Chapter 64: Human Calculator
Translator: WQL Editor: Geoffrey
As expected, with the rise of the prices of grains and sugar, the sales of the Zhang Family's brew store also gradually declined. Although the wealthy would probably not be affected by the change of several copper or silver coins, for many at the lowest rungs of society, even a trivial increase in the price of grains or other commodities would greatly put pressure on their ability to survive. Naturally, they were more sensitive to the changes in price. Although the Zhang Family had only increased the price of a bowl of rice brew by a single copper coin, to some, it was a 20 percent increase in price and was something that would be difficult for them to accept.
Seeing the Chinese woman dragging away her kid, who kept swallowing his saliva, in the rice brew store, Zhang Tie could only force a bitter smile. In the past, this kid used to eat rice brew in their store, but due to the recently increasing price, the kid's mom had no choice but to drag him away. For commoners like them, the rising price of grains not only affected the price of a bowl of rice brew but also their overall living expenditure. Influenced by rising price of grains, the price of the other daily necessities like cooking oil and salt also increased. In addition, Zhang Tie heard that the price of coal had also started to rise in Blackhot City for the past few couple of days. Obviously, the price of a wagon full of coal balls had also increased by 5 copper coins. As the price of grains and coal increased, the price of steel produced from ironworks would also naturally increase. Although it was only a small fluctuation, it was not a good feeling for many of the commoners.
The Zhang Family's ugly, remodelled three-wheeler had been borrowed by a neighbor to buy grains. These past two days, several people had come to borrow it to transport necessities. As his sister-in-law said she was a bit uncomfortable this morning, his mom became worried and accompanied her to the hospital, leaving Zhang Tie alone at home. In the rice brew store, Zhang Tie boringly drove away the flies with a fan.
Absent-minded in the rice brew store, as Zhang Tie concentrated, an interesting thought appear in his mind...
With his spiritual energy increasing by seven fold, Zhang Tie realized that the that he had been painstakingly training for the past two weeks had greatly improved. Before yesterday, it would take him a long time to visualize an abacus with three columns in his mind, the image of the abacus wouldn't be steady, and he couldn't calculate quickly using it either—it wasn't even able to match the speed of just calculating manually. All in all, he could not use it to do daily calculations easily. Surprisingly, this situation has improved sharply this morning.
At this moment, a golden abacus with seven columns was suspended steadily in Zhang Tie's mind. The beads on the abacus were moving up and down automatically, outputting results.
What's 36 multiplied by 98? 3528!
What's 1269 plus 9621? 10890!
What's 362 times 125? 45250!
What's 639 divided by 12? 53.25!
What's 98564 divided by 125? 788.512!
...
In the past, Zhang Tie needed to use the abacus techniques in order to get an answer, but now, he was able to know the answer the instant he saw the question. After practicing for a while, Zhang Tie realized that he didn't need to use abacus techniques anymore. After using the abacus for two years, Zhang Tie finally realized how powerful and effective the time-honored calculator was. He didn't know where the book that was marked as "After-class reading for preliminary students" was from; however, Zhang Tie didn't believe that any preliminary school student could match him from the intensity and effect of spiritual energy. Previously, his spiritual energy might have been similar to that of a preliminary school student, but ever since his spiritual energy had combined with the Fruit of Brilliance, it has already become seven times of that from before; it was much more powerful at this moment. Benefitting from the new spiritual energy, he could fully experience the powerful effects of , as he could work it out the instant he saw any calculation question within seven digits. Additionally, Zhang Tie realized the abacus was easily stabilized after it was visualized. During this entire experience, Zhang Tie had even sold a few bowls of rice brew...
"I am able to calculate faster than the manual metal calculators used in trading agencies and commercial banks!" Zhang Tie became excited. He never would have imagined that the sharply increased spiritual energy would help improve his skills so greatly over night. Zhang Tie was sure that Donder would definitely be startled if he saw his improvement.
As Zhang Tie felt great about using so easily, an extremely absurd thought suddenly came to mind—maybe this was how people used the abacus in the beginning? A long time ago, people had powerful spiritual energy and could easily use this calculating tool in their mind; however, later on, their spiritual energy declined and they could barely finish calculation in their mind. Thus, someone decided to use a real object to replace the imaginary object in their mind and started to operate by hand. After another hundreds or thousands of years, when everybody was accustomed to operating an abacus by hand, a guy suddenly realized this calculator could be visualized in the mind and could replaced by visualized object. As a result, he invented the , which reflected the original usage of this calculator...
If his assumptions were correct, then he would be the only person who could master the true usage of this calculator. Zhang Tie didn't know whether this marvelous calculator could be improved. He remembered that Donder had once told him about a powerful profession in the East called "fortuneteller", which would own a calculator known as "Yi". This calculator was not used to calculate numbers but instead the fortunes or disasters that would befall a person and the changes between the heaven and the earth. Was related to "Yi"?
While Zhang Tie was pondering on this thought, his mom and sister-in-law had returned. Instantly breaking the abacus formed in his mind, he ran towards them. "Mom, what's wrong with sister-in-law?"
After speaking, Zhang Tie realized that he had said a really silly question. In response to his question, the face of his sister-in-law flushed slightly, and his mom glared at him ferociously and flicked his forehead. "What matter? Go make lunch..."
...
In the afternoon, as usual, Zhang Tie helped his mom make rice brew, but this time, it was different; his sister-in-law had joined them. As a result, they finished much faster than before. After lunch, their neighbor brought back the three-wheeler, and thus Zhang Tie rode it to shop for rice and sugar. As expected, the prices had risen a bit again. Considering the poor sales of rice brew last week, he only bought two bags of rice this time. Returning home, Zhang Tie noticed that his mom was teaching his sister-in-law how to make liquid yeast.
"This liquid yeast is the key, as it determines the final taste of the rice brew. Our Zhang Family makes our own liquid yeast, and we store it inside the spare jars boiling water after they have cooled down. We prepare two jars of rice brew; one is to be used, while the other is to be left to ferment. When one jar of rice brew is almost used up, we'll add some water, cut-up fruits, fruit rinds, and kernels, and we'll open it every day and give it a shake to give it some fresh air. After a week, a new jar of rice brew would be ready. We usually put two spoons of well-fermented liquid yeast into each jar before covering the lid. Taste some, this liquid yeast is delicious. Zhang Tie used to stealthily eat it before..." Zhang Tie had remembered those steps deeply in his heart. He didn't pay attention to what mom had told to his sister-in-law at the beginning; however, his mom really made him lose face in front of his sister-in-law. While listening to what his mom had said, Zhang immediately thought about something...
Yeast—Rice brew—
Mutated and evolved yeast—Mutated and evolved rice brew—?
Zhang Tie remembered that there was an option in the Castle of Black Iron that allowed all living beings to mutate and evolve, and he had even tried it on a sprouted potato the first time he entered the Castle of Black Iron. As he hasn't seen any improvement lately, he had almost forgotten about it. Watching his mom teach his sister-in-law how to make liquid yeast, Zhang Tie had a sudden realization. If he could help mutate or evolve the yeast used to make brew, would the taste of the rice brew be improved? If so, that would help improve the sales of the Zhang Family's rice brew.
After thinking for a while, Zhang Tie felt this way was feasible. At the very least, he could have a try. "The Zhang's family has already used the same method to make rice brew for the past two decades, so why not try something new? Nothing is lost even if it fails!"
Thinking of this, Zhang Tie became excited. In response, in the evening, he found a clean glass jar in the kitchen and stealthily filled it with half a bottle of liquid yeast. Afterwards, he took it back to his room and quickly entered the Castle of Black Iron. Opening the "Living Beings and Species Management" option, he chose "Carbon-based Living Beings and Species Management" and then "Microorganisms". After selecting that bottle of liquid yeast, he inputted 300 points of aura value, 5 points of merit value, and 0.1 point of basic energy storage and started the first evolution and mutation for the yeast.
Chapter 65: Preparations Before the Survival Training
Translator: WQL Editor: Geoffrey
——On May 28, 889th year of the Blackhot calendar, Handsome and Magnificent Castle Lord used 300 aura value points, 5 merit value points, and 0.1 basic energy storage point on the mutation and evolution of a bottle of yeast.
——Mutation and evolution is expected to be completed within 360 hours. Handsome and Magnificent Castle Lord, please wait patiently!
Reading this message, Zhang Tie estimated that the time consumption for evolution and mutation might be related to the life cycle of the living being. Seeing as how the yeast would become evolved and mutated after two weeks, Zhang tie estimated that it would take about 2 months for the potato to evolve and mutate.
Through this attempt, Zhang Tie realized one thing—there is a limit to the number of aura value points, merit value points, and basic energy storage points that a microorganism can receive. For example, with the experiment with the half bottle of liquid yeast, when he slid the three bars to the furthest right positions, the maximum number of aura value was 7600 points, the maximum number of merit value was 860 points, and the maximum number for basic energy storage was 340 points. Seeing those "huge numbers", Zhang Tie was greatly startled before frugally choosing to make a bearable, small investment.
After leaving the Castle of Black Iron, Zhang Tie noticed that his dad had already returned home. It was currently time for supper, and today's supper was extremely luxurious, consisting of ham and beef. In addition, his mom had made many delicious dishes that would make Zhang Tie drool. On the table, his mom kept putting food from the dishes into Zhang Tie's bowl while his dad lectured him about topics pertaining to the survival training.
"No matter what, remember not to act alone, especially in the evening! Am I clear?"
Zhang Tie nodded while chewing.
"Additionally, don't try to show off," his mom added aside.
"Mom, look at your son's slim limbs. What do I have to show off?" Zhang Tie raised his voice. Hearing his words, his dad flicked his forehead with a chopstick.
"Your mom, of course, knows that you have nothing to show off. What she meant was that you should think twice before taking action. Out there is not like here where we're inside the city walls. There are many things out there that can take the lives of men!"
"I know!" Thinking back to how his mom looked when she gazed at the picture of his dead eldest brother, Zhang Tie swore that he would survive and return safely no matter what.
At supper, like a nodding chick, Zhang Tie constantly lowered his head to eat rice under the lecturing of his mom and dad
...
After supper was finished, Zhang Tie brought out 3 gold coins from his pocket and pulled over his mom's hand before placing them in her hands. The three heavy and brilliant locomotives on the gold coins almost frightened both his dad and mom. Even his sister-in-law widely opened her eyes.
His dad became mouth gaped as he stared at the 3 gold coins before turning over to Zhang Tie. He even held one up and glanced over it carefully. "Where... where did you get so much money?"
With a face full of pride, Zhang Tie replied, "Your son, of course, earned it at the Iron Thorns Fighting Club. There are many rich people there, so when I serve them well, those rich boys would reward me with 1 gold coin as a tip!" Zhang Tie was not telling a lie. In reality, just as he said, training partners and the waiters would usually earn tips at the Iron Thorns Fighting Club. The tips would always vary from several silver coins to several gold coins. For example, girls like Mary would earn an amazing amount from tips each month. Although Zhang Tie had never received any tips, this lie of his could never be revealed. Even the fighting club wouldn't ask the guests on the sixth floor whether they had given Zhang Tie a tip.
"This... this is really too much!" His mom still couldn't believe it. 3 gold coins were equivalent to a season's worth of salary for his dad. To his family, this was still a lot of money.
"Mom, those rich boys would spend over 10 gold coins just to buy a single pair of leather shoes. You should take a look at the prices on Bright Avenue. What there isn't astronomically priced? Although the stuff there is expensive for us, but for people like them, it isn't much. Why else do you think there are so many rich people practicing in the fighting clubs? Your son has grown up. In the future, I'll earn even more money. For the next few days, I'll be participating in the survival training. During this time, you shouldn't worry about money and should buy something good to eat. You should also buy more nutritious food for sister-in-law so that my niece or nephew will grow well in the future. You should also look after yourselves and just enjoy the benefits brought back by your sons."
Hearing Zhang Tie's words, his dad and mom finally believed him. At the very least, they had heard of such things about the fighting clubs. They also knew that there were many rich people who would casually spend money in such a way that commoners like the Zhang Family would definitely never be able to afford.
Seeing that his mom had finally received the 3 gold coins, Zhang Tie heaved a deep sigh inwardly. From now on, he could always bring back some "tip" and relieve the burden on his dad and mom. Since the sales of rice brew had declined this week, they had less money to spend to improve their quality of life. Because of this, his mom and dad have also been unhappy. When his sister-in-law was going to give birth to a baby, Zhang Tie knew clearly that the increasing expenditures would add more burden to his dad and mom. Seeing his mom receive the money and the smiles on their face as if they had relieved a burden, Zhang Tie was also filled with warmth.
The next day, every family member started to become busy to make preparations for Zhang Tie's survival training. The Zhang Family's rice brew store was also closed on that day.
A sleeping bag, portable protective leather armor, a raincoat, a helmet, an aluminum kettle, a leather belt, a knapsack, and a multi-purpose military shovel. All the things could be found at home, as they were used by Zhang Yang when he participated in the survival training, which had then been put away by his mom. Now that it was Zhang Tie's turn to participate in the survival training, his mom brought them out of the boxes, giving them to Zhang Tie to use. Many things were shared between the generations. After it was used by the elder brother, the younger brother would use it. After the younger brother, then the son. They would never be abandoned until they couldn't be used anymore. Although these goods have shown wear and tear over the years, because his mom had stored them well, when she took it out, all of it was still usable. These were also common goods that most families in Blackhot City would prepare for their kids' participation in the survival training.After drying the sleeping bag under the sun for the entire day, Zhang Tie's mom silently hid one bag of fried rice into the sleeping bag. Although the amount of food allowed to be brought was supposed to be less than 5 kg, as long as they didn't hide too much, the teachers would not care...
His dad completely polished the leather armor with oil again and sharpened the military shovel. Afterwards, he went out to buy 4 to 5 kgs of compressed biscuits and 1kg of beef jerky for Zhang Tie...
His sister-in-law hurriedly adjusted the soft cushion inside the helmet to match the size of Zhang Tie's head. She then cleaned the kettle and prepared a set of clean clothes and a needlework bag for Zhang Tie...
...
After a day of busy work, they had finally well prepared all the necessities for Zhang Tie's participation in the survival training. The last supper at home before the survival training was also rich. Zhang Tie's dad and mom became both worried and sad. Excluding his mom, who repeatedly warned him, there were fewer words spoken at the table than before.
Zhang Tie was also somewhat sad. Survival training was both a test of the ability of an adult to survive and was also the prelude of what's to come when he struggles for his survival. At the beginning of supper, everything went smoothly. However, as the dinner went on, his mom's tears began to drop into her bowl as she spoke to him. Seeing that, Zhang Tie felt too sad to eat as well.
"Mom, trust me. I'll be ok!" Zhang Tie had to comfort his mom. Although he didn't know how his mom felt as she prepared the equipment for her son's departure, his mom's tears immediately aroused the sadness of the entire family that had been repressed and hidden during this period of time. As the youngest son, Zhang Tie would soon leave Blackhot City. Seeing Zhang Tie's mom weeping, his dad's eyes also turned red and so did Zhang Tie's. The last supper ended in this way.
...
When dusk fell, Zhang Tie went out. After passing several streets, Zhang Tie finally arrived outside a post office near the most boisterous citizens' square in the center of Blackhot City. He looked around and made sure nobody had noticed him. He then put an envelope into a mailbox outside the post office before going back home as if nothing had happened.
The envelope had been previously brought back by hs elder brother and was one of the living necessities provided to the City Guard Army of Blackhot City. As a soldier, his elder brother would receive two exclusive envelopes per month, which could be sent out without pasting a stamp. In the past, his elder brother had brought back several envelopes, while the extras had been sold to the black market, which was one of the best sellers. The envelope contained the headcover of the Red-scarf Burglars and a letter that Zhang Tie had written in standard printed font. The letter would be directly sent to the headquarter of the CISF of Blackhot City. On the letter was only one line: The Red-scarf Burglars are colluding with the Niumuen Business Group to attack Blackhot City!
For Zhang Tie, this was already the most he could do. In this conspiracy, whether it was the Red-scarf Burglars or the Niuemuen Business Group, they were both monsters to Zhang Tie and the Zhang Family. To be involved in such a large-scale war, he would be trampled to death like an ant involved in a battle between a flock of elephants.
Not to mention, there was still a more terrifying figure behind the two powers, the one Snade and Huck had referred to as "Lord". The word "Lord" that had inadvertently escaped from Snade and Huck's mouth had caused Zhang Tie to feel a chill in his heart. Zhang Tie had to abandon the lucky idea to use this event to seek for maximum benefits.