Chapter 212: Teaching a Man to Fish Is Better Than Giving Him a Fish

"What are you saying?"

"Do you think that with Father Emperor and Mother Empress present, I would tolerate you?"

Gao Yang slammed the table and got up, startling Xiang Lan, who had just come in carrying tea.

Whatever Chen Yan said, he always sneered that he had no brain.

No, don't I know myself whether I have a brain?

Huh, does this thing depend on what you say?

"I didn't say anything." Chen Yan adopted an honest, guileless expression, his face innocent.

"Chen Yan, I......"

Li Shimin and Empress Changsun wore scowls, silently watching the two argue before them, unsure what expression to wear.

Xiang Lan was drenched in sweat, forcing herself to suppress her worry as she poured tea for everyone.

Li Shimin suddenly felt a headache, rubbed his temples, then struck the table heavily, "Alright, stop arguing!"

Only then did Chen Yan and Gao Yang fall silent, yet even without continuing the fight, they still stared at each other, fierce on the outside but timid within.

Li Shimin, too lazy to say more, "Alright, you wait until the Guanyin Maid and I have left before you argue again, okay?"

"Then argue or fight however you wish; I promise I won't ask a single question."

Chen Yan sensed Li Shimin's tone was off, sneered, "Your Majesty is being facetious; Zhao Tang and I have a good relationship, it was just a joke earlier, please excuse me, excuse me."

Gao Yang was about to speak, but Li Shimin stopped him outright: "Hold it, hold it!"

"I said, I won't meddle in your affairs."

"Can we stop here?"

"I came today with official business."

Chen Yan and Gao Yang silently nodded.

Empress Changsun looked at Li Shimin with surprise.

Those words didn't sound like something Li Shimin could say.

Given Li Shimin's temperament, anyone daring to act like that before him would at least incur a harsh scolding.

Why is he so easy to talk to today?

Little did they know, Li Shimin was also helpless; he already understood this kid Chen Yan very well.

He's a shameless sort; what's the use of getting angry at him?

Moreover, Chen Yan has truly performed excellently in Weinan County, and Li Shimin is in a rather good mood today, not wanting to be irritable as he was a few days ago.

"Your so‑called library, I won't pry further; just manage it yourself," Li Shimin said upon seeing the two calm down, "When you carve the printing technique's template, remember to have the Jinwu Guard deliver a copy to me; I'm quite interested in printing."

"Your Majesty, you don't intend to mass‑produce it yourself, do you?" Chen Yan looked doubtful.

Movable‑type printing is essentially simple; once you understand its principles, it's actually easy to produce.

Li Shimin had long wanted to eliminate the aristocratic families, making it hard not to suspect his interest in printing is to act on his own.

"I didn't..." Li Shimin began to explain, then thought better and said with a half‑smile, "If I indeed wanted to print books myself, what would you do?"

"Of course I'd support it," Chen Yan replied immediately, "Doing this in Weinan County already carries some risk; if you want to take it for mass printing yourself, I won't have to bear that part of the risk."

"Moreover, you already hold fifty percent of the library's shares, another thirty percent is attached to the Weinan County government, and I only hold twenty percent of the technical shares; if you take it away, I'd have fewer worries."

Li Shimin snorted lightly, "You, still so slick."

"To be honest, I truly haven't thought of printing it myself; my interest in movable‑type printing stems from a premonition that this could have great significance for this land."

"Only the first carved template qualifies for my collection."

"I see," Chen Yan realized Li Shimin had a collecting habit, and hadn't expected him to want to collect even the printing templates.

I have to admit, he truly has vision.

Li Shimin smiled.

Of course, there was another reason he didn't mention.

Taking the printing technique away does sound good, but first, this was created by Chen Yan, and taking it outright would definitely hurt his feelings.

Li Shimin felt Chen Yan was far more important than the printing technique, and didn't want to do such a thing.

Furthermore, he thought entrusting this matter to Chen Yan was the best choice; others didn't have such effective brilliant ideas.

"Speaking of which, I strolled around Weinan County today and benefited greatly," Li Shimin said with emotion, "Replace Disaster with Labor, I still haven't fully grasped its meaning."

Then he shifted tone: "I recall you once presented conditions to me, even saying you'd change the tax law, yet now it seems you haven't changed it."

"…uh." Chen Yan was speechless inside, but said, "Your Majesty, such things can't be changed just by saying so."

"Because a new tax law means the unknown to the common folk, and people always fear the unknown; moreover, they can't endure hardship, so forcing a change could cause panic."

"It requires a suitable timing."

"Suitable timing?" Li Shimin murmured, looking up: "What exactly is a suitable timing?"

"When I have enough prestige in Weinan County, the people possess a certain Risk Resistance Ability, and they genuinely believe that my changing the tax law has reason and is absolutely for their benefit, then that is the suitable timing."

"Oh~" Li Shimin realized, "I see, so what you're doing now is actually…"

"Partly, partly." Chen Yan chuckled, made a Finger‑tip Universe gesture, "Strictly speaking, it's just a side effect; the most important thing now is Open Source Cut Expenses, and in this process we help those who can't survive create 'Fishing'."

Gao Yang: "Open source?"

Li Shimin: "Cut expenses?"

Empress Changsun: "Fishing?"

"What are all these?" Li Shimin suddenly felt uncultured.

Every time he chats with Chen Yan, he always hears some unfamiliar terms.

Empress Changsun felt the same.

However, unlike them, Gao Yang was already accustomed.

After prolonged contact with Chen Yan, one not only hears some strange words, but also gets assimilated.

For example, the formerly suave young master Du Gou now constantly says 'Damn it'.

Chen Yan scratched his head, 'Explaining these things is too troublesome; let me start with the simple stuff.'

"The meaning of 'Fishing' is that giving a man a fish is not as good as teaching him to fish!"

"Creating 'Fishing' means giving them a money‑earning livelihood—for instance, when I build roads or open workshops, that is the 'Fishing' I create for the people."

With Chen Yan's explanation, everyone instantly understood.

Li Shimin played with his teacup and mused, 'I understand; strictly speaking, this is actually a form of Replace Disaster with Labor.'

"...... Hmm, your understanding is also correct." Chen Yan nodded with a smile.

Empress Changsun: 'Aren't you afraid these people won't do the work well?'

"You should understand; they are basically skin and bone, no match for healthy commoners."

"You're overthinking." Chen Yan shook his head, 'Although I hate to say it, I must admit that these people who can't survive are the best laborers.'

"They...... will work their hearts out for me!"

"......"