Chapter 4: A Man is Not as Good as a Dog

"Is and is not, why not invite this craftsman to create an object and see for ourselves?" Zhuge Liang said with a smile

Although my husband used to enjoy reading, he has never been as engrossed in it as he has been these past few days, neglecting sleep and meals. Huang Yueying looked at Zhuge Liang with some confusion, as her husband had a very regular routine and rarely became so absorbed in his studies. It would be one thing if he were reading a new book, but he has read this military treatise no less than ten times; how could he be so captivated by it?

Perhaps this wood has some miraculous effect? Huang Yueying shook her head, not believing that this was man-made. Perhaps the wood itself possesses some extraordinary qualities. However, as she looked down at the writing desk, her thoughts began to waver, for the wood appeared quite ordinary, and it was not brought by Liu Yi himself, but rather they had asked someone to help chop it down from the back mountain.

Early the next morning, Liu Yi set off with the cart he had prepared the day before to continue his promising work as a woodcutter in the back mountain. Surprisingly, the waste wood he had brought back yesterday sold for six five-zhu coins, which was even more than he earned from carpentry.

Moreover, this doghouse not only provides its own four talent points, but also offers a substantial 200 experience points. This is another satisfactory creation of mine, aside from the carpenter dragon in my yard, or perhaps even more satisfying than that carpenter dragon, as it unexpectedly yields four attributes, which can be considered exceptional

However, this newly made doghouse is indeed quite good. From Liu Yi's perspective, if it were enlarged several times, it would not be much different from a place for people to live. Most importantly, this doghouse surprisingly possesses four attributes

Huang Yueying looked at Zhuge Liang with some surprise

As the sky gradually darkens, sporadic lights begin to appear in Wolong Ridge. In this era, lighting is primarily provided by oil lamps, and ordinary households, even if they possess them, are reluctant to use them. Only a few wealthy families would use them daily.

Well-crafted high-quality doghouse: Growth + 10, Robustness + 8, Comfort + 3, Enlightenment + 5

At this Wolong Hill, the Zhuge family is naturally one of the few. Huang Yueying hung the lit oil lamp beside Zhuge Liang, who was intently reading a military strategy book, and smiled, saying: "My husband has been quietly reading for half a day; it is time for a rest."

After continuously hauling wood for seven days, Liu Yi felt it was about time to start dismantling the house. The main concern was to reuse the beams, as he was afraid they might get damaged. He specifically spent thirty five-zhu coins to hire a young man from the village to help him take down the beams. The rest was straightforward; materials that could be reused were kept, while those that could not were chopped into firewood and sold to Zhao Gong

Liu Yi felt a twinge of jealousy, wondering if his house, once completed, would be able to trigger attributes. He noticed that ever since his carpentry skill had reached level 4, it seemed easier to generate attributes than before, as both of his recent large items had quite favorable attributes.

One cannot help but wonder what kind of appearance this dog will take on with an additional growth of 10. Judging by its looks, it is evidently a Chinese rural dog, a breed that was often seen as stray dogs on the streets in the past

Oh? Zhuge Liang looked at Huang Yueying with confusion and asked, "What is the reason for this?"

Huang Yueying glanced at the writing desk, yet she could not discern the marvel her husband spoke of. As a member of the Huang family from Jingxiang, a renowned aristocratic lineage in the world, her perspective was naturally elevated. Although the writing desk was crafted neatly, it was merely neat, replete with the marks of a craftsman. No matter how one looked at it, it could not be considered a superior work. How could it be held in such high regard by her husband?

Today, when a villager came to borrow farming tools, he mentioned that the craftsman has been renovating his residence these past two days and is likely too busy to come and help.

The matters at home are seldom inquired about by Zhuge, and it has always been Huang Yueying who manages them. The women in the village love to gossip; they originally came to borrow farming tools, but by the end, they had chatted with Huang Yueying for an entire morning, almost recounting everything that had happened in every household of Wolong Hill.

... ...

"It is difficult to explain clearly at the moment, but I always feel that this writing desk is quite marvelous. Madam, could you enlighten me?" Zhuge Liang said as he handed the scroll in his hand to Huang Yueying.

"Madam, may I ask you to try sitting behind this writing desk?" Upon hearing this, Zhuge Liang suddenly turned to Huang Yueying.

She sat down as instructed, her hands resting peacefully, and her mind seemed to become somewhat ethereal. By nature, she was serene, much like Zhuge Liang, and she was quite sensitive to this change. Is this what her husband referred to as the extraordinary?

I have set up a temporary shelter for myself, as the weather is gradually warming up, and I am no longer afraid of getting cold at night

Huang Yueying was puzzled: "Why is this?"

The design plan for the new residence has been refined by Liu Yi over the past few days. Due to a lack of labor, it cannot be built too large; a living room, a bedroom, and an additional guest room will suffice. In addition, a pavilion has also been designed. The kitchen is situated at the corner between the living room and the bedroom. Overall, the area is not extensive, but from the design plan, it appears very elegant and aligns with my aesthetic preferences

Lost in a jumble of thoughts, Liu Yi prepared a meal for himself and his dog. This time, he managed the steaming and cooking time quite well, resulting in a meal that was significantly better than yesterday's. After finishing their meal, both Liu Yi and his dog went to bed early. After all, lamp oil is not cheap, and he is currently in a state of financial hardship, so every bit saved counts. Moreover, there was nothing else to do if he didn't sleep.

In any case, the Zhuge family is not lacking in money; half of Wolong Hill belongs to the Zhuge family. Moreover, if Zhuge Liang had not been disinterested in the idea of land annexation, this family estate would have been even larger, and it is quite possible that the entire Wolong Hill would belong to them.

"Then my lord will have to wait for a while," Huang Yueying replied with a smile.

"It is of no consequence, then let us wait a little longer." Zhuge Liang merely mentioned it casually, and upon hearing this, he did not pay much attention. He was not lacking in time, and his curiosity was more about whether Liu Yi truly possessed the ability to transform the decayed into the miraculous. However, it cannot be said that he was particularly eager to meet Liu Yi. In the hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, the status of artisans at this time was not high; it could even be considered a lowly profession. Zhuge Liang was not an absolute Confucian, but the Han Dynasty had upheld Confucianism for nearly four hundred years, and many times, he would unconsciously accept some Confucian concepts.

Thank you for the reminder, madam. Zhuge Liang stood up from behind the desk, having knelt for quite some time, and his legs had become somewhat numb.

At this moment, Zhuge Liang suddenly realized that the sky had unknowingly darkened.

I didn't expect that I haven't finished my own nest yet, but I have already prepared a doghouse for you!" Looking at Wangcai, who was rolling around in the newly built doghouse and refusing to come out, Liu Yi said with a bit of amusement

"Madam has also noticed it?" Zhuge Liang said with a smile

The restroom is located in the southwest corner and will be constructed after the main building is completed. Since it is a wooden structure, it is relatively simple to assemble. However, apart from hiring help to set up the framework on the first day, almost everything else was completed by Liu Yi alone, taking a full month to finish the final plastering process.