Chapter 155: 110 Crushing (First Update)_3

Gu Jinyu narrated gently, “Miss Zhuang’s brushstroke is vigorous. The usual female ‘Zanhua’ style is too petite and does not suit Miss Zhuang’s strength. If Miss Zhuang were to switch to a different font, she would definitely be able to embody a powerful sense.”

No one hates flattery, and Miss Zhuang is no exception.

Her rejection of Gu Jinyu diminished instantly, “Well, at least you have some discernment. I have always felt there’s something off with that font! No matter how hard I practice, it just doesn’t feel right!”

“How about Miss Zhuang tries this?” Gu Jinyu took out a handwriting copybook and placed it on the stone table.

“Whose handwriting is this?” Miss Zhuang asked.

“It is the calligraphy of the young master of Zhaodu.” Gu Jinyu remarked.

Miss Zhuang was instantly infuriated, “You want me to practice men’s handwriting?”

Gu Jinyu and softly shook his head, “There’s no gender in handwriting; it’s just that women usually lack strength, so the ‘Zanhua’ style is easier for them. However, if we’re talking about beauty, the young master of Zhaodu has the most beautiful calligraphy.”

This was indeed the truth. Gu Jinyu had practiced it privately; despite not mastering its essence, the results were better-looking than that of the ‘Zanhua’ style.

The copybook she held had been painstakingly begged for from Lady Shufei, who, in turn, had managed to convince the emperor for it. One could only imagine how treasured it was.

She had made a tremendous resolution to bring this copybook out.

Gu Jinyu gently urged, “Miss Zhuang, why not give it a try? Starting from imitation.”

Miss Zhuang felt that the characters were indeed beautiful, far surpassing the copybooks collected by the Zhuang family. Persuaded by Gu Jinyu’s gentle and soft-spoken words, an opportunity presented itself.

She ordered for a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. After copying a few characters and comparing them with the previous ones, there was a significant improvement indeed.

Gu Jinyu praised, “Miss Zhuang is so smart indeed. Even after much practice, I couldn’t achieve the strength of your brushwork. As long as Miss Zhuang is diligent and persists, you’ll surpass me in a short while.”

Miss Zhuang was feeling quite pleased with herself, “Of course!”

—

Ever since Xiao Liulang and Fen Lin went to the provincial city for their exams, Gu Xiaoshun would accompany Gu Yan and Xiao Jingkong for meals. Among the three, Gu Yan was the oldest but had the least life experience. He was a true baby Gu.

Baby Gu was picky about his food, too.

“I don’t want to eat noodles today!” Gu Baobao pouted.

“But we’re supposed to eat noodles today.” Xiao Jingkong spread his hands.

Xiao Jingkong is a planner, arranging meals meticulously. Xiao Liulang would eat anything, so he complied. Gu Xiaoshun didn’t mind it either.

Initially, Gu Yan thought it was his brother-in-law’s idea and cooperated out of respect. Once he realized the plan was set by Xiao Jingkong, he started opposing.

“I don’t care! I just won’t eat noodles!” Gu Yan was daydreaming.

Gu Xiaoshun looked at Xiao Jingkong, who frowned hard, and then at Gu Yan, who was refuting; he was at a loss.

He missed his brother-in-law. How did he manage to control these two?

Before Gu Yan arrived, Xiao Liulang and Xiao Jingkong used to fight with each other. After Gu Yan came, he shifted the internal friction. In truth, if it weren’t for the huge threat of Xiao Jingkong, Gu Yan and Xiao Liulang would have ended up fighting with each other.

To put it simply, the two younger brothers fought it out, and Xiao Liulang, the fisherman, gained an advantage in the process.

Amid the chaos and not knowing what to do, Gu Xiaoshun suddenly noticed a familiar figure. His eyes brightened, “Sister!”

Gu Jiao, carrying a basket on her back, arrived at the academy’s entrance. She looked at the trio and asked, “How come you haven’t eaten yet?”

“It’s all Gu Yan’s fault. He isn’t eating according to the plan!” Xiao Jingkong stated, his little face stern.

Gu Yan humphed, “Always tattling!”

Xiao Jingkong struck a pose, “This isn’t tattling. This is stating facts! And, my report isn’t black! It’s colorful!”

What on earth is black? So ugly!

Gu Yan clicked his tongue, “I’ve heard of rainbow farts, but not rainbow reports. Besides, it’s your plan, I never agreed to it!”

Xiao Jingkong argued, “We’ve always been eating like this!”

Xiao Jingkong was a bit compulsive. Unless you could convince him logically to change his plans, you typically wouldn’t win against him.

Gu Jiao asked Xiao Jingkong, “What’s on the menu for today?”

Xiao Jingkong replied, “Yangchun noodles!”

Gu Jiao turned to Gu Yan, “What do you want to eat?”

Gu Yan glared at Xiao Jingkong and replied, “Rice and fish!”

Gu Jiao nodded, “Good, I brought rice and dishes, including fish. We’ll find a noodle shop and order another bowl of noodles.”

No disagreement came from either party.

Gu Yan was puzzled, “How did you know I wanted to eat fish? What if I had said I wanted to eat meat?”

Gu Jiao smiled, “Because I was craving for fish today.”

Twins, they sure are miraculous.

They ate their lunch in a noodle shop. Gu Xiaoshun went back to the academy by himself. Gu Jiao then dropped Gu Yan and Xiao Jingkong at a private school. Afterward, she went to Huichun Hall and sold the herbs she had picked from the mountain.

There was still time left in the day, so she planned to visit the iron shop and check on the progress of the farming equipment. She would be able to catch up with Gu Yan and the others after school.

It had been twelve days since Gu Jiao handed over the blueprints.

The piston bellows designed by Gu Jiao took the woodworker three days to build. In the following nine days, the iron shop managed to produce over a thousand iron tools for mining.

The blacksmiths were astounded.

Is there really such a miraculous thing in the world?

“Old Wang, this contraption is certainly more useful than the empire’s hydraulic press!” a young blacksmith remarked.

The old blacksmith nodded in astonishment, “Indeed, not to mention the empire’s hydraulic press, I suspect not even the press from Liang Country can compare.”

In terms of craftsmanship and minor inventions, Liang Country was peerless among the six countries. The hydraulic press technology of Liang Country had reached its peak. Back then, for this technology, the Zhan Country did not hesitate to exchange three mines.

Even so, the hydraulic press technology transferred to the Zhan Country by Liang Country was just in its infancy.

“Who on earth is that lady?” Seemed that young blacksmith thought of something, and his eyes widened in surprise, “Could she be a spy from Liang Country?”

The old blacksmith slapped him on the head, “Are you stupid? Would a spy from Liang Country casually share such powerful technology with us?”

“You have a point.” The young blacksmith finally realized how painful his head was. He glared at the old blacksmith, “Don’t you know how heavy a blacksmith’s hand is? If you hit me a couple more times, I’d become a piece of iron!”

The old blacksmith: Hehehe.

The young blacksmith asked again, “What should we do about that lady?”

The old blacksmith replied, “What do you mean what should we do? Oh, you mean the farming tools? Since she has helped us make over a thousand iron tools in ten days, I’ll stick to my promise. I won’t charge a dime for her farming tools!”

Not only that, the old blacksmith also hoped to personally thank the lady.

Unfortunately, he had been waiting all afternoon, but Gu Jiao never showed up.