"Remember the word 'rooster.' You can read it now, but you also need to be able to write it. So you must learn not only to read, but to write too. Remember it well..."
Changing the subject, Tang Wen tapped again, and a dam ten stories high appeared on the whiteboard.
"This is a dam. Here is how you write the word 'dam'..." Below it, the whiteboard displayed the method of writing it.
A hand wrote on paper while an animation demonstrated the strokes on the whiteboard.
"Master, how do you operate this contraption?" Gu Hanyan blurted out.
"I'll teach you slowly tonight. It isn't something you can learn in a moment. Later, you, Shifeng, Dongwen, Zi Yun, and the others will learn from me. You need to learn how to operate this Mechanical Television," Tang Wen said.
Afterward, Gu Hanyan and Zhan Shifeng divided them into two classes, teaching them to recognize characters using the illustrations in the textbook.
Paper and pens were also distributed so they could practice as they learned. The language textbook Tang Wen had commissioned was a crash course covering over two thousand commonly used characters.
The people Zhan Dongwen had selected already had some foundation. If they learned several dozen characters every day, they should be able to complete the crash course in about two months.
As for how well they wrote, no requirements would be imposed for the time being.
"Learn from your two teachers. I have a requirement to set here.
"If anyone can recognize these two thousand-plus characters within half a month and has a basic ability to write them, I'll reward you with a hundred taels of silver.
"Learn them within a month, and you'll receive fifty taels.
"Within two months, thirty taels. If you still haven't learned them after two months...
"Then, sorry, but get out. You're expelled from the school," Tang Wen said.
"Master, I already recognize five hundred characters in this book. I guarantee I'll learn them all within half a month," Zhao Du said.
"I recognize three hundred too. I should be able to learn them within a month," Bu Feng said.
"I'll definitely learn them within two months. I'm going to get those thirty taels," Li Si said, his face resolute.
"Master, they already know some characters. If they all learn them within half a month, you'll have to pay out ten thousand taels of silver. That's far too much," Zhan Junru said worriedly on their way back.
"That would be even better," Tang Wen said with a smile.
"I can learn them too. Will there be a reward for me, Master?" Zhan Junru asked.
"If you learn them within half a month, I'll reward you with two hundred taels." Tang Wen playfully pinched her chin and smiled.
"No. You're so good to me, Master. I can't cause you more trouble." Zhan Junru shook her head.
"Silly girl! The more you learn, the happier I'll be. I don't want the maids around me to know nothing, helping count the money even after someone sells them off. There will be a reward-a generous one," Tang Wen said.
"I'll learn every last one and show you, Master." Beaming, Zhan Junru ran back to her class.
Gu Hanyan did not return until after one in the morning.
"Why are you back so late?" Tang Wen asked.
"They surrounded me and wouldn't let me leave. My throat's dry from all the talking. It's all because of your hundred taels," Gu Hanyan said wearily, her tone irritated.
"Remember from now on that they still have work tomorrow. No one is allowed to stay past ten.
"Otherwise, they won't be able to get up tomorrow, and it'll only delay the dam project.
"Make sure you tell Zhan Shifeng too. Say it's a strict order from me, and no one is to disobey," Tang Wen said sternly.
"Then when will you teach me to use the Mechanical Television?" Gu Hanyan asked.
"How about we sit on the bed while I teach you?" Tang Wen gave a dry chuckle.
"Just look at you!" Gu Hanyan rolled her eyes beautifully.
"Then forget about learning!" Tang Wen lay down on the bed.
"No, you have to teach me." Growing anxious, Gu Hanyan reached out to pull Tang Wen up.
"I can teach you. Lie down over here, and big brother will show you." Tang Wen smiled smugly.
"Thump!" Suddenly, he felt his body drop, and Gu Hanyan yanked him clean off the bed and sent him flying onto the sofa.
"My savage girlfriend!" Tang Wen cursed angrily.
"Master, what does 'girlfriend' mean?" Zhan Junru could not help asking from beside them.
"Heh heh, a man's female companion. Actually, it means a lover's mistress," Tang Wen said with a dry laugh.
"You Tang fellow, if you dare spout any more nonsense, I'll snip your mouth to shreds," Gu Hanyan said angrily.
"Insolence!" Tang Wen's face darkened as he pointed at Gu Hanyan. "Go fetch water for my feet. Your master wants to wash them."
"Master, I'll go," Zhan Junru said meekly.
"I meant her, not you," Tang Wen said fiercely.
Gu Hanyan said nothing. Fuming, she brought over a basin of water, then crouched down to wash Tang Wen's feet.
"Dry them!" Tang Wen raised a wet foot and pressed it against Gu Hanyan's face, splashing water all over her.
Tears welled in Gu Hanyan's eyes from anger, but she said nothing. She reached for a towel and carefully dried Tang Wen's feet.
Once his temper had run its course, even Tang Wen felt he had gone too far. He could not help sighing. "Forget it. I know you're unwilling to serve me. I, Tang Wen, won't force anyone. Go to the accounts office tomorrow and collect a hundred taels of silver. You can leave Su Mei Island."
Having said that, he opened the safe, took out Gu Hanyan's indenture, and tore it to shreds.
"M-Master, I'm sorry. I... sometimes I can't stand some of the things you do.
"Sometimes you're too frivolous and don't respect us women, so I can't help myself.
"But please rest assured, Master. You saved me, and I'm not someone who fails to repay kindness.
"I won't leave. At the very least, not now.
"I'll serve you well and make you comfortable. If you want to scold me, then scold me." Gu Hanyan knelt down and cried, her shoulders shaking with sobs as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"I know you're keeping many secrets in your heart. If you trust me, tell me, and let's see whether I can help." Tang Wen brought over a handkerchief and wiped the tears from her face.
"No... no, no... I can't." Gu Hanyan shook her head gently.
"You still don't trust me," Tang Wen said.
"I don't want to bring harm upon you. At least, you don't have the ability to help me yet. Although you're a Count, my enemies are far too powerful," Gu Hanyan said through her tears.
"We can face them together," Tang Wen said, reaching out to lift her gently into his arms before sitting on the sofa.
This time, Gu Hanyan did not resist. She let Tang Wen hold her and curled up in his arms, sobbing her heart out.
"Sister, please stop crying. You're making me want to cry too." Zhan Junru's eyes reddened, and tears began flowing from them as well.
"Master... I..." Only then did Gu Hanyan realize she had lost her composure. Blushing with embarrassment, she quickly buried her face against Tang Wen's chest.
"All right, it's too late. Both of you should go back to bed. Hanyan, I'll teach you how to operate the Mechanical Television tomorrow." As he spoke, Tang Wen gently set Gu Hanyan down on the sofa.
"Master, I've realized how clever you are. You have so many marvelous things," Gu Hanyan said.
"Oh!" Tang Wen felt wonderfully smug inside, though his face remained calm.
"Look at that language textbook. It's so marvelous.
"The characters are paired with pictures, so you can understand them at a glance.
"And there are lessons too. For example, 'waiting by a tree stump for rabbits' teaches such a good lesson.
"And that one about covering your ears to steal a bell-the man covered his own ears while stealing the bell. He was so stupid," Gu Hanyan said.
"Heh heh heh." Tang Wen could only laugh foolishly, pleased with himself. He turned, opened a case, and pulled out a book to hand to her. "This is Dream of the Red Chamber. Take it back and read it carefully. I'm sure you'll be enchanted."
Of course, Tang Wen had also converted this book into seal script and specially printed it out.
"M-Master, may I read it too?" Zhan Junru asked innocently.
"Of course. If there are characters you don't understand, just ask Hanyan to teach you," Tang Wen said with a smile.
"Thank you, Master. I'm so happy." Zhan Junru immediately grew excited. The two women hurried back to their room, presumably to read Dream of the Red Chamber through the night.
The next morning, Tang Wen found that neither woman had gotten up.
He pushed open the door and saw them both fast asleep in bed. There seemed to be dark circles around their eyes, while Dream of the Red Chamber lay on the bedside table.
After breakfast, Tang Wen summoned Zhan Dongwen and gave him a drawing.
He told him to take a dozen or so people to the back mountain and clear out the cave in the silver mine.
Afterward, they would pour concrete around the entrance, because he intended to install a security door.
The cave was very spacious inside, making it a fine place for secluded cultivation.
Tang Wen was opening it up to create a private space of his own. In the future, all his secrets would be kept inside this cave.
Then he had Tang Jun carry the drone, and they set out.
They went all the way to a spot thirty-odd li from Crouching Dragon Lake, where he piloted the drone into the sky.
As the drone flew farther away and the camera zoomed in, Tang Wen suddenly froze.
To his astonishment, he discovered that Su Mei Island stretched an extraordinarily long way from north to south.
Before you continue