Chapter 19: Speculations About Zhu Yuanzhang and His Family of Three

By the time the two of them returned to the restaurant after inspecting the fields, it was already dark.

Perhaps due to the existence of the "Nine-Clan Extermination Set Meal" restaurant, few people dared to come to this street to shop. Although the surrounding businesses had reopened after Zhu Yuanzhang and his entourage left, the area remained desolate.

When the culprit appeared again, the shopkeepers were shocked.

"How is this brat still not arrested? Who exactly is he? Even the Emperor, having suffered such a great insult, came in person to demand accountability, so how can he still be fine?"

"When will this end? Are we ever going to be allowed to do business again?"

"It’s over, all over. The sixteen-guan renovation of my shop has gone down the drain. It's finished!"

"Woe is me. What kind of karma did I accrue to end up opening a shop next to someone like this?"

Hearing the laments of the neighboring shopkeepers, Chen Lin felt a bit embarrassed. Besides, there was no need to keep the "Nine-Clan Extermination Set Meal" going; Zhu Yuanzhang wouldn't target him over this, so it was pointless. He decided to take down the sign to avoid the guilt of having people cursing his entire family while he slept.

He ran inside, grabbed a newly purchased chainsaw, and in front of his many neighbors, sawed the sign into two pieces. "Xiao Lan, take this inside to use as firewood for cooking."

"But Young Master, there are no ingredients in the shop to cook with..."

Only then did Chen Lin remember that the restaurant was just an empty shell; there was nothing to eat.

At the same time, the roar of the chainsaw had drawn the nearby shopkeepers out from their mourning. Seeing that the dreaded sign was gone, combined with the fact that Chen Lin had insulted the Emperor and remained unscathed, these people—while unable to fathom the reason—knew for certain that Chen Lin was someone not to be offended.

If one cannot offend someone, one must curry favor. Distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors; this was only logical. Consequently, these calculating businessmen arrived one after another, bearing the goods they sold: silks, wine and meat, premium rice, pastries, jewelry, and even roast duck.

It was not Beijing roast duck, but the birthplace of roast duck: Nanjing roast duck, or as it should be called now, Yingtian Prefecture roast duck.

Chen Lin and Xiao Lan were just worrying about dinner, and to their surprise, the street on both sides began to bustle with people.

"What the hell? What is this about? They aren't trying to get revenge on me, are they?"

"I don't think so, Young Master. It looks like they are here to bring gifts."

"Gifts? For me?"

"It seems so..."

Then...

"Congratulations, congratulations! Congratulations to Manager Chen for overcoming the danger and turning misfortune into a blessing. We have come specifically to offer our well-wishes."

"A small token of our esteem, please, Manager Chen, you must accept it."

"Exactly, exactly. We all make our living on this same street. Manager Chen, please do not look down on our meager gifts."

"If Manager Chen ever has any trouble in the future, just come to us. Distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors; we are all family."

"Yes, yes, all family..."

Chen Lin scratched his head. "Uh, well, I thank you all then. Come, come, have a smoke..."

As he spoke, Chen Lin pulled out an unopened pack of White Pagoda cigarettes and handed one to each person, lighting them one by one. To open up a market for cigarettes, swallowing his pride to light them for others was no big deal—making money wasn't shameful!

Before long, everyone was holding a lit cigarette, mimicking Chen Lin as they puffed away. Coughing filled the air, yet no one was willing to throw away the acrid stuff. First, they were afraid of offending Chen Lin; second, they felt it must be something good, as they had just seen the Emperor and the Crown Prince smoking earlier.

To share the same luxury as the Emperor and the Crown Prince—what an honor! They had to smoke it, even if it was choking them. The sounds of wheezing and coughing intertwined into a strange, rhythmic melody.

Watching the crowd, Chen Lin sighed to himself; these were the first smokers of the Ming Dynasty! He had to maintain this well to use it as a springboard for the cigarette brand.

Immediately, he gave each person another cigarette as a return gift. They accepted with both hands, exchanged pleasantries, and then left, swaying as they walked. Why were they swaying? Because they were lightheaded.

After seeing them off, Chen Lin picked up the still-steaming roast duck. "Xiao Lan, cut the duck. Let's have a good meal tonight."

Chen Xiao Lan replied, "Young Master, the slave girl wants that kind of noodles we had in the prison last time."

"Instant noodles? That's a bit difficult. I only had those five packs. Next time, I'll buy some for you."

"Thank you, Young Master..."

After a satisfying meal, Chen Lin held Chen Xiao Lan in his arms on the same bed, feeling a bit restless. Unfortunately, his "pesky relative" (her period) hadn't left yet, so he couldn't "enforce the law" on the spot.

However, Chen Xiao Lan was pleasantly surprised, as she felt a difference in her Young Master for the first time in years. Even though her body wouldn't allow for intimacy, as his personal maid, she felt the need to fulfill her duties, and then...

"Awoo~"

"Woo~"

"Stop, you little fighter, rest for a moment, just rest for a moment..."

Finally, after Chen Xiao Lan had her "extra meal," the two fell asleep in each other's arms.

Elsewhere, Zhu Yuanzhang, driving the pickup truck with some difficulty, finally arrived safely at the palace.

"Not bad, this vehicle is truly not bad!" Zhu Yuanzhang patted the still-warm hood, feeling very satisfied.

Empress Ma and Zhu Xiongying had arrived at the palace earlier by carriage. Seeing the pickup truck return, Zhu Xiongying immediately ran up to ask for it.

"Go, go, go! This isn't a toy. This is a powerful weapon for the battlefield. Your Imperial Grandfather is going to take it to the Ministry of Works tomorrow to see if it can be replicated. We can't let it get broken while in our hands."

Empress Ma also stepped forward to console him. "Xiongying, be good. We won't play with this. In a little while, I will have Chen Lin bring you some new toys, all right?"

Zhu Xiongying looked up at Empress Ma. "Does Imperial Grandmother keep her word?"

Empress Ma stroked Zhu Xiongying's head. "Yes, yes. When has Imperial Grandmother ever lied to you?"

"Alright then!"

Zhu Xiongying was led away by a palace maid, and Zhu Yuanzhang ordered someone to summon Zhu Biao. The family of three had matters to discuss.

Inside the study, the three sat together, listening to Empress Ma describe the world of the afterlife in detail.

"According to what Mother said, that world is definitely not the underworld, nor is it the 'fairyland' Chen Lin speaks of. I feel it is more like another human realm."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded. "I looked inside the vehicle. It has a device similar to a fire-ox, but it is countless times more advanced than a fire-ox. With the current technology of the Ming Dynasty, it might not be possible to build one even in a hundred years."

"A hundred years..." Zhu Biao seemed to grasp a key point. "Father, do you think that world could be the world from several hundred years in the future? Simplified characters, similar language, advanced facilities, wide roads, iron vehicles driving on those roads, and common people living their lives and doing business—all of this suggests it is simply a society far more advanced than the Ming Dynasty."

"As for this person, Chen Lin, could he be someone from several hundred years in the future?!"