Test-Driving the Carriage to the Escort Agency
He turned and climbed into the carriage, lifted the curtain and sat down, ordering, "To the security company."
Liu Hu responded, jumped off the carriage, locked the outer gate of the stable, then quickly ran to the gatehouse to greet his father, saying he was going out with the young master. Only then did he sit back in the driver's seat, flick the reins, and the carriage steadily headed towards the street.
Inside the carriage, Shen Jingchuan leaned back in his seat and felt around for a moment.
The stone-paved roads in the city looked smooth, but in reality, every stone was bumpy and uneven. If it were an ordinary two-wheeled carriage, it would have made people's buttocks shake. But this carriage only swayed very slightly, and most of the vibrations were filtered out, making it completely within an acceptable range.
He nodded to himself. That Boss Zhou was indeed honest; the shock absorbers were soft, the travel was sufficient, and he had really invested in the materials.
He stood up and looked around. The interior of the carriage had a ceiling height of nearly two meters. Standing there, at over six feet tall, there was still room above his head, so he didn't feel cramped at all. There was a narrow door on the front side. When he opened it, he found a mini bathroom with a portable toilet, which was quite clean.
Next to it, another door opens to reveal a simple tea room.
The interior is all in a clean white color, with meticulous workmanship. The cups and teapots are all fitted into special slots, fitting perfectly so that they won't rattle or break when running.
Several tins of tea were thoughtfully placed in the cabinet, including Da Hong Pao and green tea, all securely held in place with trays.
Shen Jingchuan secretly praised the Boss Zhou, thinking how thoughtful he was, even providing all the tea leaves.
Close the two small doors and look back. There's an aisle in the middle, and near the front are two single sofa seats facing away from the front of the carriage. Further back are the restroom and tea room, perfect for servants to sit and serve. At the very back of the carriage is a long, soft seat facing forward, a full two meters wide.
He sat down, felt around on the side with his fingertips, found a hidden mechanism, and gently pulled it. The backrest slowly folded down, forming a large bed nearly two meters long.
He activated a hidden mechanism on the side, slowly raised the backrest, and quickly transformed the bed into a large, long sofa.
The cushion is thick and the backrest is curved to fit the lower back, so it's comfortable even after sitting for a long time.
Shen Jingchuan leaned in and tried it out, secretly praising the Boss Zhou for being so knowledgeable. The shock absorption was soft, the space was ample, and even the details were well thought out. The money was well spent.
The carriage moved at a leisurely pace along the stone-paved street, its body undulating only slightly, without the clattering and bumping of an ordinary two-wheeled vehicle.
Passersby stopped to stare at the unusual four-wheeled carriage, pointing and whispering. Many followed it for a long distance, marveling at its appearance and wondering which wealthy family owned it, as they had never seen one before.
Liu Hu sat in the driver's seat in the front cockpit, his back ramrod straight, his hands firmly on the reins.
He was a skilled driver, and the horse he was pulling was a spirited Whirlwind Horse, making the carriage much easier to drive than an ordinary two-wheeled vehicle.
The steering is agile and the ride is smooth. The initial excitement fades quickly, like a driver of a small van suddenly switching to a Rolls-Royce, or even more so, making you involuntarily smile.
They hadn't walked far when they arrived at the entrance of the Lin Household Escort Agency.
At the entrance of the escort agency, two guards were chatting idly when they saw a gleaming black carriage approaching from afar. Its appearance was particularly eye-catching—it had four wheels, one in front and one behind, steadily rolling on the stone-paved road. The carriage was spacious and imposing, far more refined than an ordinary two-wheeled carriage.
The two exchanged a glance, both finding it strange. Just as they were wondering which high-ranking official's carriage it was, they saw the carriage gradually slow down and stop in front of the security company.
The two quickly straightened their clothes and were about to step forward to ask questions when the car door opened and Shen Jingchuan stepped out.
The two men immediately recognized him and bowed respectfully. "So it's Young Master Shen!"
One of them couldn't help but steal a glance at the carriage behind him, and tentatively asked, "This... this carriage is yours?"
Shen Jingchuan nodded slightly. "Hmm. Is Chief Escort Lin home?"
"Here! The chief escort is in the backyard with the two young masters."
"Okay, open the gate and let my car in."
The security escort agency was used for unloading goods by carriage all year round, so the threshold of the main gate was designed with a mortise and tenon joint, which could be lifted off the whole thing by removing the wooden pin, making it convenient for carriages to enter and exit.
The two bodyguards dared not delay and immediately got to work. Liu Hu flicked the reins, and the carriage steadily drove into the courtyard, stopping against the wall in the open space beside the gate.
Shen Jingchuan didn't linger and walked straight to the second courtyard. As a distinguished guest of the Lin Household and Miss Lin's savior, he didn't need to report or lead the way; everyone in the courtyard knew him, and he had no trouble getting through.
Under the stone pavilion in the second courtyard, Lin Weiyuan was sitting facing the gate. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a figure entering. Looking up, he saw it was Shen Jingchuan. He immediately stood up and greeted him with a smile:
"Young Master Shen! What brings you here today?"
Lin Shan and Lin Yue, who were sitting with their backs to the courtyard gate, quickly stood up when they heard their father get up and speak. When they turned around, they saw that it was indeed Shen Jingchuan, and they bowed to him in greeting.
"Please sit down, please sit down. This is freshly brewed tea." Lin Shan picked up the teapot and filled the empty cups to the brim.
Shen Jingchuan walked over and sat down, took the teacup, took a sip, and smiled:
"It's been a while since I've been here, so I thought I'd drop by and see you all."
He placed the teacup back on the stone table and added, "I also brought a nice little thing with me; let me show you."
The Lin Household father and son both knew that if Shen Jingchuan said something was good, it must be something extraordinary, and they immediately became interested.
Lin Yue, being the most impatient, immediately leaned forward as soon as his eyes lit up.
"Oh? What good stuff? Where is it?"
"It's parked right at the main gate." Shen Jingchuan gestured with his chin. "Let's go take a look."
As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Yue stood up first, taking the fastest steps.
Lin Weiyuan and Lin Shan also got up, and the three of them walked towards the main gate one after the other, leaving Shen Jingchuan behind.
Just as they rounded the screen wall in the front yard, a gleaming black four-wheeled carriage came into view, and the three of them stopped in their tracks.
The entire carriage was shiny and gleaming, with clean lines. Four wheels supported the body steadily, and it was wider than an ordinary carriage, making it look exceptionally stable.
Lin Yue quickly approached the car, circling it back and forth with wide eyes. He reached out to touch it but was afraid of breaking it, so his hand hovered in mid-air for a long time without falling down.
"Dad, Big Brother, look! Four wheels!" He pointed at the wheels, his voice full of curiosity. "What's that wrapped around the wheels? It's all black, doesn't look like iron or wood. And the glass on the window, how come it's so clear? It's even clearer than the jade pendant that Treasure Gathering Pavilion has to offer!"
Lin Shan also walked closer, lightly tapped the carriage wall with his finger, and heard a deep, solid sound coming from inside. He raised an eyebrow slightly.
"These walls aren't made of wood? They sound like they're made entirely of metal, but they look so thin and sleek."
Lin Weiyuan twirled his beard and walked slowly around the carriage, his eyes full of surprise. He had been traveling as a escort for half his life, and he had never seen any kind of carriages and horses on the North-South Road, but he had never heard of a four-wheeled carriage.
How can a four-wheeled vehicle turn? But this one in front of me looks perfectly stable and can clearly be driven normally.
He looked up at Shen Jingchuan, who had just gotten out of the car, and couldn't help but speak:
"Young Master Shen, your carriage... has four wheels, doesn't it feel awkward to run?"