According to Meng Yuxiu, the Light Machinery Department was under his jurisdiction, and even if the emperor came, he couldn't control these people.
If that's the case, then Meng Yuxiu is their leader, their general. But strangely, when they see Meng Yuxiu arrive, they at most just raise their eyes indifferently, as if they don't see him at all.
Only the elderly man with gray hair went up to them.
"No, no... no, how can you speak to your teacher like that? You've truly broken my heart!" the old man said, heartbroken.
Chang Lili looked shocked and bewildered: "Master? Meng Yuxiu, he's your master! You also study mechanical arts?"
She looked very expectant, her eyes shining, as if she had found a like-minded person.
"Then you're mistaken, little girl. I am his master, but I don't teach him mechanical arts; I teach him martial arts," the old man said smugly.
Meng Yuxiu looked very troubled and said reluctantly, "It's just wishful thinking. I've never called you master, and you've never taught me martial arts."
Chang Lili recalled how Meng Yuxiu had shown a headache when he mentioned the person who had broken through the traps with his martial arts skills alone, just like he did now.
She suppressed a laugh, but couldn't hide her anticipation as she asked, "Are you the great hero who single-handedly broke through the traps and obstacles?"
As she spoke, she became curious and couldn't help but glance at the old man's left leg. However, she felt it was impolite to do so, so she quickly glanced at it and looked away, still full of suspicion.
"Oh? You've heard of my name? Little girl, you're quite knowledgeable." He took in Chang Lili's little movements and smiled broadly. "You must have learned about me from my disciple. Are you curious why I can still move around normally even after losing my left leg?"
As he spoke, he lifted up his trouser leg, revealing that his left leg was made of metal.
Chang Lili suddenly realized and looked at the boy by the long table. What the boy was making was exactly the same as the prosthetic leg and foot installed on the old man's leg. Coincidentally, they were both left feet.
Seeing that the two were getting along well, Meng Yuxiu felt a little relieved. He pulled Chang Lili aside and said loudly, "This is the new member of the Light Machinery Department, Miss Chang Lili. From now on, you will both be members of the Light Machinery Department. I hope you can support each other."
His words were quite impassioned, but these people seemed not to hear him, busy with their own things, as if Meng Yuxiu did not exist.
Chang Lili felt that Meng Yuxiu's position as general was not easy. She had a feeling that the emperor did not want to take charge of the Light Machinery Department, but even if the emperor came, these people would not give him any face.
Seeing this, the old man smiled and stepped forward, grabbing Meng Yuxiu's arm and saying, "Disciple, don't bother. You know these people. Only your master listens to you. Don't worry, your master will take care of this girl for you."
Chang Lili had heard Meng Yuxiu mention that the old man's name was Zhou Lue. Meng Yuxiu was grabbed by the arm by Zhou Lue, and he was clearly unhappy, but he seemed to really want to get rid of Zhou Lue taking care of Chang Lili, looking like he was enduring humiliation.
Chang Lili couldn't help but laugh at his appearance. She moved closer to Meng Yuxiu and said, "Don't worry, I'll take good care of myself. There's no danger here."
Meng Yuxiu pulled his arm out of Zhou Lue's hand and said with a smile, "That's right, then I have to go back to the manor. There are a lot of military affairs that have piled up and I haven't had time to deal with yet."
Chang Lili nodded obediently and saw Meng Yuxiu off towards the horses.
"This mountain area was designated as a restricted area many years ago. No one knew that a light machinery department had actually been built here long ago. Therefore, it is safer than the military manufacturing department. Although these people have eccentric temperaments, they are among the most skilled in mechanical engineering in the world... Except for Zhou Lue, they are all geniuses."
Chang Lili chuckled upon hearing this and nodded, saying, "I will learn from them."
"Then I'll come see you another day. If there's anything you need, just tell me, and I'll bring it to you when I come back in a few days." Meng Yuxiu's gaze softened and became more affectionate.
Chang Lili thought for a moment and said, "It seems like there's nothing I need. You've already arranged everything for me, including food and clothing. Next time you come, please bring some of the tools I used at the military workshop. I find them useful."
Meng Yuxiu agreed, and before leaving, he instructed Zhou Lue to take Chang Lili with him whenever he came or went. Zhou Lue readily agreed.
After he left, Zhou Lue went over to pull Chang Lili away with great interest.
You see, the people in the Light Machinery Department are a drunkard who's always in a daze, someone obsessed with mechanical arts who doesn't like to talk to anyone, and a haughty young lady. Zhou Lue is miserable every day dealing with them, so when a normal person comes along to talk to, he naturally doesn't want to let them go.
"You must be my apprentice's future wife, right?" Zhou Lue whispered in Chang Lili's ear, "My apprentice has good taste, I think..."
Chang Lili blushed and subconsciously asked, "How did you know?"
Zhou Lue, with an expression that said it was obvious, whispered, "I could tell from the way he looked at you, how he was so wary of you, that you're the one who can keep him in check!"
Chang Lili couldn't help but turn her head to look at Meng Yuxiu as he rode away, galloping through the shadowy woods, his figure indescribably dashing and handsome.
She nervously looked away, her face turning even redder.
"I...I don't think so. I think you're the one who's got him under control. I've never seen anyone give him such a headache and not know how to deal with him," Chang Lili said, making things up.
Unexpectedly, Zou Lue seemed amused by her words, and his smile became exceptionally bright.
“You only know one side of the story. My relationship with him started with a fight. When I couldn’t see him, I thought he was quite admirable. But now that I’ve met him, I find him repulsive,” Zhou Lue sighed.
Chang Lili became interested and temporarily put aside the matter of learning mechanical arts, and started chatting with Zhou Lue.
"What exactly happened between you two?" Chang Lili asked with great interest, feeling that the only downside was that there were no melon seeds or tea.
The two sat down under the shade of a tree, enjoying the gentle breeze and the chirping of birds.
"Back then, I came out of the trap formation... I was the second person to break through the trap formation back then, and these little babies weren't even born yet!" Zhou Lue couldn't help but boast as he spoke.
Chang Lili, being very obliging, opened her big eyes wide with curiosity and asked, "Oh? Who was the first person to pass through the trap formation?"
Zhou Lue pointed at the drunkard leaning against the stone bench, lost in his own world: "Look, this guy, this guy is really strange. I really don't know how he got through the trap array back then. It's said that he broke all the arrays without getting hurt..."
Just then, a high-pitched, clear voice rang out. It was the haughty girl at the long table who spoke. Although she seemed to ignore everyone, she had been eavesdropping on the two people's conversation.
Hearing this, she retorted indignantly, "What do you mean by that? Didn't we break all the formations unscathed?"
The "we" she referred to should be herself and the boy with the indifferent yet focused expression.
Zhou Lue was adept at handling the situation and immediately said ingratiatingly, "My little aunts, who says you aren't? I admire you juniors, don't I? Now that the newcomer has arrived, you have to give me some face!"
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