As Fang Qiu spotted her, she also caught sight of Fang Qiu.
The two exchanged a glance, both slightly stunned, and froze in place.
Thus, Fang Qiu spoke first.
"Miss Keqing, why are you here?" Fang Qiu asked.
"I came to find you."
Keqing raised her head, narrowing her eyes slightly at Fang Qiu. She didn't beat around the bush and spoke directly.
"Find me?" Fang Qiu was slightly taken aback.
"Correct." Keqing nodded.
"Is there something you need from me, Miss Keqing?" Fang Qiu asked.
"Previously, at that Mondstadt dessert shop, you told me we could dig a tunnel under the mountain for passage. After research and investigation, we plan to start construction in three hours. However, before work begins, I would like you to accompany me to review the construction blueprints and survey the terrain," Keqing said.
"Miss Keqing, please don't joke. I just mentioned an idea; how would I know the specific construction process?" Fang Qiu hurriedly shook her head and said.
"You jest, Miss Fang Qiu. I discussed the precautions you mentioned that day with many master architects afterward, and they all marveled at your talent," Keqing shook her head and replied.
"But I've already told you pretty much everything I know," Fang Qiu said.
It wasn't that she was unwilling to follow Keqing to the construction site to help. After all, Keqing buying her book previously had played a significant role in promoting it. Coincidentally, Hu Tao and Xiangling had also gone there to help, so if she went, she could hang out with them.
It was just that she didn't know much about tunnels. What she had told Keqing before was knowledge she had specifically searched for on the internet in her past life to write novels; it was all very superficial theory.
If she were really asked to survey the site and look at design blueprints, she would be completely lost. She reckoned she wouldn't even be as knowledgeable as a construction worker.
Asking her for an opinion would just be holding things up...
"Then, would Miss Fang Qiu like to accompany me to witness your idea becoming reality?" Keqing thought for a moment and asked.
Looking at Keqing's clear gaze, Fang Qiu thought about it, nodded, and did not refuse.
The place Keqing spoke of was on the outskirts of Liyue City. They passed through Chihu Rock and headed southeast.
Due to Fang Qiu's poor physical stamina, the decisive and resolute Keqing directly hailed a carriage.
After leaving Liyue and traveling for a long time, they saw a large camp piled high with construction materials at the foot of a large mountain.
Around the camp, Millelith soldiers holding spears and clad in armor patrolled everywhere, displaying strict military discipline.
A group of burly workers was busily moving materials. Under the main tent of the camp, several middle-aged people who looked like scholars were looking at blueprints laid out on a table, constantly proofreading and verifying them.
There were men and women among them, all very serious.
In front of the multitude of construction materials, two secretaries dressed in Yuehai Pavilion attire were holding a thick stack of forms, constantly tallying the materials.
Perhaps because it wasn't mealtime, Hu Tao, Xiangling, and Guoba were currently sitting under a cool tree chatting.
Upon seeing Keqing bring Fang Qiu into the camp, they immediately came over to welcome them.
"Fang Qiu, you're here." Hu Tao waved her hand and said with a smile.
"Mhm, Miss Keqing said she wanted me to witness my idea becoming reality." Fang Qiu nodded and smiled.
"Hehe, Fang Qiu, you really are amazing. To actually think of such an idea as digging a hole in a mountain for passage," Hu Tao said with a beaming smile.
Her words were filled with a sense of pride, as if the one who came up with this idea wasn't Fang Qiu, but herself.
"Yeah, when Keqing told me this idea was yours, Guoba and I were both stunned." Xiangling also nodded, her eyes full of admiration.
"It's nothing remarkable, just something I thought of suddenly. The one truly realizing this idea is Miss Keqing." Fang Qiu shook her head.
"I am merely one of the decision-makers who decided to put your idea into action. The ones who will truly realize your idea are them." Keqing swept her gaze across the enormous camp.
Fang Qiu nodded; she naturally understood Keqing's meaning.
Chatting as they walked, they headed toward the main tent.
Through their conversation, Fang Qiu learned that after listening to her words back then, Keqing had discussed it with Ganyu for a whole night before finally settling on the plan.
However, Ganyu had other matters to attend to, so she couldn't visit the site in person.
This made Fang Qiu involuntarily complain internally again about the heavy workload of the Yuehai Pavilion secretaries.
As they approached the main tent, they heard several scholars discussing.
"We've proofread it for the third time. The data should be fine. Once Lady Keqing returns, we should be able to..."
"Speaking of which, that Miss Fang Qiu really is a divine figure. I've been trying to alter the basic design she provided these past few days, but no matter what, I can't break away from her basic framework. I can only upgrade upon the structural framework she gave."
"The design is indeed exquisite. Take this semi-circular tunnel design, for instance. It not only effectively balances the tunnel's width, but when water from the mountain permeates down, it can effectively drain to both sides along the tunnel's arc. If a square shape were used, the permeating groundwater would deposit on the tunnel roof, thereby causing damage to the tunnel."
"Not only that, at first I thought it was just a simple arc shape. I didn't expect there to be hidden ingenuity underground as well. This inverted arch design buried underground supports the entire arc roof. It not only extends the tunnel's service life but is also safer."
"Furthermore, it's said that Miss Fang Qiu writes books exceptionally well. My neighbor's daughter cried for a whole night after reading one; the neighbors thought she was being bullied."
"I've heard about this too. They say she's a rising star in our Liyue literary world, famous for her deeply moving works."
"Truly a divine figure! It would be one thing to have such deep attainments in architecture, but to also be such a famous author?"
"Once I'm done with the matters at hand, I must go home and carefully read that Miss Fang Qiu's works."
"Me too. Maybe I can get a lot of inspiration from the books."
"Eh, hiss, that makes sense. Let's go together when we're done here. Miss Fang Qiu's new book seems to be called Sword and Fairy or something. That book seems to use our Liyue as the background."
"I want to join too. When the time comes, we can find a teahouse to sit down and appreciate it together, and even exchange insights."
"I like reading in a quiet environment. How about we hold an exchange meeting after we finish reading to discuss it together?"
The crowd discussed spiritedly.
At this moment, Keqing led Fang Qiu and the others into the main camp tent.
Seeing them enter the main tent, the scholars cast their gazes over one after another.
After greeting Keqing and the others, the scholars turned their gazes toward Fang Qiu.
"This must be Miss Fang Qiu, right?"
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