While watching everyone sigh and lament, Li Wenli naturally asked.
The person, not harboring any suspicions, blurted out.
"Isn’t it this year’s winter solstice?"
As soon as the person finished speaking, the others came to their senses, looking at Li Wenli with surprise, "You actually don’t remember?"
Faced with these doubtful gazes, Li Wenli cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Uh, I naturally remember, it’s just that I wanted to test you guys."
In the face of everyone’s skeptical looks, Li Wenli calmly patted their shoulders and continued to pretend, "No worries, keep researching slowly. Others can draw it out, so you certainly have the ability to replicate it."
"Yes, thank you, Chief," the people, although having been served a bowl of soul-soothing chicken soup that wasn’t very practical, were still very happy.
"By the way, why are there only these few blueprints? Where are the rest?"
Li Wenli glanced at the few blueprints on the table and asked quite naturally.
"All the blueprints are in the back, in the Assembly Workshop," the person who had led him inside continued to answer enthusiastically.
"We’re only responsible for making the components here, the rest is pretty much up to them."
Li Wenli nodded, "Alright, you guys continue with your work, I’m going to check the progress in the other workshops."
Li Wenli exited the Components Workshop quite naturally, but there was no way out from here, so he had to double back the way he came.
After he was out of earshot, the craftsmen began to murmur among themselves.
"I always felt like the Second Seat was acting strangely tonight. He usually comes and seldom speaks, how come today he’s both urging and inspiring us, as if the sun has risen in the west?"
"Well, the master is coming over soon, so it’s only natural for these leaders to show off in all sorts of ways."
"Speaking of which, is the Great Chief also coming over tonight?"
"Right, recently the Great Chief and the Second Seat have been alternating their visits, but the Third Chief has been absent for a long time, which is really strange."
"Don’t discuss needless things, hurry up and get back to work."
The people sighed helplessly and continued to study the blueprints in their hands.
Turning back to Li Wenli, after making a round in the Components Workshop, his tension finally eased. It seemed his disguise was good enough; these simpletons hadn’t seen through it!
Of course, it was largely thanks to the original owner’s extensive knowledge and talent, who had read some books on ventriloquism. When others talked to him just now, Li Wenli, on a whim, employed ventriloquism. Thankfully, once he altered his breath and muscle tension, his voice also changed.
Moreover, perhaps because Shopkeeper Qiao seldom spoke, the people here hadn’t noticed the flaw.
Li Wenli was inwardly elated, and couldn’t help but quicken his pace as he walked.
He hoped that tonight would go smoothly. Even if he couldn’t uncover the Affairs of His Majesty, it would be good to explore this place.
He retraced his steps, and at the end opposite, indeed, there was another cave.
This cave was colder than the previous one, and while there were more than a dozen people there, here there was only a solitary Guard, exuding the air of a lone fighter blocking the pass against ten thousand foes.
However, at this moment, this fellow was dozing against the wall, but hearing footsteps, he suddenly looked up and preemptively roared, "Who dares to trespass here!"
"?" Li Wenli was startled by his shout and thought he had been recognized as an impostor; the Dagger hidden on his person was almost thrown out.
But after his shout, the guard finally saw that the person opposite was cloaked, and he nearly died of fright, hurriedly kneeling on one knee, "Forgive me, Chief, for my lack of recognition and offence, please punish me!"
This guy really was... quick to rain after the wind, giving one quite the scare.
Li Wenli awkwardly waved his hand, "Cough, you were simply performing your duty loyally, no need to blame yourself, get up."