Chapter 108 Too much teasing and you won't be able to ejaculate; you might die.
“He said.” Guan Ye savored the words she had heard during the day. Mu Chenbi spoke so well, every word resonated with Guan Ye’s heart, stirring her emotions. A grand plan seemed to unfold before her eyes, just waiting for them to make a big splash. “The State of Jin has been suffering from a lack of weapons for a long time. We have so much to do.”
“Mu Chenbi also said that the road ahead is long and arduous, and it is not something you can accomplish alone. I am willing to walk alongside you, to help you overcome obstacles, and to help you achieve your goal.” Guan Ye imitated Mu Chenbi’s tone and demeanor, showing it to A Jiu in a very convincing manner. After she finished speaking, seeing that A Jiu was not moving, Guan Ye nudged him with her elbow, “You’re done.”
"I'll walk alongside you, clear the way for you, and help you achieve your goals." Ajiu's words carried a hidden meaning. "He really dares to say that."
Guan Ye rested her chin on her hand and said, “Mu Chenbi has lofty ambitions. My parents and I fled all the way here, and my father also regretted it. The Blood Crossbow case had a wide impact. The people lacked weapons and tools, and farmers and workers stopped moving forward. With people but no weapons, efficiency was greatly reduced. What could be done in a day could not be done even after three or five days of hard work. The people could hardly maintain their basic needs for food and clothing all year round, let alone talk about being well-fed and clothed. Industry stagnated, all trades declined, the country was weak and the people were poor. Summoning Xingguo Fang back to the capital was also to revitalize the casting technology, not just for military equipment, but for the great cause of the country.”
Ajiu's voice was deep and resonant, "Xingguofang, can you do that?"
"Why not?" Guan Ye retorted. "Everyone's hands and feet are not tied, the court encourages us, and we are all working hard. The task is arduous and the road is long. It is not something that the two of us can accomplish alone, nor can Xingguofang alone achieve it. But I, Guan Ye, am willing to give it my all."
“You can definitely do it.” Ajiu seemed moved by Guan Ye’s words and suddenly grasped her hand, stroking the calluses on her palm again and again. “I don’t know how to forge iron, and I haven’t read the ‘Casting Classic,’ but I can…” Ajiu raised her sword. “I will stay by your side for the rest of my life and protect you. Just do it.”
Guan Ye felt a warmth in her heart and placed her handkerchief on A Jiu's warm hand. Their eyes met, and affection welled up between them. A Jiu glanced at the handkerchief that had fluttered to the ground and whispered, "It's dirty."
“A handkerchief, if it gets dirty, just wash it clean, what’s the big deal?” Guan Ye gazed into A Jiu’s smiling eyes. “Between men and women, besides love, there is also loyalty. I cherish the loyalty I share with him, but the one I love is still A Jiu, and only A Jiu.”
Ah Jiu never expected such sweet words to come from Guan Ye's mouth. He was stunned for a moment before letting out a low, hoarse laugh, pulling Guan Ye into his arms and kissing her forehead hard.
Ajiu kissed Guan Ye's eyelashes and then slowly kissed down her face. Guan Ye gently raised her face to meet Ajiu's kiss, and just as their lips were about to touch, they heard a noise outside the courtyard. Guan Ye quickly pulled away, like a startled cat. Ajiu lowered her brows and smiled softly with the back of her hand against her lips.
"Lou Cangyu?" Guan Ye recognized the stumbling man. Even before he got close, the strong smell of alcohol hit her.
Ajiu stood up, sword in hand, and seeing that Lou Cangyu was indeed drunk, she gestured for Guan Ye to go back to her room to rest. She then rushed forward to support the staggering Lou Cangyu, frowning and shaking her head.
“A-Jiu…” Lou Cangyu grabbed A-Jiu’s wrist, squinted at Guan Ye under the tree, and chuckled, “I came back at the wrong time, I’ve disturbed your good time.”
Guan Ye could tell from Cang Yu's expression that he was talking nonsense. Drunkards are a nuisance; her father was like that when he was drunk too. Guan Ye made a face at A Jiu from afar, then turned and went to the back.
"I'll help you back." Ajiu hoisted Lou Cangyu's arm onto her shoulder.
"Ajiu." Lou Cangyu tensed up, raised his index finger and pressed it against Ajiu's lips. "I'll tell you a secret. You must swallow it and never tell anyone. You must never tell anyone."
Ah Jiu, assuming he was drunk, casually responded a few times and dragged his completely intoxicated body straight to the east wing.
"I saw it." A silly smile hung on Lou Cangyu's flushed face, his eyes were hazy, yet full of joy.
—"What did you see?"
Lou Cangyu covered Ajiu's mouth, cautiously looked around the empty courtyard, and breathed a sigh of relief when he confirmed that only the two of them were there. "Her?" Seeing that Ajiu seemed not to understand what he was saying, Lou Cangyu hiccuped, leaned close to Ajiu's ear, and whispered, "You've seen white fireworks, haven't you?"
White fireworks… Ajiu was suddenly stunned. He had indeed seen them before. On Canglang Island, Jiang Muyun jumped into the burning furnace. At the moment she turned to ashes, white fireworks lit up the sky above the furnace. Guan Ye said that her father had also seen them.
“I wanted to go that day too.” Lou Cangyu’s face was filled with regret. “How could I have overslept? My mother didn’t wake me up either. It was a human sacrifice in the furnace, and I just missed it.”
Recalling the horrific scene of that day, Ajiu's heart sank again. "What's there to see? It's better not to see it at all."
Lou Cangyu broke free from Ajiu, staggered to the center of the courtyard, looked up at the towering furnace in the foundry, pointed to the top of the furnace and said, "At that time, I thought, would I ever see it again in my life? Ajiu, I saw it, I finally saw it."
Ajiu grabbed Lou Cangyu's hand and pressed it down hard, saying, "You've drunk too much. It wouldn't be good if you made a commotion and startled the shop owner."
"I saw it." Lou Cangyu finally obediently followed Ajiu to the east wing. He savored the mellow Nu'er Hong in his mouth. When he first came here, the old wine left by Tianhufang was unearthed in the workshop. At that time, he thought it was rare to drink it, but it was still not as good as the ten-year Nu'er Hong ordered by Wushuang. He was already drunk as soon as the wine was poured.
The moment she stepped inside, A-Jiu suddenly stopped, involuntarily looking towards the furnace. Smoke billowed into the sky, exactly the same as the one she had pointed out to Guan Ye on Hu Xian's boat—white fireworks… Was Jiang Muyun in that firework again…?
Although it was late at night, Guan Ye was not sleepy. It was all because A Jiu was so good at flirting, and she just happened to flirt with him in a very touching way. Lou Cangyu was back, really... Guan Ye kicked at the pebbles under his feet. He was young and full of vigor. If he flirted too much, he wouldn't be able to release it and he wouldn't be able to sleep. He was afraid he would die.
Guan Ye pondered going to the storeroom in the backyard. What Mu Chenbi had said today was not only a source of passion for blacksmiths, but also something that stirred Guan Ye's emotions. Perhaps she could go to the storeroom and look for some old items; maybe there were still traces left by her father and Lu Chaoge.
As they approached the storeroom, a faint light shone through. Had a thief broken in? Guan Ye pulled out a short sword, which was already in use after only being sharpened. Mu Chenbi's words must have been blessed.
Guan Ye kicked open the door abruptly, yelling, "Where do you think you're going, you little thief!" The words were barely out of her mouth when she was startled and took a few steps back. Inside the room, the little thief's hand trembled so much that he dropped his tinderbox, and the sparks ignited the straw on the ground, setting it ablaze in an instant.
"Little Ma?" Guan Ye saw the little thief's face in the firelight.
Without waiting for a reply, Xiao Ma pulled off his apron and spread it over the embers. He jumped up and stomped his feet to put out the fire. "What are you standing there for? If it catches fire, you'll be in trouble."
Guan Ye imitated Xiao Ma, and the two of them bounced around as if they had burned their feet. Fortunately, they managed to step on the sparks and avoid a major disaster. Xiao Ma breathed a sigh of relief, glared at Guan Ye, and bent down to pick up the things on the ground.
Guan Ye rubbed her eyes and looked at the copper coins scattered on the ground. Weren't these the ones she gave to Xiao Ma? Instead of sleeping at night, she sneaked into the storeroom to secretly count the money? Guan Ye thought to herself, a complex expression on her face.
"Xiao Ma," Guan Ye hesitated, "what did you do wrong?"
"Pah." Xiao Ma didn't even look at Guan Ye. "It's none of my business who gets into trouble, Guan Ye, don't curse me."
Guan Ye squatted down, picked up the copper coin that had rolled into the crevice, stood up, wiped it clean with her sleeve, and examined it closely. She was certain that what she held in her hand was just an ordinary copper coin, not gold.
"Give it back to me." Xiao Ma stretched out his hand to her, his voice gloomy.
Something unusual must be going on. Originally, there was nothing wrong, but Xiao Ma's behavior must mean something is amiss. Guan Ye clenched her hands and hid them behind her back. "I gave them all to you. Why should you take them back?"
Xiao Ma panted heavily, "If you give it to me, it's mine. Guan Ye, don't cause trouble, I have a very important use for you."
Guan Ye found it increasingly amusing. It was understandable that silver had great uses, but copper coins were nothing special. Apart from buying steamed buns and fried cakes, Guan Ye couldn't think of any other great uses. Guan Ye looked behind Xiao Ma and suddenly noticed something. She leaned over Xiao Ma to get a clearer view of the objects on the ground.
Before Xiao Ma could react, Guan Ye pushed him away. On the ground were an empty basin and two earthenware bowls filled with water. Next to the pile of junk was an old scale with a broken bar—a scale for measuring objects by draining water… A thought flashed through Guan Ye’s mind: Xiao Ma was possessed.
Seeing that Guan Ye had discovered the item, Xiao Ma simply stopped trying to hide it and spread his hands, saying, "I'm also studying the 'Casting Classic.' Feng Shisan even said he wanted me to teach him. So, I'm just practicing first. Once I'm good enough, I'll dazzle him." Seeing that Guan Ye wasn't looking at the item and was staring straight at him, Xiao Ma panicked and avoided Guan Ye's gaze. "If you want to laugh, just laugh. Why are you looking at me like that?"
“Xiao Ma…” Guan Ye bit her lip. She guessed something, but Xiao Ma had to say it himself. “You also read the ‘Casting Classic’?”
Xiao Ma's Adam's apple bobbed. "I can read, so what? Can't I even read? I can also apply what the young master has learned..."
Guan Ye squatted on the ground, picked up the scattered copper coins and held them in her hands. "But the 'Casting Classic' doesn't mention water filtration to test objects at all... Not only the 'Casting Classic,' this method isn't written in any book."
"Didn't you write it down?" Xiao Ma's mouth dropped open. "Last time you clearly told everyone it was taught in the book, Guan Ye, you..."
Guan Ye ignored Xiao Ma and examined the copper coins one by one. She vaguely felt that Xiao Ma's strangeness was hidden in these copper coins, but the copper coins all looked the same, and there was no difference in them with the naked eye.
Guan Ye looked up. "You know how to drain water, but copper coins are too light. This method won't work. No matter how many times you try, you won't get it right." Guan Ye suddenly realized something and raised her eyebrows. "The copper coins of the Great Jin Dynasty are all supervised by the imperial court and supplied by the Salt and Iron Bureau... Currency is strictly controlled, so they all look the same. Little Ma, why are you trying to use copper coins?"
Seeing that Xiao Ma avoided answering, Guan Ye grabbed his collar, "You asked me about the copper coin next to the skeletons in the mine, and you even asked for that one. What's the difference between that copper coin and the others?"
The night wind slipped in through the cracks, and Guan Ye mentioned "skeletons" again. Both of them felt a chill run down their spines and shivered at the same time. Xiao Ma stammered, "Don't...don't say it. It's scary at night."
Guan Ye felt cold and scared, but she still had to continue, "The same proportion of ingredients, the same casting method, you went to great lengths to secretly use the water displacement method here... so there's something wrong with these copper coins, something wrong with the copper coins?" Guan Ye smacked her forehead hard and whispered, "Aren't they fake?"
"You still dare to talk back." Xiao Ma was practically ready to shut Guan Ye up.
Guan Ye plopped down on the ground, her eyes scanning the bewildered little horse. "We're friends, if you're willing to trust me, perhaps I can help you."
"How can I help?" Little Horse's eyes darted around. "You just said that the drainage method wouldn't work, do you have other methods?"
Guan Ye remembered that Xiao Ma had said that his family had been wronged. The bundle he took from Pei Chong's old house on Canglang Island contained three tinderboxes. Resources on the island were precious, and tinderboxes were even rarer. Three of them! Heaven knows how Xiao Ma managed to collect them. There must have been other items hidden in the bundle he carried with him all the way, items that could help him leave the island and stay in Rongdu.
Lou Cangyu's defeat in the sword test sent panic through the neighborhood, with everyone thinking he was going back to Canglang Island. Xiao Ma, however, insisted he would never return; he had important matters to attend to and hadn't yet gone to the yamen to beat the drum. Even the rough-around-the-edges Feng Shisan could tell that Xiao Ma had been acting strangely ever since arriving in Rongdu. He talked less, his smiles faded, and his thoughts grew increasingly heavy. Guan Ye never questioned Xiao Ma; she knew everyone carried a past within them—she was, and so was Xiao Ma.
—And then there's Ajiu, who has never mentioned his past; he must also have a story that no one knows.
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