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Duan Changjin looked confused. "What is this?"

"My lord said that after removing impurities from brown sugar, it becomes white sugar," Liu Zishi replied honestly, following Rong Xi's instructions.

Although Duan Changjin was not skilled in business, he was no fool. Hearing this, he immediately perceived boundless business opportunities.

Most people loved exquisite and translucent objects. Compared to brown sugar, white sugar was not only novel, but also much more pleasing to the eye. If it were promoted, there would surely be a stampede of eager buyers.

"Eldest Brother instructed this, and I shall certainly see it done," Duan Changjin replied with an excited expression.

Once Liu Zishi left, he instructed a shop servant to divide the sugar blocks into five portions, take one portion, and send it to the diner who had spent the most money that day.

That diner was also a merchant with a vast fortune. Ever since Gourmet Pavilion reopened, he came by every single day. Today, perhaps delayed by business, he arrived somewhat later, yet chanced upon Liu Zishi delivering the white sugar.

Seeing the shop servant hold the tray to the table and noting that the object on it was crystalline and exceedingly rare, the diner asked in surprise, "What is this?"

"This is white sugar, a complimentary gift from our shop. The manager says Lord Wang has patronized our shop many times, so he sent your humble servant to bring some for you to try something new." The shop servant wore a sincere smile and spoke with enthusiasm.

Lord Wang looked around and, seeing that no one else had it and he alone enjoyed a portion, felt naturally pleasantly surprised. He asked, "I have never heard of any white sugar. What on earth is this?"

"Lord Wang, your humble servant is truly not deceiving you. This is cane sugar, only with the impurities removed." The shop servant still smiled broadly. "If you don't believe it, why not taste it?"

Lord Wang was half-doubtful. He pinched a bit directly with his fingers, licked it, and instantly widened his eyes, raising his eyebrows in shifting astonishment. "It really is sugar!"

The shop servant beamed and said, "This is a novelty item. You are a distinguished guest of our shop, and the manager specifically had your humble servant bring it over."

"Convey my thanks to Manager Duan." Having obtained a novel item and gained plenty of face, Lord Wang was immensely gratified, his smile widening quite a bit.

After leaving Gourmet Pavilion, he headed straight for a friend's residence. Upon entering, he feigned displeasure and said, "You produced white sugar, so why didn't you tell me?"

The friend looked utterly blank. "What is white sugar?"

Thinking the other man still wished to conceal it, Lord Wang unceremoniously placed the object from his palm onto the table. The item was wrapped in a sugar coating, making it difficult to discern clearly.

"Aside from you, are there other sugar merchants in Mengshan County?"

There were some, but as for those who ran a large business, there was only this single family.

The friend unwrapped the sugar coating, revealing the crystalline sugar block inside. He froze in surprise, and disregarding everything else, directly gave it a lick with his mouth.

It truly was sweet!

"Where did you get this?"

Lord Wang cast a sidelong glance at him, his tone inexplicable. "Are you truly certain you didn't produce this?"

"If I could craft such sugar, why would I keep it hidden?" The friend sat down helplessly. "Where on earth did this come from?"

Lord Wang thereupon sat cross-legged on the rush mat. "This was a complimentary gift from Gourmet Pavilion."

"Gourmet Pavilion?" The friend didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Did you seriously not ask where they obtained this white sugar?"

The atmosphere instantly turned awkward.

"I thought you were the one who made it, so I rushed over to ask you, didn't I?" Lord Wang covered his face and sighed. "I didn't think that far at the time."

After a long while, the friend spoke. "This white sugar is lovely to behold. If we can get the recipe, we can surely profit. Since it's a gift from Gourmet Pavilion, it must be related to them. I'm going right over to ask clearly."

Before Lord Wang could stop him, he saw his friend dash away like a vanishing bird. Left with no choice, he had to accompany him.

When it came to the sugar merchants of Mengshan County, the Zheng Clan was undoubtedly the most famous.

Zheng Huaili hurried to Gourmet Pavilion. Before the shop servant could even smile and speak, he asked, "Is Manager Duan in? I have something to ask."

The shop servant recognized his identity, and seeing Lord Wang walking shoulder to shoulder with him, immediately understood the reason. Thus, he led the two men to the back hall to meet Duan Changjin.

Tea and refreshments were served, but Zheng Huaili and Lord Wang had no heart to taste them. Seeing Duan Changjin sit leisurely in silence, they had no choice but to bite the bullet and get straight to the point. "Manager Duan, might you generously inform us who produced the white sugar?"

"I understand Brother Zheng's intent, but without that person's permission, Duan dares not speak too much."

Eldest Brother had only said to use the white sugar as a complimentary gift and had not mentioned any subsequent matters, so he could not speak recklessly.

Zheng Huaili and Lord Wang exchanged glances. Knowing his anxiety, Lord Wang asked, "Then can Manager Duan act as an intermediary?"

Seeing that Zheng Huaili was truly anxious, Duan Changjin softened and said, "I can go ask first. Once there is a result, I shall send someone to notify Brother Zheng. How about that?"

"That would be wonderful." Zheng Huaili stood up and bowed. "Many thanks, Manager Duan."

After the two men left, Duan Changjin sat quietly for a long while, then suddenly covered his face and let out a long sigh.

In the past, when had he ever received such polite treatment? His present circumstances were all thanks to Eldest Brother's blessing.

After finishing his martial arts practice, Liu Zishi emerged from Feng Carpentry and saw a Gourmet Pavilion shop servant waiting outside.

Upon seeing him, the shop servant relayed all of Duan Changjin's instructions to Liu Zishi.

Upon returning home, the young Liu youth sought out the study and said, "My lord, Manager Duan asked your humble servant to inquire: the Zheng Clan sugar merchants wish to meet the person who produced the white sugar. What are your plans?"

Rong Xi had anticipated this matter long ago.

He had let Duan Changjin use the gift method to bring white sugar to light precisely to wait for discerning buyers to bite.

He simply hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.

"I will go with you to the county town tomorrow," Rong Xi replied.

It was not only for the matter of the white sugar, but also for some private affairs.

At noon the next day, the two of them had already arrived in Mengshan County town.

Duan Changjin warmly entertained Rong Xi in the back hall of Gourmet Pavilion.

Hearing of this and fearing the two might be swayed by Zheng Huaili, Hu Yulin came to Gourmet Pavilion to keep them company.

The three chatted idly over their seats. Once a cup of hot tea entered his belly, Hu Yulin sighed with emotion, "Eldest Brother's ability is the only one I have seen in my life. If I hadn't experienced it firsthand, I truly could hard believe it."

Duan Changjin nodded in agreement.

With their burning gazes fixed on him, Rong Xi said helplessly, "I merely obtained it from exotic books, making the two elder brothers laugh at me."

These methods were all acquired by him from predecessors. Borrowing them now served two purposes: first, to accumulate wealth so as to support his subsequent research and establish himself in the world; second, to change this world and benefit the common people.

Using the methods of those who came before him, Rong Xi felt gratitude in his heart and dared not take the credit for himself.