87 Art and Science

"Not bad, not bad..." After Wu Qingchen took a brief rest, Huang Xing approached with a smile and applause. "Mr. Wu, you completed the first major task seven minutes ahead of schedule."

"That's indeed quite good."

Wu Qingchen smiled too. Since these were familiar farming tasks, and after identifying the key points from the teacher team's training, he felt confident about his learning speed.

However, he was more concerned about what came next. "Is the next task treating the cattle?"

"No... not yet..." Huang Xing shook his head. "The recent 'targeted instruction' training was mainly aimed at your family members in the medieval world. The primary purpose was to improve their labor efficiency while reducing labor time and intensity, to avoid physical harm caused by overexertion."

"I understand..." Wu Qingchen thought. Making life easier for his family in the medieval world was his goal: "If everyone works faster and more comfortably, my life will surely improve a lot."

"Of course," Huang Xing nodded, then shook his head again. "However... Mr. Wu, our goal isn’t just to make your life easier or better, but to completely free you from frontline manual labor."

"Hmm?" Wu Qingchen was puzzled. "After teaching them these skills, isn’t that enough to free me entirely?"

"No!" Huang Xing’s tone was firm.

"But once these tasks are handled, I won’t be needed for the fieldwork anymore, right?"

"That’s true; the fieldwork won’t require you anymore," Huang Xing agreed, then asked, "What about the household chores?"

"I can handle those!" Wu Qingchen replied contentedly at first, but noticing Huang Xing’s skeptical expression, he suddenly realized his understanding of 'completely leaving frontline labor' might differ from Huang Xing’s original meaning.

Surprised, Wu Qingchen asked, "Do you mean I won’t have to do the household chores either?"

Huang Xing nodded slowly and resolutely.

"That... seems unlikely," Wu Qingchen said, finding it hard to imagine. "Even if possible, wouldn’t that be inappropriate?"

Wu Qingchen had thought that once his safety and status were well assured, Earth’s side would want him to demonstrate certain abilities, then train him in specific methods, and discreetly pass these on to his family, significantly boosting their productivity.

Wu Qingchen pondered briefly. With the scientific farming techniques summarized by Earth’s experts and the teaching team’s instruction skills, he was confident he could elevate his family’s workforce equivalent to adding two more primary laborers like Old William.

Having established this foundation, justifying himself to avoid heavy physical labor like plowing, tilling, harvesting, or carrying fodder seemed reasonable. He could then focus on lighter household tasks like fetching water, picking cabbage, gathering beans, or cooking porridge.

Yet from Huang Xing’s attitude, Wu Qingchen suddenly realized that aligning his household labor to that of a nine-year-old girl was still not considered fully leaving frontline manual work.

"Does completely leaving frontline labor mean doing nothing at all?" Wu Qingchen couldn’t help but confirm again.

"Yes, doing nothing at all."

"Alright then, how can I do nothing? How should I explain that?"

Wu Qingchen wanted to know how he could henceforth stand idle, never stepping into the fields or doing any work, comfortably living as a leisurely master in the cattle herder’s mansion.

"Mr. Wu, I understand what you mean..." Huang Xing easily guessed from Wu Qingchen’s expression and tone, "If we only consider the family’s perspective, no matter how much you contribute, it’s not really appropriate to completely abandon your labor duties in a medieval family."

"However, the first 'targeted training' was intended to compensate for your family’s temporary labor loss after you stopped participating altogether..."

"Moreover, to truly 'completely leave frontline labor,' the key does not depend on your family’s attitude in the medieval world but entirely on your precise role in the medieval village of Eckley."

"Oh? What role? Is there a way to make me a true master so soon?"

Promotion again? Was it possible? Would it help?

Wu Qingchen was skeptical. Ignoring how difficult it was to transcend bloodline-based social strata in a semi-slave, semi-feudal society... Even as a steward or priest, one was still busy during the summer labor season.

"Don’t limit yourself to medieval perspectives..." Huang Xing smiled. "From an Earthling’s viewpoint, Eckley village actually has many positions that free one from manual labor."

"What positions? A messenger? No, messengers still have to farm... A carpenter? They also must work the summer fields... A wood gatherer? They work harder than ordinary freemen..." Wu Qingchen looked up thoughtfully but couldn’t find a position more advantageous than a cattle herder outside of the village’s ruling class.

"Don’t trouble yourself; there are no ready-made positions like that. However..."

Huang Xing spoke with great confidence, "With the intelligence we now possess and the environment and status you currently have as a foundation, using Earth’s insights, wisdom, and methods, it’s not difficult to create a hundred fully non-labor positions out of thin air."

"The only question is: which position is the most suitable for you, customized just for you, indispensable by anyone else, and truly frees you from all labor?"

I see!

Hearing Huang Xing’s description, Wu Qingchen was instantly stirred with excitement. "What position is that?"

"A role that achieves multiple benefits at once!" Huang Xing shrugged. "It involves so many aspects it can’t be explained in a few words, but after today’s training concludes, you will naturally understand."

"Good!" Wu Qingchen no longer pressed. "Please continue."

"Alright. The next training phase will be based on your family and some close neighbors in the medieval world mastering efficient farming techniques. Using them as examples, we will gradually 'targetedly instruct' the vast majority of Eckley villagers."

No way?

"Won’t I end up losing my voice?" Thinking of the energy and spirit it took to teach the addicts earlier, and considering the entire village population, Wu Qingchen’s lips, just moistened, began to feel dry again. He hardly found this role relaxing.

"No, no..." Huang Xing smiled and shook his head. "For your family and other closer contacts in the medieval world, these..."