Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life

Chapter 73: The Pie is Too Big, Director Zhou Nearly Chokes

Zhou Wenhai's face was lean, his gaze sharp, his nose bridge high and straight, and his lips pressed into a serious, thin line. He wasn't looking at Su Ming; his eyes were fixed on an open scroll of a book.

As long as he remained motionless, the atmosphere in the entire study solidified.

Su Ming felt as if he had walked into a fierce tiger's den. The tiger didn't even bother to look up at him, yet an invisible pressure already enveloped his entire body.

"Disciple, steady! This is him establishing dominance!" Lin Yu urgently reminded him. "The more he acts like this, the more it shows he values you. Don't panic, stick to what we rehearsed!"

Su Ming steadied his mind, stepped forward three paces, and bowed in greeting.

"This student, Su Ming, pays his respects to Director."

His voice was not loud, but his enunciation was clear, sounding exceptionally distinct in the quiet study.

Zhou Wenhai's gaze finally lifted from the book scroll and settled on Su Ming.

What kind of eyes were these?

Deep, calm, like an ancient well, bottomless. Yet they also seemed capable of piercing through a person's heart.Su Ming felt completely transparent from the inside out.

"No need for such formalities." Zhou Wenhai spoke, his tone even. "Yulin, fetch a seat for Su Ming."

"Yes."

Zhou Yulin brought over a round stool and placed it to the side of the desk.

Su Ming did not sit down immediately. Instead, he cupped his hands in salute again. "Thank you, Director."

He sat down, his back ramrod straight.

A trace of imperceptible approval flashed in Zhou Wenhai's eyes.

Neither servile nor overbearing, understanding propriety and observing decorum.

"The 'Verification Method of the Investigation of Things' you taught Yulin, he has told me all about it." Zhou Wenhai's fingers lightly tapped on the desktop, producing a steady, soft sound. "Using minute principles to glimpse the wonder of the Great Way. This method is excellent. Yulin has benefited greatly from it. For this matter, I must thank you."

Su Ming immediately stood up. "You honor me too much, Director. This student merely picked up scraps from others, a shallow insight gained by chance. Being able to exchange ideas with Brother Zhou is this student's honor."

"Master, how was that?"

"Not bad, not bad. Standard business flattery, basic operation. Keep it up."

Zhou Wenhai made a noncommittal "hmm" sound, then continued, "Besides this matter, there is another reason for summoning you today. Your policy discussion essay from the county exam, Professor Liu has also reviewed it."

He paused, seemingly observing Su Ming's reaction.

Su Ming's heart tightened.

"Professor Liu said your essay is the most pragmatic and boldest piece he has seen in his decades of teaching." A ripple of emotion finally entered Zhou Wenhai's tone. "He very much wants to meet you and ask you: where did you learn those methods for dredging silt, reinforcing dikes, and digging channels to divert water?"

Here it comes!

Su Ming knew the main topic had arrived.

"To receive such undeserved praise from Professor Liu fills this student with trepidation. This student comes from a farming family. Since childhood, I have listened to my father and brothers discuss agricultural matters. I have also been fortunate enough to read a few miscellaneous books. I merely haphazardly combined hearsay with dead theories from books, lacking any proper structure. I have made a fool of myself before you and Professor Liu."

These words were flawlessly crafted, both explaining the source of his knowledge and presenting himself as extremely humble.

Zhou Wenhai stared fixedly at him, the scrutiny in his eyes growing more intense.

A fourteen-year-old village youth, facing him, the Director of the County School, possessing such steady composure, such meticulous speech.

This absolutely could not be explained by mere "chance."

The atmosphere in the study grew heavy and tense once more.

Zhou Yulin, standing to the side, even felt a trace of pressure. He wanted to speak to ease the tension but was stopped by a glance from his father.

Su Ming knew this was his final opportunity.

If he waited any longer, the initiative would completely fall into Zhou Wenhai's hands.

if having made some kind of resolution, and

"Director!"

his was abrupt and resolute, causing both Zhou Wenhai and

forward. Besides paying respects and thanking you and Professor Liu for

eyebrows

"Oh? Let's hear it."

in this student's village, there is a real, tangible industry that might verify the words in my essay and contribute bricks and tiles to your policy of 'enriching the village and

four words "enriching the village and benefiting the

Wenhai's pupils contracted almost

immediately understood: this youth

"What industry?"

village, we have accidentally obtained a method for improving paper-making. It can use ordinary bamboo, wood, and straw as materials to produce high-quality, low-cost paper. A workshop has already been built, employing dozens of households from the entire

forward slightly—a sign he was genuinely becoming interested. "High quality and

confidence. "The paper is equal

Wenhai's gaze

fields can all be exchanged for gleaming silver ingots. If one township becomes wealthy, then five townships can become wealthy. If five townships become wealthy, then the granaries of the entire Qingshi County can

Ming's voice

Be careful

did not

you had to paint it big, paint it

it will be difficult to sustain long-term, and may even bring bloody disaster to

the audacity to earnestly request Director

ask you, in the name of the County School, to incorporate this workshop as a pilot project for 'officially supervised, privately operated.' The workshop would still be managed by the villagers. This student is willing to offer the improvement method, with the

deducting villagers' wages and costs, can be

portion will be submitted to the County School for public use,

public funds,

belong to the villagers, distributed as dividends based on

breath. The entire study was so quiet you could hear

was utterly

he stared blankly at Su Ming as if

grand vision

what an astonishing

going to... offer up a unique secret method that could generate mountains of gold, just like

did

simply looked quietly at Su Ming, storms and thunder raging in

a lifetime, experienced the vicissitudes of the official world, and seen countless extraordinary people and

had never seen

longer mere

plugging almost every loophole he could think of, and perfectly scratching his

Reputation?

was a monumental political achievement! If word reached the

Benefits?

as the Director, would naturally rise with the tide. Moreover, the four words "overseeing the accounts" held immense potential for

he would hardly have to pay any

and he could directly corral a mature, golden-egg-laying

and Su Family Village would obtain what they needed

enough to

splendid 'officially supervised, privately

long while, Zhou Wenhai slowly uttered these words, his

frail youth before him and, for the first time, placed him on

not a junior

was an equal

in one gulp?" Zhou Wenhai suddenly asked, a hint of chilling coldness entering his

seemed to

instantly seeped out on Su Ming's

knew this was the

We're betting that he's a respectable man who

his head, meeting Zhou Wenhai's gaze. A somewhat youthful but incredibly sincere

student is

"Why not?"

a true scholar." Su Ming said, word by word. "What you seek is to leave your name in history, to benefit

also believes that a living Su Ming, who will constantly think of new ideas, is more useful to you than a dead formula that

imperial examinations and become

three parts flattery, three parts confidence, and four parts a naked display

am betting on your

I am telling you that my future is worth your