Chapter 19: The Purple Building

There really is an upgrade reward.

Su Ze looked toward the guiding youth, who pulled three blueprints from his bosom and said to Su Ze:

“Please choose your reward from these three blueprints!”

Another three-choice-one option—so this is the trick those trashy pay-to-win mobile games use, and you’ve figured it out.

Though annoyed, Su Ze obediently examined the three blueprints.

After reviewing them, his eyes lit up, almost wishing he could take all three!

Wandering Pavilion (Purple)

“While parents are alive, do not travel far; if traveling, do so with purpose.”

Price: 20 points of Cultural Aura.

Function: Allows recruitment of special wandering youths who, once supplied with provisions, can travel afar and periodically bring back exotic goods.

What is this? A travel frog?

Exotic goods from afar—does this mean that while Su Ze is in Bianjing, he can obtain goods from distant lands via the wandering youths?

The conflict in the northwest is intensifying, and the Silk Road is cut off. Now, goods from the Western Regions are scarce and highly sought after in Bianjing.

This clearly looks like a powerful ability.

Yingtian Academy (Orange)

“Gather knowledge as the sea, swallowing the nine rivers, revering the hundred valleys; sharpen words as a blade, cutting through floating clouds and fine jade.”

Price: 200 points of Cultural Aura.

Functions:

Meditation Retreat: Enables secluded, intensive study within the academy, where time passes at one-third the speed of the outside world.

Mentor: Allows recruitment of special mentor youths to guide a specific subject.

No wonder it’s an orange-tier building—this is impressive!

Meditation Retreat grants more study time than others; Mentors provide one-on-one tutoring. It’s practically tailor-made for passing civil service exams.

Feels a bit like some modern tutoring ad, doesn’t it?

However, seeing the cost of 200 points of Cultural Aura made Su Ze wince. He asked:

“Why does the Wandering Pavilion cost only 20 points, while the Yingtian Academy requires 200?”

The guiding youth gave an unassailable reply:

“The Yingtian Academy occupies a vast area, with over a hundred classrooms and dormitories, so naturally it requires much more Cultural Aura. Even 200 points is a discounted price.”

Su Ze was speechless and then looked at the third blueprint.

Ink Pool (Purple)

The place where Wang Xizhi washed his brushes.

Price: 100 points of Cultural Aura.

Function:

Copying Practice: Day and night copying of the calligraphy master’s originals to master his style more quickly.

This building seemed somewhat redundant to Su Ze. He could practice calligraphy during Meditation Retreat in the Yingtian Academy.

Besides, 100 points of Cultural Aura was rather expensive.

Eliminating the Ink Pool, the remaining two were still hard to choose between.

Su Ze asked the guiding youth:

“Can’t I take all three blueprints?”

The youth shook the green leaf atop his head and said:

“You may only choose one this upgrade, but you can select again next time.”

Hearing this, Su Ze was relieved. Peach Blossom Dock still looked quite dilapidated, and the Peach Blossom Scroll wasn’t fully unfurled yet—there was definitely room for further upgrades.

Since these blueprints would reappear, no rush to pick ones he couldn’t build now. Su Ze decisively chose the Wandering Pavilion first.

After acquiring the blueprint, Su Ze immediately instructed the guiding youth:

“Construct the Wandering Pavilion.”

“20 points of Cultural Aura deducted. Construction will take one day. Please wait, Master of Peach Blossom Dock!”

The hundred points of Cultural Aura he had just acquired was now down to sixty, which pained Su Ze somewhat.

After ordering the Wandering Pavilion, Su Ze unfurled the scroll and indeed saw a new option to recruit Wandering Youth.

Recruiting a Wandering Youth still required 5 points of Cultural Aura, so while building prices rose, the cost to recruit spirit-infused youths remained stable, which was a relief.

Looking over Peach Blossom Dock, Su Ze began planning the buildings.

Firstly, the land: one acre of standard farmland wasn’t enough; more land was needed to sustain themselves.

Although an acre of Peach Blossom Dock land yields twelve units per year—effectively six times the usual output—during the Song dynasty, a typical poor peasant household had fifty acres.

Granted, that was average landholding, and Peach Blossom Dock’s lands were blessed with favorable weather and no risk of poor harvests.

Still, by Su Ze’s calculations, to be fully self-sufficient, they needed at least three acres of farmland.

However, there was no need to spend too much Cultural Aura on expensive farmland just yet. He would start with two plots of inferior dryland to plant Jiancheng rice and cope for now. If he could recruit higher-grade spirit-infused youths later, he could upgrade the farmland.

“Purchase two plots of inferior dryland.”

“10 points of Cultural Aura deducted. Two plots of inferior dryland will be completed tomorrow!”

Su Ze counted on his fingers: with 50 points of Cultural Aura remaining, he still needed two agricultural spirit youths and one wandering spirit youth, which would cost another 15 points.

That left only 35 points of Cultural Aura.

Raise chickens? Or pigs?

Su Ze thought and decisively chose a free-range chicken coop (green tier) to obtain eggs.

Adding recruitment of a spirit-infused youth to tend the chicken coop left him with 20 points of Cultural Aura.

It went fast.

Should he continue expanding farmland or build other structures?

Su Ze looked at the building list and fixed his gaze on a rudimentary paper mill.

If he wanted to gather Cultural Aura, he would need to interact with the scholars of Bianjing. Could he create a private newspaper?

There was no ban on newspapers in the Northern Song. If he could typeset and produce an influential paper, would he still struggle to gather Cultural Aura?

Though this upgrade didn’t present a printing workshop blueprint, Peach Blossom Dock allowed custom building construction. He could observe a real printing workshop and replicate it in Peach Blossom Dock.

To publish a newspaper, paper was essential, so building a paper mill first made sense.

Besides, he himself needed paper for study; monthly expenses on writing materials were a significant cost. Producing paper could also be a source of income.

With this in mind, Su Ze resolved to spend 10 points of Cultural Aura to build a rudimentary paper mill, then 5 points more to recruit a craftsman youth.

That left only 5 points of Cultural Aura, which Su Ze decided to save for future use.

Having ordered the construction of the Wandering Pavilion, two plots of farmland, a chicken coop, and a paper mill, Su Ze took down the wooden sign hanging at Peach Blossom Dock and wrote the recruitment notices for spirit youths.

One wandering youth, three agricultural youths, and one craftsman youth.

As Su Ze hung up the sign, a gentle breeze stirred. Through the distant mist, a paper boat appeared, carrying five spirit youths dressed variously, drifting toward Peach Blossom Dock.

Su Ze cracked his knuckles, ready for the test of fortune.

If he could recruit higher-quality spirit youths like last time, that would be perfect!