Chapter 207: Liyan…… Sorry…… Sis is shameless

At home.

It was still a bustling scene.

Three women were in front of the sewing machine, stitching various summer clothes.

Basically, the preparations before opening are already ready.

Everything that needed to be prepared has been prepared.

As long as the shop's renovation is finished, we can open perfectly.

And Su's mother, being at home, actually had nothing to do.

She wanted to help tidy up a bit, but her own daughter and Wang Yulan had already tidied everything.

Indeed, there's nothing to fault.

If she wanted to help buy something… this home really lacks nothing.

"Mom, just rest."

Su Liyan looked at her idle mother beside her and smiled, pursing her lips.

After Su's mother nodded slightly, she then said:

"Will Lu Yuan come back for lunch at noon?"

Su Liyan immediately shook her head and said:

"He won't come back; Brother said he'll be busy with his new invention at the Bing Jia Chang workshop at noon and will only return in the evening."

Su's mother nodded, then said again:

"Your third uncle came home earlier and said this railway was also created by Lu Yuan, right?"

Su Liyan nodded, then said with a proud face:

"Of course, it's Brother's sole design; Mom, you haven't seen a train yet, but it's amazing—it can pull tens of thousands of tons of cargo."

Su's mother then said amusedly:

"How could I not have seen one? Our town built the railway; back then I went with your dad to have a look."

Su Liyan laughed and nodded, saying:

"My brother is amazing~"

"He can do anything~"

Su Liyan's words also made Wang Yulan and Chen Taohua nod in strong agreement.

This matter really is.

Not to mention just this courtyard; even in the entire Great Zhou Dynasty, it's hard to find a few men like him.

Of course, Wang Yulan and Chen Taohua aren't jealous of Su Liyan either, after all, there aren't many women as beautiful and servile as Sister Su in the world.

After Su's mother nodded, she suddenly asked curiously:

"Liyan… who was that other girl who came the day before? … the one who's quite pretty."

As soon as Su's mother saw Gu Qingwan yesterday, her heart skipped a beat.

That woman is truly extremely beautiful.

Especially her noble aura, which is unmatched.

Just like some officials' wives or young ladies from noble families.

Su's mother was a little worried…

While Su Liyan lowered her head to sew clothes, she pursed her lips and said:

"That's Elder Sister Wan, Gu Qingwan; her family are Imperial Relatives and Nobles, very influential, and Elder Sister Wan's father is also a high-ranking official in the Ministry of War of the court."

"The deputy commander of this southern bandit suppression campaign is her younger brother."

Hearing this, Su's mother became even more worried, and then hastily said:

"How did she get to know us?"

Su Liyan then smiled and said:

"Brother first got to know Gu Lie, that is, Elder Sister Wan's younger brother; later Brother studied a mortar and helped with this southern bandit suppression, and thus they became acquainted."

After Su's mother nodded, she then immediately said:

"Then… is the relationship between Gu Qingwan and Lu Yuan quite good?"

Su's mother had already noticed this yesterday.

Gu Qingwan doesn't talk much, but she often sneaks glances at their son-in-law.

When Gu Qingwan looks at others, her face is usually very indifferent, showing little expression.

But when she looks at their son-in-law, she can't help but smile at the corners of her mouth.

That kind of doting smile is not merely a sister's doting on her brother.

As an experienced person, Su's mother knew what was going on.

Finally, Su's mother suddenly said again:

"Has Gu Qingwan gotten married? Does she have children?"

Although Gu Qingwan's beauty and maturity are in no way inferior to her own daughter, who is already married and pregnant.

But Su's mother just felt that Gu Qingwan hasn't married.

And just as Su's mother thought, Su Liyan directly shook her head and said:

"No, Elder Sister Wan hasn't yet met the right person."

And after Su Liyan finished speaking, the ice‑snow‑smart Su Liyan naturally also suddenly understood why her mother was asking such a question.

Regarding Gu Qingwan's matter, Su Liyan has not thought much about it lately.

Or rather, Su Liyan understands something, but she dares not think about it deeply.

It's a bit like self-deception.

Su Liyan didn't want to talk about such things, and she immediately said in a coquettish voice:

"Oh dear, Mother, why do you keep asking what Elder Sister Wan is up to? Go to the courtyard and chat with the other aunties for a while, don't stay at home—we're busy."

Su's mother wanted to say something, but seeing Wang Yulan and Chen Taohua in the room,

In the end, Su's mother didn't say anything.

……

At noon, after lunch,

Su Liyan lay on the bed with her mother, preparing to nap for a while.

Only the two of them remained in the house.

Chen Taohua also went back to rest at noon, and Little Sister Yulan also went back.

As for Lu Yuan, he didn't come back at noon.

The two lay on the soft dream-thought, not knowing what they were pondering.

"Is that Gu Qingwan easy to get along with?"

Su's mother suddenly asked.

Su Liyan startled, then softly said:

"Hmm… very easy to get along with… Although Elder Sister Wan comes from a wealthy family, she is indeed not at all overbearing; I can chat with her easily."

Hearing this, Su's mother nodded slightly, then let out a soft sigh and said:

"As long as she's easy to get along with, that's fine. Some things are unavoidable; you know how outstanding your man is, it's inevitable.

When the time comes, you must absolutely not cause a fuss; some things cause no trouble if you don't stir them up, but if you do, it becomes dangerous.

Yulan is a living example—don't follow her lead.

Furthermore, if this gets out, people will say you're not virtuous.

Su Liyan lay on the bed, silent for a moment, then suddenly turned and embraced her mother, tears beginning to patter down as she said:

"Mother… I really don't want to share my brother with anyone else…"

How could one so easily say they'd give up the person they love most?

Su Liyan couldn't do that.

Su's mother embraced her daughter, let out a faint sigh, and gently comforted her.

At the same time, the window was tapped twice.

Both Su Liyan and her mother slightly raised their heads, looking toward the window and said:

"Who is it?"

The door opened.

Gu Qingwan walked in.

After finishing work at the northern city train station today, the memorials in the palace have all been reviewed and approved.

I can't stay in the palace any longer.

Since the railway was completed, Lu Yuan rarely goes to the Chonghua Hall.

Gu Qingwan wanting to see Lu Yuan is no longer as easy as before.

Gu Qingwan doesn't know whether that little rascal wants to see her, but… she really wants to see that little rascal.

But that heartless little thing only came to talk with her the last time, saying his house had many officials visiting, before chatting awhile.

After that, he never came again.

So, Gu Qingwan couldn't hold back and came.

And just now, Gu Qingwan also heard what Su Liyan and her mother said.

Now the weather has warmed up.

In this house, the windows are all open for ventilation.

So, Gu Qingwan really isn't intentionally trying to eavesdrop by pressing herself against the wall corner.

But as soon as she reached the door, she heard Su Liyan's sobs from inside.

At that moment, Gu Qingwan felt extremely uneasy in her heart.

Gu Qingwan also realized that this matter is ultimately her fault.

This…

is her being shameless.

But some things, Gu Qingwan truly cannot control her inner thoughts.

Logically, as an empress, if Gu Qingwan truly wanted something, a single command would suffice.

But…

Gu Qingwan is not that kind of person.

Moreover, if she really did that, Lu Yuan would surely hate her to death.

Gu Qingwan doesn't want to do something that forces others into difficulty.

Furthermore, these days, she has developed feelings for Su Liyan.

Gu Qingwan truly likes this pure‑natured, utterly adorable Su Liyan.

The present Gu Qingwan has also seriously pondered her relationship with Lu Yuan.

Can she sever ties with Lu Yuan…

At this moment, Su Liyan, having climbed up from the bed, hurriedly wiped her tears while forcing a smile and explained:

"It's Elder Sister Wan… I… I was just talking with my mother about childhood matters, and once I started speaking, I couldn't help but burst into tears."

Gu Qingwan revealed a faint smile, after closing the door she softly said:

「Lu Yuan isn't home? 」

Mother Su, upon hearing Gu Qingwan's words, sighed.

This woman really……

Who just shows up and immediately asks about someone else's man?

Also far too impatient……

Su Liyan was startled, then looked at Gu Qingwan and said:

「Not really, my husband went to Bing Jia Chang to make things. 」

Gu Qingwan was somewhat surprised, not knowing what Lu Yuan was tinkering with at Bing Jia Chang again.

Gu Qingwan, having closed the door, nodded; it's fine that Lu Yuan isn't home.

Then she stood at the doorway, making eye contact with Gu Qingwan for a few seconds.

Those few seconds were quite awkward.

The atmosphere inside the room also became somewhat inexplicable.

But after a few seconds……

Gu Qingwan then took a thermos, poured some hot water into a basin, and went out the door.

Soon, amid Su Liyan and Mother Su's stunned expressions, Gu Qingwan returned carrying the basin with the water ready.

She came before Su Liyan.

Gu Qingwan rolled up her sleeves.

Squatting by the bed, looking at the astonished Su Liyan, she smiled and said:

「Come, sister will wash your feet. 」

Su Liyan, having come to her senses, hurriedly said:

「Wan sister, what are you doing…? Mother, quickly help sister Wan up. 」

Mother Su beside them looked somewhat astonished at this scene.

Mother Su, unlike Su Liyan, upon seeing Gu Qingwan's appearance, understood what Gu Qingwan meant.

Back when the village chief was young and took a second wife……

That second wife's duty was to first come wash the feet of the first wife.

After Mother Su remained silent for a moment, she then rose from the bed and moved to the side.

Meanwhile, while Su Liyan was still confused, Gu Qingwan had already rolled up Su Liyan's pant legs, placed her bare feet into the basin, and softly asked:

「Is it hot……」

Su Liyan, face full of astonishment, looked at Gu Qingwan squatting before her window, then glanced at her mother standing silently at the side.

For a moment, she completely couldn't figure out what was going on.

But just as Su Liyan was about to speak, Gu Qingwan, head bowed while washing Su Liyan's feet, suddenly said softly:

「Liyan…… I'm sorry…… sister is a shameless woman……」

It's time to come clean.

Gu Qingwan felt it was time to come clean.

Some things, I could have postponed, but given the current situation,

there's no way to delay anymore.

This will make Su Liyan feel bad inside.

Su Liyan is still pregnant.

A pregnant person is inherently sensitive, and their temperament can change greatly.

If this continues, Su Liyan constantly overthinking will not be good for the baby in her belly.

So……

I also need to come out and say something……

……

Lu Yuan, on his end, didn't know what had happened at home.

He was just seriously assembling the ore refining device.

The assembly speed of this thing exceeded Lu Yuan's expectations.

Mainly, because the Great Zhou Dynasty now has plenty of valves and parts for steam engines, really not lacking at all.

If Lu Yuan needs something, it can be found immediately, no need to make it from scratch.

So, in just a morning's time, Lu Yuan had pretty much finished it.

It was past one in the afternoon.

Lu Yuan looked at the ore refining device in his workshop, which was just beginning to take shape, and felt very satisfied.

Its design had a hint of steampunk flair.

At that moment, the steam boiler inside was heating water, accumulating steam.

Lu Yuan took advantage of this break, sitting to the side with his legs crossed, one hand holding a steamed bun to nibble, the other hand holding the design drawing of the ore refining device as he looked at it.

Regarding this ore refining device,

The steam engine version doesn't have much to say.

What's important is that this internal combustion turbine version can refine the spirit power core for use by cultivators!

Actually, the spirit power core, in the cultivation world, is called a spirit stone.

As mentioned before, some large spirit power veins have been targeted by cultivators, precisely because this spirit power core itself can be used by cultivators.

Cultivators can use spiritual power cores to assist in cultivation.

Otherwise, why would this cultivator want spiritual power cores?

However, cultivators need these spiritual power cores, and taking them back also requires refinement.

However, to refine spiritual power cores, cultivators rely on immortal arts.

And Lu Yuan's ore refiner just needs fuel oil.

So the problem arises.

After practicing the Dao Heart's breathing technique in the future, can I directly use this refined spiritual power core?

Thus quickly washing the marrow of the body, shedding mortality, and then beginning cultivation?

In other words, no need for those heavenly treasures; just pile up this refined spiritual power core.

Hmm…

Lu Yuan himself doesn't know, but feels it's worth a try.

It's just…

To produce that kind of refined spiritual power core, one must use a fuel oil turbine to manufacture the ore refiner.

But for now… the fuel oil turbine is easy to get.

Anyway, the ingenuity has it; the problem is… where to get petroleum??

The Great Zhou Dynasty probably doesn't have a place like Middle Eastern oil tycoons.

One shovel down and oil starts to gush.

This stuff is found several kilometers underground; in my previous life we relied on various instruments to detect it.

Obviously, Lu Yuan here doesn't have those instruments.

Hmm…

Looks like we'll have to rely on the national technique to find it!

Before using the national technique, we still need to set up a drilling platform.

Hehe, looks like we're going to be busy from now on!!

At around five in the afternoon, Lu Yuan stopped the ore refiner.

That basket of spiritual power cores has been completely refined.

This basket of nearly two hundred catties of spiritual power cores yielded less than twenty catties after refinement.

But this spiritual power core… to be precise, it can already be called spiritual stone.

This spiritual stone is extremely pure; just looking at it with the naked eye, it's much cleaner than unrefined spiritual power cores, like a gemstone.

This is natural; today Lu Yuan's ore refiner has refined out all the impurities from the spiritual power cores.

It flowed all over the ground.

However, the steam turbine version of the ore refiner has low power, so the effect of refining spiritual stone is certainly not as good as that of the fuel oil turbine.

Still… the steam turbine refined two hundred catties of spiritual power cores into twenty catties of spiritual stone.

So how much kinetic energy can these twenty catties of spiritual stone release?

Hmm…

This needs to be tested.

This needs to be compared from multiple angles.

These days, Lu Yuan plans to produce some spiritual stones, refine ten pieces of twenty-catty spiritual stones, and then test them all together for accurate data.

After finishing up, Lu Yuan returned home.

Nowadays it gets dark late; in winter, it's dark by five o'clock.

But now, the sun has just set halfway, the distant sky is a sheet of fire clouds, gorgeous.

Returning to the backyard, Lu Yuan hadn't even entered the house when he heard a warbling of orioles and swallows, laughter not short.

This feeling is really refreshing.

When Lu Yuan came home and looked, he saw there were four women in total in the house, all busy in the kitchen.

Gu Qingwan also came?

Lu Yuan instinctively lowered his head to look.

Hmm?

Really dressed up?

White high heels?

Thank you Longge Bu Lao brother for the 300 book coin reward, thank you very much~

Thank you Yuwen Jingzhe Lao brother for the 158 book coin reward, thank you very much~

Thank you Da Shen Lao brother for the 100 book coin reward, thank you very much~

…

There's another chapter coming soon, to be released before noon.

…

Latest notice: the chapter I posted at 57 minutes was reviewed and locked; it will be released tomorrow; really, people in the group can testify.

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(End of chapter)