Chapter 29 chapter Five

After waiting another week, Peng Yaci was interviewed by Farr.Although he felt nervous, he was used to this feeling of loneliness and helplessness.On his way to see Farr, from the moment he left the city until he entered Farr's villa in the outskirts, there were guards monitoring him all the way.He has no way to protest or refuse, only to accept such an arrangement naturally. Farr appears taller and younger when he's not among the "old men."And since he's wearing civilian clothes today, he doesn't look like a senator at all. Farr suddenly said: "You are a weirdo." His eyes, which were set close together, seemed to be trembling at this moment.

Then he added: "For the past week, and especially for these two hours, you have done nothing other than keep hinting that I need gold. This is superfluous. Who doesn't like gold? Why don't you go any further?" What is your intention?" "The problem is not just about gold." Peng Yaci said solemnly: "It's not just about gold, nor is it about one or two gold coins. It should be said that everything behind gold is more appropriate." "What else is behind the gold?" Farr asked, and showed a weird smile: "Obviously, you are not going to make another clumsy demonstration."

"Clumsy?" Peng Yaci frowned slightly. "Well, of course." Farr touched his chin with his clasped hands: "I'm not being picky, I can be sure that your clumsiness is also intentional. If I know what your intentions are, I will warn the Grand Duke. If it was me, I would make gold on the spaceship and give it directly. That way, there would be no animosity for that show." "You're right," Peng Yaci admitted, "but I have my own way, and I'm willing to risk arousing hostility just to get your attention." "Really? It's that simple?" Fall made no secret of his schadenfreude: "I think the 30-day observation period you proposed is probably to buy time so that my attention can be transformed into a more meaningful attitude. .But what do you do if someone finds the gold impure?"

Peng Yaci deliberately replied in a sarcastic tone: "And this judgment comes from those who most desire the purity of gold?" Farr raised his head, squinted his eyes and looked at the merchant, seeming to be surprised and delighted and said: "What you said makes sense, now please tell me, why did you draw my attention?" "Observe—not long after I came here, I discovered several things related to you that are beneficial to me. For example, you are very young, and I mean as a member of the Advisory Officer, you even came from an emerging family." "Are you criticizing my family?"

"Absolutely not. Everyone knows that your ancestors were great and sacred. No one can deny this. But some people criticize you and say that you do not belong to the 'big five tribes'." Farr leaned back in his chair and said: "About these issues-the five major tribes have fallen, like an old man who is dying, almost exhausted. Today, the descendants of the five major tribes are less than Fifty people." He didn't hide his resentment. "Having said that, there are still people who don't like people from other than the five major tribes to be the Grand Duke. You are so young, and you are the most favored upstart by the Grand Duke. You will definitely attract many powerful enemies. This is what I heard. The Grand Duke is already old. , once he dies, he can no longer protect you. When that day comes, the one who will explain his 'spiritual words' must be one of your political enemies."

Farr showed displeasure: "You foreigner has heard too much, this kind of ear should be cut off." "We can study this further." "Let me guess," Farr fidgeted—"you want to suggest that I use those evil little machines on your space merchant ship to bring me wealth and power, don't you?" "Even if you are right, why do you object? Just because of your moral standards of good and evil?" Farr shook his head: "Absolutely not. Listen, strangers, according to your pagan agnosticism, you may think of us this way-but I am not completely enslaved by traditional myths, although on the surface I appear to be So. I am an educated man, and my eyes are clear--at least I hope so. All our religious customs and ceremonies are more form than substance, for it is the religion of the masses."

"So, what exactly are you objecting to?" Peng Yates asked in a gentle tone. "That's the point—the attitude of the masses. I'd like to do business with you personally, but how can I get rich if your little machines have to work? If I—what the hell are you going to sell me— —For example, a razor, for example, how can I make a fortune if I can only use it furtively and cautiously, even if I can shave more conveniently and cleanly? Besides, if I am caught using such a razor , and how can we avoid the bad luck of being caught in the gas chamber or scared to death by the mob?"

Peng Yaci shrugged: "You are right. I think the solution is to re-educate your people so that everyone is used to using nuclear energy supplies—for their own convenience and your actual interests. Although this is A daunting task, I won't deny it, but the profits are pretty big. And it's about you right now, and it's none of my business, because I'm not selling you razors, paring knives, or rubbish processor or something." "Then what are you going to sell me?" "It's gold. I'll sell you gold directly. I can sell you the machine I showed last week."

After hearing these words, Farr's whole body stiffened, and the skin on his forehead twitched.He asked, "The metal conversion unit?" "Yes, with it, as much iron as you have, you can have as much gold. With so much gold, I believe it is enough to meet all needs, including of course the status of Grand Duke. What about young people, political enemies, etc., It's all fine and perfectly safe." "How to do it?" "Use it in absolute secrecy, of course, as you just said, the only safe strategy for using nuclear power supplies. After you get that machine, bury it in the deepest dungeon in the strongest castle on your farthest territory, so that you You'll be a millionaire in no time. Remember, you're not buying a machine, you're buying gold. And it's never going to look like it's been manufactured, because it's just like natural gold."

"Then who will operate the machine?" "You yourself, it only takes five minutes, and you can learn how to operate it. After you decide, I can install it for you at any time." "What price do you want?" "Well——" Peng Yaci's tone became cautious: "I will open my mouth, because I rely on it for a living. That machine is quite valuable, so I thought——I want two cubic feet of gold, use Wrought iron equivalent to pay." Farr laughed, making Pyates blush. "My lord, let me remind you again," he added in a flat voice, "You can get your money back within two hours."

"You're right. But within an hour, you could disappear without a trace, and my machine might suddenly fail. I need some reassurance." "I can assure you." "Very well," Farr said, bowing mockingly, "but it's a better guarantee if you stay. I assure you, too, that if a week after I receive the machine, it's still working fine." , I will definitely pay right away.” "impossible." "Impossible? Anything you sell to me is enough to get you sentenced to death. If you don't agree, the only end is to send you to the gas chamber tomorrow." Peng Yaci's face was expressionless, but his eyes seemed to be shining with excitement.He said: "You're taking advantage of this, it's too unfair, you should at least write me a written agreement." "Let me also have a handle in your hands, so that you can threaten me with the death penalty? Huh, don't think about it!" Farr said with a triumphant smile: "Impossible, man, one of us is a fool enough." Peng Yeci, the merchant, said in a low voice helplessly: "Then, we have no choice but to leave it like this."