Chapter 448: Northern Son-in-Law or Southern Son-in-Law?

The Pacific Railway is a huge project that cannot be completed in a short time.

Although Liang Yao invested heavily in the construction of the Pacific Railway, he gave the California Railroad the greatest support in terms of personnel and funds.

But the Pacific Railroad is only half-built at present.

Therefore, when going to New York this time, Liang Yao could only take the Nicaragua route like last time.

Until the completion of the Pacific Railroad, the Nicaragua route remained the most important transportation link between California and the eastern United States.

After Vanderbilt's widening of Nicaragua's canal, shipping efficiency improved significantly.

The last time it took Liang Yao two months to get from San Francisco to Texas, but this time, it only took Liang Yao 53 days to arrive in Texas.

Liang Yao had no intention of staying in Texas, but the hospitable and honest Texas people were so enthusiastic that Liang Yao felt a little uneasy.

After the fleet anchored in the port of Houston, Liang Yao stepped off the ship and landed on the land of Houston, when he received the very unfriendly eyes of Harvey and Nathan.

Harvey and Nathan are the sons of a Texas congressman and Zoe's love dogs.

However, compared to former Texas Governor Bell's eyes that wanted to eat Liang Yao alive, Harvey and Nathan's eyes were already very friendly.

Liang Yao seemed to understand something.

Bell was so angry. Apart from giving Bell an unexpected surprise by letting him become his grandfather, Liang Yao couldn't think of anything else that could make Bell so angry.

However, except for former Texas Governor Bell, other Texas dignitaries were very friendly towards Liang Yao. After all, California and Texas had a friendship that shared adversity. And the California consortium is now Texas’ largest trading partner.

Due to the tense relations between the North and the South, the debate between abolition and slavery has already risen to the level of political correctness.

Northern conglomerates would rather invest in France and Scotland than in the South.

Of course, southerners do not welcome northerners to invest in their territory.

Due to special historical reasons, California is not a northern state in the traditional sense, so the California consortium is the only free state with investment projects in Texas and other southern states.

More than 70% of the cotton, sugar, and tobacco produced in Texas are sold to California. The California railroad company also built railroads in Texas and laid relatively complete telegraph lines.

The personal affairs between Liang Yao and Bell did not affect his friendship with other Texas dignitaries.

"Yao'er, do you have any trouble with Mr. Bell?"

Liang Weiming seemed to have seen some clues.

"Grandpa, I have good news and bad news to tell you, which one do you want to hear?" Liang Yao asked.

"You brat, what do you have to do with your grandpa! Did you stir up some trouble here?" Liang Weiming rolled his eyes at Liang Yao.

"You have been upgraded to Grandpa now." Liang Yao said.

"Isn't this a good thing?" Liang Weiming said cheerfully.

But before he was happy for long, Liang Weiming quickly reacted and knocked on Liang Yao's door twice.

Although Liang Weiming didn't know much about Texas, he could tell that Bell had extraordinary influence in Texas and was a prominent local family.

It is difficult for ordinary people to accept their daughter's pregnancy before marriage, let alone a famous family.

Before arriving at Bell's manor, Liang Yao saw Zoe riding on a horse wearing jodhpurs and riding boots from a distance on the way.

"Zoe!"

Seeing Zoe, Liang Yaochi sped up and chased after her.

Just like three years ago, Zoe's skin is still healthy and wheat-colored, and she still has a very well-proportioned figure. On her waist is the President Polk knife that Liang Yao gave to him.

But compared with Zoe three years ago, her eyes were a little less lively and agile as a girl, and a little more mature.

"General Liang Shangliang." Seeing Liang Yao, Zoe's eyes were a little moist.

"Just call me by my name. General Liang is a very vivid title." Liang Yao looked at Zoe's little face and said, "You look a lot more mature."

"After all, I am a mother now." Zoe said while avoiding Liang Yao's gaze and lowering her head.

Vaguely, Liang Yao seemed to hear Zoe's gentle sobbing, which made Liang Yao feel very guilty. He had not been to Texas since 1852.

"Where is ours now?" Liang Yao asked.

"Play in the manor and you'll see her soon," Zoe said.

Not long after, Liang Yao arrived at Bell's manor.

Zoe got off her horse skillfully and came to a two or three-year-old little girl. The little girl had long black and straight hair and was wearing a small white skirt.

Zoe knelt down, kissed the little girl on the cheek, then picked up the little girl and said to the little girl.

"Katrina, call daddy."

Catalina tilted her little head and looked at Liang Yao curiously. She stretched out her chubby little hands and grabbed Liang Yao's chin and laughed.

But soon, Catalina's attention was attracted by Liang Weiming next to Liang Yao. She opened her hands to Liang Weiming and said in a sweet voice: "Grandpa with a beard, give me a hug."

Liang Weiming was so happy that he carefully took Catalina from Zoe's hand as if he was holding a treasure.

Catalina snuggled into Liang Weiming's arms and played with Liang Weiming's beard.

Although Liang Weiming's beard was pulled painfully by Catalina, he still allowed Catalina to play with it.

"This kid is just like you." Liang Weiming looked at Catalina and then at Liang Yao.

Catalina is very similar to Liang Yao except that her eyes are brown.

Fremont and others who went to New York to attend Liang Yao's wedding were all worried about Liang Yao.

They didn't expect Liang Yao to have such a romantic debt in Texas.

Fremont was born in Georgia. Strictly speaking, Fremont is also a southerner.

He knew that southerners have hot tempers and are not easy to mess with.

Liang Yao did such a thing in Texas, and Bell would never let Liang Yao go easily.

Of course, the former commodore in New York is not an easy person to deal with.

Vanderbilt even sent out the invitations, and now the whole of America knows that Liang Yao is going to marry Vanderbilt's daughter.

If Liang Yao broke the appointment, Vanderbilt would not end well, and Vanderbilt, who had lost face, would definitely not let it go.

You are a talented guy who offended both the southern plantation owners and the northern capitalists in marriage. Fremont thought.

"Don't go to New York, just hold the wedding in Houston."

Compared with the happy grandparents of the Liang family, Bell's face was not so good. He said to Liang Yao in an imperative tone.

"Being the son-in-law of our southerners is worse than being the son-in-law of the northerners?!"

"Mr. Bell, I'm afraid this is not appropriate." As Liang Yao's close friend and colleague, Fremont decided to stand up to help Liang Yao.

However, Fremont was interrupted by Bell before he finished speaking.

"Mr. Fremont! This is a grudge between him and me! It's none of your business, you don't need to say more."

After speaking, Bell drew his sword and stabbed it hard into the ground: "Liang Yao! Either you hold the wedding in Houston today! Or don't think about leaving Houston standing!"