Chapter 118: Square and Proper
"What do you mean?" Liu Sheng didn't quite understand.
Su Yanjun was about to continue speaking when she suddenly saw someone coming from the back hall and quickly stopped.
Liu Sheng noticed her gaze and looked back in confusion, only to see a short, stout middle-aged man standing in the hall.
"Zhao Bo." Su Yanjun recognized the person.
"Young Miss Su." Zhao Bo nodded slightly to Su Yanjun, then turned to Liu Sheng and said, "Menshi Liu, please follow me. Yuan Zheng Fang has requested your presence."
It seemed that this Zhao Bo was Yuan Zheng Fang's attendant and was highly valued, which was why he was so indifferent to Su Yanjun, who was only distantly related.
However, what was strange was that he was exceptionally respectful to Liu Sheng, who was just a small Menshi.
Presumably, Yuan Zheng Fang looking for her was also related to the Honghu Plan, and then she thought of what Su Yanjun had just said.
"Hmm... I'm afraid..."
Liu Sheng and the others all had their suspicions.
Liu Sheng glanced at Su Yanjun, only to see her bowing her head, not daring to look at her, and she understood.
"Please," Zhao Bo said, his words calm, but subtly revealing a strong sense of urging.
"Okay."
Liu Sheng responded and followed Zhao Bo through the Ten Thousand Affairs Hall and into the Weaving Institute.
Zhao Bo led Liu Sheng all the way, occasionally encountering others who would politely greet Zhao Bo and then look at Liu Sheng strangely.
Everyone in the Weaving Institute went in and out of the Ten Thousand Affairs Hall daily, and by now, they recognized Liu Sheng's appearance, so they were naturally curious as to why Yuan Zheng Fang would summon such a small Menshi.
After many twists and turns, they finally arrived.
The Qinghe Weaving Institute Yuan Zheng's office was not built on a small mountain like the Li County Weaving Institute; instead, it was located in the center of the Weaving Institute, convenient for official business, simple and unadorned, without even a plaque.
It was clear that Yuan Zheng Fang's handling of affairs was indeed as simple and practical as rumored.
Zhao Bo led Liu Sheng to the door, knocked, and announced, "Yuan Zheng, Menshi Liu has arrived."
A low voice sounded, "Let her in quickly."
"Yes."
Before entering the door, Zhao Bo could see Liu Sheng's apprehension and whispered, "Menshi Liu, rest assured, I congratulate you on your promotion in advance."
Liu Sheng remained silent and stepped into the room.
Yuan Zheng Fang's room was simple both inside and out, with no superfluous decorations.
Yuan Zheng Fang himself was also like this, a middle-aged man whose appearance and clothing were simple.
He was the kind of person Liu Sheng would definitely not remember if she met him outside.
At this moment, he was sitting behind a pile of documents on the desk, writing intently, and only put down his pen when he saw her enter, revealing a warm smile.
"Miss Liu, please sit."
For some reason, he didn't call her by her title, only pointed to the chair opposite the desk and invited her to sit down.
"I'm sorry, I don't have a tea set here, so I can only ask you to drink some water."
Saying that, Yuan Zheng Fang personally poured Liu Sheng a glass of plain water.
Liu Sheng did not decline, only watched quietly.
"Miss Liu, alas, it is truly my dereliction of duty. Because I have been busy with official duties before, I have not dealt with personnel matters, and such a big oversight has occurred."
Yuan Zheng Fang ignored Liu Sheng's indifferent attitude, slapped his thigh, and looked heartbroken, as if he had lost money.
"I really didn't expect that those people would be so blind as to let a talent like Miss Liu work as a Menshi in the Ten Thousand Affairs Hall!"
"Being a Menshi is also quite good, serving the people," Liu Sheng said.
"Yes, yes, yes." Yuan Zheng Fang said repeatedly, "But it's a real waste of Miss Liu's talent!"
"You don't know yet, do you? The June issue of 'cultivation theory' is about to be released, and your article is once again featured in the first article!"
Yuan Zheng Fang took out a brand new copy of "cultivation theory" and placed it in front of Liu Sheng.
Liu Sheng opened it and saw that her article, "Breadth and Depth: Research on the Technical Improvement of the weird objects Analysis Instrument," was indeed placed on the first page.
"This is a pre-print I got in advance, and I'm giving it to you as a souvenir." Yuan Zheng Fang looked proud, feeling that this must be of extraordinary significance to Liu Sheng.
"Thank you." Liu Sheng nodded and accepted it.
Yuan Zheng Fang's benevolent smile bloomed like a chrysanthemum, but his eyes were narrowed, without a hint of amusement.
"But Miss Liu is really too low-key. Why didn't you tell the Institute? If Editor-in-Chief Mei hadn't asked, I wouldn't have known there was such a talent in the Qinghe Weaving Institute!"
"Pretend! Keep pretending!"
"Are you testing me here!"
"If Miss Wen hadn't given me a heads-up, I would have almost believed it."
"Smiling without sincerity, can't you act better? It's too unfair to the audience."
Liu Sheng naturally showed no unusual reaction. Her mind was in a turmoil, but her face only showed a simple remark: "After all, I didn't know if it would pass, so I didn't dare to say much."
"You're too modest, truly too modest. Miss Liu, with such talent, there's no need to be so self-effacing." Yuan Zheng Fang laughed heartily.
"The analysis of weird objects has always been a top priority for the imperial court. The Mingyuan Emperor has long been troubled by the slow progress in weird objects analysis techniques. Now that he has obtained Miss Liu's article, he is truly overjoyed!"
Yuan Zheng Fang kept smiling, but seeing no reaction from Liu Sheng, he could only awkwardly stop laughing.
A moment of silence, two pairs of eyes met.
Liu Sheng didn't speak, wanting to see what else Yuan Zheng Fang would say.
Yuan Zheng Fang didn't speak, thinking about how to begin.
Facing such a twenty-year-old young lady, and one who was indeed exceptionally talented, it was somewhat difficult to speak.
After a moment of consideration, Yuan Zheng Fang still took the initiative to speak: "Ahem, I see you found Mr. Zhang Chunxue to recommend you for the Honghu Plan, didn't you?"
"Going in circles, is it finally getting to the point?"
"I'm so bored, I just played a game of Go."
"I bet he'll still beat around the bush. If I lose, I'll lose a strand of hair."
"If you lose hair, isn't that me losing hair?"
Liu Sheng smoothed her hair and nodded noncommittally: "Yes, Yuan Zheng Fang. Is there a problem?"
Yuan Zheng Fang was waiting for Liu Sheng to say this, slapped his thigh, and said with a look of regret, "Alas, it's a big problem!"
"You don't know, this Honghu Plan is different from the one during the Mingyuan Emperor's era centuries ago, where everyone could participate. To avoid the National Academy's personnel expanding too much, it's implementing a recommendation system, where organizations at all levels throughout Tang Country recommend talents to participate."
"So, even though you received Mr. Zhang Chunxue's recommendation, this spot still has to come from our Qinghe Weaving Institute."
"It's just that Mr. Zhang Chunxue didn't inform us earlier. Alas, isn't this awkward?"
Yuan Zheng Fang sighed heavily.
Liu Sheng still watched quietly, not speaking.
Yuan Zheng Fang, being stared at by Liu Sheng's clear eyes, continued unhurriedly: "We, well, we already decided in April to recommend Cultivator Feng Jingyun from the Special Research Department for advanced studies in the Honghu Plan."
"So, according to the first-come, first-served principle, Cultivator Feng must go." Yuan Zheng Fang looked at Liu Sheng with a profound gaze. Although he was smiling, his tone conveyed an undeniable certainty.
"Has Cultivator Feng's recommendation been submitted? When?" Liu Sheng only asked one question.
Yuan Zheng Fang's smile deepened even further.
"Yes, it's been submitted, just this morning."