Chapter 139: The Nan-Bing, Following the Husband’s Surname

Chapter 139: The Nan-Wu (Husband’s Surname) Train

Next were the students from the county academy. These students were outstanding representatives of the institution—not just any student could participate in this test ride. It was a reward.

Having received an education, the students were more open-minded and curious, being young and eager to explore new things. They were all quite excited to give it a try.

Just as the student procession had reached the halfway point, a man suddenly burst through the crowd, shouting in panic, "Si Lang! Wang Silang! Come back! Don’t you dare go into that giant dragon’s belly! It’ll swallow you whole!"

The man’s voice was so loud that it drew the students’ attention. They stopped and turned to look.

Xi Ning patted the shoulder of the student in front of him. "Wang Hao, I think he’s calling you."

Wang Hao turned around. "Father, what are you doing here?"

"Ah! Come back! Are you trying to get yourself killed? How can you willingly walk into a dragon’s stomach?" Wang’s father was frantic, hopping in place. If not for the intimidating presence of the patrolling officers, he would have rushed over and dragged Wang Hao back himself.

Wang Hao had been eager to ride the train, but seeing his father’s distress made him hesitate.

Xi Ning urged, "Brother Wang, think carefully. Eighty percent of the county academy students wanted this test ride. You and I only got this chance because we ranked top three in our class. Who knows if there’ll be another opportunity like this?"

Cong Lin noticed the stalled procession and snapped, "Hurry up! Stop dawdling! Either get on or move along—quit holding us up!"

"Come down! Come down now!" Wang’s father begged frantically. "I’m begging you, Si Lang! Get down here! I’m scared!"

Wang Silang looked at his nearly tearful father and finally gave up the hard-earned chance. He stepped out of the student line and walked back toward the crowd.

Cong Lin didn’t care. In fact, he eyed him disdainfully—what a coward.

"We need twenty volunteers!" Cong Lin shouted, hand resting on his sword, his voice booming. "Anyone in the crowd who wants to ride? Step forward if you dare!"

The people exchanged nervous looks, shaking their heads wildly.

"No, no! How could we? That’s a dragon! What if we go in and never come out?"

Cong Lin barked impatiently, "I told you, it’s not a dragon! Not a dragon! And what’s there to be afraid of? Our lord, Master Wuwei, and all the researchers are on that train—do you think they’d risk their lives if it weren’t safe?"

"Me! Me! Can I go?" Wu Yaozu jumped up and down in the crowd. Cong Lin spotted him immediately and pointed. "You—come here."

Wu Yaozu happily ran over. Cong Lin clapped him on the shoulder. "That’s the spirit! Brave kid!"

Wu Yaozu grinned. "What’s there to be scared of? My mother dared to ride it—how could I, a real man, be afraid?"

"Good." Cong Lin let Wu Yaozu board, then turned back to the crowd. "Who else?"

"Me! Me!" An old man called out from the crowd.

Cong Lin hadn’t expected the second volunteer to be an elderly man. He eyed him skeptically. "You? How’s your health? Don’t get too excited and drop dead. There’s no doctor on the train—no one can save you if something happens."

The old man insisted, "I’m not afraid. My grandson is one of the county academy’s top students—he just boarded. I want to go with him."

Cong Lin frowned. "What’s your grandson’s name?"

"You might not know him, officer. His name is Chu Yan." At the mention of his grandson, the old man’s eyes brightened with pride.

Cong Lin actually did recognize the name—Chu Yan was a young Shuang Er (a gender identity), and more importantly, he was the top student in his year every time.

Cong Lin had great respect for families who allowed their daughters and Shuang Er to study. Especially this old man—despite his age, his thinking was so progressive, with no bias against girls, willing to educate his Shuang Er grandson, and genuinely worried for him. Touched, Cong Lin nodded and let him pass.

Gradually, a few more daring folks stepped forward. Seeing that time was almost up and the quota was nearly filled, Cong Lin led the officers onto the train.

Cong Lin and the others headed straight for the sleeping berths, where Bing Wengu and Nan Jinping were seated.

The train slowly started moving, with a loud rumble. Both those on board and those standing on the platform were equally excited, shouting, "It's moving! The dragon’s taking flight!"

Bing Wengu sat beside Nan Jinping, slipping an arm around her waist. "Scared?"

"No," Nan Jinping replied, her eyes sparkling. "Wen Gu, this is amazing! I love it."

"If you think this is amazing, just wait till you see what’s next when we get back."

"What is it?" Nan Jinping widened her eyes, looking at Bing Wengu with curiosity.

Her long, raven-feather-like eyelashes fluttered, making Bing Wengu’s pulse quicken.

"It’s a secret. I’ll tell you when we return!" Bing Wengu's voice grew slightly husky. Nan Jinping sensed a hint of danger in his tone and fell silent.

In another carriage, the students, researchers, and yamen officers aboard the train were buzzing with excitement.

They pressed their noses to the glass, marveling at the scenery flashing past outside. "Wow, it's so fast! Look at those trees—they whizzed by! I barely saw them!"

"So the train really runs on the ground, not in the sky!"

"What nonsense are you spouting? Don’t sound like those peasants out there!"

Everyone chattered away, none willing to close their eyes for even a moment’s rest. They kept their eyes wide open, running around the carriage in excitement.

Roughly an hour later, the train made its first stop. Cong Lin and the yamen officers disembarked at the station, where a crowd had gathered to gawk. Upon seeing the train, they dropped to their knees, kowtowing frantically.

Cong Lin spent a long time explaining, but the crowd remained skeptical and wary. Still, there were always daredevils eager to try. Cong Lin recorded their names and had them line up to board.

Finally, after six hours, the train arrived in Bianjing City.

From afar, Zhan Yu and his ministers heard the train’s deafening roar.

The Crown Prince said, "Father, I hear it—the train must be arriving."

Zhan Yu was excited, wondering what kind of surprise Bing Wengu had brought this time. He strained for a look.

Amid a screech of brakes, the train came to a halt.

The doors opened, and Cong Lin led the yamen officers out first. A yamen officer stood guard at each door to keep passengers from spilling out and disturbing the Emperor.

However, since the train was made of glass, allowing a clear view outside, everyone pressed their noses to the glass to look. The yamen officers did not stop them.

Then, Bing Wengu stepped off the train alone. "Your servant greets Your Majesty."

Zhan Yu immediately helped him up. "Rise, my beloved minister. You’ve outdone yourself again. This must be the steam-powered train you described in your memorial—truly breathtaking."

"Your Majesty, if Your Majesty wishes, you may try riding it yourself. It only takes six hours to reach Ji County," Bing Wengu suggested.

"Excellent," Zhan Yu agreed at once.

The Left Chancellor immediately objected, "Your Majesty, this is far too reckless. Your safety must come first—you must not act rashly."

Zhan Yu laughed. "Left Chancellor, you’re overcautious. Yuan Ting has already ridden it and confirmed it’s perfectly safe."

The Left Chancellor persisted, "Even if the train itself is safe, the crowd’s too unruly. An assassin could be hiding among them!"

Still eager to try, Zhan Yu hesitated. Bing Wengu then proposed, "If Your Majesty truly wishes to experience it, why not post imperial guards to accompany you? Each carriage can be guarded by them, ensuring no assassin could get past them."

"That's a great idea," Zhan Yu said with a smile. "My lord, you've also spent six hours on the train. After such a tiring trip, let me treat you to a meal. After eating, I’ll ride the train to Jixian for a visit."

"Thank you for your hospitality, Sire." Bing Wengu followed the emperor, leaving Nan Jinping still on the train, who naturally saw this but had nothing to worry about.

In truth, Bing Wengu had earlier invited Nan Jinping to come down and meet the emperor, but she had refused. People often looked down on dual-gendered individuals, especially the imperial family, who viewed them as ill omens. Unwilling to cause trouble for Bing Wengu, Nan Jinping stayed on the train, only catching a quick peek of the emperor from inside.

After the emperor and Bing Wengu left, the station guards finally opened the carriage doors, allowing the commoners to disembark.

"Don’t go too far, and remember the time—return in half an hour without fail. The train will depart precisely then, and we won’t wait for stragglers. If you miss it, don’t say we didn’t warn you!"

The railway officials shouted loudly, repeating the instructions to ensure everyone heard before letting them leave.

Many had never been to Bianjing in their lives, and upon exiting the station, they were amazed by how bustling the city was.

At the same time, the locals of Bianjing were equally curious about these out-of-town visitors—or more accurately, about the train they had arrived on.

"We heard you came by train—what is that like? How does it feel? Is it faster than a legendary swift horse?"

The travelers were surrounded by well-dressed locals firing questions at them. In that moment, their roles seemed reversed—as if they were the sophisticated city folk, while the locals were the ignorant villagers who knew nothing beyond their own homes.

This filled many rural visitors with a surge of pride, and they eagerly began recounting their experiences.

"A legendary swift horse is still just a horse—what’s so special about that? It can’t compare to the Iron beast! I tell you, this beast only takes six hours, maybe even less..."

More commoners wandered through Bianjing, marveling at its wealth and grandeur.

Old Man Chu felt his eyes weren’t enough—everything was new, everything was fascinating.

"Elder, is this your grandson? What a fine young man. Judging by his attire, he must be a scholar, no? Why not buy him a wooden hairpin? This style is newly popular, especially favored by scholars."

The elder took one look at the hairpin—a design unseen in Jixian—and was immediately smitten. "How much?"

"Not expensive—just thirty-six coppers."

"Then give me one."

"Grandpa, I really don’t need it," Chu Yan quickly interjected. "Everything in Bianjing is so expensive. Let’s buy it back in Jixian—a wooden hairpin only costs a few coins there."

"But Jixian doesn’t have this style."

"I spend all day at the county school—what difference does the style make? With this spare money, Grandpa, buy some meat to nourish yourself instead of settling for less."

Seeing Chu Yan’s maturity, the elder’s heart ached even more, and he grew even more determined to buy the hairpin. Chu Yan held it, his heart swelling with warmth.

"Grandpa, I’ll study hard. One day, I’ll become someone as great as the great Master Wuwei, earn plenty of money, and take you to Bianjing often."

"Good, good. I’ll hold you to that." The elder didn’t discourage him, only smiling in agreement.

Meanwhile, after dining with the emperor and the prince, Bing Wengu returned to the station with the assembled royal guards.

The emperor and the prince walked ahead, while Bing Wengu and the court officials followed behind. Upon boarding, Bing Wengu spotted Jiang Jinghuai among the guards and greeted him, lingering a few steps back.

Zhan Yu asked, "Minister Bing, why have you lingered behind?"

Bing Wengu replied, "I saw a friend currently serving as a royal guard and had a quick word."

Zhan Yu smiled. "In that case, bring him along to join us."

"Yes." Bing Wengu went to call Jiang Jinghuai.

Jiang Jinghuai said gratefully, "Yuan Ting, aside from being a bit overprotective when it comes to your husband, you’re alright the rest of the time. You even remembered to get me an audience with the Emperor."

Bing Wengu shot back, "If you say that, I won’t remember you next time."

"Hey, don’t be like that. My bad, okay?"

Bing Wengu led Jiang Jinghuai inside, and Jiang Jinghuai bowed to the Emperor and the Crown Prince.

Zhan Yu chuckled, "So Yuan Ting’s friend is you. I remember you—you’re the grandson of Elder Marquis Jiang."

"I’m beyond honored, Your Majesty, that you remember this humble subject," Jiang Jinghuai said excitedly.

"How is your grandfather’s health?" Zhan Yu asked warmly.

"Thanks to Your Majesty’s blessings, he is doing well."

Zhan Yu then turned and said, "Yuan Ting, walk us through this train."

"As you command," Bing Wengu replied. "This train runs on steam and has been named the Nan-Bing Express by me."

Upon hearing the train’s name, Jiang Jinghuai was so stunned he forgot his manners in front of the Emperor.

Zhan Yu, noticing Jiang Jinghuai’s reaction, asked, "Is there some meaning behind this name?"

"No special reason. My husband’s surname is Nan, and mine is Bing, so I named the train the Nan-Bing Express," Bing Wengu answered calmly.

But the Emperor, the Crown Prince, and the other ministers who heard this were anything but calm.

In the Dayong Dynasty, women and male spouses (Shuang Er) took their husband’s surname after marriage. If Bing Wengu had named the train the Bing-Nan Express, no one would have batted an eye. But by naming it the Nan-Bing Express, it was as if he had taken his husband’s surname. In the Dayong Dynasty, only matrilocal husbands—who were looked down upon—took the surname of their wife or Xiao Geer.

Bing Wengu remained unfazed under the mixed stares of disbelief.

The Crown Prince asked, "Lord Bing, did your parents have no objections to you giving the train such a name?"

Bing Wengu replied, confused, "The train was researched and built by me, not my parents. Naturally, its name is my decision alone. Just as if my parents had built it, whatever name they chose would be fine by me."

Some ministers exchanged disapproving glances.

Zhan Yu laughed, "My minister is deeply devoted to his husband. I’ve heard that your devotion is extraordinary, and today I’ve witnessed Yuan Ting’s unwavering dedication firsthand."

"I’m honored, Your Majesty," Bing Wengu said, not at all bothered—in fact, he looked proud.

However, some ministers’ eyes flashed with disdain, thinking Bing Wengu was whipped by a mere Xiao Geer, bringing shame to men.

Zhan Yu, unbothered, simply laughed heartily.

Bing Wengu paid no mind and continued his introduction: "The train consists of eight carriages, with the last three being private sleeping cabins for rest—where we are now.

The remaining five carriages have bench seating, each accommodating eighty-five passengers.

The journey from Ji County to Bianjing City takes six and a quarter hours, passing through thirteen stations with a quarter-hour stop at each."

Zhan Yu listened attentively, deeply curious about the train.

"Your Majesty, once the train officially begins operation, I plan to bring up profits," Bing Wengu said.

This was expected. The construction of the railway tracks had cost a hefty sum—70% funded by the court and 30% by Ji County. Zhan Yu naturally intended to recoup costs.

"I propose setting the one-way ticket price for the entire journey at 130 copper coins. For boarding at intermediate stops, the fare will vary based on the distance traveled, ranging from just over 100 to around 110 copper coins. The price for sleeper berths will be double that of regular hard seats, catering exclusively to the wealthy."

"Isn't that a bit too cheap?" the Crown Prince asked.

"I set this price primarily to serve the common people and facilitate their travel," Bing Wengu explained. "If the price is too high, only the wealthy could afford it. The train would lose its purpose, and hardly anyone could afford it anyway.

The wealthy might initially find the train interesting and ride it for amusement. But eventually, they’d lose interest. Faced with exorbitant ticket prices, no one would ride the train anymore.

However, if the price is affordable, ordinary travelers would certainly prefer to take the train. It’s fast, saves time, and can even cut down on lodging and meal expenses during the journey."

Zhan Yu nodded, "Let’s go with Wengu’s plan."