Chapter 6, Personnel Adjustments in Positions

Someone outside reported that the young master's meal was returned untouched

Eight pieces of wood were supposed to be split into sixty-four sections, but this time, in a single strike, only fifty-eight sections were achieved

Lei Lei intends to establish a good relationship with this person. Pointing at the Phoenix Cry knife in his hand, she praises, "What a fine knife!"

"Don't go!" Lei Lei rushed up to stop him, "I have already figured it out. Whatever profession you choose, you must love it. I understand your feelings; your knife is sacred and should be used to punish evil and promote good, not for chopping wood. Look, I didn't bring any firewood today."

Martial arts are not meant for chopping wood

You, young master, take two steps forward again

The firewood for today has not been chopped yet, and Lei Lei is unwilling to let it go: "Let's practice a few more strokes..."

"It's alright, it's alright," Lei Lei waved her hand, encouraging him, "Doing this is already very good. Practice more in the future and strive for sixty-four moves!"

A skilled woman finds it difficult to cook without firewood, and Aunt Hong wore a face of grievance and self-blame: "I was halfway through cooking today when we ran out of firewood. Fortunately, Wushun went to chop some more, otherwise the entire village would really have to go hungry." She sighed and looked at Lei Lei: "This girl has delicate skin and a tender physique, and her strength is small. She originally couldn't chop firewood, so it's better to arrange for her to help elsewhere; she can't handle the kitchen tasks."

Aunt Hong hurriedly ran up to her and said: "As long as the young lady has this intention, that is enough. These tasks are arduous; it is better for us to handle them. No one will blame you." She desperately gestured to the crowd: "Isn't that right?"

Challenging to the limit, the young master was not very satisfied with the results, feeling ashamed: "This is all I can do; it is always too slow"

Before Leilei could react, the wood on the ground flew up again, and a cold light flashed before his eyes. He did not move at all, yet the knife seemed to have come to life, dancing and spinning in the air, with wood shavings flying everywhere

The young master turned his face to look and indeed found no firewood, his expression softened slightly

How is this thing used

Don't—" she exclaimed as he did not follow the instructions. Lei Lei hurriedly rushed over to grasp his hand, "Don't, don't chop! If you chop again, it won't be able to be burned!"

Let go

How could it be the same? The young master was infuriated

The young master is speechless; it seems there is no shortage of people. I estimate that Aunt Hong will come over shortly to request finding another girl.

The young master pondered for a moment, finally organizing his thoughts to explain: "With the mastery of internal energy, there will naturally be no obstacles"

Feeling a bit uneasy under her gaze, the young master dared not let him serve him any longer, shaking his head and saying: "There is no need; you may stay here at ease."

Leilei still insisted on her viewpoint: "How do you know this is a waste? Punishing evil and promoting good is a good thing, and helping to chop firewood is also doing a good deed. Look, it will take me a whole day to chop this pile of firewood, while for you, it is just a matter of raising your hand, saving time and effort. Once you finish your chopping skills, there will be enough firewood for the kitchen for a day, achieving two goals with one effort!" She swallowed hard and softened her tone to comfort: "Anyway, whether you chop firewood or bamboo, isn't it the same?" She softened her tone again to comfort: "Anyway, whether you chop firewood or bamboo, isn't it the same?"

All the people in the kitchen were driven out

It is said by Butler Zhao that Lord He is likely to return only after the Mid-Autumn Festival

All reactionaries are paper tigers! Lei Lei will no longer retreat. In order to ensure smooth work in the future, she plans to persuade him with her eloquence: "In fact, the division of labor in the village is quite inappropriate. There are so many skilled martial artists, yet they insist on having those without martial skills chop firewood. It is simply a waste of talent and time. What is the point of learning martial arts if it is not to be put to use!"

The crowd was not inclined to listen any further, and they urged her on with a flurry of hands, saying: "Let's go, let's go."

The day before yesterday, the Xisha faction made a significant move; Master Wen was assassinated. Although the attempt was unsuccessful, they insist that the assassin is from the Nanhai faction. Now, the two major sects have brought their dispute to the attention of the Alliance Leader, and naturally, he must take the trouble to mediate.

Lei Lei crouched down, continuing to mourn those useless individuals with deep sorrow

He stopped in his tracks and looked at her with a profile view.

Leilei got up and tied on her apron: "I will go prepare dinner for you."

Will cooking this way be effective? Aunt Hong is worried, wondering if a steamer should be used...

Leilei schemed with ill intentions, realizing that such a righteous handsome man could also have improper thoughts, and even blushed. Should she pounce on him again to tease and flirt a little?

I will come, you continue to practice

On the morning of the second day, the young master had just arrived at the training ground, where Lei Lei was already waiting, with six pieces of firewood placed beside her

The young master nodded

Butler Zhao reluctantly swallowed a mouthful of rice, and upon hearing this, his beard trembled. He immediately set down the bowl, forgetting his previous prejudice against her "eating mixed rice": "Miss, it would be better if you did not exert yourself. Let the matchmaker handle it."

The young master, being studious, did not think too much about it. After a brief contemplation, he earnestly offered guidance and suggestions: "The sword is steady and powerful, emphasizing strength. Women, by nature, are gentle and weak, and there are very few who excel in the art of the sword. It is better to learn the sword instead."

The young master frowned: "Forget it, you can stay here at ease; there are others to handle these tasks."

The snacks I made

The young master was taken aback, gradually darkening his expression, and with a snort, he was about to leave

Leilei let him go, bent down to pick up the surviving firewood, and complained: "You, if you want to chop more, just let me know, I can bring you a few more pieces, look, how can we burn it like this after chopping it up!"

Seeing that Aunt Hong had no objections, the young master nodded in agreement

The young master wielded his sword and, as requested, cleaved it into fifty-six segments

On the morning of the third day, Lei Lei was once again waiting in the bamboo forest, with seven pieces of firewood placed beside her

Wang sighed: "A mere longevity fruit has caused the three major sects to split, leading everyone in the martial world to harbor delusions..."

As a time-traveling woman, Lei Lei is unwilling to let her talents go to waste: "Although I may not know how to chop wood, I can cook!"

Why is the inspection of the overhead city taking so long

No need, I do not require comprehensive mastery, just learning a few techniques will suffice

Soon everyone understood that lunch at Baisheng Mountain Villa was delayed by a full half hour

The chili powder has also increased, but the young master does not eat it, cough cough ... ...

Having just experienced a greater anger, the young master now appears much calmer than others when looking at the red aunt and Lei Lei before him

Leilei explained: "Mainly, I have never done physical labor, and it is too difficult to chop wood creatively, which is not suitable for me"

Leilei remains silent

How many moves? The young master had an ominous premonition

The young master felt quite uneasy, thinking about how this woman always went to great lengths to set up props and clean up the aftermath just to accompany him in practicing his swordsmanship. Thus, he resolved to practice diligently, making the most of the resources at hand: "I will try again."

How can that be acceptable

On this day, Lei Lei wandered aimlessly and, upon reaching the corner of the corridor, suddenly heard a few people talking

It's nothing, it's nothing, I am happy to do it

Leilei anxiously grabbed him: "Why rely on an axe to chop slowly when you have martial arts skills? Don't you think that's foolish?"

Oh no, it's burning, turn down the heat! No, no, add a little more fuel...

Will not wear out

The young master finally lost his patience, angrily shaking off that hand and leaving.

... ...

The hero's divine weapon indeed requires no maintenance, having been used by hundreds of generations without issue. Who says diamond is of the best quality? Lei Lei clapped her hands in amazement: "What a good knife! What a good knife! Your knife skills are so impressive, could you teach me a few moves?"

"Wait, Xiao Bai?" Lei Lei indeed no longer insisted: "Well... alright then." She turned and walked a couple of steps, then stopped: "If you have any other matters, remember to call me for help!"

Leilei took her seat, picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks, put it in her mouth, chewed a couple of times, spat it out, wiped her mouth with her hand, and calmly made an analysis: "Actually, this dish should be quite delicious; it's mainly that I am not very accustomed to the utensils you use here, and I am a bit clumsy. It's only my first time trying, so it's inevitable that I won't get it right. I just need to familiarize myself with it more."

Thank you for your trouble

Having witnessed the methods of the Thousand Moon Cave enchantress multiple times and experienced grand occasions, the young gentleman's composure is indeed extraordinary. He quickly regains his calm, perhaps feeling a bit embarrassed, and says nothing, merely offering her a faint smile before turning to leave.

This wood ... ...

Have you become dull after using it for so long

You don't know? Aunt Hong was taken aback

Lei Lei, feeling that she had misspoken, straightened up and raised a piece of firewood in each hand, explaining: "Since you have already practiced your swordsmanship, it would be a pity to waste this firewood!"

With an additional piece, the difficulty of the task increased, presenting a significant challenge. The young master believed that this would greatly aid in martial arts practice, and thus, without hesitation, drew his sword and instantly split all the wood according to the requirements.

This is indeed a fine blade, the young master nodded

"Hello, hello, I am just not familiar with the tools in this kitchen," Lei Lei was very reluctantly pushed towards the door, shouting, "Let me try a few more times, and I can make something you have never eaten before... the most delicious thing!"

Having undergone strict training since childhood, the young master was not unfamiliar with the experience of hunger, and he had already guessed about eight or nine parts of the situation in his mind. Considering that this woman might provoke public anger, he decided to come to the kitchen to mediate. However, just as he reached the courtyard entrance, he saw Lei Lei being ushered out of the dining hall by a group of people.

Finally, the entire village waited for more than an hour and a half, and at last, they welcomed their lunch—each table was served a basin of hard rice that could be used to hit birds, several plates of strange, colorful dishes whose ingredients were unidentifiable, and a plate of dark, charred snacks emitting a burnt smell

... ...

The young master tightly grasped the treasured sword and stepped forward two paces, coldly saying: "You want me to use the Phoenix Cry Blade to chop firewood?"

In the following days, no one at Baisheng Villa came to seek her assistance, and even Butler Zhao treated her with much more courtesy. There was no longer any expression of dissatisfaction regarding her idleness. As a result, Lei Lei became the most idle person in Baisheng Villa. Naturally, she was quite dissatisfied with this state of affairs and persistently sought employment. She spent her days following the young master around; when he practiced with his sword, she applauded, and when he was thirsty, she served him tea. Her ability to read people's expressions and moods improved significantly. Initially, the young master felt somewhat guilty about her situation, but seeing her insist on this, he chose not to say anything.

What a handsome man, Lei Lei exclaimed

The young master finally sensed something was amiss, his face darkening: "Are you planning to chop wood?"

... ...

Leilei said: "It is like this, they said the kitchen is not short of staff anymore"

The young master stepped forward two more paces, his voice faintly tinged with anger: "A knife is originally a weapon, how can it be treated this way!"

The faces of the crowd turned pale

A voice called out from behind, "Hey, hey, if you don't chop today, you won't have lunch!"

... ...

Lei Lei continued to praise: "Good! Good knife skills!"

Truly a "little white", Lei Lei smiled as she happily embraced the firewood and left

The young master felt quite helpless, as this was far removed from the etiquette education he had received since childhood. Baisheng Villa was renowned, and who in the martial world did not respectfully refer to him as Master Xiao or Young Master Xiao? Yet now, he was being casually mentioned by a girl named Xiao Bai.

There is too much pepper and Sichuan pepper powder! Aunt Hong couldn't help but cough, her eyes filled with tears

On the fifth day, the young master arrived at the bamboo forest as usual and saw Lei Lei waiting there again. His expression immediately darkened, and he turned to leave.

On the second day, Lei Lei officially advanced to the position of chef at Baisheng Mountain Villa, wielding a ladle in her left hand and a kitchen knife in her right, with a large apron tied around her waist, exuding an impressive demeanor

The young master is angry! It is as if a shocking secret has been discovered, and all the servants are secretly passing the word to one another. Then, one by one, they deliberately walk past the door of the room, each person taking the opportunity to observe the young master's expression. The young master has been raised with strict family discipline since childhood, and coupled with the requirements of the Xiao Xiao Feng Ming sword technique, which emphasizes composure and self-control while avoiding impatience, he has developed a mature and steady character. Even when he is angry, he rarely loses his composure in front of others. Therefore, everyone is curious about who possesses such remarkable ability to provoke him to such great anger.

Of course, martial arts are meant for chivalrous deeds, but don't you think it is also quite convenient to use martial arts for chopping wood? It saves time and allows for practice at the same time

"It is just those few moves you use to chop wood," Lei Lei explained, "Your knife cannot be used for chopping wood. I can learn to chop it myself. After all, my knife does not need to be so sacred. From now on, you will specialize in chopping people, and I will specialize in chopping wood. That way, it will be faster, more efficient, and less laborious."

Lei Lei touched the blade and asked, "Is it ancestral?"

What does it mean to carve out creativity? Is it that without help, one cannot make progress? The young master twitched the corner of his mouth, completely forgetting that he had been angry about this matter earlier.

Leilei is eager to showcase her skills and is quickly seeking opportunities to perform: "I have learned to cook before, and the taste should be quite good. Moreover, you definitely haven't tried the dishes I make."

Hello Xiaobai, I can't cut through, please help me practice a couple more moves

Upon hearing this, both the young master and Aunt Hong were filled with suspicion: "You?"

Everyone picked up their chopsticks and fiddled with the food for a moment, then mustered the courage to take a bite, only to be left in a daze for half a day, after which they all left their seats

... ...

On the fourth day, Lei Lei and eight pieces of firewood were waiting there

Seeing that she was unwilling to leave, Aunt Hong suddenly had an inspiration: "Why don't you go to the young master and see if he needs you to serve him?"

Ah, is it not chili powder

With the corners of his mouth raised, he turned and walked back.

Can you split each of them into eight pieces in one strike

I will give it a try

It turns out that the talent was not utilized in the right place, and the two individuals came to a realization

The most delicious thing? Everyone believes that this is possible in the future, yet no one has the courage to contribute their stomachs to the inventions of others, sealing the door tightly.

In fact, the way the young master smiles possesses a unique charm, almost as if he has transformed into a different person. His slightly pursed lips and his eyes, which are slanted and filled with mirth, give off a somewhat mischievous aura, starkly contrasting with his usual serious demeanor. Unfortunately, since that stunning smile upon their first meeting, it has been rarely seen again. Now, suddenly revealing itself, it truly leaves Lei Lei utterly captivated on the spot

Thinking that this person intended to harm her, Lei Lei was so frightened that she dropped the firewood and took two steps back, raising her hands and saying: "What chopping firewood? Of course, I wanted to help you practice your swordsmanship. However, once you are done practicing, we can't let this firewood go to waste; I was just planning to take it to the kitchen for burning, just casually."

Xiao Bai! Xiao Bai! A voice called out from behind.

What is this

Young master, are you burning?

Lei Lei interjected: "What exactly is the matter with that longevity fruit?"

The young master was extremely angry, yet he did not know how to refute it. After a long while, he finally said: "The Xiao family's Fengming Knife upholds justice, punishes evil, and promotes good, gaining fame throughout the world. The number of wicked people who have died under its blade is countless; how can you allow it to be so tarnished!"

In the blink of an eye, half of the firewood has been used up

Can, can, no need for that

Let go. A restrained voice.

The young man, his face as dark as coal, struggled to suppress the urge to crush her, sheathed his knife, and turned to leave

Good skills and excellent knife techniques, there has been progress

"It's all the same, what's the difference?" Noticing that his expression was becoming increasingly unusual, Lei Lei hurriedly fell silent, seemingly understanding something. "If you're worried about damaging the precious sword, next time I'll find you a more worn one to use."

Leilei took two steps back and retorted: "A knife can be used to cut vegetables and kill chickens, so why can't it be used to chop wood?"

... ...

Everyone nodded in agreement

I feel that this meal does not reflect my culinary skills, Lei Lei opened her arms and grasped the door frame, making a desperate struggle: "Actually, I can still ... ... "

Indeed, that handsome face suddenly turned red

"Why not? Everyone knows you are a kind-hearted girl," Aunt Hong said as she pulled off her apron and, along with the kitchen maid, pushed her towards the door. "In fact, the kitchen doesn't really lack manpower; the two of us are enough. How could we really let you do such rough work? Just come by when you have time and chat with us."

How familiar? Countless eyes turned green

Forget it, I don't need this

Leilei expressed joy: "They have asked me to serve you"

It turned out to be a group of servants sitting on the corridor railing, chatting. In the past few days, Lei Lei had already become familiar with most of the people at Baisheng Villa. The person speaking at that moment was Wang Cong, who followed Steward Zhao, and he was always the one bringing back the latest news from the Jianghu. Upon hearing the words "Nanhai Sect," Lei Lei immediately thought of the handsome man who might be named "Leng Shengyin" whom she encountered at the inn, and thus she stepped out from behind the pillar

Lei Lei said: "How can that be? In fact, many things would be better with me, like practicing with the knife. If you need anything to try, I can help you get it. Of course, I won't ask you to chop wood anymore. Also, your clothes are always in these two colors, which are too old-fashioned. You are only twenty-four! I will prepare different colors for you to wear. You eat, sleep..." At this point, she stopped speaking.

The new maid works very diligently; in just a short while, she has chopped enough firewood for the entire day, with pieces of uniform size, neatly arranged, and meeting quality and quantity standards. Aunt Hong praises her to everyone she meets, and soon Lei Lei's reputation spreads far and wide. Even Steward Zhao, upon seeing her, has become much more amiable.

Everyone let out a sigh of relief: "Certainly, certainly"

Aunt Hong smiled and said, "I should have thought of it earlier. With such delicate and graceful features, it is evident that you are a well-off young lady who has enjoyed a life of comfort. How could you have ever done the rough work that we do? As long as you have this intention, that is enough." She took her hand and kindly added, "Look, your hands are already blistered. You should really take a good rest."