Ch. 61Gengxin City: A Crushing Advantage in Thought Across the Ages
Key Plot Points and Events
- Zhao Linchuan, Zhu Zhuqing, and Yang Wudi arrive at Gengxin City, headquarters of the Blacksmith Association.
- Zhao Linchuan meets Lou Gao's disciples, Si Long and Si Yu, who initially refuse him an audience with Lou Gao.
- Zhao Linchuan presents a mechanical pocket watch he created, impressing Lou Gao and gaining an audience.
- Zhao Linchuan shows Lou Gao a blueprint of a 'Self-Propelled Cannon,' leaving him astonished and eager to learn more.
- Zhao Linchuan reveals that the blueprint is from the ancient tome 'Treatise on Exquisite Crafts,' which he cannot easily share due to family rules.
Character Developments
- Zhao Linchuan: Shows his genius in craftsmanship and his calm, collected demeanor, even when faced with Lou Gao's shock and desperation.
- Lou Gao: Demonstrates his single-minded pursuit of craftsmanship and his eagerness to learn from Zhao Linchuan.
- Zhu Zhuqing: Shows her understanding of her teacher's skills and her ability to mediate and make suggestions.
Significant Themes
- Genius vs. Experience: Zhao Linchuan's youth and genius contrast with Lou Gao's lifetime of experience and skill.
- Knowledge Sharing: The tension between keeping knowledge secret and sharing it for the greater good.
- Obsession and Dedication: Both characters' dedication to their crafts and the consequences of their single-minded pursuits.
Character Interactions
- Zhao Linchuan and Lou Gao: Their interaction highlights the tension between a genius with ancient knowledge and a skilled craftsman eager to learn.
- Zhu Zhuqing and Zhao Linchuan: Zhu Zhuqing shows her understanding and support of her teacher's skills and decisions.
- Yang Wudi and Zhu Zhuqing: They play off each other, with Yang Wudi playing the stern guardian and Zhu Zhuqing the mediator.