Super System in the Early Tang Dynasty

Spring and Autumn have passed, and according to Li Qing's reunion with his relatives, half a year has already gone by.

Summer is ending and autumn is approaching; the weather is getting unbearably hot!

On Chang'an Avenue, a carriage turned a corner and stopped in front of a somewhat desolate mansion, with the inscription "Li Family Mansion" on it!

The Li family has declined; the glory days of the four wealthiest merchants are gone, leaving only the afterglow of their twilight years.

The gatekeeper in front of the Li residence took the name card handed down from the carriage, glanced at it, then respectfully bowed to the people in front of him and loudly announced to the people behind him, "Old Master Zhou of the Zhou family has arrived!"

Several people hurriedly came forward and ushered the old man who had stepped down from the carriage into the hall.

"I heard that the old master of the Li family has returned from Luoyang and even reunited with his long-lost grandson?" Old Master Zhou sat down casually, looked at the Li family servants, and asked loudly.

The servant of the Li family bowed his head, his brows furrowed slightly, and gave a soft snort, but respectfully replied, "Greetings, Master Zhou. Our Master Li's own grandson has indeed been recognized in Luoyang!"

"Oh—? That's good news." Old Master Zhou frowned, unconsciously drawing out his words.

Before long, the old master of the Li family came out from the back of the hall with a ruddy face. "Ah—when will Zhou Lao Er have some free time to come and visit his brother?"

"Haha, you look great today, brother. There must be some good news. I've come today specifically to thank you for your support over the years!"

Upon hearing this, Old Master Li Gao of the Li family's eyes flickered. "Indeed, there is good news! My grandson, who has been missing for more than ten years, has recently returned! However, the second son's words of thanks have made me, his elder brother, unhappy."

"Oh? This is truly a case of better timing than early arrival! Fu San, bring the things up!" Old Master Zhou waved his hand, and a servant led several rough slaves to carry down several large boxes. When the boxes were opened, they were filled with bolts of fine silk, with delicate and exquisite patterns, truly a rare sight!

"What are you doing? Are you trying to embarrass your elder brother?" Old Master Li Gao frowned even more deeply.

"Brother, please don't do this! I'm here today for two reasons. First, to thank you for your care over the years; second, to give my grand-nephew, whom I've never met, a gift to celebrate—" Old Master Zhou raised his eyebrows and paused, "There's another matter, though. My naive granddaughter has actually made a private engagement with Qian Buyong's grandson, putting me, as his grandfather, in a very difficult position. Today, I've come to apologize to you, brother!"

Old Master Li was stunned for a moment, then his face darkened. Just as he was about to say something, a loud shout came from the backyard—"Master, Master! Something terrible has happened! The young master... the young master was resting in the courtyard when he suddenly fainted!"

"What?!" Old Master Li Gao paused, shouted sharply, and stood up...

***

In a magnificent golden hall in the very center of Chang'an, a man sat high above, dressed in a long yellow dragon robe, exuding majesty and solemnity. He held two objects in his hands, playing with them endlessly—one was a large tuber with a reddish glow, extremely festive; the other was full of plump grains, arranged on top of it, shimmering with golden light, like a gleaming golden spindle, truly beautiful and lovely!

"You are all talented individuals of our Great Tang Dynasty, each of you having read countless books. Today I will test you—does anyone know what I hold in my hand?"

Below, on the left, were all the elderly and renowned ministers, including many of the Fang, Du, and Changsun families. They all looked at each other in bewilderment, saying, "We do not know what Your Majesty holds in your hand!"

Even so, people had already begun to have some guesses in their hearts—last year, they heard that the magistrate of Tanzhou County had sent two kinds of things that could be used as grain, which the emperor sent to the imperial estate to be planted. Today, the emperor was so happy that he laughed heartily without realizing it, which probably means that the result has already been achieved.

"If it weren't for the magistrate of Tanzhou County discovering this thing in someone's possession, our Great Tang might have missed out on such a divine gift from heaven!" The middle-aged man sitting high above laughed again before he finished speaking. Then, holding up the object in his hand, he said, "This thing is called sweet potato. It can be used as a coarse grain. One acre of land can produce no less than forty shi (a unit of dry measure)!"

His Highness and the others were shocked and in uproar! They couldn't believe it. If such a thing existed, what would our Great Tang have to fear?

Even the usually shrewd and calculating Changsun and his ilk were filled with turbulent emotions! If the yield is no less than forty shi (a unit of dry measure), then how can there be any famine in our Great Tang?

Thinking this, his eyes then fell upon another glittering golden object. The things before were already so wondrous; what about this dazzling, extraordinary one behind?

"Don't rush!" the middle-aged man sitting above shouted. With a wave of his hand, the palace maids and attendants around him lifted up several large cages. As soon as the large cloth covering them was lifted, a rich, sweet aroma filled the entire hall!

"Wow—" It smells so damn good! One of the burly, bearded men didn't even wait for the large basket to be put down before reaching out and shouting as he burst out from the front of the crowd, "Old Cheng, let me let you guys have a taste first!" Before he finished speaking, he grabbed two golden sticks, took a big bite, and yelled, "It's so damn sweet!" He then buried his head in his food and started gnawing on them, his face and beard covered in golden bits of juice.

The only sound in the hall was the sound of him chewing fiercely, and his large hand was doing something, trying to hide it, constantly shoving it inside his wide sleeves.

At this moment, another burly man with a thick beard came out, snorted, and walked to the large cage to take an ear of corn and start eating.

The others either secretly watched the two people devouring their food, or kept sniffling, while others glanced away expressionlessly. However, most of them were secretly cursing the two of them.

The middle-aged man sitting at the head of the table smiled upon seeing this. With a gentle wave of his hand, a servant beside him handed over a gleaming golden, fragrant corncob. "Today, regardless of rank, let's all eat this thing called 'corn.' I've already included your portions from home. Just eat as much as you want; I'll make sure you're full. But no one is allowed to sneak any back!" As he spoke, he glanced, seemingly casually, at the burly man who was devouring the corn.

One of the middle-aged men, tall and thin with a long beard, looked at the man sitting above with a mocking expression. He leaned closer to the burly man and with a flick of his wrist—whoosh! A series of dazzling golden objects were pulled down from under the burly man's clothes and sleeves!

"Haha—" The people who were initially a little reserved burst into laughter!

"You cunning old man, Changsun! When did I ever offend you? Humph! I'm not done with you today!" He said this, but his mouth didn't stop, and his large hand was still rummaging on the ground.

At this point, everyone else followed suit, each picking up a large stick and either taking big bites or chewing slowly...