Chapter 305

Jiang Xiaoxiao shook her head, thought for a moment, and then said, "Mother, is my talent really that poor? I absorbed such a large second-tier crystal core, yet my ability hasn't improved even a little bit..."

Jiang Wei: "..."

It was rare for Jiang Xiaoxiao to see such a silent and speechless expression on her mother's face.

"In just over half a year, going from zero to nothing, crossing from an ordinary child to a third-tier ability user... If even your talent is considered poor..." Jiang Wei looked at her with a wooden face, "then Mother and some of her old friends would be ashamed to death."

Jiang Xiaoxiao: "..."

Was she really that amazing?

But, other than being able to release some ability water, she didn't have any other powers; she wasn't at all as powerful as described in novels.

The protagonists in those novels could destroy the world in seconds after gaining abilities, killing zombies as easily as cutting tofu, but as for her, she got out of breath just from running.

"Alright, don't overthink it. Breaking through from a third-tier to a fourth-tier ability is not as easy as you imagine; it requires great patience and perseverance." Jiang Wei soothingly patted the top of her head, "Many of Mother's old friends, even with a large supply of crystal cores for training, were stuck at this step for a long time... Compared to them, you are already considered very excellent."

"Mm, I understand." Jiang Xiaoxiao nodded her little head and said in a milky voice, "Then I will work even harder to train in the future and strive to reach a fourth-tier ability."

As the mother and daughter talked, they arrived at the soap workshop without realizing it.

At the entrance, Liu Dahong was nodding off with his chin resting on his hand, and the place where he usually kept firewood was empty.

He was responsible for the task of purchasing firewood for the soap workshop and stood guard at the soap workshop every single day without fail.

But recently, no one had come to sell firewood, and Liu Dahong was so bored while waiting, and the weather was too cold, so he couldn't help but doze off.

Jiang Wei walked up and tapped the table with her finger.

Liu Dahong woke up with a start. As soon as he looked up, he saw Jiang Xiaoxiao looking at him with a smile, and he couldn't help but scratch his head in shame: "S-sorry, I was really a bit sleepy, so I couldn't help it..."

"Big Brother Dagang, has no one come to sell dry firewood recently?" Jiang Xiaoxiao looked at the few small piles of firewood scattered beside him; there weren't as many as before.

"Yes." Liu Dahong nodded, "Two came yesterday, and no one has come this morning yet."

"The weather is getting colder, and everyone is saving it for home use, so naturally, there won't be any extra firewood to sell to us." Jiang Wei said calmly, "Dagang, clean up. Tell the villagers that starting from today, the soap workshop will no longer purchase firewood."

"Mm, okay." Liu Dahong was very obedient; he began to tidy up the tables and stools placed there, then picked up the firewood on the ground and put it into the thatched shed nearby.

Jiang Xiaoxiao followed his gaze and saw the two thatched sheds next to their soap workshop, which were filled to the brim with firewood.

There was quite a lot; this storage amount should be enough to last through this winter.

After Liu Dahong finished cleaning up and closed the shed door, he was just about to leave when Jiang Wei called out to him again: "Dagang, from now on, your task is to patrol around the soap workshop and help me keep an eye on things. The wages will be the same as before, is that okay?"

"Ah? T-this, this is just keeping a slight eye on the soap workshop, it's not worth that much in wages..."

Liu Dahong had just wanted to decline when he was interrupted by Jiang Wei's unquestionable words: "Alright, it's settled then. We still have things to do, let's go inside and take a look first."

Jiang Wei took Jiang Xiaoxiao's little hand and entered the soap workshop.

In the five bungalows of the soap workshop, everyone was working busily and enthusiastically. Seeing Jiang Wei come to inspect, they worked even harder, and not a single person dared to slack off.

Jiang Wei's gaze slowly swept over the people working hard in the soap workshop and finally landed on Wu Sanshen.

Wu Sanshen seemed to sense it; she quietly raised her head to look at Jiang Wei, but unexpectedly met Jiang Wei's scrutinizing gaze directly.

Wu Sanshen's heart trembled. She hurriedly lowered her head and worked non-stop with her hands and feet, pretending to be very busy.

"Wu Sanshen, come out for a moment." Jiang Wei spoke up.

Wu Sanshen's body clearly shook. She raised her head and managed to squeeze out a smile on her face: "Xiaoxiao's mother, is, is there something the matter?"

"You'll know once you come out." Jiang Wei only dropped this sentence lightly, and then led Jiang Xiaoxiao out of the soap workshop.

Wu Sanshen had no choice but to follow tremblingly.

Jiang Wei chose a sheltered spot behind the soap workshop to stand still, and Wu Sanshen braced herself and came before her.

"What exactly is the matter, Xiaoxiao's mother? I haven't finished my work yet, I can't afford to be delayed." Wu Sanshen feigned calmness and smiled on the surface, pretending to be relaxed.

Jiang Wei said straightforwardly: "The people from the Zhao Family came to find you, didn't they."

Although this was a question, the certainty in her words was obvious.

The smile on Wu Sanshen's face could no longer be maintained, and she said with a stiff expression: "The, the people from the Zhao Family did indeed come to find me... but I didn't tell them anything, I swear!"

"What did the people from the Zhao Family ask you?" Jiang Wei didn't believe her words but directly clarified, "Did they ask you about the soap formula?"

"They didn't ask me about the formula, but..." Wu Sanshen began to stutter, her eyeballs rolling around wildly, "They only asked me what work I do in the soap workshop every day, who is in the soap workshop, and what specific work these people do..."

Listening to Wu Sanshen's words, Jiang Xiaoxiao's face gradually darkened.

The purpose of the Zhao Family asking these questions was obvious.

If they couldn't get the formula, they wanted to deduce the soap-making method by speculating on what kind of work the workers in the soap workshop did every day... What a good tactic.

Unfortunately, it was all in vain for them to ask.

"Is everything you said true?" Jiang Wei narrowed her eyes slightly, sizing up the Wu Sanshen in front of her.

Wu Sanshen nodded like a chicken pecking at rice: "Xiaoxiao's mother, my words are absolutely true. If you don't believe me, you can find others to ask. The people from the Zhao Family didn't just come to me to ask questions; they also found other people in the soap workshop."

"I see." Jiang Wei's gaze swept past her lightly and looked at the busy crowd in the soap workshop, "I will decide on this matter later. Now I have another matter to find you for. When spring comes next year, I will need to recruit more hands for this soap workshop. I heard that you still have two daughters at home who are also diligent. Do you have any intention of letting them come to my soap workshop to work?"

"Ah? T-this, I'm afraid this is..." Wu Sanshen, contrary to her usual behavior, didn't agree immediately but became somewhat hesitant.

"What's wrong, you don't want to?" Jiang Wei's slightly narrowed eyes emitted a piercing light, making Wu Sanshen unable to help but lower her head.

"Xiaoxiao's mother, it's not that I don't want to, but my two daughters are also going to be married off next year, so I really can't spare the time..."