NOVPUBAt worst, I’ll just have to work a bit harder and fudge it later...
Cui Daqi was thinking to himself.
He casually flipped open the organized written messages, and his gaze casually swept over them; however, in the next instant, he couldn’t help but freeze.
This was a page of ordinary paper.
At the very top of the paper, there was a line of graceful handwriting: ’Spirit Food Department October Material Usage, Consumption, and Inventory Table’.
On this ordinary piece of paper, there were dozens of lines, neatly forming a series of boxes.
Inside the boxes, the graceful handwriting listed all the types of materials used by the Spirit Food Department in the most recent month, in the topmost row.
Above these material types, there was another line of small text, indicating the departments that used them.
Below, at the very left, were vertical descriptions like ’Stock In’, ’Stock Out’, ’Consumption’, ’Inventory’, ’Number of Defects’, ’Date’...
In each box, the corresponding numbers were filled in.
Its simplicity and clarity meant that even though he had never seen this form of recording, he could instantly understand the situation of material usage within the Spirit Food Department at a glance.
Cui Daqi couldn’t help but lift his head in surprise to look at Wang Ba.
Wang Ba, somewhat nervously, hurriedly explained:
"This is a summary table that I made after collating those previous data, for easier overview. However, there are some discrepancies in the previous records, so there are some blanks that still need to be verified again. This page is followed by the detailed usage of each material..."
Whatever was said next, Cui Daqi could no longer hear clearly.
He struggled to keep his expression in check, trying not to let Wang Ba notice the... shock and joy in his heart.
At that moment, he had only one thought:
What virtues and abilities does Senior Brother Yao have!
What kind of divine disciple is this!?
Steady and sensible, respectful to his teachers and valuing the proper path, with good talent and a mastery of unique skills. The key point was he even handled the troublesome chores that gave him a headache with such ease and creativity...
"...Uncle-Master, Uncle-Master?"
Wang Ba’s voice suddenly echoed in his ears.
Cui Daqi then abruptly snapped back to reality, only to see Wang Ba looking at him with confusion and concern.
He coughed awkwardly, his stiff face managing to squeeze out a smile:
"Oh, good... okay, I understand."
Wang Ba quickly said, "Then I’ll go and verify each data point later, does that work for you, Uncle-Master?"
Cui Daqi was momentarily lost:
"Verify?"
He then immediately came to his senses:
"Ah, yes, of course, go ahead. Thank you for your hard work."
Wang Ba nodded his head and was about to leave when Cui Daqi suddenly remembered something and pointed to a stack of written messages in front of him, casually saying:
"Right, there is some material here that needs to be handled. You can take a look at it; there is no rush, just bring it to me when you’re free in the next couple of days."
Wang Ba had no objections. Although he hadn’t moved into his Vice Minister’s office, there was actually not much work to do in the Refining Room.
The Deacons and lower officials were all very proactive and enthusiastic, and the efficiency seemed to have increased considerably, so for the time being, as Vice Minister, he didn’t need to get his hands dirty.
He then took the whole stack of written messages with him.
And just as the door closed, Cui Daqi, who had been sitting behind the desk, couldn’t contain himself and abruptly stood up, clenching his fists in joy:
"I am finally not obliged to deal with these broken trifles every day."
"These have been irritating me to death."
At that moment, as if sensing something, he sat back down quickly, taking the ’table’ into his hands with a slightly furrowed brow, his demeanor serious as he examined it.
The next moment, there was a gentle knock on the door, and Wang Ba’s voice came from outside:
"Uncle-Master, where are the keys to the storeroom?"
Cui Daqi’s tense expression immediately relaxed, and he pondered before responding:
"They are with big drinker He, go ask him for them. And tell him to come see me."
"Yes."
As soon as he felt Wang Ba had descended the stairs, Cui Daqi finally couldn’t hold back anymore, standing up again with a joyful expression on his face.
He couldn’t help but flip through the written messages that Wang Ba had organized once more.
Indeed, many data entries beside these written messages were specially marked and revised with red ink—some had errors, some were incomplete, all clear and apparent.
Clearly, Wang Ba had thoroughly sorted and summarized the data inside these written messages.
The data in that table also had a clear basis.
Unable to resist, Cui Daqi flipped back to that table again, his face brimming with unrestrained joy.
It was at that moment.
"Old Cui, what did you call me for..."
Big drinker He came in reeking of alcohol, lazily pushing the door open, only to see Cui Daqi with a face full of joy, and couldn’t help being slightly surprised:
"What’s the occasion, find a new partner?"
"Go on, get out!"
Cui Daqi, annoyed by the sight of big drinker He, pointed to the table organized by Wang Ba:
"You’re both Vice Ministers, but look at Martial Nephew Wang. Old He, I’m not trying to criticize you, but if I were you, I’d be too ashamed to show my face."
Big drinker He was reprimanded into confusion, walking forward skeptically and laying his eyes on that table on the desk.
He then couldn’t help but pause.
After all, he was a Nascent Soul Cultivator; while organizing these data was difficult for him, understanding them was not. In just a glance, he realized what was before him, somewhat surprised he said:
"Old Cui, you had this skill? It’s only been one night, and you’ve done quite a convincing job!"
"I keep telling you, it was Martial Nephew Wang. He has finished the work that was troubling you."
Cui Daqi, annoyed by the other’s alcohol smell, emphatically tapped on the table.
