Chapter 317: Opening Ceremony (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

"Starting a side hustle?"

Kang Shi was quite knowledgeable and experienced.

But I've never seen a lord who makes such startling remarks.

Shen Tang: "Isn't it because we're so poor we can't afford anything else?"

She wouldn't want to have any other choice.

One job is tiring enough.

Taking on a side hustle would be even worse than being a 007 agent.

Kang Shi was speechless at Shen Tang's matter-of-fact response.

I couldn't help but start seriously reflecting on a question—

Are they really so poor they can't even afford to eat, requiring their lord to engage in side businesses? Or has Fugu's fiscal deficit frightened the lord, making him think that every territory he conquers in the future will have to go through the same rebuilding process? Surely not.

Kang Shi pondered for a long time.

He tentatively asked, "What side business does my lord want to pursue?"

"Picture book!"

As everyone knows, she is an artist.

Before she crossed over to this world and took office as the lord, she was an artist who supported her family with her superb painting skills, which were far more impressive than her role as lord.

Her paintbrush was her livelihood.

Taking up a side hustle and picking up the paintbrush again is definitely the best choice.

Kang Shi misunderstood.

"A storybook? Could it be that scoundrel Gu Wangchao—"

Kang Shi believed that Gu Chi had corrupted Shen Tang.

He discovered Gu Chi's hobby by chance and thought the man was quite interesting at the time. But now, it seems—Gu Wangchao, you are truly misleading young people.

He declared decisively, "That's not appropriate!"

Shen Tang wanted to hear his advice: "What's wrong with it?"

What does this have to do with Gu Chi?

Kang Shi quickly came up with a reason that wasn't really a valid one: "Compiling storybooks is mentally taxing, and in a poor and remote place like Fugu, no one can appreciate your masterpiece. Even if it were made, I'm afraid no one would understand it."

Even if it rained knives from the sky, they wouldn't hit someone who can read.

Even with exceptional literary talent, and writing with dazzling brilliance...

Who can appreciate it?

Not to mention paying for it.

Shen Tang gives Kang Shi's reasoning a score of 99 out of 100.

With a dejected look on his face, he said, "What you said makes sense. The people here might not appreciate my art. I need to think of other ways. I can't just give up this side business..."

She was just making assumptions.

Her drawing skills were superb, but she overlooked two important points—the world's printing technology was rudimentary, and photocopying relied on handwriting; papermaking was inefficient, of low quality, and costly.

This limited her ability to publish art books on a large scale.

Even if it were forced to be sold, ordinary people still couldn't afford it.

If they can't afford it, Shen Tang won't make any money.

so--

In order for her side business to proceed smoothly, these two major problems need to be solved first. Only by minimizing the cost of publishing the picture book so that ordinary people can easily afford it can Shen Tang's side business flourish. She crossed her arms and lowered her head to think.

Little did they know that Kang Shi was also troubled.

Seeing that he hadn't completely dispelled Shen Tang's idea, he prepared to go back and talk to Qi Shan—Yuan Liang had known the lord the longest and had the deepest friendship with him, so his words should carry weight…

Bar?

Qi Shan, on whom Kang Shi placed high hopes: "..."

If his words were effective, would the lord still be bewitched by that cunning, coarse, and ugly boar time and time again?

"You mean, my lord wants to start a side business of drawing books?"

Kang Shi said, "What should we do?"

It's not that a lord can't have personal hobbies, but those hobbies shouldn't affect their ambition! Doing a good job as the lord's main job is also very promising. Once the territory is well-managed, plenty of people will make money for the lord in the future.

As long as you work hard, poverty is only temporary.

Qi Shan did not show the worry that Kang Shi thought she was worried about; her lips twitched slightly, and her eyes and brows showed a complicated expression.

"Don't worry about it."

Kang Shi said, "But the lord's temperament..."

Although their time together was short, I knew Shen Tang's stubborn nature.

Once a decision is made, it must be achieved.

Qi Shan didn't want to be too explicit, so she said tactfully, "No one is perfect, and there are always some things we're not good at."

My lord's drawing skills...

It takes immense courage to appear in public.

The common people are simply illiterate, not lacking in aesthetic sense.

Kang Shi: "???"

Qi Shan said, "Ji Shou will find out later." The later he finds out, the better, so that his filter on his lord will shatter later.

Kang Shi: "..."

As the opening day of the "First Fugu City New Year Games" drew ever closer, the trivial matters on Shen Tang's hands visibly decreased as she frantically focused on her work. Even while being incredibly busy, she still managed to find time to secretly plan her side hustle.

Qi Shan pretended not to know anything about it.

Instead of wasting time worrying about the lord's doomed side business, it would be better to talk to Chu Wuhui about next year's financial arrangements, to Gu Chi about the progress and allocation plan for reclaiming wasteland, and to Kang Shi about how many refugees have been taken in recently...

As for himself?

Haha, I have to travel for work every now and then.

The mess in Heyin is not limited to Fugu City—Fugu City is the biggest problem, but there are other troubles that urgently need to be resolved. It's not that Shen Tang and his team don't want to clean up the mess, it's just that they have far too few capable people at their disposal.

Sending out even one person will exhaust the rest.

Otherwise, Shen Tang wouldn't have needed to lead the involution.

Besides this, Qi Shan also needed to go out and find suitable people, but there was no progress—truly capable people wouldn't stay in a poor, remote place like He Yin; they would have already gone out to make their way in the world. As for the rest, Qi Shan really didn't think much of them.

We also need to go out and get some supplies.

Finally, he returned the day before the opening ceremony.

With everyone working together, Fugu is changing dramatically every day. When Qishan returned this time, she noticed several places that were completely different from when she left two days ago. With Zhao Feng and his two powerful and courageous martial artists around, demolishing houses is the easiest task.

Aside from the surrounding environment, the most significant changes have been seen in the common people of Fugu City—their previously thin and sunken cheeks have become noticeably fuller and healthier, and their clothing has improved by one or two grades, becoming clean, tidy, and thick.

Even though he prayed for good, he felt a sense of satisfaction.

The "First Fugu City New Year Games" is the biggest event recently, and almost everyone in the city is busy preparing for it.

The entire process involved Shen Tang simply giving instructions while the people below ran themselves ragged, referencing the celebrations and making minor revisions.

Qi Shan had not even stepped into the half-renovated government office when he heard the sound of arguing coming from the main hall, and the argument stopped when he appeared.

"My lord, Shan is back." He still bore traces of dew from his long journey, and his face showed undisguised weariness, yet he still smiled and asked, "What were you arguing about with Wu Hui and the others?"

Strangely enough, everyone's here today.

Chu Yao, who had completely disappeared in a hurry, was also there.

“Yuanliang is here. It’s just in time. Come and take a look.” Shen Tang looked in the direction of the voice and waved to him when she saw that it was him. “Take a look at these Word Spirits and see which one is suitable to be used at the opening ceremony.”

Qi Shan: "???"

Was he hallucinating?

Why was the opening ceremony supposed to unleash the power of words?

Before even seeing what the JianShu article described, I was already pondering its uses. As I reached out to take it, I asked, "Is my lord worried about rain or snow tomorrow?"

Extreme weather can indeed affect the opening ceremony. Bad weather discourages ordinary people from coming out to watch the games or visit the local markets, significantly diminishing the purpose of the Games. In such situations, the power of words can certainly be used.

The only drawback is that the range is too large.

It was by no means something that one or two literary figures could withstand.

Even if it were possible, it wouldn't last long.

Chu Yao smiled wryly: "If it were really just a weather problem, that would be fine."

Our lord possesses the Imperial Seal, and Fugu is her territory. As the economy and people's livelihoods gradually improve, it's time to accumulate some "national fortune." With this foundation, the combined efforts of the scholars and intellectuals present can ensure favorable weather conditions for the next few days.

but--

That's not what they're arguing about.

Qi Shan also saw the title of the article on JianShu: "Proposal for the Opening Ceremony Fireworks Display of the First Fugu City New Year Games".

"My lord, what is this?"

Shen Tang explained, "An opening ceremony should look like an opening ceremony; the atmosphere is very important. But right now, all we have are firecrackers..."

There was no gunpowder available at the time.

Perhaps some alchemist in other parts of the mainland has accidentally created it, but it's impossible in a remote and impoverished place like Heyin. The common understanding of "fireworks" still comes from the "Word of the Thief Star," but how to make this thing is unknown.

The so-called firecrackers are the real deal; literally, they are made by lighting dried bamboo to produce a crackling sound. They are used to add to the festive atmosphere during celebrations.

Chu Yao and his group suggested that they just set off firecrackers.

If the firecrackers weren't loud enough, let Gong Shuwu and the others think of a solution. Many of the martial arts words used by warriors in battle are quite powerful. If the focus isn't on lethality, the sheer scale would definitely meet Shen Tang's requirements. However, this suggestion was rejected.

Shen Tang took a different approach.

The power of words of a warrior is the power of words.

Isn't the power of words of the literati also a form of spiritual power?

The logic behind this statement is sound, but—

Qi Shan was speechless upon reading the first sentence of the book: "The east wind releases a thousand trees of flowers at night, and blows down stars like rain."

Does this word magic sound familiar?

Gong Xichou ate it twice.

Zhang's private troops stationed at the military camp also had a meal.

Its destructive power is such that even the most unfortunate souls who have met the King of Hell have a say in its destructive force.

Our lord is planning to release [something] in Fugu as well...

He didn't understand at all and was deeply shocked.

Shen Tang could tell from his expression that he had misunderstood, and hurriedly explained, "Can't you control the power of words? Besides, different words have different effects, and not all of them are necessarily capable of large-scale destruction. Some may just look nice, right? What we need now is to find these flashy but impractical ones. Perhaps they can open up new ways for literary scholars to make money."

Warriors with martial spirits till the land, while scholars with literary minds create fireworks.

Please continue reading.

[The fireworks of the city blend seamlessly, the star-studded bridge and iron locks open.]

besides--

Last year on the Lantern Festival, the flower market was as bright as day.

I wrote about twenty densely packed lines.

Each one had annotations written on it.

One look at the flamboyant handwriting and you know it's the lord. Her favorite line is the first one, which is also the one that everyone opposes the most.

If things go wrong, she could burn down Fugu City.

Qi Shan neither agreed nor disagreed, but simply asked, "Why does my lord insist on adding this?"

Shen Tang said, "No fireworks, no celebration."

Another reason was that she felt the sports meet was too rudimentary.

The small market, managed by many people, wasn't exactly deserted; ordinary folks liked to stroll around it from time to time, and the foot traffic seemed decent, but it was far from the bustling, shoulder-to-shoulder atmosphere Shen Tang had imagined. After much thought, she realized the atmosphere just wasn't right.

However, she had limited funds and time was of the essence.

There simply wasn't enough time to put on a grand performance.

They then set their sights on the power of words.

Could we use the power of words to create a scene where the night is as bright as day and the market is dazzling with lights? It would be perfect if fireworks were added to enhance the spectacle.

She lay on the couch, becoming more and more agitated as she thought about it.

I crawled out of my warm bed at night to write the project proposal.

As a result, the plan was thwarted.

Chu Yao and the others did not completely deny it; they affirmed Shen Tang's idea. If the spirit energy succeeded, it could be used as a gimmick to attract refugees, while also leaving the common people of Fugu, who had suffered enough, with a beautiful memory that would deeply move their hearts.

However, it is too difficult to operate.

As far as they know, there isn't such a fancy and impractical Word of Power yet—in an environment where Word of Power is widely used in warfare, no one would research how to use it to set off fireworks, especially for the common people to watch. It's like a martial arts master desperately cultivating and climbing the ranks just to become an ox and plow the fields for the common people; it's just wishful thinking.

The latter was made possible only through Shen Tang's strong efforts to bring them together.

The former is too difficult to implement.

What if we accidentally destroy the floating mulberry tree?

Surprise turns into shock?

“Beautiful things naturally possess a healing power! Those who have witnessed them will develop a deep attachment to them. I believe that every commoner who sees this magnificent spectacle will feel a longing for a peaceful and prosperous world.” Shen Tang said sincerely, “Fireworks may vanish in an instant in the sky, but they can plant a spark in their hearts—I hope you can help me!”

Everyone was moved upon hearing this.

Plant...

The spark of a prosperous and peaceful era?

Shen Tang had tried everything to persuade them, but to no avail. Yet, these few simple words made Chu Yao, the most resolute among them, the first to defect. His eyes softened even more: "What you say makes sense, my lord. It is worth a try."

Kang Shi said, "Try...but—"

How do I test this?

Words of power are not something to be used arbitrarily.

Gu Chi: "Now that you mention it, I do find myself longing for the grand scenes depicted by those powerful words."

It wasn't just him; many literary figures were curious about this as well.

The continental countries fought each other for over two hundred years.

The chaos never ends.

No one has ever seen what a prosperous and peaceful era should look like.

People can only guess at the meaning from the fragments of the Word of Power. The more they understand, the emptier and more empty they feel inside.

In their minds, the power of words was only used for fighting or for power struggles; they never thought it could have any other use—the power of words outside of warfare was also abandoned.

Kang Shi then asked a very crucial question.

"How do you suggest we try it?"

Yeah, how do we try it?

Without knowing the effects of using the Word of Power, rashly using it at tomorrow's opening ceremony could easily send the commoners of Fugu City, who are just there to watch the spectacle, to their doom. And with time so tight, can the Word of Power truly be fully controlled in just a few hours?

Gu Chi heard Shen Tang's inner thoughts clearly.

His eyes swept over the crowd with a smile.

A tentative probe: "By combining our strength, we should be able to withstand the power of our lord's words. It shouldn't be too difficult."

Everyone: "..."

After thinking for so long, this is the only terrible idea you came up with?

Gu Chi didn't think it tasted bad at all.

He was the one who knew Shen Tang's identity and background the most—just the fact that Shen Tang woke up from a mysterious coffin made her identity very mysterious—she might be able to do things that ordinary people couldn't.

Before this, which literary scholar was so capable?

|ω`)

I caught a cold this morning, had a fever this afternoon, and now I have both a cold and a fever...

Not only is my nose incredibly stuffy, but I also feel both hot and cold all over. Even with the air conditioning and heating on high, I still feel chilly... It's awful. The thing that infected me got better on its own, damn it.

P.S.: Shamelessly asking for monthly votes (especially from Q Reading, I want to get into the top ten). It's almost the end of the month, do you guys still have any votes left?

(End of this chapter)