Chapter 80: Workshop Monthly Examination
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The fury in Yin Wuyou’s heart was almost uncontrollable.
She lowered her eyelids, trying to maintain her poise.
Ever since she became the grand minister, these people had been making things difficult for her.
!!
But everything they did was in accordance with the rules. So even though Yin Wuyou wanted to launch an attack, she had no way of doing so!
For example, during this monthly examination, they clearly wanted to target Yin Wuyou’s 0th Workshop. But their excuses were so reasonable that even Yin Wuyou couldn’t say anything!
If these people really did it out of public interest, then so be it.
But over the past few years, the Forging Division had become increasingly desolate in their hands, getting worse year after year. If not for this, why would she come to the Forging Division to be the grand minister!
She clearly knew these people were doing nothing in their positions, but she couldn’t find a reason to deal with them. This made Yin Wuyou feel extremely aggrieved.
But even as a princess, she couldn’t punish ministers of the Imperial Court for no reason.
“Minister Li, your words make sense.” Meng Jinguang nodded. “Although there aren’t many people in the 0th Workshop, we still need to spend dozens of taels of silver every month. This is not considering the materials provided to them.”
“These silver are earned by everyone’s hard work, and they can’t be wasted.”
The few of them spoke one after another, pushing Yin Wuyou back.
Under these circ.u.mstances, Yin Wuyou naturally didn’t have to listen to them. The grand minister had the authority.
But if she really did that, the princess’s reputation for being self-opinionated and willful would spread throughout the capital tomorrow.
Yin Wuyou’s eyes narrowed slightly. After a long while, she said coldly, “Since everyone has already reached an agreement, then I will naturally not object.
“In this monthly examination, the 0th Workshop will also take part.”
Yin Wuyou stood up and walked out as she said coldly, “If he can’t prove his worth, then let him go back to being a Forging Apprentice!”
Meng Jinguang and the rest looked at each other and saw the smile on each other’s lips. They won another round.
…
Achoo— Zhou Shu sneezed and rubbed his sore nose. Who’s scolding me?
He was now in his mansion in the capital.
Mi Zhifu was indeed a very considerate steward. In just a few days, he had already arranged for people to clean the residence.
Moreover, all the daily necessities had been purchased. Even eight servants had been arranged to take care of the residence.
What delighted Zhou Shu the most was that Mi Zhifu had actually prepared a forging room for him in the backyard!
Smelting furnaces and all kinds of materials were available!
This made Zhou Shu, who had prepared a full set of materials himself, overjoyed.
As expected of a steward of a big family, he’s so professional!
Zhou Shu had a high opinion of Mi Zhifu. Just based on his position, he knew that he had to prepare a forging room. This was true professionalism.
The 0th Workshop’s materials had been cut off. Under normal circ.u.mstances, Zhou Shu should have gone to the materials department to negotiate with them and then been given an excuse. In the end, he would have angrily gone to find his boss. Finally, he might have to go to Zhu Chuanfeng and apologize.
But Zhou Shu did not act according to plan!
If you want to cut off my materials, then so be it.
In any case, the 0th Workshop didn’t have any forging tasks. Zhang Yibei and the others also needed to wait until their martial arts had truly reached basic mastery before they could begin learning the skills of forging.
As for developing new weapons, Zhou Shu didn’t need to use any materials.
If he couldn’t forge weapons in the 0th Workshop, wouldn’t it be the same if he did it in his own home?
In any case, there were only a dozen or so Spring Embroidered Sabers left to forge in order to fill up all the slots. At that time, another new weapon would appeare in the Legendary Armament Canon.
Zhu Chuanfeng thought that by cutting off the materials of the 0th Workshop, he would be able to hold on to Zhou Shu’s life. But what he didn’t know was that Zhou Shu and he weren’t even on the same level.
The residences in the capital were much better than those in the 0th Workshop.
Although Zhou Shu had designed the 0th Workshop himself, the conditions at the time were limited. Moreover, he had built the workshop according to the model of a factory, so it was naturally incomparable to the luxurious residences in the capital.
The residence Mi Ziwen had given him was basically a garden.
Furthermore, there were people here to serve him, and everything was provided. Besides forging, Zhou Shu didn’t have to worry about anything else.
These days were simply too happy.
Since he was in a good mood, he was naturally more efficient.
In just two days, he had finished forging most of the dozen or so Spring Embroidered Sabers.
At this rate, he would only need two more days to unlock the new weapon.
I wonder if it will be a ranked one this time. Zhou Shu was looking forward to it.
Zhu Chuanfeng had schemed against him because he was only a Forging Apprentice.
If Zhou Shu was also a Grand Craftsman, would Zhu Chuanfeng still dare to scheme against him?
At the end of the day, this world was still one where strength spoke.
…
“Is this the place?” Yin Wuyou asked solemnly as she looked at the door in front of her.
“This is the place.” Haitang nodded her head like a chick pecking rice. “I went to ask. Superintendent Zhou hasn’t returned to the 0th Workshop for several days. It took me a lot of effort to find out that he’s here.”
“He’s only been the superintendent of the workshop for a few days, and he can already afford a residence here?” Yin Wuyou said.
“No, this is a gift from Mi Ziwen,” Haitang said.
“What spell did he cast on Mi Ziwen?” Yin Wuyou grumbled. She couldn’t understand why Mi Ziwen treated Zhou Shu so well.
It was one thing to become sworn brothers with him, but to give him a residence was a little too much.
“Has he been to Lichun Courtyard recently?” Yin Wuyou suddenly asked.
Haitang was stunned. She didn’t know why the princess would ask such a question. She shook her head and replied, “No. After Superintendent Zhou came here, he never went out.”
Yin Wuyou nodded. “Knock on the door!”
Haitang walked forward and started banging on the door.
“Second Master, there’s someone asking to see you.”
Just as Zhou Shu was preparing to begin forging the next Spring Embroidered Saber, an old servant suddenly whispered outside the door.
Zhou Shu stopped and asked doubtfully, “Who is it?”
He didn’t have many acquaintances in the capital, and there was not a single person who knew that he lived here. Who would be looking for him at this time?
“I don’t know. They didn’t reveal their ident.i.ties,” the old servant said respectfully. “They are two women, and they are very beautiful. They should be from an influential family.”
“Oh.” Zhou Shu nodded. He already knew who came. It made sense. Besides her, who else could find him so easily?
“Go serve her first. I’ll come over after changing,” Zhou Shu said.
The old servant bowed in acknowledgment.
A bit later, Zhou Shu, who had tidied himself up a little, came to the front hall.
As expected, Yin Wuyou was sitting here with the pretty maid Haitang standing behind her.
“Grand Minister, I apologize for not welcoming you…” Zhou Shu cupped his hands in an exaggerated gesture.
Yin Wuyou rolled her eyes. “Don’t use this useless method!
“You sure know how to find a place to hide. Aren’t you worried about the workshop? Did you not hear what I said last time?” Yin Wuyou’s face flushed as she angrily glared at Zhou Shu.
“I’m innocent,” Zhou Shu said. “Grand Minister, you know the responsibility of the 0th Workshop. We don’t have any forging tasks. To be honest, I haven’t been to the workshop recently because I’m in seclusion developing a new weapon.”
“Really? Have you developed it?” Yin Wuyou sneered.
“Not yet,” Zhou Shu said somewhat embarra.s.sedly.
He still needed a few more Spring Embroidered Sabers to fill up the slots, so the next weapon had yet to appear in the Legendary Armament Canon.
“But it will be soon.”
“Soon? You said it will be soon?” Yin Wuyou was furious. “Do you think it’s so easy to develop a new weapon? Do you know how many people are eyeing the 0th Workshop? If you don’t have the ability, then go back to being a Forging Apprentice!”
Zhou Shu was scolded. He was puzzled. What’s wrong with Yin Wuyou?
Is it that time of the month?
Did I offend her?
Zhou Shu waited for Yin Wuyou to finish venting her anger before explaining, “Grand Minister, I’m telling the truth. I’m indeed in seclusion developing a new weapon, and I’m about to succeed.
“Grand Minister, think about it. Have I ever lied to you before? I have never failed in the path of forging,” Zhou Shu said confidently.
Yin Wuyou also realized that she had lost her composure. Previously, she had been holding back her anger at the Forging Division Headquarters. Now, she had seized the opportunity to vent it out. On the other hand, Zhou Shu was somewhat innocent.
Yin Wuyou was a bit embarra.s.sed, but she was too embarra.s.sed to apologize. She could only pretend that nothing happened and nod proudly.
“Zhou Shu, I believe in your abilities. However, I am not the only one in charge of the Forging Division. You still have to show your results. Otherwise, even I will not be able to stop the rumors.
“The monthly examination for the Forging Division workshops is coming soon. If the 0th Workshop can’t produce results by then—”
“Wait,” Zhou Shu interrupted Yin Wuyou. “Grand Minister, I remember we agreed before that I would develop a new weapon within three months.”
“That was my mistake.” Yin Wuyou blushed with shame. “I owe you one. However, you can’t avoid this monthly examination. You have to partic.i.p.ate.”
“Is someone causing trouble?” Zhou Shu responded in a deep voice.
“You are thinking too much,” Yin Wuyou said.
“I came here this time to inform you about this matter. In this monthly examination, the 0th Workshop must produce results. Otherwise, there’s no need for the 0th Workshop to exist.
“But don’t worry too much. This is a mistake of mine. Even if the 0th Workshop is gone, I will take responsibility for it.”
“I’m not worried.” Zhou Shu grinned, revealing a row of snow-white teeth. “I am a man who was specially permitted by His Majesty to partic.i.p.ate in the military parade.. Even if I’m not a superintendent, I will still be able to live very well. However, if they want to take the 0th Workshop away from me, that will depend on whether they are capable of doing so!”