Desinia Castle sits alone on a low cliff by the sea.
Xia Zoe's bedroom is connected to the study, which is the largest sea-view room in the castle.
When the weather is good, open the window and you can see thousands of miles of clear sky, flocks of seabirds flying low to hunt for food, and the calm sea glowing silver.
Reading a book by the window or getting acquainted with the affairs of the castle is undoubtedly a pleasure.
Therefore, Xia Zoe asked Judit to bring a chair and set up a small round table, fragrant flowers, and a pot of water with lemon slices.
In the western continent, the main drinks are wine and water, no tea or coffee.
And lemon is used as a cheap condiment, and the method of drinking it in water has never been heard.
After Judit tried to stop it, had no choice but to compromise, and finally agreed - Xia Zuoyi finally got his wish and drank the lemonade.
Not easy.
The weather at the seaside is always cloudy and unpredictable.
It rained in the morning, and it was already warm and sunny, and the sky was clear before noon.
Xia Zuoyi put away the financial form that the old finance handed over yesterday, and couldn't help sighing.
The main source of the wealth of the nobles is the taxation in the territory.
The old earl Matt Desinia had deliberately raised taxes in order to keep studying alchemy, and the amount of money received was considerable.
But he couldn't bear the cost of alchemy. The old earl's usual behavior was extravagant and wasteful, and he was never thrifty.
As a result, the financial statement in the hands of Xia Zoe is already facing a serious deficit crisis.
- There was the sound of wings flapping in my ears.
The two seabirds landed on the edge of the window together, combing each other's feathers, and then flew away immediately after a short pause.
Xia Zuoyi looked back and looked at Judit, who was standing quietly beside him: "Do you know Weissus?"
"Lord Count, I have lived in Wessas since I was a child, and naturally I understand it."
"In that case, take me out for a walk, Judit."
"Yes."
Judit walked in front of Xia Zoe, made a rude gesture, stretched out his hands and gently lifted Xia Zoe's arms away from the high and wide chair for him.
"… "
Xia Zuoyi tried her best to maintain her inner peace, her expression as calm as possible.
Get used to it, get used to it.
He was only six years old, and he was still a baby.
The town of Wissas is a kilometer away from the coastline and further away from the Castle of Desinia.
Xia Zoe asked the driver to park the carriage on the main road that was about to enter the town.
He could already see innumerable low houses not far away, crowds of people selling, roads mixed with sewage, mud, and feces...
Perhaps because it had just rained in the morning, the air not only smelled more "fresh", but there was hardly any clean place on the road to get down.
"Lord Count, aren't we going in?" Seeing the little Count just staring at the ground while standing on the carriage, the coachman summoned his courage and asked.
Xia Zuoyi: "you wait here."
The insignia of Desinia was engraved on the carriage, which was too conspicuous.
"Judit, Kelly, we... go in."
For the first time, this "go" he said was extremely difficult.
"Do you need me to hold you? Lord Count." Judit said.
Xia Zoe paused and stretched out his arms silently: "Please, Judit."
A smile flashed in Judit's eyes: "This is what I should do, my lord."
He carried Xia Zoe into the town, and Kelly followed.
Pretty lively in town.
Most of the stalls selling on both sides place the goods directly on the ground or stones.
A few people who know cleanliness will pull a piece of sackcloth to spread it, and the more upscale one is to put a wooden table in front of the storefront.
The so-called store door is to clean up the place where you live and store the goods, which is simple and messy.
Xia Zoe looked around.
The most popular products in the market are cheap vegetables such as brown bread, rye wine, dried bean pods and onions, as well as some utensils, accessories and other objects.
It was almost halfway through the market before I saw two stalls selling pork, and I could smell the strong stench of pork from a distance.
I live by the sea but I haven't seen any fish stalls.
Because on the Western Continent, the price of fish is higher than that of pork, and only the nobles can afford it.
The cost of fishing boats is not cheap, and the weather on the sea can change, and there may be strong winds and waves in the next moment.
The most important thing is that the fish will have a disgusting fishy smell if it is not handled well, and not many people will eat it.
For commoners, the business of selling fish is very uneconomical.
Xia Zoe kept the observed situation in mind.
Not far away, a young man with brown hair and brown eyes, a handsome appearance, and although his clothes were old but still clean and tidy, kept going back and forth between three or four stalls around.
He usually passes by when the stall owner is selling or has sold out, and stands quietly the rest of the time.
Xia Zuoyi wondered, "what is he doing?"
"I'll go over and ask, my lord."
Before Xia Zuoyi could react, Judit had already handed him over to Kelly to continue holding him, and then went to one of the booths where the boy went back and forth.
Kelly was shorter but stronger than Udit, with strong arms that held people firmly.
But because she was a woman, Xia Zuoyi got uncomfortable, twisted her body slightly and said, "Put me down, Kelly, I'm too heavy."
"You're not heavy at all, you're too light, you should eat more."
Kelly couldn't help but think of the little earl's appetite, as if he had dwindled a lot since he recovered from his illness.
"You are all skinny!"
Xia Zuoyi glanced at her slightly bulging belly, chubby arms and legs... She didn't comment on Kelly's genuine concerns.
Not long after, Judit came back.
"The boy's name is Gibran Gino."
"I heard from the stall owner that he is very good at math. When they sell things, he will help confirm whether the price is wrong, so as to earn tips to support himself and his younger brother."
"How much does he make?"
"A copper coin."
Judit couldn't help but say a few more words: "Most of the people in the market know him, only the stall owners with good business will call him to help confirm, three or four are the most cases, and it is not necessary every time. he."
Besides, the fair in Vessus only happens once every ten days.
There is a limited amount of copper coins that Gibran Keno can earn.
There are three currencies in circulation on the Western Continent - gold, silver and copper.
One gold coin equals one hundred silver coins, and one silver coin equals one hundred copper coins.
Usually, one silver coin is enough for a month's living and expenses for an ordinary commoner's family.
Xia Zuoyi looked at the boy and happened to meet his brown eyes.
After a while, the young man looked away expressionlessly, saw a stall owner beckoning, and walked over quickly.
Xia Zuoyi also looked back: "What's in there?"
They are now on the outskirts of town.
Judit: "Pubs, clothing stores, shoe stores..."
Xia Zoe didn't plan to go to see it.
"Let's go back."
"Yes, Lord Count." Judit said softly.
Gibran Gino couldn't help turning his head to look at the backs of them leaving, especially the child in his arms, who was white and tender, and looked like a commoner could not raise.
What's more, the fabrics and shoes for making clothes are not cheap.
He remembered the pair of beautiful and sweet eyes that looked like caramel in the eyes just now, he couldn't help but tut, and muttered, "...Little noble."
For Xia Zoe, being familiar with Desinia and Weissus is the first step in how to incorporate Parshan into the territory.
Pal Mountain is not currently part of any territory.
The second step is how he wants to ask King Gadayat to obtain land through the gift of the king.
The third step, after obtaining Parr Mountain, with the current situation of Weissus' lack of population, lack of cavalry, poverty and backwardness, how should he keep the natural asphalt mine from being taken away by other lords after digging out the natural asphalt mine.
No matter where it is, a vein is undoubtedly precious and rare.
The coachman brandished his whip and drove the carriage back to the castle.
Judit and Kelly were sitting in the carriage, watching the little earl rubbing his eyes on the bumpy road. He seemed to be sleepy. After a while, he leaned against Judit's arm with a small yawn and closed his eyes to rest. .
Oh so cute.
Kelly couldn't help but covered her chest, reluctant to look away to look at the little earl, to see his long and curly eyelashes, his rosy white and chubby face, and the lips that were slightly pouted by the pressure on his arms.
Omg.
Kelly praised the Count's cuteness to the God of Creation.
Too deadly.
[Ding.]
Xia Zoe saw that the reputation value on the upper right of the system interface increased again, from 11 points to 12 points—breakthrough from zero to double digits, all contributed by the servants in the castle, and they undoubtedly played a great role.
He clicks the white building icon.
A small stickman pulls the search box to appear - [Almighty Library provides you with professional books, please enter the book name or content.]
Xia Zuoyi: "Salt the sea water."
[Searching for sea salt drying for you, please wait... Ding, successfully searched "History of Salt drying Method", "Sea Salt drying Method and Detailed Explanation Diagram".]
Xia Zuoyi clicked on "Salting Method and Detailed Explanation of Seawater".
[Reading "Salting Method and Detailed Explanation of Seawater" requires 20 reputation points to exchange.]
After the system asked whether to exchange, Xia Zoe chose no.
He pursed his lips and slowly opened his eyes.
Judit saw that the little earl who was leaning against him seemed to have slightly puffed up soft cheeks because he had not rested well, and the corners of his mouth turned down, a little depressed and unhappy.
He couldn't help but gently followed Xia Zoe's back and said, "Lord Count, it's almost time to reach the castle."
Xia Zoe looked out of the car window.
From here, you can clearly see the bright red flag fluttering in the wind on the castle - the thorn rose representing the glory of the Desinia family.
- The black thorns with countless thorns coiled and surrendered under the gorgeous roses. The rich red and black were entangled with each other. They knew the danger but couldn't help being attracted.
Nobles who have been around for a long time in the country have the emblem of their own family - representing identity, power and status.
Nobles will engrave their emblems on everything that can show their status.
For example, the badges worn on the body, the flags flying in the castle, the carriages that go out...even the armor of the knights are engraved with logos.
After arriving at the castle, Xia Zoe went to the study to get a set of keys.
"Judit, light the kerosene lamp and follow me."
"Yes, Lord Count."
The place they were going to was built in the basement of the castle, an underground laboratory specially arranged by the old earl for his obsession with alchemy.
The layers of stone steps meander down, stepping on it, you can clearly feel the moist water vapor soaking through the stone steps, moss grows in the gaps, you can smell the faint smell of sea water and the smell of damp and moldy under the walls.
At the end, there is a tall iron gate that is locked on one side.
Xia Zoe looked at the height of the keyhole and silently handed the key to Judit.
Judit took it and opened it.
A dusty musty air came over.
No one has come in here since the death of the old earl, Matt Designia.
until today.
Xia Zuoyi decided to implement his plan after he knew almost what he needed to know.
According to the foreshadowing before the second step of the plan, he will inherit the legacy of the old earl and become an alchemist, providing an explanatory reason for the knowledge and materials that will be used in the future infrastructure construction.
What is alchemy
- Turn things that are not gold into gold, and touch stones into gold.
- Pursuing pharmaceuticals, hoping to make "Philosopher's Stone" as a panacea.
In layman's terms, alchemy is a "chemical experiment" developed in the two main aspects of metallurgy and medicine.
It's just that, under the influence of feudal theology, the ultimate goal of alchemy seems absurd, ridiculous, and unrealistic.
But it is undeniable that in the process of continuous search, some talented people have also obtained a lot of achievements through alchemy and have been practically applied in related fields.
This has also led to countless people becoming more and more obsessed with and respecting alchemy, taking pride in becoming an alchemist.
Alchemy can be called the primitive form of chemistry.
In Xia Zuoyi's view, medieval alchemy and ancient Chinese alchemy have similar results, especially in the pursuit of "elixir of life".
The kerosene lamp standing in the underground laboratory was lit, and the dark room finally lit up.
There are two long tables in the middle, with oddly shaped equipment and utensils, some scattered manuscripts, animal skins, bones, etc.
Surrounded by iron racks, many marked finished products are lined up.
Xia Zuoyi took a look around and found that many things had deteriorated and moldy due to poor preservation, and had green hairs.
He didn't understand the reason why the old earl built the laboratory underground.
The environment is dark and humid.
If you stay here for a long time, won't your eyes go blind
Xia Zuoyi shook his head and made up his mind to move the laboratory away.
"Judit, let someone come down and move all the things in the room to the attic, the largest attic."
"Yes, Lord Count."
Xia Zoe wanted to obtain Parshan through the king's gift, first of all, he had to make credit or offer a "gift" of sufficient weight to the king.
The Cogit Sea is close at hand and is a huge treasure trove of nature.
The "gift" he chose was naturally the sea salt method.