Chapter 343: Pfft

Xie Yuan's mind was filled with just one thought: that the Great King's lifestyle could grant him immortality.

It's so relaxing, completely free of worries.

He rarely put himself in the Great King's shoes, but thought: if this guy just laid back now, this life would be pretty good—he could live leisurely.

The land is ample, the soldiers strong and the horses sturdy. But... if it were him, he'd feel a bit uneasy.

No.

«Greetings to His Highness the Northern Border King, may Your Highness enjoy boundless happiness. » Xie Yuan brought Zhou Huang forward to pay respects.

The Great King shamelessly shoved the White Marsh onto the empty ground, making it yield its spot to their new farmhand.

Please be seated!

Xie Yuan really couldn't sit down: 'I'll just stand.'

The Great King enthusiastically pushed his snack tray forward again, 'Sir, have some candy, sir, why did you come down the mountain today?' He greatly respected anyone eager to start work, but he himself had no desire to.

I have some letters to write to friends and family, and I'd like to ask Your Highness to help send them to the Great Jin.

Seeing Xie Yuan truly produce a stack of letters, the Great King's smile grew brighter: 'No problem, just hand it over to Zhu Ti; I'll guarantee it arrives within a few days.' As long as it's not a resignation, everything's fine.

You came just for this? Then stay for dinner at the manor tonight; your residence in the city has been prepared, and Zhao Bao will send you back tonight. Zhou Huang, you can just stay at the manor—we're all family.

Before Zhou Huang could decline, Xie Yuan spoke again: 'There's one more thing. When I came, I passed Vermilion Bird Avenue...'

The Great King didn't realize what he'd done, and happily asked: 'Is Vermilion Bird Avenue livelier now? I feel our Youzhou will have a great year; after the victorious western expedition, the festive atmosphere will begin.'

Xie Yuan: '... Yes. I saw that Vermilion Bird Avenue has a new stationery shop that happens to sell the very pencil the Great King used.'

The Great King nodded, 'Yes, it's the one I opened...' He looked up and saw Zhao Bao standing on the steps, gesturing a rectangle with his mouth, hinting to the Great King: 'Banner! Banner!'

The Great King suddenly realized, oh dear, he'd run into himself!

He looked at Xie Yuan again, and that smile instantly upgraded to a 'plus' version, as the Great King performed what it means to have a guileless, innocent, naive, pure, sweet smile.

... The Great King also wanted to lower the cost of studying, so he deliberately opened this stationery shop. It specializes in selling brushes, ink, paper, inkstones and some trinkets, mostly imported from overseas, and he sells them at a loss, hoping that cheaper stationery will encourage more people to study, giving our Northern Border a chance, right? Improving the people's quality is a good thing. 'Quality,' this is a new word—do you know what it means, sir? The Great King did a 360-degree turn to change the subject.

Unfortunately, Xie Yuan wasn't one of those ministers the Great King had subdued, so he didn't back down.

He asked with a wooden face: 'So when can my great name be taken down from that upper floor?'

'Cough cough!' the Great King gave a tactical cough. 'That day I asked you whether promoting pencils throughout the realm was a good idea, and you said yes.' The Great King blinked innocently.

You said you would!

Xie Yuan thought, not sure anymore—at that time his mind had followed the calligraphy practice sheets, as if he'd just been humoring the Great King.

Well, the Xie clan holds the most influence over education in the entire Great Jin, and you're one of our own, so we'll just borrow your name to speed up promotion. Imagine: merchants will immediately snap up the famous pencil you personally selected and sell it in the south—who there doesn't know you? Once the pencil's reputation takes off, workshops will start researching imitations, driving the price down. Sir, this benefits the country and the people!

Good, still the same Great King who likes to elevate his status.

Xie Yuan nodded, 'I understand Your Highness's intentions; I just want to know when my great name can be taken down.' Just thinking about how everyone who passes that eye-catching red awning will ask what it says makes him anxious.

The Great Jin is limited in dyeing techniques; ordinary people can't see such vivid colors, but the Great King's banner is so striking that even passing ants would stop to look.

The Great King chuckled, 'Don't worry, sir; once the first batch of pencils sells out and the reputation spreads, we'll take it down—soon.'

Xie Yuan asked, 'How many pencils are there in total? Can they sell out in three days?'

The Great King held up three fingers; Xie Yuan breathed a sigh of relief, 'Three hundred? That should be quick...'

The Great King whispered softly, 'Thirty thousand.'

Xie Yuan: '……'

How many people are there in the Northern Border altogether!

'... Pfft' Zhou Huang couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The Great King and Xie Yuan both turned toward him, and Zhou Huang's hands suddenly didn't know where to go.

'... Your Highness, sir, I—I didn't mean to!'

The Great King smiled: 'No problem~'

Xie Yuan also smiled: 'In a moment, you, go buy fifty.'

Zhou Huang: '……'

Not hehe.