Chapter 198: Melon among melons!

"Your Highness is joking."

Xiao Yuanzi smiled a little embarrassedly:
"I am able to work in the Ministry of Industry and do the things I like, and live with my family. This is a good life that I never dared to dream of before.

How can a slave like me be an official?"

"What's the point of having a certain status? Aren't officials supposed to work for the people and for Tiansheng?

Those who become officials just by writing a few crappy articles, and then spend their days idling in their positions and even oppressing the people are the ones who really don’t deserve that position! "

Yun Shu propped up his head indifferently:

"Anyway, I am quite optimistic about you."

"But I don't know when I can make this thing."

It was obvious that Yun Shu was sincere when he said these words. Xiao Yuanzi, who had never been valued like this before, was moved and felt a little apologetic.

I just wish I could come up with a new useful thing every day, otherwise I would be ungrateful to Yunshu for his appreciation of me.

He stroked the pile of unfinished products in front of him with shame, feeling anxious and helpless:
“Before, His Royal Highness the Sixth Prince had been urging me to make this thing, but at that time I didn’t know what it could be used for.

Now that I know it is used to build a dam, I am terrified and have no idea what to do and I am worried that I will miss the important task..."

"Why do you have no clue?"

Yun Shu was puzzled:

"Aren't you doing very well already?"

"It's just slightly stronger than ordinary soil."

Xiao Yuanzi shook his head, very worried:

"It's still not strong enough, and it's easily damaged. If we use this kind of mud to build a dam, if something goes wrong, I won't regret dying, but I'm afraid it will harm innocent people!"

"If you want to be tough..."

Yun Shu folded his hands under his chin and stared at the semi-finished products thoughtfully:
"I think the iron is pretty hard. If we add iron to it, will it be possible?"

"iron?"

Xiao Yuanzi was slightly stunned:
"If the iron is melted into water, it can be added in, but after adding it in, the molten iron will quickly solidify into iron blocks again. I'm afraid..."

"Why does it have to be molten iron?"

Yun Shu tilted his head:
“Can’t you just be a die-hard fan?”

“…A die-hard fan?”

Xiao Yuanzi was stunned for a moment, as if he suddenly thought of something, and a hint of excitement suddenly appeared on his face:
"Your Highness, this method may really be useful!

I will go find a die-hard fan and try it out!"

"go Go!"

Yun Shu seemed even more excited than him:
"Remember to send someone to inform me as soon as there is a result!"

……

Originally, it was just a matter of time before the completion, and now with Yunshu's reminder, Xiao Yuanzi acted quickly this time. In just three days, the first batch of cement powder was delivered to Yunshu.

At the same time, Ah Ku, who was sent by her to investigate Tang Bingfu, also came back with what he had found out.

“…Tang Bingfu, a Jinshi in the second year of Xuanwu, was sent to Longzhou as a county magistrate at first because he was born in a poor family and had no connections in the court.

He was transferred in the fifth year of Xuanwu...In the thirteenth year of Xuanwu, a severe famine occurred in Pengzhou where he took office.

It happened to be the first time that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince personally led people to provide disaster relief. Due to his lack of experience, he left food behind on the way, which attracted a large number of refugees to loot, and almost caused a disaster.

Fortunately, Tang Bingfu and his men arrived in time to prevent the tragedy from happening. Tang Bingfu also took this opportunity to become the Prince's Guardian.

In the 14th year of Xuanwu, Tang Bingfu spent 300,000 taels of silver to buy the position of Langzhong in the Water Affairs Department.

"...Wait, buy?"

Why is there a big melon here?

Yun Shu raised his eyes in surprise:
"Is the prince so stingy? Tang Bingfu saved him once, but he still has to buy his way to a higher position?"

Moreover, Longzhou and Pengzhou, where Tang Bingfu had previously served, seem to be poor places, right?

Being a county magistrate in such a poor place can earn you at least 300,000 taels of silver...

This Tang Bingfu is really greedy!

Hiss... This melon is a bit big. I need to tidy it up and bring it to my father to eat together.

Yun Shu blinked excitedly:
"Does the prince sell many official positions?"

"This subordinate has not yet conducted a detailed investigation."

There are so many things to do in three days. If Ah Ku were to check them all one by one, he would still not be able to handle it even if he had three heads and six arms.

He lowered his head slightly:
"I only found out that during Tang Bingfu's time, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince sold a total of ten places."

Hey!
That’s ten in total!
So is there any suspense about the answer?

It's a pity that it's getting late today, otherwise she would really like to go find her dear father right away to share the melon with him.

"Fifth sister!"

Just when Yun Shu was feeling a little regretful, a familiar voice suddenly came from the front yard.

She turned her eyes and gave Ah Ku a look, who immediately understood and disappeared in a flash.

Almost at the moment when A Ku disappeared, Yun Chuhuan's figure appeared at the door.

"Fifth sister! I heard that Xiao Yuanzi finally made the clay I wanted. Is this true?!"

"real."

Yun Shu raised his eyebrows, somewhat surprised:
"But how did you know?"

"I've already told Xiao Yuanzi that I can't go out of the palace every day, so I asked him to send me a message as soon as he finishes it."

After getting another confirmation from Yun Shu, Yun Chuhuan rushed over to her and looked at the wine jar on the table curiously:

"Xiao Yuanzi said that with the help of you, Fifth Sister, he successfully made this 'cement'.

But since this was my first successful attempt, the quantity was relatively small, so I had them all sent to you, Fifth Sister...

Is this the thing... Ahem! Why is it all dusty in here?"

He could not wait to tear open the seal on the wine jar, thinking that the "mud" he had been thinking about day and night must be inside.
But unexpectedly, he leaned over and inhaled a mouthful of ash!

Yun Chuhuan was choking so hard that tears were about to come out of his eyes:
"What's this……"

“This is cement.”

Yun Shu covered the lid again with amusement and explained casually:

"Because once it dries it becomes very hard and it can't turn back into slime.
So Xiao Yuanzi didn’t mix it with water first, but directly sent the dry powder over.”

“Is it really that hard?”

Yun Chuhuan's eyes flickered. The coughs in between seemed to have taken away most of his excitement. After recovering from the shock, he began to question:
"Fifth sister, have you seen what it looks like after it dries? It can't be fake, right?
Fifth sister, how about you give me some so I can take it back and try it?"

"…Are you sure you just want to take it back and try it out?"