Chapter 981: Chapter 981: The Siphonic Toilet

The group sat in the living room, chatting while they waited for Xiao Yun to return.

Although Ding Yuehua was friends with both Shu Yu and Kong Zhiyou–having even known Kong Zhiyou for much longer–when it came to troublesome family matters, she preferred to confide in Shu Yu.

As a result, the three were currently discussing clothing, jewelry, and styling. It was rare for Kong Zhiyou to sit down and talk with Shu Yu, so she quickly seized the opportunity to inquire about what makeup suits her best and the key points to note when instructing her maid to do her routine makeup.

Shu Yu had barely spoken two sentences when Kong Zhiyou, engrossed in her explanation, suddenly heard a panicked voice coming from outside.

Ding Yuehua abruptly stood up, took a few steps toward the door, and frowned as she reprimanded, “Why are you so flustered? Where’s your sense of propriety?”

The old woman outside worked in Xilan Garden and hadn’t yet seen Shu Yu and Kong Zhiyou inside the room. Unaware that her mistress had guests, she hurriedly said, “Young Madam, it’s bad. The Eldest Young Mistress said she’s going to kill Xiao Yun!”

Ding Yuehua’s face changed dramatically. “What did you just say? Isn’t Xiao Yun out of the house right now?”

Hearing this, Shu Yu and Kong Zhiyou inside the room also rushed to the doorway.

Outside, the old woman anxiously explained, “I’m not sure… but apparently Xiao Yun said something about how an important blueprint of yours, Young Madam, was destroyed by the Eldest Young Mistress, and then a conflict broke out.”

“Blueprint? A blueprint…” Ding Yuehua paused, suddenly realizing something, and instinctively glanced at Shu Yu.

However, she quickly withdrew her gaze, her expression darkening as she stepped down the stairs decisively.

Turning back, she addressed Shu Yu and Kong Zhiyou, “I need to take care of this. Please wait for me here for a moment.”

Without another word, she hurried off to save Xiao Yun.

Kong Zhiyou looked worried. “Yuehua won’t be in any danger, right?”

Shu Yu, recalling the glance Ding Yuehua had given her earlier, frowned pensively. Could the blueprint have something to do with her? Otherwise, why would Yuehua look at her like that?

Thinking deeply, Shu Yu quickly pieced things together. That blueprint likely was indeed hers.

Her family’s manor was currently being renovated, and Shu Yu had some ideas for improvements–like the bathroom.

If asked what Shu Yu hated most about the current houses, it had to be the latrines. Every time she used one, she felt she was on the verge of passing out from the stench.

Now that the manor’s drainage systems and plumbing were being well designed, her plan to dig a septic tank seemed feasible.

So, when discussing the renovations with Lu Erbai, Shu Yu shared this idea with him. Initially, Lu Erbai didn’t quite understand, but once she explained, he nodded repeatedly in agreement, promptly organizing and assessing the feasibility before responding to her quickly.

Shu Yu was thrilled. She knew she couldn’t realistically aim for a flush toilet–it was too structurally complicated, with all those components like float balls and refill pipes she hadn’t researched and didn’t know how to construct.

But attaching a water tank above a squat toilet with a simple rope-pull flushing mechanism was definitely within her reach.

The next day, Shu Yu sketched a design for the squat toilet and gave it to Lu Erbai.

A squat toilet obviously couldn’t be made of wood. Modern toilets, after all, were crafted from ceramic, which was far more sanitary and easier to clean.

So Shu Yu handed the design to Lu Erbai, instructing him to have several made when he had the time.

The Fan family specialized in ceramics, but Shu Yu had been tied up and running errands recently, so she left everything in her father’s hands.

She figured that her father, who had been a carpenter for so many years, might know a few ceramic artisans with whom he had good relationships. It shouldn’t be an issue.

Now, judging from this situation–did her father contact the Fan family?