Chapter 191: Myriad Things (Second Update)

Chapter 191: Myriad Things (Second Update)

Xianjin looked down at the four lines of doggerel still stuck to the sink.

You shouldn’t have mentioned this. Now she wanted to switch people even more!

"It’s really not…" Xianjin waved her hand. "I just want to try someone else, see if their height and build..."

Zhou Ergou roared to the sky like a bloodthirsty Husky, "You do! You’ve always complained that I can’t read or write! How could you! I’ve been working hard with you all night, without rest, panting and sweating! And now you’re using someone younger, fairer, and fresher than me! Tell me, what exactly do you dislike about me!"

Xianjin: ...

"I dislike how tall you are! How strong! How big your movements are!" To deal with a Husky, one must become a Husky. Using magic to defeat magic, Xianjin also roared loudly, "Are these reasons enough?"

Zhou Ergou was momentarily stunned, then dumbfounded.

Huh?

These reasons seemed very acceptable to him...

Zhou Ergou couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Beside him, the sauce-covered elbow pointed at himself in indignation, "So you prefer me because I’m shorter and thinner, weaker, and move less?"

Xianjin: If you understand it that way... it’s not entirely wrong...

...

Satisfied, Zhou Ergou left. Qi Qiqi, looking resigned, stayed behind to accompany Boss Gongshu.

After two rounds, Xianjin was surprised to find that Qi Qiqi’s strength was slightly less than Zhou Ergou’s but slightly more than hers. This combination was easier to balance, and he was skilled at using his strength effectively. His observation skills were excellent; after the bamboo curtain went under the water, Qi Qiqi would very sensitively adjust according to the current state of the pulp on the curtain, ensuring it hung evenly.

Xianjin was overjoyed. She turned around, poured herself a cup of cold tea, gulped it down, and slapped her cheeks, gradually building her confidence. When she returned to the brick-and-mortar sink, she felt strangely calm and grounded.

For four consecutive days, Xianjin stayed at the Jixi Workshop, sharing a room with Aunt Zhong.

She usually returned to her room past midnight, leaving the paper-making shed to the workers for the night shift. In the morning, she woke up with the new trainees and ran along Longchuan Creek with Aunt Zhong.

Xianjin thought she would be at the back, but she managed to stay among the last few in the second group, ranking at least... fifteenth?

Qi Qiqi had a mouth that never stopped, "...our Aunt Zhong not only runs in the morning but also at night. With those long, thin arms and legs of yours, tsk tsk tsk, you can’t possibly beat Aunt Zhong."

No, this kind of praise and criticism is quite explosive even in East Asian fan circles!

Xianjin dragged Qi Qiqi, maintaining at least six hours of paper-making practice every day.

During this time, the Hope Star came twice, silently and warmly accompanying Xianjin. Sometimes bringing siu mai, sometimes carrying three bowls of delicious red soup noodles that were popular in the alley. Since Xianjin didn’t return to the Chen residence, Chen Jianfang would go back alone when the curfew began.

Finally, Qi Qiqi couldn’t hold back and, looking at the tall and straight-nosed Chen Erlang under the oil lamp nearby, asked Xianjin in a low voice, "...are you going to be our boss lady?"

Xianjin looked at Qi Qiqi expressionlessly, "I am your boss."

On the ninth day, Xianjin and Qi Qiqi’s cooperation had reached the level of producing eight good sheets of paper from twenty curtains. They invited Zhou Ergou to observe. With his arms crossed, his biceps prominent, he pondered for a moment before slapping his forehead, "I know what feels off! When the first curtain goes into the water, my movements are big, Jinjie’s are small, my elbows are high, and they naturally go in three inches deep. Even if Jinjie goes in as deep as me, she’s still three inches short! How could we ever synchronize!"

Xianjin: ...thank you, oh, you’ve opened your anus at the right moment.

Recalling Qiao Hui’s words on the paper.

He had completely analyzed it from the perspective of a martial artist, focusing on the movements and the rhythm of synchronization. The difference in their builds was too large; without long-term, continuous practice, they couldn’t possibly align perfectly!

Qiao Hui knew nothing about paper-making but hit the nail on the head.

Xianjin couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: Great wisdom, truly great wisdom.

But...

Xianjin narrowed her eyes at Zhou Ergou: She was so engrossed in the situation that she couldn’t think clearly under pressure. What was this person doing as a substitute top teacher? How could they miss such an obvious point?

Xianjin questioned Zhou Ergou, who replied indignantly, "When we started, our master said to find someone with a similar build for paper-making! You chose me, so how could I refuse you? Where would your face be then!?"

Xianjin was so angry she wanted to transform into a Husky again—now you suddenly understand human relations so well!

On the ninth night.

Xianjin still stayed at the Jixi Workshop.

To ensure Xianjin got a good night’s sleep for the next day’s challenge, Aunt Zhong went home, leaving an empty room for Xianjin.

The gentle flow of Longchuan Creek mixed with the faint, stubborn chirping of the few remaining cicadas in early winter, making the night particularly serene.

Lying on the bed, Xianjin heard a “thud.”

It was the sound of a stone hitting the window.

Xianjin blinked sharply, not even bothering to put on her shoes, and immediately pushed open the window.

Outside, there was no one.

Looking down, she saw a narrow scroll tied with a bundle of dead grass on the windowsill.

Xianjin leaned out to retrieve it, unable to find scissors, and with a grimace, tore the grass apart with her bare hands.

Unrolling the scroll bit by bit, she was immediately stunned.

From left to right, it read—“On Learning, the path of learning is to embrace the strengths of the great, gather the essence of the sun, moon, mountains, and rivers, and thus open one’s wisdom, enlighten one’s spirit, and act swiftly...”

It was the article she had initially written for Qiao Shanchang titled “On Learning,” spanning over three thousand characters.

Xianjin unfolded the scroll to the end, revealing five or six lines of dark green ink — "The writer understands the great Dao. Though not well-versed in history, she possesses a sincere and warm heart, embodying the spirit of Daoist non-action. Her thoughts surpass those of others by far. The entire piece is written in plain language, flows smoothly, and its measures are effective, its arguments reach the ground..."

The final signature read: "Autumn of the fourteenth year of Baoyuan Zhaode."

Last autumn.

For some reason, Xianjin felt a sudden surge of bitterness welling up in her heart.

Master Qiao liked to have her review Qiao Hui's scrolls, so naturally, Qiao Hui would also review hers.

This was the first time she had seen Qiao Hui's comments on her work.

Xianjin blinked gently, suppressing the bitterness in her heart, and looked around; naturally, no one was there.

She flipped the scroll over and found a narrow strip of paper attached to the back:

"As long as you want it, you can achieve it, be it writing, be it paper, be it anything."

The ink was fresh, and the handwriting was bold and unrestrained.