After stopping her nosebleed, Luo Wei didn't dare to continue writing. The magic rune analysis work had to be suspended for today.
She poured water from her cup onto a handkerchief and wiped her face while looking in the mirror.
This body felt so fragile, as if riddled with holes and unable to handle much strain. She wondered if some physical training might help improve her constitution.
After resting for a while, she hid the magic runes and map in her wardrobe, draped a shawl over her shoulders, and went out.
As dusk approached, students were gradually returning to school, and shops along Academy Street were putting up their closing signs.
The Escore Dessert Shop closed at five in the afternoon. After walking around the plaza briefly, Luo Wei soon saw Laura returning from work.
"Miss Luo Wei, what a coincidence! Did you just get back too?"
Seeing her, Laura quickly walked over.
"No, I was waiting specifically for you," Luo Wei walked towards her as well.
"For me?" Laura pointed at herself.
"Yes," Luo Wei pulled her aside and said in a low voice, "You see, I'm planning to build a mulberry garden in the suburbs. The trees will be transplanted in a few days, and I'd like you to be the supervisor of the grove."
"The salary is one silver coin per day. If you're willing, you can start tomorrow."
"One silver coin per day," Laura gaped in disbelief, "But, I... I don't know how to do anything. What does a supervisor do?"
"Just help me oversee the daily operations of the mulberry garden, direct the workers' daily tasks, and ensure the trees grow well. It's very simple."
Laura seemed tempted but still hesitated: "I'm afraid I won't do well..."
"It's fine if you don't do perfectly," Luo Wei assured her, "Besides, you've helped me grow mulberry trees before. No one here could do better than you. I trust you."
"Re-really?"
"Absolutely!" Luo Wei said with conviction.
Laura lowered her head shyly: "Then I... I accept."
"Wonderful," said Luo Wei, "I'll wait for you at the dessert shop tomorrow noon."
"Mm!" Laura nodded. Her mulberry saplings and silkworm eggs were in the staff dormitory of the dessert shop, and she needed to take them tomorrow. She also hadn't told Manager Teresa about quitting yet - that would need to be done tomorrow as well.
The next day, Luo Wei parked the carriage outside the back door of the dessert shop and helped Laura move everything into it.
The mulberry saplings had grown quite tall under the nourishment of the magic runes, their green leaves stretching out in the air, their fresh color seeming to seep into one's heart.
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The silkworms had begun spinning cocoons - oval-shaped white cocoons lay in the wooden box, their fluffy texture like compressed cotton balls.
Laura had taken excellent care of both the silkworms and saplings - she was truly a meticulous girl.
Luo Wei helped her into the carriage and had Yves drive them towards the outskirts of town.
After more than ten days of development, the wasteland outside the city had been completely transformed.
The waist-high wild grass and thorny vines that had covered the mountains had all been cleared. The northern land planned for grapes and the southern hillside for mulberry trees had been mostly plowed.
Hundreds of workers were busy in the garden - some plowing the land, some building houses, some digging fish ponds. The workers' shouts of exertion echoed everywhere.
Troy was explaining her engineering drawings to workers in the villa area, Bella was directing workers to build wooden fences for the chicken farm, and Nick, the newly appointed supervisor, was working with the construction crew at the silk reeling factory on the south slope.
The chicken and duck coops had been built yesterday using mud and stone, while only one-tenth of the silkworm houses - built as well-ventilated wooden structures - had been completed.
Luo Wei had Yves call Troy and Bella over to introduce Laura, the supervisor specially recruited from the academy to manage the mulberry trees and silkworm houses.
Though introductions weren't really needed - they had all met before.
"Master, should I call Nick over too?" Bella asked.
Luo Wei waved her hand: "No need. Come, let's go take a look together."
The group walked south for about four hundred meters until they reached the silk reeling factory under construction.
"Nick!" Bella called out loudly.
A thin middle-aged man immediately ran out from the crowd and came before them.
From afar, Nick had seen the noble young lady approaching, accompanied by the housekeeper and knight. Even without guessing, he knew she must be the owner of this mulberry garden - a high-born noble lady.
Up close, the lady's unique aura and outstanding beauty made him too nervous to look directly at her. He could only bend his back and stare at her pearl-adorned magnificent dress hem.
"You're Nick?"
The noble lady's gentle voice rang out, like warm and embracing water flowing over smooth stones, seemingly able to cleanse one's heart of impurities.
Nick bent even lower: "Yes, honorable lady, I am Nick."
"Don't be afraid," Luo Wei said kindly, "I'm just here to take a look."
Nick stood awkwardly, not knowing how to respond.
Luo Wei smiled: "Alright, you may return to work now."
"Ye-yes." Nick nodded stiffly twice before turning and rushing back to the construction site.
Only when Luo Wei was out of sight did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Although the young lady spoke very gently, somehow he felt an overwhelming aura of authority from her that left him too intimidated to move.
Meanwhile, watching Nick's panicked retreat, Luo Wei asked those beside her curiously: "Do I look scary?"
Laura shook her head: "Not at all, Miss Luo Wei. Why would you ask that?"
"Well, he seemed terrified of me." Luo Wei said, puzzled.
Bella quickly explained: "The Master is gentle, kind and beautiful, not scary at all. Nick is like that with everyone - he's just not talkative."
"I see." Luo Wei accepted this explanation.
By mid-February, the mulberry trees were transplanted.
In early March, the silkworm houses were completed, and Siria's temperature began rising significantly.
The once-yellow hillsides outside town turned green again, and the mountain trees sprouted new buds, appearing like a hazy green mist from afar.
With spring's arrival came more rain.
Luo Wei was teaching workers how to prune and top the mulberry saplings when a fine drizzle began, dotting her hair with glistening droplets.
"Miss Luo Wei, perhaps you should head back first. You're delicate, and you might catch cold in the rain," Laura said worriedly.
"Let's go back together."
Luo Wei took Laura's hand as they left the mulberry garden.
Cats dislike rain because it wets their fur, and Laura surely felt the same way.
The two had just changed into dry clothes and come downstairs at Star Luo Residence when they heard the maid's startled cry from the courtyard.
"Heavens, what is that!"
"Is it a bird? What kind of bird looks so strange?"
"It's so black - could it be a crow?"
Luo Wei looked outside to see Chris hurrying in with a piece of bark in her hands.
"Master, there's a very ugly bird in the courtyard, and we found this on its back - there's writing on it!"
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