Chapter 98

But if Scholar Fu was really so detached from worldly concerns, then why had he worked so hard studying for the imperial exam? No, based on the current outcome, although he did take the exam, he didn't receive the recognition he deserved. Instead, after entering her princess manor as the top scholar, he became a subject of pity and ridicule in Plumera's capital at the time, yet he remained calm and unaffected, which truly did seem like a form of transcendence.

Someone like that didn't seem to care much about anything. How could she convince him to stay and work for her in the long run?

Elara stared at Scholar Fu longer than usual this time. Scholar Fu lowered his eyes, looking at the bamboo scroll in his hands, but it was as if he sensed her hesitation. He placed the bamboo scroll down at the edge of the table, his fair hand holding it gently, and his clear amber eyes slowly looked up at Elara.

"You don't need to worry. Although I didn't calculate how long the fate between us would last, right now, that bond hasn't shown signs of fading. Since my cause and effect lies with you, if anything happens during this time, I will naturally help you."

Elara didn't expect him to say such a thing on his own. But since he had already spoken so clearly, the conflict in her heart eased quite a bit.

She wasn't someone afraid to take risks or losses. In the current world, the business field was like a battlefield, and wins and losses were common. Although Elara had enjoyed mostly smooth success in her previous life's business ventures, she had still experienced setbacks and betrayal when she was starting out.

Being immersed in the ever-changing business world for years, she knew there was never any absolute certainty in anything.

Just like now, when facing someone like Scholar Fu, whose nature was so elusive and ungraspable, like the wind. He might disappear one day without a trace.

Elara, though used to scheming and manipulation in business, would never intentionally hurt or use what someone cared about just to control them.

That was a bottom line every member of the Xia family had. It was a principle taught from childhood by their parents and elders.

Money could be earned, and at times, even using some gray methods might be necessary to ensure safety. Just like when she captured Dos and used him and the Pei Family to make Mathias unable to betray her.

She had handled it with a soft approach on the surface, but someone as smart as Mathias would surely notice the hidden warning.

But even that warning wasn't much of a threat to him. Working with Elara might actually be a path for the fallen Pei Family to save themselves. Elara truly did believe in the Pei Family and genuinely wanted to help them recover.

However, Scholar Fu was not like Mathias, who had ties to the Pei Family. Scholar Fu had no such bindings. Even someone like Emory, who risked his life to save him, seemed like nothing to him. Elara couldn't think of anything that could hold him back.

Someone so refined and distant, Elara didn't want to bind him with worldly chains either.

The wind was meant to be free. Why trouble oneself trying to catch it?

With that thought, Elara's attachment to Scholar Fu lessened. "In that case, before our bond ends, please stay by my side for now. I do need your help. But don't worry. When our time together ends, I will not try to keep you by force. If you want to leave, you can leave anytime. Just let me know in advance so I can find someone to take your place."

Scholar Fu was very capable, but Elara believed that once her academic institute and exam system were set up, it wouldn't be hard to find someone else just as good.

Even if there wasn't another one exactly like him, she could find a few slightly lesser ones. Together, they'd be enough. As long as her region developed well, the supply of talented people in the future wouldn't be a problem.

Elara now called him "sir" instead of jokingly calling him "Top Scholar Fu." After speaking, she thought of something and added:

"As long as you don't tell anyone what you've seen or heard here after you leave, that's my only request. Can you agree to that?"

Scholar Fu looked up at Elara again, meeting her bright and clear gaze.

The previous hints of teasing and suspicion were gone from her eyes. Only clarity and sincerity remained, and his reflection appeared clearly in them.

It was the first time Scholar Fu had ever seen his own reflection so clearly in someone else's eyes.

He let his gaze linger for two more seconds, then lightly opened his lips. "Alright."

With Scholar Fu's agreement, Elara no longer had to worry about not having someone to take on the role of head secretary.

Once Scholar Fu agreed to something, he rarely went back on his word, so Elara directly told him about the important factories she wanted to start building in Plumera County right away.

First was the iron refinery.

She had already succeeded once at the Bai family's business estate, so doing it again wouldn't be difficult. But she needed to train loyal craftsmen and find a reliable source of ore.

Before leaving, she had quietly sent someone to scout the mine behind Anqu Town that she heard about from the jade shop owner in Plumera City, and made sure the news about the mine was kept secret.

On the road to Plumera County, too many eyes were watching her, so she couldn't go to Anqu Town personally. She had to send people to handle things quietly for now, and once she arrived and settled everything, she would go take control of that rare ore source.

Until then, Elara didn't want to waste time. She planned to search through confiscated goods from city merchants and officials to see if any usable ore could be found, and also gather discarded iron ore from the shops.

Whatever iron she could smelt for now would be used as it came, no matter how much or how little.

Second was papermaking.

Now that she had the technique, she could finally stop using heavy, bulky bamboo slips. Of course, Elara wanted to start production right away.

The version from System 92 was simple and efficient. The process was easy to follow, and it listed a type of raw material that didn't exist on Earth but was common and perfect for papermaking here.

Once she had enough workers, she would immediately send them out every day to gather materials and begin making paper.

These two factories were her top priorities right now.

Once she had iron equipment, she also needed a trained army to use it.

So the third thing she wanted to build immediately was her own military force.

But she needed a general who could lead and train soldiers.

She couldn't ask General Qi for help with this, or it might become unclear whether the army was loyal to her or to him.

Aside from the army, both the ironworks and papermaking needed a large labor force.

After a long night of planning with Scholar Fu, Elara came to the same conclusion again. Recruiting skilled people in all fields was the most urgent task.

Only with the right talents could her plans come true. Without them, it would all just be talk.

The next morning, after a restless night with barely any sleep, Elara had dark circles under her eyes. She drank several bowls of medicine from Oswyn, whose face looked just as tired, and then hurried to find Scholar Fu for breakfast.

She dragged him out of the county office and sent people to all four city districts with public notices, announcing that Plumera County was about to start recruiting all kinds of talent.

The people of Plumera County had just been terrified by the sight of heads hanging in the city center yesterday.

Now they heard the new county governor was starting official exams. The format was new too, with several added subjects, and anyone could apply as long as they hadn't committed a crime.

Even contract slaves could take part, and anyone who passed any part of the exam could have their slave contract upgraded to a civilian one, almost equal to the scholar class.

Slaves being allowed to take exams that used to be for nobles only? And even getting their status changed afterward? It was unheard of.

To most citizens of Plumera County, Elara's new policy was actually great. It lowered the barriers to entry and allowed talent to shine regardless of birth or class.

But instead of joy, the first reaction among the people was suspicion. They thought it was strange and reckless for the new governor to make such a change.

Still, after seeing her execute an entire group of officials on her first day, they couldn't say much.

No matter what she planned to do, the merchants, commoners, scholars, and slaves who had hidden themselves stayed at home. They didn't dare come out, let alone take part in this strange exam.

Some of the noble families hiding in pleasure houses were furious when they heard that slaves they saw as beneath animals could now take part in exams they saw as sacred.

They shouted that slaves were born inferior and had no right to take exams. Upgrading their contracts was a disgrace to the traditions of their ancestors and insulted their noble status.

But with all those heads still hanging in the city square, they didn't dare complain loudly. They stayed in their homes and cursed quietly, calling the new governor lawless, cruel, and absurd.

Elara didn't know what those nobles were saying behind closed doors, and even if she did, she wouldn't care. If they dared say it to her face, she would deal with them one by one.

At that moment, she forced herself to stay upright despite being tired but also excited. She and Scholar Fu walked all around the county's four city districts to make sure the exam notice reached every corner.

Only after that did they return to the largest red pavilion on the main street. They picked a spot with a good view and sat down to wait for the applicants to show up.

Plumera County was newly established and in desperate need of rebuilding. She needed many skilled people. If time weren't so tight, she would have made the recruitment more thorough, but she had to act quickly.

For now, she roughly divided the exam into three main parts, something no one else had done before.