Yue Fuguang thought about it and agreed. She definitely needed to stock up on some face-slapping, show-off-worthy magical tools. Even if this world didn't need them, the next one might. With such a low discount, who knows how long she'd have to wait for the next one.
Buying now meant pure profit.
All sorts of elixirs? Buy! Picking and choosing, she started with at least one bottle of each type. Nine pills per bottle, for less than the usual price of two.
All sorts of talismans? Buy! All sorts of weapons? Buy!
Snacks, seeds? Buy!
Especially those three types of high-yield seeds and cotton seeds, along with farming tools? Buy!
Yue Fuguang shopped while devouring her meal, and before she knew it, she was stuffed.
"System, get me a digestion tablet."
Speaking of digestion tablets, she added a few more bottles of slimming pills to her cart.
With her current appetite, she definitely wouldn't eat less when she grew up. Eating too much and growing into a fatty wasn't ideal. A fat immortal lord... just felt like it would lack a bit of that ethereal aura, right?
She had just finished eating when Yu Chongshan led Yu Zhongchun, Yu Shuchun, and a few other brothers over.
Seeing their granddaughter's rosy complexion, looking even better than yesterday, especially her bright, sparkling eyes like stars in the sky, they understood the situation perfectly!
"Grandfather, Father, Uncles, why are you off duty so early?" Did the whole family collectively skip work?
"We heard you were awake, so we left early to come see you."
Yue Fuguang smiled and said, "I've worried Grandfather, Grandmother, Father, Mother, Uncles, and Aunts. I was just exhausted yesterday and accidentally overslept."
Her bright eyes rolled mischievously as she seized the opportunity. "Grandfather, it's getting colder and colder outside. The government offices will be sealed for the New Year in just over ten days. Do you think I could ask His Majesty if I could attend the morning court every other day instead?"
Yu Chongshan looked at his granddaughter's hopeful, smiling face and couldn't bring himself to refuse. He only said, "It is indeed getting colder day by day. I will bring it up with His Majesty tomorrow. You can wait until after the New Year, when spring arrives, to resume normal court attendance."
"Thank you, Grandfather." Yue Fuguang was inwardly delighted. Finally, a work-one-day, rest-one-day schedule! Even 'immortals' don't want to go to work!
Just as she finished speaking, another group of people came bustling in. Yue Fuguang looked up to see all the family's brothers and sisters had gathered.
Fortunately, the main hall of her Bright Moon Pavilion was quite large. Even with this whole big family gathered, it didn't feel crowded.
Yue Fuguang contributed her toys: Ludo, Gomoku, playing cards, and mahjong. The old, middle-aged, and young generations split into three groups. Led by Yu Chongshan, who listened to Yue Fuguang's explanation of the rules, he and his sons enthusiastically started a game of mahjong.
Old Madam Yu and her daughters-in-law just happened to gather around a table to play cards.
The younger generation played Ludo and Gomoku.
The charm of these national pastimes was powerful. The Yu father and sons played mahjong all afternoon. When it was time to eat, they were still reluctant to stop, saying they'd continue after the meal, with some eagerly awaiting a chance to turn the tables.
On the mahjong table, there is no distinction between father and son. Yu Chongshan had lost quite a bit of silver to his sons that afternoon and vowed to win it back today.
Old Man Yu, truly a shrewd hand at managing family finances, quickly saw the market potential of mahjong from his own and his family's addiction. Especially with the New Year approaching and more leisure time, mahjong was sure to be a huge hit.
"Fuguang, can our family make these and sell them?"
"Of course. And the playing cards, Gomoku, Ludo—all of these can be made and sold in our family's shops."
"Good. Then your grandfather will benefit from your idea. When we make money, we'll split it fifty-fifty."
The old man's eyes flashed with golden light, already calculating making mahjong sets from different materials, especially jade. Those could be sold for a very high price.
"That's too much. I just provided the idea. Give me thirty percent." Technical investment shares, doing nothing but lying back waiting for dividends. Judging by her grandfather's demeanor, he was planning a big venture. Thirty percent would still net her a lot of money.
Yu Chongshan shook his head. "Thirty percent is too little. Let's make it forty percent."
He would make up the remaining ten percent for his granddaughter from other sources later.
As the New Year approached, the exchange of gifts between families began. On her day off from court, Yue Fuguang followed her mother, Madam Zhang, for half a day and felt utterly exhausted.
Physically tired, but mentally even more so. There were rules for every family's seasonal gifts: what to send, what others sent you, how to reciprocate, all while considering closeness of relations and the official ranks of the men in each household.
Her mother, Madam Zhang, handled it all with practiced ease. Yue Fuguang watched, her head spinning. She really wasn't cut out for this. Relying on her parents once again proved to be the right choice.
"System, someone like my mother, in modern times, would definitely be a successful person, a high-ranking official or CEO or something."
[Indeed. She not only manages affairs within the residence but also oversees the shops and manors outside. No wonder the ancients were so careful when selecting the eldest daughter-in-law.
This isn't just picking a wife; it's picking a manager, and one with high emotional intelligence and business acumen at that.]
"Ancient women had it tough. After marrying into a family, they not only needed management skills but also had to bear sons. No matter how capable you were here, if you couldn't bear a son, it was all for nothing.
Saying this makes me miss modern times even more."
[Then let's try to get a modern mission next time.]
"We can choose missions?" Yue Fuguang was pleasantly surprised.
In ancient times, even if she pretended to be a deity, her quality of life couldn't surpass this era by too much. Take travel, for instance—she couldn't exactly ride in a car, could she?
Since she didn't want to work but wanted positive points, she had to keep her 'hidden' identity. These futuristic flying or running things weren't suitable to bring out for now.
Maybe when she grew up and wanted to travel, she could think about it...
Soon, Yue Fuguang discovered a problem. Some families' New Year gifts to the Yu residence included a separate portion specifically for her.
Yue Fuguang watched as boxes were carried into her storeroom and felt utterly at a loss. She had no idea how to handle reciprocal gifts!
Madam Zhang smiled at her dumbfounded daughter. "Don't worry, my child. I've prepared all the reciprocal gifts for you."
Yue Fuguang's expression changed in an instant. "Thank you, Mother. I still have vegetables in my hothouse. How about adding some vegetables to each family's return gift? It can be considered my personal thought."
She believed these families would appreciate seeing this.
Reality proved her right. After that, even more gifts came her way, and even... the Crown Prince's got mixed in?
Hold on, nominally you're the ruler, we are your subjects. Since when does the ruler send seasonal gifts to subjects? The items bestowed by the royal family during the New Year don't count.
This was clearly aimed at her vegetable hothouse!
...
After resting for two days, Yue Fuguang resumed her court attendance clock-ins.
Well-rested, Yue Fuguang once again started munching on her meat pie. Instantly, the entire hall was filled with a rich, savory aroma.
The minister who was still presenting matters paused briefly, swallowed, and then continued, "Your Majesty, I impeach..."
[Master, quite a full house today. Even several old ministers who were recuperating from illness are here. Huh, is that Old Lord Bao?]
"Which Old Lord Bao? Do you know him?"
[No, but his family is quite famous, so I remembered them.]
"Which famous people came from their family? Tell me."
[One person is enough to make their whole family famous for generations to come.]
"That impressive? Who is it?"
[Old Lord Bao's grandson, Little Bao. Little Bao is getting married tomorrow, and the bride will be kidnapped from the bridal chamber.]
"A mortal world bride-snatching drama? Was it the bride's sweetheart who snatched her away?"
"No. This bride-snatching incident is actually related to Little Bao's father, Bao Qianjun."
