The Slender Waist-Chapter 102 - 79 Win-Win Cooperation

The curiosity of Tu Fort Master was also the curiosity of Ren Rude.

Both pairs of eyes looked over simultaneously.

Feng Yun said, "It’s a family inheritance."

Tu Fort Master nodded, "With such a divine object in Your Ladyship’s hands, why not craft it yourself to exchange for greater reward..."

In this era, one could only learn any skill or craft through apprenticeship—carpentry, smithing, medicine—all were the same.

Noble families gathered all kinds of talented individuals, each tightly guarding their own secrets, fearful of others learning and using them, yet this maiden was so generous, truly surprising those present...

Including Ren Rude.

He had brought Feng Yun to Tu Family Fort with the intention of selling a favor, to grow closer to Feng Yun.

Whether Tu Boshan would lend or sell was none of his concern now.

Unexpectedly, the lady of the Feng Family came prepared, pulling out such a divine object to garner Tu Fort Master’s admiration.

Ren Rude did not think this was Feng Yun’s personal capability, but rather he considered the Feng Family of Xuzhou to have profound resources, thereby understanding why Xiao Cheng wanted to form a marital alliance with the Feng Family.

Feng Yun was very calm, seemingly not noticing the curious or astonished looks from the surrounding men, and she smiled lightly, "An ordinary craftsman with a blueprint might not be able to create it, but the craftsmen of Tu Family Fort surely can."

She paid them an extremely high compliment.

The faces of the two craftsmen flushed with pride.

One of them said, "Back when the old master’s teacher was alive, he spoke of such divine artifacts, unfortunately, the old master had never seen one despite researching for many years to no avail..."

It was unknown if he was thinking of his master, but the old man raised his sleeve to wipe his tears.

"The appearance of such an excellent tool greatly saves manpower. Only through precise and thorough farming can a good harvest be achieved, Your Ladyship’s contribution will be remembered through the ages..."

The passion of the old craftsman was so intense that even Tu Fort Master found himself at a loss for words.

The fort claimed not to lack manpower but, in reality, they did, as sharing work among kinsfolk spawned countless conflicts and fights...

Saving trouble meant sparing hassles.

"Alright, let’s settle on this."

In the eager gaze of the two old craftsmen, Tu Fort Master immediately made his decision and agreed to collaborate with Feng Yun on the farm tools.

Feng Yun would provide the techniques and blueprints while they would supply the craftsmen and materials, splitting the costs evenly.

Moreover, Tu Family Fort sold to Feng Yun a batch of iron farming tools such as hoes, plows, rakes, as well as seeds for grains and vegetables...

Both parties were very satisfied.

Just as Tu Fort Master breathed a sigh of relief, Feng Yun suddenly spoke up.

"Before we sign the document, there is one more thing that needs to be made clear."

Tu Fort Master’s heart sank, but he maintained a smile on his face, "Your Ladyship, please speak."

Feng Yun said, "The Fort Master has seen that, as a woman, it’s inconvenient for me to come and go to your fort; hence, the farm tool workshop should be established in Huaxi Village. The staff will be provided equally by your fort and my Changmen."

Tu Fort Master nearly spit out a mouthful of blood.

Many things within the fort were unknown to outsiders, and they preferred to keep it that way.

Yet, the Feng Family lady was not secretive at all?

Tu Fort Master was very hesitant, but Feng Yun quickly persuaded him with a single sentence.

"The Tu Family has yet to register with the Ancestral Hall Department as a noble clan, have they? What was impossible in the old dynasty could be achieved in the new. With Tu Fort Master’s capability, by leaving the fort and doing more practical things for the people, how could you not gain recognition?"

The weight of her words was comparable to that of the earlier Wooden Ox Waterwheel.

Based on their ancestors’ foundation and the efforts of generations, the Tu Family Fort had managed to preserve its power amidst the tumultuous changes of dynasties, but the undeniable truth was that each generation was weaker than the last.

Especially since they occupied Tu Mountain, over time they came to resemble kings of the mountain, and as the clan’s children gradually drifted from the recognition of noble families, they remained unregistered as such with the Imperial Court...

New dynasty or old,

If he, Tu Boshan, could make the Ancestral Hall Department acknowledge them, he would be establishing his legitimacy and honoring his ancestors.

Feng Yun was not surprised that Tu Fort Master would agree; once he had someone draft the contract and both sides pressed their handprints on it, she then bowed and added another word.

"The Fort Master is straightforward in his dealings, and I have yet another small request."

Another?

Tu Fort Master’s eyelids twitched violently.

He had seen that although this Feng Family lady appeared gentle and kind, she was incredibly shrewd inside, unwilling to suffer any loss.

Offering a divine artifact for nothing, you would definitely want to get something back in return before being content.

"Let’s hear your thoughts, Lady,"

Feng Yun glanced at the guards outside the gate.

"I would like to purchase a batch of weapons from the Fort Master,"

Tu Fort Master: ...

How could this lady say such a thing?

Coming empty-handed, in poverty and destitution, asking for this and that, and now for weapons?

Indeed, women are shortsighted, not afraid of narrowing their own path...

Seeing his difficulty, Feng Yun smiled, "Likewise, I won’t let the Fort Master suffer a loss."

Tu Fort Master stroked his beard, "What do you mean, Lady?"

Feng Yun glanced at Ren Rude who was all ears, and said lightly, "To make profitable weapons, one needs good iron. The current iron forging involves layering raw and refined iron multiple times, but I have a better method that can remove impurities and forge even better iron, which naturally can be used to make divine weapons..."

Having heard only this much, the Tu Fort Master already felt his heart racing with excitement.

For every fort, agriculture is the norm, but the combat power of armed villagers is the barrier that has protected the fort’s prosperity for centuries. Otherwise, the Tu Family Fort wouldn’t bother with raising so many craftsmen and establishing research guilds.

Such a pie from the sky, anyone who wouldn’t eat it is a fool.

Tu Fort Master even got up from his seat and bowed to Feng Yun.

"With your talent, Lady, our Tu Family Fort dares not refuse."

The two sides agreed on the timing and details and signed another contract.

This time, Tu Fort Master personally escorted Feng Yun out of the fort gates, watching her donkey cart disappear into the distance before he turned back, excitedly rushing to tell Lady Tu.

"Our Tu Family Fort is going to prosper."

-

Only after getting far from the Tu Family Fort did Ao Qi ask with dissatisfaction, "Lady, why did you give such benefits to the Tus?"

He had been silent in the fort, and everyone thought he was just Feng Yun’s guard, not giving it much thought. Ao Qi also diligently played the part of a member of the fort. But he watched with open eyes as Feng Yun, with such extraordinary skills, sought cooperation with a fort, feeling both heartache and confusion.

Feng Yun smiled, "This is a win-win cooperation."

Ao Qi disagreed, "Lady, you could clearly cooperate with the Imperial Court. Even if you offered it to the Great General, you could get more."

Feng Yun smiled again, "One should repay even the smallest favor with a gushing spring."

This statement seemed baffling. Since Ao Qi had not lived in Andu County before, he did not understand Feng Yun’s connection with the Tu Fort Master. He wanted to ask but, seeing Feng Yun with closed eyes looking very tired, he shut his mouth.

Of course, Feng Yun would not share her thoughts with him.

General Pei was her reliance for now, but Jin Country behind him was not.

In the future, she did not know if Pei Jue would turn against her one day...

Always good to keep a trump card for oneself, to ensure all bases are covered.

And the Tu Family Fort...

In her previous life, when Pei Jue sent her from Central Capital back to Andu, fearing an assassination by Li Sangruo’s Imperial Cavalry Division, she lived in constant turmoil. At that time, it was Ren Rude who took her up the Tu Mountain.

It was Tu Boshan, the Castle Master of the Tu Family Fort, who had sheltered her.

During the time she waited for Xiao Cheng’s people to come take her back to Nanqi, she lived at the Tu Family Fort for a whole month.

Tu Boshan did not regard her as Pei Jue’s cast-off wife like the others in Andu County; instead, he treated her with good food and drinks. The character of the other people in the fort was also fairly decent. They were not a mob; with a foundation of family teachings, they were simple and kind-hearted. The Fort Master’s wife was especially gentle; seeing her crying, she empathized with Feng Yun like an elder, making fond memories that often reminded Feng Yun of her deceased mother...

A month’s worth of goodwill was worth it.

Lady Tu, even more so.

Of course, her actions were not just a repayment of kindness; she had other plans in mind.

In tumultuous times, it was not bad to befriend some fort powers.

Her future plans also involved leaning towards the direction of the forts: having fields to cultivate meant having food; with food, she could support more troops; to maintain troops, better weapons were needed...

Everything had to start from scratch, slowly building up until she had her own power base.

Otherwise, a beautiful face would only bring endless disasters.

The words "Beauty is a curse" were deeply etched in Feng Yun’s mind; she dared not forget them.