Chapter 73: A New Beginning (Part 2)
Wen Weilan seemed afraid that Liu Sheng would refuse, and her usually calm face showed a hint of nervousness.
Without waiting for Liu Sheng to reply, she continued, "You're doing well at the Weaving Institute right now, it's stable and leisurely, with food and lodging provided, and you're a Tang Country civil servant. You could comfortably work until you retire to the fields. Now, suddenly asking you to start another business with me, you definitely wouldn't want to."
"But I know you're short on money."
Wen Weilan directly pointed out Liu Sheng's biggest pain point.
"You've been frequenting the Spirit Pill Pavilion and Baibao Hall recently, and your expenses are quite high."
"I think you must be trying something."
Wen Weilan glanced at Liu Sheng's unnatural expression and apologized, "I'm sorry, I investigated you without your permission."
"After all, the Ghost Qi Detector you made is so much more advanced than the Weaving Bureau's technology, it's impossible not to pay attention."
"So after that, I became very curious about you and looked into your background."
"You entered Hanshan Academy with the top score in the prefectural examination, with a resilience and Comprehension Ability above ninety, and were always the chief Disciple of the Tiangong Department."
"You entered the Li County Weaving Institute with the top score in the written exam, serving as Siku and a researcher in the Alien Research Department, highly regarded by the Yuan Zheng. I had someone find the analytical documents you submitted in Li County, and it's clear that your understanding goes far beyond what's on paper."
"Moreover, you wrote an analytical theoretical article that could serve as the opening chapter of 'cultivation theory.' Just based on that, I knew you could do much more than just upgrade Ghost Qi Detectors."
Upon hearing this, Liu Sheng's heart skipped a beat, and she couldn't help but admire Wen Weilan. She truly lived up to her former title of Miss Wen, with extraordinary insight.
Wen Weilan continued, "In reality, with your ability and resume, plus your rare dual-ninety attributes, even if you can't reach divinity, you are more than capable of going to Chang'an, whether to the Weaving Bureau or the Ministry of Works."
"But now you are just a Menshi in a subordinate institution of the Weaving Institute, which is truly a waste of your talent."
When Wen Weilan learned that Liu Sheng was now a Menshi, she truly couldn't believe it.
It wasn't that she looked down on Menshi, but rather that Liu Sheng wasn't suited for it. Her personality was simple and straightforward, and she wasn't as outgoing and sociable as the other Menshi. The work of constantly dealing with guests and welcoming and seeing people off was truly difficult for Liu Sheng.
If she were in the right position, Liu Sheng could accomplish much more, perhaps even things that could change the Tang Country.
Wen Weilan, like her grandfather, greatly admired Liu Sheng's abilities and deeply regretted her current situation, which sparked her desire to recruit her. The difference was that she had more time to investigate Liu Sheng, and her understanding was much deeper.
However, before she could recruit her, she lost her cultivation, and without the support and resources of her Family, she almost lost her fighting spirit.
Now, having experienced imprisonment, she had reached the lowest point of her life.
Yet, even though her spiritual essence was stolen, the Wen Family still arranged for someone to warn her in prison that she must never reveal who harmed her, or they would not let her go.
Everyone said that her high-profile actions led to her own downfall and being possessed by a weird object, and that she was a detestable murderer.
She had never felt so wronged in her life.
Wen Weilan had already sworn in prison that she would seize every opportunity to rise again.
Moreover, she had a premonition that her opportunity lay with the woman before her.
"Furthermore, I've heard that your Ghost Qi Detector was not meant to be sold secretly like this, but was actually planned for nationwide promotion." Wen Weilan calmly revealed a shocking piece of news.
Liu Sheng frowned: "What do you mean?"
"Zhang Chunxue, the Censor who inspected the Li County Weaving Institute, reported to the Weaving Bureau as soon as he returned to Chang'an that Siku Liu of Li County had developed an improved Ghost Qi Detector that should be promoted, and suggested making the Ghost Qi Detector available to the public so that people could purchase it themselves to avoid weird objects dangers."
"But someone stopped it." A cold smile touched Wen Weilan's lips.
"Why?" Liu Sheng had always wondered why the Ghost Qi Detector was not promoted among the common people, and was only available for use within the Weaving Institute system, causing many people to fall into weird objects due to lack of means to detect them.
Just like the Pear Tree Wraith in Li County, according to Liu Sheng's knowledge, it had quietly grown for so many years. Could its Guai Qi have been detected in that garden much earlier?
If the signs could have been discovered earlier, would so many people not have died?
Liu Sheng was, after all, just a small-town student. Although intelligent, she didn't know much about court affairs, and naturally lacked the political acumen to fully understand these matters.
"Perhaps the Weaving Bureau didn't want to lose its authoritative position in controlling weird objects, or perhaps they were afraid of causing panic. In short, the imperial court has its own considerations, and we can only guess." Wen Weilan shook her head.
"Of course, because of this matter, someone remembered you, and you not being highly regarded at the Qinghe Weaving Institute was also his doing."
Liu Sheng's eyes instantly sharpened: "Who is it?"
She knew it!
She was so intelligent and capable, how could no one have discovered her talent? It led to her offering her services to the Alien Research Department several times with no follow-up, even though many researchers in the Qinghe Alien Research Department hadn't even published articles.
"The current Minister of Works, Ling Fu."
"Ah?"
Wen Weilan named someone Liu Sheng had heard of, but never imagined could be connected to her, a mere nobody.
Liu Sheng still remembered Zhang Yuanzheng praising Ling Shangshu profusely, even saying she resembled him somewhat.
"You don't understand, I never would have thought of it either." Wen Weilan sighed. She also hadn't expected the dignified Minister of Works to be so petty and intolerant.
"The Weaving Bureau's Ghost Qi Detector was made by him, and yet a small Siku from a small place was able to make an improved version."
"And your article that made it into 'cultivation theory' directly pointed out many shortcomings in his weird objects analysis device, and this article even received praise from the Emperor."
"You're not even twenty yet, it would be strange if he, who always prided himself as a Sky Craftsman Genius, wasn't bothered by it."
Liu Sheng had always been unaware of the intricacies, but hearing this, it indeed seemed she had offended someone terribly.
"So, whether it was his direct instruction, or the instruction of his admirers or subordinates, before you came to Qinghe, they subtly hinted to the upper echelons of the Qinghe Weaving Institute."
"For the Qinghe Weaving Institute, between a Genius who cannot reach divinity and whose future is uncertain, and a Minister of Works who is already successful and powerful, isn't it obvious which is more important?"
Wen Weilan looked at Liu Sheng with some pity, and also some worry that these words might be too much of a blow to Liu Sheng.
However, Liu Sheng calmly picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea, looking at the brocade-like peonies outside the pavilion, slowly bringing the teacup to her lips and taking small sips.
She wasn't worried that Wen Weilan would deceive her to get her to join. She knew with a thought that these things were indeed true, and only this way could it make sense.
Moreover, for Liu Sheng, it was impossible to remain a Menshi forever; she still had many things to do.
Although she hadn't yet figured out where her path should lead, she knew that she truly needed resources and funds now to continue her research.
And because she had been unable to access new weird objects, she couldn't conduct new high dimension analyses, causing her plan to further understand and improve the "world" to stagnate for a long time.
Wen Weilan's current proposal might be an opportunity.
Putting down the teacup, Liu Sheng's eyes turned to the slightly anxious Wen Weilan, and she calmly said, "Let's not talk about the house for now. Tell me more about opening a shop?"
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