Chapter 015 High Temperature Disaster: Ice Powder 5
Before Augustine could even scream, he felt dizzy and realized that he had arrived at his father's territory - the small town of Oez.
The fact that the other party was an ice mage was shocking enough, but he did not expect that the other party was also a dual cultivation mage, which was really rare in the world.
You know, there are not many space mages who can teleport. If their magic power can also carry people, they must be at least level 40 or 50.
He tried to remain calm and said, "Thank you so much."
"You're welcome," Lin Muqiu smiled. "You're my big client. The sooner you sell the stuff, the more at ease I'll be. And fewer people will die from heatstroke. Why not?"
"Your Excellency is truly kind-hearted."
"It's nothing," she said. "Since the items have been delivered, I'll leave first."
"Wait……"
When she heard Augustine calling her, she turned her head even though she was confused.
Augustine hesitated for a long time, but finally mustered up the courage to ask her, "If my father wants to take over our business, can you refuse?"
His words were vague, but Lin Muqiu understood them.
According to the original book, this man and his father have always been at odds. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been sent to the imperial capital to ask for help from the Ice Mage. After all, asking for help is not a pleasant experience.
She whispered, "Since I've agreed to cooperate with you, I won't sign another contract with anyone else in your town, not even your father."
Augustine pursed his lips, his gratitude overflowing from his words. "Sir, in fact, perhaps it would be more beneficial for you to cooperate with my father. Climbing the nobility, you can have a smooth journey and ascend the ladder to the top. Isn't that everyone's dream?"
Lin Muqiu chuckled, "And then become a tool to be controlled and used by others?"
"That's not what I meant..."
Seeing Augustine's nervous expression, Lin Muqiu smiled nonchalantly, "Soaring to the sky is great, but it must be done in a proper way. People in this world don't just want fame and fortune, they also want to do something meaningful that they enjoy. I believe your ideal is the same."
These words entered Augustine's ears, making them instantly red. "I... I am just my father's unfavored eldest son."
Lin Muqiu smiled and shook his head, "You will achieve something."
After all, she gave this person some space in the original book. This person has a kind character and has been rescuing civilians during natural disasters. He is quite prestigious.
"Having said that, I should go now." Lin Muqiu cast a spell directly.
Augustine did not try to persuade her to stay. He looked at her leaving back and his heart trembled.
He tried to catch the breeze, as if he was grabbing a bit of residual warmth.
She has changed the world more than just a little bit.
It is his blessing to meet such a person.
He felt emotional.
Then he quickly returned to the lord's hall. After pushing the door, he found that his father was sitting on the same throne with his half-brother Augustus. The two were laughing and playing without any grudges. His father's eyes were full of tenderness and love.
He gave a mocking smile.
The heir hasn't been appointed yet, so why is my father so anxious to let his beloved son sit on the throne?
In the end, he lowered his head, trying not to care, then bowed respectfully and went through the formalities that he had long hated.
He was obviously used to doing this in the past, but today he unexpectedly felt irritated.
He looked up at his father, the Lord of Oez, with a long white beard and eyes as sharp as a hawk, but this kind of look was only used when he looked at outsiders.
He is also an outsider.
Ever since his mother died and his father married his stepmother, he has become a completely irrelevant person.
But it was obvious that the town of Oez once belonged to his mother, and it was his father who promised to treat her well that led to his current success. However, he did not expect that a few days after his mother passed away, his father remarried.
He suppressed his emotions and reported everything dryly and in detail. His father sneered at first, but his younger brother kept clamoring to taste the ice jelly, so his father agreed and said he wanted to try it.
After they tasted the ice jelly, a hint of surprise flashed in their eyes at the same time.
The town's lord's hall was built with heat-insulating materials, but it still couldn't withstand the scorching heat of summer. After taking a bite of the ice jelly, both of them felt a lasting coolness and asked Augustine to introduce more.
After listening to everything, Lord Oez nodded to Augustine and said, "You can go down and rest. I will let your brother negotiate with Lin Muqiu next."
Augustine's heart tightened.
This matter was clearly his achievement, but his father looked down on him and handed over the actual power to his younger brother under the pretext of letting him take a rest.
His efforts and his love for the people seemed like a joke.
Even Lin Muqiu, a stranger to him, knew his ideal, but his father knew nothing!
If this job was given to my younger brother, he would definitely raise the price too high after purchasing the ice jelly to fill his private warehouse.
If my father were to take over this matter, he would certainly use ice powder as a tool to curry favor with the nobles. This would cause the summer crops to be lost and food to be in short supply, and the town of Oez would surely be in complete chaos.
How can civilians survive?
For the first time, he secretly disobeyed his father, concealed the business he had discussed with Lin Muqiu, and left after bowing.
After returning to the room, Augustine, his voice hoarse, said to his servant in a gentle voice, "Divide this ice powder into 1,000 portions and distribute them to civilians who are about to suffer from heatstroke. Each person is limited to one portion. Distribute them in Lin Muqiu's name, saying it's for publicity. Oh, and also say, 'This is the only store, no branches.'"
The servant was a little surprised, "Sir, why do you..."
Augustine patted his shoulder and said, "It's okay. As long as we contribute to the townspeople, it doesn't matter who gets the credit. If I come forward in my name, my father will know that I have made a private deal with Lin Muqiu, and I'm afraid he won't let it go. Besides..."
Under the servant's surprised eyes, he slowly said: "Ms. Lin Muqiu is worthy."
The voice is clear as a string, yet firm and unwavering.
*
It was a hot summer day. After comforting her daughter who was suffering from heatstroke, Elizabeth went out and walked around the village hall to inquire about the news.
In the past, when natural disasters struck in the summer, Lord Augustine would pay out of his own pocket to provide some money or supplies to the town residents for disaster relief. Although it was better than nothing, it was still better than nothing.
At this time, many townspeople had gathered around, probably waiting for the distribution of supplies. There were also many refugees, crowded together, pouring out like ants.
The natural disasters in the summer accelerated the bankruptcy of many people, and refugees from the surrounding villages poured into the town. If she didn't come up with a solution, the next person to go bankrupt might fall on her head like a sword hanging over her head.
But in troubled times, human life is like an ant, and people can only be swept forward by the rolling tide of the times. How much can they decide for themselves?
Just as Elizabeth was mourning, she heard someone standing on a high platform ahead of her begin to shout, "One thousand servings of ice jelly! Supplied by Lin Muqiu's shop in Ankang Town! This is the only shop, no branches! This stuff is miraculous for treating summer disasters. Only those who are about to have heatstroke or have already had it can get it first. One serving per person! This is a one-time only deal!"
Upon hearing this, many people couldn't help but sigh.
What good is such a small portion of ice powder? Besides, there is no such thing as a miracle cure for summer disasters in this world. Is this just another advertisement to make money?
When everyone saw the small portion of ice jelly, they looked at it with disdain. Even if they could get it by queuing up, was it worth it?
There is a risk of heat stroke when queuing in summer!
When many people saw that what was distributed was not food and copper coins, they dispersed. However, there were also those who were extremely poor and had no other choice but to try their best to save the situation, and they still lined up in a long queue.
Not for anything else, just for——
What if it is useful?
If it works, wouldn’t my daughter be saved?
Elizabeth thought about it, looked at the long queue, then looked up at the scorching sun, gritted her teeth, and queued.
As long as she can save her daughter, she is willing to do anything.
*
Elizabeth returned home, carrying the bowl of ice powder, as if she was carrying the hope given to her by God. Her husband saw her coming back and immediately went to greet her, but when he saw that she was only carrying such a small thing, he knew that she had not received any relief this time.
Her husband gave a mocking laugh. "Another product advertised as resistant to summer disasters?"
Elizabeth was silent: "Yes, but no money."
The husband said bitterly, "Then you still have a conscience."
The remark was illogical, but Elizabeth understood it.
When her eldest son was seriously ill, a merchant advertised that his product could resist natural disasters. She was extremely anxious at the time. Even though she knew it was probably fake, she still bought it despite her husband's objections.
Unfortunately, it turned out to be fake, and the merchant eventually ran away. They spent all their family savings, but their son still couldn't be saved.
She knew that her husband was also feeling bad, so she just sighed and fed the ice jelly into her daughter's mouth, forcing her daughter to drink it reluctantly.
The husband hugged her, choking up slightly. "I also wanted to save our daughter, but... forget it, it's all my fault. My lunch break is over, and I have to go back to work. The situation is bad right now, and I don't dare lose my job."
At this moment, his heart was filled with despair.
As I turned to leave, I heard my daughter's faint voice, "Mom...it doesn't seem to be hot anymore...is it autumn?"
The voice was faint, but it sounded like the sound of nature.
Elizabeth and her husband were stunned and turned to look at each other with disbelief on their faces. When they came to their senses, they rushed towards their daughter. The accumulated emotions finally dissipated at this moment. The three of them hugged each other and burst into tears.
After Elizabeth finished explaining the situation, her husband wiped his tears and asked, "Lord Lin is a really good man, but he's in Ankang Town, which is so far away from us. How can we get ice jelly?"
Elizabeth sighed and said, "Lord Augustine or the Lord should have purchased the ice powder, but I don't know..."
She didn't say anything else.
But the husband understood.
This ice powder is a miraculous food against natural disasters, and it has been transported. If it is run by Lord Augustine, it would be fine. But if it is run by the lord or his brother Augustus, it will be exploited layer by layer. Even if it can be bought, the price will probably be very high.
Thinking of this, the three people's faces turned pale again.
*
While other towns were in dire straits, Ankang remained peaceful as before.
Although the ice jelly is a bit expensive, it is not bad if two or three people buy one portion together. One portion of ice jelly can help you get through two and a half days of heat, so it is not expensive at all.
As a result, everyone now rushes to Lin Muqiu’s shop as soon as they get off work, for fear that they will miss out if they are slow.
Many people couldn't help but complain that the store was too small, but soon someone noticed:
"Look! It's the expansion notice and recruitment notice for Lin Muqiu's shop!"
Someone read aloud:
"We are now recruiting four permanent employees, two for potato production, two for ice jelly production, and two temporary workers for planting.
Long-term employees have a two-week probation period. After passing the probation, they will be paid 40 copper coins a day, monthly. During the probation period, they will be paid 20 copper coins a day, daily. Temporary employees will be paid 50 copper coins a day.]
"Oh my god, why would Lin Muqiu offer such a high price!"
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