After everything had finally come to an end, Gu Zhongxun inspected the superior rice seeds saved from this year’s autumn harvest before setting off.
“They look a little plumper than ordinary rice seeds. When can they be made widely available?”
Song Qiming answered with a smile, “If everything goes smoothly, in two or three years.”
Gu Zhongxun’s expression softened slightly. He nodded. “Take it slowly. If you encounter any difficulties, send someone to inform me at any time.”
Under the gloomy sky, Gu Baozhu reluctantly let go of Song Shixue’s hand.
“I don’t know when we’ll be able to meet again. If only your brother could be transferred to Songzhou City.”
Song Shixue smiled brightly. “He’s only in the first year of his three-year term as prefect. Once I have some free time after the New Year, I’ll go to Songzhou City to visit you.”
Gu Baozhu pouted and muttered, “Three years from now, you won’t still be here either. The capital is too far away.”
Song Shixue looked at her without saying a word.
Seven days after Gu Zhongxun and the others left Suining City, the city’s first snow of the year arrived right on schedule.
The temperature dropped sharply. By the next morning, there were far fewer people on the streets, and only a handful of vendors remained at their stalls.
When a few brave townspeople ventured out into the biting wind and entered the shops, restaurants, and inns owned by Song Jinzhao, a wave of warmth greeted them, making them reluctant to leave.
One customer looked enviously at the shop assistant who came forward to greet him.
“You’ve already started burning charcoal even though winter has just begun. Your employer really is generous.”
The assistant pointed toward the brazier in the middle of the room.
“Charcoal is too expensive to burn. This is smokeless coal. It costs three copper coins per pound—only thirty percent of the price of charcoal.”
The customer froze. He stepped closer and stared at the smokeless coal burning inside the brazier.
The pieces were shaped like lotus-root segments, with holes through their centers—the same form as modern honeycomb briquettes.
“How is there no smoke?”
Some people did use coal for heating, but most burned it in heated brick beds. Even with chimneys, the smell would still seep through the cracks in the bed’s surface. Unless the cold was truly unbearable, half the population would rather not burn coal at all.
Following the shopkeeper’s instructions, the assistant continued enthusiastically praising the product.
“This is specially made smokeless coal from the coal factory. When burned, it gives off no irritating or choking smell, and it lasts a long time. A single piece can burn for three or four shichen.”
The customer bent down in disbelief.
He circled the brazier, turning his head as though he wanted to inspect it from every possible angle, practically wishing he could uncover some hidden secret.
After a long while, he had detected only the faintest trace of an odor. The piece of coal remained almost completely intact, barely burned at all, and delight spread plainly across his face.
“Shop assistant, where can I buy this smokeless coal?”
The same scene played out at several other shops. Even patients at Song Shixue’s medical clinic were asking about it.
The shop selling smokeless coal stood right next to the shop selling cement, separated by only a single wall. The assistants, who had been prepared in advance, opened the doors wide as soon as they saw people hurrying over.
“Do you have smokeless coal?”
“Is this where smokeless coal is sold?”
“...”
As customers rushed in, their questions rose one after another.
The assistant greeted them warmly, nodding as he ushered them inside. “Yes, yes, we have it. This way, honored guest.”
Customers came in an endless stream. Once those who had made their purchases left, they immediately told their neighbors.
Before long, a huge crowd came rushing over. When they saw the brazier displayed at the entrance, their eyes filled with delight.
In previous years, the price of charcoal rose steadily from the beginning of winter. Before winter set in, it cost nine copper coins per pound; by the depths of winter, it would rise by at least thirty percent.
In years when disasters struck, even charcoal costing twenty or thirty copper coins per pound was in short supply.
Now that smokeless coal cost only three copper coins per pound, everyone had to buy as much as possible and stockpile it. Otherwise, they might not be able to buy any later—or might have to pay a higher price and end up losing out.
At the same time, four transport teams, each consisting of fifty men, set out directly from the coal factory.
With Suining City as their center, they headed east, south, west, and north. The carts, loaded with smokeless coal, left trail after trail of wheel tracks in the snow.
