Chapter 8: 8 Concubine-Maids

“Space-Time Management Bureau? What kind of buck-passing are you doing now?!” Liu Baiyu was thoroughly enraged! Another one popped up, a Space-Time Management Bureau! You can't play people like this!

“Buck-passing? No, no, no, you’re wrong. Do you know what it means to have the separation of government and enterprise? We are one set of leadership with two different plaques. For example, take me: I am both a customer service manager for the Plane Merchant Company and a Division Chief of the Space-Time Management Bureau!” The Plane Merchant Company’s customer service representative didn't even bother to fake a smile anymore; he broke into a sinister grin that nearly made Liu Baiyu collapse. This "one set of leadership, two different plaques"—being both the athlete and the referee at the same time—was the darkest kind of corruption. Moreover, they didn't seem to care for democracy, which made it even more terrifying.

“As a Division Chief of the Space-Time Management Bureau, after a careful, scientific, and comprehensive scientific assessment, it has been determined that your return to your original space-time would cause a space-time oscillation of one part in a hundred billion, endangering the survival of several ants! For the sake of space-time security, we are sending you to another space-time!”

“There, you can not only exchange for massive amounts of future products out of thin air, but you can also be a superhero. Even a Super Saiyan physique can be exchanged for... Are you going or not!?”

“Going? Going my ass! That world you're talking about, doesn't it sound exactly like *Infinite Horror*?!” Just as Liu Baiyu was about to nod, he realized what was being said and immediately began cursing. What Plane Merchant Company? The Plane Merchants' own home! This was clearly the method of human trafficking, and he was the slave!

This so-called Division Chief of the Space-Time Management Bureau showed no trace of a smile, maintaining an expression akin to a butcher looking at cattle or sheep. He didn't care about Liu Baiyu's cursing at all.

“Don't speak so harshly. You can truly live there, and you can even destroy heaven and earth as a superhero! What? A native of a remote planet with no Universal Federation citizenship dares to raise his voice at this Division Chief? Do you know that even Great Generals governing several planets wouldn't dare speak loudly in front of me! Fine, if you won't go to the world of *Infinite Horror*, we'll just switch to another one. A world where you can't use enhancements, but you still have to complete missions like in *Infinite Horror*, how about that? Don't worry, you won't die; you'll just live a life worse than death!”

“B-Big Brother, I was wrong! I'll just honestly be a Plane Merchant. Please just act as if I never said anything!” Liu Baiyu was completely defeated, tears welling in his heart. From now on, he would never curse corrupt officials again; at least they gave the common people a smile. Here, it was as dark as the underworld.

“That's more like it! Why couldn't you have been like this from the start? Plane Merchant Company customer service is at your service! The Plane Merchant Company is the Plane Merchants' own home!” This fellow possessed the skill of changing faces. As soon as Liu Baiyu yielded, he immediately switched from the butcher-like face of a Space-Time Management Bureau Division Chief to the kind, smiling face of a Plane Merchant Company customer service rep.

“In other words, as long as I popularize education, set up factories, and light up the technology tree, I can exchange for any kind of weapon on a large scale without restrictions?” Liu Baiyu asked tentatively.

“Exactly, that's what I mean. Looking for loopholes, are we? You are truly clever!”

“Then what about exchanging for massive amounts of future products to achieve overwhelming dominance?”

“Aren't things like penicillin considered future products? Basic living necessities have almost no restrictions; there are only limits on weapons of mass destruction and industrial equipment.”

“If I conquer this plane, can I go home?!”

“No. That would cause too much impact on the original plane. You can travel to and conquer other planes instead! Also, your body will be reset, so you'll still be in your youthful twenty-four years! I'm so envious; why don't I have the physique of a Plane Merchant!?”

Envious my ass! This was clearly a way to squeeze labor that wasn't enough the first time, so they'd squeeze it repeatedly! Liu Baiyu thought with tears in his eyes, then said to the customer service rep

“Thank you for your hard work. I'll trouble you again if I need anything in the future!”

“It is an honor to serve you!” The Plane Merchant Company customer service rep finished politely and vanished.

I finally understand! This so-called Plane Merchant Company is nothing but a black-hearted company. In a super-advanced society spread across multiple planets, large-scale industrial products like salt and sugar would definitely depreciate significantly compared to 2014, right? Meanwhile, antiques would definitely appreciate significantly, right? And even if I have trillions in assets within the Plane Merchant Company system, if I don't exchange them, isn't that just the company's money? Black... it's truly black!

There was no choice. It seemed that even though he had a "cheat," he still had to farm honestly to achieve hegemony. Liu Baiyu sighed. Having been scared into a cold sweat, he was truly exhausted and fell asleep.

The next morning, Liu Ziqiong rose very early. Using the snow-white rice Liu Baiyu had produced, she cooked a large bowl of porridge and served him respectfully by his side. She remembered her parents' words: even if she were a high-ranking concubine-maid, she was still a servant, not a master. One must know that the distinction between master and servant cannot be crossed. However, she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the Master's great strength; he had pulled her into his arms and forcibly fed her a large jar of milk that lacked even a hint of a gamey smell, and he had even lightly kissed her on the cheek...

As an ancient girl, how could Liu Ziqiong have ever seen such things? Her face instantly flushed bright red. While she was bowing her head in silence, Liu Baiyu finished his meal and said to her

“You are my person now, so you don't need to do chores anymore...”

“This servant cannot rely on the Master's favor to do nothing...” Liu Ziqiong said hurriedly.

“Then you shouldn't be doing the coarse work. Such pure and beautiful little hands; if they get rough, the Master will be heartbroken!” Liu Baiyu took Liu Ziqiong's jade-like hand and smiled mischievously.

“Master, you are bullying me!” Liu Ziqiong lowered her head again.

“Let's talk about something serious. Do you know any skillful and hardworking domestic servants in the Zhang family? The Master wants to hire people to do business and wants to find a few reliable ones...” Liu Baiyu spoke truthfully.

“That's not difficult at all, Master. In Master Zhang's house, the servants are all ancestral; they are used to serving. There are plenty of skillful and hardworking servants, especially many house-born boys. Just give them a bit of food, and they won't ask for wages!” Liu Ziqiong hurriedly demonstrated that she knew how to manage affairs, proving herself to be a qualified candidate for a high-ranking concubine-maid.

Just a bit of food and no wages? That labor was incredibly cheap! However, he couldn't be as black-hearted and unethical as the Plane Merchant Company. Moreover, through the Plane Merchant Company's trading system, making money wouldn't be a problem. And the key to conquering the world was winning people's hearts!

“That won't do. The Master intends to accumulate virtue and do good deeds; wages must still be paid!” Liu Baiyu said with an air of righteousness.

“Master, I know you are kind-hearted, but nowadays there are many people and little land; people aren't worth much! Even the most honest Master Zhang here doesn't pay money. He provides one meal at noon, and giving some delicious treats at the end is considered the height of kindness!”

The thing Liu Ziqiong disliked most about Liu Baiyu was his extravagance; he didn't know how to live frugally! Even vast fortunes were built up bit by bit! Look at Master Zhang's wealth—wasn't it scraped together by the stingy Madam Zhang?

“What do you know? The more money the Master spends, the more big money he can earn! Just do as you're told!” Liu Baiyu knew he couldn't explain it clearly to Liu Ziqiong, so he was direct and used his status to suppress her.

Liu Ziqiong always remembered her status as a prospective high-ranking concubine-maid. Although she was pampered by Liu Baiyu, once his tone became firm, she immediately became obedient. However, she was also a person of principle; she decided to take the "Madam route" and lobby Madam Zhang to stop the Master's extravagant, spendthrift behavior!

Since Liu Baiyu was staying in the Zhang family's emergency residence, it was only a few miles from the main Zhang estate. Although the roads these days were bumpy and uneven, it only took an hour to walk there.

Thus, Liu Ziqiong and Liu Baiyu said their goodbyes to go their separate ways—one to find Master Zhang, and the other to find Madam Zhang. As soon as Zhang Tianhong met Liu Baiyu, he immediately pointed out the flaws in Liu Baiyu's assumptions.

First, Liu Baiyu was an unregistered person with no household status. According to the rules of local gentry governance in the Ming Dynasty, this small patch of land was under Master Zhang's jurisdiction. Liu Baiyu could stay as long as he wanted, but hiring workers or buying land were major taboos that would invite trouble.

Second, there were too many swindlers these days. Without a guarantee from a local gentleman, even desperate refugees wouldn't dare work for you. Furthermore, there were many restless people among the refugees; it wasn't uncommon for those without powerful servants to kill the master and divide the property. It was very unsafe.

Third, Liu Baiyu's compensation of one catty of rice for one catty of wild vegetables was inconceivable. It would scare people off, making them think it was a scam. No one would dare come. It would be more reliable to let Liu Baiyu exchange one catty of rice for five catties of old rice from his own house, and then use one catty of old rice to exchange for five catties of wild vegetables. After all, in the folk markets, one catty of old rice exchanged for seven catties of wild vegetables; if it was too much of a bargain, who would believe it!

“Then I'll leave it to Big Brother to decide. Also, can you pick out a few honest house-born servants for me? Since Liu Ziqiong is to be married to me, it wouldn't be right to let her parents continue doing heavy labor!” Liu Baiyu murmured.

“That's simple! Easy to handle! I'll let Sister-in-law pick them for you!” Zhang Tianhong was currently worrying about how to deal with his family's old rice, and his sworn brother had come to help, bringing double blessings. His family had many elderly and young servants who were either without work or looking for it. He hinted at this through his words, but since the landlord's house currently had no surplus grain, he could only play deaf and mute, which made the kind-hearted Zhang Tianhong feel uneasy. Of course, when Liu Baiyu said Liu Ziqiong was to be married to him, Zhang Tianhong automatically interpreted it as taking a concubine. After all, setting aside Liu Ziqiong's plain appearance, the status gap was simply too large. To marry someone like that—Liu Baiyu's ancestors from every generation would probably come back as ghosts to protest!