Pierre had long since taken over Felix's city design project. Although they'd had to re-survey the site when Felix changed the originally chosen location, things had gone relatively smoothly overall.
Until now, Pierre had been focused on designing a proper sewer system. His draft of the city blueprint consisted only of lines representing the proposed sewer layout. He used these lines to roughly delineate various city zones—such as the Lord's estate, commercial district, residential district, and so on—but hadn't filled in any detailed plans yet.
So when Felix summoned him, the first thing this architect brought up was the sewer system he'd been developing.
"After building the model, we conducted multiple tests. We ruled out potential blockages and overflow issues and made several additions and deletions to the design. Based on this model, we can now start refining the sewer routes."
Pierre wasn't just drawing diagrams on paper. After a conversation with Wei wei that gave him some valuable insight, he conducted a terrain survey and then created a scaled-down ground model based on the actual topography. He even commissioned a ceramicist to make miniature clay pipes, assembling them on the model to simulate a functioning sewer system. He'd been so absorbed in testing the flow with water every day that he was starting to seem half-mad—anyone who didn't know better might've thought the old man had lost it.
Of course, this sewer system was only a basic framework. Once the full city blueprint was completed, it would need to be extended and refined to connect to every household. Later models would be even more complex, and Pierre couldn't guarantee that no new problems would arise.
Still, as a bold new attempt, Pierre was quite confident in his work.
Provided, of course, that the city would be built according to this sewer layout. If the overall plan changed, the sewer system would have to be scrapped and redesigned from scratch.
Now that the sewer system was functional on the model and nearly ready for real-world implementation, Pierre had naturally come to inform his employer and confirm that he could proceed with the next phase of planning. He also wanted to make sure Felix didn't plan on altering the city's layout again.
Even if Felix hadn't summoned him, Pierre would've sought a meeting himself.
Thankfully, Felix had no intention of changing the layout. He was quite satisfied with Pierre's simple draft—just a few lines with zone names written beside them—especially because Pierre had grasped Wei wei's preferences. The zoning, shaped with practical use and symmetry in mind, laid the groundwork for an easy-to-navigate city. Streets would be clean and straightforward.
Judging by how Wei Wei had planned the slave housing in neat, orderly rows, her love for order was obvious.
And if Wei Wei liked it, Felix wouldn't complain.
Pierre further sweetened the deal by saying, "Once I complete the design, we can build a model of it to visualize the real effect. If anything doesn't meet your expectations, it can still be adjusted."
That was certainly better than discovering halfway through construction that the client wanted something changed. Pierre had experienced such headaches many times before. With a model, it would now be easy to make changes ahead of time, before any ground was broken.
This time, his main purpose was to ask Felix what architectural style he preferred for the city, and whether any special buildings needed to be included.
Of course, there were—and very important ones.
"A city hall," Felix said, pointing to the blank space in the center of the draft. "We need a city hall here."
It was something Wei Wei had mentioned multiple times, so of course Felix hadn't forgotten.
Pierre, after hearing the function of the building and glancing at the location Felix had chosen, couldn't help but sigh. "Are you sure you want to place it there?"
Typically, the city center would house the Lord's estate. In other words, the location Felix pointed to was originally reserved for his residence.
Felix nodded. "Yes, I'm sure."
The Lord's estate was supposed to be the most expansive structure in the city. While it could be converted into a city hall, that left the question: where would his residence go?
Felix moved his finger and pointed to the area Pierre had planned for the noble district.
"The city hall can handle the administrative functions. As for my residence, it doesn't need to be that large—just a noble's manor will do."
Of course, "just" a manor didn't mean ordinary. Even if the size was cut down, it still had to be at least twice as big as the other nobles' homes.
As for the architectural style, Felix requested that it match Wei Wei's villa—simple yet refined, with large windows being a must.
Ideally, the entire city would be built in that style.
Wei Wei would love that.
Pierre immediately shut that dream down. "My lord, that would be far too expensive. The future residents of this city won't all be nobles—commoners can't afford such fine housing."
Having worked with Felix for a long time, Pierre understood him well. While Felix had grown into an increasingly competent and even outstanding lord, whenever anything involved Wei Wei, he'd turn into someone completely irrational—acting with such extravagance that he made even the most wasteful nobles look frugal.
Felix called it "romantic." Even he, the so-called romantic, occasionally seemed embarrassed by his impulses.
Like right now.
Wei Wei's villa was indeed beautiful and highly functional, but the cost of building it could have funded the entire pre-development of a town like Dingle.
If all the city's houses were built to that standard, even scaled-down versions for commoners, the cost would be astronomical.
Even if the entire treasury of Sardinson County were poured into it, it still wouldn't be enough.
Pierre suspected that Felix had been blinded by the wealth he'd amassed over the past year and had completely forgotten about the cost of building a city.
With a sigh, he told Felix, "My lord, I think you should discuss this with Lady Wei Wei. Since you're building this city for her, shouldn't she be the one to decide what it should look like?"
Pierre was sure the lady would be far more rational than her husband. From his point of view, Felix had been so dazzled by new wealth that he no longer flinched at extravagant expenses.
Felix didn't see it that way. He had tested the waters by discussing the idea of a city with Wei Wei before and gained a lot of inspiration from her.
He might not have fully grasped the practical steps, but he understood that a well-designed city could be used to develop real estate. The better the houses, the more people they'd attract, and if handled properly, any investment could turn a huge profit.
Though Wei Wei hadn't laid it out in detail, Felix had caught onto the business potential. A beautiful, strategically developed city could attract nobles, merchants, and commoners alike—creating population growth for Sardinson.
That was why he had moved the planned location to the border between Sardinson and Slot counties. The third neighboring county wasn't far either, and once Slot built its future seaport, the area would become a vital hub with access to maritime trade. This new city could very well become the most prosperous trading center in eastern Pradi.
And if it had distinctive, beautiful architecture? He'd have no trouble selling homes at all.
Unfortunately, Pierre didn't understand his grand vision. When Felix realized he couldn't persuade him, he gave in and invoked Wei Wei.
Felix frowned. "This was meant to be a surprise for her. Isn't it too soon to reveal it?"
Pierre, unfazed, replied, "If the surprise doesn't match her taste, then it's not a pleasant surprise."
"And if you find out afterward that she dislikes it, will you rebuild everything?"
Of course, he would—how could a gift not suit the recipient's preferences?
"And Lady Wei Wei might get upset at the waste of resources," Pierre added. "She's not nearly as romantic as you. She's… more practical."
At that point, Pierre couldn't help but wish he could swap the couple's personalities. That way, he wouldn't have to work so hard to talk sense into Felix.
But then again, if their personalities had been reversed, the city probably wouldn't even be under consideration yet.
Felix acknowledged that Pierre had a point.
After hesitating for a moment, he finally nodded. "All right, I'll go bring her here."
Wei Wei had no idea that Felix was secretly planning a whole city behind her back. She'd assumed that even if a city were truly in the works, it wouldn't happen for several years—especially considering how understaffed Sardinson County still was. Roads hadn't been completed, the docks hadn't been built… and now they wanted to build a city? Wasn't that just a little too ambitious?
When Felix's people came to fetch her, Wei Wei was in the garden digging bamboo shoots.
Her garden featured a wide variety of bamboo species—mostly cold-resistant ones like purple bamboo, yellow-ribbed bamboo, early grove bamboo, and stiff bamboo. They grew in clusters, scattered or intermingled. Some were rare species, others were more common, but without exception, they all produced delicious shoots and had versatile uses. It was clear the system had put thought into selecting these seeds.
These hardy bamboo types thrived in Sardinson's climate. They had grown well even in their first year, and this spring (around February 3–5 in the Gregorian calendar), they'd sprouted plenty of fresh shoots. But back then, Wei Wei had still been in the capital and couldn't tend to them. The gardeners, unfamiliar with bamboo, hadn't realized the shoots were edible, so they let them grow unchecked.
As a result, the once-modest grove had spread like wildfire, overtaking the surrounding land and showing no signs of slowing down.
Ordinary bamboo might not grow so aggressively, but these mother plants had been enhanced by the system—strong vitality, prolific shoot production, and rapid growth. If left unattended, they could easily overrun the entire garden.
Since returning from the capital, Wei Wei had relocated most of the bamboo to other areas, leaving just a portion for ornamental purposes. Even so, new shoots continued to pop up every day. Whenever she wanted to relax, she'd bring a small hoe out and dig up a few. It served as a light workout—and provided a tasty addition to the table.
Of course, she mainly dug up the fast-growing, less rare varieties. The more precious, slower-growing ones were better left alone to mature.
When she heard Felix wanted to see her, Wei Wei handed the basket of freshly dug bamboo shoots to a maid, rinsed her hands clean in a nearby bucket, and headed to the study.
Upon learning the reason for the summons, her eyes widened in shock.
She was genuinely touched that Felix had been secretly planning a city as a surprise for her—but after the initial emotion faded, she couldn't help feeling exasperated too.
"I love the idea," she admitted, "but like Pierre said—I'd like to be involved."
After all, how many people ever got the chance to design a city entirely according to their vision? It was like playing a real-life version of one of those city-building games from the future. Of course, she wanted in!
"Hold on."
Wei Wei walked over to her desk, pulled open a drawer, and took out a notebook. Flipping to a particular page, she revealed a set of notes outlining her vision for a future city.
"This might come in handy."
Ever since the idea of building a city had crossed her mind, she'd been jotting down ideas. Over time, those scattered thoughts had evolved into a notebook full of seemingly chaotic but carefully considered plans.
Unlike Felix, who mostly wanted the city to be beautiful and attention-grabbing, Wei Wei had more specific ideas. Her planning was more detailed—and her standards, higher.
To Felix and Pierre, cities were more or less the same. Their best frame of reference was the capital. But from Wei Wei's perspective, those cities were lacking.
Europe's population density was nowhere near that of Asia, and during this era, the numbers were downright pitiful. For comparison, ancient Chinese capitals once had over a million people, while Pradi' royal capital had peaked at 300,000—and currently hovered around 260,000.
Her research showed that most cities in eastern Pradi had populations under 100,000—and many under 50,000.
Those were pathetic numbers. So Wei Wei wanted her new city to be like a sparrow: small, but complete in every way.
Flipping through her notes, she explained, "First of all, we don't need to build the entire city all at once. I think we should start with the central area and key supporting facilities—enough to give it some scale and appeal."
She pointed to the center of the blueprint. "The city hall will be the city's landmark building. It needs to be big and visually striking—like a work of art. Ideally, it should be a multi-story building, the more majestic the better. As a public administration center and civic hub, it also needs basic functional spaces."
"So, let's build a central plaza in front of it. Residents can rest and gather there, and on special occasions, we can host celebrations and festivals. We can even allow vendors to set up market stalls on specific days to make the space more versatile."
"I believe a city needs schools, malls, hospitals, banks, police stations—all essential infrastructure. And not just one of each, but multiple based on area size. Of course, in the beginning, one of each will do. These are what we should build first."
"Then, we construct residential areas around them. That way, the value of the housing increases. Think about it—wouldn't you want to live in a city where you can shop, see a doctor, send your kids to school, and feel safe?"
Of course, they would. Just hearing it sounded like a dream.
Pierre was already jotting everything down furiously, completely focused.
But he still reminded her, "Everything you just said sounds great… but it will cost a fortune."
"What if we don't pay for everything ourselves?" Wei Wei smiled calmly. "If our city has convenient transportation and excellent facilities, it'll naturally attract outsiders. The more people come, the higher the housing prices will go."
"If we lease some of the land to merchants—let them build houses or shops and sell them themselves—don't you think someone would be willing to pay for the construction?"
"For example, we could auction off development rights for a commercial street near the bank. The winning bidder pays us for the right to build there, and within a set time frame, they have to complete the construction. In return, we allow them to sell or lease the buildings afterward."
"Or, we could grant development rights for an area near the school to another merchant, who builds and sells housing for ordinary residents. Don't you think they'd be willing to pay for that?"
"I think they would!" Felix exclaimed. He'd heard similar ideas from Wei Wei before, so he caught on quickly. "And if we auction off the usage rights instead of selling the land outright, we can make even more money without losing territory."
Nobles and commoners alike saw selling land as a disgrace. The Williams family had once lost territory when an ancestor sold off land, and Felix's father had worked hard to restore it. He'd drilled into Felix and his siblings that they must never sell off family land.
Even when Felix sold land to Wei Wei, he had first exchanged his estate with an equivalent portion of Sardinson County, ensuring that the family's fief remained the same size before handing over the deed.
If Wei Wei had proposed selling city land outright, Felix would've refused. But since she only meant leasing it—he was on board.
Pierre didn't fully grasp the business potential, but he could tell it was a clever idea. Still, it wasn't his concern—he just needed to design the buildings.
What was his concern was this: Wei Wei wanted the city hall to be iconic, and she had different styles and expectations for each public building. That meant design work was about to get a lot more complicated.
"Most of what you said makes sense, but I've never heard of a 'hospital' before," Pierre said. "Up until now, healing has always been the job of churches and monasteries."
It was then that he realized—Wei Wei hadn't mentioned a church at all. But how could a city not have a church?
Wei Wei genuinely had forgotten. She wasn't a believer, so she hadn't thought of it as essential.
"Churches are usually funded by donations from the faithful, right? So I don't think it's our responsibility to build one. If someone wants one, they can lease a plot and build it themselves. The Church has money, after all."
Pierre wanted to say that churches typically bought land, not rented it. But she had a point—churches were usually built with donor money, and rarely did they make others foot the bill. And yes, the Church was indeed rich.
So he just made a mental note to leave space for a church when drawing up the plans and said nothing more.
Soon after, Pierre left with pages of notes. He promised to first focus on designing the city hall and other landmark buildings. Once those were approved, he would move on to the next phase.
Wei Wei thought for a moment, then offered, "I'll draft the interior floor plans for the schools, malls, and hospitals. Once I'm done, you can match the exteriors to them."
If this city weren't so relatively small, Wei Wei wouldn't have dreamed of letting one architect handle all of it. Ideally, they'd hire several designers to divide the workload.
Pierre smiled. "If the lady is willing to help lighten my load, I'd be more than grateful."
"Then I'll come find you once I've finished."
"Very well."
After he left, Wei Wei explained the concept of competitive bidding to Felix.
"In an auction, the land goes to the highest bidder. But we can't focus only on the gold. We're essentially outsourcing construction within our city. We have to ensure that whoever gets the development rights builds what we want—and with acceptable quality."
Felix nodded. "We can write all of that into the contract. If they don't comply, we can fine them—or even revoke their rights."
"In a little while, once the plans are drawn up, we can start leaking word about the city to the outside world. I'm sure plenty of people will be interested," he said confidently.
He believed that anyone with vision would recognize the potential of this future city.
In the days that followed, Wei Wei added a new task to her already packed schedule—drawing up internal floor plans for the public buildings.
She had studied drawing before, and most of the structures she had in mind were ones she'd either seen or lived in. With the help of reference materials from her past life, and by recalling architectural layouts she was familiar with, floor plans for schools, malls, hospitals, and more steadily began to take shape under her pen.
Each plan was organized, and functional, and carried a sense of modernity that made them different from anything seen in current cities of the empire. She made sure to tailor the designs to the needs of the local population, avoiding anything too outlandish or futuristic.
At the same time, back in the capital of the Pradi Empire, a significant event was taking place—the arrival of Pope John for an official visit.