Chapter 205 - I Have the Honor of Three Lives
Zhang Chun sat across from Tang Yue, observing as he immersed a section of the vine into the potion. The potion had a brown hue and emitted a familiar fragrance.
“You truly are knowledgeable, Brother Tang,” Zhang Chun complimented, his admiration for Tang Yue evident.
Tang Yue delicately picked up the vines that had been soaking for a full day and night using a pair of forceps, then placed them on the stove to dry.
“That depends on the field in question. If it's related to the entertainment industry, I may not be familiar with many celebrities.”
“What's the point of that? It seems like coming here serves no purpose at all,” Zhang Chun remarked without feeling inferior. Witnessing Tang Yue's dedicated efforts for the nation and its people made him feel his own contributions were inadequate.
“Who said it's pointless? Don't forget, your business is thriving. Ever since Mr. Xuan Jing departed, you've been a tremendous support to my enterprise,” Tang Yue acknowledged, referring to Zhang Chun's recent achievements.
Zhang Chun had established a large supermarket on Ye City's busiest street. Tang Yue had invested in the store, sharing half of the ownership with Zhang Chun. What appeared as an ordinary grocery store to others had become Ye City's favorite shop.
The supermarket offered an array of new pastries introduced by Tang Yue, known for their exceptional taste and distinctive appearance. This attracted a loyal customer base.
In addition to these pastries, Tang Yue introduced modern products like soap, essential oils, matches, as well as luxurious items such as jewelry, clothing, shoes, and socks: all items foreign to this era. Their novelty and practicality made them highly sought after.
Many patrons found themselves unable to leave the grocery store once they stepped inside, captivated by the variety of offerings.
If not for the absence of sufficient carrying bags, they might have taken everything from the grocery store back home.
As Zhang Chun's supermarket flourished, he began importing goods from North Yue. Precious furs and herbs also gained popularity.
While most people knew that this grocery store was part of the Crown Princess's dowry, they remained unaware that the store was managed by the ever-loyal and brave Marquis, a young man.
Presently, the supermarket's monthly revenue exceeded that of any other shop under Tang Yue's name. In terms of assets, Tang Yue had become a wealthy individual.
With increasing wealth, Tang Yue expanded Huian Hall's warehouse by two-fold and stockpiled batches of medicinal herbs. In the courtyard's basement, he stored a substantial supply of food. Much like a diligent squirrel preparing for winter, he meticulously accumulated provisions.
“It should be completely dried up. Let's test and see which of vine number one and vine number two is sturdier,” Tang Yue pointed towards the two differently colored vines inside the furnace.
He had created two types of potions and soaked them for varying durations. His goal was to determine the most effective method for enhancing the strength of the vines.
Zhang Chun picked up a machete from the nearby table and positioned vine number one on a wooden board. With a forceful swing, he attempted to sever it, but only managed to cut a quarter of its depth.
He exerted all his might to break the partially cut vine. It snapped halfway through, and he massaged his wrist while saying, “If this were a martial arts expert, they could probably slice it through with a single strike.”
Tang Yue nodded, unperturbed by the outcome. After all, it was just one vine. When several strands of the vine were twisted together and woven into armor, it would be considerably more resilient.
Zhang Chun proceeded to test the second vine, and to his surprise, it proved tougher than the first. His hand numbed from the impact, yet the vine remained intact. He gave Tang Yue a thumbs-up. “Impressive!”
Tang Yue inspected it himself and remarked with a smile, “Not bad, but a few missing chemicals are affecting the effectiveness.”
“This is already quite remarkable. It feels almost like cheating. Fortunately, you're from South Jin, and I was reborn here as well. Otherwise, I might have ended up enslaved in a fallen nation within a few years.” Zhang Chun had faith in South Jin's potential to unite the world, thanks to Tang Yue's knowledge and the dedicated Crown Prince Zhao. With such allies, they were destined to be key players.
Tang Yue set down his tools, sat on the ground, and gazed up at the clear blue sky. “In times of war, it's a matter of ‘either you perish, or I prevail.' Being born in South Jin, this is the path I've chosen. Even if my hands are stained with blood, I'll defend this country.”
“Brother Tang, do you know what my dream was in my previous life?”
Tang Yue quipped, “To become a big star?” He was aware that Zhang Chun had always pursued a career in acting but never reached stardom.
“Becoming a big star was just a means to an end. My ultimate dream was to amass wealth, to never endure hunger or cold again, and to witness how people truly live,” Zhang Chun replied with a bitter smile.
Tang Yue understood his sentiment. “And now? You have enough wealth that you could retire for the rest of your life without a care.”
“Now… seeing how hard you all work, I can't just sit idly by, can I? So my dream remains the same: to accumulate wealth and then donate it, one by one. Haha. Does that make me a philanthropist?”
Zhang Chun's heart ached as he recalled those billionaires from his past life donating hundreds of millions of yuan. He wished he could follow in their footsteps and share his fortune with those in need.
Nonetheless, the sensation of liberally parting with one's wealth must be quite satisfying!
“Are you truly willing?”
“When I've reached such destitution that only money remains, how could I not be willing to spend it to acquire happiness?” Zhang Chun rose to his feet, rinsed his hands with clear water, and declared proudly, “Once the world is unified, I'll secure an official position through my wealth. I'll have your man pave the way for me.”
Tang Yue nodded, half-jokingly remarking, “Very well. When the time comes, I'll appoint you as head of the accounting department and entrust you with the entire treasury.”
They didn't take it seriously at the time. However, many years later, as South Jin rose to become the world's ruler and initiated court reforms, Zhang Chun emerged as the youngest minister among the six ministries. Moreover, the treasury never suffered from a shortage of funds.
Some claimed that the Minister of Finance amassed greater wealth than the treasury itself.
Others contended that the Minister of Finance was amassing wealth at an even faster pace than the treasury. The Minister of Finance was renowned for his affluence, possessing more personal assets than the state's treasury. Why fret over the treasury's sufficiency?
Hence, during the Minister of Finance's tenure, the Ministry of Finance maintained an unblemished reputation, free from any corrupt officials. This became a legendary chapter in South Jin's history.
Naturally, this was the latter part of the tale.
Stretching his back, Zhang Chun remarked, “Alright, time is money. Let's not squander it… Oh, by the way, I noticed an elderly man copying documents in the courtyard yesterday. I saw the difficulty he faced, so I shared the printing technique with him. That should be acceptable, right?”
Tang Yue was momentarily taken aback, then burst into laughter. “Haha… How could I have overlooked this? I heard that His Highness is seeking someone to copy the legal texts and intends to incorporate them into the public education curriculum.”
“Oh my, I think I might have revealed my name. Do you suppose that old man will claim the technique as his own? It's one of the Four Great Inventions; I can't just casually impart it to others!”
“No, I need to establish a printing workshop first. This is a substantial money-making venture.” Zhang Chun muttered to himself before dashing off. Tang Yue observed his enthusiastic demeanor and suspected he had gone in search of the old man from yesterday.
But could that elderly man who was transcribing books in the courtyard truly be the one?
Mr. Wen, associated with the Crown Prince's Palace, was a renowned Great Sage. Even the king aspired to recruit him as an official, but regrettably, he declined, choosing to remain an anonymous advisor at Crown Prince Zhao's side.
Mr. Wen had always maintained a remarkably low profile. Despite being married to Crown Prince Zhao for a considerable period, Tang Yue had encountered him only a few times. Rumor had it that he spent most of his time either immersed in study at home or embarking on journeys. Nevertheless, whenever Crown Prince Zhao faced a major decision, he would invariably consult Mr. Wen.
Tang Yue shook his head and smirked. If it were indeed that individual, Zhang Chun wouldn't be able to escape the consequences.
After transcribing the No. 2 potion formula in plain language and Arabic numerals, Tang Yue incinerated all remnants of his work. The contents were comprehensible solely to him and Zhang Chun, making it virtually theft-proof.
He presented the No. 2 vine to Crown Prince Zhao. A nod from him would initiate mass production, eventually leading to the creation of warrior's protective attire.
The tougher the rattan armor, the greater the warriors' chances of survival on the battlefield. Consequently, Tang Yue exercised extreme caution.
Crown Prince Zhao assessed the vine's hardness with his dagger, his eyes registering surprise.
This vine had originally been gifted to Tang Yue by Crown Prince Zhao himself. He was well-acquainted with its remarkable toughness. What he hadn't expected was for it to become even tougher after just a few days in Tang Yue's care.
“Excellent! If we utilize this vine for crafting rattan armor, even ordinary swords will struggle to penetrate it. It's even more effective than lightweight armor,” exclaimed Crown Prince Zhao with jubilation, hugging Tang Yue and playfully nipping at him. “Crown Princess, you're truly divine!”
Tang Yue wiped off the saliva and grinned, teasing, “I wonder how Crown Prince felt when he married a deity.”
After some contemplation, Crown Prince Zhao responded earnestly, “It's like having the fortune of three lifetimes!”
Tang Yue's smile grew even brighter. “Three lifetimes are insufficient. I've traversed thousands of years to be by your side.”
Crown Prince Zhao's eyes brimmed with tender affection. “Indeed, you're a heavenly gift. How could I, Lee Zhao…”
“Little father…” A sweet voice interrupted Crown Prince Zhao's words. Simultaneously, they turned to find Little Luoyuan peeking from behind the door.
Tang Yue beckoned him, and the young boy clumsily entered the room, with Yangu waiting obediently outside.
“Rise,” Crown Prince Zhao directed his words to Yangu outside the door.
Tang Yue gently scooped up Little Luoyuan and playfully nibbled his cheeks. He grinned and inquired, “Is Luoyuan here to find his dear daddy?”
“Yes… play with little daddy…”
“Alright, little daddy will play with you. What game would you like to play?”
Little Luoyuan enthusiastically waved his tiny arms and pointed outside. Initially, Tang Yue assumed he was referring to the backyard, which he had transformed into a children's playground with slides, swings, Qiqiao boards, and wooden horses.
However, as he carried his son out of the house, he realized that the little one desired to play beyond the mansion's boundaries. Perhaps the previous day's adventure had left a lasting impression.
Yangu trailed behind, expressing concern, “Young master, you have many responsibilities. Why don't you allow this servant to take young master for a stroll?”
Tang Yue possessed considerable wealth, and indeed, there were numerous matters requiring his attention. Nevertheless, he believed that nurturing his son's growth was of utmost importance. The arrival of his son was a precious gift, and both he and Crown Prince Zhao aspired for him to become an outstanding successor.
“Let's go. We've been occupied for a few days and should take a break. Luoyuan, shall we visit the street and buy some candy?”
Little Luoyuan giggled and eagerly clapped his hands in response.
Upon hearing of their outing, the butler promptly arranged for the necessary assistance. The young master and his son were cherished treasures of the estate, and any potential risks had to be minimized.
Tang Yue halted him and stated, “There's no need to bring so many people. Just a few guards will suffice. We won't be going too far.”
The housekeeper intended to dissuade him but, considering the Crown Princess's reputation, most individuals encountered on their outing would recognize him, making it relatively safe. Thus, he acquiesced.
“Off we go, let's buy some treats, TangTang!” Tang Yue lifted Little Luoyuan and confidently strode out of the Crown Prince's Palace.
Not far away, a boy who resembled a beggar hastily scurried off into the distance.
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