...
However, this idea was just a fleeting thought because Wang Shouzhe only knew that the earliest monosodium glutamate was extracted from kelp. However, the content of monosodium glutamate in kelp was very low, making industrial operations difficult.
Modern techniques extract monosodium glutamate from crops like soybeans through microbial fermentation.
Yet Wang Shouzhe was almost completely clueless about the refining process and principles of monosodium glutamate. It was hard to say when he could successfully develop it on his own. Therefore, this get-rich idea had to be set aside for the moment; it would be more prudent to start with improving and optimizing the clan's industry.
"Second Brother, you understand the principles now. I hope you can experiment and improve quickly; don't let Uncle Liu's Fishing Team's hard work of catching live fish go to waste. Of course, we also need to keep the Wang Family's secrets secure; I believe you know how to handle this better than I do."
After giving a few reminders, Wang Shouzhe took his leave with his Household Generals.
After receiving the "inheritance," Wang Shouyi was also itching to get started. He was so eager to try it out that he couldn't even bother to see Wang Shouzhe off. Once successful, the family tradition of fish stalls would be able to show its advantage.
The East City Gate of Changning Guard.
After leaving the city, there was a straight and broad government road.
Wang Shouzhe rode a horse with two Household Generals, and after galloping and stopping for less than half an hour, they arrived at the Changning Ferry in Anjiang.
The Changning Ferry was a Guandu, actually controlled by the Changning Guard Government Office. The reach of the three Noble Families of Ping'an Town stopped here, marking a clear boundary.
A Household General of the Wang Family had been waiting here for a long time. As soon as he saw Wang Shouzhe and the others, he stepped forward to greet them: "Wang Wu greets the Patriarch."
"No need for formalities. Have Madam Da and Fifth Sister arrived?" As Wang Shouzhe left the family overnight, he left a note for Gongsun Hui, instructing her to act according to the plan in the note.
"Reporting to the Patriarch," Wang Wu respectfully said, "Lady Hui and Miss Wu's carriage is waiting ahead."
Under Wang Wu's guidance, Wang Shouzhe quickly reunited with Gongsun Hui and the others. After getting on the carriage, Gongsun Hui poured Wang Shouzhe a cup of tea, her brows somewhat furrowed with worry: "Zhe'Er, is what you said in the note really that serious?"
"I'm afraid it's more serious than imagined." Wang Shouzhe drank some tea to steady himself and said with a frown, "The Qiaan's Trading Company's industry is spread throughout Longzuo, yet they haven't noticed anything. This shows that, at least within Longzuo County, no major force has issued a warning about this disaster."
"How could this be?" Gongsun Hui whispered, her face turning pale, "There are so many great families in the entire Longzuo County, and none of them have noticed? Doesn't this mean that many civilians will suffer?"
"Madam Da overthinks it. When the sky falls, there will always be taller ones to hold it up. Our small Wang Family's goal is to go with the flow, survive, and grow strong," Wang Shouzhe said indifferently, "But Madam Da makes a good point. It's impossible for us to be the first in Longzuo County to notice the insect disaster. Perhaps most people are negligent, but some families will surely notice something unusual and prepare secretly. Or someone might have already issued a warning, but the news hasn't reached us in Changning yet."
Human nature is universal.
After discovering this matter, Wang Shouzhe immediately kept it strictly confidential, preparing to seize the opportunity to benefit. Most other families that discovered this incident through luck or skill likely thought the same.
Moreover, Wang Shouzhe discovered this matter very late, just in time to adapt to the situation. Even publicizing this matter would only cause chaos to break out earlier, which wouldn't help the overall situation at all.
"Zhe'Er, you're right. It's already good if our small family can take care of itself now." Gongsun Hui also said relievedly, "The Daqian Government Office, Purple Mansion Academy, and those grand families will surely step in to provide disaster relief at critical moments. Zhe'Er, the fact that you thought of helping the Gongsun Family at this critical moment is something Madam Da must thank you for on behalf of the Shanyang Gongsun Family."
"Madam Da, what are you saying? The Gongsun Family and our Wang Family have intermarried for generations; our bloodlines have long merged, and we should support each other," Wang Shouzhe smiled and said, "Besides, I haven't visited my grandfather for a long time to pay my respects to him."
As far as Wang Shouzhe knew, the intermarriage between the Gongsun and Wang families was indeed deep. Take the current Clan Leader of the Gongsun Family, Gongsun Mo, for example. His paternal grandmother came from the Wang Family's fourth-generation legitimate daughter—Wang Lingdie. Madam Da, Gongsun Hui, had to call her great-grandmother.
Likewise, during the Wang Family's fourth generation, they married a legitimate daughter from the Gongsun Family, who was Wang Shouzhe's great-grandmother.
This shows how close the bloodline relationship is between the Gongsun and Wang families.
At the mention of the word "grandfather," Gongsun Hui paused slightly before showing some joy and saying with emotion: "Zhe'Er, you've really grown up and matured."
Though Gongsun Hui was not Wang Shouzhe's biological mother, she was his legitimate mother. Her father, Gongsun Mo, was naturally Wang Shouzhe's grandfather. However, Wang Shouzhe's predecessor was rather introverted, being relatively indifferent and distant during the few times he visited Gongsun Mo from childhood to adulthood.
For Gongsun Hui, after marrying Wang Dingyue as a second wife, she only had one legitimate daughter and no legitimate sons, so she devoted all her attention to the legitimate son, Wang Shouzhe.
According to the laws of the Daqian Kingdom and the rules followed by all Black Tortoise Clans, the relationship between a legitimate mother and a legitimate son is formal, regardless of whether they are biologically related or not.
While Gongsun Hui chatted, Fifth Sister Wang Luojing quietly sat there. Even when the conversation was dull, she just blinked and dared not talk too much.
"Luojing, Fourth Brother brought you a gift; see if you like it." Wang Shouzhe took out a parcel and handed it to her.
Wang Luojing opened it and saw a beehive. She was so surprised that she covered her mouth and mumbled, "This beehive is round like a sphere, with hexagonal openings and a slightly crystal jade-like color. Could it be the legendary Purple Crystal Spirit Bee Hive? Thank you, Fourth Brother, this is wonderful."
Wait, what is a Purple Crystal Spirit Bee?
Wang Shouzhe's expression turned slightly confused: "Luojing, you haven't mastered your skills; this is clearly a Tiger-headed Spirit Bee Hive."
Wang Luojing paused, bit her jade finger, and said, "I see, Fourth Brother, you're testing me again. According to the Insect Scripture, Tiger-headed Spirit Bees and Purple Crystal Spirit Bees look similar at the Tier One Body stage, with the small difference that Purple Crystal Spirit Bees have a slightly more elongated body. However, their hives differ significantly. Tiger-headed Spirit Bee Hives are usually flatter, with slightly coarse openings. On the other hand, Purple Crystal Spirit Bee Hives are generally round, with a hive body showing crystal jade-like properties. This is because these Purple Crystal Spirit Bees are still at the Tier One Body stage, showing slight crystal jade-like properties. If they advance to the Tier Two Body stage, the hive will be more than ten times larger and will gradually exhibit a Purple Crystal Jade-like state."
As she spoke, Wang Luojing carefully poured out a few bee pupae, and her little face was full of distress: "The person who harvested the hive was really an idiot. Many pupae turned larvae have died. Oh, this really is Purple Crystal Spirit Bee, but there are only a few dozen surviving pupae left, what a pity!"
"Is it really a Purple Crystal Spirit Bee?" Wang Shouzhe's face also became a bit peculiar, "Does this count as a stroke of luck?" His predecessor, as the Young Clan Leader, naturally had to learn a lot of knowledge. The Tiger-headed Spirit Bee was relatively common among Spirit Bees, and he was familiar with them.
However, he knew little about the Purple Crystal Spirit Bee, only that it was a rare species capable of reaching Tier Two Spirit Bee.
Gongsun Hui, on the side, was also surprised, covering her mouth and saying, "Zhe'Er, did you really buy this thinking it was a Tiger-headed Spirit Bee Hive? How much Qian Gold did you spend?"
"I was just wandering around the market and came across this hive. I thought of Fifth Sister's potential as a Spirit Insect Master and bought it for her to play with..." Wang Shouzhe chuckled, "Bargained a bit and it cost ten Qian Gold. Looks like both that Loose Cultivator and I misjudged, hehe~"
"That wasn't just a misjudgment; you both were blind." Gongsun Hui joked with a smile, "The Purple Crystal Spirit Bee among Tier Two Spirit Bees, once truly mature, produces Purple Crystal Spiritual Honey, which has effects in strengthening the foundation, nourishing the essence, enhancing beauty, and is a primary raw material in various Tier Two Spirit Pills. If it can produce [Purple Crystal Bee King Honey], it becomes a standard Tier Three Spiritual Material, one of the main spiritual materials in the famous Tier Three Spirit Pill [Spirit Awakening Pill]."
"Hiss~" Wang Shouzhe inhaled, "Spirit Awakening Pill, isn't that the legendary Spirit Pill that can improve Black Tortoise Talent?"
...