Bessing (now Victoria Harbour) had already quietly warmed up.

The sweet aroma of steamed rice cakes wafted through the streets and alleys, while the rhythmic thud of wooden mallets pounding glutinous rice balls echoed throughout, mingling with the heavy hammering sounds from the distant factory.

Some savvy vendors set up their stalls early, with red paper lanterns, Spring Festival couplets, and peach wood charms lined up in a row, and the "Fu" character written in cinnabar was particularly bright under the winter sun.

In the market in the city center, all kinds of goods from Qiming Island and the Ming Dynasty crowded the shelves, and the sounds of bargaining could be heard all the time.

Several naturalized natives were gesturing in broken Chinese, trying to buy a few jars of liquor.

Another group of women, carrying baskets, lingered at each stall.

Meanwhile, several young clerks in tax uniforms were checking tax bills to ensure market order before the end of the year.

"The festive atmosphere here is a little lacking compared to Guangzhou." Meng Hao took a bite of sesame rice cake, the sweetness melting on his tongue.

He looked at the craftsmen across the street who were pasting door gods, and suddenly remembered the gilded and colorful New Year pictures he had seen in front of the City God Temple in Guangzhou when he was a child. It seemed that dozens of patterns were missing.

He turned to talk to his friends while carefully avoiding pedestrians on the street: "At least, it's not nearly as popular as other places. There are only a few lively areas, and you can easily visit them three times a day."

"This is not nonsense!"

Xu Danian stared intently at a grilled fish stall on the street. The stall owner was skillfully flipping the fish on the iron rack. The golden fish skin sizzled and dripped oil under the charcoal fire, emitting an enticing aroma.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he hesitated, wondering whether he should spend a few coins to try it. But then he remembered that his parents' allowance was really not much, so he could only swallow hard and say irritably, "How many people are there in Xinhua? Even if you include those registered natives, there are only eighty or ninety thousand. Even if they were all piled up in Shixing City, it probably wouldn't be as many as Guangzhou."

“What’s so great about Guangzhou? It looks lively, but it’s full of migrants and countless piles of garbage.” Feng Gui stuffed the last bite of rice cake into his mouth and smacked his fingers hard. “Unlike our Xinhua, which is thriving everywhere. And, our Shixing City looks so neat and clean, it gives people a strange sense of comfort.”

Meng Haoshen, feeling quite unconvinced after being repeatedly challenged by his two friends, said with a flushed face, "What I'm saying is that in terms of the variety and quantity of New Year's goods, Xinzhou can't compare to Guangzhou. Take rice cakes, for example; there are dozens or even hundreds of varieties in Guangzhou's markets. As for other snacks, there are countless."

“Although Guangzhou is prosperous and bustling, it’s not something the poor can enjoy.” Mo Xiaoshan shook his head and said, “If we were still in the Ming Dynasty and living in Guangzhou, we would probably have become beggars on the streets or corpses in mass graves long ago.”

“Yes, Xiaoshan is right.” Xu Danian nodded in agreement. “I heard my father say that I originally had a younger brother, but he had no food to eat and got sick, so he died young. It was only more than ten years ago that I came to Xinhua and finally had enough to eat.”

“Who says otherwise!” Feng Gui chimed in. “My mother also starved to death in the Ming Dynasty. If I hadn’t been lucky enough to come to Xinhua, I might have died in the wilderness and become food for those refugees.”

"..." Meng Haoshen was speechless for a moment, standing there blankly, not knowing what to say.

He opened his mouth, then closed it again, feeling wronged: I didn't say that the Ming Dynasty was so great!

It's just that there are more food options in Guangzhou, that's all.

"Alright, alright, why are we arguing about this?" Seeing this, Mo Xiaoshan warmly put his arm around Meng Haoshen's shoulder. "We all know that you didn't suffer in Guangzhou. Instead, you were pampered and came to Xinhua all this way. You also have plenty of spare money at school and live a better life than any of us. So don't show off in front of us."

"Xiaoshan, I..." Meng Haoshen showed a hint of panic and quickly explained, "I wasn't showing off, I was just saying it casually, comparing the differences between Shixing and Guangzhou... I really didn't..."

“Alright, we all know you’re not that kind of person,” Feng Gui said with a smile. “We’ve been classmates for five or six years, and we’re not trying to climb the social ladder by associating with your status or money.”

"My identity..." Meng Haoshen gave a bitter smile, shook his head, and showed a dismissive expression.

He is indeed Meng Shengxin's son, but he is ultimately his stepson.

Moreover, when he was six years old, he was sent back to Xinhua. It wasn't until the end of September last year, when Meng Shengxin returned to Shixing with his wife and children, that they were able to meet again.

For the past nine years, he has been fostered in the home of Zhang Ruosong, one of the members of the decision-making committee and the Minister of Science, Technology and Industry. In terms of affection, he really doesn't have much affection for his nominal father.

He was even quite unfamiliar with his mother and younger siblings, barely exchanging a few words with them.

It was winter break, and feeling rather cooped up at home, Mo Xiaoshan went to the market early to meet up with some classmates. He had hoped to stroll around and soak up the festive atmosphere, but instead, it sparked a debate. "By the way," Mo Xiaoshan asked, "we'll be graduating from middle school in June. What are your thoughts on that?"

“I want to apply to the New Continent Army Academy!” Xu Danian said, but then his expression darkened. “But my father wants me to apply to the New Continent Management Academy in the future, saying that it will be good for me to become an official and bring honor to the family.”

“The New Continent Army Academy is not easy to get into!” Feng Gui said. “They only recruit about sixty students each year, which is one in a thousand. It’s very difficult. It’s better to try for the Naval Academy, which recruits two or three times more students each year.”

"As for New South Wales Management Institute, it has very high requirements for academic subjects. Like New South Wales University, you need to first enter a senior high school, and then go through a rigorous examination two years later before you have a chance to enter their gates."

“That’s true. These two universities aren’t places that just anyone can get into.” Mo Xiaoshan blinked. “They’re pretty much like the Imperial Academy of Xinzhou, right? If you can graduate from there, you’ll be the most outstanding person in Xinzhou.”

"What, Xiaoshan also wants to go to university?" Xu Danian asked.

"Yes, I really want to." Mo Xiaoshan looked longingly at the news. "I heard that both Xinzhou Management College and Xinzhou University offer free tuition and a monthly living allowance. It's like the state is supporting us to study and receive more advanced knowledge after we get in.

"Hey, everyone who gets into university hopes to make a name for themselves in Xinzhou, but you're only thinking about the school's stipend," Feng Gui joked with a laugh.

"There's nothing I can do. I have a lot of younger siblings, and it's already a struggle for them to support me through middle school." Mo Xiaoshan shrugged, looked at the various food stalls on the street, and smacked his lips a few times. "We've been shopping for so long, and apart from Xiao Meng treating us to a few pieces of rice cake, I can't afford anything else on the street."

"By the way, Xiao Meng, what are you thinking? It's not like your dad has already made arrangements for you, is it?"

“Me?” Meng Hao thought for a moment and said in a low voice, “My father wants me to continue my studies, first to take the entrance exam for senior high school, then try to get into Xinzhou Management College, and finally work in the government.”

"Oh, that's true. With your family background, your parents must have arranged everything perfectly for you," Xu Danian said with a hint of envy.

"But I want to study mechanical manufacturing, and I want to build more useful machines," Meng Haoshen said, a hint of excitement on his face. "Do you know? The Xinhua Industrial Research Institute is building a giant iron ox that doesn't need to eat grass. It can power many machines and vehicles. It's amazing!"

"Really?... A giant iron ox that doesn't eat grass? Could it be... the wooden ox and flowing horse invented by Zhuge Liang?"

“No!” Meng Haoran’s eyes lit up. “I heard Uncle Zhang say that the iron ox they are researching is much more powerful than the wooden ox and flowing horse invented by Zhuge Liang! If it can be researched and manufactured, it can drive... large ships weighing hundreds or thousands of tons, and run very fast even in headwinds. Moreover, it can also pull thousands of horse-drawn carriages, running day and night without stopping.”

"Wow!" The group of friends exclaimed in amazement upon hearing this.

They did not doubt Meng Haoshen's words in the slightest, because the "Uncle Zhang" he mentioned was a key member of the central committee who led the development of Xinhua's industry and technology.

Looking at his companions' shining eyes, Feng Gui also said loudly, "I want to study geography so that I can explore unknown continents in the future, build up those unclaimed lands, and bring them under the rule of our Xinhua."

"Good lad!" Xu Danian patted him heavily on the shoulder. "When the time comes, you draw the map, and I'll carry the gun and the knife, and take over all the territory you discover!"

"Then I'll take responsibility for building machines for you, so you can reach the depths of the ocean and the desolate frontiers that no one has ever explored before, much faster!" Meng Haoshen's voice trembled with excitement.

The four boys huddled together, their breaths mingling in the cold wind.

"Five years..." Mo Xiaoshan suddenly said, "Five years from now, when we graduate, I don't know if we'll be able to realize these wishes."

“Definitely!” Feng Gui said confidently. “Didn’t our teacher often teach us that where there’s a will, there’s a way? If we work together, we will definitely be able to realize these dreams. Then, we can build a new world with our own hands and make our Xinhua even more prosperous and wealthy.”

Meng Haoshen looked towards the street corner, where a group of military academy cadets in dark blue uniforms were marching past, their leather boots tapping out a rhythmic beat on the stone slabs.

In the market, enthusiastic vendors, buyers constantly picking and haggling, hopping children, and calm and confident government officials—every face revealed heartfelt joy and delight.

He suddenly remembered something his father had once told him: This is not a refuge, but a place of hope.

“Let’s go.” He straightened his back. “Let’s go to New State University and see what our future hopes are.”

The footsteps of the four teenagers echoed crisply on the bluestone slabs, blending with the distant sounds of factory machinery, port calls, and market clamor to create a vibrant symphony of youth in Xinzhou.
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(End of this chapter)