It had been a long time since Shen Nanchu had met an elder so interesting, with such an agile mind, who didn't play by the rules.

If this man were to be her mentor, her future academic career would certainly not be boring.

Shen Yuan had also not met a young person so bright, bold, meticulous, and daring enough to challenge him in a long time.

If he took on this student, his days of recovering from illness would probably become much more exciting.

After this invisible clash, both of them already had their answers in mind.

Shen Yuan picked up his slightly cooled tea, took a sip, and finally stopped beating around the bush. He said slowly,

"Since you have so much confidence, girl, and you think this old man can still barely manage to teach you a thing or two... then fine, I'll take you on as my student."

Hearing this, Liang Guoming and Yu Hongbin immediately beamed with joy.

However, Shen Yuan's next sentence made their smiles freeze. "But..."

He dragged out his words, his eyes glancing toward the pile of documents and artifacts waiting to be sorted in the courtyard.

"I am indeed short of hands to do the work. Guoming and Hongbin are good candidates, it's just..."

He looked the two of them up and down, shook his head, and spoke with obvious disdain,

"They are getting a bit old. They aren't nimble enough, and their energy can't keep up."

Liang Guoming and Yu Hongbin were speechless.

We worked so hard to help you for over a month, and in the end, all we get is being called old and useless?

The two immediately looked resentful, filled with grief and indignation: Who could they even complain to?! They had worked for nothing all this time, only to be despised in the end!

Looking at the aggrieved expressions of the two leaders, Shen Nanchu found it amusing.

She was someone who respected her teachers and valued their teachings, so she would naturally take the initiative to share her teacher's burdens.

"Since the professor needs helpers, just leave this small matter to your student."

"After all, basic tasks like sorting documents and categorizing artifacts require physical strength and carefulness. They really should be left to young people."

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Do you have suitable candidates in mind?"

He was curious about who this girl would find to take over this hot potato.

Shen Nanchu smiled faintly, already having a plan in mind.

Young people with good stamina, attention to detail, and some foundation in archaeology?

Wasn't this tailor-made for Pei Yunzhou and Zheng Tongwei?

One was a younger brother who was just idling around at home anyway, and the other was a future subordinate working a routine job who desperately needed to enrich his experience.

At this moment, Pei Yunzhou, who was enjoying a rare moment of leisure at home, slouching on the couch and reading comic books, and Zheng Tongwei, who was dozing off in his office with his head nodding, both let out a huge sneeze without any warning.

They ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‍had no idea that their highly glorious moment was about to arrive.

The next day, Shen Nanchu called Pei Yunzhou and Zheng Tongwei over.

Tricking one was the same as tricking two, so she decided to handle them both at once.

Shen Nanchu wore a serious expression, her eyes carrying a sense of mission.

"Yunzhou, Brother Tongwei, there is a very important mission right now. It concerns the progress of a major national archaeological research project, and reliable hands are urgently needed."

As soon as Pei Yunzhou heard the words major mission and archaeological project, he immediately perked up and sat up straight.

Zheng Tongwei also focused his attention.

Shen Nanchu continued her bluff, her tone heavy.

"Professor Shen Yuan, the leading authority in the archaeological world, you both know him, right?"

"He is currently sorting through a batch of extremely precious, first-hand archaeological materials brought back from Mount Li."

"These materials are the key to uncovering an important historical mystery!"

"However, Elder Shen is getting on in years and isn't feeling well. He urgently needs two responsible, meticulous young men with some foundational knowledge to assist him!"

Watching their eyes gradually light up, she emphasized her tone,

"This is not just simple sorting work! This is touching history with your own hands; it is contributing to the nation's archaeological cause!"

"Every piece of pottery cleaned, every bamboo slip restored, could contain a major discovery that overturns previous understandings!"

"This is a glorious and arduous mission, a task that requires absolute trust and dedication to complete!"

She successfully packaged free manual labor into an honorary job participating in a major national project.

Shen Nanchu paused, then added, "Word of this has just spread, and many people are already fighting to go help."

"Are you..."

Before Shen Nanchu could even say the words interested in going, Pei Yunzhou and Zheng Tongwei spoke up in unison.

"I'll go!"

"I'll go!"

Pei Yunzhou's blood was boiling with excitement. He felt that he could finally contribute to archaeology just like his sister-in-law!

Zheng Tongwei also felt that this was an excellent opportunity to escape his boring office job, get in touch with high-end academics, and add some flair to his resume!

The two immediately patted their chests and declared that they would definitely live up to the trust placed in them and resolutely complete the mission!

And so, two hardworking, highly motivated figures soon appeared in the small courtyard of Shen Yuan's home.

Pei Yunzhou and Zheng Tongwei worked exceptionally hard and with great passion, as if what they were holding in their hands were not mud-covered pottery shards, but dazzling national treasures.

Moving boxes, cleaning artifacts, categorizing and filing according to Shen Yuan's instructions, they ran around doing everything without a single complaint.

Using these two, Shen Yuan felt they were much handier than Liang Guoming and Yu Hongbin. They had good stamina, weren't stupid, and did exactly as they were told.

Watching the two young men being fooled so willingly and working with such soaring enthusiasm, he grew increasingly curious about Shen Nanchu's methods.

One day, taking advantage of a break, he asked Pei Yunzhou seemingly casually,

"Kid, when you came to help this old man work, what did that girl Nanchu say to you? Did she promise you any benefits?"

Pei Yunzhou wiped the sweat from his forehead, his face showing an expression woven with glory and dreams.

"Professor Shen, don't say that!"

"My sister-in-law said that this is foundational core work for a major national archaeological project! It's an incredibly glorious mission!"

"Being able to learn from you and sort these precious historical materials with our own hands is an opportunity that many people could only beg for! We must cherish it and dedicate ourselves!"

Zheng Tongwei also nodded earnestly on the side.

"Sister Nanchu said that this is contributing to restoring historical truth, and it holds extraordinary significance! We are supporting the nation's cultural cause!"

Listening to them, Shen Yuan was stunned at first, but then he couldn't help stroking his beard and laughing out loud, laughing so hard that tears almost came to his eyes.

Brilliant! Truly brilliant!

He originally thought he was pretty good at tricking Liang Guoming and Yu Hongbin, but he never expected that this newly accepted student of his would surpass her master!

Her level of bluffing was more than just a notch higher than his!

She had forcibly turned free manual labor into a prestigious volunteer job filled with a sense of mission and honor!

With this kind of perspective and these methods, he, Shen Yuan, was thoroughly impressed!

This child's future prospects were truly limitless!

Shen Yuan increasingly felt that taking on this student was the most correct decision he had made during his convalescence. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Cunning enough, and exactly to his taste!

She would definitely surpass her master.

...