Chapter 125: You Really Are a Backward Ancient

Ye Zhiqiu's eyes instantly lit up, but she remained calm and said, "Ah… this is so embarrassing."

"Please, aunt, accept it." Xiao Qidi presented the gold‑inlaid jade hairpin with both hands.

When Ye Zhiqiu took it in her hand, she saw that the hairpin was a masterpiece in both material and craftsmanship.

The jade part was a vivid emerald green, clearly the finest quality emerald, and with superb technique it was intricately carved into lifelike bird motifs.

Then, using an extremely complex gold‑thread inlay method, golden filaments were woven into cloud‑and‑flower patterns that blended seamlessly with the birds.

This is not a hairpin at all; it's a top‑grade work of art!

For a moment Ye Zhiqiu was dazed; before she transmigrated she owned all kinds of luxury jewelry and had seen many fine things.

But compared with this hairpin, everything else paled in comparison.

"The quality of the emerald is beyond question," Ye Zhiqiu couldn't help but exclaim, "the craftsmanship… is so exquisite. In our era such techniques were already lost, I never expected to see them with my own eyes."

"Hehe, Mom, you really like it, right?" Ning Jinli squeezed her eyes at her.

"Do I need to say more? Didn't you see Mom's eyes can't look away?" Ning Shan teased, "This is truly a great piece. If we took it to our world, it would surely become a national museum's prized treasure."

"Mom, let me put it on you," Ning Jinli said.

Ye Zhiqiu nodded and handed the hairpin to her daughter.

Once the hairpin was placed, Ning Jinli and Ning Shan immediately showered her with lavish compliments, even bringing a mirror for her to look at.

"Alright, alright," Ye Zhiqiu laughed brightly, scanning the mirror left and right, her cheeks flushing, "Qidi, thank you for this wonderful gift."

Seeing that she genuinely liked it, Xiao Qidi let out a sigh of relief and, subconsciously, said, "Actually this is for Jinli—"

Before he could finish, Ning Jinli hurriedly pinched his waist, stood on tiptoe, whispered into his ear in a mosquito‑like voice, "Silly, just let Mom think it's your intention, okay?"

Ye Zhiqiu looked up, puzzled, and asked, "Qidi, what are you saying?"

"He said this hairpin looks best on you, matches you perfectly, and is the most beautiful!" Ning Jinli giggled loudly.

Ning Shan watched the two young ones' reactions, sighed lightly, and muttered under his breath, "The daughter really has grown up, knows how to use a little scheming to win future mother‑in‑law's favor… why am I left out?"

"Uncle Ning," Xiao Qidi stepped before him, "I also picked out a gift for you."

Then Xiao Qidi produced another exquisite jade pendant.

Ning Jinli instantly recognized it as the Xuan Kingdom Dragon‑pattern Jade Pendant.

After all, when they first met, Xiao Qidi had given her one to trade for food, and when she tried to sell it later she was almost swindled by Wu Sanye.

Later she learned that each dragon‑pattern jade pendant is crafted by top‑grade jade artisans and each is unique.

Even the lowest‑grade dragon‑pattern jade pendants are treasures.

She remembered this clearly, so she wouldn't forget the pendant's appearance.

The general shape and carved motifs of the Xuan Kingdom Dragon‑pattern Jade Pendant have obvious characteristics, but this one looks more splendid and delicate than the one Xiao Qidi wore before.

She never expected that, after merely suggesting to Xiao Qidi to prepare two decent gifts for her parents, he would present two such fine items.

"Yo!" Ning Shan sprang up quickly, "You're being way too polite—already gave Jinli's mom such a great gift, and now you bring me a dragon‑pattern jade pendant! Wow… I've only seen such pendants on members of your royal family before, and this one is far better than any I've seen."

Xiao Qidi said, "This one was worn by my grandfather in life, and it is the finest among all dragon‑pattern jade pendants. Please, Uncle, accept it."

"Alright, alright, thank you, thank you." Ning Shan took the pendant, smiling so broadly his mouth stretched to his ears.

"Hand it over." Ye Zhiqiu extended her arm, palm up.

Ning Shan complained plaintively, "Wife, at least let me hold it warm…"

Ye Zhiqiu curled her lips, "I'll keep it for you."

"Sigh… take it, take it." Ning Shan helplessly handed the pendant to Ye Zhiqiu.

Ye Zhiqiu said brightly, "Thank you, husband, love you."

Hearing that, Ning Shan's lingering gloom vanished, his face full of happiness, "Wife, I love you too."

"Eek… my goose‑bumps are rising," Ning Jinli said, touching her arm, "You two are so cheesy; Xiao Qidi and I are still here—must you flaunt your love right in front of us?"

"What's the problem? We're not strangers." Ye Zhiqiu blurted out.

Ning Jinli's eyes lit up, "Mom, you just…"

"Successfully bought off," Ning Shan interjected.

"Alright, alright, you both sit down and eat. The meat we just set down is almost overcooked." Ye Zhiqiu scooped a large handful of meat from the boiling pot into the bowl prepared for Xiao Qidi.

"Zzz, you used to always serve me vegetables first…" Ning Shan said sourly on purpose, "Times have changed. Sigh… seems the feeling has cooled."

"You'd better stop talking and eat quickly!" Ye Zhiqiu blew on two pieces of meat, then shoved them straight into Ning Shan's mouth.

Xiao Qidi watched the scene, slightly dazed.

Ning Jinli pulled him down to sit, asking, "What's wrong? What are you thinking about?"

Xiao Qidi smiled, "Your parents' relationship is really good; I realize now… this is what a married couple's family feels like…"

"Your parents' relationship isn't good?" Ye Zhiqiu asked instinctively.

Ning Shan snapped at her.

Ye Zhiqiu then realized, hurriedly said, "Sorry, sorry, I got carried away and said something thoughtless."

"No problem," Xiao Qidi said gently, "If Uncle and Aunt are interested in my parents' matters, I'm willing to tell you."

If others mentioned his parents' relationship in front of Xiao Qidi, he would instantly turn hostile; after all those issues always touched the scars he didn't want to be brought up.

However, since being with Ning Jinli, the shadows of his childhood have been fading little by little.

Especially after interacting with Ning Jinli's parents, the ease he felt healed his heart, so in front of them he can chat without discomfort.

Afterwards, he ate hot pot together with Ning Jinli's family of three, chatting about ordinary things just like anyone else.

……

One night passed.

When the first ray of sunlight illuminated the earth, in the camp that housed the hundred‑thousand‑strong Daxuan army, soldiers, led by their commanders, had already begun drills.

Duan Wu arrived at this camp, walked up to General Zhang, and said with a smile, "Actually we could let them rest more; everyone rushed here, it's already hard enough."

General Zhang said gravely, "The great war between the two nations is imminent; we cannot be lax. Otherwise how could His Majesty be at ease?"

"Rest assured, rest assured," Duan Wu patted his shoulder and said, "His Majesty can indeed be at ease. I came to tell you that this batch of soldiers, including you, should rest for three days, do nothing, just rest, eat well, drink well, sleep well—this is His Majesty's decree."

General Zhang's face showed surprise, "Yu Guo must already be hastily preparing, yet His Majesty lets us rest three days? If we miss the opportunity, I'm afraid…"

"His Majesty has his own plan," Duan Wu looped his arm around General Zhang's neck, "Didn't you want to learn about Lin Xian Cheng last night? Stop training; I'll take you for a stroll, and have your subordinates bring the soldiers they each command to wander around as well."

"Very well, then I owe you, General Duan."

Then the two each mounted a horse and left the camp.

After a short ride, in the morning sun, the verdant rolling hills and the lush crops scattered between hills and wilderness kept coming into General Zhang's view.

General Zhang was stunned, rubbed his eyes, and struggled to speak, "Isn't this place suffering a drought? I've rushed here for days without seeing any sign of life, yet Lin Xian Cheng looks like this?"

Duan Wu pointed ahead and said, "Those saplings and crops were planted by tens of thousands of villagers here at the call of Jinli Fairy. The livestock—cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens, ducks, geese—are also juvenile animals sent by the Fairy. Look, they've all grown splendidly."

General Zhang was even more puzzled, "Where does the water come from? Is it that only Lin Xian Cheng receives rain?"

Duan Wu replied, "It hasn't rained yet. Thanks to Jinli Fairy, we've blasted a large amount of underground water, and the villagers irrigate with it, so the plants and crops aren't suffering drought. The Fairy also said that growing plants improves the environment, forming a healthy water‑soil cycle."

General Zhang listened, bewildered, "What is water‑soil cycle?"

"That…" Duan Wu scratched his head, thinking, "I don't really get the Fairy's jargon either. In short, planting many kinds of trees can make rain fall in arid places. It hasn't rained yet, but in the past half‑month the sky has repeatedly formed cloud layers, each thicker than the last. The Fairy says rain should come soon."

"Oh… I see now," General Zhang nodded vaguely.

Duan Wu continued leading him forward.

After passing one small grove after another and fields of crops, they came upon rows of houses built uniformly according to the terrain.

"This is one of Lin Xian Cheng's residential districts," Duan Wu began explaining, "Currently Lin Xian Cheng has over sixty thousand residents, living in several districts, each responsible for cultivating the surrounding hills and fields."

"Those houses are truly unique," General Zhang widened his eyes, "Tall and large, looking solid, like the walls of Lin Xian Village itself; even the mansions of officials in Royal City can't compare."

Duan Wu said proudly, "Of course. These houses are built with bricks and reinforced concrete."

"Reinforced concrete? What is that?" General Zhang's mind was nearly overloaded; one new term after another kept surpassing his comprehension.

"In any case, it's a building material—very sturdy," Duan Wu continued. "The Fairy has been sending us a steady supply, and under the guidance of Lord Ning and Ye Zhangmen, the soldiers and villagers of Lin Xian Village have erected brick‑tile houses one after another. Ye Zhangmen said these two‑ or three‑story houses are only for the early stage; when conditions improve, they'll teach us to build taller, larger houses."

General Zhang grew more shocked as he listened, about to ask where Jinli Fairy was, when he suddenly spotted thick smoke streaking toward the sky in the distance, with faint tongues of flame within.

"Bad!" General Zhang shouted, "There's a fire over there! General Duan, quickly gather men to extinguish it!"

"Hahaha!" Duan Wu laughed out loud.

General Zhang was about to turn his horse back to the camp to call for people, but seeing Duan Wu still laughing, he calmed down and tentatively asked, "Could it be… something I've never seen before?"

Duan Wu nodded, "That's right. It's far away, so I won't take you there now; I'll describe it. Beneath that area lies a large amount of oil, the thing we call stone‑oil water. General Zhang, are you familiar with it?"

"I know that," General Zhang said while pondering, "Stone‑oil water can burn and serve as fire fuel, but it's rare; I've never seen it with my own eyes."

Duan Wu, eyebrows fluttering and face animated, said:

"Jinli Fairy said that in her world, oil has far greater uses than merely burning. So Lord Ning and Ye Zhangmen led people to the oil‑rich area, and using the various novel tools the Fairy sent, they built an oil mine that will soon be operational for extracting oil."

"Additionally, they built a small natural‑gas power plant, because they said that natural gas coexists with oil and can be used for electricity generation."

"At present there's only one small power plant, its output is modest, just enough to sustain the construction of the oil mine."

"However, the Fairy also said that step by step, a large power station can be built later, and power lines can be run everywhere so our people can also have electricity."

These words left General Zhang dumbfounded again.

He stared blankly for a while, then hesitantly asked, "Is the electricity you speak of the same as the lightning during a thunderstorm?"

Duan Wu nodded, "Yes."

General Zhang's face was full of confusion, "Isn't electricity something the heavens release? Can humans generate it? Moreover, lightning is extremely dangerous; if one is struck, it kills. How can electricity be used? What is its purpose?"

"Alas, you truly are a backward person from the ancient times," Duan Wu shook his head, sighed, and then began to flaunt the knowledge he had learned, "Electricity is a form of energy that can power electrical appliances; it's an indispensable essential in the Fairy's world."

"What are… electrical appliances?" General Zhang asked again.

"Devices that require electricity are electrical appliances."

"Then what are devices that need electricity?"

"Um, how to put that…"

Duan Wu realized he couldn't explain clearly, and with a flash of inspiration pulled a Walkie‑Talkie from his waist, "This is an electrical appliance."

General Zhang stared at the Walkie‑Talkie, the bewildered look in his eyes growing more evident.

Duan Wu opened the Walkie‑Talkie, said a few "Hello" sounds, then said, "Attention, attention, in about half an hour I'll bring General Zhang to the Jinli Fairy Temple; you all prepare. Reply upon receipt!"

General Zhang looked around in confusion, "General Duan, there is no one else nearby; you… who are you speaking to?"

"Received, received!" a bright response sounded from the Walkie‑Talkie.

The voice that materialized out of nowhere startled General Zhang so much that he didn't think, instantly drew the war knife at his waist, looked around in panic, and shouted angrily:

"You damned monster! How dare you appear in broad daylight to scare people? Show yourself quickly, and I'll cut you!"