Chapter 477: Where Were the Talents? (VIII)

A burst of aromatic smell of meat escaped the layer of leaf wrapped around it and permeated the air. It assailed people’s noses, making them drool.

“The eateries are already starting to close. I know that you won’t be able to find a place to eat today.”

Wei Ci ignited a few charcoal braziers. He only took off the thick fur cloak covering his body when the room temperature had risen slightly.

“I wonder when the eateries will reopen…” Zhang Ping asked while eating. He did not care about the rule of not speaking while one ate.

“They should be open on the fifth day.”

Wei Ci had no clue about the specific day either. This was just his speculation.

The government office would be closed two days in advance, making it a total of seven days. By calculating the duration, the eateries outside might reopen for business on the fifth day.

During this period of time, Zhang Ping could not buy food anywhere.

“I’ll go to the broker house tomorrow to hire a woman who can cook and do my laundry…”

Zhang Ping said that he was going to get one the other time, but he had yet to go there.

Wei Ci looked somewhat hesitant. Even Zhang Ping, who was somewhat slow-witted, could sense his strageness.

“Go ahead and say it if there’s anything you want to tell me. There’s no need to prevaricate.”

Wei Ci replied with a sigh, “Have you ever thought of staying in Xiangyang District?”

Zhang Ping frowned. He was not stupid. Of course, he could understand that Wei Ci was recruiting him on behalf of his master.

“You know very well about my personality. I can’t stand government affairs the most. If I were to stay in the government office all day long like you and deal with a bunch of vulgar people, I won’t be able to stand it.” Zhang Ping was considered to have rejected his offer already.

Some people had the ambition to pacify the whole country and restore its peace and tranquility, like Wei Ci.

On the other hand, some people muddled along. No matter how chaotic the outside world was, they only liked to indulge in their own world, like Zhang Ping.

Everyone had their own aspirations and they could not be forced.

Wei Ci smirked. “The personality of the lord may suit you.”

Zhang Ping raised her eyebrows and responded, “Oh? How so?”

“You’ve studied all kinds of siege and defense weapons. Coincidentally, the lord has also done so.”

Wei Ci spoke measuredly. He was not at all worried that Zhang Ping would not be convinced.

For someone like Zhang Ping, no other master could suit him more other than Jiang Pengji.

Wei Ci knew her well. What she was best at was neither fighting nor paying lip service, but ‘using’ people.

Take Zhang Ping as an example: he was not proficient in government affairs, but he was obsessed with the parts of mechanisms. He was quite talented and clever in designing and manufacturing. If so, it was impossible that Jiang Pengji would let Zhang Ping handle too much government affairs. She would most probably assign him to the woodworking shop and establish a relevant department to specialize in this aspect. Then, she would oppress and exploit him to death.

However, not only would Zhang Ping, who was enthusiastic about mechanisms, not be resentful, he would be happy to be oppressed and exploited instead.

He was typically the kind of person who would help someone count their cash when they were actually being sold.

Zhang Ping would not be convinced that easily. After all, no one knew how much he had bluffed.

“Let me show you something. It’s not too late for you to decide after seeing it.”

Wei Ci took a roll of bamboo paper from his sleeve.

The roll of bamboo paper had not been cut and it was very big. After unfolding it slowly, its surface was filled with weird objects drawn with carbon blocks.

Laymen could not understand it, but as a Mohist scholar, Zhang Ping was the most sensitive about it. He almost wanted to dash forward and grab it.

Zhang Ping looked at the design sketch of the catapult carefully. The more he looked at it, the brighter his eyes shone.

Suppressing the excitement in his voice, he asked, “Who drew this?”

“The lord drew it herself. She’s curious about the Mohists. However, she only learned Confucianism due to the deep influence of her family.”

Zhang Ping was so fascinated by it that he only sighed with pity after a while. “What a waste.”

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It was a pity that an excellent, young successor for the Mohists had entered Confucianism in vain.

What was more of a pity was that it was impossible for Jiang Pengji to study in peace with her current status.

Such brilliant talent and cleverness were a wash.

Wei Ci smiled coyly and asked him gently, “Have you agreed?”

Zhang Ping wanted to roll his eyes and refused to accept. “I’ve really suffered a huge loss this time.”

Had he known that such a fraud was waiting for him, Zhang Ping would not have followed Wei Ci to the north no matter what.

With a kind look on his face, Wei Ci spoke in an awkward tone, “There are still a lot of more complex drawings of weapons in the lord’s study… The lord only reluctantly agreed to let me take the drawing that you’re holding after I spoke to her in a kindly manner… If you’re curious about the other drawings, I won’t be able to help you even if I’d like to.”

In fact, Wei Ci only asked Jiang Pengji if she had something that could entice the Mohists. She had given him the drawing willingly.

Zhang Ping snapped angrily, “Wei Zixiao, you’re a sinister one too.”

Even such shameless means were used to recruit people. Did he not know that he could not ignore this kind of temptation?

The smile on Wei Ci’s face did not fade. It only broadened.

“The lord is going to hold a New Year’s banquet. Would you like to come with me?”

Zhang Ping was still a little dejected. He responded, “No.”

Wei Ci replied, “There’s no grain supply at home. Are you planning to starve yourself until the fifth day when the eateries reopen for business?”

Zhang Ping did not speak a word.

He was really speechless this time.

Speaking of this, he suddenly remembered something. How did Wei Ci have his meals during this period of time?

Zhang Ping blurted the question.

Wei Ci answered, “There’s a special little kitchen in the government office. The meals are usually pretty good.”

The standard of living of the people rose, especially after Wei Ci came. Even Qiguan Rang and the others grumbled that they basked in the light of Wei Ci.

This was because Wei Ci was a patient, so he had to take good care of his body. The food he ate naturally had to be fine and balanced in nutrition.

Jiang Pengji learned from the audience in the streaming room and applied it immediately.

She went to make a pot and other tableware. She taught the chef how to stir-fry with oil and how to add seasonings to make the food more delicious.

The audience in the streaming room only then realized how backward the food and drinks in the streamer’s world were!

Food was just simply cooked in that era. How could they bear it?

The seasonings used were at most salt and pepper.

There was no pan for stir-frying!

A lot of food was just boiled in hot water, tasteless foods like blanched cabbage with a little salt…

Oh. Now that it was winter, no cabbage was available at all.

Not to mention methods such as steaming, stir-frying, quick-frying, roasting, sautéing, pan-frying, braising, stewing, deep-frying, simmering, mixing…

As for the eight major cuisines and the country that had 5000 years of history as mentioned by the audience in the streaming room, one did not even have to hope for it.

Even if Jiang Pengji did not pay attention to the taste of food, she became somewhat gluttonous after being teased by the audience in the streaming room.

Therefore, it was excusable for Wei Ci to grow slightly fatter during this period of time.

Just like the marinated drumsticks that Wei Ci secretly brought home that day, they were cooked after Jiang Pengji’s several experiments with the chef and by wasting a lot of ingredients. The marinade had already made Feng Jin unwilling to go home and he would just eat in the kitchen in the government office.

Even so, the viewers in the streaming room were still picky and felt that she was not eating well.

Guixia Hanbaba: “Sigh. Poor streamer. I feel like ordering a cross-dimensional takeaway to widen your horizon.”

Zuihou Yigeng: “Hello, is this Huangji Shanzhuang? Where’s the braised chicken rice that I’ve ordered?”

Haoqi Changcun: “Poor streamer. I’ve just ordered potato and beef on rice. I’ll let you smell it.”