Gu Yuzhi originally only planned to stay in Xinliang for five days before returning to Changzhou, since there were many inconveniences associated with the outpost in Xinliang.
But while they were out identifying the stars that night, Xie Changshi suddenly said, “Your Highness, since we’ve come to Xinliang, why don’t we stay here a little longer and return to Changzhou a month later?”
Gu Yuzhi's mouth dropped open, his eyes wide with disbelief. After a long while, he stammered, "What did Chief Secretary Xie say?"
Are we going to stay in Xinliang for a month?
Although he can walk around and jump around here, the place is not yet fully developed, there are hardly any shops, and there's not much to do.
Gu Yuzhi puffed out his cheeks, his face filled with sorrow at the thought of not being able to eat Xu Mama's cooking for more than a month.
Chief Secretary Xie explained in a low voice: "During this time, let Mr. Huo help His Highness get acquainted with Xinliang."
Gu Yuzhi scratched his head: "What's so familiar about it?"
Looking around, Xinliang City was filled with signs of construction. Most importantly, the Prince's Mansion wasn't finished, so he couldn't possibly come over.
He waved his little hand confidently and said, "I'll come and get familiar with it after the city walls and the palace are built."
Chief Secretary Xie smiled slightly: "The familiarity I am referring to is not familiarity with Xinliang City, but familiarity with the wilderness and with how to survive in it."
"I have already discussed this with Mr. Huo. Your Highness has been practicing martial arts for over a year and is now much stronger than before. This time, Marshal Huo will guide you in the wild on how to find your way, choose a temporary resting spot, and identify edible fruits and vegetables."
As Xie Changshi spoke, Gu Yuzhi felt his mind go blank. He stared in disbelief for a long time before asking, "Xie Changshi, do you mean I have to stay in the wilderness with Mr. Huo for the next month?"
He pointed to the snow-covered mountains and fields outside: "In such a cold place?"
Gu Yuzhi wrapped his white fox fur cloak tighter around himself, shaking his head incessantly: "I don't want to, it's too cold. Besides, I'm not going to go out in the wild when it's freezing cold."
He shook his head, thinking that as long as he didn't go out, the danger wouldn't come!
He hummed twice: "If you want to learn wilderness survival, summer will do."
The mountains and forests are cool in summer, and there are many edible wild fruits.
With Teacher Shu by his side, he never had to worry about finding wild fruits to eat.
Teacher Shu...
She said somewhat awkwardly, "Your Highness, although I am a PhD from the Academy of Agricultural Sciences, I don't really know every kind of plant, especially wild ones."
Her expertise lies in increasing crop yields and reducing pests and diseases, rather than identifying edible wild fruits.
Moreover, this Sang Dynasty is a non-existent dynasty in history. Who knows how many years it was separated from her era? Perhaps some of her plants have already become extinct.
Seeing the young prince staring at her with a pitiful expression, Shu Xiaohan couldn't help but gently pat his head. Then, her eyes darted around, and she remembered a method a colleague had mentioned when helping her child with homework: "Young prince, you should know the saying, 'Among three people walking together, there must be one who can teach me.'"
Gu Yuzhi nodded, bewildered, wondering why Teacher Shu would bring this up.
Shu Xiaohan smiled very subtly: "Young Prince, you can learn how to identify wild fruits in the wild, and then teach it to me and Manager Wen! Manager Wen and I don't know any wilderness survival skills either, so we need to learn them properly, just in case we need them in the future."
She and Wen Xiuzhu had previously reached a consensus that the young prince's "exile" to the northern desert was not because the emperor was insane, but because he had ulterior motives.
Therefore, Xie Changshi's sudden suggestion that the young prince learn some wilderness survival skills could not possibly have been a spur-of-the-moment decision.
The collapse of the iron mine and the return of Marshal Huo and others could very well put the young prince in danger one day.
Therefore, the young prince must be extra serious about learning survival skills in the wild this time.
She thought that if the young prince could also experience the joy of being a teacher, he would be more attentive when he studied.
Wen Xiuzhu glanced at her and listened quietly to her nonsense.
The young prince scratched his head: "But, but what I can see and hear, can't you and Manager Wen also see and hear it?"
He puffed out his cheeks, puzzled, and asked, "Why do I have to teach you again?"
Wen Xiuzhu couldn't hold back his laughter, choked on his saliva, and couldn't help but cough.
He could understand Shu Xiaohan's thoughts, but the young prince's words were clearly irrefutable.
Shu Xiaohan rolled her eyes at him without leaving a trace, then said self-deprecatingly without any politeness, "That's because Manager Wen and I are getting old and can't remember too many things, while you, Prince, are young and your brain is at its most active. Using your brain more will be good for your brain development."
She pushed up her glasses and chuckled, "Your Highness should know that the more you use your brain, the smarter you become."
Gu Yuzhi's suspicious gaze darted back and forth between Shu Xiaohan and Wen Xiuzhu, unable to see where Teacher Shu's claim of being old was manifested.
His big eyes darted around, and his brain seemed to get smarter the more he used it.
Gu Yuzhi immediately straightened his back, patted his chest, and said in a show of confidence, "Don't worry, Teacher Shu and Manager Wen! I will definitely study hard. If you don't understand anything, you can come and ask me!"
Teacher Shu raised an eyebrow at Wen Xiuzhu, her eyes full of smugness.
The young prince studies diligently on his own, and when they ask him questions afterward, it's like helping him review. Over time, the young prince will definitely remember everything very well.
Forced by circumstances, the elderly shopkeeper had no choice but to suppress his dissatisfaction and said with a forced smile, "Then Your Highness will have to trouble you."
Having been given the task of teaching Wen Shu and the other person, Gu Yuzhi naturally no longer objected and immediately said happily, "Then I'll go find Mr. Huo, and we'll set off for the countryside the day after tomorrow."
Gu Yuzhi was still very curious about how cotton was turned into cloth, so he decided to go to the weaving shop tomorrow to take a look.
Chief Secretary Xie raised his eyebrows, widened his eyes, and a question mark seemed to slowly appear above his head.
No, he was still thinking about how to persuade the young prince. Why did he suddenly agree?
Wasn't he just muttering about waiting for summer?
Chief Secretary Xie lowered his eyes slightly, afraid that Gu Yuzhi would change his mind again, and immediately nodded and said, "Alright, then I will talk to Mr. Huo and you will go out of the city with Mr. Huo early the day after tomorrow. Your Highness can think now about what you should bring in the wild."
Gu Yuzhi scratched his head: "What should I bring?"
Gu Mama always prepared everything for him when he went out, so how would he know what to bring?
Remembering what Granny Gu would pack into the carriage every time they traveled to and from Xinliang, he began to silently plan: "We need to bring dry rations, and also water pouches..."
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