There were only Luo Sheng and Zuo Lanzhi, the master and servant, at home. Xiao Yunying was lazy and only cooked scrambled eggs with tomatoes and stir-fried pork with garlic sprouts for lunch. She also steamed some small flower rolls as her staple food.

Zuo Lanzhi said with disdain, "Only two dishes?"

Xiao Yunying broke off a small piece of steamed bun: "There are only a few of us, it would be a waste to make too much."

Zuo Lanzhi said, "There are four of us, so we need at least four dishes. There's no soup either, so how can it be enough?"

Xiao Yunying said as she ate her food, "I made a lot of food, so eat up. There's enough for you even if you have another one. If you think it's too meager, you can make some yourself."

Left speechless, Zuo Lanzhi raised her voice: "How can you be like this? You say one thing to my face and another behind my back. Why did you cook so many dishes when Madam Luo was here? I am your guest, after all. Is this how you treat your guests?"

Xiao Yunying rolled her eyes at her: "Isn't that obvious? When Madam Luo was here, there were more than a dozen people eating in the family, including the children. How could we not cook enough? Besides, you're not a guest of our family. I didn't invite you. You came with Madam Luo on your own."

Zuo Lanzhi was quite angry, but she couldn't argue with Xiao Yunying, so she turned to look at Luo Sheng, her eyes slightly red, looking wronged: "Brother Luo Sheng..."

Luo Sheng looked at her and said, "We can either eat or go out."

Xiao Yunying bit her lip to stop herself from laughing out loud. Why couldn't Zuo Lanzhi learn her lesson?

Luo Sheng clearly didn't like her, and kept picking on her in front of him.

He needs my help now, so naturally he won't offend me by protecting a girl I don't like who's always causing trouble.

Zuo Lanzhi felt wronged and angry, and wanted to throw down her chopsticks and leave.

Suddenly remembering something, he suppressed his emotions and obediently ate his meal.

When they finished eating, Yinyu took the initiative to clear the table, and Xiao Yunying did not stop her: "Wash the bowls in the sink in the kitchen, and put the rag for wiping the table on the long table next to the sink."

Yin Yu obediently agreed, and Xiao Yunying naturally sat down next to Luo Sheng, taking out the blueprints for the improved crossbow she had drawn from her bosom.

“When I went to see Dai Jincai this morning, I saw him fiddling with a small crossbow. He said it was given to him by Wei Xun for self-defense. I was curious and studied it carefully. I tried to make some improvements. See if you can use it.”

Luo Sheng was immediately drawn to the drawings the moment he saw them. After looking at several of them, he asked, "Did you draw these?"

Xiao Yunying said, "I drew it, is there a problem?"

Although Zuo Lanzhi didn't know anything about bows and crossbows, judging from Luo Sheng's expression, she figured that what the peasant girl had drawn was really useful to him. She questioned, "Are you kidding me? You can draw such detailed blueprints after only glancing at them a few times."

Xiao Yunying didn't tolerate her: "Miss Zuo, there are smart people in the world besides idiots. Just because you can't do something doesn't mean others can't."

Zuo Lanzhi slammed her hand on the table: "How dare you call me an idiot!"

Luo Sheng looked at Zuo Lanzhi and scolded, "Quiet."

Zuo Lanzhi was frightened. This was the fiercest Luo Sheng had ever been to her. Her eyes were red and she shut her mouth, but she still refused to leave.

Luo Sheng's tone rarely wavered, but it carried a hint of urgency and anticipation as he asked, "Have you ever made a finished product? How powerful is this crossbow in practice?"

Xiao Yunying shook her head: "I just drew these blueprints and haven't made any actual objects yet. You can use them to make a real object and try it out. I'm not a professional in this area. The person you find should know more about it than I do. Even if it's not suitable, you can still study it theoretically."

Luo Sheng pointed to a spot on the blueprint and asked, "What is this 'Looking Mountain'?"

Xiao Yunying pointed to the blueprint and explained, "It's what you're aiming at. Make a line from here to these two points, aim at the mountain, and you'll have a greater chance of hitting the target."

Luo Sheng sincerely praised, "That's a really good idea."

Xiao Yunying felt a sense of accomplishment when praised: "It's good that I was able to help you."

Luo Sheng asked a few more questions, which Xiao Yunying answered one by one.

Having figured everything out, he suddenly asked, "Can you modify large ballistae used for sieges?"

Xiao Yunying thought for a moment and replied, "I can't see the actual object, so I'm not sure."

Seeing that she did not refuse directly, Luo Yong said, "I can draw a picture for you and describe it to you."

Xiao Yunying said, "Then I'll give it a try."

The two of them continued writing and drawing, discussing things as if no one else was around.

Zuo Lanzhi couldn't get a word in edgewise, and, seeing the resentment, sat alone on the other side, sulking.

Nearly an hour had passed by the time the two had finished discussing the ballista.

Xiao Yunying handed him the finished drawings after they had dried, saying, "It's done. You'll have to find someone to make the actual product."

Luo Sheng carefully pushed the brush and ink aside to avoid dripping ink onto the drawing: "Thank you for your hard work."

"It was nothing, no need to be so polite." Xiao Yunying stood up and stretched, only to realize that the sky outside was overcast and it was raining.

She walked to the door and said, "Oh dear, it's raining."

I was so engrossed in our discussion that I didn't even notice it was raining.

A gust of wind blew by, and Xiao Yunying took a few steps back; the temperature had dropped due to the rain.

Remembering the snow fungus she had soaked when she returned, she turned and went into the kitchen.

Clean the snow fungus, tear it into small pieces, and put it into a clay pot along with red dates and goji berries. Simmer over low heat.

Bored while waiting, she washed a few peaches, apples, and apricots and brought them out in a small porcelain basin.

"Come and try the fruit I picked from the mountain."

As she spoke, she unceremoniously took an apple and took a bite.

Because many outsiders have been staying at her house recently, she hasn't dared to take anything out. Today, she finally has an excuse to satisfy her craving.

Zuo Lanzhi couldn't stand her behavior: "How rude."

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