Every Trade Has Its Top Scholar

When William 'Li Dong' Wang finished speaking, Lily Evans's eyes lit up. "Clay bricks? I had no idea those existed! No wonder I never noticed—they look just like the mudbrick houses around here!"

Nathan Ye nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! I’m new in Chang’an and didn’t even know clay bricks were a thing here."

William 'Li Dong' Wang chuckled. "Lily, our Clearwater Academy just needs to be sturdy and practical. It doesn’t have to be fancy! I say we swap out the blue bricks for clay bricks and save a fortune!"

"Yes, yes, clay bricks are perfect!" Lily Evans and Nathan Ye cheered, delighted.

Nathan Ye grabbed William's arm, teasing, "Brother Li Dong, you’re always so quiet, but when crunch time comes, you’re the one with the magic ideas!"

William 'Li Dong' Wang blushed, bashful at the praise. He scratched his head, stammering, "R-really? I just know a bit about building houses and farming. I’m nowhere near you big officials!"

Lily Evans grinned, "Brother Li Dong, you’re too modest! There’s a top scholar in every trade. Look at us—high and mighty officials, wracking our brains and getting nowhere. You show up and save us a mountain of silver!"

William 'Li Dong' Wang’s face turned even redder, happy to help. He explained to Lily Evans, "It’s just that clay bricks aren’t in high demand, so there are only a handful of workshops in Chang’an. If we want to build the Clearwater Academy, we’ll need a ton of bricks, and these few kilns won’t be enough."

Lily Evans waved her hand, decisive. "No problem! If there’s profit, someone will jump at the chance. Cousin Li Dong, go find your clay brick friend and have him round up all the kiln owners he knows. We’ll talk business. With a bulk order, we can definitely negotiate the price down!" Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Thanks to Lily Evans’s plan, William 'Li Dong' Wang was fired up with enthusiasm and immediately set out the next day to gather his clay brick buddies for the big opportunity.

Leon Chen, wide-eyed, turned to William 'Li Dong' Wang. "Li Dong, are you serious? Is this really a big government order?"

William 'Li Dong' Wang nodded, full of certainty. "Absolutely! The officials want to build Clearwater Academies—lots of them. We’ll need mountains of clay bricks. Even if your kiln runs full tilt, it won’t be enough. We’ll need to bring in more brick workshops to meet the demand!"

Leon Chen’s face lit up with excitement. "Li Dong, you’re a lifesaver! To be honest, clay bricks are just as good as blue bricks, but business is tough. My workshop’s barely hanging on—if you’d come half a month later, I’d be out of business. This is a blessing in the snow! I’ll get in touch with every clay brick boss I know!" Belle chimed in with a wink, "See? Every trade has its top scholar, Boss Chen. Today, you’re the hero of the brick world!"

With the brick bosses assembled, Lily Evans sent Nathan Ye and Belle to negotiate prices. Belle rolled up her sleeves, eyes gleaming with shrewdness, and faced the brickmakers head-on.

Don’t underestimate Belle just because she’s a woman—she’s Lily Evans’s right-hand steward, trained from scratch, and a master at business. Her bargaining was so sharp, Leon Chen and his fellow brickmakers were nearly left speechless. "We really can’t go any lower, Belle! If we do, we won’t make a cent!"

Belle grinned, all cleverness and confidence. "Boss Chen, I’ve looked into your brick business from top to bottom. My offer won’t leave you in the red—just a thinner profit. But think big! Once this order lands, the numbers will blow your mind. Over a hundred Clearwater Academies—imagine how many bricks that means! With a deal this size, the money will flow. And building these academies isn’t just business—it’s a blessing for the whole region, a legacy for the next generation. When the schools are done, your kids will be reading and writing in classrooms built by their own family’s hands!" The brickmakers exchanged glances, admiration blooming for Belle’s sharp tongue and Lily’s bold vision.