Chapter 104: Everyday Life
“The king, the parliament...” Lin Ye recalled that king who often let his lower urges dictate his decisions.
“And he still asked me to wait... ha...”
She had to admit, despite his frequent bouts of impulsiveness, he was indeed a good king when it came to developing the nation.
“Freedom, control... freedom within the system...”
Old Duan murmured to himself as he leafed through the documents that Old Fu had shown to Mo Fangyuan.
Although he had exchanged harsh words with Old Fu, Old Duan had to acknowledge that there seemed to be some truth in what Old Fu said.
But is freedom still freedom if it’s restricted?
Old Duan struggled with this question but decided to make concessions for the sake of the Cube Kingdom.
“How then can freedom be better implemented within the system?”
[Old Duan, the Cube Kingdom’s great thinker, educator, and sociologist, hailed as the “founding father of educational history,” author of works such as The State, Education, and The Cubes, an outstanding historical figure who shaped Cube history... — Biographies of Notables]
“Your Majesty, this is a necessary process. To ensure the survival of the Cube Kingdom, sacrifices must be made!”
“...I shall bear the consequences of any negative outcomes that arise!”
“Hmm, let me think...”
After Old Fu left the meeting room, only Mo Fangyuan remained.
[Old Fu, the Cube Kingdom’s great politician, military strategist, thinker, and educator, one of the “Twelve Great Historical Figures of the Cubes,” creator of the first political system and institutional framework in Cube history... — Biographies of Notables]
The rapid crisis resolution plan Old Fu had just proposed to Mo Fangyuan was practical and feasible. If successful, it could usher the Cube Kingdom into a new era ahead of time, but it would also cost many lives.
Mo Fangyuan deeply rejected any national strength built upon the blood of his people.
“Your Majesty, sacrifice is necessary! This is for the future of the Cube Kingdom; you must consider it carefully!”
Recalling Old Fu’s final words, Mo Fangyuan sighed.
“Sacrificing citizens for technological advancement?”
Yes, it was tempting, but he was no deranged Paradox player!
Is this the burden of a ruler? Every word and deed influences the fate of their people.
“Impossible... at least until the Cube Kingdom is truly desperate, I will never exchange the lives of my citizens for development!”
Clutching the draft tightly, Mo Fangyuan murmured to himself.
---
“Finally out! I love working!”
Zhang Lingyun, inhaling the earthy scent of the Black Forest soil, felt almost moved to tears.
She had exhausted every resource just to trade materials with Mo Fangyuan for the chance to work overtime.
“Why did I even attend that king’s meeting?!”
Thinking back to being inexplicably dragged into a volatile meeting filled with tension, then being unexpectedly criticized by Lin Ye, and then watching Old Fu and Old Duan exchange heated words...
Most importantly, every one of them looked so incredibly intelligent, making Zhang Lingyun feel utterly insignificant.
Perhaps this was the feeling of a poor student facing top scholars!
Regardless, Zhang Lingyun felt miserable; it was the first time she truly appreciated how joyful working could be.
“I love overtime!”
Grabbing the map, taking her tools, activating her skills, Zhang Lingyun joyfully began her exploration of the Black Forest.
---
“Are you sure you want to join the Field Army? It’s a very dangerous profession...”
Xiao Li had seen Rong Huang during a mission in the Eastern Great River Basin and kindly warned him.
“Yes, I’m certain!”
Joining the Field Army meant getting closer to His Majesty the King, exactly what Rong Huang desired.
Moreover, the Cube Kingdom only had two combat branches. The Night Watch was out of the question—the captain there was simply too difficult—so only the Field Army could accommodate a combat professional like himself who couldn’t adapt to peace.
“Alright! Then report to us tomorrow!”
No one would refuse a combat professional’s enlistment.
“Whoosh—”
The wind and snow, briefly abated, swept across the land once more. The roads of the Cube Kingdom, just recently cleared, were quickly blanketed with thick snow again, prompting curses from the street cleaners.
In essence, the Cube Kingdom’s population had increased, but the urban area had shrunk to two-thirds its previous size.
All thanks to Mo Fangyuan’s accidental encounter with a book titled The Urban Planning Manual in his previous life.
Thanks to this book, Mo Fangyuan managed the small town of fewer than a thousand people with ease.
“This damned weather!”
Old Wang shivered, tightening his new cloth garment.
The cloth clothing was a newly traded item in the People’s Exchange, allegedly a great gift brought back from abroad by the magnificent king himself, exchangeable for just fifteen potatoes.
---
It was warm, far more comfortable than robes, affordable, and hailed as a perfect blend of quality and price.
Upon release, it quickly became beloved by the masses of Cube citizens.
Old Wang was an ordinary carpenter in the Cube Kingdom, whose main job was working diligently. Additionally, he was elected as the floor leader of Unit 11, helping neighbors solve everyday problems.
Like many, he was an immigrant to the Cube Kingdom and cherished the chance to live in this paradise.
He was deeply grateful to the king for providing such a life; anything the king endorsed, Old Wang supported unconditionally. If the king disapproved, he opposed, even resorting to force if necessary.
Not long ago, the great king had urged the people to “have more children, raise them well; children are the future and pride of the Cube Kingdom. The state will provide subsidies to families with many children.”
Old Wang naturally supported this wholeheartedly and acted on it.
Through tireless effort and exploration with his wife, they set a new record in the Cube Kingdom’s birth history—three children!
The king personally visited with gifts to commend them. Such honor made Old Wang a fervent follower of Mo Fangyuan, swearing to obey the king’s every word without question.
Embracing the philosophy of “shared joy is greater joy,” Old Wang generously compiled his reproductive experiences into a small yellow booklet, freely distributed to couples, advising on the best positions for conception, optimal duration, and frequency per night...
---
“Yeah, this damned weather is really annoying! I can barely work!”
Old Wang’s neighbor, Li San, tightened his cloth garment and grumbled.
“If it weren’t for this weather, I’d have been working a long time ago!”
“Exactly...”
“But it’s no match for us now... because we have His Majesty the King!”
Er Gou, another carpenter, suddenly popped out to join the conversation.
“Things aren’t like before! We are citizens of the Cube Kingdom! We have His Majesty the King, many companions, and a protective force made up of combat professionals...”
Er Gou was also an immigrant. In his former village, every winter many people died, a shadow that haunted him. Not anymore, for he was now a citizen of the Cube Kingdom, under the shelter of a great king!
“Praise the King!”
“Praise the King!”
“Praise the King!”
At these words, Er Gou clasped his hands in reverence, with Old Wang and Li San joining in.
Unnoticed, the name Mo Fangyuan had deeply rooted itself in every corner of Cube society, becoming the sole faith in the hearts of its people.