Chapter 19 - Invitation
Not far into the northwest corner of Banta City, there was a small road that led into a lush, green forest. About two kilometers into that path, there was a manor occupying an extremely large piece of land.
This manor was also completely green, with all manners of plants and flowers. There were only ten rooms inside of the manor, but they didn’t look messy at all, rather it was all neatly designed.
There was the sound of a bird crying from time to time, making the manor seem even more calming and peaceful.
There was a little mountain to the west of the manor, with a clear mountain spring flowing off the mountain. There was a cool mist that filled the manor while also collecting a pool at the foot of the mountain.
The water was clear as it kept flowing down, naturally creating even more cool mist.
There was a little wood cabin beside the spring and Viscount Leslie was currently at the cabin looking at the spring. He took off his shoes and dipped his calves into the spring. Feeling the cool sensation brought by the spring water, he let out moans of comfort from time to time.
Other than this, there was a Magic Fan that kept turning beside him.
With the cool breeze of the Magic Fan, it kept blowing his scattered hair around.
After closing his eyes to enjoy it for a while, Viscount Leslie suddenly shook his head, “This thing isn’t good, it can’t compare to the Frost Array.”
Butler Brunei who had been standing on the side the entire time bowed and responded, “Yes, Lord Viscount. There isn’t a single noble family that has bought a Magic Fan in Banta City, everyone feels it is something for the commoners. I suggest you do not continue using it, otherwise rumours will spread.”
“Oh? Those idiots are thinking this?” Viscount Leslie looked over at Butler Brunei with a smile of ridicule on his face.
Seeing Viscount Leslie’s sluggish smile, Butler Brunei gave a sigh deep down.
The Lord Viscount had just turned thirty and was in the prime of his life. Adding in his charm and his proper manners, there were many noble ladies in Banta City that welcomed him, but he still chose not to get married. It made the old Count in Anvilmar worry about this for a long time.
“Lord Viscount, what do you mean?” Butler Brunei of course wouldn’t reveal what he was thinking and instead responded right on time.
“What? You don’t understand?” Viscount Leslie pointed at the Magic Fan, “Although this thing’s effect can’t compare to the Frost Array, you shouldn’t forget that the cost of this thing is far beneath the Frost Array. Those normal families in Banta City can’t put down a Frost Array, but that doesn’t mean they can’t buy this Magic Fan. They can get a cool breeze for themselves for just two gold coins, what is unacceptable about that?”
Butler Brunei gave a slight nod, “That is indeed true. During this time, the Magic Fan has sold very well in Banta City, there are even many people in the villages outside the city who are buying it.”
“Brunei, how much do you think it costs to make this thing?” Viscount Leslie suddenly asked.
Brunei didn’t hesitate at all and immediately responded, “With a general estimate, a single Magic Fan shouldn’t cost more than one gold coin to make.”
“He, he, a cost less than one gold coin and selling it for two gold coins. This also means that each time he sells one, that fellow Xu Yi will earn a gold coin. Then do you know how many he has sold so far?”
“This…...I’m not certain. But I estimate it to be over two thousand?” Butler Brunei said in an uncertain voice.
“Then let’s consider it two thousand, which is two thousand gold coins. This fellow used only a single month to earn two thousand gold coins, he really is quite skilled.” Viscount Leslie had a trace of praise in his voice.
Butler Brunei was a bit curious as he asked with knitted brows, “Lord Viscount, although I admit that he does have some skills, this is only an exception. The Magic Fan can only sell during the summer, at most he can sell it for three months each year. Then again, each family wouldn’t need that much. When he has sold to every family that needs one, he won’t be able to make anymore gold coins.”
“Brunei, you are old in the end.” Viscount Leslie shook his head with a sigh, “You don’t understand, even if there is no one in Banta City to sell this to, he can sell this thing to other cities or even other countries. The Sines Continent is this big, there are countless people who want to buy this Magic Fan. As long as he can transport this thing to other places, he will definitely be able to sell it. I can even confidently say that this fellow had this idea from the beginning, otherwise would he suddenly rent a hectare of land from me? If he wanted to keep his current scale, he wouldn’t need that big of a place, he could just find a small workshop in Banta City.”
Butler Brunei said in an astonished voice, “He actually had such large ambitions?”
“He, he, having ambition is good. Otherwise, do you think I would discuss a small merchant with you?” Viscount Leslie said with a faint smile, “Actually what made me take note was when a group of people surrounded his store last time.”
“Oh, I was also surprised by this matter. I thought it would be a big problem, but I never thought they would take care of it that easily. In the end, those people were very happy when they returned.” Butler Brunei’s tone couldn’t help containing a trace of admiration, “I’ve seen that Heinz before, he isn’t that great of a person. So everything that happened should be because of Xu Yi.”
“Just this isn’t considered much, but what I took note of was what he mentioned…..That’s right, brand! Brunei, do you understand what this means?”
Butler Brunei shook his head in a daze.
“Honestly I don’t understand either, but I feel this thing is definitely very important. The other merchants in Banta City still don’t understand what this thing means, but I believe they will definitely understand in the future.” Viscount Leslie’s tone was strangely certain, it seemed like he believed in his conclusion very much.
Butler Brunei knit his brows while thinking about it and he couldn’t help but ask, “Lord Viscount, what are you thinking about, saying all of this? No matter what that Xu Yi wants to do, it shouldn’t be that related to you, right? Although he has given you a 10% share, according to my estimates, it can only bring several hundred gold coins each year. You don’t need to care that much, right?”
Viscount Leslie laughed, “Brunei, I can you old and you still don’t understand. Go, take a trip for me and send an invitation to Xu Yi. Say that I’m inviting him here as a guest.”
Butler Brunei’s eyes popped wide open in shock.
Did he hear wrong? The Lord Viscount who never liked guests bothering him was actually personally inviting someone as a guest?
Xu Yi wasn’t feeling honoured at all right now. After testing the capping machine and the thread rolling machine over a hundred times at Master Lanus’ place, he gave Master Lanus a bunch of adjustment suggestions.
He received many complaints from Master Lanus at the same time, but he also received the good news that it would be finished in three days.
This process exhausted Xu Yi’s mind and body. When he dragged himself back to his little hut, he directly collapsed on his bed and fell asleep.
He didn’t know how long he was asleep, but when Xu Yi woke up, there was the fragrant smell of meat cooking that assaulted his nose.
Piquing his ears, he could hear sounds coming from the kitchen.
It was actually a girl’s voice!
Xu Yi was shocked. Could it be that when he was sleeping, someone snuck in?
Standing up, Xu Yi looked over at the kitchen. He saw one small and one large figure with their backs to him, currently working in front of the stove.
Whether it was the large or small figure, both of them were familiar.
“Still, why are you here?” Xu Yi asked in a daze.
Still who was stirring with her spatula turned around in surprise before giving Xu Yi a smile, “You’re awake. Go wash your face first and prepare to eat.”
Xu Yi looked at her with a strange gaze before looking at the little slave beside Still and he couldn’t help revealing a frown.
“Hey, your injuries aren’t cured yet, why did you come out?”
The little slave had been at Xu Yi’s place were several days now, but they still acted very timidly. Their neck shrank back and lowered their head to leave the kitchen, heading for the room Xu Yi prepared for them.
“Xu Yi, what are you so fierce with her for? I called her out to help.” Seeing Xu Yi chasing off her little helper, Still couldn’t help speaking in a dissatisfied voice.
“Don’t you see his wounds, you’re actually having him help? It’ll be troublesome if his wounds open again.”
“Relax, I’ve looked over her body, it’s already pretty much healed. It won’t hinder her at all.” Still had already finished cooking this dish. She used her mouth to signal to Xu Yi to bring the soup and dish to the side over.
After putting down the tableware, Still asked Xu Yi in a small voice, “Hey, Xu Yi, what is with this little girl?”
“Little girl? Who?” Xu Yi asked back in a stunned voice.
“Of course I mean her.” Still pointed at the little room the little slave was in.
“Oh, I bought a little slave. This matter is very troublesome to explain, I’ll tell you later…...Wait a minute, you said little girl?” Xu Yi’s eyes suddenly opened wide.
“That’s right? What?” Seeing Xu Yi surprised expression, Still was also stunned.
“He isn’t a boy?” Xu Yi asked in a shocked voice.
“What boy? She’s clearly a little girl, alright! Is there a problem with your eyes?” Still reprimanded him without any courtesy.
Xu Yi was stunned.
The first time he saw the little slave, she was being beaten to death by three large men with leather whips, causing Xu Yi to unconsciously deem her as a little boy. This was because he didn’t believe that there would be people who were this ruthless to a little girl in this world.
After he bought her from Butler Brunei, because she had been injured, she had been wrapped up in gauze the entire time. Moreover, Xu Yi didn’t have much contact with her, so naturally he didn’t pay attention to this matter.
He never thought that the little boy he thought she was was actually a little girl!
Chapter 20: Vivian
“This……” Xu Yi couldn’t help scratching his head as he felt he really was too careless.
Then again, this couldn’t be blamed on Xu Yi. He didn’t interact too much with girls back on earth and adding in the fact that he spent most of his time with ice cold machines and data, he was quite slow in this aspect.
Moveover this little slave had such a thin figure, she didn’t grow that well, so there were no features of a girl on her at all.
If it wasn’t for the special circumstances, Xu Yi never would have figured it out.
Seeing the awkward look on Xu Yi’s face, Still suddenly revealed a smile.
“Hei, Xu Yi, when I saw this little girl in your house, I thought that you were the same as a few of those aristocrats with special tastes. But looking at it now, it seems I’ve mistaken you.”
Xu Yi couldn’t help rolling his eyes.
What special hobby, alright? Even if he was interested in that, would he be moved by this kid that was like a bean sprout?
“Let’s not talk about me, let’s talk about why you came to my house first, alright?” Xu Yi snappily asked back, “How did you know where I live? Moreover, if you felt that I was some kind of pervert, why are you still here? Moreover, what is the meaning of you making food for me?”
“You really have a lot of questions.” Still mumbled, “Thanks to you, I have already finished the model piano. I came to ask you out to treat you to dinner, but I never would have thought I would see you asleep. Seeing how tired you were, I couldn’t bear to wake you up. Thinking about it, I just chose to make you dinner. How about it? Looking at how messy your place is, no one should have ever come here to make you dinner before, right? Aren’t you very grateful to me?”
Still was as pretty as a flower and adding in that charming and cute smile, it made Xu Yi’s eyes light up and he couldn’t help being stunned.
“Eh…..I say, you wanted to treat me to a meal, but you used my ingredients and my cookware, isn’t this a little too economical?”
“Che, I personally made food for you, this is something that even my grandfather rarely enjoys. It should be enough to satisfy you.” Still gave a cold snort and pointed at the room inside, “Go and call the little girl out to eat. Although she shouldn’t eat with us based on her slave status, I can see that you don’t treat her as a slave.”
“Of course, there shouldn’t be things like slaves in this world anyway.” Xu Yi gave a sigh and shook his head before heading to the room.
Hearing the sigh Xu Yi unconsciously gave, Still was a bit stunned. Her eyes lit up a bit as she watched Xu Yi walking away.
“That’s right, Xu Yi, other than coming here to treat you to a meal to show my gratitude, I have something else to tell you about.” While they were eating, Still suddenly spoke.
“Un? What is it? It can’t be that I’ve taken too many days off during this time and Great Magician Camilla is dissatisfied, so he’s firing me, right?” Xu Yi asked in an uncaring voice.
“Psh, who wants to fire you?” Still glared at him before pointing at Xu Yi and saying, “Let me tell you, grandfather likes you quite a bit. Although you rejected being his apprentice, he says that your talent in magic is quite high and you always have some kinds of new thoughts. Keeping you in the Magic Tower will give him some inspiration, so how could he be willing to let you go?”
“Then that’s good. If it’s not firing me, what else does he need you to tell me?”
“Listen well. Xu Yi, although I don’t know why you don’t care about raising your magic power that much, I have to seriously tell you that since you are already a magician, your rank means everything on the Sines Continent.” Still’s face became incomparably serious, it could be seen that she was very serious about this, “Also, in less than three months is the Magicians Guild’s annual certification exam. Grandfather as a Magicians Guild recognized Three Star Great Magician, he has three recommendation spots and he’s decided to give you one. He will recommend you to participate in the certification exam. Do you understand what this means?”
Xu Yi honestly shook his head, “I don’t understand.”
Still couldn’t keep her serious expression and she was breathless from her anger, as she shouted, “You idiot! You don’t even understand this? If it is someone recommended by a Great Magician, the Magicians Guild will be more relaxed during the exams. This means that with this recommendation, you will pass the qualification certification exams much easier than normal magicians!”
“And then? Becoming a magician whose rank and strength doesn’t match?” Xu Yi asked back.
Still was stunned, not being able to say anything for a while.
This was because she suddenly found that she couldn’t refute the meaning in Xu Yi’s question at all.
Seeing Still’s dumbfounded expression, Xu Yi revealed a faint smile. He reached his hand out towards Still, “Give it to me.”
“Give you what?” Still asked in a daze.
“The thing representing the recommendation? I can’t just run to the Magicians Guild and tell them that Great Magician Camilla recommended me, hoping that they would believe me, right?”
Still asked in a daze, “Don’t you not want this recommendation?”
“Who told you I didn’t want it?”
“But you just said……”
“I did say that, but that doesn’t mean I’m not clear on the meaning of this exam.” Xu Yi said with a smile, “I am twenty seven years old today, that doesn’t mean I’m a child with ideal thoughts like you. How could I give up convenient things and not know how to use them? Then again, this is Great Magician Camilla’s…...Un, and your goodwill. If I rejected it, wouldn’t it be a waste of your goodwill?”
Still looked at Xu Yi in a daze for a while before suddenly slapping the table and standing up. She angrily threw a sentence back at him, “You’re the child!”
After saying this, she didn’t even look back as she left.
Watching Still disappear, Xu Yi shook his head with a lost smile.
“It seems like that’s her taboo word, I can’t say it that easily in front of her in the future.”
He turned back to see the little slave on the side looking at him in a daze, with a helpless look on her face. Xu Yi revealed a faint smile and asked her, “Sorry, I’ve been busy these days and never had time to properly talk you to. How is it? Are you used to staying here?”
The little slave shook her head first, but after thinking about it, she gave a strong nod.
Xu Yi slightly knit his brows, “You….can’t speak?”
The little slave nodded.
“What does that mean? Can you speak or not?”
The little slave slowly opened her mouth and after a while, she said a few syllables, “Can…..speak……”
Based on the stuttering syllables that came with her hoarse voice, it seemed like she hadn’t spoken in a long time. At least she wasn’t that skilled at talking right now.
Xu Yi thought about it and scooped some meat soup into her bowl.
“You don’t have to be afraid in my place. Although I bought you, I don’t have any intention to treat you as a slave and I won’t hit you, so you can be assured.”
The little slave looked at the bowl of meat soup and gave a soft nod.
“I…..I…...know, you…..are…...a good person.”
“Ha, I’ve been given a good guy card.” Xu Yi gave a soft laugh, “That’s right, what is your name? I never asked.”
“Viv…...Vivian……”
“Vivian? That is a good name.” Xu Yi praised. Seeing the pained look that quickly passed on the little slave face, he knew that this name had brought up some painful memories for her. He shook his head and didn’t ask anything else.
He knew that this little slave’s life must have been hard before and it caused serious trauma on her. If he wanted her to speak openly, he could only slowly put in effort and couldn’t rush it.
After they finished eating, the little slave took the initiative to put away the dishes. Xu Yi thought about it and didn’t stop her.
Letting her do some things now would make it easier for her to integrate into her new life. This was actually a good thing for her.
After doing a few exercises, Xu Yi headed into the workshop again.
The Magic Capping Machine and the Magic Thread Rolling Machine had already been made, that meant they could officially begin producing the second generation Magic Fans. But right now, Xu Yi still had many other problems he had to solve first.
Although there were only three more speeds compared to the first generation Magic Fan, there were many complicated changes needed for the Magic Array and the Magic Fan’s structure, so there was quite a bit of data to calculate.
There were many things that he couldn’t let other people do because right now, he was the only person that was skills in Magic Arrays and mechanical engineering. Not to mention that he was the only person that could use both perfectly.
“Talented people are hard to obtain.” Thinking of the sea of problems he needed to solve, Xu Yi couldn’t help giving a long sigh.
If this world had as many talents who received higher education and a complete knowledge system like on earth, his work wouldn’t be this hard.
But thinking about it, if the Sines Continent had as many talents as on earth, Xu Yi couldn’t rely on basic technology like the Magic Fan to earn this large amount of money.
“So called, one can’t have a fish and a bear paw together.”
Xu Yi shook his head with a bitter smile. When he was prepared to focus on his research, a tray suddenly appeared beside him.
Seeing the steaming tea on the tray, Xu Yi said with a faint smile, “Vivian, you don’t need to care about me, go and sleep.”
Vivian placed the teacup beside Xu Yi before lowering her head and softly saying, “Serving…...master is…..my responsibility.”
Xu Yi smiled and didn’t keep trying to persuade her as he turned to continue working.
Vivian at first stayed at Xu Yi’s side while cautiously lowering her head, but after a while, she looked up at Xu Yi’s work with a curious look on her face.
This new master, he really is much better to her compared to her old master.
Only why did he have to work so hard?