Chapter 262: Two Faces (Part 1)

The second day, after the fifteenth day of the first month, the splendor of Jinling Du's Lantern Festival faded, and the clamor quieted.

Qiu He Fang.

They waited for Brother Song San to bring meat buns and lead them to the neighboring market to see the lantern displays, but the children who had waited a whole night did not get their wish.

When they later met Song San again, they felt that he had become even more gentle and affable.

So the children complained even more recklessly, saying he shouldn't have deceived them on a lantern-lit night of the Lantern Festival.

Unexpectedly, Song San showed no hint of remorse; instead, he went home and took out his saved "wife book".

He generously compensated the complaining children with delicious food, drink, and plenty of treats.

After that, whenever an acquaintance fell into trouble and Song San learned of it, he would surely lend his full support.

Thus his family fortune quickly dwindled, yet he continued his diligent work day after day.

The money he earned was used sparingly at home; his meals were thin broth with little water, lacking oil and salt;

After removing the sapphire‑blue fine cotton long robe issued by Xiaoyao Ju to the Shop Assistant, his clothing consisted of patched rags.

But toward others he spent money like dirt, without expecting payment.

When Song San's mother was so angry she jumped into the river, he had already become the renowned "Great Benefactor" throughout the market.

When sending off his mother, Song San, clad in mourning hemp and white cloth, knelt before the spirit, gazing at the thin‑skinned coffin that the neighbors had pooled money to buy.

He seemed to want to cry, yet no tear could fall.

After all, life and death are among the Buddhist "Six Desires".

Having already been enlightened by secret methods.

"Receiving alms, attaining liberation, keeping virtuous conduct"—how could that lead to attachment?

On the third day of the third month, after the first month, at roughly Si hour four ke—that is, around ten in the morning—

On the second floor of the vegetarian restaurant "First Spring Comes" at Zhihai Town's dock.

A gust of damp, cold sea wind blew through the window.

But because the restaurant's central lower part was sealed to the first‑floor floor, an iron tube linked the second floor, and the furnace's rising flames provided enough heat for the seasoned iron steam oven.

The shop remained steamy.

In front of a black‑painted square table.

Zhang Gui, having eaten his fill and drunk his fill, rinsed his mouth with strong tea, and swallowed the pure Pu Pill—a single piece that could offset a hundred jin of meat—along with the tea.

He took out several letters from his bosom, read them carefully for a while, and thought silently:

"That Dan Jiaojiao's terrifying 'Mind Control Technique', using such a method to guide people 'toward goodness', is truly more frightening than killing."

"It seems that the 'Mount Putuo Sect Grand School' that Zhen Ciyun joined has a somewhat 'seemingly evil yet not entirely righteous' connotation."

"But religion, unless you treat it as a 'philosophical thought', none of it is normal."

"In the previous life, the Scientific World was already plagued by cults, let alone the current Supernatural World."

"Inevitable, inevitable!"

He twisted his head, activated the 'Swallowing Crow' divine cluster within his body, and drew a slender flame from the steam furnace.

He burned the letter in his hand into ash.

He rose and strode down the stairs.

The restaurant's proprietor, who ran his shop on Zhang Gui's territory, naturally flattered him,

"Heir Apparent, you have used it well; today's sprouts and radishes were freshly picked from the greenhouse.

The craftsmen from the Zhenlong Kingdom truly have skill.

Whether it's the large steam furnace or the steam‑pipe greenhouse, each is extremely useful.

If you hadn't been wise back then, giving those barbarians from Outer Wild Ocean a chance to come to our Ming Song Kingdom to show their abilities,

It truly is something no one can enjoy.

"That is what benefits the people,"

"When spring's yellow fails to arrive, our Nanguo barely scrapes by, and I hear the Northern Frontier is again struck by a great famine.

Steam furnaces and greenhouses merely make life a bit more comfortable, ornamental luxuries.

How can that be called benefiting the people?

"I know the money manager means well, but please don't bring this up again in the future."

Zhang Gui sighed, took a small gold coin weighing about one liang from his sleeve, and tossed it onto the counter,

"No need for change; when serving dinner to the Shop Assistants, add an extra salted goose egg per person."

"Tsk tsk tsk, there is no one in the world as modest as you, a First Rank grand official…"

Zhang Gui waved his hand, ignored the proprietor's flattery, and strode away.

He originally intended to linger a moment in his mother's grocery shop, then quietly teleport to Xianrong Island.

Then to meet the top‑three‑ranked Wu family heir of Yingri, Uesugi Kiryu, for training, training.

Unexpectedly, before even reaching the gate of Dagui Grocery Sauce Garden, he saw several thousand‑ton ironwood turtle mechanized armed cargo ships bearing "Dragon Tiger" flags.

They slowly sailed into the dock's berth.

This fleet was personally assigned by Zhang Gui to the former Dragon Tiger Shogunate's successor, now the Nei Dong Hai "Heavenly Craft Nine Cities" Governor Lü Zhenduan, for official public duties abroad.

Now back in Zhihai Town, he must see him as soon as possible.

So he simply waited on the spot.

As the fleet dropped anchor, the mechanized ships' turtle legs were fixed, gangways were set up between deck and dock, and among a long line of disembarking people, Lü Zhenduan's listless figure finally appeared.

Zhang Gui stepped forward to greet him.

He saw his own "Rice Class Master" appear.

Having endured long seasickness, the dust‑covered people lifted their spirits and displayed a proud demeanor.

They clasped their hands in salute, shouting unevenly, "May I have an audience with the Heir Apparent!"

"Great General, are you well…"

"Everyone has worked hard; go to the yamen, take a short break, then return to rest."

Zhang Gui returned the pretended shallow smile of his superior and came before Lü Zhenduan,

"Old Lü, this trip of yours hasn't been brief."

"Longhu, let's find a secluded spot and I'll recount everything from the beginning."

"Then how about returning to the ship?" Zhang Gui suggested.

Though it was a question, he didn't wait for Lü Zhenduan to answer; he activated the internal divine cluster 'Crosswise As One Wishes', grabbed Lü Zhenduan by the collar, and hurled him several hundred steps away.

He flashed onto the deck of the Ironwood Turtle Mechanism Ship.

Lü Zhenduan shook his head in bewilderment and gave a wry smile,

"Longhu, these days on the ship I've been so scared I've emptied my gall.

Can't we discuss it on the shore?"

"Alright, Old Lü."

After the Ironwood Turtle Mechanism Ship docked, its turtle feet touched the sea floor, and the deck became as steady as land.

Now it's just a matter of mindset, so stop being pretentious.

"Quickly tell me the situation."

"This time I went to sea, first arriving at Giant Snake Head Island's New World Port City of the Zhenlong People.

I met their General Sangni Saido again.

Using full opening of ports and trade as a condition, I persuaded him to agree, at the right time, to bring the 'Fish-Dragon Giant Ship' to help us subdue all the 'Heavenly Works Island Cities' on the Inner East Sea.

My thoughts proved correct; don't be fooled by those offshore barbarians when they flaunt their power.

They even dared, unaware of the consequences, to look for a chance to steal our Ming Song Kingdom's True Sea Treasure Ship.

But to make them truly clash head‑on with the Mainland great powers, they are unwilling and even afraid to do so."

(End of chapter)