Chapter 30: Four Buildings
The next day, Li Xuan and Li Ming walked together through the hallway. Li Xuan reported, "Based on the investigation, only the wells around the city are affected. The river and the lake nearby are unaffected. We are considering starting another project to solve the water supply issue by utilizing the river and lake."
"I see. That's a good plan. The sooner they begin, the faster we can resolve the problem," Li Ming replied, his expression serious.
Suddenly, a man stood in their path, causing both Li Xuan and Li Ming to pause and wonder who had the audacity to stop them. It was Li Heng, wearing a mischievous smile.
"Well, well, well... To think I would meet you here, Sister. I've truly received your 'gift'," Li Heng said with a sneer. "But do you realize that what you're doing is detrimental to the clan?"
Li Xuan remained silent, and Li Ming was perplexed, not understanding what was wrong with this person.
"Once I bring this matter up in the meeting, Father will question you immediately," Li Heng threatened, his eyes filled with resentment for being suppressed by Li Changming. His movements were restricted, making it difficult for him to move around.
"Are you threatening me?" Li Xuan narrowed her eyes.
"How could I threaten my own sister? I'm simply warning you not to stray down the wrong path. As a member of the Li Clan, you should be doing your best to contribute to the clan," Li Heng replied.
"I am doing just that. If you have nothing else to say, then don't obstruct my way," Li Xuan retorted, snorting as she walked past Li Heng.
"You..." Li Heng gritted his teeth. "I will make you regret this!"
"Yeah, sure. Whatever," Li Xuan dismissed him nonchalantly.
Li Ming had observed their interaction but chose not to get involved in the clan's matters. He silently followed Li Xuan as they made their way outside the city. Li Ming had prepared blueprints for the buildings they needed, although they were still a bit rough.
Li Ming required four buildings for the project. The first was a dormitory for the workers, which could potentially be expanded into a housing area for future workers if the project progressed further.
The second building was the refinery, which needed to be designed carefully to prevent any fire hazards. The distillation and separation tools were essential components of the refinery. Since they also planned to extract petroleum gas, Li Ming had ensured that everything necessary was included from the start.
The third building was a guard post, recognizing the dangerous nature of this world. The local wildlife was much stronger than anything Li Ming had encountered on Earth. A bear could easily topple a tree with a single swipe, highlighting the necessity of a guard post.
Lastly, they needed a storage facility capable of holding thousands of barrels of oil. Due to the nature of oil, using wood was not feasible, and using iron was too costly at the moment. They settled for constructing the storage facility using clay and bricks.
These buildings formed the foundation of the future oil company that would dominate the Martial World. However, for now, Li Ming had to focus on overseeing their construction, supervising the workers, and investigating the area. There were numerous tasks at hand, leaving him with little time to rest, except for lunch breaks.
Despite their busy schedule, Li Xuan showed no signs of exhaustion. It seemed that Martial Arts training greatly enhanced their physical endurance. Although Li Ming admired their physical prowess, Eyses had advised him not to take on too much at once to avoid straining his health. This was another aspect he had to consider.
On Earth, medical knowledge was advanced, and he was not too concerned about falling ill, although he still aimed to avoid it if possible. However, in this world, medical knowledge was limited to traditional treatments and medicines. Falling sick could prove dangerous. He didn't even know if tetanus could be treated in this world, making him wary of injuries caused by metal.
While Li Ming was lost in his thoughts and immersed in his work, Li Heng was doing his best to push the matter of the oil spill.
"Father, why aren't you doing anything? This incident is clearly a result of the collaboration!" Li Heng complained, gritting his teeth. He had been arguing with his father for a few minutes, but Li Changming rejected all his ideas, seemingly siding with Li Xuan.
Li Heng tried to persuade the elders, but even the second elder, who had not apologized the previous day, chose to support Li Xuan and Li Ming.
This felt like a betrayal to Li Heng.
"Why aren't you taking any action against her? She caused this problem," Li Heng exclaimed, clenching his fists.
"Li Heng, that's enough. We discussed this yesterday, and the investigation concluded that the incident was caused by an earthquake. You are dismissed from this meeting!" Li Changming finally had enough and expelled Li Heng from the room.
"Father, you..." Li Heng protested, looking unwilling, but he was forcefully dragged away. From his expression, it was evident that he would hold a deep grudge regarding this matter.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
-- Power
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