"Young master, young master, you've become an official? What rank is Ren Yong Xiao Wei? Xiao Qing asked, excitedly shaking Fang Er's arm.
In the Tang Dynasty, where plumpness was considered beauty, Xiao Qing, weighing only about ninety catties, was considered too thin by others.
However, from Fang Er's perspective as someone from the 21st century, a sixteen-year-old girl with a height of about 1.6 meters and this weight was a model figure. Moreover, she was perfectly proportioned, embodying the delicate and classical beauty of Eastern women.
Xiao Qing completely failed to realize that her action had placed her two developing mounds, which had already reached a certain size, right in between Fang Er's arm.
It was the height of summer, and both were dressed thinly.
Feeling the softness and warmth transmitting from his arm.
After these days of interaction, Fang Er had grown fond of this little girl. He rubbed his arm against Xiao Qing's embrace, then looked at her with a mischievous smile and said, "How about it, isn't your young master amazing? Do you want to pledge yourself to me now?"
Just now, it was due to excitement that she hadn't paid attention to her actions. Now, with Fang Er's arm rubbing back and forth against her chest, Xiao Qing's face instantly turned red. She let go of Fang Er's arm and shyly said, "Young master, you're so naughty, always bullying me!"
After stomping her foot, she ran away directly.
Eunuch Deng, standing by, smiled outwardly at Fang Er but cursed internally!
"Damn it, flirting with a maid in front of a eunuch?
That's too much!"
"Commander Fang really has good fortune, having such a lovely little maid at home. Truly enviable," Eunuch Deng said insincerely.
"Please don't mind, Eunuch Deng. It's just that I, Fang, am usually too lazy. I'm embarrassed," Fang Er quickly explained upon hearing his words.
This guy had been so engrossed with the little girl that he had forgotten there was a eunuch beside him!
"It's nothing, nothing. It's understandable that Commander Fang is a man of passion. The reason I didn't leave just now was that the Emperor still had instructions for me to ask if Commander Fang needed anything for the gunpowder improvement, so that the Ministry of Works could prepare it in advance."
Eunuch Deng showed no sign of displeasure.
The Emperor had given this young fellow a fifth-rank official position, and he was unwilling to accept it, yet the Emperor didn't blame him at all. This indicated that it was better to maintain good relations with him.
"How about this, I'll write a list, and you can have the Ministry of Works prepare it," Fang Er thought for a moment and then said.
"Commander Fang is indeed thoughtful. Please go ahead, and I will wait here in the courtyard." Eunuch Deng said and then sat down on a chair in the courtyard.
Fang Er went into the house, took out paper and charcoal sticks.
Several lengths of coarse linen
Various iron cans
Gravel stones the size of soybeans
Fang Er wrote down more than ten items in one go.
He folded the paper and handed it to Eunuch Deng, asking him to pass it on to the Ministry of Works, as he would need them tomorrow.
"I will definitely convey it clearly, Commander Fang, please rest assured. I will head to the Ministry of Works right away."
Taking the paper, Eunuch Deng directly tucked it into his robes, bid farewell to Fang Er, and went straight to the Ministry of Works.
The people at the Ministry of Works looked utterly confused upon seeing the list delivered by Eunuch Deng. What was all this messy stuff?
However, as the Emperor had instructed them that day to fully cooperate with Fang Er, they could only proceed with preparations as written on the paper.
The next morning.
Fang Er, with Zhuzi, inquired and searched throughout Chang'an City, finally arriving at the Ministry of Works' yamen.
Upon learning of the notification from below, Du Yiyang, along with several section chiefs, hurried out to welcome him.
Logically, Fang Er was only a ninth-rank official without specific duties, so there was no need for a high-ranking official like him, a third-rank minister, to be so polite. However, since their own department was not performing well, they had no choice but to humble themselves to ensure the task was done properly.
"Commander Fang, please come in quickly!" Du Yiyang said, affectionately pulling Fang Er's arm and leading him into the main hall of the Ministry of Works.
"Who is this young master? Why is the Minister treating him with such courtesy?"
"Who knows! He's so young, could he be a prince?"
"How is that possible? Didn't you hear Minister Du call him Commander Fang earlier?"
"Why not? What if he's an illegitimate son? Otherwise, why would a mere commander be personally welcomed by a dignified third-rank minister? Who would believe it?"
Along the way, observing Du Yiyang's affectionate demeanor towards Fang Er, some minor clerks gathered and began discussing Fang Er's identity.
"Minister Du is too courteous. Have the items been prepared?" Fang Er asked Du Yiyang in the main hall of the Ministry of Works.
"Everything has been prepared. Don't rush. Come, come, let me introduce you." Du Yiyang pulled Fang Er and said to the other section chiefs, "This is Commander Fang, who presented the method for gunpowder and salt purification. Commander Fang, this is Minister Cui of the Ministry of Works. He is in charge of the gunpowder matters. You should get along well in the future. The other two are Minister Li of the Water Department and Minister Zheng of the Land Reclamation Department."
As Du Yiyang introduced each person, Fang Er proactively bowed and greeted them.
"Greetings, Minister Cui."
"Greetings, Minister Li."
"Greetings, Minister Zheng."
"Commander Fang is young and promising, truly an outstanding talent!"
"Indeed, indeed. We don't know what we were doing at your age! And he's already made it to commander!" The Cui family's Minister Cui and the Zheng family's Minister Zheng from the Land Reclamation Department said to Fang Er with veiled sarcasm.
Minister Li of the Water Department, however, nodded at Fang Er with a smile, saying nothing.
Fang Er was a bit bewildered. Had he dug up their ancestral graves? What was with the cold stares and sarcastic remarks?
"Your praise is too much, esteemed sirs. I, Fang, can hardly be called an outstanding talent." Not understanding the reason, Fang Er did not retort but simply smiled and said to them.
"Now that introductions have been made, the three esteemed ministers, if Commander Fang requires your cooperation in the future, please be diligent. These are the Emperor's direct orders. Commander Fang, please follow me." Du Yiyang glared at Minister Cui and Minister Zheng, then led Fang Er through a series of turns into a secluded courtyard.
"Commander Fang, are you perhaps wondering why those two are treating you that way?" Inside the courtyard, Du Yiyang pointed to the stone stools in the courtyard, gesturing for Fang Er to sit and talk.
"Please, Minister Du, enlighten me!" Fang Er asked curiously.
Before getting to know Cheng Yaojin, he had lived secluded in the manor, and even his uncle had taken advantage of him constantly. This suggested that the original Fang Er would not have offended anyone. But he couldn't recall offending anyone since his transmigration!
"Commander Fang, this matter, you did it unintentionally. Those two come from the Qinghe Cui clan and the Xingyang Zheng clan, respectively. Eighty percent of the salt trade in our Great Tang comes from these two families. Do you understand what I mean, Commander Fang?" Du Yiyang said with some resentment.
Although he was the Minister of Works, the four section chiefs below him were all from the powerful families of the Five Great Clans. He, as the minister, had long been sidelined. Fortunately, the Five Great Clans and Seven Noble Houses were not entirely united. Minister Li of the Water Department, for instance, hailed from the Longxi Li clan, a branch of Li Er's lineage, and occasionally provided support to Du Yiyang.
"So, it's the method of refined salt extraction that has displeased them?" Fang Er didn't need to think. Hearing that these two families monopolized eighty percent of the salt trade, he knew the reason.