Chapter 4, Temporarily Overcoming Difficulties

Li Daozheng had not shown Li Su a good face for several days because Li Su was wasteful

There is no way to reason with this, and Li Su also does not dare to reason with his father, because when the father and son argue to the end, the enraged father will inevitably produce a switch in his hand, striking without hesitation. One might suspect that this switch is some kind of magical artifact, capable of changing size like the Ruyi Jingu Bang, and when not in use, the father hides it in his ear; when he wishes to use it, he merely blows a breath, and it grows in the wind.

Suddenly turning his head to Li Su, he asked: "The items have been prepared for the Hu family, but what about the secret recipe?"

Running out of the house, Li Su once again sat by the banks of the Jing River in a daze

Li Su was taken aback: "What secret recipe?"

Li Su blinked and finally understood that the so-called "secret recipe" must refer to the method of making the toilet, so she hurriedly said: "It's in my mind, it won't be lost."

After Butler Hu left, Li Daozheng remained in a daze for a long time, suddenly slapping Li Su heavily on the back.

This is not only a generational gap in thinking between two generations, but also a gap that spans over a thousand years. Li Su could not understand how a very simple piston device had transformed into a scholarly pursuit by the Tang Dynasty, with its manufacturing methods becoming "secret recipes". Giving it away casually was considered wasteful and a grave sin.

The river winds westward, with golden sunlight reflecting off its surface. Occasionally, a restless carp leaps from the shimmering waves, rolling twice in mid-air before falling heavily back into the water

... ...

One day, the butler of the Hu family came to visit, bringing along a large bag of millet and about twenty pounds of new wheat, as well as some fresh game. The father and son of the Li family were puzzled, but the butler informed Li Su that the flushing toilets had been sold by the Hu family to the landlords in the nearby villages, and they seemed to be quite popular among the landlords. After all, landlords generally do not farm, and the use of toilets subtly elevated their social status. The millet and new wheat were considered dividends from the sale of the toilets.

The beginning is quite bleak, why invent something that is not good, but insist on inventing that toilet? As this item is about to spread, the people of the Tang Dynasty naturally have never seen such a novel thing. If someone were to imitate it on a large scale, the toilet would fill the streets and alleys, everyone would use it, and it would be widely praised... It might even spread into the imperial palace and the residences of the powerful.

Being praised for his knowledge is not something new for Li Su, who takes it as a form of recognition from the world and thus accepts it with pleasure

The toilet... surprisingly has a secret formula

The afternoon sunlight is warm and tranquil, like a mother's gentle hand brushing across the forehead, whispering softly. Li Su tilts her head back, closing her eyes as she faces the sun. The sunlight stings her eyes slightly, yet Li Su gradually reveals a smile

Old Master Shi's expression turned serious: "Such great knowledge! I heard from Butler Hu that this thing is very clever, and ordinary people cannot create it. In the village, there are so many idlers who only know how to eat, sleep, and work in the fields. Who has the ability to make this thing? It belongs to the Li family; your son will surely have a bright future. You are fortunate."

Li Daozheng was filled with confusion, nodding perfunctorily. Although he did not fully understand, he still exclaimed... how impressive!

Li Su also smiled; arriving in this unfamiliar era, he finally accomplished something for the sake of a family

Let's take a look again in spring to see if Dad will climb the tree to pick peaches and then travel ten thousand miles on a somersault cloud

This winter has been quite difficult, relying on Li Daozheng occasionally digging ditches for others, and Li Su exchanging a bit of grain for making a toilet for the Hu family, the father and son are managing to get by without being too hungry or too full

The rattan strips transformed into countless dark shadows, overwhelming and pouring towards Li Su. Li Su was greatly alarmed and turned to flee.

Li Daozheng's skills in vine work have advanced significantly, and Li Su's ability to escape has also improved considerably. Both father and son possess a shared ambition for progress and mutual encouragement

Indeed, after a short period of contemplation, a familiar vine mysteriously appeared in Li Daozheng's hand. No one knew how it had come to be, but it would certainly appear at the right moment.

... ...

However, being praised as a "scholar of managing excrement and urine" was something Li Su had never heard of in his two lifetimes. He even suspected that this old man with the surname Shi was deliberately trying to disgust him. After squinting and observing Old Man Shi for a long time, he found that Shi's expression was very serious, showing no hint of mockery or ridicule. It was clear that he genuinely believed that doing such work as managing toilets was indeed a form of scholarship. Only then did Li Su gradually quell his thoughts of throwing him into the toilet.

Li Su was at a loss whether to laugh or cry: "It's just a hollowed-out wooden stump, a piston made of stone, and a rope to pull the piston. If you take it apart and look at it casually, you'll understand. If we talk about imitation... as long as it's not a pig, basically anyone can imitate it."

Life, in fact, is quite good; the sunshine, the river, the gentle breeze, and a quiet person, who seeks neither wealth nor nobility, but only wishes for stability. Even the clamor of chickens and dogs is a great blessing bestowed by heaven, and one should be content.

It is fine to enjoy in silence, both you and I are well. The trouble arises when the emperor, in a moment of high spirits, casually asks, "Who made this?" If the people below respond, "It was made by the villager Li Su of Taiping," the emperor, delighted, laughs heartily and graciously issues an edict, bestowing upon Li Su the title of Duke of the Nation. What kind of duke is this? This person is particularly skilled in handling excrement, so naturally, he is granted the title of "Duke of Excrement." At that time, should Li Su feel sorrow and anger and take a knife to his neck, or should he embrace the thick thigh of Li Shimin, weeping and crying out, "Thank you, Duke of Excrement, for your great kindness"?

Li Daozheng was taken aback, his expression somewhat unpleasant, and with a sullen face, he said: "Did you inform the Hu family that this matter must not be leaked?"

Li Daozheng was somewhat surprised, but not overly so, as he had never even seen a so-called flush toilet and had no idea what kind of contraption his son had come up with. He still asked in confusion, "That toilet... is it very knowledgeable?"

Li Su never rejects any praise or compliments from the world. When no one praises him, he can even compliment himself in front of the mirror, saying things like "You are amazing," "Did you know? You are really handsome," "Oh, how can you be this handsome? What kind of woman will be worthy of such an extraordinary appearance in the future..." and so on. The language is very ornate, and the attitude is very sincere; it is neither a joke nor self-deprecation. When he says these words, he truly thinks this way.

How about... we throw some arsenic into the well of Hu's family and eliminate them all?

... ...

No.

The secret recipe for that toilet should be a precious thing; one cannot afford to lose the secret recipe

"You won't go hungry, you know!"

Li Daozheng nodded in satisfaction, but then expressed concern: "Is the thing you created... complicated? Could it be replicated by others?"

I will kill you, you wasteful child! Accept your fate, you coward!

However, when Li Su thought that her first masterpiece upon arriving in this world was actually a toilet, her serene expression of enjoying life inevitably turned somber

Li Daozheng's wrinkled old face suddenly darkened, with flashes of lightning and claps of thunder. Li Su felt a twitch at the corner of his eye; he realized that his father had inexplicably entered a mode of unreasonable behavior

Sitting by the river, Li Su's thoughts wandered infinitely, recalling that scene which made her tremble all over, her complexion gradually turning pale. At the same time, she deeply regretted having taken the wrong medicine that day, as she had actually exchanged this item for food.