“My father is the village head of Da Ping Village,” Mo Wenxuan replied.
Upon hearing this, Wan Jian’an took a sip of his tea and proceeded to examine the introductory letter, not once lifting his gaze, “You’re planning to transform a lake on the mountain into a reservoir?”
“Exactly!”
“Then, let me ask you, how much capital do you have at your disposal for constructing the reservoir? What about the labor force? How far is the lake from the densely populated areas in your village?”
“…” Mo Wenxuan was taken aback. Usually engrossed in his books, he had never made time to account for the village’s available labor force, let alone understand the financial aspects involved.
Wan Jian’an grew impatient, “You don’t know? If so, please leave and come back after you figure it all out.”
Mo Wenxuan, revered as a prodigy in his village and private academy, was not accustomed to such treatment. Just as he was about to argue with the gate officer, Yeguo stopped him.
Yeguo intervened, “Gate officer, sir, I did some research beforehand. Building the reservoir requires a site survey by you first. If you approve the plan, then the higher-ups will allocate funds to our village, with half coming from the county and the remaining half beared by the town and the village. So, the specific amount of capital needed relies on your survey. As for the labor force, our village has around sixty households, each can provide two laborers; approximating a total of over a hundred. The lake is behind the village about seven miles from the densely populated areas.”
After Yeguo’s response, Wan Jian’an turned his attention towards him.
Since entering, this tall yet hunched man had been silent. Combined with his unsightly appearance, Wan Jian’an had avoided looking at him.
As for Nan Feng, she seemed alert and smart. However, he failed to understand why they selected a girl to represent them. He decided not to inquire further, knowing that country girls didn’t follow the urban protocol of maintaining a low profile. Whoever was capable took the lead, and many rural women could hold their own.
Now, Wan Jian’an turned to Yeguo, asking, “Who are you? Or better, who is your father?”
Yeguo, courteously, bowed to Wan Jian’an, “I am called Yeguo, just a common villager of Da Ping Village, and my father is a farmer as well.”
Wan Jian’an couldn’t help but sneer at Yeguo, “I thought you were this gentleman’s bodyguard. I didn’t expect you to know more than him.”
Yeguo modestly replied, “Not at all, everyone has their specialties. Wenxuan is the most knowledgeable person in our village. He even participated in the imperial examination recently. If everything goes well, he should become a scholar.”
You should not underestimate a scholar. At that time, a scholar was one in a million. After all, Wan Jian’an himself was a scholar.
Now, Wan Jian’an began to see Mo Wenxuan in a different light.
Mo Wenxuan hadn’t anticipated Yeguo’s support. Feeling somewhat surprised, he felt obliged to return the favor since Yeguo had spoken up for him, “Gate officer, sir, Yeguo is renowned in our village for his hunting abilities; he’s capable of slaying tigers barehanded.”
“Oh?” Wan Jian’an was astonished.
Next, Wan Jian’an pointed at Nan Feng, “And who is she?”
Nan Feng, who hailed from worldly experiences in her past life, responded with neither humility nor haughtiness, “My name is Nan Feng, a common villager of Da Ping Village. As our village’s rice yield has been trailing, the village head assigned me to come along.”
“Are you twelve years old yet?” Wan Jian’an asked.
“Fourteen,” Nan Feng replied.
Wan Jian’an then asked Nan Feng, “One of them is a scholar, the other a skilled hunter. What are your talents, young lady?”