Picking Them Up

"Oh no!"

Before Zhang Xuezhou went to the banquet at the King of Huainan's Household, Rong Tianding set off for Mount Tai.

Rong Tianding's trip to Mount Tai and his return took nearly twenty days, which was a bit long. However, if something came up, Rong Tianding's speed would be quite fast.

"Don't rush, tell me slowly!"

Zhang Xuezhou tugged at his clothes.

He's been in a bit of a mess these days, and so is Rong Tianding.

Zhang Xuezhou offered a few words of reassurance, Rong Tianding pointed to the outside of the city, then to the opposite side of the house.

"I met Doctor Zheng and Physician Chunyu on the other side of Mount Tai," Rong Tianding said.

"It seems they're not doing very well," Zhang Xuezhou said.

"It's more than just bad," Rong Tianding complained, "I almost got buried alive back then!"

"Is the situation that serious?" Zhang Xuezhou asked doubtfully.

"If I hadn't happened to run into them, I reckon their bodies would be covered in grass by now!"

Rong Tianding scratched his head, sensing that Zhang Xuezhou was somewhat prepared for this, as if he had anticipated that the two would be in a bad situation.

He muttered something to himself, mentioning that he had entered Chang'an City first on the wind, while Zheng Wukong and Chunyu Tiying were waiting to enter the city in a carriage outside the Chang'an City.

"Let's go pick them up in a bit!"

Zhang Xuezhou nodded, indicating that Zheng Wukong and the others could enter Chang'an City normally at dawn.

Zheng Wukong and Chunyu Tiying are highly skilled doctors, but perhaps due to the effects of the gourd medicine, or something else, they couldn't solve the problem, and Zhang Xuezhou couldn't solve it either.

Zhang Xuezhou also consumed a considerable amount of blood essence refined from gourds when he took the Cynomorium songaricum. If the gourd medicine left any residue, Zhang Xuezhou would not be able to avoid the effects.

He was quite pleased to see the two return to Chang'an City, as it would make it easier for them to discuss the illness together.

For Zhang Xuezhou, who has a good understanding of gourds, he can provide a general direction for solving the problem, thus preventing Zheng Wukong and others from going astray in their treatment.

Whether seeking new methods, seeking the "Life-Creating Elixir," or obtaining a medicine with similar curative effects, all these approaches may be able to resolve the "gourd syndrome."

He asked Rong Tianding a couple of questions and learned that Zheng Wukong and the others only had difficulty walking and had almost died from overeating in Mount Tai. He became even more certain that the two of them had similar symptoms to Wei Shao'er.

"Take a rest and eat something to fill your stomach. We'll head to the city gate at dawn," Zhang Xuezhou said.

"Cousin, it's up to you," Rong Tianding nodded, then asked, "Should we go and inform Yi Shuo?"

"She's gone back to the palace, and she probably won't be able to come out for a while," Zhang Xuezhou said.

"She finally managed to jump out, but then she jumped back in!"

Rong Tianding sighed, and as his thoughts stirred, he couldn't help but let out a low shout.

"Who?"

My wife is in that room!

"Hmm? Wife? You found a wife to keep you warm in such a short time?"

Rong Tianding looked towards the side room, and Zhang Xuezhou could only offer a few words of explanation.

"A gift from the King of Huainan's Household?"

He nodded thoughtfully and waved to A-Qiao, who had opened the door a crack.

Rong Tianding and Zhang Xuezhou had high standards, but that couldn't stop others from giving them gifts.

Many important officials have such people around them, whether servants, guards, or concubines, who are placed in positions of power through various means of reward and promotion.

Clearly, he needs to be more careful when speaking to Zhang Xuezhou in the future, lest he inadvertently cause trouble.

Rong Tianding's attitude towards Aqiao was surprisingly similar to Zhang Xuezhou's: polite but not intimate.

Only after watching Ah Qiao leave for the kitchen to help heat up the leftover food did he nod to Zhang Xuezhou.

"It's not a bad thing," Rong Tianding said with a smile. "It's just that you shouldn't fall in love too easily, or you'll be in trouble in eight or ten years!"

Time will tell!

Zhang Xuezhou shook his head, indicating that he understood the situation.

"I wonder what the King of Huainan's Household is thinking," Rong Tianding glanced at the kitchen and whispered, "I can't catch up with you no matter how hard I try, and they actually think that just sending a woman over is enough!"

You should also start preparing yourself!

Upon seeing Rong Tianding make a few jokes about him, Zhang Xuezhou couldn't help but offer a reminder.

Rong Tianding often used Zhang Xuezhou as a shield, leaving Rong Li helpless. Now that Zhang Xuezhou has become practically family, Rong Tianding can't avoid this situation either.

When Zhang Xuezhou scoffed, Rong Tianding felt a headache coming on.

"Once I can produce an heir for the Rong Household, I'll be free!"

Rong Tianding forced himself to say a few words, but felt that the road ahead was so bleak that there wasn't a single glimmer of hope.

It would be one thing if someone like Zhang Xuezhou received a gift from the King of Huainan's Household, but it would be almost impossible for him to replicate Zhang Xuezhou's situation.

Rong Tianding, however, had lofty ambitions and clearly could not bind himself to a woman; therefore, talking about money instead of feelings also became his choice.

But just thinking about how those young ladies of Silanfang needed millions of dollars to redeem themselves made Rong Tianding feel terribly poor. But if Rong Tianding were to lower his standards a few levels, how could he possibly be willing to do such a thing?

After their conversation, Rong Tianding realized he was falling behind Zhang Xuezhou.

He gritted his teeth, contemplating ascetic practices to improve himself, while also thinking about ways to make money.

After pulling out a clump of hair and eating a bowl of leftovers, Rong Tianding still couldn't come up with a good solution.

Making money can be difficult in some ways, but it's not difficult in others either!

As dawn broke and the sky brightened, Rong Tianding led the way to the Chang'an City. He couldn't help but seek advice from Zhang Xuezhou to avoid being scolded and embarrassed by Rong Li later.

"To make money from the poor, you need to focus on volume," Zhang Xuezhou said. "To make money from the rich, you need to seize the needs of high-quality customers and exploit them relentlessly!"

Zhang Xuezhou and his associates had previously made money off the poor by constantly reselling millet in the West Market, which allowed them to establish a foothold in Chang'an City.

But several years have passed, and it's clear they're no longer capable of doing such a thing. They couldn't earn enough to buy Zhang Xuezhou an official residence, nor could they earn enough for Rong Tianding to buy a wife to settle things.

"Who are our valued customers?" Rong Tianding asked. "What do they need, and what can we offer?"

"Wait a while, I'll find some clients and see what their needs are!"

Zhang Xuezhou pondered the candidates within his circle of knowledge and felt that there were many wealthy people among them.

The first to be affected is Divine Lord Zhenyuan is stationed in Anle Palace. If Divine Lord Zhenyuan were to ask Dou Taitai for some money, Zhang Xuezhou felt there was a certain probability that it would happen, although it was difficult to judge whether the amount would be large or small.

The next best option is the new emperor; receiving imperial rewards is also a good way to increase one's wealth.

Moving down the list, it would be the turn of some wealthy individuals in the court, such as Tian Fen and Dou Ying, and Zhang Xuezhou had high hopes for, was also among them.

Zhang Xuezhou felt that as long as he used multiple channels, settling down and starting a career would not be a problem.

Zhang Xuezhou focused on building his network of connections, so he obviously needed Rong Tianding's help with the actual work. The two of them divided the tasks so the work wasn't too tiring.

"Look, look! Watch your feet so you don't step on anyone!"

"Don't push!"

"Those collecting things, step back a bit, you're blocking your second uncle's view of the list!"

"The imperial court is to appoint agricultural officials. Anyone who cultivates land with high yields will be granted an agricultural official position. Now, they are recruiting agricultural officials from various regions who are skilled in cultivation. Can anyone with such land become an official?"

"Let me take a look!"

Zhang Xuezhou and Rong Tianding went to the city gate at dawn to meet Zheng Wukong and the others. When they set off from Laoshu Hutong, there was not much noise, but when they arrived at the city gate, it was bustling with people, as almost everyone who had come early had gathered there.

Amidst a cacophony of sounds, Zhang Xuezhou moved back and forth with the flow of people.

When someone read the imperial edicts at the city gate, he felt that the otherwise tedious wait had become somewhat more enjoyable.

Moreover, this list is somewhat related to him.

Zhang Xuezhou presented a strategy for strengthening the nation through agriculture and warfare, but he never expected that the new emperor would actually begin implementing it.