Liberi Reader

What? The broken line is the man line, not the earth line? So it's an addled brain I'll need to worry about? Not some illness?

Ha, told you that walnut tree was planted for you. Go give it some fertilizer before it's too late!

I wouldn't say that. The broken line just means you'll face a difficult decision around the age of twenty.

But who gets to walk a path without a few twists and turns? Just let it be. The line runs much smoother after that, doesn't it?

That's right on the mark!

My family farm was ruined by Catastrophe when I was twenty-three. I didn't know how I could make a living in the city.

But I've done well enough for myself, coming with the rest of the folk to Dahuang to study agriculture and keeping in my old occupation.

Wow...

No one can predict fate. It's only a justification for what happened.

I've heard about the wonders of the Tianshis, but I didn't expect you to know so much...

A young girl like you is already a Shouye Tianshi at your age, Shu?

We all gain wisdom at our own pace. I simply pass on the knowledge that I learned sooner than others.

Remarkable, remarkable. Say...

That young man over there has been staring at you for a while... do you know him?

Ah...

A guest. Sorry, we'll talk another time.

Zuo Le, Candleholder of the Sui Regulator, here to review the development of Dahuang and matters relating to the Sui.

There are no restrictions on your daily activities, but I ask that you refrain from leaving Dahuang for the time being.

Your cooperation is much appreciated, Madam Shu.

Ah, so you're the new Candleholder I've heard so much about.

Yes.

This is just a customary review. It will not get in the way of your agricultural research. Feel free to go about your business as usual—

You're young. Do you even count as an adult yet?

What?

This place is pretty far out in the middle of nowhere. Did your journey go well? Any trouble with bandits?

A few bandits are no trouble for me.

Regarding work on the Twelve Pagodas and Five Cities, the Sui Regulator hopes that you will cooperate with the Ministry of Works to advance the project smoothly, and that you will maintain a cordial relationship with the Tianshi Bureaus.

In addition, there are some matters that require...

Oh, you can walk through the fields if you want, as long as you don't step on the crops, but you should give the Tianshis a heads up if you want to visit the factory.

I understand the scope of my work, Madam Shu. I still have...

That's the house the last Candleholder used. It's been refurnished and ready for use.

I...

That's all. Any questions?

Er... no.

Good. I have a lot to do in the fields, so I'll take my leave.

Just ask around if you need any help. People here are very friendly to visitors.

...

Wei!

...

Wei!

Excuse me, I'm on official business—

Here.

What's this? A lunchbox?

You're hungry, aren't you?

You've been standing there all day like a scarecrow. Do you even know how to get food on your own?

Oh... er, duoxie.

You like it?

Yes, it's very good...

You're just gonna eat without doing any work?

*cough* *cough*...!

Mind your manners, Grain Buds. This gentleman is a guest.

But you said everyone in Dahuang needs to sweat in the fields before they eat.

This strange boy says he's on official business, but he's not working the fields or building houses. What's he here for?

He has his own job to do.

What, like, staring?

Yes, just staring.

...Ahem.

Is there... something I can help with?

Let me think...

Do you know how to work a planting machine?

No...

I didn't think so. You don't deal with farming equipment in your line of work.

This little cube is a six-phase monitor. Use it to place pylons at appropriate locations in the fields, and we'll be able to monitor conditions zone by zone. Can you use it?

I've never touched anything like it before...

Feeding stockbeasts...?

...

Pfft—

Well, if you're going to be here for a while, perhaps you could learn how to do farmwork.

You could start by clearing the weeds.

Is that you, Laoshi? I—

Good timing, Xiaohe.

This is...

...a distant cousin of mine from the capital. He came to see Dahuang.

My student, He Sheng. He'll teach you.

Huh...?

...Huh?

Is this where the positioning device says the stockbeast is?

Yeah! When I blow this whistle, Mianmian will know I'm looking for him and come out.

Positioning device?

There's one on every stockbeast in Dahuang. They're not very precise, but they give us an idea of their rough location.

Every single one? There must be thousands of stockbeasts in Dahuang.

Well, we've had a lot of stray stockbeasts. The ones that the older students kept for research had a tendency to elope—

...

I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with such things.

Why did you join the army if you're a relative of Laoshi's?

No important reason, really.

Is your family all mandarins?

Why do you ask?

The way you talk, and the manner you carry yourself in general.

Not a lot of people your age around here like that, except for a few blue-blood families.

I mean no offense.

I didn't say you offended anyone.

Weird, why isn't he coming out?

Mianmian had a fight with Xiaobiar a few days ago. Is that why he ran away?

Did he get pulled in by a female again?

What?

But he likes Xiaobiar! They're always together when I take them out to the mud pond.

Not like that, Candlestick!

C-Candlestick?

I'll draw a picture of him. Memorize it, and we'll split up to look for him!

Uh... it's, er, a very good drawing...

Are you serious? I, after all the time I spent caring for the stockbeast, can barely tell it's Mianmian.

Four legs and some spots. What's so hard?

Have you ever seen a stockbeast, Candlestick?

Not often...

It's okay. You haven't seen stockbeasts, I haven't seen nomadic cities. We've all got things we've never seen before.

Have you never been outside—to other cities?

No, but I heard about them from Xiaohe.

The rice that we produce each year is sent outside. They're developing new crops so the people outside can have lots to eat.

...

You'll have plenty of chances.

No rush. I like this place.

Oh yeah, take a whiff of this.

Alcohol?

Rice wine soup, my favorite snack! See where the steam's rising? That's the brewery. We could stop by on our way.

So there are breweries here.

Part of the harvest is saved for brewing. The oldest batch is more than a hundred years old.

Do you drink?

I did, once, try wine made from maize leaves. It was a gift from a farmer on a mission. It had a very strong taste; almost made me gag.

He said it would warm us up, but we didn't expect it to be like that. He said they barely had enough to eat and didn't have the luxury of brewing with grain.

People out there still don't have enough to eat?

...

The land is vast. There are big differences between regions.

...

I hear something... over there?

Wow, Candlestick, you sure can jump!

We'll find Mianmian soon enough!

Our drones can fly higher than that, and we have the positioning device to help us.

No need to—

Wait, over there...

A fire?!

Three months?

Three months. This project is no small thing, and every segment needs time to ensure there are no problems. Three months is already on the optimistic side.

'Twelve Pagodas and Five Cities' isn't just a poetic quote. You know how long the... 'prototype' has simmered in the minds of the Tianshis, from generation to generation.

Of course. The first step is always the hardest.

Though I am but a humble paper-pusher, I've had the honor to study at the Tianshi Bureaus myself. My command of the Arts is a far cry from the masters in the room, of course, but I'm hardly content with sitting behind a desk and drinking tea while staring at my Tianshi apparatus.

Three months. That was how long it took us up in the north, in heavy wind and snow.

Think carefully and give me an answer. How long will it take to finish the assembly of the last two plates of Dahuang's core section?

...

Maybe a little more than a month, given enough energy and supplies...

There's no need to worry about energy. I have already given instructions for the supplies. Your only concern is the project's progress.

At such a distance, simply transporting supplies is a massive undertaking. Every day delayed represents a huge expenditure of money and resources.

There is no place for complacency, for the sake of the people and the hard-earned taxes they pay.

We are in the sixth month of the year now. I sincerely hope you will be reunited with your families by Mid-Autumn.

Sigh.

Sometimes you just have to ruffle the feathers a little. I'm sorry you had to see that.

Three months, in the north. You were talking about the Danyan project.

The city was closed due to heavy snow. The imperial court decided to put things on hold until conditions improved, but when the Messenger arrived...

...He found that the Tianshi in command had rammed the frozen Originium layer open with a segment of the city, rescuing tens of thousands of villagers who were trapped by wintry conditions.

The textbooks still celebrate the story, the event that took you to the position you hold today, Minister Wan. There was no need to be so humble.

You flatter me. I'm simply an engineer who worked his way slowly up the Tianshi ranks. It's not my place to hold my nose in the air.

But bringing this up is what it takes to get a bunch of stressed and overworked Tianshis to listen to me.

Seems like you're confident that construction of the Twelve Pagodas and Five Cities will progress smoothly.

Even if I'm confident, everything has been so rushed.

There can be flaws in the best-laid plans. I will be counting on your backup, in that case, Assistant Minister Ning.

That's what I'm here for.

Now, you've only just arrived in Dahuang. I assume you're not familiar with the place yet.

It may not be as prosperous as the heartland, but it is rich with gifts from the earth. The many delicacies made from local produce are a delight.

Have you had the chance to try the local Five-bean Porridge, for example?

I'm afraid not.

Dahuang's Five-bean Porridge is one-of-a-kind. The five beans are red, black, mung, soy, and white.

They complement each other, but it is the local rice that truly makes Dahuang's Five-bean Porridge stand out.

The wonderful fragrance and rich flavor of Dahuang rice elevate an ordinary bowl of porridge to the symbol of Dahuang's culinary culture.

The five beans each have their own flavor, but it is the rice that makes or breaks the dish. Cooking it is, therefore, far more than just dumping the ingredients into a pot and lighting the stove.

Heat control is the key. The five beans must not be allowed to usurp the rice at center stage, else it becomes just an ordinary bowl of grain porridge.

...

You really must try it, when you have the time.

I will.

On another note, how is High Minister Ning?

Grandfather is getting on in age, but he has been fortunate to avoid major illness.

Nevertheless, I hope he will be mindful of his health. Perhaps I should bring a little token when I report back to Baizao?

The thought will suffice.

Given Dahuang's ties to the Sui, I expect I will have plenty of dealings with the Sui Regulator and the Ministry of Rites.

I have long been in awe of High Minister Ning's achievements, but age spares none of us... it would be better for the High Minister to be less involved in particular matters.

If my presence here in Dahuang is unwelcome, I can certainly submit a letter to the Grand Tutor immediately.

You misunderstand. I only meant that the Ning family must be delighted you have risen to the post of Assistant Minister at such a young age, and that your grandfather must have taught you well—

Assistant Minister Wan.

Yes?

If you simply intend to say, 'The young and inexperienced Ning Ciqiu is not fit to work with the legendary Tianshi of Danyan,' you'll hear no argument from me.

But as long as we're working with one another, if you have something to say, just say it.

Stop thinking yourself clever by beating around the bush. A truly clever man would be much more amicable than you.

I will take my leave.

Water, water! Good thing the fire just started and right by the river...

Why did you start a fire by the forest?!

Arson is a serious crime!

I didn't do it on purpose! The fowlbeast that was another student's project ate my project!

All it left was an egg! I'll get my revenge by cooking the egg!

No, not revenge... I'll cook the egg in memory of my lost project! *sob*...

Enough of that crap! The fire's starting to spread! Stomp it out!

I have a hoe! We can make a control line while the winds are calm!

I'll clear away any vegetation in the back and stop the fire from spreading that way!

Phew...

*pant*...

Ugh...

Oink...

...Mianmian?

Oink!

Found you!

What are you doing here? (Whisper) Hey, tell me, do you like Xiaobiar or not?

Where did Zuo Le go? He said he was going to clear the vegetation. But I don't see him anywhere.

Did he... lose his way?

Oink...

...Should we look for him?

Oink...

...

Zuo—

I'm right here. I didn't find... uh... Mianmian, but I did find this pair in a nest.

You shouldn't have brought back foals so young.

I shouldn't?

But I checked the area and the mother was nowhere to be found. They wouldn't have survived for long if left to their own devices.

Isn't it better to bring them back so they could survive under your supervision?

We're not supervisors, we're friends! We help each other out.

They give us wool, we give them tasty hay, chase away bugs, and scratch their itches.

We don't know if they're carrying any diseases, or if they can be domesticated. Plus...

But they've got his scent on them. The mother wouldn't have them, even if she came back.

That's why he shouldn't have touched them.

Well, he already did, so we need to take care of them.

Why do you keep standing up for him? He's clearly in the wrong. He doesn't know anything.

I'm doing this because he doesn't know anything!

I...

Never mind. I'll go back and ask the teachers what to do with the little guys. Let's hurry, or they might catch a cold.

...

Oh! You again!

Have you had lunch? There was a fire here, and you don't talk at all. You would've gotten burned, if it wasn't for us!

Keep your distance, Grain Buds! He might swing his axe at you.

He won't. He calms down when I play my flute.

He likes to hear me play.

...

See? You all say not to come here, but I come all the time when no one's looking. I just can't cross the river.

He calms down when I play this tune. I've seen him smile.

I can even lean over to touch his axe. He always keeps his hand clenched around it, but he's...

Ouch!

Why did you hit me? Now you've made me mad. I'm not bringing you any treats next time!

That's enough, Grain Buds! Let's go!

The foals...

...We'll bring them back.

Next time, think before you act.

I...

(What am I doing here?)