Ch. 1431..1440
Chapter 1431: The first engagement in 1430
“When did His Majesty the King establish this rule?” Busodi asked, “Samiyi, could this merely be an excuse of yours?”
Samiyi had to remain calm; she was the only one in charge here. If she couldn’t stop Busodi, then much bigger problems would arise.
“Would I have any need to lie to you?” Samiyi said with a face of composure, “You claim you have important official business to report to His Majesty the King, just as I also have pressing matters to discuss with His Majesty. But the King is currently resting, and we cannot see him.”
Busodi glared at Samiyi, and Samiyi glared back. Neither of them spoke, each trying to overpower the other with their presence.
After a good while, Busodi couldn’t hold back any longer. He chuckled, then took a seat on the sofa in the hall. “Samiyi, since His Majesty the King is resting, let’s just sit here and wait together. I don’t believe His Majesty will sleep forever.”
Samiyi didn’t show a hint of panic. She also let out a slight laugh, then took a seat on a sofa nearby. “I also think that’s an excellent idea. Let’s wait, then.”
On the table, there were some grapes that Tan Rou had eaten halfway. These were Samiyi’s favorite grapes. Since she hadn’t had her lunch yet, she picked up the plate of grapes from the table and started eating.
If Busodi wanted to test their endurance, she would have to appear relaxed. Only by driving Busodi away could the King be safe.
Busodi had come in a rush. He had just finished his work at the mine and immediately returned, only to hear Monica’s crying. He hadn’t even taken a bite of food before he came to the palace to settle accounts with the King. Yet, instead of seeing the King, he encountered the King’s extremely troublesome sister.
Busodi’s stomach was growling. The sight of the glittering grapes made him feel ravenous.
Samiyi kept a watchful eye on Busodi’s movements. Seeing him swallowing saliva, she guessed he hadn’t had lunch.
Since neither of them had eaten, the confrontation today would soon decide a victor. Because at the poetry gathering that morning, she had already eaten quite a bit, which could help her last a bit longer.
Busodi was about to say, “Could you spare me some grapes,” but then he saw Samiyi take the entire plate of grapes for herself, not intending to share any with him.
He was slightly angry. What was so great about a plate of grapes anyway? If he didn’t eat them, so be it. He was sure he could hold out.
Samiyi placed the plate of grapes on her lap. In this way, Busodi wouldn’t be able to reach for them.
But merely this wouldn’t be enough to drive Busodi away, so Samiyi devised another plan. She sent a message to Puli, then had Puli notify and arrange for the servants to place freshly roasted meat in a well-ventilated area and then fan the aroma inside.
Soon, the fragrance filled the entire hall. Busodi couldn’t stay seated. He stood up and sat back down as if struggling to endure something.
Samiyi felt this still wasn’t enough. She commanded to increase the number of foods with strong scents and had servants in clothes splashed with soup come in and walk around near Busodi.
Busodi’s face turned very ugly. Unable to hold back, he asked, “Samiyi, what do you mean by this?”
Samiyi put the last grape into her mouth, and after finishing it, she leisurely replied, “Prince Busodi, it is time for a meal. The people in the palace are busy cooking; a bit of kitchen smoke is inevitable.”
Busodi said furiously, “Since when has the palace’s smoke extraction network system become so poor? And what about these servants? Must they wear dirty clothes while working?”
Samiyi responded, “Prince Busodi, you should be more lenient towards them. They are very busy, as they must prepare lunch and attend to guests. They’re so hurried they don’t have time to change out of their dirty clothes.”
Busodi was nearly driven mad by their actions. He said very angrily, “All of you, get out!”
Samiyi said with a cold face, “Prince Busodi, this isn’t your manor. Please refrain from scolding the servants inside, or I will also be unkind.”
Just then, a servant girl came over with a plate of roast meat. As soon as she approached, she stumbled, and all the aromatic meat fell to the ground.
Busodi eyed the roast meat and said angrily, “That was on purpose!”
Chapter 1432: Troublesome person
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” The maid immediately knelt down to admit her mistake, but she was calling out not to Prince Busodi, but to Princess Samiyi, “Your Highness, it really wasn’t intentional, please forgive me this one time!”
Samiyi glanced at the kneeling maid and said, “I can forgive you, but it is Prince Busodi who wants to punish you now. Although this isn’t his estate, he still wants to overstep and punish you. Do you agree to this?”
The maid lowered her head and said, “As long as His Royal Highness can calm down, I can do anything.”
“Samiyi!” Busodi really wanted to kill this woman, so she wouldn’t be an eyesore in front of him, but he couldn’t lay a hand on Samiyi because it wasn’t the time to do so.
“Prince Busodi, we’re all waiting for your answer. Are you going to punish her, or let her go?” Samiyi said, “You know, it’s mealtime now, and if you keep standing here, it’s going to affect the maids and guards’ lunch.”
Samiyi was extremely calm. No matter how angry Busodi was, she could talk to him calmly. If she wasn’t calm, then there would be no one in the palace capable of handling affairs.
Busodi had known for a long time that Samiyi was difficult to deal with. She had always stayed behind the King acting the obedient princess, so he hadn’t seen her as a rival. But judging from today’s situation, he had underestimated her.
The scent of roasting meat wafted in through the window again. The prince, who had never suffered hardship, naturally couldn’t stand hunger. He said angrily to Samiyi, “Since His Majesty the King is resting, I won’t disturb him. I’ll come back to report to him after he wakes up.”
“It’s getting late,” Samiyi said. “Prince Busodi, you should get going now. If you wait any longer, you’ll miss lunchtime.”
“I don’t need your reminder.” Prince Busodi said coldly, “The maids in my estate are not as untrained as those in the palace, nor are they as clumsy. They know exactly what they should and shouldn’t do, and what they should do well.”
Samiyi smiled, “Although the maids inside the palace aren’t as clever and capable as those in your estate, they are very obedient. I don’t need the smartest people by my side, but I absolutely need obedient ones. Prince Busodi, I advise you to find a few obedient people as well. Why would you keep someone by your side who always causes trouble for you?”
Of course, Busodi understood what Samiyi meant by her words; she was mocking him for choosing a trouble-making queen.
“You needn’t worry about my affairs, Princess Samiyi,” Busodi said with a fierce glare. “I will come to see His Majesty the King again. I hope next time I come, he is not sleeping.”
“Of course, His Majesty the King can’t be sleeping all the time,” Samiyi replied. Though she hadn’t known Tan Rou for long, she trusted her deeply. It was as if Tan Rou had a kind of reassuring magic, making everyone around her feel at ease.
Without gaining any advantage from Samiyi, Busodi left in a huff.
Samiyi truly sweat for herself; if Busodi hadn’t been hungry today, she wasn’t sure she could have lasted against him.
“Your Highness…” the maid kneeling on the floor spoke up, “Should I clean the floor now?”
“No need,” Samiyi quickly helped her up. “I am really sorry for making you kneel so long.”
The maid replied, “To resolve the princess’s troubles is my duty. There’s no need for courtesy, Your Highness.”
Samiyi smiled and said, “You’ve all worked hard. Go take turns having your meal.”
In fact, neither the guards nor the maids had eaten, but to cooperate with the princess, they could only endure the hunger.
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Samiyi had eaten too many grapes and wasn’t hungry now, so she continued to stay inside the hall. That way, she could stop anyone from entering the King’s room at the first opportunity.
Although she had won over Busodi today, he was a very difficult person, and she believed it wouldn’t be long before he returned.
Yet, on the other side, Busodi also felt that Samiyi was a very challenging person to deal with.
Chapter 1433: 1432 loses temper
Busodi returned home filled with rage, having not eaten, and then having been played by Samiyi. How could he not be angry?
“His Royal Highness, you’re back!” the manor’s butler greeted Busodi with a smile.
But Busodi, now unable to look at anyone favorably, heard the butler greet him and subconsciously yelled, “Where else would I go if not here?”
The butler didn’t know what he had done to offend Prince Busodi, but facing the prince’s scolding, all he could do was silently bear it, “Yes, yes, this is your home, you should come here.”
“Hmph, do you still remember this is my home?” Busodi asked, “Then why, when I come back, are you the only one to greet me?”
The butler was sweating coldly, “It is rest time now; the Princess and the two young princes have already gone to rest…”
Busodi didn’t let the butler finish, he angrily shouted, “I’m out there working myself to death and no one bothers to ask, they don’t have to do anything, they don’t even come to greet me when I return. Are they the masters of this house, then?”
The butler felt that Prince Busodi must have been provoked again at the palace. Whenever he was provoked and came back from the palace, he would explode in anger. However, he had never lashed out at the Princess and the young princes before. This time must have been a major provocation, as he even scolded the Princess and the young princes.
Facing Busodi’s questioning, all the butler needed to do was to maintain his silence, since the prince would calm down after venting his anger.
Yet this time, the butler was wrong; after scolding them, Busodi went to the bedroom of the Princess and the young princes.
Monica was taking a nap and was dreaming sweetly when suddenly she felt a pain in her arm, followed by her falling to the floor.
“Was there an earthquake?” Monica suddenly woke up, clutching her painful arm and screaming, “Help, there’s an earthquake!”
Busodi, for the first time, found Monica’s voice so annoying, he slapped her across the face, “Shut up!”
Monica was terrified, she covered her face, and shockingly asked, “Your Highness, why did you hit me?” After speaking, she burst into tears.
Busodi couldn’t stand to see a woman cry, seeing Monica cry so sadly made him feel somewhat distressed, so he reached out and pulled Monica up, “Sorry, I was a bit emotional just now.”
Monica felt wronged. She had been played by Samiyi and others at the palace in the morning, and then unexplainedly got slapped in the afternoon. Why was she so pitiful?
“Your Highness, why did you hit me?” Monica cried, “This morning I was played by Samiyi, and in the afternoon, while I was sleeping, you slapped me. What did I do wrong?”
Busodi also felt that his behavior was wrong, and he comforted Monica in a gentle tone, “It’s my fault; I haven’t had lunch yet, and when I saw you had already eaten and were lying down, I felt somewhat annoyed, so I hit you.”
Even though Busodi offered an explanation, Monica didn’t want to listen; she shook off Busodi’s hand and then sat on the ground and started to tantrum, “I know, people in the palace look down on me, they say my education is too low, they say my background is too humble, thinking I’m not a match for the prince. I never took their words seriously because I know His Royal Highness loves me, as long as His Royal Highness loves me, I won’t be afraid of other people’s mockery! But sob sob sob…”
Monica covered her face and wept bitterly, “Since His Royal Highness despises me, then I might as well die!”
After saying that, she ran towards the window.
The nearby maids saw this and immediately rushed over to stop Monica, shouting, “Your Highness, please don’t do anything foolish!”
Originally, Busodi felt a bit guilty toward Monica, but seeing her seeking death again, he just felt irritated.
“Again with this act, huh?” Busodi angrily said, “If you want to die that badly, then just jump!”
Monica was stunned, then she cried even louder, “I don’t want to live, I don’t want to live.”
Her maids held her tightly, knowing that Monica wasn’t really seeking death, so they had to play along with Monica’s act.
Their arguing woke up the two young princes in the next room. Crying, they wanted to find their mother. As they passed by Busodi, they didn’t even stop to glance at him.
Chapter 1434: In 1433, we didn’t have a meal
Busodi grew even angrier. Even though they were his sons, the two little things just didn’t seem to warm up to him, not even when he bought them toys or spent time playing with them on each return— they just weren’t affectionate with him.
“You two, come here!” Busodi yelled.
The toddlers, not yet two years old, didn’t understand what their father was saying—all they wanted was to find their mother.
The children’s crying, the woman’s weeping, and the maids’ shouting all mingled into one, giving Busodi a headache.
He wanted to walk over and slap each of them, but it was useless. Hitting them would only make them noisier.
The little Princes’ nannies had arrived; seeing the situation inside, they dared not come any closer.
Busodi commanded, “Take those two little ones away, and don’t let them make a fuss here.”
One of the nannies said, “Your Royal Highness, this is your family matter, which we shouldn’t interfere with, but you’ve been away for a long time. The first thing you should do upon your return is to bond with the Queen and the two little Princes, not scold them here.”
Busodi was furious. “Who exactly is your master?”
The nannies didn’t dare speak anymore. They quickly carried away the two crying children lest His Royal Highness, in his anger, end up punishing the little Princes as well.
“Stop the noise!” Busodi shouted, “I told you to shut up, did you hear me?”
Monica paid no attention to Busodi; she kept moving toward the window as if she really intended to jump and commit suicide.
“Fine, you’re the master of this house. I will leave, alright!” Busodi turned and left.
Once he was gone, Monica stopped crying. She wiped her tears and scolded the maids beside her, “Are you all blind? Didn’t you know to inform me when His Royal Highness returned? Couldn’t you stop him when he hit me?”
The maids bowed their heads in acknowledgement of their mistake. They had indeed seen Busodi come in, but they had not expected him to strike Monica, for Busodi usually doted on the Queen and had never laid a hand on her.
“I’m just thoroughly unlucky,” Monica cleared her throat and ordered, “Go prepare some lung-moistening soup for me; I need to soothe my throat. This old fool’s temper is getting weirder by the day. It’s not my fault he can’t become the King, if he has the ability, why doesn’t he just off the King himself?”
What Monica said was highly treasonous, but the maids beside her showed no reaction at all, which showed she often spoke in this manner, and that her maids were extremely loyal. She trusted them implicitly.
Prince Busodi was so upset that he couldn’t even eat. Having been angered once in the palace, and now again upon his return, it felt as though the entire country had no place for him, as if he was an utterly redundant person.
“Your Highness, are you troubled again?” a man around thirty years of age walked in from outside, “You can tell me your concerns, I can help you solve them.”
Upon seeing him, Busodi immediately brightened up, “Oh, we haven’t seen each other for quite some time, Mr. Kudu.”
The man known as Kudu replied, “Yes, since I went to study abroad in Country M, we haven’t seen each other. It’s been almost a year now.”
Busodi inquired, “How was Mr. Kudu’s study tour?”
Kudu replied, “Very smooth. I have learned a great deal. If Your Highness wishes to hear about it, I can spend a lot of time discussing it with you. But before that, I would like to make a request and hope you can grant it.”
Kudu’s manner of speaking was very pleasant to Busodi, who nodded and said, “Speak whatever your request, Mr. Kudu.”
Kudu said, “I have just returned and have yet to have lunch—would His Royal Highness possibly grant me a midday meal?”
Just as Busodi was feeling sleepy, someone had come with a pillow—he himself had not eaten, while everyone else had. The thought of others having eaten while he had not was extremely infuriating. But now it was different, there was someone else who hadn’t eaten, so he felt a bit more balanced.
“Yes,” Busodi replied, “Let’s eat together.”
Kudu was a man who understood discretion. He did not ask why Busodi hadn’t eaten until now; he simply smiled and expressed his gratitude, “Thank you for your generosity!”
Chapter 1435: 1434 Who will be King
Busodi had the meal prepared, for he wished to host Mr. Kudu for dinner. Naturally, the people on the estate did not dare to neglect this task, and soon a table full of delicious food was served.
“Mr. Kudu, please don’t hold back, eat whatever you like.” Busodi raised his glass, “Come, let’s finish this glass.”
Kudu raised his own glass and once again expressed his gratitude to Busodi, “Thank you, Your Royal Highness, for your hospitality. I am very pleased. Only at Your Royal Highness’s residence can one enjoy such delicious food. When I was traveling and studying outside, all I had was trash, none of that could compare to the food here. Oh, this food is truly sublime—I wish I could always indulge in such delightful dishes!”
If Tan Rou were here, she would certainly be comparing Kudu with Lin Yu. Both were skilled in speech, yet Lin Yu’s words were structured and meaningful, whereas Kudu’s praise was nothing but flattery.
However, Busodi greatly appreciated it; he particularly enjoyed listening to Kudu talk because he believed that Kudu spoke the truth.
“Then don’t leave this time; reside in my estate from now on,” Busodi said with a smile. “Whatever you wish to eat, just inform the chefs of the estate, and they will prepare the food for you.”
But Kudu declined Busodi’s kind offer. “Your Royal Highness, you know my nature. I cannot stay long in one place because I am like a dandelion in flight, seeking the most wonderful place to take root. But for now, I have yet to find that beautiful place.”
Busodi said, “Then take your time searching. Before you find a place to settle, you are always welcome to stay here. My royal estate will always welcome you.”
Kudu thanked him once more, “Thank you, Your Royal Highness! However, I cannot stay for free; I noticed that you seemed troubled about something just now. If you need my assistance, please feel free to command me.”
Busodi had, indeed, been looking for someone to confide in about his worries, but Monica would only cry, the two children were too small, and everyone else were servants—he simply had no one to talk to.
Now things were better; his good friend Mr. Kudu had returned, a man who had given him many good ideas in the past and would surely help him out of trouble.
“I have noticed that the King has become wary of me,” Busodi revealed. “Today when I went to see him, he not only refused to meet me, but he also sent his sister to mock me. It truly angered me.”
Yet Kudu remained very composed, “Your Royal Highness, I think the King has been cautious of you for a long while. The King has a son; how could he not want his own child to succeed him as King?”
Hearing this, Busodi became even angrier, “Back then, it was already decided that I would be Crown Prince, but in the end, he still couldn’t let go of his foolish son.”
“Your Royal Highness, if you had to choose, would you pick your cousin or your own son?” Kudu asked.
Without hesitation, Busodi answered, “Of course, I would choose my son!”
Kudu chuckled, “Yes, for his own son, the King could easily change his decisions, especially since the final result had not been announced. However, in my opinion, I still hope that Prince Laka does not become the King; he simply doesn’t have the capacity.”
“In my heart, only the great Busodi is fit to be King. Only you can lead our country to a bright future.”
“Indeed, only I am most suited to be King,” Busodi said. “That idiot is not worthy of being King.”
“Exactly,” Kudu said with a smile. “No one is more suitable to be King than you are.”
Busodi was delighted, but after a few seconds, he began to worry again, “The problem is that fool is accompanied by two formidable assistants—one is a cunning foreigner, and the other is the troublesome Samiyi. That woman Samiyi appears gentle, but she has a bellyful of schemes!”
Kudu responded, “I have had a conversation with Mr. Lin, who is a patriot. He will soon return to his homeland. As for Princess Samiyi, she is just a woman, so no matter how intelligent she is, it’s of no consequence—the country will not have a queen.”
Chapter 1436: Don’t get too close to him at 14:35
Busodi sighed deeply, “Ah, why doesn’t the king just die? He’s clearly been ill for so long, but he just clings to life and won’t die. I had planned to finish him off while he was out, but he hasn’t left the palace for ten years, so I’ve had no chance to act.”
Kudu asked, “Has the king’s illness improved at all?”
“I don’t know,” Busodi shook his head, “His medical reports are never made public, and he looks quite healthy; if I hadn’t known he was sick before, I wouldn’t think he was ill now.”
“Could it be that his illness has already been cured?” Kudu speculated, “Perhaps the king has found a way to cure himself, and the reason he’s not gone out these years is that he’s been recuperating.”
Busodi twisted the silver fork in his hand, “Today when I went to see the king, Samiyi wouldn’t let me see him, claiming His Majesty the King was ill. I suspect his illness is acting up.”
Kudu immediately began congratulating Busodi, “Your Royal Highness, this could be a great opportunity. On my way back, I’ve already heard many people complaining about the new policies His Majesty the King has issued. If the king were to die now and you inherit the throne, then abolish those unreasonable policies, everyone would surely be very grateful to you.”
Busodi smiled slightly, “Of course, I’m the only one fit to be king. But before I become king, I need to dispose of all those who stand in my way.”
A sinister smile crept onto Kudu’s face, “I will always stand by your side.”
After finishing the meal, Kudu left Busodi’s estate. Despite Busodi’s insistence that he stay, Kudu declined, saying he preferred the freedom of the skies.
Mr. Kudu, who loved the freedom of the sky, quickly found himself outside the palace, intent on inquiring about the king’s condition.
Just then, Tan Rou and Lin Yu came out of the palace, and they ran into each other at the entrance.
Upon seeing Lin Yu, Kudu took the initiative to greet him, “Long time no see, Mr. Lin.”
Lin Yu was momentarily startled upon seeing Kudu but then smiled and greeted him, “Mr. Kudu, long time no see!”
Kudu smiled and then glanced at Tan Rou beside him, asking, “Is this beautiful young lady your friend?”
Lin Yu played it cautious, saying, “Oh, this is a foreign friend of the princess, from the same country as me. She doesn’t understand J country’s language, so the princess asked me to translate for her.”
Tan Rou didn’t understand why Lin Yu said this, but she cooperated very well, displaying an extremely curious look while they were talking.
Seeing the foreign woman’s puzzled yet curious expression, Kudu let his guard down, “Alright, then I won’t keep Mr. Lin and this beautiful young lady from going out. Have a good time.”
If Tan Rou could speak, she would definitely explain; however, she had to pretend she didn’t understand the language of J country, so she couldn’t clarify her relationship with Lin Yu.
It seemed Lin Yu didn’t care much for chatting with Kudu, he didn’t explain his relationship with Tan Rou, and instead, bid Kudu goodbye with a smile.
Only after they got into the car did Lin Yu explain to Tan Rou in their native language, “Next time you encounter him, don’t get too close or talk to him. I don’t know if he can understand our language, but he certainly speaks several languages.”
Tan Rou asked, “Is this man very dangerous?”
Lin Yu replied, “He’s one of Busodi’s men and has been with Busodi for ten years. However, he frequently travels abroad to study and doesn’t always stay in J country. You probably won’t have many chances to meet him.”
Tan Rou said, “I think he’s not a simple man.”
“You guessed right,” Lin Yu laughed, “Although he’s a confidant of Busodi, the king also likes him very much.”
“Huh? Isn’t the king at odds with Busodi?” Tan Rou was a bit puzzled.
“There’s no other reason except that Mr. Kudu has a very persuasive way of speaking,” Lin Yu explained, “He’s very good at flattering others, and he possesses a wealth of knowledge.”
Tan Rou nodded slightly, “I noticed, you had already said that I didn’t understand the language of J country, but he still complimented me as a beautiful young lady.”
Lin Yu said, “Who doesn’t like to hear pleasant words? If I were the king, I’d like listening to Kudu as well.”
Chapter 1437: 1436 outdated equipment
Since Lin Yu advised Tan Rou not to pay attention to Kudu, Tan Rou would avoid contact with Kudu as much as possible. She had a lot on her plate and there was no need to provoke someone who could bring trouble.
“However, I’m really curious why Kudu is appearing at the palace gate now,” Lin Yu said, “Could he be going to see the King? The King wasn’t seeing visitors today, he didn’t even meet with Prince Laka when he went there.”
Lin Yu didn’t know about the King’s illness yet. He had only received a notice from Samiyi, who had asked him to take Tan Rou out, and the place they went to wasn’t the King’s bedroom, but where the poetry gathering was held.
Tan Rou wasn’t clear about Samiyi’s thoughts. She might have felt that the fewer people knew about the King’s condition the better, but how long could this be kept secret? Prince Laka almost reported to the King every day, and once the King stopped seeing him, he would notice that something was wrong.
If it were up to Tan Rou, she thought Samiyi should inform Laka about the King’s illness and then summon some trusted guards and maids to protect the King, ensuring his safety first. Then, they could make up an excuse that the King wanted to train the Prince, letting the Prince handle state affairs first while the King guided his work from behind. By doing so, the King wouldn’t have to appear all the time.
Oh well, these were matters for Princess Samiyi to consider. Tan Rou decided not to interfere anymore.
“Maybe today is the King’s rest day,” Tan Rou casually said, “His Majesty the King has to handle so many public duties every day, he must be very tired, so maybe he needs a few days off.”
Lin Yu nodded, “Indeed, His Majesty the King really is exhausted. It would be slightly easier for him if Laka handled more of the public business.”
Tan Rou did not want to meddle in the internal politics of another country, and she didn’t want Lin Yu to get involved either, so she kindly reminded him, “Mr. Lin, this is a domestic affair of Country J, you’d better not get involved to avoid causing diplomatic problems.”
Lin Yu laughed and said, “Don’t worry, I won’t be making random suggestions. Also, I will be leaving soon. My parents and brother are urging me to return home to get married. They’ve already arranged a match for me. Next time I go back, I’ll probably be engaged.”
Tan Rou asked with a smile, “Did you come here to avoid getting married?”
Lin Yu touched his nose and said embarrassingly, “I feel like I’m still too young to get married so soon.”
Tan Rou could hardly contain her laughter. Lin Yu was Zhuang Liu’s classmate, and Zhuang Liu was nearly thirty. Could Lin Yu be young?
However, she chose not to comment on Lin Yu’s age, saying instead, “Yes, you are still young.”
After hearing that, Lin Yu burst into laughter, “Miss Tan Rou is really an interesting person.”
Tan Rou responded, “You are too, Mr. Lin.”
The two of them spoke in their native language. The driver in front couldn’t understand, but he didn’t need to, his only job was to drive.
Tan Rou asked the driver to take her to the laboratory where Shang Jin and the others were. Although Shang Jin said they could handle the problem, as the team leader, Tan Rou couldn’t just ignore her team.
As for Lin Yu, he was simply there for the excitement, and since he spoke both languages, he could serve as a translator.
The experimental building in Country J was huge and looked very new, likely built only in the past few years.
Tan Rou was somewhat puzzled because Shang Jin had described the laboratories in Country J as outdated with poor working conditions, but from the exterior alone, this laboratory seemed beautiful.
However, once she entered, she understood what Shang Jin had meant.
The experimental building in Country J was like a stone painted with gold; it looked very pretty from the outside, but when you cut it open, it was full of holes and unevenness inside.
From the outside, the experimental building was clean and beautiful; from the inside, it resembled an unfinished construction site.
There were many machines inside, but these machines were quite old. Tan Rou randomly checked the serial number of a machine and found that it was produced ten years ago. Moreover, it wasn’t produced by Country J, but bought from another country.
Tan Rou massaged her temples, then said to Lin Yu, “These facilities are just too poor, my employees cannot work with equipment like this.”
Lin Yu had not initially thought that the experimental building’s equipment was so bad, but he had visited Tan Rou’s machinery factory with Laka before. Compared to that, he realized the experimental facilities in Country J were really subpar.
Chapter 1438: Enjoy life 1438
Rake was the lead designer for this cooperation project, and he personally participated in every aspect of it, something which Tan Rou found quite admirable.
Tan Rou felt he was much better than Jimi, who only knew how to be contrary, and was annoying at that. Jimi was good for nothing, whereas Rake was competent in everything, and he spoke very little.
Tan Rou had Rake take them on a tour of the research building, but Lin Yu said he had other things to do and left. Leading Tan Rou through the building, Rake would briefly explain things upon reaching a place and let others do the talking afterward.
Tan Rou didn’t know much about Rake, but from the way he introduced the major research projects in the building, it was evident that this reticent chief designer was an all-around talent. No wonder the King had sent him to liaise with TR company, as he truly had substantial abilities.
When cooperating with others, it wasn’t so much difficult projects one feared, as much as a team leader who was both ignorant and wouldn’t take advice. Although Rake wasn’t the leader, he still had authority in the projects. Jimi was in charge of communication, while Rake handled the real project work.
Thankfully, Jimi spent a lot of time at the palace. Otherwise, Tan Rou felt her employees would’ve been driven mad by that old man. Although Jimi wasn’t very old, she considered him an old man, probably because his thinking was outdated, like that of a pedantic old man.
After touring for a while, Tan Rou grew tired, so she asked Rake to take her somewhere to rest and talk about some things.
Without any superfluous words, Rake took Tan Rou to the rest lounge at the top of the building.
It must be said, the people of J country really knew how to enjoy themselves; their rest lounges were much more luxurious than their workspaces – rows and rows of sophisticated machinery, automatic coffee grinders, self-serve ice cream machines, and small snacks like cakes and fruits were everywhere, all for free.
It wasn’t mealtime, yet many people were there, drinking coffee and reading documents, and to the uninformed, it might seem like a mall rest area.
Rake said, “Take whatever you need, and if you can’t use a machine, you can ask our staff for help.”
Tan Rou pointed to the people and asked, “Are they all employees here?”
Rake replied, “Yes. If they’re tired from work, they can come here to take a break, make a cup of coffee, grab a plate of snacks, and sit down and relax for a while.”
Tan Rou couldn’t quite grasp this culture; scientific research called for a stringent attitude, and she really didn’t think drinking coffee while researching was a good way to work.
“Wouldn’t that reduce work efficiency?” Tan Rou asked.
“No matter,” Rake said indifferently, “their work efficiency isn’t high to begin with. That girl in the white clothes over there is the Duke’s daughter, the young man in yellow next to her is the Earl’s son, and those few chatting together are the children of several princes.”
“Oh,” Tan Rou realized why the lounge was so luxurious – it was because it was filled with connections. The lounge wasn’t for actual researchers to rest, but for these noble offspring to chat.
Considering this, Tan Rou felt it was very unfair. Why should truly talented researchers work in poor conditions, while those less capable nobles sit here and get paid for doing nothing?
She quietly took out her phone and photographed these people, intending to show the photos to Samiyi later.
Noticing Tan Rou taking pictures, Rake didn’t stop her. Instead, he said, “If you want to take pictures, just go ahead. They won’t look at you, because they know that even if they get reported, it doesn’t matter, as no one will punish them.”
“They sure know how to enjoy life,” Tan Rou commented, “What about you? Are you one of them?”
Rake answered, “I have no parents, no family, no opportunity to sit here enjoying afternoon tea. If I don’t work hard, I’ll be fired.”
“Come to our company!” Tan Rou immediately extended an invitation, “As long as you’re willing, I’ll arrange for you to be the lead designer.”
Rake gently shook his head, “I’m not very good at the international common language; going to another country would be very inconvenient for me.”
Chapter 1439: All 1437 are not normal (Chapter 1437 missing)
Lin Yu admitted, “Yes, the equipment in J国 is indeed subpar.”
Tan Rou calmed herself down and then said, “Are you sure it’s just a little bit off?”
Lin Yu gave an embarrassed smile and said, “The equipment in J国 is very subpar.”
Tan Rou absently fiddled with the machine in front of her and discovered that it even lagged, a machine like this in her company would end up only at the scrapyard.
“Has His Majesty the King ever visited the laboratory at all?” Tan Rou asked incredulously, “With such poor experimental equipment and such tough research conditions, do you think their scientists could possibly produce anything decent?”
TR Company would never shortchange its employees, especially the R&D department staff, because the boss herself was an R&D staff, so she knew all too well how difficult R&D work is, which is why the R&D department’s average salaries were the highest and its funding the most plentiful. Tan Rou didn’t need her department manager to remind her, she frequently visited the R&D department, and as soon as she saw any equipment that had problems, she would immediately have it replaced.
In other companies, the upper management might not understand how much money is needed to develop a new product, perhaps they would cut back on R&D funding, but at TR Company, every disbursement of R&D funds always had a surplus. On one hand, it was because the R&D personnel were technically competent and wasted less resources. On the other hand, it was because the boss allocated more money, and with more money available, there would naturally be a surplus.
“The King is not someone short of money,” Tan Rou said unhappily, “He can build his palace so luxuriously, yet he refuses to spend money on scientific research, that’s just crazy.”
Oh, it wasn’t only that His Majesty the King had a sickness in the brain, his body was also ill, whether he could survive this summer depended on if Court Physician Tan Rou could save his life.
“Keep your voice down,” Lin Yu said with a weary heart, “after all, this is their territory, you can’t always talk about people behind their back.”
Tan Rou said, “Anyway, my employees won’t work under such tough conditions. If these people can’t provide a solution for us, then we’ll just quit.”
Just then, the usually silent chief designer appeared out of nowhere; he ghosted up behind Tan Rou and Lin Yu and said slowly, “You’ve arrived.”
Tan Rou and Lin Yu got a fright, Lin Yu quickly retreated to a safe area, while Tan Rou instinctively made a move on Rake, pushing him away two meters with a palm.
Rake coughed a few times and then, clutching his chest, asked, “Why did you hit me?”
Tan Rou was baffled by his question, “I should be asking what you were doing behind me? Don’t you know that scaring people could scare someone to death?”
Rake tilted his head to think, then said, “I didn’t mean to scare you, I was just greeting you. You were talking down there and I was calling you from up there, but you didn’t hear, so I came down to find you. As long as I come close and speak, you’ll be able to hear.”
Tan Rou didn’t even know from what angle to criticize his behavior, he could have simply called out to them after coming downstairs, rather than stealthily appearing behind them. Moreover, Tan Rou had been careless this time, as she hadn’t noticed anyone approaching her, it seemed she needed to train her observational abilities.
Lin Yu patted her chest and then said, “Mr. Rake, next time if you want to greet us, please call out to us from afar, and definitely do not appear behind us like this, it’s frightening.”
Rake nodded and said, “Okay, I understand.”
Tan Rou really admired the people of this country, she had found that there were not many normal people here, starting from the King, all of them were oddballs. Looking at it this way, Princess Samiyi might be one of the few normal ones.
“Mr. Rake, right?” said Tan Rou, “I apologize, I don’t really like people getting too close to me. If someone approaches me, I’ll reflexively send them flying.”
To her surprise, Rake actually laughed, gave Tan Rou a thumbs up, and said, “The people in your country all know martial arts, very impressive, you’re also very strong, a true warrior.”
Tan Rou’s mouth twitched, “Heh, thanks for the compliment!” Great, the label that all people from her country knew martial arts was thoroughly stuck.
Chapter 1440: Always welcome in 1439
“You can use a translator,” Tan Rou said. “The kind of translator my team members are using, you’ve seen it, haven’t you?”
Rake indeed had seen that kind of translator; he had also personally tried it out and was quite interested in this type of translator that could only translate two languages.
To be honest, Rake’s research and development capabilities were no lesser than Tan Rou’s. For a simple translator like that, he certainly could make one. However, he was somewhat lacking in linguistic skills, so he was unable to produce an appropriate translator.
“Thank you for the invitation, but I’m not ready to leave here yet. If one day I no longer wish to stay in this country, then I will definitely come to find you,” Rake said. “I just don’t know whether Miss Tan Rou will still welcome me by then?”
Tan Rou assured him, “Mr. Rake is a very talented person, and I do not refuse talented people, so whenever you come, I will welcome you.”
Rake felt somewhat pleased, a smile appearing on his face. “Thank you, Miss Tan Rou. I will seriously consider your proposal,” he said.
Tan Rou sincerely hoped Rake would join her company; she felt that the conditions here were far too poor for someone like Rake. If she had an outstanding employee like him, she would definitely create the most luxurious and advanced laboratory in the world just for Rake.
However, Tan Rou could also understand Rake’s feelings. No matter how good other countries are, they are not one’s homeland. If Tan Rou had to choose, she would also pick her own country.
If possible, Tan Rou hoped to take Rake back with her after this collaboration, although doing so might not be very principled, but she was considering Rake’s well-being and hoped he would understand her good intentions.
As she sat down on a sofa in the rest area, Tan Rou felt her soul relax because the chair was incredibly comfortable. Its design was perfect; once seated, every part of the body was supported. Moreover, the leather of the sofa was soft and very breathable, making it ideal for sitting in the summer.
“These young ladies and gentlemen really live the good life!” Tan Rou patted the armrests of the sofa and muttered a few words in her native language: “When I return, I should ask where to buy this sofa and then purchase a few for my parents and Zhuang Liu’s parents to enjoy.”
Rake didn’t understand what Tan Rou was saying, so he asked, “Does Miss Tan Rou have any complaints?”
Tan Rou waved her hand and replied, “No, I was wondering where to buy this sofa. I would like to buy a set for my parents as well.”
Rake said, “You can’t buy this kind of sofa outside, because I designed it myself.”
Tan Rou gave Rake a thumbs-up. “Mr. Rake is truly impressive!” He truly was the all-rounder Tan Rou had seen potential in; capable of developing sophisticated robots and designing comfortable furniture, he could make both industrial and consumer products, which was simply remarkable!
And if such a comfortable sofa could be combined with the Muscle Relaxation Device designed by Miss Shang Jin, then their Muscle Relaxation Device would definitely become a global sensation.
Last time Shang Jin brought the Muscle Relaxation Device to the international market, it immediately gained recognition from international markets, with many companies wanting to partner with Tan Rou to sell the Muscle Relaxation Device, but Tan Rou declined, feeling that the device wasn’t perfect enough yet to be sold widely.
If combined with this kind of comfortable sofa, then the Muscle Relaxation Device would be even more perfect.
“Mr. Rake, perhaps we can collaborate on some private projects as well,” Tan Rou said with a smile.
Rake didn’t understand what Tan Rou meant. “What kind of collaboration?” he asked.
Tan Rou wasn’t planning to say just yet because she had other ideas in mind— if she could eventually bring Rake, this outstanding talent, to her company, their collaboration would be much simpler.
“We can talk about private collaborations later; now let’s discuss the equipment issue,” Tan Rou said.
Rake felt somewhat embarrassed and spoke, “Er… Miss Shang Jin and Mr. Lang Yue have already mentioned that to me. They said the equipment here is very poor and that working here would be very tiring for them.”
Tan Rou nodded and said, “Yes, they’ve also discussed this issue with me. As their team leader, I need to ensure that they work in a very comfortable environment. So, how do you plan to solve this problem?”