Zhou Daya let out a soft chuckle. "Since I have already walked this road, let share a bit of experience. When my ntor first took in, he said sothing that stayed with ."
She folded her hands behind her back and looked at the young won one by one.
"He said that won like us, who can read and calculate, should not waste our abilities weaving cotton in factories. Especially in tis like these. Illiteracy is everywhere. Most people cannot read a contract, much less keep accounts. Those of us who have learned characters are already considered rare."
The young won exchanged stunned glances.
That did not sound right at all.
Everywhere they had gone in the past, they had been treated as stained goods. Forr courtesans, nothing more. Yet in Zhou Daya's words, or rather in her ntor's words, they were being described as valuable talents. As people with knowledge.
It felt unreal.
A faint warmth quietly spread through their chests.
Zhou Daya smiled at their reactions. "The professions I would recomnd include managent, accounting, and secretarial work in factories. You could also beco perforrs at the Stars Performing Arts Agency, illustrators or designers for bookstores, or art teachers at schools."
She tapped her own chest lightly.
"And there is also my line of work. Journalism."
The girls blinked.
"Working in news is excellent. Dao Xuan Tianzun himself will teach you. Once you finish studying, you will be considered his direct disciples. People everywhere will show you respect."
She paused, then added with a casual shrug, "Although it can be dangerous. Especially if you beco a war correspondent. You might be sent to the front lines at any ti."
Several of the girls inhaled sharply.
So had just been about to ask what journalism ant, but the mont they heard the words "front lines," they imdiately swallowed the question.
Zhou Daya laughed softly. "Not everyone has to beco a war correspondent. You could stay behind the lines and work as a news anchor. That is also a fine job."
She gestured as she spoke, clearly enjoying herself.
"Our ntor has also been planning new science and education programs lately. Things like the 'Shi Kefa Legal Enlightennt Series.' We will also teach cooking, dancing, and practical skills through the Immortal Treasure Mirrors."
The young won listened with blank expressions. Most of it sailed straight over their heads.
Zhou Daya could tell. She did not mind. Understanding would co later once they reached Gao Family Village. There was no need to rush.
Originally, she had boarded the ship to interview Zhu Piaoling about his travels. But after speaking with these girls, she quietly turned off her cara.
If she placed herself in their shoes, she knew she would hate having her past broadcast to the world. These girls would feel the sa.
News was not ant to reopen old wounds.
So instead, she simply took on the role of guide and led them personally toward Gao Family Village.
Puzhou City, Wuxing Lake
Lao Nanfeng, Cai Lin, Chen Qianhu, a full troupe of actors, and several Western perforrs recruited through the church gathered around an editing tablet. They were watching fragnts of the newly fild Battle of Liaoluowan.
On the screen, Lao Nanfeng, playing the protagonist, stood opposite Cai Lin, who portrayed the female lead.
The scene was ant to show them talking on the deck of a ship with the vast ocean behind them. Unfortunately, filming on the open sea was impossible. Following Dao Xuan Tianzun's instructions, they had recorded everything in front of a huge sheet of green cloth.
Watching themselves perform emotional dialogue while standing before a flat green wall felt deeply awkward.
Chen Qianhu scratched his head. "Brother Nanfeng, can this really be used? It looks ridiculous."
Lao Nanfeng spread his hands helplessly. "Dao Xuan Tianzun told us to film it like this. I have no idea why. Let us check the next clip and see how it looks."
He switched the footage.
This scene showed Liu Xiang, the pirate leader, disguised as a comprador for the Dutch, speaking with Admiral Putmans of the Dutch fleet.
Naturally, Chen Qianhu was playing Liu Xiang. The admiral was portrayed by a rather handso Western adventurer. To be fair, most people of the Heavenly Dynasty struggled to tell Western appearances apart. Blond hair and blue eyes were already enough to blur everyone together.
The adventurer leaned forward, studying the tablet with interest. He pointed at the screen and spoke in clumsy Mandarin.
"I believe I acted quite well. I sailed to the Great Ming aboard a large ship before, so I understand how one behaves while speaking on a deck. Still, this green background feels strange. I cannot imagine how such a film will be presented."
Before anyone could respond, the embroidered Dao Xuan Tianzun on Lao Nanfeng's chest suddenly spoke.
"Oh? You have already fild several segnts?"
The tablet abruptly lifted into the air. It floated upward, streaked toward the sky, and vanished into the clouds.
The entire group stared upward, frozen in place.
Several minutes passed in silence before the embroidered voice returned with a satisfied chuckle.
"Excellent work. You followed my instructions well. Since you fild against a green background, leave the rest to ."
Lao Nanfeng still looked confused. "Dao Xuan Tianzun… how exactly will you process it?"
"That is none of your concern. You will see the results in a few days. Tell , have you finished only dialogue scenes? What about the large naval battles?"
Lao Nanfeng straightened imdiately. "Reporting to Dao Xuan Tianzun, we are prepared to film the battle scenes. The fleet is already arranged on Wuxing Lake. However…"
He hesitated.
"The lake is enormous. We cannot cover the entire background with green cloth. The caras will capture the distant shoreline, farmland, and hills."
"That is simple," Dao Xuan Tianzun replied casually. "I have already prepared sothing."
As his voice faded, the sky darkened.
Sothing enormous descended from the clouds.
A colossal green screen dropped down and suspended itself over the center of Wuxing Lake. It stretched across the horizon like a massive curtain standing between heaven and earth.
Behind the assembled fleet, every trace of shoreline vanished. Only endless green remained.
The local actors erupted into cheers. They were excited but not entirely shocked. By now, they had grown sowhat used to Dao Xuan Tianzun's miracles.
The Western perforrs, however, stared with open mouths, completely overwheld by the divine spectacle.
Lao Nanfeng burst out laughing. "So this is the trick! Dao Xuan Tianzun is truly incredible! With this, the entire lake becos our stage."
He clapped loudly.
"All actors to your positions! Why are you extras still staring like stunned chickens? Prepare to start filming!"
He kicked Chen Qianhu squarely on the backside.
"Liu Xiang, hurry and bring your pirate crew. It is ti for you to die properly!"
Chen Qianhu jumped forward with a yelp. "I am not Liu Xiang! Stop calling Liu Xiang!"
Lao Nanfeng waved dismissively. "Less whining. Get ready for the naval battle."
At his command, the entire cast sprang into action.
Soon, the reenactnt of the Battle of Liaoluowan exploded into life.
Unloaded cannons thundered. Flintlock muskets snapped and cracked without bullets, filling the air with sharp bursts of noise.
Extras rushed across decks, clashing blades and sabers in chaotic lees.
The model Dutch tall ships provided by Li Daoxuan surged across Wuxing Lake, plowing through formations of smaller Ming vessels that sward around them like ants attacking a towering beast.
Lao Nanfeng, playing the hero, raised a massive saber and charged across the deck after Chen Qianhu.
"Traitor Liu Xiang, prepare to die!"
Chen Qianhu twisted his lips into a mocking grin.
"You are nothing but a fisherman. You are not even worthy of my blade."
The two n launched into a furious duel, both using genuine martial skill. Their movents were fast, precise, and dangerous, creating an action sequence that felt thrillingly authentic. Compared to the soft, stylized fighting perford by pampered young idols, this was raw and explosive.
Watching from above, Li Daoxuan was thoroughly entertained.
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