Chapter 842: We'll Need a Quote for That
A relatively calm battle concluded.
The foolish bandits were effortlessly repelled, and the logistics team safeguarded their supplies without a scratch. The convoy resumed its journey.
This was the Courtesan's first time participating in a battle at such close quarters. While a little startled, she was mostly thrilled. The sheer power of the Gao Family Village logistics team truly opened her eyes.
Unfortunately, she didn't have a Divine Mirror with her to process video files. She had no idea when she would be able to bring these videos back for the common folk to watch.
As she pondered this with a slight frown, she noticed a convoy approaching from the front.
The leader of the convoy hailed Zhuge Wangchan, “Well, well, Little Zhuge! Back again, are we?”
Zhuge Wangchan returned the greeting, “Tie Niaofei, you’re already on your way back?”
Both men were responsible for transporting goods, but their roles differed significantly. Zhuge Wangchan simply moved village supplies, whereas Tie Niaofei not only transported items but also traded them, making his duties more extensive, diverse, and complex.
Zhuge Wangchan immediately noticed Tie Niaofei’s truck, laden with goods covered by a tarpaulin. “You’re returning from the north, so your vehicle should be empty,” he remarked, surprised. “Why are you carrying cargo?”
Zhuge Wangchan didn't understand what a storage card was.
The Courtesan, however, understood perfectly. Her eyes lit up, and she stepped forward, bowing gracefully to Tie Niaofei. “Oh, Brother Tie Niaofei, greetings! Your news footage from the border, showing the Gao Family Village Militia defeating the Manchu army and rescuing Daizhou, was truly magnificent. Your little sister deeply admires you for it.”
Tie Niaofei, softened by her sweet flattery, instantly beamed. “Oh, oh, you’re too kind, too kind. All that was just the Heavenly Lord telling me to record it. At the time, I didn’t even know what I was doing; I just pressed a button.”
The Courtesan asked, “You mentioned the storage cards in your vehicle—are they for newly recorded news reports?”
Tie Niaofei nodded. “Heh heh, yes, these are the news videos I managed to record with great effort, showing Gao Chuwu liberating Yanmen Pass! The Heavenly Lord told me to bring them back to Pingyang Prefecture, and he’ll handle them from there.”
“I also recorded a segment just now,” the Courtesan said, “a video of the Gao Family Village logistics team repelling bandits. But I still need to travel north. Would Brother Tie Niaofei be so kind as to help me take my video back with you as well?”
Tie Niaofei grinned. “Of course, no problem! But we’ll need a quote for that.”
“Huh? There’s a charge?” The Courtesan froze, bewildered. “Do we charge for tasks done in the Heavenly Lord’s service?”
Tie Niaofei chuckled. “We belong to different departments under the Heavenly Lord, you see. I’m from Border Trade, and you’re from News. Our two departments must operate with independent finances. If you use my department’s resources to get something done, how can there not be a quote? We can’t have sloppy, confused accounting, can we?”
“Uh!”
The Courtesan was a little confused.
Zhuge Wangchan, however, laughed. “Exactly! Even close brothers settle their accounts clearly, let alone different departments using each other’s resources. Madam, just pay him. Record the expense under the News Department’s budget, and you can apply for reimbursement from the Village Committee later.”
“Learning from you gentlemen, I’ve gained new wisdom,” the Courtesan said. “Your little sister truly admires your vast knowledge.”
The woman’s words were like honey, delighting both Tie Niaofei and Zhuge Wangchan.
After a brief exchange of quotes and some haggling, the Courtesan paid and removed the storage card from her micro-camera, placing it onto Tie Niaofei’s truck.
Tie Niaofei waved, then headed south with several storage cards.
Once he reached Pingyang Prefecture, the Heavenly Lord’s colossal hand would descend from the sky to retrieve these storage cards...
As for the Courtesan, she inserted a blank storage card into her micro-camera and continued her journey north, heading towards the border—
Xi’an Prefecture!
Ever since the news broke of the Manchus breaching the pass, the audience for the news broadcast had grown even larger than usual.
It was already crowded on normal days, but lately, it had become even more packed. Anyone arriving a little late would find themselves jostled a full street away.
Of course, it was always the poor who were squeezed out.
The high officials and nobles always found a way to secure VIP seating.
Currently, Zhu Cunji, the Prince of Qin’s heir, occupied his private VIP box, flanked by Imperial Censor Wu Shen, the Prefect of Xi’an, and a host of other officials.
In the past, Zhu Cunji would never have shared his VIP seating with those stuffy civil officials. But ever since the Manchus breached the pass, Zhu Cunji's perspective had broadened considerably. Now, he proactively invited Wu Shen and others to his private VIP box daily.
As evening fell, the news broadcast was about to begin.
Zhu Cunji rubbed his hands, his face etched with impatience. “Hurry, hurry! Start the broadcast! The time’s already passed; I don’t know what’s taking so long.”
Wu Shen cast a sidelong glance. “Your Highness, what exactly has you so agitated?”
Zhu Cunji scoffed, “Does that even need asking? Of course, I’m anxious about the situation at the border! This entire realm belongs to our Zhu family. If someone were to force their way into *your* ancestral home and fight your old father every day, I ask you, wouldn’t you be anxious?”
Wu Shen pondered the question, his face suddenly darkening. He had a point. If someone invaded *his* ancestral home in Xinghua, Jiangsu, and attacked his father, while he was far away in Shaanxi, wouldn’t he be frantic with worry?
As the two spoke, Wang Tang appeared. As was his custom, he walked up to the Divine Mirror and performed his unique technique—the Iron Mountain Lean—slamming powerfully into the switch on the side of the Divine Mirror, which then flickered to life.
Then, with a casual tap...
A line of text flashed rapidly across the screen: “Connecting to server,” “Reading latest file list.” Then, the newest news video file appeared at the bottom.
Wang Tang tapped the icon for the latest file and stepped aside.
Gao Yiye appeared on the screen, announcing, “Special News...”
It always began with Special News, because the situation on the northern border was what all the common folk cared about most, and it was broadcast first every day.
“Gao Chuwu, the great general of the Gao Family Village Militia, dealt a crushing blow to the Manchus at Yanmen Pass, reclaiming control of the strategic gateway! Now, please direct your attention to the visuals...”
The scene shifted from Gao Yiye to the front lines.
The majestic Yanmen Pass appeared on screen.
Zhu Cunji exclaimed, “Wow, so this is what Yanmen Pass looks like!”
The common folk murmured, “So that’s what Yanmen Pass looks like.”
Wu Shen, beside him, snorted and muttered under his breath, “The Prince’s heir making the same remarks as common folk who’ve never seen the world.”
His “whisper” was a little too loud, and Zhu Cunji heard it.
He turned, his face full of pique. “I’ve never left Xi’an my whole life, the farthest I’ve been is to the hot spring village in Lintong. I’m terribly sorry for my lack of worldly experience, aren’t I?”
Wu Shen: “...”
Zhu Cunji grumbled unhappily, “And whose fault is that, if not you stuffy civil officials? If you didn’t keep reporting my every move for leaving my fief—
“—this Prince would be off enjoying the Qinhuai River tomorrow, believe you me!”
Free reading.
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