Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

This caused the gatekeeper, who was originally leading the way, to change his expression drastically. He hurriedly stepped forward to help the little chubby boy and asked,

"Young Master, did you hurt yourself anywhere?"

"It's nothing, it's nothing."

A'Dou rubbed his forehead with one hand and his butt with the other as he stood up. He didn't show much arrogance and instead said to the gatekeeper,

"You must not tell Father Regent about this."

Seeing that A'Dou was indeed unharmed, the gatekeeper's heart finally settled down, and he quickly replied,

"Yes, yes, Young Master."

Li Xiang, who was a step behind A'Dou, finally ran over, panting, and asked,

"Young Master, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Brother Xiang, don't worry. Just don't tell Father Regent," A'Dou reiterated.

This made Li Xiang's expression a bit helpless.

A'Dou was strictly disciplined by Liu Bei in his own residence, and he was not allowed to run around so recklessly.

However, children are naturally playful and like to laugh and play.

Looking at Liu Bei's group, only Li Ji would not discipline him so strictly and would dare to let A'Dou run around as he pleased.

Therefore, what A'Dou was worried about was naturally that if Father Regent found out about this, he would not only scold him, but also forbid A'Dou from laughing and playing in the residence like this in the future.

However, Li Xiang did not directly agree. After looking around, he put on a bit of the air of an elder brother and said,

"Young Master, when a mistake is made due to one's own fault, the first thing one should think about is not how to cover it up, but how to make up for the mistake. Only then is it the behavior of a gentleman."

A'Dou might not be as good as Li Xiang in other things, but his main characteristic was that he listened to advice and instructions.

Faced with Li Xiang's lesson, A'Dou was not only not annoyed, but instead looked ashamed and hurriedly stepped forward to help Zhuge Liang up, and took the initiative to apologize.

"It's alright, it's alright..."

Not to mention that A'Dou's identity was extraordinary, even if he was a child from an ordinary family, Zhuge Liang would naturally not hold such a small matter against him.

Seeing this, Li Xiang also stepped forward with a serious face to apologize again on behalf of A'Dou.

Finally, A'Dou, who was eager to express his apology, rummaged through his clothes and did not forget to find a small gold bean and stuff it into Zhuge Liang's hand, before pulling Li Xiang and running away in a hurry.

For a moment, Zhuge Liang, holding the small gold bean, didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and was a bit embarrassed. He simply thought about giving it to the gatekeeper and letting the gatekeeper return it to the Marquis of State.

Seeing this, the gatekeeper repeatedly waved his hand and said,

"Since the Young Master is expressing his apology with this, Young Master, please accept it. It's alright."

"Young Master? Could that be the son of Uncle Liu Huang?" Zhuge Xuan asked carefully.

"That's right, it is the son of our lord, whose milk name is A'Dou. Because he has worshiped our Marquis as his Father Regent, he often comes to the residence to play with the Young Master. Please forgive us for the temporary impoliteness," the gatekeeper replied.

Immediately, the gatekeeper led Zhuge Xuan and Zhuge Liang to a side hall to wait, and also asked the maid to serve tea, drinks, and snacks.

After the gatekeeper retreated, Zhuge Xuan couldn't help but feel a bit emotional.

"In wealthy families, from the descendants to the servants, there is no lack of arrogant people. Now, seeing the children and gatekeepers in the Marquis of State's residence, all are polite and courteous, and do not bully others by relying on their power. One can also see a bit of the Marquis of State's usual style."

After a pause, Zhuge Xuan saw Zhuge Liang holding the small gold bean, seemingly pondering something.

This made Zhuge Xuan think that Zhuge Liang was still concerned about what had just happened, and he comforted him,

"Just now, the Young Master A'Dou must have been familiar with the affairs of the residence and was momentarily carried away by playfulness. He did not notice our arrival before bumping into us. If Liang'er is alright, why bother holding such a small matter in your heart."

"Not so."

Zhuge Liang shook his head and said, "What Liang is pondering is this small gold bean."

"Oh? What is unusual about the small gold bean?" Zhuge Xuan asked.

"Liang originally thought that Uncle Liu Huang and the Marquis of State were usually frugal in order to benefit the people, enriching the people while being frugal themselves. However, the Young Master A'Dou is able to give out small gold beans at will. This is somewhat different from Liang's previous judgment," Zhuge Liang replied.

"Perhaps it is only that Uncle Liu Huang is quite fond of his descendants, so he bestowed some small toys during festivals," Zhuge Xuan guessed.

"Not so..."

A hint of conjecture flashed in Zhuge Liang's clear and deep eyes, and he said,

"Liang has recently studied the book 'Guanzi' a lot, and compared it with the prosperity of Wu County. There are also many conflicting and incomprehensible points. Liang originally thought that he had not learned the essence of it, so he was confused."

"Now, I feel that perhaps Uncle Liu Huang and the Marquis of State have discovered a large number of gold mines behind the scenes, so they can train a large number of elite soldiers and still prevent the people's livelihood from declining at all, but instead make it increasingly prosperous."

This made Zhuge Xuan a bit confused for a moment. Looking at the small gold bean, he said, "To make such a conclusion based on this one small gold bean, Liang'er is a bit too arbitrary."

To this, Zhuge Liang smiled and did not go into the logic of it with his uncle.

This speculation seems fantastical, but in fact, it is the conclusion that Zhuge Liang came to after considering all aspects.

Not to mention the prosperous changes in Wu County over the years, Liu Bei and Li Ji are not extravagant and wasteful people on weekdays. If the finances are really tight, how could A'Dou be allowed to play with gold beans at will?

Just this one small gold bean is enough for a family of three to buy a year's worth of food.

After eliminating those unreasonable speculations one by one, it turns out that Liu Bei has a large number of gold and silver mines in his hands, which can explain everything in Wu County now in all aspects.

Because there are mines at home, and there is no shortage of so much gold at all, even if Liu Bei is accustomed to frugality, he does not restrict A'Dou from playing with gold beans.

Immediately, because they were in someone else's place, it was inconvenient to communicate.

Therefore, Zhuge Xuan and Zhuge Liang did not talk much, but waited quietly.

Until dusk, a figure with an extraordinary bearing walked in with a somewhat hurried pace.

Li Ji's gaze shifted, first sweeping over Zhuge Xuan, and then falling on Zhuge Liang.

'The Crouching Dragon is already in my hands!'

Li Ji's eyebrows raised, and while returning the salute to Zhuge Xuan and Zhuge Liang, who hurriedly got up, he couldn't help but feel a bit of joy in his heart.

In fact, for such top-quality seedlings as Zhuge Liang, whose origins were clear and easy to find, Li Ji had always been paying attention through the Brocade-Clothed Guards.

It was just that these top-quality seedlings were still too young before, and Li Ji needed to lead the army on a distant expedition to Yingzhou. The conditions and timing were not yet very ripe, so he was only paying attention silently.

Now that the world is about to be in chaos, on the one hand, in order to prevent these top-quality seedlings from having accidents, and on the other hand, Li Ji's reputation and prestige are growing day by day, Li Ji is naturally unceremoniously starting to quickly harvest these top-quality seedlings.

After all, harvesting seedlings in their early teens in the name of taking office, people will only think that you are playing with them.

But with Li Ji's current method, there are very few who can refuse.

The number one person in the world is taking disciples, so how can even self-proclaimed geniuses refuse?

(End of this chapter)