Chapter 904: Extinct Volcano
Shiqukou.
Watching the Xiao Mansion guards ride away on horseback, clan leader Wang Qun hurried to the thatched cottage where Wang Qi lived, and looked at him hesitantly, "Brother Qi, Lord Xiao sent someone to invite you to meet him in Ganzhou City. Why didn't you agree?"
Wang Qi smiled and said, "Brother Qun, please believe me, I know what's going on."
Wang Qun sighed, "Brother Qi, I know what you're thinking, but Lord Xiao is the heir apparent of the royal family after all. These nobles are bound to be more arrogant than ordinary officials. I'm worried that your attempts to test him will backfire."
Wang Qi smiled again and said, "Brother Qun, my last trip to Ganzhou City wasn't in vain. I haven't seen Lord Xiao in person yet, but from the information I've heard from all sides, he's not someone who gives up easily."
"I didn't refuse to go to Ganzhou City this time, not because I was deliberately trying to manipulate him. I just wanted to see how determined Lord Xiao was to change Xiliang."
Wang Qun said no more: "It's good that you know this, but I still want to remind you that Mr. Xiao may be our only chance to escape the suppression of the Wei family."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Wang Qi looked at the patriarch's back as he left, said nothing more, and continued to read.
Xiao Mansion.
Seeing that the guards did not invite Wang Qi, Xiao Yeyang just raised his eyebrows, without much surprise on his face.
Daohua smiled and said, "This is asking you to come to my thatched cottage three times and invite me in person."
Xiao Yeyang said calmly, "It's a good thing for scholars to have some integrity. As long as they have real talent and knowledge, it doesn't matter if they have a bad temper. I'm just afraid that they're just seeking fame and reputation."
As he said this, he looked at Defu.
"Get ready and go to Jinweiwei tomorrow."
Daohua quickly asked, "You're not looking for Wang Qi anymore?"
Xiao Yeyang smiled and said, "That person is testing me. Let's let him go and see who can outlast the other. I'm looking for helpers, not ancestors."
Daohua didn't mention this anymore, but looked at Xiao Yeyang: "Tomorrow is only the sixth day of the New Year. If you go to Ganzhouwei this time, will you be able to come back in time for the Lantern Festival?"
Xiao Yeyang paused for a moment, then hugged Daohua and said, "I'm afraid I'll have to stay a little longer this time. After the spring, the military town will also have to be built on a site."
Daohua: "Then I'll prepare some more food for you later."
From then until mid-March, Xiao Yeyang was busy training the Jinwei Border Guard and preparing to build a military town, and during this period he did not send anyone to look for Wang Qi.
This made the patriarch of the Wang family very anxious.
Even Wang Qi felt a little uneasy.
Did he misjudge Xiao Yeyang?
In fact, this person is no different from other nobles?
In late March, Xiao Yeyang returned to Ganzhou City. At this time, Daohua had also finished all the spring plowing work.
Xiao Yeyang felt guilty for not having time to accompany his wife. "I've thought about it and decided to go to Shiqukou myself. Do you want to go with me?"
Daohua nodded quickly: "Okay, okay! Why did you suddenly think of this again?"
Xiao Yeyang: "When I was training with the Jinwei Guards, I was chatting with some soldiers and accidentally heard some things about Wang Qi. I feel that this person may be more powerful than I imagined."
Daohua: "How is it so powerful?"
Xiao Yeyang: "The defense of the Jinwei Guards used to be even more passive and lax than that of the Ganzhou Guards. Most of the time, the Western Liao troops would reach their doorsteps before the border troops received any news."
"The village where the Wang family previously lived was massacred by the Western Liao people, but the Wang family managed to escape."
"Leading one or two people to escape the pursuit of the Western Liao people is nothing, but the Wang family still has hundreds of clansmen. The fact that Wang Qi was able to lead them out shows his ability."
Daohua thought for a moment and said, "Since we're going to visit, we might as well show some sincerity. I'll prepare a gift. I don't need anything else. It's cold and damp in the mountains, so I'll just bring a few carts of honeycomb coal and some cotton clothes."
Xiao Yeyang smiled and nodded: "You decide."
Shiqukou.
Clan leader Wang Qun sat in Wang Qi's thatched cottage, looking a little anxious. "Brother Qi, how about you go to Ganzhou City again? I've heard that Lord Xiao is very busy. He's been training with the Jinwei Guard since the beginning of the new year. I wonder how long you'll have to wait for him to come in person?"
Seeing the anxious look on the clan leader's face, Wang Qi sighed inwardly. Just as he was about to agree, Wang Lifu suddenly rushed in: "Sir, clan leader, Master Xiao is here with Madam Xiao."
Hearing this, Wang Qun stood up suddenly, and Wang Qi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Wang Qun quickly came to Wang Qi's side and said, "Brother Qi, Lord Xiao has come personally. Don't hesitate any longer. Come with me down the mountain to welcome the distinguished guest."
After saying that, he pulled Wang Qi out of the thatched cottage without saying anything.
Wang Qi smiled helplessly and let the patriarch drag him out.
On the other side, Xiao Yeyang was walking up the mountain with Daohua. Just when he reached halfway up the mountain, he saw Wang Qun and Wang Qiying coming down.
"I greet Mr. and Mrs. Xiao."
As soon as Wang Qun and Wang Qi stepped forward, they saluted Xiao Yeyang and Daohua.
Xiao Yeyang smiled and said, "Don't be so polite, both of you. I hope I didn't disturb you by coming here so suddenly."
Wang Qun quickly replied, "It is an honor for our Wang family to have you, sir and madam, here. How can we bother you?"
Xiao Yeyang smiled and nodded, holding Daohua, and walked towards the mountain with Wang Qun and Wang Qi.
When Daohua saw the thatched hut where Wang Qi lived, she felt happy and thought to herself, do these learned people like to live in thatched huts?
Wang Qi invited Xiao Yeyang and Daohua into the house, and then Xiao Yeyang and Wang Qi started chatting. Daohua was not very interested in what they were talking about. Seeing Wang Lifu standing outside the house, she stood up and walked out.
"Madam, what are your instructions?"
When Wang Lifu saw Daohua leaving the house, he immediately trotted over.
Daohua smiled and asked, "Can you take me around?"
Wang Lifu nodded immediately: "Of course, madam, please."
Wang Lifu thought that Daohua wanted to see the mountain scenery, so he took her to the highest point on the mountain.
Standing here, you can not only see the foot of the mountain, but also see where the Wang family lives.
"Huh?"
Daohua was surprised to find that the house where the Wang family lived was actually built in a circular pit. This instantly reminded her of the extinct volcano she had seen in her previous life.
When you think of volcanoes, you think of volcanic ash, and when you think of volcanic ash, you think of cement.
Daohua quickly looked at Wang Lifu and said, "Lifu, is there any bare area on your mountain where no grass grows?"
Wang Lifu nodded quickly: "Madam, how do you know? There is nothing growing in the back mountain. I will take you there to see it."
Daohua nodded: "Okay."
Not long after, Daohua followed Wang Lifu to the back mountain and saw a large area of exposed tuff.
Daohua didn't know how cement was made, but she knew that volcanic ash and lime could be combined to produce a cement-like material.
Roads built with this material will definitely be more durable and stronger than gravel roads or dirt roads.
In the thatched cottage, Xiao Yeyang and Wang Qi chatted very happily, and an hour or two passed by unknowingly.
"Sir, you are so talented, would you like to work for me?"
Facing Xiao Yeyang's invitation, Wang Qi did not hesitate this time: "Thank you for your high regard, sir. I will do my best to assist you."
Xiao Yeyang smiled and nodded. After they finished discussing the matter, he realized that Daohua had not returned yet, so he and Wang Qi left the house and went to the back mountain.
"Why are you playing with rocks again?"
Xiao Yeyang walked to Daohua helplessly and took the stone from her hand.
Daohua quickly said, "Xiao Yeyang, these stones are not ordinary stones. They are tuff. Together with lime, they can be used to make a very strong building material."
"This material can be used to build roads and city walls. It is definitely much stronger than stone and soil."
After hearing this, Xiao Yeyang's expression suddenly became serious: "Really?"
Even Wang Qi looked over.
Daohua nodded immediately: "I've seen it in a storybook."
Hearing this, Wang Qi was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
I didn't expect that Mrs. Xiao was so naive and actually believed what was written in the storybook.
However, to his shock, Xiao Yeyang actually nodded in agreement: "When we leave later, we will bring back a few carts of these stones and let the craftsmen try to do as you said."
(End of this chapter)
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