Chapter 521

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Protagonist:

Chen Yi

Night fell on West River City-State, with only a few lamps hanging on the streets—either restaurants and bars or patrolling sentry posts. A street near Guangchang had a night market, but because it was a convenience service provided by the government office, it was not crowded.

Even so, this was still one of the rare splendid nights on the West Continent. Among the three West River phenomena that merchants occasionally visiting West River City-State loved to discuss most, there was the splendid night without curfew.

In the past two days, with the addition of the expedition team and their hired workers, West River City-State became even livelier. Even at two or three in the morning, there were still starving people coming to look for food.

On a long bench by the street, three "Jiangning People" sat in a row, holding up three fingers toward the shop. Moments later, they received steaming hot noodles, and the slurping sounds gave the street some life.

"Are you all from Earth? What do you do for a living?" The boss limped and spoke from his seat by the window.

"We are officials." The Jiangning person sitting in the middle was Zhang Pei. He had just returned from the mining area, and they planned to spend the remaining few hours at the Yun Village warehouse.

The boss let out an "oh" and smiled, not very surprised: "You look unfamiliar. Are you that Chen Clan Expedition Team?"

"You know that?" Zhang Pei looked up in surprise, scanning the boss up and down for a long while to judge whether he had the level of a Shaolin temple sweeper monk.

The Chen Clan Expedition Team was top secret on the other side of the Light Gate; even members of the core family hardly knew about it. He, Zhang Pei, had risked his life to bring back a drill bit, all for the power to know the secret—that a small noodle shop boss had the same value as him felt strange.

The other two also raised their heads. The older man among them even took out a cigarette and offered it to the boss, smiling and asking: "You're the well-informed one in West River City, do you smoke? A special supply from Xijing."

"Oh, let me try one. I've only heard of special supplies." The boss took the cigarette, the corners of his mouth relaxing, and smiled in response: "Don't be nervous, I'm just a retired veteran. Almost all Jiangning People know about the Chen Clan Expedition Team; it's common knowledge."

"Common knowledge?"

"Forum." The veteran pointed toward the government office direction, clicking his cigarette holder: "Recently they set up several internet cafes. All Jiangning People can go online freely. Any news targeted at us is posted on the forum."

"West River City has internet now?" Zhang Pei thought. Chen Yi's scale was too big.

The boss was smugly pleased: "Now only the area around the government office can go online. Here I can only play offline. Look, Heroes of Might and Magic 3—a good way to pass the time."

The man who offered the cigarette laughed: "Such a big show, aren't you afraid of leaking secrets?"

"On the West Continent, computers are the best secrecy tool." The boss smoked half the cigarette, took it out to admire it, then put it back, smiling: "The forum doesn't even need a password. Throw it to Ma La, and the monkeys can't open it. It's just that a few natives applied to learn; I heard the Archive Bureau people are still investigating."

In an instant, seeming to realize that the leak the other person mentioned referred to the city-state people, the boss lost his smile and said lightly: "We are on the West Continent. Where could secrets leak to?"

The man laughed awkwardly and changed the subject: "You say you're a retired veteran. Were you injured on the West Continent?"

"When the Ring City Highway Battle just started, I met a Qi Knight and was injured by an explosion." The boss said nonchalantly.

"Was the shop given by the city-state?" Zhang Pei had seen similar examples in the data his family collected last time; it was part of the information about West River policy.

"Yes. I earn more than I did at home."

"We will all remember the warriors who opened up territory for the country."

"Hehe, it's nothing. Maybe in a few years, I'll be able to stand straight again." The boss had a smile on his face, struck a strange pose, and said: "Once promoted to Combat Skill Level, as long as one isn't missing limbs, one can recover."

Words like tales from the Arabian Nights, yet they made the three people doubtful and uncertain.

Combat Knights again!

Zhang Pei thought to himself: Not letting everyone contact Combat Knights—could it be Chen Yi's intention?

But thinking about it carefully, the new world developed by the Chen Family, with the Chen Family holding core interests, no one could find fault with that.

Moreover, now that each family was given a certain amount of time to explore the situation inside the channel, the Chen Clan people were also quite satisfied.

After paying an extremely high face fee and leaving the street, Zhang Pei straightened his clothes and said: "I want to go to the internet cafe near the government office. Will you go to the warehouse first?"

"Fine." These two were veterans responsible for exploration; they only needed to do their own jobs well.

Zhang Pei then hurried to the government office. Along the way he had prepared several speeches, but when he arrived, he found that the internet cafe didn't verify identities at all. As long as one wore Jiangning People's clothing, there was no problem. During this time, there were even well-trained native women delivering coffee and other drinks, the method somewhat like being on an airplane, except the cart was replaced by a small Camel Beast, huffing and puffing, quite interesting.

The night on the West Continent was very short.

When sunlight shone on his eyes, Zhang Pei hurriedly noted down all the forum data and rushed back to Yun Village.

Representatives from all sides were racing against time, gathering at almost the same time. A high official among high officials appeared last, looking as if he had returned from a trip, thoroughly refreshed, making people laugh and cry at the same time.

Of course, that was their job. Did they really go to investigate the political and economic situation of the West Continent? Such questions could be asked just as well lying on a massage bed.

Chen Zhongguo, as usual, appeared during departure and return, greeting everyone like a host. Those who felt their status was sufficient pushed forward, while those whose status was insufficient stepped back. Gradually, order was maintained.

Zhang Pei carefully hid in a corner, met several Aristocratic Scions of similar age, exchanged greetings, and seemed to have the intention of exchanging intelligence.

Actually, the previous expansion range of West River City-State was 200 kilometers; now it had reached 400 kilometers, still within Ma La-State's territory, with several dozen kilometers still to the border of Raj City-State. The intelligence Chen Yi and the Martial Arts Hall could accumulate was quite limited. Apart from ordinary livelihood data, Chen Yi's core resources were Divine Art Knights and Combat Knights, as well as information about Altars and the Magic Subway. These could not only not be made public but must be kept as secret as possible.

So even if Chen Yi published various data and information, the quantity couldn't be much. No matter how detailed the introductions from overseas were, they weren't as good as personally going abroad to experience. It was better to let each family collect it themselves, euphemistically called "experiencing."

Whether they could understand it or not, both expeditions were considered pleasant, amounting to an indirect acknowledgment of this method. Seeing that everyone had no dissatisfaction, Chen Yi then appeared and smiled: "Everyone, 30 hours of hard work, none of you slept, right? I have some good things here."

He clapped his hands, and a group of tall, sturdy natives brought up Level 1 Energy Recovery Potions.

The white transparent liquid was poured into champagne glasses. Without him saying so, the Earthlings knew the rule of helping themselves to a cup. Those who liked good wine even held it under their noses to smell.

"This is a trade item from a foreign land, called Energy Recovery Potion. It can restore some energy, has no special taste, just drink it." He raised his head and drank it in one breath, gave a demonstration, then smiled: "Mainly functionality, it takes effect extremely fast, half a minute or so."

After a brief hesitation, everyone tilted their heads back and drank.

Zhang Pei was more suspicious. He was among the later group to put it in his mouth. When he closed his eyes to feel it, some people had already exclaimed in surprise.

"Is this a stimulating drink like coffee?" The questioner was from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a traditional disciple of Chen Zhongguo.

"More or less, but the effect is more significant, right?" Chen Yi answered with a smile, nodding his chin to signal the next round.

Humans who needed to stay awake had tried various stimulating methods thousands of years ago. Arabs and Europeans drank coffee, Chinese brewed tea, Chileans chewed coca leaves, the Japanese military used amphetamines as "awakening agents"—all had the same effect.

The expedition team members were all people who overused their brains. After drinking several cups, someone praised: "The new world is really a good place."

"Energy Recovery Potion is a traditional potion made in a foreign land, with a history of many years. According to different levels of physical recovery, it is divided into different grades. What you are drinking now is Level 1. It has been tested by some research institutions. Although the mechanism is not yet clear, it can be guaranteed harmless." Chen Yi said with a smile, then added: "If everyone is awake, we will proceed with the first round of bidding."

Bidding!

Whether awake or not, everyone was now awake.

Facing the burning gazes, Chen Yi stood firm and steady, speaking clearly: "Everyone should know about the Enterprise Alliance I established, the West River Association. Most of the orders they received actually come from the West Continent. Out of various considerations, I think there is no reason to harm the interests of these enterprises. Therefore, if anyone intends to sell goods to the West Continent, they need to compete equally in the West River Association. Our current bidding mainly targets some interests within the West Continent. These include mining rights for some mines, sales rights for some goods, and construction rights for factories. Specifically, it's three newly discovered copper mines, one small iron mine, and one small gold mine. Additionally, there are four smelting factories and machinery factories, three food factories. Goods sales are divided into three types of light industrial products and automobiles. Additionally, those intending to build railways and highways should propose separately."

He caught his breath and smiled again: "We are few in number, and we are all interdependent collectives. So the bidding has nothing to do with money, but requires you to propose construction plans, find manpower. It's best if it matches the strength development on Earth. As for funds, you can borrow from me... It needs to be noted that the scheduling and transportation of all goods and personnel must go through the 'Channel Wormhole.' This is a huge limitation. I will later form a Committee to study how to distribute wormhole resources..."

The various clans watched with burning eyes.

If saying "traveling a thousand li to become an official only for wealth" is somewhat biased, then the core of a family is wealth, which can basically cover everything.

After all, ideals and dreams can support a person for half a lifetime, but they cannot support a family for generations. Extending this to parties and nations is even more so; "moderately prosperous society" and "the tiller owns his field" are both naked interest issues draped in moral robes.

The integration of the Chen Clan naturally bears the nature of interests.

Chen Yi's planned proposal also took into account the current situations of different families. Some families operate businesses, while others are purely political families; certain lone wanderers are indeed clean—"cleverness" and "being good at politics" are the common points of everyone.

"Will those outside the Chen Clan enter the committee you mentioned?" Minister Ma directly used the word "you," not at all shy.

Chen Yi replied without hesitation: "If others can supplement the resources lacking in the Chen Clan and conform to our common interests, of course they are allowed."

"When?"

"If you're asking when I will announce the news of the channel? Three months to half a year, after all, everyone must first find their footing."

Minister Ma listened to Chen Yi's words, a sense of oppression rising spontaneously, while at the same time his heart surged—if it is said that the domestic political circle fights and competes for the interests of a country, then what vast interests are those released by Chen Yi?

Three months later, who knows how many families will surrender sucking on lollipops!

... (Unfinished. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian. com) to cast recommendation votes and monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation.)