“I just heard from Zheng Yuan that Blackrock Manor is preparing to sign a limited open trade agreement with Highground Viscountcy.
One of the clauses in the package deals with education, allowing Blackrock Manor's citizens to apply to Highground Viscountcy's secondary education academies.”
Wang Dong furrowed his brows, carefully recalling the matter. There seemed to be such a thing.
Highground Viscountcy and Blackrock Manor were neighbors.
Viscounts ranked higher than Barons, but there wasn't necessarily a direct hierarchical relationship between them.
For example, Blackrock Manor was a pioneering lord directly granted a title by the King, while Highground Viscountcy was a local lord granted a title by the Earl of Tianfang from the Northern Starfield.
The two had entirely different chains of command.
Blackrock Baron swore allegiance directly to the King of the Kingdom.
While Highground Viscount followed the orders of the Earl of Tianfang, and didn't need to pay much heed to the King's decrees.
Even the Earl of Tianfang had to swear allegiance to the King before receiving a land grant as a pioneering lord.
The feudal system was a peculiar thing.
My vassal's vassal was not my vassal.
As neighbors, their relationship had its ups and downs.
The relationship between Blackrock Manor and Highground Viscountcy was mostly "neutral and indifferent".
If this limited open trade agreement could be signed smoothly, it might upgrade to "neutral and friendly".
In Wang Dong's memory, this agreement eventually fell through.
The direct cause stemmed from Wang Dong himself.
In his previous life, when he was secretly purchasing energy blocks, he had found Wu Haoze, the head of the Fourth Trading Caravan of the Earl of Tianfang, and revealed some of his secrets.
This led to the Earl of Tianfang's faction joining the pursuit of Wang Dong and the Waraxe.
And shortly after, Wang Dong was taken back to the Baron's Manor as the Baron's illegitimate son.
This directly provoked the Earl of Tianfang's hostility, causing a change in Highground Viscountcy's attitude.
The limited open trade agreement mentioned by Chen Lin Feng was naturally a pipe dream, a mirage.
This time, Wang Dong did not expose himself, so he wouldn't attract the Earl of Tianfang's covetousness as he did in his previous life, and thus wouldn't lead to a change in Highground Viscountcy's attitude.
Wang Dong wasn't sure if this limited open trade agreement would proceed smoothly.
“The butterfly's wings have already begun to flap, and the wheel of history has already changed direction slightly."
Suddenly, Wang Dong had a realization.
"This is good news. You prepare yourself. If you need anything, like tuition fees, just ask."
Wang Dong smiled encouragingly at Chen Lin Feng.
The salary from the smelting plant could only be considered mediocre, compared to interstellar miners, it was far from enough.
"Don't worry, I won't be shy about it."
Chen Lin Feng grinned.
Wang Dong nodded and said no more.
Their relationship didn't need much formality.
"You two big men, hiding in a corner and whispering, in broad daylight, are you not embarrassed? It's affecting the image of our Class 1, isn't it?"
Wang Dong turned his head at the sound and nodded to Li Zi Qing, who was wearing a pink dress, revealing her rosy arms and white legs.
Glancing at Chen Lin Feng, who seemed to shrink in stature instantly due to Li Zi Qing's appearance, he stammered, "The Study Committee has spoken. We shall actively correct our sexual orientation. I'll go appreciate the beauty of Zheng Yan, the class monitor, while Lin Feng will be handled by the Study Committee."
Li Zi Qing had exquisite features, a slender figure, and a poised demeanor. She was once the Study Committee of the class and held considerable influence among her classmates. It was also said that her family was well-off.
Of course, more importantly, she was the goddess in the heart of Chen Lin Feng, and this had remained unchanged for years.
Unfazed by Wang Dong's teasing, Li Zi Qing extended a slender finger and Chen Lin Feng obligingly moved a full meter away, creating space beside Wang Dong.
She cast a satisfied glance at Chen Lin Feng, ignoring his flattering smile, and pulled a petite girl beside her, half-forcing her into the space Chen Lin Feng had vacated.
"There's no need to bother the class monitor. You take good care of Ding Ling."
Wang Dong found Li Zi Qing's slight fierceness both amusing and helpless. He could only glare fiercely at Chen Lin Feng for abandoning his friend, then turned to greet Ding Ling, who stood beside him, her face flushed.
"Ding Ling, when did you come back? It's been a long time."
Ding Ling, with her delicate features and slight baby fat, resembled a large Barbie doll. She replied in a small voice, "I just came back the other day to see my grandparents.
Wang Dong, we haven't seen each other for nearly eleven months since our big class reunion last year. How are you doing?"
Although she replied, Ding Ling turned her small face away from Wang Dong, her hands clasped together in front of her.
Wang Dong felt a little uncomfortable. He knew this classmate, who had been his deskmate for three years, quite well.
She was naturally introverted, not good at socializing, prone to shyness, especially when facing Wang Dong.