Please pull the trigger for this world one more time.

New Year's Eve.

The sound of firecrackers outside has been intermittent since daytime and is getting more and more frequent.

Maple Leaf, the teacher's wife, prepared a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner. The three of them sat in front of a radio, listening to the broadcast while drinking and eating.

At exactly midnight, the crosstalk performance on the radio ended and the broadcast became a formal program.

A powerful female voice emanated from the radio, sending out a wave signal through the vibrating ether, resounding throughout the entire Guangwu Empire.

"Children of Han and Hua! People of Guangwu!"

It is now the first day of the first month of the 837th year of the Guangwu calendar, at midnight! The year of Jia Yin in the Hongzhi era! This is the third year that our young and promising Emperor Hongzhi has led the empire.

Now, please welcome our Majesty to deliver the New Year's address for the Empire!

The family members at the dinner table were all taken aback and stopped eating at the same time.

After a few moments of silence, a young and composed voice came from not only the radios, but also from the loudspeakers in major cities across the empire.

"Fellow citizens of the Empire. I am Jiang Yanyi, the seventeenth Emperor of the Empire, Speaker of the Court Council, and Joint Marshal of the Three Armies."

This year was a year of war, but also a year of hard-won peace. As the prince said, "We, the people of Guangwu, established our nation through military might, yet we cherish benevolence in our hearts. We can entertain guests from all over the world, and we can also defend against enemies from all directions."

Thinking back on my three years on the throne, I first ascended it amidst the flames of war. The peace and prosperity we enjoy today are entirely due to the bloodshed of the army and the hard work of the people. I cannot help but shed tears whenever I think of this.

However, whenever I think about my actions, I realize that since ascending the throne, I have been mostly preoccupied with war and have been unable to take any measures to benefit the people and the country. I often cannot sleep at night when I think about this. I can only work diligently on government affairs and keep busy with official documents in order to live up to the trust of the people of the empire.

At this moment, the sound of firecrackers outside began to subside.

"...A few days ago, a trusted minister suggested to me that I should hold a belated enthronement ceremony, but after much consideration, I decided against it, which caused an uproar within the clan."

A clan chief priest asked me, "The grand ceremony is an ancestral tradition, so why is it not being held?"

My words can be summed up in four words: "It is a waste of resources and a burden on the people."

Now is a time when everything needs to be rebuilt. The empire's industry needs money, the empire's agriculture needs money, the empire's commerce needs money, the empire's army needs money, and the empire's people's livelihood needs money.

I once privately calculated with the Minister of Finance that each grand ceremony would cost at least a million silver dollars. This million silver dollars could only satisfy my pride, but I don't know how many imperial subjects' granaries could be filled or how many machines could be oiled.

I know that some people have criticized me for this matter, saying that I am arbitrary and disregard etiquette. However, I say that etiquette and law must not be abolished. Although etiquette and law can correct what is wrong, they cannot fill one's stomach.

Furthermore, some foreign scoundrels have claimed that I am a stingy and miserly person.

I don't care.

If there are no more starving people in my empire every year from now on, then what does it matter if I am a tyrannical and impoverished ruler...?

By this time, the sound of firecrackers could be almost completely silenced outside.

Mo Zian listened to the emperor's New Year's address on the radio and was somewhat surprised—

First of all, the emperors of the Guangwu Empire did not have the tradition or habit of delivering New Year's addresses on the radio in the past, after all, the radio had only been around for a few years.

But it's understandable, considering that the great war had just ended that year.

Secondly, the entire speech was devoid of any flowery language, and even went on to describe the empire's industrial and commercial policies and administrative outlines for the coming year.

It felt like the New Year had finally arrived, and while other kids were having a blast, he was still stuck with his winter break homework, reciting poems and doing math problems.

But clearly, the speech was very effective—the sound of firecrackers outside only gradually resumed after the speech was finished and the female announcer began reading the New Year's Eve program.

Gui Haishuo sat at the table, sipping his wine glass, lost in thought. He had been in this state ever since the new emperor of the empire began to explain the policies on industry and commerce.

Mo Zian lacked experience in this area, both in his past and present lives, so he had no idea what his master was thinking.

But he can ask!

"Master, is there something wrong with these new policies?"

Hearing Mo Zian's question, Gui Haishuo snapped out of his reverie, glanced at Mo Zian, and sighed softly, "I lost my oyster omelet."

hiss……

Are you waiting for me here?

Mo Zian's expression turned slightly serious: "Master, where did you lose it?"

Gui Haishuo grabbed Mo Zian's head with one large hand: "Don't you know where I threw it?"

Mo Zian blinked: "Perhaps it turned into the juice of growth..."

"I only have 4 silver dollars in total, so the extra-large one will cost 50!"

Gui Haishuo began frantically rubbing Mo Zian's newly shaved buzz cut with both large hands, almost causing sparks to fly.

Finally, before Gui Haishuo could forcibly rub off two pounds of dandruff, his master's wife, Fengye, delivered a karate chop to stop the two rambling masters and disciples.

But just as Maple Leaf sat back down, she suddenly gagged without warning.

Instantly, the whole house fell silent, with only the noisy sound of firecrackers outside.

Given Maple Leaf's strength and the nourishment from the [Creation Galaxy], it's almost impossible for her to get sick. So, the dry heaving might be...

The house instantly erupted into chaos again.

So the next day, Gui Haishuo, who hadn't slept a wink all night, dragged Fengye to the largest clinic in Licheng early in the morning—

In fact, Maple Leaf is an expert in toxicology and is a herbalist and half a doctor himself, but Gui Haishuo still wants to go to the clinic to verify it.

Maple Leaf was led by him all the way out the door, all the way to the entrance of the clinic.

Almost all the clinics were closed on the first day of the Lunar New Year. After banging on the door a few times without getting a response, Gui Haishuo kicked the door open, startling the doorman inside who fell to the ground.

In the end, the clinic's director stepped in and personally examined Maple Leaf.

"It's a pregnancy pulse."

When those three words came out of the old man with the white beard, a noticeable smile appeared on Maple Leaf's usually expressionless face.

Gui Haishuo stood to the side, staring blankly, somewhat mesmerized.

"cough……"

The curator's cough brought Gui Haishuo back to his senses. "I say, this... Master Jue Zhe, is your illness treated?"

"Ah... Oh, I was too impatient before, I was very rude."

Gui Haishuo bowed deeply. "I wonder if my wife needs any medication to stabilize her pregnancy?"

"unnecessary."

The white-bearded old man shook his head and sighed, "Your Majesty is a rare person in this world. The stability of your foundation is the best I have ever seen in my life. Moreover, judging from the five elements of your body, I am afraid that ordinary medicines and poisons are no different from grass roots to her."

You just need to be careful not to overexert yourself or travel long distances for 30 days. Alright, the consultation fee is 5 yuan, and the door repair is 10 yuan. It's the Lunar New Year...

Gui Haishuo gave the clinic 30 silver dollars, then took Fengye out for a 10-yuan morning tea, and then spent 15 yuan to buy Fengye a silver bracelet.

Where did Gui Haishuo get so much money?

You'd have to ask Mo Zi'an, who stayed home to guard the gate while munching on dried meat to vent his anger; his resentment was practically solidified at that moment.

Mo Zian looked at the dried meat and bread in his hand and slammed his fist on the table—he missed out on morning tea again!

I want char siu bao! I want crab roe! And chicken congee!

However, when Gui Haishuo returned with a cup of morning tea, Mo Zian let out a burp and tears immediately streamed down his face.

Master, why didn't you say so sooner?

……

Maple's pregnancy became a turning point in their lives; everything the family had to do now revolved around her.

Starting from the new year, the next one hundred days are the Guangwu Empire's annual hunting ban period. Therefore, in order to allow Fengye to rest and recuperate peacefully, Gui Haishuo simply decided to continue living in Licheng.

Having abandoned his plan to move south to the new empire territory, Gui Haishuo sold the 50 civilian hunting rifles directly in Licheng for 450 silver dollars each.

Another 30 days have passed in the blink of an eye.

Winters are short in the south of the empire. While the north is still shrouded in frost, the first batch of forsythia in Licheng has already bloomed proudly.

Golden flowers dotted the old southern city. A few petals fell onto the envelope and were then handed over to Gui Haishuo by the postman.

After reading the letter, Gui Haishuo called Mo Zian and drove directly to the car dealership.

"Master, what are we doing at the car dealership?" Mo Zian asked.

"Sell the car." Gui Haishuo's face was filled with a faint smile.

Mo Zian was taken aback for a moment after hearing this, then asked directly, "Are we staying in Licheng?"

"No, let's go to the capital, Guangwu City."

"And then?" Mo Zian asked.

That's all.

Gui Haishuo habitually ruffled Mo Zian's buzz cut a few times, "He probably won't leave."