Chapter 141

Wang Shitong's coffin was made of fragrant nanmu over a foot thick, brushed with ten thousand layers of tung oil.

Although not extravagant, it was already very decent.

A large white canopy, thirteen feet wide, was erected to protect the white jade offering table, shielding it from the wind and snow.

It was just bitterly cold.

Wang Shitong had no proper family or descendants to form a household, so there was no one specifically assigned to keep vigil and burn paper money at all times.

It looked inevitably somewhat desolate.

Zhang Gui arrived before the spirit tablet and kowtowed three times in a proper manner.

He offered three large pure gold coins, each weighing three taels and three qian, to serve as 'road-buying money' for travel in the underworld.

He placed them personally at Wang Shitong's feet.

Such heavy etiquette was because, regardless of the motive, Wang Shitong had once passed him a Primordial Spirit technique, which counted as having the 'decorum of a half-master.'

Chu Tuantuan, acting as the 'filial son,' also knelt to return the courtesy.

After the rites were completed.

The two of them hid together in a small, warm pavilion nearby.

The square pavilion was blocked from the wind by thick leather curtains at the door.

Large copper basins with blazing flames burned in the four corners.

In the middle was a full table of washed and sliced hot pot ingredients and waist-band noodles.

"Brother Tuantuan, when it comes to knowing how to enjoy life, it has to be you people of the Inner Court.

When being extravagant, you eat phoenix liver and dragon marrow.

When things aren't going well, you slice up a few plates of pig liver and beef tendon to eat in a hot pot, and it's just as comfortable."

"Then let's eat first, and talk after we warm up."

"Good idea, heaven and earth are vast, but eating is the most important thing; let's eat first."

The two were reunited as good friends, and after a few words of small talk, they took their seats to eat and drink.

After three rounds of wine and five courses of food.

The golden-orange firelight reflected on Chu Tuantuan's chopsticks, which suddenly stilled.

"Brother Zhang, actually, if it weren't for Godfather wanting to win you over half a year ago, he wouldn't have noticed me.

I'm afraid I'd still be doing odd jobs now..."

"The number of people Wang Great Chief has looked upon with favor in his life is at least dozens or hundreds.

There are also a few who have stood out in the past half year, seeking progress against the odds.

So, being able to rise is ultimately due to your own ability; it has something to do with me, but definitely not much."

Zhang Gui interrupted Chu Tuantuan, raised his wine cup, and clinked it with his,

"Ever since Wang Great Chief was held in check by Prince Zhen.

Any Inner Court eunuch in your 'Dragon Gate Berth Bureau' with any connections or rank has run away clean.

So many positions were vacated all at once.

But except for you, those little eunuchs are all complaining, fearing death, and living in constant anxiety.

Only you, on the contrary, have worked even harder, so naturally, it was your turn to be promoted, even if you didn't make a fortune.

Of course, if there were still this kind of wealth to be made, it wouldn't have been your turn to rise, hahahaha."

"Those fools think Godfather has lost his power and have forgotten his kindness.

They also feel that getting promoted in the 'Dragon Gate Berth Bureau' now isn't as stable as just muddling through the days.

So, a while ago, when Godfather took a son for the first and last time in his life, I was the only one willing to serve him.

It is truly pitiful, sad, and lamentable!"

"Indeed, Wang Great Chief probably knew his time was short back then, which is why he was in such a hurry to take in a 'son' to send him off in the future.

As it turned out, if you hadn't stepped up, this would have become a joke.

Sigh, it seems the temperament of the Hezheng Emperor is becoming increasingly harsh..."

Not expecting Zhang Gui to suddenly turn the topic to the Hezheng Emperor while talking about Wang Shitong, Chu Tuantuan hurriedly kicked him under the table.

He tapped his own tea saucer,

"Caiyang Dragon-Tiger, you've had a bit too much to drink; have some strong tea to sober up."

Zhang Gui laughed upon hearing this, nodded, and said:

"It's freezing outside, and it's too warm in the pavilion; after a few pots of wine, it really went to my head."

"Little Leader Chu, a staff member surnamed Yelu from the 'Traveling Palace' of the Kui King came to our 'Dragon Gate Berth Bureau' to post a notice.

He said he wanted to purchase New Year goods.

Second Leader Zheng has caught a cold, so he asks you to go and meet them."

The Kui King's 'Traveling Palace' is located in the Jinling Capital Region, with billions of acres of fertile land, dense population, and a prosperous populace.

Why would they need to go elsewhere to buy New Year goods? It's simply absurd.

But Chu Tuantuan was stunned for a moment, yet he did not reprimand the little eunuch who brought the news,

"In that case, tonight, burn seven knives of yellow paper money for me before Godfather's spirit tablet, do you understand?"

"Yes, yes.

I will go and keep watch before Wang Great Chief's spirit tablet right now."

The little eunuch, not being scolded, said gratefully and trotted away.

Zhang Gui listened to the 'patter...' of footsteps on the snow and suddenly stood up,

"The Seven Kings have left the capital to inspect the Southern Kingdom; they have each kept to their own affairs for over half a year, it's time for things to get lively."

"But this Ming Song is still the Ming Song of the 'Current Emperor.'

For example, Caiyang Dragon-Tiger, it is said that you have opened nine islands in the Eastern Inner Sea to station troops, which can be called a grand display of power.

But if you think about it carefully, even nine 'Upper Counties' are only the size of one commandery.

What do you think?"

Chu Tuantuan also stood up and said like a riddle-maker.

"That is exactly so.

Brother Chu, since you have to receive the subordinates of the Kui King's 'Traveling Palace,' I will take my leave."

Zhang Gui nodded, cupped his hands in farewell, and left the warm pavilion with Chu Tuantuan.

They walked into the vast, heavy snow.

That night, he returned to Zhihai Town.

Zhang Gui was at the first shop on the port's commercial street, the 'Dagui Grocery Sauce Garden' opened by his mother.

While eating porridge and flatbread with shrimp paste;

While blowing in the biting sea wind, looking at the surging waves, he sensed the nine islands in the distance that had been half-developed by 'Heavenly Craft Opens Things.'

He calculated secretly in his heart:

"The marvel 'Heavenly Craft Opens Things' secretly matches the number of the thirty-six Heavenly Spirits.

According to the ancient handwritten book I bought not long ago, the Heavenly Spirit and Heavenly Machine among the first three.

Were already used by the last emperor of the previous dynasty to confront Zhao Zhusha, the founding emperor of Ming Song.

That means the best one, 'Heavenly Chief,' is left, and I don't know where it is now.

As for the rest of the 'Heavenly Craft Opens Things,' the 'Heavenly Leisure' among the nine 'Class A-Superior' ones has already turned me into the Upper Stone Corpse Capital.

And the Heavenly Fierce and Heavenly Might, which can also create 'Upper Suspended' ones, were deployed by that Mr. Yin.

They can also be considered to have fallen into my hands.

There are also the Heavenly Wealth, Heavenly Protection, and Heavenly Sky among the 'Middle Class A' Heavenly Craft Opens Things that can create Middle Counties.

The Heavenly Wisdom, Heavenly Violence, and Heavenly Competition among the 'Same Class A' Heavenly Craft Opens Things that can create Lower Counties, plus the Heavenly Skill that was in Shen Shijing's hands, are also the same.

In this case, as long as I don't activate them.

If Prince Zhen goes all out to build up his military and ruthlessly exploits and enslaves people without caring about future development, he could station a million troops at sea in two years.

It could still be used as a 'good card'."

Just at this moment.

Among the senior clerks who run between the 'Dagui Grocery Sauce Garden' in Zhihai Town and the Caiyang family's pickle stall in Pingyang Town, there was an old neighbor of Zhang Gui who was also a collateral member of the Zhang family.

A skinny youth named Zhang Fushou, nicknamed 'Clever Ghost,' jumped off a night-sailing passenger ship.

Seeing Zhang Gui's figure in the dim light of the grocery store from afar, he ran over wildly before he could even see clearly.

At the same time, he waved and shouted:

"Brother Gui, Brother Gui, something big has happened!"

People like them have always loved calling Zhang Gui 'Brother Gui' to show their uniqueness.

And as the saying goes, to beat a dog, one must look at the master.

People in Zhihai Town, no matter who they are, would indeed give him some leeway because of this.

As for Zhang Gui himself, because he has always loved to put on an approachable posture, he has never put on a cold face because of this,

"Fushou, in such cold weather, don't trip; what happened?"

(End of Chapter)