However, when it ca to such an old-fashioned scholar, An Yiqing had a bit of understanding, after all, he had spent his life doing research and didn’t understand worldly affairs.
But understanding was one thing, An Yiqing wasn’t a saint, and she couldn’t allow herself to be scolded for no reason.
"This... uh... Professor Zhang, what makes you so sure I’m less skilled?" She pondered for a mont, trying her best to speak to this old scholar in a calm tone. Recently, Peng Shaohe kept saying she was sharp-tongued, and An Yiqing was worried that if she accidentally spoke too harshly, and if the poor old scholar got so angry that his nose stopped working, she’d be out of luck.
"Hmph! Geological surveying requires enduring long periods of ti exposed to the elents, and those valuable experiences are not sothing young ladies like you, with your delicate skin, can learn in school! Young lady, I can see you’re smart and clever, but you shouldn’t be too arrogant!" Professor Zhang snorted coldly. An Yiqing’s polite attitude softened his tone slightly, but his face remained stern.
An Yiqing awkwardly touched her nose and looked at her own fair and tender hand. She trained under the sun every day, but was it her fault her skin wasn’t getting dark?!
"Professor Zhang, the mining task for this mountain is imperative. Now is not the ti for us to argue. Grandpa Peng has invested a lot of financial and material resources into this. If we lose this opportunity due to your stubbornness, can you bear the loss?"
An Yiqing’s words turned Professor Zhang’s face pale, and his lips moved, about to speak, but he was interrupted by An Yiqing waving her hand.
"You are a professional senior. If we’re just talking about experience, I indeed can’t compare to you. But everyone has their own strengths. You can’t just deny my ability because I’m young. How about this, you lead the surveying team to continue your work, and I will conduct my investigation alone. We don’t interfere with or disturb each other. In two hours, if I can’t help Grandpa Peng extract twenty pieces of jade, I’ll voluntarily withdraw from this mission."
Just as An Yiqing finished speaking, Peng Shaohe imdiately erupted.
"No way! How can you say that? You’re the expert consultant I invited, how can you just leave like that?!" He widened his eyes and gave everyone a cold, sweeping glance, scaring them pale, "Xiao Qing is soone I specifically invited, and anyone who questions her ability is questioning , Peng Shaohe! If anyone has issues, talk to directly, I don’t mind having a good chat with you!"
Peng Shaohe’s authoritative pressure continued to radiate outward, and everyone was so scared that they didn’t dare to make a sound. Even the stubborn old scholar Professor Zhang shut his mouth tightly, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
An Yiqing was deeply touched by Peng Shaohe’s protection, but having her abilities denied was sothing she couldn’t just let slide.
"Grandpa Peng, please don’t be angry, leave this matter to . I promise I won’t quit." She lightly tugged on Peng Shaohe’s clothes and raised her right hand to solemnly promise. An Yiqing was very confident in her abilities. While geological surveying wasn’t her forte, with a Clairvoyant Eye, even the most advanced scientific equipnt could step aside.
Peng Shaohe pursed his lips unhappily. Although he was very displeased with these old scholars’ stubbornness, since An Yiqing insisted, he had to let the matter rest.
"Little girl, you go act with Grandpa. I refuse to believe that soone I have an eye for would be worse than this bunch of old fogeys!" He gave no face to the surveying team, snorted coldly, and turned to leave.
An Yiqing smiled and quickly followed Peng Shaohe, leaving only a group of embarrassed old scholars standing there, not knowing what to do.
"Um, teacher, what do we do...?" A student from Country Jin asked awkwardly in his clumsy Xuanjin Language.
"What do you an what do we do? Just do what you’re supposed to do!" Professor Zhang snorted with a stern face, turned on his heels, and headed into the cave, muttering as he went, "I really want to see what kind of trouble that little girl can stir up! If she loses, let’s see how she cries, humph!"
Everyone felt exasperated. Professor Zhang’s stubbornness was renowned in the field; he argued with leadership and schools. If it wasn’t for his genuine skills, he would have been removed a long ti ago. Now, it seed like he was regressing, even starting to oppose young girls.
A group of students in their forties helplessly shrugged their shoulders, bobbed their heads, and followed Professor Zhang back into the cave. They just assud that what An Yiqing said were the angry words of youth. Extracting twenty pieces of jade in two hours, even if this was a mine, jade wasn’t as common as cabbages! Do they think it’s like their backyard, kicking out a bunch of cabbages in one go?
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