Chapter 92: Newcomers and Oldcomers “My name is Xiaoshi,…

"My name is Xiaoshi. I'm an attendant appointed by the leader after he ascended to the throne. My daily duties include communicating with the leaders."

Fuyao said: "That means he is a close minister, and his future is limitless."

Who doesn’t like to hear good words?

Xiaoshi immediately smiled happily: "Good luck to you, good luck to you." His favorability instantly increased.

Fuyao took her hand and showed a familiar look, "My Lord has decided to transfer me from Emei to Jinjiang. We will have plenty of time to work together in the future.

Although you are the landlord and I am a newcomer, we are both colleagues serving the lord. If there is anything I cannot do, I hope you can give me some advice. If there is anything I do not understand, I hope you will also be generous in your guidance.

Xiao Shi: "...Okay, okay."

As Fu Li's attendant and close minister, this wasn't the first time she'd been complimented, but it was the first time she'd encountered Fu Yao's compliment. Her tone, demeanor, and words were all elegant and easygoing, perfectly executed.

She knew that the other party was complimenting her, but she could not look down on him at all, and even felt a little flattered.

Ever since Fu Li started literacy classes at the Jinjiang Division, Xiao Shi, like Song Tong, had been among the first to learn all 3,000 commonly used characters. She also interacted more regularly with Fu Li's clerks, who were among the most educated in the entire Jinjiang Division.

As time went by, she couldn't help but feel a little proud, and even felt that the doctors, ministers, and scholars under the princes of the Central Plains were no more than that.

However, when Fuyao, her old minister, appeared in front of her, just a few words made her realize how ridiculous her previous pride was.

It turns out that a person's knowledge and accomplishment can really be reflected in all aspects.

Suddenly, Xiaoshi felt a little inferior.

Fuyao was very sharp-eyed and saw through it immediately, but she remained calm on the surface. She took Xiaoshi's arm and said happily, "So you are so approachable. I was worried that someone like you who achieved success at such a young age would inevitably look down on others.

It seems the Master's vision is still as good as ever. Those who are valued by her are not necessarily all of high moral character, but they are definitely not foolish or shallow either."

Xiao Shi, who always had a good attitude, was embarrassed by her praise. He blushed and just said, "No, no, no."

Fuyao scolded him, "Too much modesty is hypocrisy. I believe I have some ability to judge people, and what I said just now was absolutely not an exaggeration."

Xiaoshi silently noted down: modesty and exaggeration can actually be replaced by these two words.

She smiled awkwardly: "I'm just a little embarrassed."

Fuyao smiled and said, "Why should I be embarrassed about this? I still have something to ask you."

Xiaoshi: So “I’m sorry” is irreplaceable?

She said sternly, "I don't deserve your advice, but I'll tell you everything I know."

I was urging myself: How should I put this into your fancy way? Just say it!

Although she is a bit cunning, in front of Fuyao, she is as clear and lovely as a stream.

Fuyao suppressed her laughter and nodded seriously, "I want you to tell me everything you know. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. We can learn from each other and seek the truth together."

Upon hearing this, Xiaoshi suddenly breathed a sigh of relief and felt that his previous self-esteem was simply ridiculous.

——He knows so much, and he's so open and honest when he asks me questions. So why should I be embarrassed when I only know a few words?

"Just...can you teach me how to speak?"

Seeing the puzzled look on Fuyao's face, Xiaoshi explained anxiously, "It's just...it's just that when you speak like that, it sounds elegant and makes people feel that you are very knowledgeable."

Fuyao was just about to use her to integrate into the Jinjiang Department's administrative system, so of course she wouldn't refuse. She immediately agreed, "Of course. Actually, it's not difficult. If you read a few more books like me, you'll naturally get it."

After she finished speaking, without waiting for Xiaoshi to speak again, she said, "I just wanted to ask you about the Shuzhong characters. When you have some free time, I will read the book and you can copy it in the Shuzhong characters. We can study together. How do you think?"

Fuyao has followed Hua Jing and Fu Li since she was young, grew up on Yucang Mountain, and learned the Dai Kingdom's writing since she was a child.

Later, Fu Li entered Boyi and served as an agricultural official. These four retainers took the opportunity to learn the local writing system of the capital.

Now she followed Fu Li to work in the Jinjiang Department. Fu Li also specially compiled a set of characters for Shuzhong, so of course she had to learn it again.

This wasn't a difficult task for her, but Xiaoshi, who was being consulted, felt very happy, and his previous discomfort had completely dissipated.

Just because Fu Yao had said before that "teaching and learning benefit each other", others had done it first.

Seeing that Xiao Shi was completely at ease, Fu Yao asked again, "What are you doing now? Tell me, so I can have a general idea."

Xiao Shi said, "A few days ago, the chief ordered me to lead people to cut a lot of bamboo and mulberry branches. He didn't tell me what to do with them. After they were cut, they were just piled there.

Just now the leader gave me another order, asking me to take the same group of people as before to dig a pond and divert water. First, peel the bamboo and mulberry bark as she instructed and set them aside.

Fuyao nodded repeatedly and asked, "For bamboo and mulberry branches, do you only use the outermost layer of skin?"

"Yes." Xiaoshi nodded.

The two were talking as they walked, and when they got here they passed by a yard where bamboo weaving was being done.

Fuyao peeked through the fence and smiled, "So the master brought the bamboo weaving here too! That's great! Peel off the outer layer of bamboo, split the inner layer into strips, polish it smooth and weave it into bamboo mats, perfect for spring and autumn."

Xiao Shi's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he clapped his hands and laughed, "I was just thinking it would be a shame to throw away the remaining ones. That's a good idea. Think about it, can you still use the bark of the mulberry tree branches after you peel them?"

Fuyao pretended to ponder for a moment and said, "Those thick branches can be made into bows after peeling the bark, but the thin ones can only be burned as firewood. However, the leaves of the mulberry tree can be used to dye cloth, so don't throw them away."

Because Shu is rich in plant resources, there is also a kind of vine with extremely high toughness. It can be cut down while it is fresh and fixed with a mold. After it dries, it becomes a fixed bow that can be used after stringing it.

Therefore, people here have never thought of using other materials to make bows.

When she told him that mulberry branches would work, Xiaoshi was a little skeptical: "When branches dry, they're either extremely hard or extremely brittle. If I use them to make a bow, won't they break as soon as I pull them?"

Fuyao didn't hide anything from her and smiled, "Break the branches, chop them, peel them, dry them in the shade, soak them in oil for three days, take them out and dry them again, then soak them in oil again... Repeat this seven times, and the bow you make will be both tough and hard, and have an extremely long range."

"I see." Xiao Shi nodded and said, "It does consume quite a bit of fuel."

She paused, then added, "But if you can shoot the arrow far, it won't be a waste."

Fuyao laughed and nodded repeatedly, saying, "Yes, yes, that's the truth."

The two chatted and laughed, and went together to gather the tribesmen to process the bamboo and mulberry branches.

=====

As for Fu Li, when she returned, Taiyi Zhenren had already finished reading the papermaking technique. His eyes were full of surprise and he kept praising her for her wonderful ideas, saying that this matter had great potential.

Fu Li thought: "Isn't it very promising? My ancestors in previous lives have already conducted many experiments and created real objects. I just took their results and saved a lot of costs."

But she wouldn't say that. She just showed just the right amount of surprise and shyness: "Really? Do you think this is feasible?"

"It's doable, absolutely doable." Taiyi Zhenren looked at her encouragingly and assured her, "Go ahead and do what you need, and just find some people to help me.

In less than two weeks, I will not only make this paper for you, but I will also train a group of skilled craftsmen so that you will never lack paper in the future."

Fu Li was so excited that she didn't know what to do. She pulled Ling Zhuzi together and bowed to him again and again, which made Taiyi Zhenren laugh and cry.

——You worship on your own, why do you drag my apprentice along with you?

But he didn't say anything. He just accepted their greetings and sent them both out. "Alright, alright, go ahead. I'll take another look at this papermaking technique."

"Disciple, I'll take my leave."

The two of them retreated and thoughtfully closed the door. Fu Li cheered and suddenly jumped onto Ling Zhuzi. Ling Zhuzi caught her and asked with a smile, "Are you so happy?"

"Happy, of course I'm happy." Fu Li rubbed her rosy cheeks against his neck, and looking at her earlobe so close to her, she couldn't help but open her mouth and bite it.

Ling Zhuzi's long, thick eyelashes trembled slightly, and she subconsciously hugged her tighter. Fu Li's triumphant smirk reached his ears, making him feel both amused and annoyed.

At this time, any language is insufficient.

The most important thing is that Lingzhuzi knew that he would never be able to win the argument with her, so he simply stopped talking.

He silently chanted a spell, and a fiery red aura instantly enveloped the two of them. When the aura dissipated, where was the figure left?

Taiyi Zhenren, who was standing across the door, shook his head and sighed, "Young man!" Then he continued to study papermaking.

Lingzhuzi was truly an expert at playing with fire, and his fire escape technique was extremely swift and agile. He arrived at Fuli's residence in almost the blink of an eye.

He raised his hand and snapped his fingers, and a thin layer of spiritual light spread out, sticking to the four walls and blocking out all sounds inside and outside.

Fu Li put her arms around his neck, put her legs around his waist, looked up at him with a smile, and exuded a fearless aura from the inside out.

"You did it on purpose!" Lingzhuzi said with certainty.

"Yeah." Fu Li nodded directly in acknowledgment, "I did it on purpose, but... aren't you enjoying it too?"

Lingzhuzi suddenly laughed. This reaction was so unexpected that Fuli laughed a little unsurely.

The smile on Fu Li's face gradually disappeared as if it could be transferred. She looked at him with some surprise and doubt, and couldn't help asking, "What are you laughing at?"

Lingzhuzi: "I enjoy it."

Fu Li: “…………”

—The boomerang outside came too fast.

She always believed that "a man of insight is a hero", and she went over and kissed Lingzhuzi's face randomly, her intention to please him evident in her words.

Lingzhuzi sighed softly, held her in his arms with one hand, lowered his head and placed a series of warm kisses on her neck.

Different from the previous kisses that were motivated by love, Fu Li clearly felt that this time the kissing and rubbing was tainted with worldly desires.

At one moment, she felt a little panicked.

But when she thought that it was Ling Zhuzi who was holding her, she suddenly feared nothing. She held his thin waist tightly with both hands and let him lead her forward step by step, until they both lay on the jade-covered couch and could see each other's faces clearly again.