As a special department of the imperial court, they did not have a fixed office.
There are only two bosses. The rest are all craftsmen. Rong Xi became the core member of the entire department.
The building would be located not far from the mine and adjacent to a river with sufficient water resources. It was said to be an office, but it was actually just a workshop.
After settling on the site, Shen Yi gathered the craftsmen and started building the workshop.
Building a workshop took a lot of time, so Rong Xi spent time at home teaching people how to make pencils.
Fortunately, the paper made by Wei Dynasty had a texture that could be used for pencil writing.
Although the great Wei Dynasty paid great attention to literature, once the pencil came out, it would definitely be scorned and despised by literati students and could not be promoted. But what Rong Xi wanted was not to let literati use pencils, but to give them to craftsmen.
Most of the craftsmen are uneducated but possessed exquisite skills. If they could read and write basic words, it would be more advantageous for future research.
Brush, inks, paper and inkstones were expensive, but pencils were simple to make and low in cost, and one could be used for a long time. If the craftsman learned writing with a pencil, it would be more economical and affordable.
Hu Yulin was excited when he learned that the new utensil was ready.
He was a businessman. Although he had studied in school for several years, he was not pedantic. Pencils may be criticized by literati, but their benefits would certainly make them popular among knowledgeable people.
“Brother, let me have a look.”
Rong Xi smiled and handed the pen to him. Hu Yulin played with it in his palm for a moment and asked, “How to use it?”
After being taught by Rong Xi, he sat in front of the case, was holding a pen and started writing. The hard tip of the pen touched the paper, and he felt quite powerless.
I was used to write with a brush, and it became really awkward to use a pencil.
He tried writing a word, then shook his head and laughed at himself, saying, “I still need to practice more.”
“Haha,” Rong Xi laughed, “Brother Hu…”
“Young master, King Qin is looking for you.” Liu Zishi suddenly announced outside the house.
The words suddenly stopped, Rong Xi was stunned for a few breaths, and smiled apologetically at Hu Yulin: “Brother Hu, I’m sorry. I need to leave first”
Hu Yulin shook his head and stood up, “It’s okay, you should go now, I also will go home,” he played with the pen in his hand, “How about giving this pen to your brother?”
“If you like it, I’ll give you some more.” Rong Xi didn’t hesitate at all.
Hu Yulin laughed loudly and said, “That’s it.” After saying that, he walked away.
After he left, Rong Xi thought for a few breaths, took some drawings from the desk, and then walked to Qin Ke’s room.
“Brother Si.” He called out and sat on the high chair.
In the past few days, Qin Ke ordered Feng Shan to make several high chairs and place them in the study room with high desks so that it would be easier to sit down and write.
The two of them were already familiar with each other, and there was no longer any formality between them.
“If you need any raw materials, please inform Master Cheng.”
Putting down the pencil in his hand, Qin Ke raised his head and said calmly.
Rong Xi glanced away with his peripheral vision and saw the neat handwriting on the paper. He was quite impressed and felt that Qin Ke was a little cute.
For several days, Qin Ke spent his free time practicing calligraphy, and now he could write in a decent manner, which in Rong Xi’s opinion was considered good.
“I know.” Rong Xi smiled, “What does Brother Si want from me?”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Qin Ke looked at him steadily, then pushed the paper full of words to Rong Xi’s side and asked, “How?”
“Nfgs ubbv!” Ebcu Wl rwlifv jcv qgjlrfv, “Dgbatfg Vl lr delaf ajifcafv, tjtj.”
Hlc Bf ibbxfv mjiw jcv abbx atf qjqfg yjmx. Llr ibcu fsfijrtfr mbnfgfv atf iluta lc tlr fsfr, jcv atf mbgcfgr bo tlr ilqr rilutais megnfv, oiffalcuis.
Ktf gbbw kjr rlifca, ybat bo atfw rlifca.
Coafg j wbwfca, Ebcu Wl ygbxf atf rlifcmf: “Ktf kbgxrtbq lr jybea ab yf yelia, yea P vbc’a vjgf ab ub ab kbgx jcv afjmt atf mgjoarwfc ab yeliv la. Lbkfnfg, P tjnf rbwfatlcu ab jrx atf tfiq bo atf kbgxfgr.”
Qin Ke immediately asked: “What’s the matter?”
Putting the drawings on the table, Rong Xi said seriously: “I need a laboratory, and the layout is like this.”
Qin Ke lowered his head and took a closer look, and saw that the graphics on the paper were very detailed and lifelike, making it look like a real house standing in front of him.
He looked amazed and asked: “Is this picture drawn with pencil?”
Rong Xi nodded, “The brush strokes are soft and it is difficult to draw horizontal, vertical and fine lines, so a pencil is better.”
The drawing was a three-dimensional model, and the layout inside and outside the laboratory was clearly visible.
Qin Ke read it repeatedly and suddenly raised his lips and said with a smile: “It is indeed true.”
The drawing made by a pencil was very good, and so was Rong Xi.
The next day, the two went to the county government office together and handed the drawings to Cheng Hao.
When Cheng Hao saw the picture, he felt as if he had found a treasure. He looked very excited, “This picture is very wonderful! I will do my best to supervise what young master Rong needs!”
“Thank you, Master Cheng.” Rong Xi smiled sincerely.
Cheng Hao laughed loudly, patted his shoulder, and said cheerfully: “If you really want to thank me, you might as well teach me some of your experience.”
It had to be said that Cheng Hao had no official authority and was open-minded, making it easy for people to like him.
Rong Xi shook his head in surprise, “Master Cheng’s words are serious, I should be asking you for advice.”
It was truly a blessing in life to meet someone with the same interests in another world!
Cheng Hao smiled kindly and said: “Don’t be so estranged, sir. Your father and I were officials in the same court, so I count you as half your elder. I’ll take care of you for a while, so you can call me ‘Uncle Cheng’.”
After saying this, he looked expectant.
Rong Xi’s heart surged with warmth, he smiled and said, “Uncle Cheng.”
Cheng Hao suddenly laughed loudly, and all the servants outside the house peeked in surprise.
The workshop was currently supervised by Cheng Hao, so he was really busy. Rong Xi and Qin Ke did not stay long and left the county government office.
Chi Yan and Xue Ni were playing outside. When they saw the two arriving, their spirits raised up.
Seeing how cute they were, Rong Xi smiled at Qin Ke and said, “They have a very deep friendship.”
“Chi Yan and Xue Ni have eaten and slept together when they were young, so the friendship is naturally deep.” Qin Ke’s eyes were gentle, “I saw that Xue Ni’s docile nature is similar to yours, so I let him follow you.”
Rong Xi was shocked when he heard this.
The book mentions that when Qin Ke died, Chi Yan was also dying. Liang Siwen struggled to bring back Qin Ke’s body, but was unable to bring Chi Yan back with him. On the occasion of parting, Liang Siwen’s white horse circled the red flame three times, wailing and crying.
Could it be that the white horse is Xue Ni?
He suddenly looked at Qin Ke, his eyes trembling.
When reading the book, Qin Ke was a supporting character in the world of the book. Although his death was regrettable, it was precisely because of his death that the protagonist Liang Siwen grew up rapidly.
At that time, he only sighed secretly and nothing else.
But now, he had known Qin Ke for a long time. Qin Ke was a close friend and a person he admired.
There was a stinging pain in his heart, and thinking about the tragic situation in the book, Rong Xi suddenly felt pity and sourness.
Qin Ke grabbed the reins of Chi Yan and turned around to see Rong Xi who stunned on the spot. His eyes were slightly red and his brows were furrowed, as if he was being bullied. He looked extremely aggrieved.
He quickly returned to Rong Xi, “What’s bothering you?”
His expression and tone of voice were unconsciously soft.
Rong Xi came back to his senses and suddenly touched Qin Ke’s concerned gaze. Suddenly the dark clouds cleared and he showed his face and teeth.
It was a pity that a person like Qin Ke died young.
He suddenly said: “The Northern Barbarians often invade the border in winter and plunder the food of the people of our Wei Dynasty. I don’t know what will happen this year.”
The cold wind was already raging in Qingzhou, not to mention that the north of the Wei Dynasty, the weather was definitely freezing where the barbarians lived.
The snow had fallen, the grass had dried up, and the barbarian cattle, sheep, and horses were either cold or hungry. In order to survive, they would definitely invade the frontier.
“There are good generals and soldiers guarding the northern border, so you don’t have to worry.” Qin Ke thought he was worried about the war, so he comforted him, “Qingzhou will be safe.”
Rong Xi shook his head and asked: “If the barbarians really invade, will you go to guard them?”
Qin Ke was slightly startled when he heard this. Was Rong Xi frowning because he was worried about him?
The man suddenly showed a smile on his face. His appearance was originally very prosperous, but he was usually cold and serious, with an awe-inspiring aura, and everyone else forgot his appearance.
This smile really couldn’t be described in words.
Shining like a pearl, flawless like jade.
Rong Xi stood stunned on the steps, only to hear the sound of his heartbeat beating non-stop.
The smile of a beauty really could conquer the world. Qin Ke stretched out his hand to stroke his hair, his eyes were very soft, “If I go, what will happen to you?”
Rong Xi blurted out, “Let the craftsmen make more fire bombs, bows, crossbows, and telescopes.”
The answer was quite simple.
“Yes.” Qin Ke chuckled, “My life depends on you, so I have to work and stay with you.”
Rong Xi’s cheeks felt hot.
The God of War of the Wei Dynasty was brave and good at fighting. Why should he be afraid of the barbarian enemies in the north? To him, those utensils were just the icing on the cake.
He really could not help myself.
“If the Northern Barbarians are destroyed one day, the weapon made by you will be a great contributor.” Qin Ke’s expression was sincere and his words were firm.
Rong Xi smiled shyly and mounted the horse with him.
The two of them rode together and reached the city gate when they suddenly met a caravan.
There were eight people in the caravan, and their clothing was very different from that of Wei. Rong Xi could not tell where they came from for a while.
The caravan used mules and horses to carry goods. These were all commonplace, but what was surprising was that there was a prison cage standing on a wooden cart. There was a person sitting paralyzed in the cage. The person had blond hair and blue eyes, and a very white complexion. He was wearing single clothes and only used a blanket to keep out the cold.
He looked haggard and was trembling.
In the Wei Dynasty, such foreign visitors were called Semu people.
He didn’t know how this man came to Wei Dynasty and was imprisoned. Judging from his appearance, he must be sold as a slave.
Maybe after he stared for a long time, the person in the cage suddenly noticed something and instantly turned his head to look at him.
Rong Xi was about to look away when he saw the man waving at him desperately and shouting wildly. However, he couldn’t understand the language and others couldn’t understand what he said.
It just so happened that Rong Xi half-understood.
He wad saying, save me.
Rong Xi was not a person with overflowing sympathy, but when he saw the despair in this man’s eyes and saw himself as a life-saving straw, he couldn’t help but be touched by him.
He was also a person from another world. When he first arrived in the Wei Dynasty, he was inevitably at a loss. After a few days, he merged with the original memory and developed a sense of belonging.
After meeting several friends, the loneliness and confusion in my heart slowly faded away.
His hesitation fell into the eyes of the caravan leader. Seeing his well-dressed and extraordinary bearing, the chief stepped forward and said with a smile, “Young master, have you taken a fancy to this slave?”
The blond hair and blue eyes held the cage pillar in their hands, looking forward to it.
Seeing how pitiful he was, Rong Xi felt pity in his heart, but it didn’t show on his face.
“It’s just a person with colored eyes, what’s so surprising about it?”
Seeing his calm expression, the chief felt a little panicked.
Along the way, he met many wealthy people and sold a lot of goods, but no one paid any attention to this person.
When seeing people who are very different from themselves, ordinary people will be wary.
Although blond hair and blue eyes were rare, they were not unique enough to be tolerated.
“Young gentleman, you don’t know. This slave is strong, and his strength is comparable to that of two strong servants!” The master flattered and exaggerated the fact with a smile.
Rong Xi showed some interest, “Seriously?”
“It’s absolutely true!” He nodded fiercely.
He saw that Rong Xi was born soft, young, and ignorant of worldly affairs, so he would definitely be a good deceiver.
“What’s the price?” Rong Xi sat on the horse and looked down at him and asked.
The boss rubbed his palms and said with a smile: “Please ask for 5 guans.”
Before Rong Xi could answer, he heard the indifferent voice of Qin Ke next to him: “It’s nothing special about people with colored eyes. Don’t buy it. Just go home.”
When the boss heard this, he quickly changed his words: “Young master, three guans! Three guans! No more!”
Rong Xi reluctantly refused, “My brother won’t allow it, and I can’t do it either.”
Pretend to leave.
“Two guans! Two guans!” The chief was so anxious that his voice became hoarse.
If it couldn’t be sold, it would still cost food to feed it. If it could be sold, then sold it!
Rong Xi immediately showed his face and replied: “Deal.”
These tricksters 😹
🤣🤣Yeah sure easy to deceive indeed
Thank you for the update!
Thanks for the chapter!
When king is here you can’t be cunning
Thank you for your translation 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙
I really like this hubby meets the besties atmosphere between our ML and Hu Yulin 🤣