Chapter 60: Chen Xiaobu’s Squeaky Rubber Chicken
Qi Zheng looked at Chen Zixiu as he came out and found it a little strange too. What kind of expression was that on Chen Zixiu’s face?
Chen Bai said only one thing: “You’re going to get rich.”
However, he was not completely sure yet. They still had to go and take a look on-site.
The sky outside was already getting late. If they set out now, they should still have enough time to return.
There was no time to delay. Chen Bai and Qi Zheng went downstairs, mounted their horses, and prepared to make a round through the fief.
Just as they came out of the academy gate, they happened to run into a group of students preparing to return to Shangjing.
Tomorrow was the two-day break Chen Bai had arranged. Normally, these students went wild at school all day and did not want to go home, even staying overnight at the academy. But during the two-day break, they had to go back. Otherwise, their parents at home would not feel at ease.
“Hurry, hurry! There’s only one last bus left! If we’re late, there won’t be seats.”
“Isn’t your family’s carriage right there beside you? Why are you running off to squeeze onto the bus?”
“Because it’s fun. Are you getting on or not? I’ll treat you.”
“Pah. It’s only two copper coins. You’re saying it like you’re so generous.”
It really only cost two copper coins. In fact, this route from Shangjing to Qi Zheng’s fief was the one that truly did not earn money. They even had to subsidize it. But what were the people who came here for? Who would come all this way for no reason? They were definitely here to spend money. Even if they subsidized the fare, it was fine. Once it became convenient for people to come here and buy things, the money would naturally be earned back.
Chen Bai looked at the youths full of joy and sunshine beneath the setting sun and smiled too. Then he urged his horse forward and left.
Their academy had been built within Qi Zheng’s fief, so the destination was not very far.
It was just that the road was hard to travel. After letting the horses run for a while, they had no choice but to slow down.
In truth, Chen Bai had not looked around Qi Zheng’s fief for a long time. Now that he did, he discovered quite a few changes.
Small villages had already been built in the fief, one after another. They should have been built together by the commoners who had moved in.
For commoners like them, whenever one household built a house, the other households would come and help. In this way, both labor and expenses could be saved quite a bit.
The villages looked similar to other villages around Shangjing. Because they had been newly built, they still looked rather fresh.
It was just the time when cooking smoke curled upward. Compared with the desolate mountains and wilderness from before, it now had much more of a sense of life.
Never mind that building villages in such barren hills might make life seem difficult. It really was not like that. Almost every household in these villages helped Qi Zheng raise rabbits, tend grapes, and take care of the mountain of fruit trees where the students held a ten-percent share of the profits.
On top of that, many people from Shangjing would come here to have fun, watch peacocks, buy rabbits, fruits, and so on. If these villagers built a tea stall at home, or at worst gathered firewood to sell at the barbecue area, they could still live quite decent little lives.
Their lives were somewhat better than imagined. In addition, because their work was not the old kind of farming, they did not have to worry too much about natural disasters. They were even living more comfortably than before.
Chen Bai was somewhat surprised as well. He had not expected that, unknowingly, Qi Zheng had slowly developed his fief. Although it might still be far inferior to other people’s fiefs, at least it had begun to show signs of improvement.
The population of Qi Zheng’s fief was not very large. That was also the fundamental reason why it could not form a major town. In truth, there were still not enough jobs. The number of jobs currently available limited the migration of a larger population and the development of the fief.
However…
Chen Bai looked at Qi Zheng, who was riding beside him. “It won’t be long before your fief can develop into a very distinctive little town.”
Qi Zheng was still somewhat puzzled. In the past, it was not as if he had never thought of developing the fief, but there were too many restrictions. Rashly bringing in too many commoners would instead be a disaster.
Why had Chen Zixiu suddenly said something like that?
Was it related to the soil he had just analyzed for him?
After thinking it over, he still could not come up with a reason. He knew his own fief best. It did not seem to have anything particularly special.
Chen Bai did not speak too definitively either. He still needed to inspect it before he could be certain.
“Where did you dig up that soil?”
Qi Zheng pointed ahead, then led the way.
Before long, they arrived at their destination. It was a small stagnant shoal, and there were traces of soil having been dug from it.
This small pool of accumulated water had formed because upstream water flowed through this place and silted up here.
Chen Bai could see the water above it as soon as he raised his head. The current was very calm, flowing down from upstream.
Chen Bai dismounted and bent down to observe for a while. Then he cupped some water in his hands, only for Qi Zheng to stop him.
“You can’t drink it. This water is extremely bitter. Even cattle and sheep cannot drink it. I heard that some cattle and sheep died after mistakenly drinking the water here.”
“The water here flows down from a lake above. That lake happens to border a bitterly poor village in a nearby county. The villagers there finally managed to raise some cattle and sheep, but they all died. It was even recorded in the local county gazette. Back then, it caused a huge uproar. They had hoped to escape poverty, but it ended up backfiring. In the end, the entire village had no choice but to move away. First, because it was unlucky, and second, because they could no longer survive there…”
“This is a poisonous lake. It cannot be used to irrigate crops either. It is completely useless.”
What was wrong with Chen Zixiu? Normally, he loved cleanliness to an almost outrageous degree. For example, in their academy, he had even prepared shoe racks on the first floor. Everyone had to take off their shoes upon entering. Every day, those students could be seen running around the academy with bare feet. Doing so did indeed keep the academy unexpectedly clean, and it was very comfortable to live in.
Yet just now, Chen Zixiu had actually cupped water and brought it toward his mouth. Even an ordinary noble would not do something like that. Besides, they had waterskins hanging from their horses. Just now, when the servants saw them go out, they had specially hung them there.
Chen Bai smiled, dipped a fingertip into the water in his palm, and brought it to his lips. “It really is bitter.”
Qi Zheng: “…”
Had he not just said that? Truly… If he had said this was poison, would Chen Zixiu also have gone to taste whether it really was poison?
Chen Bai said, “You said there is a lake above, and it is all this kind of water?”
Qi Zheng nodded. “A very large lake. I suspect it is precisely because of this lakewater that the land in my fief is unsuitable for farming.”
Chen Bai’s eyes lit up. A lake that could affect the entire fief—how large would it have to be?
Qi Zheng frowned. “Is there a problem?”
Chen Bai said, “There is a huge problem. If it really is what I think it is, then if you want to change the soil quality to make it suitable for farming, it is basically impossible.”
No matter how soil was improved, it could only be done on a small scale. Wanting to change the entire fief was no different from a fool’s dream.
Chen Bai continued, “However, if it is used for another purpose, it might be even more meaningful than farmland.”
Qi Zheng paused. Great Qian took agriculture as its foundation. What other use could be more important than farmland?
Chen Bai and the others continued walking upward, and sure enough, they saw an enormous lake.
It was surrounded by mountains, with the lake in the middle, connecting to some unknown place.
This was a bird’s-eye view of Qi Zheng’s entire fief.
Chen Bai’s eyes were shining. “We’re rich, we’re rich. Qi Zheng, your fief is truly a treasure land. When the Great King bestowed this place on you, he really misjudged it.”
Qi Zheng said, “This bitter lakewater has value?”
He truly could not understand it. It could not be used for irrigation, and even cattle and sheep would die after drinking it. How could poisonous water have value? Hadn’t the villagers all moved away because they thought it was inauspicious?
Chen Bai nodded. “It’s not quite right to say the lakewater itself has value. What has value is the salt contained in this lakewater.”
Since ancient times, salt had many sources: sea salt, lake salt, mineral salt, well salt, and so on.
Chen Bai said, “Don’t you think that besides being bitter, this lakewater is also very salty? Its salt content should be quite high.”
Qi Zheng froze for a moment, then quickly dipped a fingertip into the lakewater and put it in his mouth.
Chen Bai said, “Don’t eat too much. Although most of the bacteria in this kind of lakewater have already been killed, it contains many minerals. Eating too much will poison people. The cattle and sheep that died after drinking the lakewater died because of this.”
Qi Zheng tasted the bitterness in his mouth. Sure enough, it also carried a very strong salty taste.
In the past, everyone had said the lakewater was poisonous. In addition, the place was remote, so no one had truly noticed this.
However, Qi Zheng frowned deeply. “This water can kill cattle and sheep after consumption. I’m afraid people who eat it would also… Even if salt can be extracted from it, wouldn’t it still be poisonous salt?”
Salt was indeed a good thing. Nobles used refined salt, while commoners used coarse salt, but regardless of which kind, the price was not low. Yet not eating salt was impossible either. Without salt, people had no strength and were prone to illness.
Salt had always been one of the common people’s major expenses.
Chen Bai said, “You don’t need to worry about that. The reason it is poisonous is because the lakewater also contains other toxic metals. I have a way to remove these toxic metals.”
Qi Zheng was stunned. It was truly hard to imagine. The lakewater was all mixed together; in his eyes, it was all one thing. How could different things still be separated out of it?
However, if they really could refine non-toxic salt from it, this lake would truly be a treasure.
He could not help looking into the distance. This lake was not a dead lake either. Its water also came from other places.
Then he shook his head again. Those other places were outside his fief, and the source might even extend into other states. Even if he wanted to do something, he did not have the ability.
“Truly?” Qi Zheng’s tone rose slightly. Salt was also fundamental to the people’s livelihood in
Great Qian. It could be said that its role was not inferior to potatoes at all.Chen Bai did not answer directly. Instead, he frowned slightly. “Isn’t private salt production forbidden in Great Qian? It seems all salt is official salt. If we hand it over to the court, the profits we can get will probably only be the little that leaks through their fingers. That would also waste such a large fief.”
Qi Zheng’s expression turned strange. “In theory, Great Qian is indeed like that. But there is no absolute. As long as it is handled properly, although it would still be official salt on the surface and would not violate Great Qian law, the private profits would not need to fall into other people’s hands. However, the right to produce salt is indeed a major matter. It requires someone of the Three Ducal Ministers’ level to act as guarantor.”
As it happened, he truly did not lack a Three Ducal Minister to act as guarantor. Getting an official salt-production right would be troublesome, but it was not impossible.
Chen Bai swallowed. “Let’s talk in detail on the way.”
Good heavens, this was a business with enormous profits and almost no capital. In the past, whether it was raising rabbits or planting fruit trees, the costs were not low. But extracting lake salt was different. Once the technique matured, all it needed was manpower.
After he went back, he had to quickly look up lake salt extraction techniques. People in ancient times did not have that much high technology either, but didn’t they still extract salt through various methods? As far as he knew, after the Tang dynasty, salt was no longer a problem troubling the people’s livelihood. In other words, from that time onward, salt production had already become very high.
They talked the whole way and still had not finished. After returning to the academy, the two went into the small room, and the discussion went on for who knew how long.
When they came out of the room, Chen Bai was stunned, because Meng Huanchao was standing at the door with a food tray.
He had almost forgotten. The students were on their two-day break and were not at the academy, but Meng Huanchao was still there.
Meng Huanchao looked at Chen Bai, then looked at Qi Zheng walking out of the room, and his expression became strange. It was already the third watch of the night, wasn’t it?
Chen Zixiu’s earth-shaking reputation for liking men was still resounding throughout Shangjing. Precisely because Chen Zixiu had become Grand Scholar Zhaoxue and the Brush-Holding Grand Scholar, this reputation had not faded. Instead, it had grown even louder.
Although Meng Huanchao knew the root reason behind it, after hearing the people of Shangjing discuss Chen Zixiu’s fondness for men every day, and now seeing him come out of Qi Zheng’s room in the middle of the night, with both of them looking languid, this was simply a live version of the aftermath.
Chen Bai said, “It… it’s not what you saw. We just… just talked.”
Meng Huanchao gave an “oh,” his expression unchanged. “Actually, even if there were something, it would not matter. Among the famous scholars known throughout the world, Wei has Lord Longyang…”
Chen Bai inwardly spat. Go comfort someone else. He always felt that it would have been better if Meng Huanchao had not comforted him. Once he did, it felt as if there really was something. He hurriedly interrupted, “Why are you here?”
Meng Huanchao lifted the food tray in his hands. “There was quite a bit of food left today, and the students won’t be coming to the academy tomorrow, so I used the microwave to heat it up and brought it here for us to eat together, to avoid waste.”
So that was it. This fellow could even use the microwave now.
Chen Bai took the tray. “But the food feels like it’s already almost cold.”
How long had it been heated? Why was it only being brought up now?
Meng Huanchao blinked. “It should be because it was my first time using the microwave, so I’m still unfamiliar with it. I’ll go heat it again.”
“Together,” Chen Bai said. He just happened to be hungry.
A smile appeared on Meng Huanchao’s face. “Mm.”
Qi Zheng obediently followed as well, because he had not eaten dinner either.
Three people, one meal. They ate quite harmoniously.
During the meal, Chen Bai even said to Qi Zheng, “Meng Huanchao is my man now. He has already sworn the oath, so don’t be reluctant to let him go.”
For someone like Meng Huanchao, since he did not know how to refuse others, that oath he had sworn when joining the academy would be very binding on him.
Besides, Meng Huanchao was genuinely easy to get along with. He was someone willing to listen to others speak. A person like that was probably someone many people would be willing to confide in.
The next day, Chen Bai got up very early, because he had to go to Shangjing today.
Today was the day his students would give their lecture on lettuce planting.
Qi Zheng also rose early, because Cloudtop Academy was an academy within his fief. It was the academy he had exchanged his merits for and had the court help build.
The students were giving their lecture today, so of course he had to go and listen.
Moreover, he also knew what they were going to talk about. The stakes involved were far too great, so he had to be present. In the first place, he was also one of the contributors.
These students only needed to be responsible for giving the lecture. The other matters had to be handled by Qi Zheng.
For example, building the lecture platform in front of Qi Zheng’s residence.
For example, sending people throughout Shangjing to publicize this lecture.
There were truly too many people who came. Calling it a sea of people would not be an exaggeration. There were even many sedan chairs of unknown ownership among them, but at one glance, they clearly belonged to nobles.
Because the slogan Qi Zheng had sent people to spread for this lecture was simply too astonishing. So although it was only a lecture by a group of students, after hearing such a slogan, neither commoners nor officials could possibly remain unmoved.
Wei’s Crown Prince Su Jin was also among the crowd. When he saw such a scene, he was extremely surprised. This was merely a public lecture by some students?
This scene was simply no less impressive than a lecture by a world-famous scholar.
As for Chen Bai, he was responsible for providing the electronic loudspeaker for the lecture. There were simply too many people, and if the sound was too quiet, it would not carry.
The first person to go onstage to speak was actually Qi Zheng. A leader’s opening speech?
For such a major matter, Qi Zheng naturally had to connect himself to it somewhat, though it was indeed justified.
Qi Zheng looked a little awkward holding the loudspeaker, but on the surface, he remained expressionless as he spoke.
“The students of Cloudtop Academy, which I supervise, have produced a new academic achievement after a period of research.”
Then there was nothing more.
No one knew whether the crowd was stunned by how short the leader’s speech was, or whether they were stunned by how Prince Zheng’s voice had suddenly become like that of the Thunder God. For a moment, the scene was exceptionally quiet.
After that, one neatly dressed student after another began to step onto the platform.
They were small children, dressed in proper robes. They truly had a bit of the air of scholars.
Recently, these students had all been using the body wash and shampoo Chen Bai bought for them. Ancient people’s long hair had always been difficult to manage. Even nobles who washed their hair every day used soapberries, so their hair was still dry and dull.
But these students were different. After such a long period of care, their hair really looked like silk.
So although they were young, they already possessed a little of the elegant bearing of refined scholars.
Chen Bai could not help smiling and shaking his head as he looked at them. Usually, these students were all little clowns, one more ridiculous than the next. Today, however, it was rare for them to look so serious.
Wei’s Crown Prince Su Jin also watched carefully. His little imperial uncle had said that within that academy lived a group of existences as incomprehensible as demons to all the states.
But he had also asked around a little. Weren’t the people in the academy just students?
He was somewhat puzzled, so today, he observed especially carefully.
At this moment, the students’ voices, amplified in a strange tone, were already coming from the stage.
“Fathers and elders of Shangjing, fellow people of Great Qian, greetings. This is the new academic presentation of Cloudtop Academy.”
“I believe everyone is not unfamiliar with Cloudtop Academy’s academic presentations. At our previous presentation, we introduced the loom. Now, looms have entered thousands upon thousands of households in Great Qian…”
“Then what are we presenting today?”
At this moment, someone below the stage shouted loudly, “We heard that today you’re going to talk about how to keep the people of Great Qian from starving, and how to completely solve Great Qian’s famine problem. Is that true?”
“Exactly! We came after hearing that news.”
“Even all the officials haven’t been able to solve this problem. Can you solve it? The loom you presented last time was truly useful, but don’t ruin your own reputation.”
“That’s right. We heard your academy cost an unimaginable amount of money to build. If you mess this up, the reputation you finally built will be gone.”
On the stage, the little hosts all frowned. What was going on? What was going on?
Their procedure did not include this. Aiya, forget it. They would just read the script.
“Although we are young, we have also traveled to Lu to study.”
“Before arriving in Lu, we passed through one city after another in Great Qian. There were commoners who had starved to death by the roadside, their bones still cold. There were elderly people sitting before graves, willingly waiting for death. There were children so thin and withered they seemed like dry branches…”
Sentence after sentence came like little stories. Because they were real, they gave people an even stronger sense of immersion.
Did the people of Shangjing not understand what Great Qian’s current situation was like?
No. They understood it better than anyone. The refugees who gathered outside Shangjing year after year were the best proof.
Corpses whose bones had not yet gone cold, frozen bodies by the roadside—it was truly rare, but in this era, it seemed no longer strange.
The atmosphere at the scene actually grew solemn.
The voice on the high platform continued, “Why does all this happen?”
“Because Great Qian is poor. Because there is not enough food. That is why the common people have no choice but to starve to death. That is why the elderly have no choice but to sit by graves and wait for death, so they can reduce the food consumed…”
Quiet. Utter quiet.
“This is Great Qian’s sorrow. This is Great Qian’s misfortune.”
“But what we want to tell everyone is that, starting this year, Great Qian… will no longer have people starve to death.”
The crowd exploded.
They could barely believe what they had heard.
The officials who had received news of this could not help lifting the curtains of their sedan chairs and looking toward the high platform.
As for the students’ parents, some even had tears in their eyes. Their children had truly made something of themselves.
From this day onward, Great Qian would remember their names.
The students on the platform continued, “To solve famine, there must be food. This is something no one can avoid.”
“That is why we have re-cultivated, through directional breeding, one of Great Qian’s most common wild vegetables: lettuce.”
“Some people will surely ask, lettuce may be plentiful, but it can kill people. Is this not harming people?”
“Today, what we are actually going to explain is how to properly grow lettuce so that this bitter and poisonous wild vegetable can become a vegetable we can eat regularly, one that is also delicious.”
Without waiting for the audience to react, the students who had long been prepared below the stage excitedly pushed out cart after cart of lettuce.
“This is the lettuce we cultivated through directional breeding. Everyone may have a taste.”
Cart after cart appeared, and they actually looked quite nice.
Sure enough, someone soon noticed the difference. “There are no traces of these lettuces being eaten by pests. How was this done?”
In Great Qian, lettuce did grow everywhere in the mountains and fields, but the leaves were basically all eaten clean by insects.
Looking at these lettuces again, their leaves were intact, tender and green to an almost unimaginable degree.
Everyone knew lettuce was poisonous. They also knew that eating a small amount was harmless.
So when the students pushed the carts in front of them and peeled the lettuce while using knives to cut small sections for them, they did not refuse.
Some people put the lettuce they received into their mouths with furrowed brows, because it seemed to remind them of a bad taste from memory.
But after chewing lightly, their expressions suddenly changed. It was not bitter at all. Instead, it was faintly sweet and fresh.
This… How was this done? Was this still the lettuce they remembered?
The student handing over the lettuce even said with a smile, “Lettuce tastes very good raw. If you add a little salt and mix it, it tastes even better. I can usually eat a big bowl.”
After all, Shangjing’s commoners were more particular than poor commoners, so they could add a little variety to the way they ate lettuce. It was a vegetable that people of any class could eat.
“We happen to have some already mixed here. You can try it.”
On the plate lay lettuce cut into thin strips. The green strands were arranged neatly and looked quite beautiful.
Once it entered the mouth, the refreshing taste was actually very delicious. At the very least, it was not inferior to other vegetables at all.
This was lettuce. What Great Qian lacked least was this kind of wild vegetable.
After the initial disbelief, countless people began to tremble inwardly. Then, who knew how many people’s eyes reddened with moisture.
“If… if there had been lettuce like this earlier, my second granduncle’s entire family would not have starved to death at home.”
“Wu…”
The entire scene descended into chaos. In truth, who among these commoners did not have one or two poor relatives? In this era, the probability of such painful tragedies occurring was not low.
When the others heard the crying, they felt it as if it had happened to them. Even if they had not personally experienced it, they had seen it or heard of it.
So that emotion was extremely contagious.
This was also why Chen Bai had no choice but to come in person, and why he had no choice but to hold this lecture in front of Qi Zheng’s residence. Because he understood very clearly that the scene might very well spiral out of control.
Some cried, some grieved. The scene was indeed a little chaotic.
Even those high-ranking officials sitting inside sedan chairs could not help tasting the lettuce pushed in front of them. On ordinary days, they certainly would not have eaten such a thing. In fact, they might never have eaten it in their entire lives.
Perhaps the officials had even more thoughts in their hearts. After tasting the lettuce, they actually stood there in a daze.
They understood Great Qian’s suffering even more clearly than the commoners of Shangjing did. In some impoverished places, the situation was basically unimaginable.
They also understood even more clearly what this delicious, non-poisonous lettuce that grew everywhere meant to Great Qian. It meant that from now on, the people of Great Qian had the most basic, most fundamental guarantee of survival.
Wei’s Crown Prince Su Jin also tasted some, then fell silent.
He finally understood why his little imperial uncle had said that Great Qian might soon be able to solve its livelihood problem.
Great Qian’s lettuce was as abundant as Wei’s hollow mulberry flowers.
Wei’s Crown Prince Su Jin’s heart tightened. If Great Qian like this, combined with what his little imperial uncle had said—if Great Qian’s weapons truly became stronger than those of the other states—then it really might change the balance of all states standing side by side.
He had seen something others had not seen. It was a flourishing, upward trend.
The voice on the stage continued.
“The reason lettuce is poisonous is because it contains bitter substance. This is also the bitterness we taste when we eat it. As long as the bitter substance is removed, it becomes the sweet new vegetable we have now.”
“We discovered a type of green moss. As long as this green moss is mixed into the lettuce seeds, when the lettuce grows, the green moss will also grow with it and absorb the bitter substance inside the lettuce.”
“This kind of green moss is also very common. It can basically be found in large quantities on old trees deep in the mountains. So mixing lettuce seeds with green moss for cultivation will not be a problem at all.”
“If you want lettuce to grow well, you must also consider how to repel insects. We discovered that the liquid from a certain tree branch is the natural enemy of these lettuce pests. As long as this liquid is diluted to a certain ratio and sprayed on the lettuce leaves, it can kill the pests.”
“Considering the possible toxicity of this liquid, as well as the fact that commoners may not be able to control the dilution ratio properly, this process will be completely handed over to Prince Zheng to handle on their behalf.”
“In the future, when lettuce grown by the people needs pest control, they may go to the shops arranged by Prince Zheng to buy this diluted solution. The price will also be so cheap it can almost be ignored. This is Prince Zheng’s promise.”
“Of course, Prince Zheng’s side will also provide a spray bottle for applying the diluted solution…”
Qi Zheng would not make money from this, but he would make money from the court. This matter would definitely have to be carried out in cooperation with the court in order to be properly promoted in every region.
A feat that could keep the people of Great Qian from starving to death—so long as Qi Zheng did not make an excessive demand, the court could not possibly refuse.
This was destined to be a day that shook the world. It was also destined to be a day that would be recorded in Great Qian’s history.
The students were explaining to the commoners who did not understand how to grow this lettuce.
Looking at those little people frowning as they patiently explained—because some commoners simply could not understand no matter how they explained—it was worrying.
The people of Shangjing suddenly felt dazed, as if Shangjing had suddenly gained so many famous scholars.
Such a major event naturally could not escape the palace’s notice. The large amount of edible lettuce that had been grown was also an undeniable fact.
Sure enough, almost the moment the presentation ended, the imperial edict from the palace arrived.
“The King has decreed: the students of Cloudtop Academy are to be rewarded. All students are hereby granted the title of Hongwen Hall Retainers.”
A short sentence, yet it shook the entire scene.
Hongwen Hall Retainer. Although it was only a title and seemingly carried no actual office, it was a form of recognition for scholars. To scholars, this was glory.
The students were also a little stunned. They were so young, yet they had become Hongwen Hall Retainers?
Some masters at Shangjing Literary Academy had not even been granted this title yet.
The students’ parents also opened their mouths in shock. Whether a noble family could remain prosperous for generations did not depend on how much power or influence they currently possessed. It depended on whether the family had successors.
Just the title of Hongwen Hall Retainer was already enough to uphold their family’s reputation. The key was that their children were still so young. Who could say whether they would go even further in the future? That possibility was very high, because they still had so much time to strive. They were still young.
Thinking about it again, what their children had done was indeed worthy of the title of Hongwen Hall Retainer. No matter who they spoke to, they could lift their heads proudly. There was not the slightest exaggeration in this reward, nor could anyone find even the smallest fault in it.
They could not help feeling fortunate that back then, they had failed to out-stubborn these little ancestors and had sent them to that academy.
There were two imperial edicts. One was to reward the students of Cloudtop Academy, and the other summoned Chen Bai and Qi Zheng into the palace.
Most likely, it was about rewards for Chen Bai and Qi Zheng, as well as discussions on how to promote lettuce cultivation.
Such a matter could not possibly be left entirely for Qi Zheng to promote while the court ignored it.
Sure enough, when Chen Bai and Qi Zheng arrived at the palace, the King and the Three Dukes were all present.
First came the discussion of the rewards for the two of them.
Their contribution was to the state itself, so they had to be rewarded. Even the King could not go against public opinion.
“Chen Zixiu is additionally appointed as Grand Secretary Consultant of the Inner Cabinet…”
The title of Grand Secretary of Vindication was a matter of reputation. The position of Writing Grand Secretary was a duty. But this new title of Grand Secretary Consultant of the Inner Cabinet was different. It meant that Chen Bai could formally participate in discussions of state affairs from now on.
And the Inner Cabinet was already an existence that could influence the fate of Great Qian. So it would not be wrong to address Chen Bai as a young cabinet elder.
Chen Bai was stunned. A Cabinet Consultant as young as him was truly unique.
Chen Bai hurriedly gave thanks for the grace.
The reward for Qi Zheng was more troublesome. In the end, Qi Zheng was also very direct. What he wanted was complete tax exemption and development rights for his fief.
Chen Bai’s eyes contracted slightly. This fellow truly was… unwilling to act without profit.
But the King and the Three Dukes were somewhat puzzled. Qi Zheng’s fief was such a poor and remote place. They had heard that it had improved somewhat, but compared with ordinary fiefs, it was still far too lacking. Yet he was treating it like a treasure and using such a great merit to exchange for tax exemption and development rights?
The King and the Three Dukes discussed it briefly. They truly did not think they could collect much tax from Qi Zheng’s fief. As for development rights, what was there to develop in those broken mountains and lakes? Besides, that was Qi Zheng’s fief. Unless some special resource appeared, the development rights were already essentially up to Qi Zheng.
In the end, the matter was settled just like that.
Chen Bai swallowed and glanced at the calm, unmoving Qi Zheng. This fellow was a sly one.
Did they know how much tax-free lake salt development was worth? Salt in Great Qian was truly money.
The remaining matter of promoting lettuce cultivation was left for Qi Zheng to negotiate with them.
This matter could not be delayed. The court would probably be busy for quite a while.
When Chen Bai returned home, Chen Xiaobu appeared in front of him wearing a small robe so festive it was almost ridiculous.
“Brother, Mother insisted on dressing me like this. She said our family has produced another Hongwen Hall Retainer, and it brings so much honor, so I have to dress a little more festively.”
Chen Bai found it rather funny. Chen Xiaobu now looked like a little lucky doll.
But he had not laughed for long before he wanted to cry.
Because Madam Ronghua did not spare him either.
One big lucky doll and one little lucky doll stared at each other.
Especially after Madam Ronghua learned that Chen Bai had been appointed Grand Secretary Consultant of the Inner Cabinet, she became even more unstoppable. “Such a young little cabinet elder—no, no, I have to invite all my maternal relatives to celebrate. We’ll invite your father’s relatives too. Didn’t they once say our Court Commandant Residence lacked human warmth? This time, we’ll let them know what human warmth means.”
Chen Bai: “…”
The next day, Chen Bai took Chen Xiaobu out, because Madam Ronghua really was sending invitations everywhere like casting a net. They did not want to be surrounded like monkeys.
It just so happened that there was no need to go to the academy today, and it was still the weekend. He would take Chen Xiaobu out for a stroll.
“Brother, let’s go to the Yan merchants’ treasure appraisal fair. The Yan merchants have just arrived in Shangjing.” As he spoke, he was somewhat excited.
Yan was somewhat special among the states. Perhaps because of its land, aside from agriculture, Yan also valued commerce. Its merchant caravans traveled throughout all the states. It might also be because their land’s production was not enough to support their own country’s consumption.
Thus, Yan was an extremely special existence among the states, and also the wealthiest.
And the annual treasure appraisal fair held by Yan merchants was especially interesting.
Because they did business in every state, they always brought all sorts of rare and unusual treasures.
However, no matter how precious those treasures were, in Great Qian they were only objects for viewing. Great Qian’s laws clearly stated that so-called rare treasures and ingenious objects were not allowed to be exchanged for grain, cloth, or currency.
This could be considered a kind of protection for people’s livelihood.
In other words, if you had rare treasures, you could collect them yourself or exchange them with others, but they could not be tied to grain, cloth, or money.
Otherwise, Chen Bai could have used his phone to buy some rare items and sell them as treasures. He would have become rich long ago.
Chen Bai thought about it. The Yan merchants’ treasure appraisal fair would last for some time, and it was indeed a fun place, so he took Chen Xiaobu there.
Only after he arrived did he realize that it was truly lively. Of course, it made sense. This was a rare grand event in Shangjing.
Merchants, wealthy gentry, nobles, and distinguished families—everyone was present. It also showed just how successful the Yan merchants were at doing business.
Chen Xiaobu had long been unable to restrain himself and ran everywhere.
Chen Bai had the servants of the Court Commandant Residence follow him. As long as he did not leave the place alone, there should not be much of a problem.
Then he also began looking at some interesting items. They were all priceless antiques.
In Chen Bai’s eyes, these things were probably even more valuable than they were in the eyes of these merchants.
As for Chen Xiaobu, he was holding his Dalmatian on a leash, clutching a squeaky rubber chicken in his hand, and followed by a whole group of people looking after him as he walked toward a stall surrounded by many people.
“Exchanging items for items. Is anyone interested in this night pearl? It can be exchanged for an item of equal value.”
So it was a stall for exchanging items. No wonder so many interesting people were gathered around.
At that moment, the squeaky rubber chicken in Chen Xiaobu’s hand squeaked loudly as he squeezed it.
