Volume One, Chapter Three: Master Craftsmen! Soaring to Great Heights!
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Eunuch Zhao smiled and said, “Master, it’s not just for the laundry room. If used for irrigation, the water flowing through pipes can be directed straight to the fields, eliminating the need for manual water carrying. This would greatly save manpower and time. For our agriculture, it’s a tremendous boon.”
“Moreover, with this power source, we can develop other industries, such as driving mills to process grain. Such an automated device hasn’t even been seen by the Ministry of Works. If widely adopted, it would surely benefit the people and propel the nation’s progress.”
The middle-aged man, more knowledgeable than Eunuch Zhao, was delighted. “This device, beyond the industries you mentioned, could revolutionize other sectors as well. For Daqian, there’s no doubt this would be a monumental transformation.”
He then looked toward the laundry room workers. “Who invented this device?”
Rustling eyes turned toward Song Chenfei—they all knew he was the creator.
Manager Wu also looked at Song Chenfei with a sharp, threatening gaze.
Song Chenfei replied, “Reporting to Your Excellency, it was Manager Wu who made it.”
Everyone in the laundry room knew the truth but dared not offend Manager Wu’s authority.
Manager Wu smiled and said, “Reporting to Your Excellency, this device was made by me. Song Chenfei only helped with menial tasks.”
“Then come forward and explain the name of this device, its purpose, and exactly how it operates,” the middle-aged man ordered.
Manager Wu was dumbfounded; he had no idea what the device was called or how it worked.
However, he was not foolish and quickly thought of a plan. “Song Chenfei, you’re eloquent. Come explain this device clearly to His Excellency.”
Song Chenfei smiled faintly. “Manager Wu, you ordered me to say that you made it. Naturally, you should be the one explaining it to His Excellency.”
Manager Wu’s face changed, cold sweat beading his forehead, hating Song Chenfei with all his heart.
“Song Chenfei, what nonsense are you spouting?”
“How dare you lie before His Excellency! Do you know your crime?”
Eunuch Zhao immediately understood the situation and harshly reprimanded him.
“Please spare me, Your Excellency, spare me!” Manager Wu turned pale, promptly knelt, and repeatedly kowtowed, begging for mercy.
The middle-aged man seemed unsurprised, having seen through it from the start. His gaze remained fixed on Song Chenfei as he commanded, “Drag him away and administer three hundred blows with the rod! Then throw him out of the laundry room.”
Everyone gasped.
Even a hundred blows could cost a man half his life; three hundred would be fatal.
“Please, Your Excellency, I know my mistake!”
The guards paid no heed to his pleas; receiving orders, they dragged Manager Wu out like a dead dog. Outside came chilling screams.
The sound was bone-chilling.
The middle-aged man approached Song Chenfei with a smile. “You have guts. Outwardly you feigned compliance, but you waited for the opportunity to strike a fatal blow.”
Song Chenfei bowed. “Your Excellency’s insight is profound. I had no choice; they were bullying me excessively. If I had been soft, after Your Excellency left, I’d be the one dead.”
“I don’t oppose this. I respect those with the courage to resist. Did you design and make this device?”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“What is it called?”
“The Waterwheel Laundry Machine.”
“Why that name?”
“Because the device has two parts: one is the waterwheel, the other the laundry machine. The waterwheel pumps water; the laundry machine cleans clothes. Together, they greatly reduce the laundry room’s workload.”
“Hmm, well explained. How did you conceive this design? I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Your Excellency, I’ve been fascinated by ingenious devices since childhood. After coming to the laundry room, I studied this field in my spare time. Recently, inspiration struck—I combined the waterwheel and laundry functions and, to my surprise, succeeded.”
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“Excellent, excellent—you are truly talented.”
One had to admit, Manager Wu was incredibly foolish.
Those in high positions were no fools; they wouldn’t be deceived by a few words.
Technical matters like this could be clarified with just a few questions.
Trying to steal Song Chenfei’s credit was suicidal!
“Our Daqian has always valued craftsmanship. Anyone at the third-level craftsman rank can gain official status. The current national master craftsman is the supreme rank.”
“Ten years ago, when I—then the emperor—was restoring the realm, the court issued a decree: anyone who contributes as a craftsman to Daqian shall be promoted and rewarded with a thousand silver taels!”
“Now, I bestow upon you one thousand taels of silver!”
Envy rippled through the crowd.
They knew Song Chenfei had turned things around.
It was hard to believe—two days ago, Song Chenfei had rejected the Prince of Pingyang and seemed doomed to die here. Yet now, fortune had smiled upon him.
“Thank you, Your Excellency.”
A faint smile lifted the corner of Song Chenfei’s mouth as he bowed deeply.
“Come, such talent is wasted here. I have important tasks for you,” the middle-aged man ordered.
“Yes, Your Excellency. But I have a request. A friend played a significant role in helping me complete this device. May I bring him along? It would help me fulfill your orders better.”
Song Chenfei glanced at Li Hao.
“Agreed,” the middle-aged man said after a brief look at Li Hao and a slight nod.
Li Hao’s heart swelled with excitement, gratitude, and disbelief.
The truth of Song Chenfei’s words was clear—without the Prince of Pingyang, Song Chenfei could leave here, and he would take Li Hao with him. It was almost unbelievable.
But then Eunuch Zhao said, “Your Excellency, this device is obviously a crude prototype, a patchwork with many flaws. Perhaps he should build a complete one to better showcase its function and craftsmanship.”
He knew exactly what ‘Master’ intended.
The middle-aged man suddenly realized, “Indeed, this is too simple and clearly shoddy.”
Song Chenfei replied, “That’s due to limited materials. Many parts were improvised, using what was at hand. It was a struggle just to complete it.”
“This is easy. I’ll give you ten craftsmen. Tell them what materials you need. Make a superior waterwheel laundry machine as soon as possible,” the middle-aged man said.
Song Chenfei bowed. “Simple. If Your Excellency grants me sufficient manpower and materials, in three days you will see a truly massive waterwheel laundry machine—and an additional surprise.”
“Good. I look forward to seeing your waterwheel laundry machine and the surprise in three days,” the middle-aged man laughed heartily.
Then he patted Song Chenfei’s shoulder and turned to leave, saying, “Eunuch Zhao, stay behind and give him whatever he asks for.”
“Yes, Master.”
After the middle-aged man left, Eunuch Zhao turned to Song Chenfei. “So young, yet such craftsmanship. Truly remarkable. What is your name?”
“Reporting to you, I am Song Chenfei,” he answered calmly.
“Good. Then I shall call you Young Master Song. You heard what Master said—we will cooperate fully. Anyone who dares disturb Young Master Song’s work won’t be spared.”
Zhao’s gaze swept coldly over the servants present, his tone icy.
They all fell silent, afraid to breathe.
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“I need ten pieces of top-grade nanmu wood, twenty jin of refined iron, five skilled carpenters, and three blacksmiths…” Song Chenfei thought for a moment, then spoke.
Eunuch Zhao nodded and took notes. “Good, I’ll arrange it immediately.”
Then he left to personally handle Song Chenfei’s requests.
Only Song Chenfei, Li Hao, and a few others remained.
The laundry servants were uneasy. Many had bullied Song Chenfei before and feared his revenge.
“Young Master Song, it was our blindness before. You’re magnanimous, please don’t hold it against us,” a male servant flattered.
“Young Master Song, from now on we obey you. If you say east, we won’t go west,” a female servant quickly agreed.
“I was blinded by greed and lost my mind to bully you. I’m worthless and deserve death!” another male servant, terrified, slapped himself repeatedly, the slaps echoing.
“I shouldn’t have troubled you when you were honest, nor sabotaged your work, nor poured cold water on you during rest. I deserve death; please spare me!” a trembling female servant knelt, banging her forehead until it reddened.
They were all terrified, especially those with serious grudges against Song Chenfei, pale and shaking, fearing harsh retribution.
Even a fool could see Song Chenfei’s meteoric rise; having found a benefactor, his future was bright.
“Chenfei, we can’t let them off—they’ve made our lives miserable all these years,” Li Hao said fiercely.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make them pay.”
Song Chenfei’s eyes turned cold. “What about Manager Wu?”
Soon, Manager Wu was dragged in, still alive after three hundred lashes but barely breathing, looking ready to die.
“Song Chenfei, you bastard, how dare you betray me?” Manager Wu hissed spitefully. “I have powerful backers; you won’t get away with this.”
Song Chenfei sneered. “You’re on death’s door and still threatening me?”
He grabbed Manager Wu by the hair and dragged him across the floor, leaving a blood trail over ten meters, while Manager Wu screamed miserably.
The screams were ghastly, as if a demon from hell was wailing, chilling everyone present.
Ignoring all, Song Chenfei dragged him until throwing him into the waterwheel laundry machine by the river.
“You like throwing people into the river, right? Now I’ll let you taste it.”
Manager Wu was tossed like a garment into the waterwheel, his screams endless, blood turning the water crimson. Soon, the screams stopped and the river ran red.
Those witnessing this shuddered, trembling with fear.
Li Hao was scared too, his whole body chilled as if plunged into an ice cellar, collapsing to the ground, eyes filled with terror as he looked at Song Chenfei.
“Is he really Song Chenfei?”
Li Hao’s face was deathly pale.
Before, Song Chenfei was meek, enduring abuse without resistance.
But now, he was cold and ruthless, merciless and cruel—a figure to inspire dread.