Chapter 252: Whimpering (Skip if Disliking the Grown Lad Trope)

Chapter 252: Whimper (Do Not Read If You Dislike the Setting of "Ge'er")

"You are Master Feng?"

"This rubber is truly amazing. Master Feng is indeed extraordinary, to think of using tree sap as a sealing material."

"Master Feng, you have a unique craftsmanship. May I ask how you cleverly discovered the secret?"

Luo Jining finally managed to speak with Fengzhong after much persistence. Initially, Fengzhong ignored him, but with Luo Jining's radiant face and constant flattery, Fengzhong soon softened and began to respond. "At that time..."

"Ahem..." Manager Liang coughed lightly nearby.

Fengzhong, whose temper could get the better of him even in front of Song Tingzhou and Meng Wan, was not one to be restrained by a mere manager. The more Manager Liang tried to stop him, the more he persisted. "Initially, I wouldn't have thought of using rubber trees for sealing. But I happened upon a villager cutting down a tree on the mountain, and the tree flowed with milky white sap. I asked them what the white sap was used for. The villager said that everyone in their village used this sap to seal windows, making the frames sturdier so that the winter wind wouldn't rattle them."

Fengzhong's face was full of pride as he spoke. "When I heard that, I knew this substance was special. I collected some and found that after solidifying, it was tougher than ox sinew, and in its liquid state, it could be shaped into various forms..."

Fengzhong spent his days researching in the workshop. His masters and senior apprentices either scolded him for being dull or for being unfilial. The laborers in the workshop treated him with utmost respect, barely uttering a word unless necessary. It had been a long time since anyone had listened so attentively to his boasting as Luo Jining did!

Luo Jining listened for a long time to Fengzhong's invention history, including the origins of the gray powder, from beginning to end.

He felt a strange unease in his heart. Whether it was rubber or lime, Fengzhong's explanations were well-founded and complete. The details, like how many bowls of soap bean water he added and at what temperature he dried it, were so precise that it seemed impossible he wasn't the inventor.

But Luo Jining still found it odd. He stared sharply at Fengzhong, who seemed every bit a scientific eccentric with no trace of a modern person.

A fluke?

Just a coincidence?

Was he overthinking?

It couldn't be.

Manager Liang was watching closely. If he pressed further, it wouldn't be Fengzhong who seemed strange—he himself would be exposed. Seeing that Fengzhong was starting to repeat his tales of past achievements, Luo Jining courteously took his leave, despite Fengzhong's lingering, unsatisfied gaze.

But just before leaving, he casually remarked, "Master Feng says rubber can be molded into any shape. Could it be fitted onto wooden wheels?"

Luo Jining's eyes were fixed on Fengzhong's bearded face, not missing the deep thought and shock that flickered across it.

He lowered his eyelids—this Fengzhong was indeed not from the same place as him.

Manager Liang escorted him to the entrance of the rubber workshop. After Luo Jining turned and walked away, Manager Liang signaled the two patrol workers at the gate before returning inside.

Although Luo Jining believed he had handled everything without a single flaw during his visit to the rubber workshop, he didn't know that the entire Xiwu Prefecture and its surrounding areas were effectively Meng Wan's territory.

Despite Luo Jining's caution, from the moment he set foot in the Zhen Guan Workshop's territory, the workers there and the relay station had already cooperated to monitor his every move and reported it to Meng Wan.

Meng Wan returned to his room and quickly re-read the documents the relay station had brought a few days earlier. He roughly deduced the visitor's identity, his emotions a tangled mix.

He didn't allow himself much time for sentimentality. Swiftly, he changed into a pinkish-purple silk gown, white socks, and white boots. He loosened his hair, tied it into a mid-high bun, stuck in two hairpins adorned with pearls and jade, and then leisurely pushed open the door.

Chi Yu was stunned when he saw him. "Husband, what are you doing?"

Meng Wan cupped his chin to observe Chi Yu's expression. His skin was as pale as snow, and the pink attire made him look much younger than his actual age.

"Tsk, you can't do that."

Inside the Xiwu Prefecture government office—

Song Tingzhou invited everyone into the reception hall and sat down to drink tea. Luo Jining claimed to represent Prince Lian, but as a ge'er, he couldn't command the respect of a fourth-rank official like Song Tingzhou. So he had also brought along Prince Lian's advisors.

The advisors were split into two factions. Some, accustomed to the capital, were used to capital officials bowing and scraping because of Prince Lian's influence. Others were former officials who had heard of Song Tingzhou's achievements and secretly admired him.

So when Meng Wan arrived, he saw some people frowning at Song Tingzhou, unhappy with his lack of deference, while others wanted to engage him in conversation but felt too embarrassed.

"Husband?"

Meng Wan fidgeted with a piece of white Suzhou-embroidered silk, hesitantly calling out in a small voice.

Everyone turned their gaze to the door. They were momentarily stunned by the beauty standing under the eaves, closing an umbrella, but then they all averted their eyes in unison.

Nothing unusual—the capital was full of beauties, each with a different charm: the intellectual type, the seductive type from entertainment quarters, and the versatile, talented courtesans of the music bureau.

The one before them was pretty, but there was a certain pettiness in his movements and bearing. With nothing more than a handsome face, there was little to commend.

"Lord Song, we heard that the Zhen Guan Workshop on the outskirts is a property of the Song family?" asked one of Prince Lian's most valued advisors.

He was a great scholar from the Yangzhou Academy, with hundreds of disciples, some of whom had already made names for themselves in the court. Even Song Tingzhou had to defer to him when he spoke.

"Indeed, it is," Song Tingzhou admitted readily.

The advisors from Prince Lian's side exchanged glances. Just as they were about to speak, Meng Wan, standing at the entrance, shuffled into the hall in small steps, taking a position behind Song Tingzhou. "Husband, who are these people? Why do they want me to accompany them?"

Song Tingzhou turned his head to meet Meng Wan's gaze, then looked at the door where Chi Yu, who was sneering and twisting his mouth in contempt, occasionally glanced at Meng Wan. He seemed to understand something. In a gentle voice, he said, "These gentlemen sent by Prince Lian have business to discuss with you."

Meng Wan hunched his shoulders slightly, drawing them inward. He placed his chin on his raised hand, his eyes darting around restlessly. His mouth opened as if to say something, but he didn't know whom to address. His anxiety was palpable.

Seeing this awkward display, Luo Jining felt nauseous, barely holding back his disgust.

Damn it! After dealing with that crowd in Prince Duan's back courtyard, now he had to witness the same in Xiwu Prefecture. Couldn't these freaks just die out?

As he cursed inwardly, he suddenly remembered that he himself was of the same category as the ge'er before him. That meant he had just cursed himself too. His face turned even more sour than if he had eaten something foul.

Just then, Meng Wan scanned the room with his evasive gaze and, with tiny steps, made his way over to Luo Jining. He placed a fair hand on Luo Jining. "Brother, you look terrible. Are you okay?"

Meng Wan's affected voice sounded right in Luo Jining's ear, sending a jolt through him.

Luo Jining's face turned deathly pale, as if haunted. He pushed Meng Wan away. "I'm fine! Get away from me!"

The force he used was only slightly stronger, but Meng Wan stumbled back like a dandelion, only to be caught by Song Tingzhou. "Wan'er, are you alright?"

Meng Wan leaned weakly against Song Tingzhou, his eyes reddening as he began to sob. "I'm fine. This brother probably just doesn't like me."

Luo Jining closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh.

Damn whimperer, lovesick fool! Die! Die! Die!!!

Luo Jining couldn't stand it any longer. Not a single person in this room was normal. Those workshops must have been set up by Fengzhong using Song Tingzhou's influence. To avoid suspicion, Fengzhong purposely placed them under the name of this whimpering creature inside.

He had been overthinking earlier. Talented people existed in every era. Though Song Tingzhou was love-struck, he had real ability. With a skilled artisan like Fengzhong helping him, it wasn't surprising that they could invent cement and canned goods.

Luo Jining still felt something was off, but he couldn't bear to face the whimperer again. He simply retreated, leaving Prince Lian's advisors to probe Song Tingzhou.

Inside the hall, the advisors were equally appalled by Meng Wan's behavior. They tried their best to avoid looking at him, keeping their eyes fixed on Song Tingzhou. "Last year, the fruit preserve jars caused a frenzy in the capital. Everyone clamored to get them, and even nobles fought over a few small jars."

Song Tingzhou pressed his fist against his mouth to suppress a smile, then composed himself. "Is that so? The fruit preserve jars are just a local delicacy. It's only thanks to the ingenuity of the workshop's craftsmen that they could be transported to the capital. The frenzy is a bit exaggerated."

Meng Wan said joyfully, "The fruit preserve jars are selling all the way to the capital? Husband is so capable! We're charging ten taels of silver now. Why not add another tael? Then we'll make even more silver!"

Song Tingzhou hesitated slightly. "Well... that's fine. Whatever Wan'er says."

The several advisors exchanged glances, their expressions full of contempt for Lord Song, and even the one who had previously admired him changed his demeanor.

Although his achievements were remarkable, he was merely a fool who could only handle practical matters and knew nothing about flexibility. The Zhen Guan Workshop was so important, yet he listened to the advice of his household husband? This was truly laughable.

"Lord Song, your Zhen Guan Workshop's fruit preserve jars are sold for only ten taels of silver? Do you know that in the capital, a single jar of fruit preserve sells for over a hundred taels?"

Meng Wan cried out, "What? A hundred taels?"

"Silence!" The leading advisor sternly rebuked Meng Wan for his fuss.

Meng Wan bit his lower lip, leaning weakly on Lord Song's shoulder, and muttered boredly, "Sigh, I've had enough of acting. These old men are really annoying."

Prince Lian had sent people to inquire about the Zhen Guan Workshop; Meng Wan could figure out his intention without even thinking. The journey from the capital to Lingnan was four thousand li, yet he wasn't deterred by the distance in his quest for wealth.

Now that the most important person had been driven outside by his repulsive behavior, only these arrogant advisors remained, and Meng Wan wanted to end things quickly.

Lord Song lightly patted Meng Wan's back twice, shielding him behind himself. "Regardless of how much the fruit preserve jars are sold for outside the workshop, they are indeed sold for ten taels in the Zhen Guan Workshop. What other merchants sell them for has nothing to do with the workshop."

The advisors sneered after hearing this and said condescendingly, "If you would cooperate with Prince Lian..."

Lord Song interrupted them, "Moreover, the jars of the Zhen Guan Workshop are all procured by the Crown Prince's people. Any price change must be reported to the Crown Prince. As this insignificant prefect, I dare not make decisions arbitrarily."

Even though Prince Lian and the Crown Prince were fighting fiercely, the Crown Prince was still the heir apparent. Who would dare to openly offend the heir apparent?

Prince Lian's advisors' faces changed constantly. After learning that the Zhen Guan Workshop had glazed products, they had already speculated, but they hadn't expected that the Glaze Workshop was backed by the Crown Prince. This made things difficult.

After spending so much time and effort to come to Lingnan, were they going to return empty-handed?

Unable to make a decision, they could only take their leave.

Luo Jining didn't need to ask; just from their expressions he knew that his side hadn't gained any advantage. He sized up the guard beside him, who was tall and seemed to have polio, and couldn't help but remark before leaving, "What kind of deity is your Lord Song's husband? How can the elders of the Song family tolerate him?"

The old madams in the capital were all experts, and the daughters-in-law they chose were all formidable. The Song family's whiny brat acted like a scheming concubine; under their hands, he wouldn't even survive one episode. Yet he had managed to control the entire family of this talented young official? How could this be so ridiculous?

The corner of Chi Yu's mouth curled upward. Following the mantra taught by Meng Wan, he first snorted heavily, then taunted sarcastically, "Him? Hmph! He just gave our lord a son."

Luo Jining clucked his tongue in disbelief. That was spot on!

Logically, when a superior officer tours, as the local prefect, Lord Song should have hosted a grand reception. But since those who came belonged to Prince Lian's faction, it was somewhat delicate.

From the perspective of senior officials in the capital, although the Crown Prince had spoken a few words for Lord Song, they were all cases within reason, hardly making him a member of the Crown Prince's faction.

However, in the eyes of Prince Lian's party, Lord Song had some ambiguous ties with the Crown Prince's faction. But they only considered Lord Song a somewhat talented minor figure, not really valuing him.

After they left, Meng Wan straightened his back, turned around, and sat down on the chair in one big stride. "Is the tea from the government office or did they bring it?"

People from the capital always brought their own tea – not because they feared being poisoned like Meng Wan, but just to show off.

"I brought it from home last time – Biluochun." Lord Song poured a cup for Meng Wan.

Meng Wan was unaccustomed to wearing two extra hairpins. To maintain his persona, he had chosen heavy and ornate ones, piled with many pearls and gems that clinked and jingled, weighing down his head and giving him a headache.

Taking off two hairpins and tossing them onto the table, Meng Wan picked up the teacup and drank it in one gulp. "They won't give up easily. The profits of Zhen Guan Workshop make more than one family envious. Sooner or later, someone will emerge. I just didn't expect it to be Prince Lian."

As he spoke, Meng Wan had some other conjectures in his mind. Maybe Prince Lian was just interested, but he wouldn't be this impatient. More likely, that young Master Luo couldn't wait to check something out.

He took out the registry submitted by the courier station from his bosom and handed it to Lord Song. "Take a look at this."

After reading it, Lord Song was quite puzzled. "His surname is Luo, and he is close to Prince Lian. He must be the head of the eastern aristocratic family, Xian'ge – the Luo clan. But his purpose seems different from those advisors; it's as if he's searching for someone."

Meng Wan toyed with the pearl hairpin on the side table, murmuring, "Indeed, why would he come to our Xiwu Prefecture to find someone..."