Chapter 396 Water Ballet
When Dane wailed at the tip of the Dange Peak Fort, Raven had already crossed the northwest corridor of the Mangtaine Province and came to the territory of the Shanplons Province.
Samplens is located in the central and western part of the continent. Its unique geographical location makes its climate quite arid, especially to the east of the central part. It can almost be said to be a barren area and has the largest Gobi desert in the empire.
Just when I came, Lei Wen and his party found several local guides and began their journey through the desert.
It was midsummer and the sun was burning and thirsty.
In just two days, even Denise, who loves beauty the most, had to wrap her headscarf in a headscarf to fight the scorching sun - the carriage was so stuffy that it was too boring to stay.
Men have long kept themselves tightly.
And at night, the temperature will drop suddenly.
The iron armor placed outside will condense into dew, attracting lizards and insects unique to the desert to lick the water.
When sleeping, you must wrap a thick blanket to resist the intense cold.
Everyone should carefully check their belongings when they wake up early to prevent "new neighbors" such as scorpions, spiders, and venomous snakes curled up inside.
Even so, there will still be unlucky guys and careless guys who are involved in the trap and have to eat the snake fruit and hold the corpse in the carriage all day.
"The desert will not flow with horse hooves."
Levin is more able to understand this proverb that circulated in Shanplons.
The power of nature is often not something that humans can fight against, you can only adapt.
As the trip lengthens, even if the accompanying people are veterans of a hundred battles, their energy will be visible to the naked eye - after all, waking up with licking their dry lips every morning is not an easy thing to adapt to.
But fortunately, the desert has an end, and Shanplons is not entirely the only one with the desert.
When the trip came to the west of Shanplons, the ground began to appear green grass. After walking for two days, you can see many low hills with dense vegetation.
Caves are the characteristic here, and where there are caves, hot springs are often accompanied by places.
For the nobles who can take hot baths at any time, hot springs are not rare. When they passed by here, neither Raven nor Denise had a particularly deep impression of it.
But after more than a month of desert trip, it seems particularly attractive.
So at Denise's strong request, Lei Wen "gos with the flow" and gave the soldiers under his command a short vacation, and he took Denise to the best hot spring manor in the local area, "The Embrace of Dawn".
The night is dark and everything is silent, only the croaking insects in the grass nest are chirping.
Danise was soaked leisurely in the pool water.
Under the moisturizing of the smooth hot spring, Denise's skin showed a cute and transparent redness, and as she held her long hair and shook gently, the moist skin began to tremble sexyly.
The water drops drip from the ends of the hair and fall on the round shoulders. Before it gets cold, it will fall into the water.
Put your hair down, Denise relaxed her body in the water, and her smooth knees rushed to the water tremblingly under the action of buoyancy.
It looks like two water lilies blooming.
She closed her eyes, and a comfortable humming flowed out of her nose, blew the waves.
Squeak.
The door was gently opened, footsteps sounded, Denise frowned slightly, and a smile lit up at the corner of her mouth and pressed down: "Can't you let me rest for a while?"
"I'll come to you to press your shoulders." Lei Wen walked to the waterside.
Denise had sat upright at this time, covering her chest with one hand, and giving up a gap behind her.
Sitting by the pool, his legs fell into the water, Denise naturally leaned up.
Levin stretched out his hands, his fingers landed on Denise's temples and gently kneaded them.
A layer of chicken skin floated on Denise's body, and her body became more relaxed. Her head leaned back against Raven's knees, and her red lips separated a gap, spitting out warmth like orchids.
The delicate skin showed a slight deformation under Lei Wen's fingers.
Levin's fingers slowly fell downwards and landed on Denise's shoulders.
Denise opened her eyes in shock, and before she could make a sound, Levin's lips were blocked.
Staring at Lei Wen, it seems angry and resentful:
"What are you doing?"
As he said, Raven had already blocked Denise's lips again.
Denise leaned against Raven's arms, and her skin became redder and softer, as if it would melt in the hot spring at any time.
Raiven stroked Denise's smooth spine and whispered: "I always think that you have such a good figure, but it's a pity to sit behind the table to process documents every day."
Denise responded casually: "Then what do you think I should do..."
"I think you are suitable for dancing." Raven leaned into Denise's ear: "There is a kind of dance called 'water ballet'. I wonder if you have heard of it?"
"What...?"
...
She has no strength at all.
Lei Wen leaned against the edge of the pool and drank quietly.
The fatigue of rushing through the journey during this period and the pressure accumulated in the capital.
At this time, a black cat jumped from the wall to the edge of the pond, took a few steps, opened his mouth and spit out a dark green crystal.
The weeds around suddenly began to grow wildly.
Bang.
Raven grabbed him in his hand and looked at Sikret: "When did you catch up?"
"When you are on the water ballet." Sikret licked his claws, his face full of disgust.
Danise's face showed a hint of embarrassment, but she also knew that Sikret was Raven's magic pet, so she quickly covered it up:
"Is this... a magic core?"
"Sir Dane's level 7 magic core." As she said that, Raven took it into the ring.
Denise was stunned, looked at Raven, and then looked at Sicolite:
"How did you get it?"
Although she had never been to the secret room, she was very excited and could not easily get such a treasure. "It's not difficult for me." Sikret said lightly: "After all, those traps and magic circles are designed for human races and humanoid races, and they won't be wary of a cat."
It's okay if you don't explain, but Denise is even more confused about this explanation.
Does a demon pet have such great ability?
"Raven, what are you going to do with it?" asked Sikret. "Stay it for now." Lei Wen said, "With my current level, no matter how I use it, it's a waste."
Sicorite glanced at Lei Wen again, shook his tail, jumped onto the wall, and disappeared.
With the black cat's thrust, the ambiguous atmosphere disappeared. Denise got up from the pool, grabbed the bathrobe and dried it, and was about to go back to the room.
Looking at the slim figure and the slender jade feet, Lei Wen almost couldn't bear to let Denise go.
No words all night.
The next morning, Raven accompanied Denise to the second floor of the main building in the manor for dinner.
Although the entire building is made of stone, many of the furniture and support are wood, and water vapor is soaked in water, it is inevitable that it has a moldy smell and looks a bit dilapidated.
The breakfast was not rich, there were only two plates of potato soup with minced meat. Fortunately, the freshly baked bread was quite fresh.
Because it was still summer, there were not many customers, and the owner of the manor also occupied a table and was chatting with his wife about home.
Most of the complaints in his tone are like a poor couple.
The merchant Denise's true nature has not changed. As he listened, he suddenly asked: "Isn't this manor profitable?"
The operator heard Denise's question, and thought she had something in her words. He put down the bread in his hand and walked up:
"Mrs. Is there anything inconsiderate about the service last night?" "No." Denise smiled and said, "It's just a bit strange. Your hot springs are very good, the environment is good, and it's not far from the desert. Shouldn't you worry about money?"
"If you just raise our family, it would be enough." The operator smiled bitterly, his expression became a little complicated, but perhaps because of the long-term lack of the object of bitterness, he pulled a stool and sat at the table: "I see that the two of them should be nobles, right?" "You said 'also'..." Lei Wen was a little confused.
"Yes, as you thought, I am also aristocrat." The operator said, "Please allow me to introduce myself, Adie Ota Baiheng, Baron of the Empire."
"Raven, Raven Shiva Griffith; this is my aunt Denise."
Addy showed a look of astonishment on her face. Although he heard about Count Raven's arrival nearby, he really didn't expect that he was such a young man. He quickly stood up:
"Sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it..."
"Sit." Lei Wen smiled and said, "It's just a little gossip, don't be nervous."
Addy nodded and sat down crampedly and respectfully.
Lei Wen was really a little curious: "You are obviously a nobleman, why are you starting a business yourself? You can't leave it to the housekeeper for management?"
The newest ⊥小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小小� "Sir, the housekeeper has the housekeeper's business." "There is mainly because we are too poor here." Adid said with a bitter face:
"Mrs. Denise said before that we are leaning against the desert, which means that this is the nearest destination for travelers and the economy should not be bad."
"But this is also divided into two sides."
"Although many travelers gather here, it does bring a lot of benefits, but it also costs a lot."
"Sir, come here, there are many people, and you may not know how rampant sand thieves are in the desert."
"In order to prevent them, they spend at least 600 gold coins every year on defense. Occasionally, a capable leader will be even more expensive to hire a Mercenary Guild."
Denise nodded and asked, "What about hot springs? The quality of your hot springs is quite good!"
"In Xishan Prons, the most deficient thing is hot springs." Adie sighed and said, "You also know that the enjoyment of hot springs is either rich or noble, but there are so many options. Apart from those who rushed from the east, who would come to a place like me specifically?"
Levin said, "Business is not developed, but agriculture? I don't think this place is as barren as the desert."
Speaking of this, Adie's face became even more depressed. He was silent for a moment before he continued to speak.
It turns out that although this place is not a desert, the soil quality is actually quite poor, half sand and half soil. Many common crops, such as rye and barley, have no harvest. Apart from some fruits and vegetables, the only thing that can be grown is potatoes.
Fruits are difficult to store and transport. They can only be adjusted and sold nearby, so they cannot make money.
Although the yield of potatoes is not bad, enough to be fed and fed, it is not valuable in itself and it cannot be sold.
It’s not okay to feed animals.
Although it is not a big deal to eat a small amount after cooking, if it is used to feed pigs and cows in large quantities, these animals will have stomachache and even die inexplicably. Therefore, they can only be used as a supplementary source of food and cannot be used as a staple food.
Moreover, it is not resistant to storage. Even if it is placed in the cellar in winter, it will become rotten and sprout over time.
After harvesting, it will basically rot 50% of the time. Therefore, if you encounter a flood and drought accident, you have to buy grain from outside.
Laiwen listened and his eyes lit up: "Does the potato yield be high here?"
Adi replied casually: "It's not just us, but the three counties westward, it's the main crop."
"Three counties..." Leiwen knocked his finger on the wooden table: "So, if you send me an invitation, you will say that I want to buy a large number of potatoes, let these nobles come over and discuss with me."
"Master Earl, are you saying true?" Adi was shocked and looked at Lei Wen's serious eyes. He couldn't help rubbing his hands. His eyes became extremely enthusiastic: "Don't ask them, my territory can produce about 6 million pounds of potatoes this year, and they can be sold to you!"
"Too few." Lei Wen smiled and said: "Go and help me deliver the letter. No matter who you buy, I will accept all yours!"
"Yes, Little Earl!"
A job that can make money is always full of motivation. This time, Adida is fully engaged in firepower, and even uses the channels of the Mercenary Guild to deliver letters to various nobles.
The nobles who received the letter were half-believing and half-doubted - if Adi had not been quite positive in his usual image and Lei Wen was indeed famous, they would not have come at all.
Even if it comes, I am confused.
Who would go to buy potatoes that you don’t even eat when you’re idle?
Some people think that Earl Leiwen gathered everyone together by buying potatoes, but actually wanted to build an organization like the Xuefeng County Chamber of Commerce.
Someone secretly said that he heard that Earl Lei Wen had suffered a lot of grievances in the king's king. It is very likely that after he got here, the more he thought about it, the more he thought about it, he was ready to raise his arms and take everyone to rebel against the king.
However, beyond everyone's expectations, Raven was really just here to talk about buying potatoes.
The meeting lasted for 6 days.
A total of 41 nobles present, as a whole, reached an acquisition agreement with Raven. Raven will acquire potato output from these three counties in the next five years at a price of 0.37 per pound.
These nobles also have the obligation to guarantee each other. No matter which potato shipped by the company has problems, the purchase price will be reduced by 10% within the next year, and there will be no bottom cover.
In terms of transportation, the manpower is paid by people from these three counties, but the freight is handled by Lei Wen.
In order to reach this agreement, Lei Wen left 300,000 gold coins as an advance payment. If it is spent within 5 years, he will continue to invest in the next investment.
The nobles in these three counties were very happy - who could have thought that these garbage that could only be rotten in the fields could be sold?
Even Denise was shocked.
At the beginning, she thought Lei Wen gathered so many people to select the best and buy a batch of potatoes for food.
But Lei Wen bought too much.
Based on the scale of these noble fiefs, Denise predicted that even if the land was not used to plant potatoes, the potatoes that Raven acquired would not be less than 300 million pounds each year.
Not to mention the existing population of the Griffith family, even if it is more than enough to support the entire Xuefeng County!
Although I know that Lei Wen never does meaningless things, and the previous commercial operations have proved Lei Wen's vision, the night before leaving, Denise found Lei Wen: "What do you want to do if you want so many potatoes?"
"Make potato chips." Lei Wen replied clearly. Seeing that Denise still didn't understand, he explained, "It's just washing the potatoes, cutting them into thin slices, frying them in oil, and then sprinkling some salt..."
It's okay if you don't say it, but as soon as you say it, Denise became even more confused: "What's the use of this...?"
Potatoes can be said to be the lowest-end food. It's a waste to use precious oil on them, let alone salt.
From the knowledge she has mastered, doing so can only extend the shelf life of potatoes, but the cost is not enough - buy rye nearby and bake it into dry black bread, which is easier to store.
Denice asked, "Is it possible that the province of Nord is going to cause locust plague and food shortage again?"
"You shouldn't ask me about this, you should ask Annuo for divination." Lei Wen said. "Then what's the point of making this 'potato chips'?" "Of course it's to make money - make a lot of money!" Denise still couldn't understand, but there was time for her to think about it afterwards.
After the negotiations, Lei Wen led a team to set off and set off with a small batch of sample potatoes.
The next stop is Beihai Province.
After crossing the North Sea, it is Nord.
…
(This chapter ends)