bigabreads Chapter 171 The asphalt had been laid overnight; he pressed her down on the scorching pavement.
Chapter 171 The asphalt had been laid overnight; he pressed her down on the scorching pavement.
The sky was just beginning to lighten.
The eldest son of the Ma family, Master Ma, was awakened by an eerie silence.
At this time of day, the checkpoints he set up at the choke point of the official road would already be bustling with activity.
The caravans that were stopped tried to get through the checkpoint as quickly as possible by bribing officials, begging and pleading, and even fighting over passage. The commotion was more lively than a vegetable market.
That was the sound of money falling into a pocket, the echo of power.
But today, the area outside the window is as quiet as a graveyard.
"Are all the people dead?"
Wearing a coat pieced together from discarded furs, Master Ma grumbled as he pushed open the window, only to be choked by the cold wind that rushed in.
He rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked towards the checkpoint.
That one glance caused him to drop the still-warm teapot in his hand with a "crack," shattering it into pieces on the ground.
The official road that used to pass through the Ma family's checkpoint no matter which way you went was completely deserted, without a single soul in sight.
And in the wilderness less than 500 meters from the checkpoint.
On what was originally a desolate place of mud and rocks.
A jet-black, wide, and mirror-smooth black dragon lies quietly amidst the pristine white snow.
It ignored the terrain and the Ma family's checkpoints, like a black blade, cutting straight through this wasteland and directly connecting to the distant horizon.
The black road surface still emitted lingering heat, distorting the air in the morning light, exuding a chilling industrial brutality aesthetic.
All the caravans and carriages rushed toward that black road like madmen.
The wheels rolled across the road, no longer making that teeth-grinding, bumpy sound, but a deep and smooth "rustling" sound that I had never heard before.
"What the hell is that?!"
Master Ma's eyes widened, as if they were about to pop out of their sockets.
"The Black River? The Qin family brought the Black River from the underworld up here?!"
……
"A miracle...this is a miracle!"
Meanwhile, on that newly completed black avenue.
Magistrate Fang was kneeling on the ground in a completely unseemly manner, his buttocks sticking up high.
He took off his gloves and used his pampered hands to stroke the dark road surface again and again.
It was slightly warm to the touch, that was the residual heat of the asphalt that had not completely dissipated.
It has a rough yet extremely smooth texture, without a single gap or pebble.
"How can there be such a road in this world?"
Magistrate Fang trembled as he pressed his face against the surface, feeling the heat emanating from the earth.
"No seams! There are absolutely no seams!"
"Even the imperial roads in the palace, paved with white marble, still have grout lines between the bricks!"
"This road... is perfectly formed by nature, like a single piece of black jade!"
"Lord Fang, wipe your drool."
A rough voice came from above, carrying a strong aura of male hormones.
When Magistrate Fang looked up, he was stunned by the "mountain of flesh" in front of him.
It's Qin Meng.
The third master of the Qin family, who had been pulling the stone mill all night, was now shirtless, his body steaming with white heat in the minus twenty degree wind.
His bronze-colored muscles, engorged with blood from prolonged exertion, were now swollen to their maximum.
Each muscle looked as if it had been carved from granite, glistening with oil and mixed with black soot and glistening sweat.
That is the most primal, untamed tension belonging to the laborers.
"Third Master Qin..." Magistrate Fang swallowed hard. "This road... was it really paved by you and your men overnight?"
"hold head high."
Qin Meng grabbed a towel and roughly wiped the soot off his face, revealing his gleaming white teeth:
"My brother said that my sister-in-law has back pain."
"If this road isn't smooth, I won't be able to go back."
As he spoke, he lifted his foot and stomped hard on the hard asphalt road.
"Thump!"
A dull, loud bang.
The road surface remained completely still, without even leaving a white mark.
"Tough enough."
Qin Meng grinned with satisfaction:
"Now, no matter how much your sister-in-law wants to roll... the car will be perfectly stable."
Just then, the sound of horses' hooves came from afar.
A black carriage traveled smoothly along this brand-new "Black Jade Belt".
There was no bumpy ride.
There was no shaking.
The carriage remained as steady as a mountain, with only the light sound of horses' hooves echoing across the empty wilderness.
The carriage curtain was lifted.
A slender, fair hand reached out, followed by a slightly pale but still breathtakingly beautiful face.
Su Wan has arrived.
Last night, Qin Lie pressed her down on the bed and "rubbed" her waist for half the night (he really rubbed it). This morning, when she heard that the road had been paved, she insisted on coming to see it despite her sore body.
"sister in law!"
The moment Qin Meng saw Su Wan, his originally fierce wolf-like eyes lit up instantly.
He didn't care whether he was clean or not, and strode over.
"Third Master! That's Madam Qin! You're covered in dust..." Magistrate Fang tried to stop her, but the gust of wind Qin Meng stirred up knocked him over.
The carriage came to a stop.
Su Wan was about to get out of the carriage with the help of her maid.
A large, calloused hand, covered in black ash, reached out to her first.
"Sister-in-law, come down."
Qin Meng stood beside the carriage shaft, looking up at her.
He reeked of the pungent smell of asphalt and sweat, but he didn't think anything was wrong with it.
In his eyes, this was a medal, proof that he had paved the way for his sister-in-law to overcome all the hardships in the world.
"Third Brother..." Su Wan looked at his disheveled yet energetic appearance and felt a pang of sadness. "You've worked hard."
She didn't mind the unclean hand, and gently placed her soft, boneless little hand in his palm.
Black and white.
Roughness and delicacy.
In the cold light of this early morning, it creates an extreme visual impact.
Qin Meng's hand tightened suddenly, completely enveloping her small hand.
But he didn't help her down.
Instead, he reached out his other arm, put his arm around her waist, and lifted her out of the car with one hand.
"Sister-in-law, don't step on the ground."
Qin Meng placed her on the newly hardened asphalt road, but did not let go, still supporting her waist loosely.
"The road was just paved, it's still hot to the touch."
"Sister-in-law, these shoes have thin soles, be careful not to burn them."
"It's fine."
Su Wan touched the ground with her toes and tentatively stepped on it.
A warm sensation traveled up from the soles of my feet.
In this icy and snowy landscape, this road is like a giant hand warmer, radiating a reassuring warmth.
"Really... so cheap."
Su Wan took two steps in surprise.
The ground felt firm yet springy underfoot, completely eliminating the previous pain of stumbling and sinking.
"Does your sister-in-law like it?"
Qin Meng, like a big dog begging for a reward, followed closely behind her, his massive body shielding her from all the cold wind.
"I like it." Su Wan turned around, smiled at him, and said, "Third Brother is really amazing."
This compliment was more effective for Qin Meng than giving him ten pounds of beef.
The smudges on his face couldn't hide his smugness, but his ears were bright red.
"Then... could you help me check the goods?"
Qin Meng suddenly stopped, his eyes becoming somewhat intense.
"Inspect the goods?" Su Wan asked, puzzled.
"My older brother said the road needs to be firm and smooth enough."
Qin Meng pointed to the ground beneath his feet, then to his rock-like chest:
"I don't know what 'flat' means."
"All I know is... this road is as hard as my pectoral muscles."
"Sister-in-law, feel around on this road..."
He suddenly knelt down on one knee.
Right here, under the watchful eyes of everyone, on this newly paved road.
He took Su Wan's hand, wanting to touch the black pavement.
But just as Su Wan's fingers were about to touch the dusty pavement, he suddenly stopped.
"No, the road isn't clean."
Qin Meng frowned, seemingly annoyed by his carelessness.
next second.
He made a move that caused Magistrate Fang's jaw to dislocate again.
He grabbed Su Wan's hand and pressed it forcefully against his bare, hot chest, which was still covered in sweat.
"Thump!"
The heartbeat beneath my palm was strong and powerful, like a war drum.
"It's not clean here."
Qin Meng tilted his head back, his eyes fixed on Su Wan, his gaze thicker than the asphalt beneath him.
"Sister-in-law, stop feeling your way."
"Touch me."
"This physique of mine... was built up overnight for my sister-in-law (referring to pulling a cart all night)."
"Sister-in-law, take a look... is the muscle structure even?"
"Is this firmness... enough to shield my sister-in-law from the wind and rain?"
Su Wan's hand was pressed against his burning chest muscles, her palm covered in slippery sweat and hard muscle texture.
That intense masculine aura was like a net, completely enveloping her.
"Third Brother! You... Lord Fang is still here!"
Su Wan's face turned as red as a ripe tomato. She tried to pull her hand away, but the large hand held it firmly down.
"He was looking at the road, not at me."
Qin Meng said matter-of-factly, leaning forward again so that Su Wan's knees were pressed against his chest:
"Sister-in-law, smell it."
"This smell... isn't foul."
"This is... the smell of strength."
"It's the taste that I wanted to use to pave the way for my sister-in-law..."
Su Wan looked at the man in front of her, who, though rough, was full of sincerity.
That so-called "asphalt odor" actually transformed into a reassuring and reassuring masculine aura on him.
That was for her, a power capable of leveling mountains.
"Um……"
Su Wan's fingers curled slightly, her fingertips tracing the faint scar on his chest:
"It doesn't smell."
"The smell of my third brother... is very reassuring."
Qin Meng shuddered, as if struck by an electric current.
He looked at Su Wan's lowered eyes and his Adam's apple bobbed violently.
If his older brother hadn't repeatedly warned him, "You're only allowed to look, not eat," he really would have liked to walk right there on this road and...
"Ahem!"
A violent cough interrupted the idyllic scene.
Magistrate Fang simply couldn't stand it any longer.
He felt that if he continued to look, he would not only get a sty, but also be suffocated by the sour smell filling the air.
"Um... Third Master Qin, Madam Qin."
Magistrate Fang, holding his worn-out official hat, approached with a fawning expression:
"This road... it's simply a masterpiece!"
"I have just thoroughly examined the area."
He pointed to the black road that stretched to the horizon, his spittle flying as he spoke with excitement:
"This road is as smooth as a whetstone, as solid as a rock, and... and it even has its own heat! Not only can you drive on it, but it can also melt snow!"
"What is this? This is an auspicious omen!"
Magistrate Fang's eyes darted around, and he started making his own calculations.
With this road, goods from the Wolf Fang Special Zone can be transported out continuously, and the tax revenue... oh no, the "kickbacks" he gets...
"Madam Qin, I have a request that I cannot make."
Magistrate Fang rubbed his hands together, looking at Su Wan with anticipation:
"This is a major project that benefits the country and its people."
"I'd like to ask... if we could bestow a name upon this road? And, by the way... designate it as the 'official road' of our Langya County?"
"From now on, all official cases and government documents will be handled via this route!"
"As for that muddy road at the Ma family's house..."
Magistrate Fang curled his lip in disdain:
"Let them keep them to raise fish!"
Su Wan withdrew her hand from Qin Meng's "confinement," straightened her slightly disheveled skirt, and resumed her dignified and elegant demeanor as the matriarch of the household.
"Since Lord Fang has spoken, that is certainly good."
She glanced at the black pavement beneath her feet, a meaningful smile playing on her lips:
"This road is as black and shiny as jade, and it connects to the wealth of the Wolf Fang Special Zone."
"How about we call it..."
"Black Jade Belt".
"Black Jade Belt... What a name! What a name!" Magistrate Fang clapped his hands and laughed. "With ten thousand strings of cash around his waist, he'd ride a crane down to Yangzhou! This Black Jade Belt is the golden belt of our Langya County!"
"Since it's an official road..."
Qin Meng suddenly stood up, and the huge shadow instantly enveloped Magistrate Fang.
He looked down at the county magistrate, who was still dreaming of getting rich, a sly glint in his eyes (he'd been corrupted by the fourth brother).
"Lord Fang, since this is an official road, shouldn't someone maintain it?"
"Maintenance? Of course!" Magistrate Fang patted his chest confidently.
"That's perfect."
Qin Meng pointed to several piles of asphalt residue still standing not far away:
"My brothers and I have been working all night and we're exhausted."
"The remaining finishing touches... are left to Lord Fang."
"Huh?" Magistrate Fang was dumbfounded.
"What? Is the master unwilling?"
Qin Meng cracked his knuckles, and in doing so, showed off his arms, which were thicker than Magistrate Fang's thighs:
"This is... an opportunity to serve my sister-in-law."
"If the adults don't do a good job..."
"I'll bury the adult... in this road, as a 'roadbed'."
"Do it! I'll do it! I'll do it right now!"
Magistrate Fang was so frightened that his hat fell off, and he rolled up his sleeves and rushed towards the pile of dark asphalt.
……
Three poles in the sun.
When the first caravan cautiously stepped onto this "black jade belt," everyone went mad.
"My God! Is this flying?!"
"It's not bumpy at all! I didn't spill a drop of my tea!"
"Quick! Full speed ahead! We're heading to the Wolf Fang Special Zone to buy supplies!"
The news spread like wildfire throughout the Northwest.
And in front of the Iron Stake Ma family's checkpoint.
Looking at the still empty official road and the long, black river in the distance bustling with traffic, Master Ma's pipe snapped in two with a "crack".
"This is outrageous..."
"The Qin family... they're severing my lineage!"
He watched the woman standing at the end of the black avenue, being escorted away by the Qin brothers.
That woman did it simply because she cried out, "My back hurts."
Let's completely rewrite the landscape of Northwest China.
"Someone come here!"
Master Ma gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing with the madness of someone at their wit's end:
"Since they're not following my path..."
"Then nobody's leaving!"
"Go and dig up that dark road...!"
However, what he didn't know was...
In the underground laboratory of Genting Apartments.
The fourth brother, Qin Yue, was holding the black, elastic rubber ring, a sinister smile on his face.
"Dig up the road?"
"Oh."
He slipped the rubber band around Su Wan's wrist, his eyes darkening as he gazed at the stark contrast between the black rubber and her fair skin.
"Sister-in-law, smoothing the road isn't enough."
"It also needs to be... flexible."
"This thing..."
"It can not only make the car run faster."
"It can also... bounce back all those who try to run away."
"Tie him to your sister-in-law's side."
"We can't go anywhere."