Chapter 88

That night, Li Xinyue's mind endured too many shocks; to her, her own system was the biggest secret, a secret that even surpassed the fact that she was a transmigrator.

But now, Jiang Jinshi casually exposed it, leaving her unsure how to respond.

Looking at the instant noodles in her hand, Li Xinyue secretly fumed, wondering why she was so hungry today.

Because a single bite of instant noodles had revealed too much, it was simply not worth the loss…

Suddenly, Li Xinyue realized.

I'm just holding instant noodles, yet Jiang Jinshi says I have a system or assistant—couldn't it have come from some other means?

So…

Is it because he also has a system that he thought of this?

Immediately, Li Xinyue decided to mutually reveal with Jiang Jinshi: 'Exactly! So you have one too?'

Jiang Jinshi nodded, with no intention of hiding anything: 'Yeah! What system do you have?'

"A shop system, basically for buying and selling things." Li Xinyue put down the instant noodles in her hand.

"I'm a bandit system—you get rewards when bandits complete tasks." Hearing the other's system function, Jiang Jinshi almost saw red; in his view, it was far more useful than his own.

"Xiao Shi, everyone's ready—should we hit the road?"

Just as the two had plenty more to say, the village head came to announce they could set off.

Jiang Jinshi replied, "All right, let's go."

Li Xinyue froze, still standing where she was, and asked in confusion, "Where to?"

"To my stronghold! Now basically everyone in Da Jiang Cun is a bandit." Jiang Jinshi reached out his hand to Li Xinyue: "Come with me!"

Li Xinyue looked at Jiang Jinshi's outstretched hand, didn't hesitate, and immediately replied, "Alright, then you've got my back!"

Afterward, she limped toward the door.

Seeing this, Jiang Jinshi squatted down and said, "Your foot's like that—don't tough it out; I'll carry you."

Li Xinyue exhaled and rolled her eyes: "I wasn't toughing it out; I was just waiting for you to say that!"

"Haha!" Jiang Jinshi suddenly found her amusing, thinking he probably wouldn't be bored in this era.

Li Xinyue carefully climbed onto Jiang Jinshi's back; although her words were bold, her movements were still a bit shy.

Feeling Li Xinyue's weight on his back, Jiang Jinshi couldn't help but remark, "You're way too light—you need to eat more."

"What are you talking about! The original owner was just this light—what can I do?"

"That's true too; it's not your fault."

The two appeared before everyone like that, chatting intermittently, and Jiang Li saw her sister-in-law and finally relaxed completely.

"Sister-in-law, where did you just go?"

Li Xinyue looked at the concerned Xiao Li Zi beside her, and thinking of being carried by Jiang Jinshi made her face flush as she explained.

"I just went up the mountain and twisted my ankle."

"Oh oh!" Jiang Li nodded, sticking close to the two like a little bee.

The household items were entrusted to Xiao Hu to carry, while Ye Chang went to help other villagers fetch their belongings.

One must know there were not few elders and children among the crowd, and many even found walking difficult, yet the villagers helped each other, gradually leaving the village where they had lived for a long time.

At the very moment they stepped out of the village gate, many elders turned back to gaze at the silent village, a mist of moisture in their eyes, though they didn't shed tears, for they knew they were headed for a better life.

Jiang Jinshi wanted to keep chatting with Li Xinyue, but he found that Jiang Li, this little shadow, just wouldn't leave them alone.

"Xiao Li Zi, go help Mother!"

"Mother and those aunts are chatting so happily—there's no need for me to help!"

"Hurry up, or Mother might fall when it gets dark later."

"All right!"

Finally, Jiang Li reluctantly went toward her mother, her pouted lips looking like they could hang a lantern.

Li Xinyue, on Jiang Jinshi's back, covered her mouth and laughed: "Xiao Li Zi is just too cute."

Jiang Jinshi shook his head helplessly: "You obviously think she's cute, but if you'd just arrived and she kicked you, you wouldn't think that."

"When did you transmigrate?" Li Xinyue asked curiously.

Jiang Jinshi deliberately slowed his pace, walking at the rear of the crowd to make sure their conversation wouldn't be overheard.

"I came two days before our wedding, and you?"

"Hey! I came on the day of our wedding."

"Then I arrived two days earlier than you."

Jiang Jinshi then realized that, didn't that mean that when he was with Luo Feng that morning, Li Xinyue had only just transmigrated?

Along the way, the two talked and laughed, the atmosphere shifting from initially solemn to now cheerful.

Everyone saw this, so they tactfully avoided disturbing the couple, feeling that their relationship was truly good.

After returning to the stronghold, Jiang Jinshi eagerly carried Li Xinyue to his room and ordered Xiao Hu to guard the door, not allowing anyone else to enter.

As for settling the villagers, Jiang Jinshi confidently entrusted the task to Tang Lin.

Upon entering the room, Jiang Jinshi hastily shut the door, ensuring that what happened inside wouldn't be peeped on or overheard.

Jiang Jinshi rubbed his hands excitedly: "Hurry up, I can't wait!"

Li Xinyue sat in a more comfortable pose and replied with a smile: "You're in such a hurry?"

"Of course, I've been craving this for ages!" Jiang Jinshi couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

Li Xinyue then began searching her shop system, buying hot pot base, duck intestines, beef, and shrimp paste.

Jiang Jinshi couldn't see Li Xinyue's system page, so he could only stand by anxiously.

"Don't forget to buy some yellow throat—I love that!"

"All right, I'll buy it right away." Li Xinyue didn't even look up, continuing to scavenge for the hot pot essentials.

As each packaging box appeared on the table, Jiang Jinshi was extremely happy, casually picking up a box of beef to look at.

Finally we can have hot pot! Yo, this is already sliced!

Li Xinyue smiled: "The things in the mall are still quite comprehensive, both processed and unprocessed."

Jiang Jinshi's eyes lit up: "Any drinks? Ice-cold!"

Sure! Want to drink beer?

Not drinking alcohol for now, will have it after the barbecue; first, a bottle of happy water.

Even bought a pot and a portable cassette stove; this long-awaited hot pot finally allowed Jiang Jinshi to eat.

Gurgle! Burp!

After taking a sip of ice-cold cola, Jiang Jinshi let out a long burp, his face full of satisfaction.

Life should be lived like this!

Li Xinyue picked up the duck intestines and put them in the pot: "Your system doesn't have any good stuff, does it?"

Although Jiang Jinshi envied Li Xinyue's system, at times like this he still had to speak up for his own system.

Actually there are also many good things, it's just too random, and the ability to recruit the souls of generals is also very useful.

In Li Xinyue's puzzled gaze, Jiang Jinshi patiently explained the function of his system.

Li Xinyue's eyes lit up upon hearing that; isn't the thing she was most worried about now solved?

Jiang Jinshi has the strength of Xiang Yu, and his brothers under him are all capable fighters— isn't that exactly the protection he needs?

Thus the fire in his heart that had been extinguished began to reignite, though he didn't know whether Jiang Jinshi would agree with his idea.

I have a good idea.

Jiang Jinshi swallowed a mouthful of shrimp paste and asked: "What idea?"

You're short on money, right? Li Xinyue leaned in, blinking her eyes at Jiang Jinshi.

It's fine; I was short before, but I just pulled a big job, so I'm not short for now." Jiang Jinshi didn't understand Li Xinyue's intention, but answered honestly anyway.

Then you'll definitely be short on money in the future, right? Not getting the answer she wanted, Li Xinyue continued to press.

Maybe! But I'll figure it out!" Jiang Jinshi patted his chest, indicating Li Xinyue didn't need to worry about money.

Li Xinyue rolled her eyes and bluntly laid out her idea.

You have people and money, I have technology and ideas; let's team up for a big venture.

Jiang Jinshi unconsciously forgot about the duck intestines cooking in the pot, blankly responding: "What big thing?"

Li Xinyue volunteered: "Invest in me! I'll build a factory and start a company; we'll split the profits half-half. With your money you can support more bandits, the more people I have, the more I can do, the more money we make—a virtuous cycle, endless!

Build a factory?

Mm-hmm!

Start a company?

Yep!

Can you do it?" Jiang Jinshi didn't hide his doubt.

Upon hearing that, Li Xinyue became unhappy— making money is her forte!

Of course I can; even in my previous life's economic situation I could start a company and make money, let alone now in this era where doing anything can make money.

Really?" Jiang Jinshi's heart was moved— after all, who would complain about having too much money?

Trust me!" Li Xinyue replied in two words; the confidence on her face couldn't be hidden.

Okay, then I trust you!" Perhaps infected by Li Xinyue's confidence, Jiang Jinshi inexplicably agreed to her.

Hehe! Then how much silver do you have?" As soon as Jiang Jinshi agreed, Li Xinyue showed a greedy smile.

About... thirty or forty thousand!" Tang Lin had reported this to Jiang Jinshi before, but he couldn't recall the exact amount, only remembering it was within that range.

Li Xinyue also didn't expect Jiang Jinshi to be so wealthy; she immediately exclaimed excitedly.

Give it all to me, I guarantee no loss.

Jiang Jinshi rubbed his forehead: "Don't rush! You at least have to say what your plan is!"

The two talked like that until late at night, finally hitting it off.

……

Yu Heng, who had rushed to the outskirts of the city, now gazed at the sky with a mournful face.

"The Ziwei... Ziwei star has fallen, Master, I still haven't found the person."

In the barracks under the West Liang King, Xuanji also gazed at the sky, muttering to himself.

Master, you must absolutely be alright!

At the moment the Ziwei star lost all its radiance, the two "asterisms" of Beijiang quietly leaned against each other.

At the same time, inside the Huang Gong of Jingcheng, Crown Prince Wei Xikang was still reviewing documents by lamplight.

Refugees are rising everywhere in Beijiang, bandits are rampant, the court's previous relief efforts have had little effect!

Thinking of this, Wei Xikang's head ached; the national treasury was empty, Beijiang saw frequent warfare, everywhere was a place to spend money.

Only the southwest region gave him peace of mind; these years the weather had been favorable, rarely causing the court worry.

Just then a little eunuch came running, stumbling, and fell to his knees with a thud, shouting loudly.

The Crown Prince is in trouble, the Emperor... the Emperor has passed away!

Crown Prince Wei Xikang's memorial slipped from his hand to the floor; he hurriedly rose and ran toward the outer hall.

On the other side, Second Prince Wei Xi Yuan heard the report from his subordinates, a hint of excited smirk appearing on his face.

He's finally gone! Notify everyone below, start preparations immediately, be quick!

Yes!

In the darkness a figure emerged, after respectfully clasping his hands, he immediately ran outward.

At this moment, Jingcheng is like a powder keg suddenly ignited, and no one knows what will happen in the next instant.

The next morning, Jiang Jinshi pushed open the door and felt his whole body brimming with vigor, still a bit bewildered about how Yangguangzhai would develop thereafter.

After the two of them discussed last night, they now have a clear direction.

Li Xinyue finished washing up and followed Jiang Jinshi; the idea she had of saving points to find a good place to enjoy her old age was tossed far away last night.

Jiang Jinshi told several Small Squad Leaders to prepare for a meeting in the main hall, while he went ahead to wait with Li Xinyue.

Along the way, Li Xinyue looked left and right, dissatisfied with the place.

"This won't work; you can't even get a donkey cart up and down the mountain, which will be a problem when shipping from the factory!"

"I understand that to get rich you need to build roads first, but this road really can't be built; wouldn't building it just make it easier for the authorities to come and attack us?" Jiang Jinshi said helplessly, spreading his hands.

Li Xinyue also understood this reasoning and could only make do for now, saying they'd address it after expanding later.

When everyone gathered together, Jiang Jinshi voiced the thoughts in his mind.

First, Li Xinyue would replace Tang Lin's position, becoming the new chief overseer, while Tang Lin was reassigned to serve as Military Advisor.

Tang Lin himself had no objection, but making him a Military Advisor was indeed a bit of a hardship for him.

After all...

He can't speak!

Among the squad leaders, only Luo Feng could read; the others couldn't recognize a single character.

Jiang Jinshi had taken this into account, handing the pre‑prepared sign‑language book to Tang Lin and Tang Xiao Yu; the book was purchased by Li Xinyue in the market, and he believes it won't trouble the sibling pair.

The problem is which squad Tang Lin should be assigned to.

In Jiang Jinshi's blueprint, the current Small Squad Leaders will inevitably become the backbone of Yangguangzhai in the future, with each squad equipped with a Military Advisor, though suitable candidates are not yet available.

At that moment, Zhang Honghong stood up and volunteered, saying she had previously worked with Tang Lin and that the two would have better rapport.

Jiang Jinshi agreed, planning to let the two pair up for a trial, and gave Zhang Honghong a sign‑language book as well, asking Tang Xiao Yu to help teach it when free.

Then Jiang Jinshi had everyone tally how many of the mountain bandits currently possessed a skill.

The first step of establishing a factory is naturally construction; Jiang Jinshi isn't worried about the basic labor, as he needs talent from various trades.

The few who received the order quickly gathered the mountain bandits of Yangguangzhai and began questioning them.

The most striking news was that now each mountain bandit in Yangguangzhai receives a monthly stipend.

Although the stipend isn't large, it's enough to boost everyone's enthusiasm; after all, no one had ever heard of mountain bandits receiving a monthly salary, and Yangguangzhai set a precedent.

For a moment, the bandits walked through the stronghold with heads held high, thoroughly enjoying the admiring gazes of onlookers.

Jiang Jinshi watched Yangguangzhai become bustling, no longer worrying about people having nothing to do.

"Would it be unwise to pull off something this big all at once?" Jiang Jinshi said to Li Xinyue, "I'm afraid you might be overwhelmed; otherwise we could do it piece by piece, one at a time."

"No problem, just watch and see! It'll definitely make money," Li Xinyue said, now brimming with vigor.