Chapter 58: Conquer the Plain Rice Eaters

However, this trip was also quite arduous. The Great King summoned He Guang again, saying, 'You don't need to come wait on me anymore; go rest and heal. Once you're better, go to the Water Clan World and spend two days with Manager Zhou to learn how to run a business.'

He Guang was startled, immediately knelt and pleaded, 'Your Highness, you don't need me to attend you anymore? It's all because I failed at this task this time; next time…'

The Great King cut him off, 'No! He Guang, do you really want to keep serving tea and water by my side?'

He Guang nodded vigorously, 'Yes!'

Great King: ……

No, why are you so stupid, not following the routine?

The Great King didn't even think, which eunuch would dare tell their master, 'I don't want to, I don't want to serve you tea and water?' You want to die, huh!?

'You idiot!' The Great King immediately used the new word he'd just learned.

'What future is there in serving me tea and water? I don't lack such people around me. You've been by my side since I was three and old enough to remember; I trust you. Now You Prefecture is in such turmoil, there's much to do. I need you to help me share the burden, to do something meaningful—do you understand?'

He Guang quickly nodded.

'The Commercial Street will be completed soon; last year I already wanted them to open for business. I plan to set up a Commerce Department to manage these affairs, needing a trustworthy person of my own to oversee it for me—can I trust you?'

He Guang and Tong Chen, by the Great King's side, were the first respectable persons besides Zhao Bao. Entrusted with an important task, He Guang was still excited, knocking his head to the ground in another kowtow.

'Thank you for your trust, Your Highness. I understand. I'll go study with Manager Zhou tomorrow and will not disappoint your expectations.'

Taking advantage of He Guang lowering his head, the Great King kicked his short legs hard twice, then nodded as if nothing had happened, continuing solemnly, 'All right then, go rest—you've worked hard on this trip.'

He Guang, his face excited, bowed his head again before withdrawing.

As soon as he left, the Great King flopped onto the daybed, rolling twice, then grabbed Weini and rubbed her hard twice, imitating Bai Yang's wave, 'The situation is looking great, hahaha~'

After the Great King went to the Myriad Worlds Homestead, the first thing was to inform Brother Bai that henceforth we must stockpile grain for the Great King.

The grain Bai Yang bought for him never pursued flavor, only quantity and satiety; this time the good rice he ordered from the Northeast arrived, and he deliberately set some aside for the Great King to store.

'I ordered this white rice from the black soil of the Northeast for you; it's expensive, so keep it stored for your own eating.'

The country bumpkin Great King had never eaten this kind of white rice; the next day he went to the playground, found a secluded vacant small building, put a few bags inside, then summoned Zhao Bao.

'Didn't you say the Star Lord didn't give a return gift? The Star Lord knows we, You Prefecture, are short on grain, and gave me delicious rice, oh~ For outsiders just say I sent people to buy it from the south; when it's finished, come here more often to see whether the Star Lord has sent more supplies for me.'

Zhao Bao: ……

This Star Lord is surprisingly down-to-earth.

That night, the Great King's dinner was white rice with carrot and potato stewed lamb.

The Great King was astonished, feeling he'd wasted the past few years! White rice with sides completely conquered the plain rice eater—this is the perfect match!

Also, this potato, when stewed with meat, is no worse than meat itself, with a meaty flavor. The texture is excellent, yield high; apparently its only drawback is that it's hard to store. As for carrots, the Great King doesn't like them, a problem he shares with troublesome kids.

Millet is too sticky, foxtail millet too dry and scattered—he hardly eats it; he's grown tired of eating flatbread after all these years; switching to white rice is excellent—this is what the Great King should be eating!

So the Great King, fully satisfied with his meal, took a wooden sword and sparred with Tong Chen in the playground for an hour before it was over.