Chapter 49: Your Brain Isn't Just for Show

Ye Mingming knew well the nature of her companions, yet she still insisted on using the interstellar credits she earned to help her sister… After all, if her sister hadn’t tipped her off back then, she wouldn’t be enjoying such a good life now.

“Legion Commander, may I… could you teach my nephew how to eliminate the black energy clusters? You know, since he awakened as an offensive guide, he can now only study in the cultivation department…”

Lately, her nephew had been pestering her about dropping out of school to join the mercenary corps. Ye Mingming understood it was because he felt sorry for his hardworking mother.

But her nephew wasn’t even twenty yet, and his wood-element ability was only at level three. The mercenary corps took on dangerous missions—wouldn’t he just be cannon fodder, attracting star beasts?

Ye Moxi snapped her fingers.

“Father, actually, I’ve been thinking about this on the way here. According to what you said, there should be quite a few students in the cultivation department who’ve awakened offensive guide spirit powers, right? How about, as Ye Mingming suggested, pairing an offensive guide with a soothing guide? The offensive guide handles clearing the black energy clusters, and the soothing guide takes care of mental comfort… Of course, this kind of task requires reliable people.”

Ye Mingming and her nephew made perfect test subjects!

Ye Mingming nodded excitedly.

“I can vouch for my nephew’s character!”

Madam Feng Xi’s eyes lit up.

“Moxi, I’m heading to the First Legion to work tomorrow. You can come with me! Let’s try working together as a team.”

Her job was to provide mental comfort three times a month to sentinels chosen by lottery. But she always took on three extra sessions monthly as well, since, as the legion commander's wife, she had to lead by example.

“Mentor, I’ll go too tomorrow,” Ye Mingming said. She wanted her nephew to experience it firsthand; on-site teaching would be more effective.

Madam Feng Xi blinked.

Ye Moxi nodded.

This was a perfect chance to visit Feng Yanze’s workplace. Although Feng Yanze had often communicated with her during his free time and told her about the First Legion’s garrison, Ye Moxi had always wanted to see a military camp of the interstellar era with her own eyes.

With that settled, Ye Tianjiao ordered everyone to set off together the next day.

Long Mu and Long Song didn’t return to their clan but planned to stay at Xing Miao’s place.

Ye Moxi didn’t think much of it when Long Song suggested dining at Guangxian Pavilion. Ye Tianjiao also took the opportunity to invite Ye Ximo out.

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Ye Moxi handed Ye Mingming several VIP cards for “Star Snow Ink,” granting a lifetime 12% discount.

“‘Star Snow Ink’ has become quite the sensation lately!” Ye Mingming accepted them with delight. The brand was affordable, used solid ingredients, and tasted excellent. Moreover, the three owners hailed from noble families. Even Yipinge Pavilion was at a loss, forced to emphasize their more exquisite ingredients, claiming theirs wasn’t food for the common folk…

But since it doesn’t grant immortality, good taste and reasonable prices are what truly matter!

When the dishes arrived, the manager of Guangxian Pavilion approached Ye Moxi to discuss selling a few of her sweet soups there—like the pear and lily soup, white fungus and snow pear soup, and fish maw with white fungus soup—in exchange for 40% of the profits as payment for using her recipes.

Ye Moxi was completely out of her depth. “Star Snow Ink” had initially hired a professional lawyer on her behalf—Zaxi—to handle such matters, so she contacted this renowned imperial lawyer known far and wide.

This lawyer also happened to be Feng Yanze’s childhood friend. Coming from a distinguished family, Zaxi was naturally shrewd. After a brief explanation from Ye Moxi, the lawyer quickly drafted a contract to the satisfaction of both parties.

Ye Moxi was straightforward; she didn’t pretend to understand these things. After all, she didn’t believe anyone would dare to cheat her now!

Meanwhile, Lawyer Wen was assisting Ye Ximo in dealing with disputes involving the Rhodes family…

Ye Moxi and Xing Miao Luxue had partnered to open “Star Snow Ink,” selling milk teas, cakes, and various sweet soups, which became wildly popular.

On the other side, the Military Academy frequently held field training. The sentinels were used to surviving on jerky with water or nutrient liquids outdoors. But Ye Ximo casually pulled out a box, added some water, and in no time, the water boiled, heating the meal inside…

No wonder Wang Zi’s family was capable—soon, under Wang Zi’s name, Ye Ximo collaborated to develop the “Prince” brand self-heating meal series.

This included, but wasn’t limited to, various rice bowls, mixed rice, mixed noodles, and self-heating hot pots.

The self-heating meal series was marketed as affordable and fast, mainly targeting students at the Military Academy and mercenary corps. Because of its moderate price, it also cut into part of the nutrient liquid market. Although profits were small, they were still considerable.

However, since both the Wang and Ye families—especially Ye Tianjiao, who was fiercely protective of his children—made it clear this was just a playful venture by the younger generation, the forces behind the nutrient liquid companies dared not confront them outright.

The Rhodes family was already displeased with Ye Ximo and Ye Moxi becoming Ye Tianjiao’s adopted son and daughter. Their biological parents had repeatedly complained to Ye Ximo’s instructor over child support issues. On top of that, there was the self-heating meal business. The Rhodes family even began hiring lawyers, attempting to regain custody of Ye Ximo…

Out of goodwill, Lawyer Wen suggested that if the siblings had other income sources, they might share one with the Rhodes family—to silence their complaints and improve their own reputation.

Ye Moxi scoffed at this.

Yet Ye Ximo, having spent time with Wang Zi and others, had some understanding.

He once harbored a dream he never voiced: to sell boxed meals in the safe zones.

Two meat dishes, two vegetables, and a serving of rice, sold at the price of a low-grade nutrient liquid, relying on small profits and high volume, transporting food carts to every safe zone…

Of course, selling boxed meals wasn’t the ultimate goal. His true aim was to organize a powerful intelligence network!

The safe zones were frequented mostly by lower-class people, but don’t underestimate their insight. They were always the first to detect any stirrings in the forests or mountains beyond the safe zones.

“Young uncle, your mind isn’t empty!” Lawyer Wen thought the Rhodes family’s shortsighted minds could never grasp the underlying benefits of the boxed meal venture.

“So, Wen family, want to get involved?”

Feng Yanze sneered.

Controlling the dynamics inside and outside the safe zones… who better to manage that than the military?

Sadly, the military was filled with schemers, each vying for power.

Lawyer Wen tapped his fingers on the desk.

The Wen family held one of the twenty seats in the Elder Council. Their grandfather had long wished for more influence.

“Feng Yanze, does your wife ever consider taking a secondary husband?”

“What? You, Lawyer Wen, proposing yourself as a consort?” Feng Yanze sneered.

“I have no interest in romantic entanglements! I thought you’d understand better than I do, given your mother’s example, that exceptional women attract more suitors. I have no intention of usurping your role as main husband. On the contrary, by occupying the secondary husband’s position, wouldn’t your authority as main husband be even greater?”

Grandfather had ambitions, so did he. Grandfather sought further advancement in the Elder Council; as for him…

He wanted the old man to step down early.