Chapter 176: Bro…… can you not let other women in the future?

Gu Qingwan felt somewhat dizzy and vision blurred.

If such a thing really exists…

How mighty would the Great Zhou Dynasty have to become??

With such tremendous transport capacity, and powered solely by coal?

This…

What this signifies, Gu Qingwan could not immediately imagine in full, but what Gu Qingwan knows is…

Once this thing appears, the Great Zhou Dynasty will certainly step onto a new level.

"Truly… really has such an awesome thing?"

Gu Qingwan stared at Lu Yuan, somewhat astonished, and said:

Lu Yuan then put a cigarette back in his mouth, and Gu Qingwan, being very perceptive, quickly picked up the matches beside him and lit it for Lu Yuan.

After taking a puff, Lu Yuan said very proudly:

"That's a given; Brother can make it."

At this moment, Gu Qingwan, holding the matches, stood to the side with a face full of astonishment and said:

"Now?"

Lu Yuan then raised his eyebrows and said:

"In these few days I can draw out all the design plans."

Actually, Lu Yuan hasn't finished looking at all the parts of the steam engine etc.; today he just finished looking at the principle and theory of this steam turbine.

This is just like Gu Lie memorizing a text.

One must first know what the text means, then memorize it.

Otherwise, merely memorizing how to make the steam turbine and what parts it needs, copying it blindly won't work.

And now that the principle and theory are mostly understood, looking next at the internal design and parts of the steam turbine becomes very simple.

Basically, Lu Yuan will be able to learn all of it in these few days.

At this moment, Gu Qingwan looked at Lu Yuan with overwhelming excitement and said:

"Will I be able to see you make this thing after those few days?"

Lu Yuan then shook his head and swayed, saying:

"That won't do; this thing isn't as simple as a bicycle or a mortar."

"It's not something I can knock together with a hammer in a morning or an afternoon; there are many small parts inside."

"It requires many departments to cooperate."

"Moreover… I don't intend to make this thing in the Forging Bureau."

Hearing Lu Yuan's words, Gu Qingwan blinked and quickly said:

"Then where are you going to make it?"

Lu Yuan then raised his eyebrows and said:

"I plan to wait until I see the Heavenly Elder to say it out; this time I must let the Heavenly Elder give a good reward."

"For such a super awesome thing, if they only reward me with three heads and five hundred, that would be a real loss."

"Do we have to wait until we see the Heavenly Elder?"

Ah…

Gu Qingwan blinked, to be frank…

Gu Qingwan hasn't planned… to meet Lu Yuan soon…

After all…

If we meet soon…

Then how would I still call this little thing 'brother'?

I feel that afterward, when Lu Yuan sees me, he will kneel in fear and shout 'Imperial Lord', 'Your Majesty', etc., just like everyone else.

That's really uninteresting.

But Gu Qingwan truly wants to know what this thing Lu Yuan is currently researching is.

While Gu Qingwan was pondering, Lu Yuan sat with his leg crossed, shaking his head and swaying, and said:

"Moreover, when the time comes I also need to give the Heavenly Elder a suggestion."

"A suggestion?"

Gu Qingwan blinked curiously, looking at Lu Yuan and said:

"What suggestion?"

Lu Yuan then said directly:

"Just don't be so stingy!"

Hearing Lu Yuan's words, Gu Qingwan had a strange look and said:

"How… how is it stingy?"

Immediately, Lu Yuan raised his eyebrows and said:

"Look, the bicycle I made now sells for 120 units outside."

"After removing miscellaneous expenses, the cost of this bicycle is currently about sixty or seventy units, and this already includes setting up the production line, adding specialized equipment, etc., plus some miscellaneous costs."

"For such an industrial product, the more we produce in the future, the lower the cost will become; finally the cost of one bicycle could be as low as twenty units, or even ten-something."

"Of course, after cost compression, the bicycle's price will also drop a bit, but no matter what, each bicycle can at least bring the treasury a net profit of fifty or sixty units."

"Do you know how much money just this bicycle would add to the treasury? I estimate that so far it must be at least over a million units."

"But the Imperial Court only rewarded me with seven hundred units; you say that's not too stingy?"

Gu Qingwan blinked, pondered, this...

If that's the case...

That is indeed somewhat stingy.

However...

Gu Qingwan also feels wronged!

Because Gu Qingwan currently also doesn't know how much money the bicycle has brought to the treasury.

The state conducts a financial review every six months.

Gu Qingwan hasn't yet seen this half-year's financial revenue.

It's only been less than two months since the New Year ended; at the very least, it will be another four months before the cabinet reconciles, and only then can we know how the state's finances for the first half of the year are.

And now, just hearing Lu Yuan say that...

Gu Qingwan suddenly felt a bit stunned.

Hiss~

If that's how we put it...

This year Lu Yuan also came up with those two types of threshers, which also sell very well, although they aren't as visibly explosive as bicycles.

But actually, they are bought up by local officials everywhere as soon as they are produced, and sell out immediately.

Then this year's first-half fiscal revenue... just how much could it be??

Gu Qingwan suddenly felt...

The state's first-half fiscal revenue... might be a terrifying figure...

Of course, this is a bit off-topic; after coming to her senses, Gu Qingwan nodded in agreement with Lu Yuan's words:

"If we put it that way... the Imperial Court does have some faults... but... you can't blame His Majesty, the half-year financial report hasn't even come out yet."

"This matter of yours is only just under two months old; His Majesty is busy all day, and without seeing the financial revenue, he certainly wouldn't know the details."

After Gu Qingwan finished speaking, Lu Yuan waved his hands repeatedly:

"Hey!! You shouldn't talk nonsense, I never blamed His Majesty, did I?"

"You want to be beheaded, I don't; stop talking nonsense!"

Seeing Lu Yuan's cautious, fearful look, Gu Qingwan inexplicably found it amusing:

"You also have things you fear."

Lu Yuan then glared:

"Nonsense, aren't you afraid?"

Gu Qingwan then lifted her chin slightly, smiling:

"Scared~"

"Scared to death~"

Gu Qingwan suddenly wanted to take a look, this Lu Yuan and others, knowing that the dreadful His Majesty he speaks of is actually herself...

What expression would Lu Yuan have then?

It must be quite interesting, quite exciting, right?

Afterward, Gu Qingwan hurriedly said:

"So what do you want to tell His Majesty?"

Lu Yuan then shook his head and swayed:

"I want to tell the Heavenly Elder about the matter of patents."

"Patents?"

Gu Qingwan had never heard of this term before, looking at Lu Yuan with curiosity:

"What are patents?"

Lu Yuan, not wanting to read right now, explained to Gu Qingwan what patents are and what they're for.

Meanwhile.

Su Liyan brought a basin of hot water to wash her husband's feet.

Otherwise...

Su Liyan always felt it a bit odd when her husband talked to another woman while she sat nearby.

This is her husband, after all.

The two women were like that: one standing aside, the other crouching before Lu Yuan, both curiously watching him speak.

After Lu Yuan finished speaking, he raised his eyebrows:

"Do you say this would be beneficial to the entire Great Zhou Dynasty, with everyone willing to engage in invention and creation?"

"As long as someone produces something useful, that person would never lack food or drink, and everyone would surely want to join in."

After hearing Lu Yuan's explanation of patents, Gu Qingwan fell into contemplation.

Indeed, that is the case.

"Bicycle, I missed the chance; otherwise, for one bicycle, I wouldn't want more—according to percentage, it would be a five percent patent fee."

"One vehicle could yield five or six coins; I would have made a fortune long ago."

"But let's not dwell on the past; this steam engine, I must surely seize it."

Lu Yuan shook his head and swayed.

"Not making big money from the bicycle is fine; it doesn't matter, but the steam engine must earn big money!"

And after listening, Gu Qingwan nodded thoughtfully.

"But soon, Gu Qingwan suddenly blinked curiously at Lu Yuan and said:"

"But...... if there were patent fees...... then it'd be like someone like you......"

Speaking of this, Lu Yuan raised his eyebrows and coughed heavily.

Afterward, Gu Qingwan gave Lu Yuan an amused glance, then said in a coquettish voice:

"Just like a big genius like brother~~~"

"Wouldn't he just become lax and stop researching?"

Lu Yuan then pursed his lips and said:

"Is there still someone in this world who despises earning too much money?"

Hearing this, Gu Qingwan seriously nodded; that's also true.

After saying that, Lu Yuan waved at Gu Qingwan and said:

"Come here."

Huh?

Gu Qingwan curiously moved close to Lu Yuan, not knowing what he wanted to do.

Afterward, Lu Yuan placed his hand near his mouth and exhaled a breath.

With a bang, he gave Gu Qingwan a flick on the forehead.

The next second, Gu Qingwan covered her head, looking at Lu Yuan with a wronged expression and said:

"What the heck!!"

Lu Yuan raised his eyebrows and said:

"Next time if you're rude to me again, I'll flick you!"

Gu Qingwan pursed her lips with a wronged look, then said in a coquettish voice:

"Okay okay okay~ little sis is wrong~ little sis will go fetch your foot-washing water, alright?"

After saying that, she immediately squatted down, wanting to pick up Lu Yuan's foot-washing water.

However, this time, Su Liyan at the side directly stood up and picked up Lu Yuan's foot-washing water, glancing at Gu Qingwan at the side, blinking with a fake smile and said:

"Sister Wan, let me do it; this is my man, no need for you to serve."

Hmm……

Today's affairs somehow made Su Liyan a bit... jealous.

Before this, I didn't feel anything.

Today Gu Lie said that, saying after his sister marries in...

This made Su Liyan feel uneasy.

Although my mother said that as the eldest daughter-in-law, one should not be jealous and should be broad-minded.

But……

Su Liyan finds it somewhat hard to do.

This is my man...... Su Liyan has loved him to the core, really it doesn't matter if she can't do anything.

Gu Qingwan naturally also noticed that Su Liyan was somewhat unhappy, and immediately felt somewhat awkward as she moved aside and said:

"Eh...... Liyan, you come......"

Afterward, Su Liyan held the foot-washing water and turned to leave; Gu Qingwan also felt she had gone too far, so she hurried over to help open the door.

Being this intimate in front of someone else's eldest daughter-in-law is too much.

Just now I seemed like a fox spirit......

Simply like a shameless mistress......

For a moment, Gu Qingwan recalled her earlier behavior, feeling utterly ashamed.

Lu Yuan blinked as he watched his wife's departing back, naturally noticing she was a bit jealous.

At this moment, Gu Qingwan stood there feeling somewhat embarrassed; after regaining her composure, she looked at Lu Yuan and said:

"Well...... I'll be going first...... Tomorrow Gu Lie leaves Huangcheng after five-ish, brother, will you come?"

Lu Yuan directly shook his head and said:

"Can't get up."

Gu Qingwan guessed as much, but it's better this way; otherwise, she wouldn't be able to appear under the title of Human Emperor.

Moreover, with many people and mixed eyes at that time, this matter would easily be exposed.

After Su Liyan returned from outside with the foot-washing water, Gu Qingwan hurriedly looked at Su Liyan and said:

"Liyan, I and Gu Lie will head back first; it's not early either."

Su Liyan, who had gone out once to fetch foot-washing water and returned, suddenly changed her attitude, seeming to feel she had been a bit rude.

Immediately she also hurriedly said:

"Let's stay a bit longer; it's only eight o'clock, no rush to go back."

Gu Qingwan, while starting to put on her coat, hurriedly smiled and said:

"No thanks, Gu Lie will get up at three or four tomorrow morning to prepare, and leave after five; we should head back early."

After saying that, Gu Qingwan looked at Gu Lie, who was outside talking with Changyu, and said:

"Gu Lie, come back, put on your clothes, let's go back."

Gu Lie didn't really want to go back; it was just right playing with Su Changliang.

He then drew out his words and said:

"Sis~ what time is it now? Let's stay a bit longer."

But the next second, Gu Qingwan glared, and Gu Lie hurried back to put on his clothes.

Afterward, Gu Qingwan looked at Lu Yuan and Su Liyan, pursed her lips and smiled, saying:

「Then we'll head back first, ah.

「Brother, Liyan, you don't need to see us off. 」

Having said that, Gu Qingwan led the still-unclothed Gu Lie away.

The atmosphere was a bit too awkward; Gu Qingwan also felt a bit sorry to Su Liyan, so naturally she couldn't stay.

Su Changliang, seeing Gu Lie leave, had nothing left to play with, greeted his brother-in-law and older sister, then put on his clothes and left.

After everyone had left,

Su Liyan, standing in the main hall, suddenly turned and lowered her head, not daring to look at Lu Yuan as she said:

「Brother... I was wrong... 」

Huh?

Lu Yuan, wiping his foot and dazedly gazing at Su Liyan, said:

「Ah? What's wrong? 」

Su Liyan lowered her head, her beautiful eyes misting over, and she whispered:

「I shouldn't have been jealous of someone else... I drove Sister Wan away. 」

Lu Yuan blinked, then tossed the towel in his hand aside, stood up, went to his wife, and embraced her.

He whispered:

「Nonsense, I'm your husband. If another woman treats me well, you not getting angry at all would be the wrong thing—there's no wrong in that at all! 」

「Um... no, you actually are wrong today. 」

Su Liyan, tightly embracing her husband, slightly lifted her head and looked toward her husband as she said:

「Eh? What's up? 」

Lu Yuan, looking at his sobbing wife in his arms, grinned and said:

「Brother, I've washed my feet; why didn't you come wipe my feet for me, leaving me to do it myself—tell me, are you wrong or not? 」

Su Liyan blinked, then her nose soured, and she looked at her husband with tears welling up, saying:

「Brother, I was wrong~」

「But... but... Brother... could you... not let other women serve you in the future... 」

「Just let me alone serve you; I'll handle this little thing. Brother, if you let another woman come, I'll be utterly useless. 」

Looking at his wife's aggrieved appearance, Lu Yuan tightly embraced her.

One hand gently patted her back, the other stroked her hair as he said:

「Don't overthink it; my wife is formidable—how could she be useless? 」

「Brother could lose anyone in this world and be fine, but only not you—if you're gone, Brother couldn't survive! 」

「Hurry up and wash up; Brother hasn't hugged his wife all day, he's longing to death—hurry up. 」

At this moment, Su Liyan, her face full of joy, lifted her head from her husband's embrace; Su Liyan knew her husband was coaxing her, but she loved hearing it.

Su Liyan gazed at her husband with loving, lingering eyes, her heart overflowing with sweetness as she said:

「Mmm~」

「Brother wants to hug me for a lifetime~」

Thanks to book friend 12051 for the 100 book coin reward, thank you so much, muah muah~

……

Today's first update, huh~

What? Someone said there were fewer updates before, need to make up?

Huh?

I only have a seven-second memory; I can't remember, huh.





(End of chapter)