act31side

Three months ago...

What? The broken line is the man line, not the earth line? So it's an addled brain I'll need to worry about? Not some illness?

Ha, told you that walnut tree was planted for you. Go give it some fertilizer before it's too late!

I wouldn't say that. The broken line just means you'll face a difficult decision around the age of twenty.

But who gets to walk a path without a few twists and turns? Just let it be. The line runs much smoother after that, doesn't it?

That's right on the mark!

My family farm was ruined by Catastrophe when I was twenty-three. I didn't know how I could make a living in the city.

But I've done well enough for myself, coming with the rest of the folk to Dahuang to study agriculture and keeping in my old occupation.

Wow...

No one can predict fate. It's only a justification for what happened.

I've heard about the wonders of the Tianshis, but I didn't expect you to know so much...

A young girl like you is already a Shouye Tianshi at your age, Shu?

We all gain wisdom at our own pace. I simply pass on the knowledge that I learned sooner than others.

Remarkable, remarkable. Say...

That young man over there has been staring at you for a while... do you know him?

Ah...

A guest. Sorry, we'll talk another time.

Zuo Le, Candleholder of the Sui Regulator, here to review the development of Dahuang and matters relating to the Sui.

There are no restrictions on your daily activities, but I ask that you refrain from leaving Dahuang for the time being.

Your cooperation is much appreciated, Madam Shu.

Ah, so you're the new Candleholder I've heard so much about.

Yes.

This is just a customary review. It will not get in the way of your agricultural research. Feel free to go about your business as usual—

You're young. Do you even count as an adult yet?

What?

This place is pretty far out in the middle of nowhere. Did your journey go well? Any trouble with bandits?

A few bandits are no trouble for me.

Regarding work on the Twelve Pagodas and Five Cities, the Sui Regulator hopes that you will cooperate with the Ministry of Works to advance the project smoothly, and that you will maintain a cordial relationship with the Tianshi Bureaus.

In addition, there are some matters that require...

Oh, you can walk through the fields if you want, as long as you don't step on the crops, but you should give the Tianshis a heads up if you want to visit the factory.

I understand the scope of my work, Madam Shu. I still have...

That's the house the last Candleholder used. It's been refurnished and ready for use.

I...

That's all. Any questions?

Er... no.

Good. I have a lot to do in the fields, so I'll take my leave.

Just ask around if you need any help. People here are very friendly to visitors.

Wei!

Wei!

Excuse me, I'm on official business—

Here.

What's this? A lunchbox?

You're hungry, aren't you?

You've been standing there all day like a scarecrow. Do you even know how to get food on your own?

Oh... er, duoxie.

You like it?

Yes, it's very good...

You're just gonna eat without doing any work?

*cough* *cough*...!

Mind your manners, Grain Buds. This gentleman is a guest.

But you said everyone in Dahuang needs to sweat in the fields before they eat.

This strange boy says he's on official business, but he's not working the fields or building houses. What's he here for?

He has his own job to do.

What, like, staring?

Yes, just staring.

...Ahem.

Is there... something I can help with?

Let me think...

Do you know how to work a planting machine?

No...

I didn't think so. You don't deal with farming equipment in your line of work.

This little cube is a six-phase monitor. Use it to place pylons at appropriate locations in the fields, and we'll be able to monitor conditions zone by zone. Can you use it?

I've never touched anything like it before...

Feeding stockbeasts...?

Pfft—

Well, if you're going to be here for a while, perhaps you could learn how to do farmwork.

You could start by clearing the weeds.

Is that you, Laoshi? I—

Good timing, Xiaohe.

This is...

...a distant cousin of mine from the capital. He came to see Dahuang.

My student, He Sheng. He'll teach you.

Huh...?

...Huh?

Is this where the positioning device says the stockbeast is?

Yeah! When I blow this whistle, Mianmian will know I'm looking for him and come out.

Positioning device?

There's one on every stockbeast in Dahuang. They're not very precise, but they give us an idea of their rough location.

Every single one? There must be thousands of stockbeasts in Dahuang.

Well, we've had a lot of stray stockbeasts. The ones that the older students kept for research had a tendency to <i>elope—</i>

I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with such things.

Why did you join the army if you're a relative of Laoshi's?

No important reason, really.

Is your family all mandarins?

Why do you ask?

The way you talk, and the manner you carry yourself in general.

Not a lot of people your age around here like that, except for a few blue-blood families.

I mean no offense.

I didn't say you offended anyone.

Weird, why isn't he coming out?

Mianmian had a fight with Xiaobiar a few days ago. Is that why he ran away?

Did he get pulled in by a female again?

What?

But he likes Xiaobiar! They're always together when I take them out to the mud pond.

Not like that, Candlestick!

C-Candlestick?

I'll draw a picture of him. Memorize it, and we'll split up to look for him!

Uh... it's, er, a very good drawing...

Are you serious? I, after all the time I spent caring for the stockbeast, can barely tell it's Mianmian.

Four legs and some spots. What's so hard?