The female anchor turned into the dean of an ancient academy

When he arrived at the craftsman department, Wu Cheng was pacing back and forth anxiously.

"My dear dean, you are finally here! I dare not leave this "new artifact" for a moment!" When Wu Cheng saw Cen Jiexiao, he hurriedly handed over a tightly wrapped wooden box in his hand.

Cen Jiexiao carefully took the box, feeling its heavy weight, and was extremely excited.

"Teacher Wu Cheng, thank you for your hard work! Come on, introduce yourself quickly." Cen Jiexiao asked impatiently.

Wu Cheng wiped his sweat and began to talk incessantly.

"Dean, do you remember a while ago when you gave me some telescope blueprints and asked me to figure out how to make something special out of crystal? I started thinking about it, and lo and behold, I actually created this thing! Look at this, I polished it piece by piece according to your blueprints. It's absolutely exquisite! Look at this lens, so crystal clear, and this tube, so exquisite..."

While listening to Wu Cheng bragging, Cen Jiexiao opened the box.

Inside the box lay a long brass tube, gleaming with metallic luster in the sunlight, evident in its fine workmanship. Cen Jiexiao picked up the telescope and attempted to peer towards the distant mountain peaks.

"Wow! So clear!" Cen Jiexiao exclaimed, "Teacher Wu Cheng, your skills are amazing!"

Chen Zigui also came over curiously, took the telescope from Cen Jiexiao, looked into the distance, and couldn't help but exclaimed: "Wonderful! With this treasure, we can..."

Before he could finish his words, Cen Jiexiao snatched it away.

"Hehe, the secret cannot be revealed, you will know it when the time comes!" Cen Jiexiao winked at Chen Zigui, then carefully put the telescope back into the box.

"Teacher Wu Cheng, you've worked so hard this time!" Cen Jiexiao patted Wu Cheng's shoulder warmly. "Don't worry, the academy won't treat you unfairly. You'll get an extra bonus for your year-end performance. Also, this first batch of telescopes will be named after you: 'Wu Cheng Mirror'!"

Wu Cheng was flattered and waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Dean, this is unacceptable! This is what I should do. How can I covet these empty names?"

Cen Jiexiao smiled and said, "Teacher Wu Cheng, don't be so modest. Your contributions to the academy are obvious to all. You deserve this honor."

Wu Cheng was about to decline, but Cen Jiexiao continued, "It's settled. By the way, Teacher Wu Cheng, when will the first batch of thirty telescopes be completed?"

"Thank you, Dean. Please rest assured that with the hard work of the Artisan Department, the first batch of thirty telescopes will be completed within the next two days."

"Well, Teacher Wu Cheng has done a great service to the academy."

"As you should, Dean. Seeing the tremendous changes in the academy, my students and I truly see hope. From now on, if you have any requests, please let us know. The Artisan Department will do its utmost to help."

Sister Cen pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "Orders? Oh, if you want to talk about orders, there really are some. The food at the academy has been pretty good lately. I asked Uncle Wang from the pastry shop to send two hundred red date cakes to your craftsman department. Your task is to finish these two hundred cakes in the next two days and give everyone a good reward, haha!"

"Thank you, Dean, for your concern for our students!" Wu Cheng rubbed his hands happily. He knew that the Dean was giving them benefits in disguise! "Then on behalf of the teachers and students of the Craftsman Department, I would like to thank the Dean for his concern, haha!" After saying this, Wu Cheng turned happily and walked towards the Craftsman Department.

Watching Wu Cheng walk away, Cen Jiexiao's expression suddenly grew serious. She turned to Chen Zigui and said, "Big Brother, what are your plans for these thirty telescopes?"

After a moment of contemplation, Chen Zigui said, "Teacher Gavin must provide one for each of the twelve members of the Qiming team, and you and Yu Lan must also be provided with one. As for the rest, it depends on whether the dean wants to put them up at an exhibition and exchange them for real money."

Cen Jiexiao nodded in agreement. "Well, Senior Brother, you're right. Making a telescope does require a certain level of technical experience, and you also need to know the material formulas. Even if those profit-seeking merchants are shrewd, they might not be able to replicate a finished product."

"Oh, speaking of exhibitions..." Cen Jiexiao's lips curled up into a sly smile, "Big Brother, do you still remember that guy we met during the election for the headmaster, Mr. Liu from Linlang Pavilion, who threatened to buy up all the 'exotic things' in our academy?"

Chen Zigui raised his eyebrows and instantly understood Cen Jiexiao's intention: "You want to..."

"That's right," Cen Jiexiao said with a smile, "Let's try a 'willing take the bait' approach this time. This Mr. Liu has plenty of money, and he loves to show off his treasures everywhere. In his eyes, our 'Wu Cheng Mirror' is much more valuable than a night-shining pearl or a glass lamp."

"But this Mr. Liu is not a pushover. If he knew the value of this telescope, he wouldn't give up easily. Then..." Chen Zigui looked worried.

"Don't worry, Big Brother. I know what's going on." Cen Jiexiao patted Chen Zigui's arm confidently. "Our Mr. Liu may be shrewd, but ultimately, he's just a money-obsessed vulgarian. As long as we perform well, there's no need to worry that he won't pay."

"Okay, since the dean already has a plan, then I'm relieved." Chen Zigui looked at Cen Jiexiao's confident look, and couldn't help but feel a little more expectant in his heart.

A few days later, in the private room on the second floor of Linlang Pavilion, Mr. Liu sat upright, holding a teacup in his hand, but he did not drink a sip. His shrewd eyes were staring at the wooden box on the table.

"Mr. Liu, this is a 'rare thing' that our dean specially asked me to leave for you." Yu Lan, who was beside Cen Jiexiao, said with a smile while opening the wooden box on the table.

The moment the box was opened, Mr. Liu seemed to have seen some treasure. His eyes widened and he stood up suddenly, pushed the chair away, and almost knocked over the teacup on the table.

He couldn't wait to pick up the telescope, put it to his eyes with trembling hands, and looked out the window.

"This...this..." Mr. Liu was so shocked that he couldn't speak for a long time and almost dropped the telescope in his hand.

The street scene that was originally blurry in the distance was now clearly displayed in front of me. People coming and going on the street and street vendors could be heard clearly.

"How is it? Mr. Liu, this thing is an exclusive invention of our academy. You will never find it anywhere else." Cen Jiexiao picked up the teacup, blew the tea leaves gently, and spoke slowly, as if talking about an insignificant matter.

Mr. Liu's face flushed with excitement. He held the telescope tightly as if he was holding some rare treasure.

"Good! Good! Good! Dean Cen is indeed a remarkable man. He can even make such a treasure!" Mr. Liu excitedly said "good" three times in a row, and his eyes were full of greed when he looked at Cen Jiexiao.

Cen Jiexiao sneered in her heart, but remained calm on the surface, still maintaining an elegant smile: "As long as Mr. Liu likes it, I wonder if you..."

"I wonder if Dean Cen would be willing to give up this treasure and sell it to me? I am willing to pay a high price!" Mr. Liu interrupted Cen Jiexiao anxiously, fearing that she would refuse.

Cen Jiexiao frowned awkwardly: "This..."

"President Cen, please name your price. As long as I, Liu, can afford it, I will definitely agree!" Mr. Liu promised, patting his chest.

"Since Mr. Liu is so forthright," Cen Jiexiao put down her teacup, extended two fingers, and gestured lightly, "How about eight hundred taels of silver?"

"Eight hundred taels?!" Mr. Liu exclaimed, almost jumping up and down. "President Cen, aren't you asking for too much?!"

"Mr. Liu, you know that this is an exclusive invention of our academy. The production process is complicated and the cost is high. Eight hundred taels of silver is already a friendship price given to you because you are an old friend of our academy." Yu Lan echoed from the side, with a bit of arrogance in her tone.

Mr. Liu's face was gloomy and uncertain, and he was torn between his conscience and his desires. Eight hundred taels of silver was no small sum, but if he could get this treasure, let alone eight hundred taels, he would be willing to pay even five thousand taels!

Just when Mr. Liu was hesitating, Cen Jiexiao suddenly stood up and pretended to put the telescope away: "Since Mr. Liu thinks it's too expensive, then forget it, we..."

"Wait!" Mr. Liu grabbed Cen Jiexiao's hand and said, "Deal! Eight hundred taels is eight hundred taels!"

Cen Jiexiao raised the corner of her mouth slightly, and slowly pulled her hand out of Mr. Liu's greasy palm.