Chapter 70, Chapter Seventy: The Frenzy of Drawing Rewards Leads to...
Now that the appetizers are over, it's time to get down to business.
Chief Steward Song has an excellent memory—you can't be a steward if you don't have a good memory. He didn't even need to bring paper; he calmly reported a series of progress updates:
"Your Highness, during the few days you were away from Liuzhou, the main road was officially paved with cement, and the newly planned sewer system, flood drainage channels, and fermentation tanks outside the city were repaired. The water pumps in the Prince's mansion... the toilets are also ready."
—The fermentation tank is the original fertilizer yard.
Back then, lacking the necessary resources, they could only dig large pits for composting. That batch of fertilizer was eventually distributed to everyone, but it's unknown how much was bought by "merchants" for profit, or how much was actually used on the reclaimed land. However, the process of making fertilizer from night-blooming jasmine cannot stop; in fact, it is very important.
Qi Chengming had mentioned a few words about his plan to use fertilizer to build a "biogas digester" in the future. Song Gu didn't understand the details, but he understood the word "digester." So, while Huang Dong was working day and night with the construction team, they used the latest material, cement, to build a large digester on the original site to continue the fermentation process.
The simplified toilet is very simple; it's made of ceramic and doesn't have any valves. The flushed waste collects in a dedicated sewer system, which then flows into a small fermentation tank in the nearby east courtyard. In any case, once completed, it will liberate Qi Chengming in terms of both appearance and convenience.
"The distribution and registration of potato seeds have been completed. The whole city will be able to use them next spring. Prefect Mu will send people to keep spreading the word. It is forbidden to plant them all at once, not to plant them consecutively, and not to plant them in rotation with tomatoes..." Song Gu instructed.
Potatoes, a new crop, might be a headache to promote in other regions, but it's not difficult in Liuzhou. The farmers who had previously benefited from tomatoes were very happy, and many more farmers who missed out on growing tomatoes learned from their mistakes and became even more envious and eager to try.
With the prince around, and the prince himself loves this new vegetable, who's afraid of losing money if we grow it?
"The glass experiment failed again..." "The alcohol experiment was successful, though. Craftsman Huang received a reward of twenty taels of silver and was promoted to manager..." "The silver-plated mirror was also successful. A new mirror factory was built and can recruit workers. The remaining six counties all requested that the factory be built there, and there was a round of disputes." "...The original batch of adult pigs has started to give birth."
Qi Chengming nodded in satisfaction, interjecting, "Be very careful with the alcohol. It absolutely cannot be drunk directly; it must be diluted with water, or it will kill you."
"Your Highness, rest assured," Song Gu replied calmly, a dangerous glint in his eyes that vanished in an instant.
Having established so many cooperative factories of all sizes throughout Liuzhou, Song Gu had moved beyond the initial chaos and now understood the people's true nature. They were both simple and honest, and cunning and shrewd. They were obedient, but also prone to foolishness and acting on their own initiative.
His Highness is soft-hearted and always worries about them. But Song Gu knows that there's always a chance that some guards will become lax, even joking around and trying to boast or compete, and then someone might get drunk and die. Every time something new comes along, this strange cycle always starts. No matter how careful you are, you can't guarantee that problems won't arise from the very beginning.
...Then let people die.
The truly despicable ghost cannot be brought back no matter how much you try to persuade or prevent him.
Song Gu has already signed contracts with all the workers who are about to move into the alcohol factory—anyone who dares to taste the alcohol will be kicked out and their entire family will be barred from employment in any industry. Furthermore, tasting the alcohol will result in death, and regardless of whether the person ultimately dies, they will have to pay a large sum of compensation.
With this measure in place, whoever fails to control their mouth... will face only one consequence: either physical death or a fate worse than death. Only when one such unfortunate individual emerges will others dare not repeat the offense.
"The last thing... In two months, before spring plowing, the dragon bone waterwheel and drinking well must be built." Song Gu's mind raced, and he finished his report. "By then, the Prince's Mansion will be basically repaired, and Mr. Huang will lead the people to dig the well."
"I understand." Qi Chengming was even more pleased to hear this.
Since arriving in Liuzhou, Huang Dong has kept a low profile, but his contributions are felt everywhere. Half of the changes in Liuzhou are thanks to him and his infrastructure team.
"Then I'll take my leave." Song Gu's mouth was dry from speaking. Holding the small, heavy bag of silver in his arms, he was wondering whether he should send someone to buy some drinks...
"Don't rush off yet." Qi Chengming walked around the large desk, pressed the man back into his chair, and said after a moment's thought, "Xiao Dezi, pour Steward Song a glass of water, and get him a basin of water to take a bath."
Song Gu: "?"
Song was bewildered.
But he still obediently drank the water and washed his hands under the servants of the eunuch. Just to be on the safe side, he also cleaned his face. Only after he was clean did he have time to look down at himself twice, feeling uneasy.
Was it because he looked a bit dirty and disheveled after running around all day? Did His Highness find him displeasing?
“Alright.” The young prince said seriously, “Stay like this and don’t move. I suddenly had an inspiration… Let me think about it for a moment.”
Song Gu was being directed to lift one hand, his whole body stiff as a stone. His Highness wouldn't let him move, so he dared not move an inch, his eyes practically frozen in place: "..."
Qi Chengming stared intently at the infrastructure system panel in front of him. The reward page he had been saving up for a long time was there. The draw page was a huge spinning wheel, but each page remained anonymous.
He slowly took a few steps forward, so that the lottery button of the infrastructure system was aimed directly at Song Gu's raised hand, getting closer and closer.
Qi Chengming held his breath.
The reason he refrained from participating in the lottery in Hezhou wasn't because he couldn't care less, but rather... after settling down in Liuzhou for so long, all sorts of picky and spoiled habits had surfaced. He didn't want to use a toilet that wasn't home, and he didn't enjoy the food that wasn't cooked by Aunt Fang. He couldn't sleep well in a carriage that wasn't his usual one... and so on.
Qi Chengming felt that he had been spoiled by this group of people, and they were corrupting him very quickly!
Similarly, even outside of Liuzhou City, Qi Chengming felt uneasy and unsettled, and he held back until now, back home, to prepare to announce the reward. He remembered that after transmigrating, his first real helper was Song Gu. With Steward Song as his right-hand man, taking care of everything, things always progressed smoothly.
...Let Steward Song handle the opening of this reward.
Anyway, his bizarre ideas and strange behavior have been going on for a while now, and those who are close to him know about his strangeness. In fact, they are all more united with him in their hatred of him.
The spinning turntable exploded with fireworks, and the instant Song Gu's finger touched it, Qi Chengming made a snap decision and confirmed the reward.
Sodium dimercaptopropanesulfonate injection (one course of treatment).
[Note: Effective antidotes for heavy metal poisoning, in this world, include elixirs and arsenic.]
Qi Chengming: "???"
He was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed.
As expected of Chief Eunuch Song! No wonder he came from the palace! The items he drew are perfect for palace intrigue!!
If I remember correctly, in the original story, the seventh prince, who ascended the throne, went to great lengths to persecute his brothers. For those who were difficult to deal with, he both reduced their power and forced them to rebel, but when it came to the original second prince, there was nothing to say. He simply forced him to take some medicine, and then announced that he had died from a miasma plague.
Although Qi Chengming went there to seize the throne and save his life, what if he fails?
His ranking is too high and too far. If the two sides fight, the Seventh Prince will be the one to benefit in the end. Qi Chengming can always leave himself a way out, right?
It's not like I should have to run away alone in such a pathetic way. It's just that this medicine, when used in the right place... can still be very effective at controlling the timing.
And there are also times when it's absolutely necessary...
Qi Chengming reluctantly considered Hongren Emperor's appearance. Although he hadn't heard of the emperor taking elixirs, Taoist priests were never an unpopular profession. What if Hongren Emperor became more easily bewitched as he aged? This medicine was also a backup plan. Qi Chengming had no intention of using the rare antidote on Hongren Emperor—he sincerely prayed that Hongren Emperor wouldn't take any elixirs.
Think about it, this is also a life-saving medicine for everyone.
Qi Chengming rallied again.
...His shop only sells healing pills.
With that in mind, Qi Chengming simply activated all the other rewards, such as those for growing potatoes, dealing with hurricanes, and building Liuzhou City.
Brilliant fireworks burst forth from the infrastructure system. These rewards were fixed, eliminating the need to gamble, which reassured Qi Chengming considerably.
A two-volume set of "The Barefoot Doctor's Manual", a high-powered flashlight, "Junior High School Physics Grade 8 Edition", a four-compartment bag of spicy beef tallow hot pot base, five small packets of pepper seeds, and the field-pond salting method.
Qi Chengming: "...!!!"
There's so much happiness, it's overwhelming! There's just too much happiness, it all happened so suddenly, I can't possibly take it all in!
He was so overjoyed that he didn't know how to breathe for a moment.
The Barefoot Doctor's Manual is also one of the three great books!
Since arriving in Liuzhou, Doctor Bian has never left. Is it because he doesn't want to? It's simply because there are too many patients suffering from headaches and fevers here, all common ailments in this remote southern town. This has kept Doctor Bian eager to treat them, a situation that brings both pain and joy. Now, with this book, the survival rate of the people can rise again.
Junior high school physics textbooks can be used to teach basic physics... This group of children we are currently nurturing are the best seeds, and we won't even go into how much change they can bring about.
Pepper seeds!!! Different kinds, no less! Qi Chengming was practically wilting with anticipation. Finally, he could eat green peppers, red peppers, dried peppers, and bell peppers! It would be hard to keep up with just dogwood and locally dug-up millet peppers every day.
And salt production...
Qi Chengming remembered some of the steps, but a perfect recipe would certainly be more fragrant. Unauthorized salt harvesting is against the law… but how many smugglers are there these days? Besides, when he needs to support an army in his bid for the throne, changes in salt consumption will be crucial.
nice one!
“…Your Highness?” Song Gu called out softly, then froze, too stiff to move.
His eyes gleamed with a strange light.
The young prince had been lost in thought for a moment, his expression suggesting he was reminiscing about or looking at something unseen, his gaze fixed on the distant sky. At times like this, the new emperor exuded an... unfathomable, mystical remoteness.
Song Gu felt a chill run down his spine, goosebumps rose on his skin, and his whole body trembled slightly.
He felt no fear, but instead focused intently on the prince's face, holding his breath with deep concern: "..."
Is this how the new ruler displays his supernatural powers? Because she trusts him, she's willing to let him see it?
Is this the origin of those brilliant decisions and ideas?
It came from the heavens... and was casually picked by His Highness.
Song Gu wasn't afraid of this new ruler; he was more excited. But he was more worried and fearful that this new ruler was too close to heaven and too far from the human world... What if, what if he wanted to go back even more? What if he went back sometime, like in the future?
So Song Gu called out weakly, his voice filled with worry and a contradiction of not daring to speak: "—Your Highness?"
Qi Chengming came to his senses.
He grabbed Song Gu's raised hand and shook it happily. He couldn't say it outright, so he could only instruct her: "...Go outside and send everyone away. I'll go see Aunt Fang myself, and we'll have a nice dinner together before I leave."
Last time I ate alone and didn't bring Steward Song along, so this time I must reward this great benefactor!
Eating hot pot should be a lively affair, even if it's a secret meal! Let's get a mushroom broth and a spicy beef tallow broth! Let's call up Xiao Dezi and Xiao Chengzi, and see if Mr. Huang is done with his work yet.
Qi Chengming wanted to invite his cousin's family, but the family of four consisted of the elderly, the sick, the injured, and the young. He decided to wait and invite them over for a meal later.
Following the same method as last time, Qi Chengming summoned Aunt Fang and kept the information gap between them a secret.
When the young steward, Xiao Song, stepped back into the cleared main courtyard, he was greeted by an extremely overpowering and peculiar fragrance...
"...Cough cough cough!" Song Gu coughed because he was choked, but he couldn't help but breathe in the alluring spicy aroma and turned his head to find the source.
What new delicious food has Your Highness made this time? It smells so good!
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The author notes: In ancient times, it was difficult to enjoy a fragrant, flavorful, and technologically advanced hot pot made with beef tallow.
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