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This shouldn't be a big problem, Fei Qian thought to himself, and then nodded in agreement to Master Huang.
Upon receiving Fei Qian's approval, Master Huang joyfully jumped up and down a few times before rushing to fetch a wooden board and a brush. He meticulously recorded the sketch Fei Qian had drawn on the ground, double-checking to ensure he hadn't missed any details. Once satisfied, he blew on the ink to dry it and carefully tucked the board into his robe...
Watching the excited Master Huang, Fei Qian felt a sudden stirring in his heart, as if he had grasped something profound.
Only then did Master Huang realize he had been so busy that he hadn't yet thanked Fei Qian. His face flushed with embarrassment, and he hurried over to kneel and bow in gratitude.
Fei Qian quickly reached out to stop him, saying, "It's nothing worth such a grand gesture, Master Huang. There's no need for this."
But Master Huang looked at Fei Qian earnestly and said, "I'm not just thanking you for myself, but for all of us craftsmen. This ingenious method you've shared is a gift to us all. You deserve this respect!" With that, he broke free from Fei Qian's grasp and firmly kowtowed before standing up again.
Perhaps some dust from the ground had gotten into his eyes, as Master Huang's eyes were slightly red. He explained to Fei Qian, "If we had known this method earlier, my master wouldn't have..."
Although pulleys had been used in construction since the Han Dynasty, they were mostly fixed pulleys. Movable pulleys were only used occasionally when conditions allowed. Fei Qian's innovation of combining multiple pulleys not only solved the issue of changing the direction of force but also significantly reduced the need for manual labor. This was a groundbreaking invention for the Han era.
Master Huang's teacher had died in a construction accident when a heavy beam fell due to exhausted workers losing their grip. Such accidents were common in ancient times, especially in large-scale projects like building city walls or palaces. Countless laborers and craftsmen lost their lives or were injured in these endeavors.
With the new pulley system, Master Huang confidently assured Fei Qian that not only would the beam-lifting task the next day go smoothly, but he would also ensure the house was built to the highest quality. He even vowed to quit the profession forever if anything went wrong.
Watching Master Huang return to the construction site, full of energy and enthusiasm, Fei Qian couldn't help but smile. He felt a sense of joy at having been able to help in some small way.
As he watched, something clicked in Fei Qian's mind, as if a glass wall that had been blocking his path had suddenly shattered.
So that's it!
Compared to the talented individuals of the Han Dynasty, both those he had met and those he might encounter in the future, his greatest advantage wasn't his knowledge of historical events. Instead, it was the knowledge and experiences he had gained from his time in the future.
Forget advanced subjects like calculus, matrices, operations research, or probability theory. Even the basics—basic mechanics, basic optics, basic chemistry—he had some understanding of. And then there were subjects like biology, geography, music, art, and even psychology, behavioral science, organizational theory, and the countless books and novels he had read.
In terms of strategy, he might not match those with sky-high IQs, but when it came to the breadth of knowledge and the interdisciplinary application of that knowledge, he was confident he could hold his own against anyone.
This was his advantage. This was his greatest trump card!
Fei Qian straightened his posture, a faint smile playing on his lips, his eyes shining with a newfound confidence and vitality.
Yes, this was the foundation on which he could establish himself in the Eastern Han Dynasty. This was his alignment with the heavens. This was the timing of his moral path.
Fei Qian had finally found the first piece of his moral puzzle, and he was overjoyed.
Now, the next step was to find his direction—the second piece of the puzzle. Once he found that, his moral path would be nearly complete. From there, it would be a matter of continuously refining and strengthening it through practice and self-discipline.
Driven by passion—
What do I want to do? Or rather, what am I willing to do?
Fei Qian closed his eyes, and the events of the past year flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.
Old Fu's kind smile...
Cui Hou's comically small eyes and round face...
Li Ru's sharp gaze beneath his refined appearance...
Lü Bu's martial prowess and his ever-mischievous mouth...
Zhang Liao's meticulous mind and Gao Shun's quiet demeanor...
Liu Hong's earnest teachings and the piles of bamboo scrolls...
Cai Yong's thin frame and his ever-humble attitude...
Cai Yan's melodious zither music and the strand of hair that floated in the sunlight...
The children playing in the streets of Luoyang, the vibrant youth, and the leisurely elders...
And at the Cui estate, the small feet that stopped before him and the little hand that offered him a piece of bread...
These images and scenes flashed faster and faster in his mind, colliding and resonating within him.
Suddenly, it felt as though a bolt of lightning had struck his mind, shattering all these chaotic images into pieces, which then slowly reassembled into a new, coherent picture.
Yes, that's it!
This is what I am willing to do! This is what sets me apart from others. This is the second piece of my moral puzzle!
A flood of emotions—joy, happiness, anticipation—filled Fei Qian's entire being, causing him to tremble slightly.
"My path! This is my path!"
Unable to contain his excitement, Fei Qian began to dance and shout, running from the construction site straight up Deer Mountain. He couldn't wait to share his newfound moral path with Pang Degong.
But when he arrived at the Hidden Dragon Residence on the mountain, he found Pang Degong lying on his side, facing away from him, seemingly asleep.
This left Fei Qian frustrated. He paced back and forth outside the door several times before suddenly remembering Pang Degong's advice to "calm the mind and maintain inner peace." He took a deep breath, steadying his restless heart.
Inside the room, Pang Degong, who had been feigning sleep, listened as Fei Qian's breathing gradually calmed and his footsteps softened. A faint smile appeared on his face. He turned over, pretending to have just woken up, and looked at Fei Qian.
"Have you found your path?" Pang Degong asked slowly.
Fei Qian stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and began to explain the path he had discovered.