act31side

Have you ever seen a stockbeast, Candlestick?

Not often...

It's okay. You haven't seen stockbeasts, I haven't seen nomadic cities. We've all got things we've never seen before.

Have you never been outside—to other cities?

No, but I heard about them from Xiaohe.

The rice that we produce each year is sent outside. They're developing new crops so the people outside can have lots to eat.

You'll have plenty of chances.

No rush. I like this place.

Oh yeah, take a whiff of this.

Alcohol?

Rice wine soup, my favorite snack! See where the steam's rising? That's the brewery. We could stop by on our way.

So there are breweries here.

Part of the harvest is saved for brewing. The oldest batch is more than a hundred years old.

Do you drink?

I did, once, try wine made from maize leaves. It was a gift from a farmer on a mission. It had a very strong taste; almost made me gag.

He said it would warm us up, but we didn't expect it to be like that. He said they barely had enough to eat and didn't have the luxury of brewing with grain.

People out there still don't have enough to eat?

The land is vast. There are big differences between regions.

I hear something... over there?

Wow, Candlestick, you sure can jump!

We'll find Mianmian soon enough!

Our drones can fly higher than that, and we have the positioning device to help us.

No need to—

Wait, over there...

A fire?!

Three months?

Three months. This project is no small thing, and every segment needs time to ensure there are no problems. Three months is already on the optimistic side.

'Twelve Pagodas and Five Cities' isn't just a poetic quote. You know how long the... 'prototype' has simmered in the minds of the Tianshis, from generation to generation.

Of course. The first step is always the hardest.

Though I am but a humble paper-pusher, I've had the honor to study at the Tianshi Bureaus myself. My command of the Arts is a far cry from the masters in the room, of course, but I'm hardly content with sitting behind a desk and drinking tea while staring at my Tianshi apparatus.

Three months. That was how long it took us up in the north, in heavy wind and snow.

Think carefully and give me an answer. How long will it take to finish the assembly of the last two plates of Dahuang's core section?

Maybe a little more than a month, given enough energy and supplies...

There's no need to worry about energy. I have already given instructions for the supplies. Your only concern is the project's progress.

At such a distance, simply transporting supplies is a massive undertaking. Every day delayed represents a huge expenditure of money and resources.

There is no place for complacency, for the sake of the people and the hard-earned taxes they pay.

We are in the sixth month of the year now. I sincerely hope you will be reunited with your families by Mid-Autumn.

Sigh.

Sometimes you just have to ruffle the feathers a little. I'm sorry you had to see that.

Three months, in the north. You were talking about the Danyan project.

The city was closed due to heavy snow. The imperial court decided to put things on hold until conditions improved, but when the Messenger arrived...

...He found that the Tianshi in command had rammed the frozen Originium layer open with a segment of the city, rescuing tens of thousands of villagers who were trapped by wintry conditions.

The textbooks still celebrate the story, the event that took you to the position you hold today, Minister Wan. There was no need to be so humble.

You flatter me. I'm simply an engineer who worked his way slowly up the Tianshi ranks. It's not my place to hold my nose in the air.

But bringing this up is what it takes to get a bunch of stressed and overworked Tianshis to listen to me.

Seems like you're confident that construction of the Twelve Pagodas and Five Cities will progress smoothly.

Even if I'm confident, everything has been so rushed.

There can be flaws in the best-laid plans. I will be counting on your backup, in that case, Assistant Minister Ning.

That's what I'm here for.

Now, you've only just arrived in Dahuang. I assume you're not familiar with the place yet.

It may not be as prosperous as the heartland, but it is rich with gifts from the earth. The many delicacies made from local produce are a delight.

Have you had the chance to try the local <i>Wu Dou Porridge</i> porridge, for example?

I'm afraid not.

Dahuang's Wu Dou Zhou is one-of-a-kind. The five beans, Wu Dou, are red, black, mung, soy, and white.

They complement each other, but it is the local rice that truly makes the Dahuang Wu Dou Porridge stand out.

The wonderful fragrance and rich flavor of Dahuang rice elevate an ordinary bowl of porridge to the symbol of Dahuang's culinary culture.

The five beans each have their own flavor, but it is the rice that makes or breaks the dish. Cooking it is, therefore, far more than just dumping the ingredients into a pot and lighting the stove.

Heat control is the key. The five beans must not be allowed to usurp the rice at center stage, else it becomes just an ordinary bowl of grain porridge.

You really must try it, when you have the time.

I will.

On another note, how is High Minister Ning?

Grandfather is getting on in age, but he has been fortunate to avoid major illness.

Nevertheless, I hope he will be mindful of his health. Perhaps I should bring a little token when I report back to Baizao?

The thought will suffice.

Given Dahuang's ties to the Sui, I expect I will have plenty of dealings with the Sui Regulator and the Ministry of Rites.

I have long been in awe of High Minister Ning's achievements, but age spares none of us... it would be better for the High Minister to be less involved in particular matters.

If my presence here in Dahuang is unwelcome, I can certainly submit a letter to the Grand Tutor immediately.

You misunderstand. I only meant that the Ning family must be delighted you have risen to the post of Assistant Minister at such a young age, and that your grandfather must have taught you well—

Assistant Minister Wan.

Yes?

If you simply intend to say, 'The young and inexperienced Ning Ciqiu is not fit to work with the legendary Tianshi of Danyan,' you'll hear no argument from me.

But as long as we're working with one another, if you have something to say, just say it.

Stop thinking yourself clever by beating around the bush. A truly clever man would be much more amicable than you.

I will take my leave.

Water, water! Good thing the fire just started and right by the river...

Why did you start a fire by the forest?!

Arson is a serious crime!

I didn't do it on purpose! The fowlbeast that was another student's project ate my project!

All it left was an egg! I'll get my revenge by cooking the egg!

No, not revenge... I'll cook the egg in memory of my lost project! *sob*...

Enough of that crap! The fire's starting to spread! Stomp it out!

I have a hoe! We can make a control line while the winds are calm!

I'll clear away any vegetation in the back and stop the fire from spreading that way!

Phew...

*pant*...

Ugh...

Oink...

...Mianmian?

Oink!

Found you!

What are you doing here? (Whisper) Hey, tell me, do you like Xiaobiar or not?

Where did Zuo Le go? He said he was going to clear the vegetation. But I don't see him anywhere.

Did he... lose his way?

Oink...

...Should we look for him?

Oink...

Zuo—

I'm right here. I didn't find... uh... Mianmian, but I did find this pair in a nest.

Zuo Le is carrying two stockbeast foals in his robes. They are so young that they have yet to open their eyes.

You shouldn't have brought back foals so young.