The weak scholar in the end of ancient times

Chapter 94 Annual Gift
Wen Gu took out the New Year's gift he had prepared for Madam Shen.

It was contained in a wooden box, with two layers, each containing two items.

The upper part is a magnifying glass, with gemstones inlaid on the frame and handle, making it exquisitely crafted.

Magnifying glasses were not unusual for upper-class people; Mrs. Shen had never seen one before, but she had heard of them.

In the past, artisans would use clear, colorless natural crystal to polish small objects that they would hold and play with on their fingertips.

The magnifying glass that Wen Gu took out was much larger, but the size was just right. Too big would have looked bulky.

Madam Shen was delighted to receive this little trinket. She held it in her hands and played with it for a moment, then looked at the wooden box: "What about the bottom layer?"

Wen Gu opened the compartment and found a cloth bag. He took out a small but equally exquisite round object, which at first glance looked like a hanging accessory:

“This is a personal mirror.” He opened the outer cover to reveal the mirror inside. “It can be hung on the head of a fan or tied to a handkerchief for easy carrying.”

Mrs. Shen took it out of curiosity.

Its surface is smooth and clear, making even a newly polished bronze mirror pale in comparison.

During the brief moment she held and played with it in her hands, Madam Shen had already thought about many things.

Born into a merchant family and having been influenced by power in the upper echelons of Xinzhou, she knew without much explanation how to use this to gain greater benefits.

"Thanks a lot!"

"That's what Madam Shen said."

She knew about these two things, and Wen Gu had spent a lot of effort in Qingyunfang to achieve these results.

Wen Gu said with some regret, "However, the current level of craftsmanship is still limited. Even with proper care, the mirrors made can only last for a few months to a year. They also cannot be mass-produced because the production process is quite complicated. Currently, only Qingyun Temple can produce them."

Madam Shen smiled and said, "It's alright."

For people with status, this is not a problem at all.

Playing with new toys every few months, and having things that others don't have, further demonstrates their status and enhances the sense of satisfaction among the wealthy. Many others also hoard large amounts of money and grain.

Wen Gu has also prepared gifts for his cousin's wife and nephew, and Madam Shen will send someone to deliver them.

Setting the mirror aside, Madam Shen discussed the Zhao family's New Year's banquet with Wen Gu.

The family dinner on New Year's Eve is secondary; the main event is the grand banquet on New Year's Day.

During the Chinese New Year, many important figures are invited to banquets, including nobles and wealthy families.

Those wealthy people used fine charcoal copper pots at home to cook food with dipping sauces, and when they had fresh wild rabbit meat, they would come over to offer it as a special treat.

Amidst various epidemics outside, people of status tend to crave hot food.

Hot food gives them a greater sense of security, regardless of the occasion.

Hot pot is nothing new to people of status. In the past, there were even hot pot restaurants on the most bustling streets of the capital.

In winter or during periods of widespread epidemic, people would set up a small hot pot when dining at home to cook vegetables and dip them in sauce.

Now that the Zhao family is hosting a banquet, especially in winter, they naturally prefer hot pot dishes.

Previously, Wen Gu had given some suggestions, and a batch of charcoal-fired copper pots were urgently produced that could be used at such large banquets.

The food on the table shouldn't be too shabby.

Even though it's winter, we still need to stock up on vegetables.

"Greenhouse cultivation" and "warm room" are technologies that have existed for a long time.

This autumn and winter, Mrs. Shen had people cultivate vegetables in the greenhouse in advance. After the glass windows were installed, they were immediately renovated to allow for better light transmission, which made the vegetables in the greenhouse grow faster and plumper.

Although it still can't compare to the taste of seasonal vegetables, it has an unprecedented and overwhelming advantage in winter!

This year, we'll skip it. Besides supplying banquets, we can consume it ourselves and give it as gifts.

We can expand the scale next year and take a batch to sell at the market.

Vegetables grown in greenhouses during winter are certainly not cheap, and only wealthy families can afford them.

I've heard many rumors circulating in the community—

When some people first came to join the Zhao family, they exchanged a large amount of supplies for Xinzhou coins. At that time, they were doing it as tribute and never thought they would actually be able to spend all the coins they received.

They have plenty of food and clothing, but nowhere to spend their money. They have so much cash that some are used as table leg pads, others as toilet paper. I heard that a few idiots even burned money while drunk, and now they regret it to the core.

Rumor has it that during the period when the glass windows were on the market, some people were beaten at home and cried very loudly.

When Tie Tou followed Wen Gu into the room, he was carrying a box. When a maid came over to take it from him, he avoided her.

After Wen Gu finished talking with Madam Shen, someone from her uncle's side came to tell her to come over.

Wen Gu took the box and said to Tie Tou, "You go back to the courtyard first."

They had a small courtyard at the Zhao residence, and they would stay there when they stayed overnight at the Zhao family's house.

Madam Shen said, "Let him stay and talk to me for a while. I'll have someone take him back later. You go to your uncle's place first."

Madam Shen's gaze lingered briefly on the box in Wen Gu's hand. Just as she was about to ask someone to help carry it over, she met Wen Gu's gaze.

At this moment, the aunt and nephew completed their brief exchange.

Madam Shen did not press the matter further. Instead, she changed the subject and instructed her trusted maid to personally take Wen Gu to the Zhao family head's courtyard.

It's not that I don't know the way when I'm reviewing old routes; it's just that there are many people coming and going during the Lunar New Year, so I'm just trying to avoid any trouble caused by careless people.

On the way to her uncle's place, the maid told Wen Gu that the head of the household's inspections had become more stringent these past few days.

Upon entering the master's courtyard, dangerous weapons and gifts should either be handed directly to the steward or opened for inspection first.

After delivering Wen Gu to his destination, the maidservant, not wanting to linger, quickly returned home.

Wen Gu looked at the large courtyard he had visited several times before.

Indeed, as the maidservant said, the checks were more stringent and the guards were strengthened.

At times like these, we really can't underestimate people's hearts, and strengthening security checks is a good idea.

Wen Gu put down the "Cen Tai" sword he always carried. However, he showed no sign of letting go of the carrying box in his hand.

He walked over and asked the steward in charge of reception, "Is Steward Fusheng here?"

He was asking the trusted chief steward of the Zhao family.

At this moment, in the library of the courtyard, the Zhao family head was signing a document—to allocate funds to establish a branch of Cen Tai Academy.

Old Master Hong came over a few days ago to talk to him about setting up an academy, and Wen Gu was behind it all.

He wasn't angry about it.

The glass and honeycomb coal stoves greatly reduced the pressure on them to support the army, so they wouldn't have any complaints about Wen Gu over such a small matter.

I just think the kid is interesting and good at causing trouble.

But young people can be too impulsive sometimes; we need to remind them. Not everyone living in Xinzhou City is of the same mind.

If you attract too much hatred, you're likely to suffer losses.

The tallest tree in the forest will encounter stronger winds and rain.

Wen Gu doesn't have any other close elders now, so as his uncle, he still has to remind him.

So, upon learning that Wen Gu had come to the Zhao family, I sent someone to call Wen Gu over for a chat.

I probably won't have time to talk to him alone in the next few days, so I'll take advantage of today to talk to this kid more.

At this moment, someone approached and said something to Fusheng, who was not far away.

Fusheng looked surprised.

"What's wrong?" the Zhao family head asked.

Fusheng quickly came over and whispered Wen Gu's request to the head of the family.

Upon hearing this, the Zhao family head raised an eyebrow: "No need for inspection, let him in directly."

Then he ordered the guards who were not far away to retreat.

Before long, Wen Gu came over with a carrying box.

Looking around, there was no one else besides Steward Fusheng.

Wen Gu smiled at the Zhao family head and said, "I'm sure you'll like the New Year's gift I sent you! I've been preparing it for a long time, but the kiln hadn't been able to produce it yet. Fortunately, it's finally a success!"

The box was rather large. When Wen Gu brought it over, the Zhao family head and Steward Fusheng, due to their preconceived notions, thought that the contents of the box were not heavy. However, when Wen Gu put the box down, even though the movement was very light, the two experts could feel its weight from the slight sound of the box touching the wooden table.

The Zhao family head and the steward Fusheng beside him had the same thought: they should have gone to pick him up earlier!

Wen Gu put down the box and explained, "It's inconvenient to pass it through other people's hands and it's not suitable to do it in public, so I just delivered it directly to you."

The topic that the Zhao family head had originally prepared was put aside for the time being.

He knew that the kilns in Qingyunfang were still firing glass, and the craftsmen were still studying how to polish glass.

Many of the gifts sent out this year during the Wengu Festival were glass items.

Originally, the Zhao family head thought that the New Year's gift sent by Wen Gu this year would also be some kind of glass ornament, but now, judging from Wen Gu's attitude, there is probably something more mysterious about it!
Wen Gu opened the box: "I didn't know if I could make it before, so I didn't tell you. Now it seems that experienced craftsmen have steady hands! Plus a bit of luck, I still managed to finish it before the New Year!"

The box also has two layers. Opening the lid of the upper layer reveals a long tube inside.

"What is this?" asked the Zhao family head.

"This object is called a telescope, also known as a telescope or a telescope. When I was traveling for my studies..."

……

After seeing off another group of guests, Young Master Zhao went to sit with Madam Shen and they were reminiscing about the magnifying glass and mirror he had given her.

Steward Fusheng came over and said that the patriarch wanted the young master to come over. He had a perfectly appropriate New Year's festive expression on his face, showing no sign of anything unusual.

However, his presence here at this moment indicates that there is something else important going on!
Madam Shen didn't ask any further questions, only asking, "Where's Wen Gu? Have him come and chat with me again."

Fusheng, seeing nothing amiss, respectfully replied, "Young Master is chatting with Master about some interesting things from his study abroad trip. Master said that Young Master should also go and listen."

Madam Shen now had a better understanding of the situation.

After Young Master Zhao left, she had someone send some snacks to Tie Tou. They estimated that it would take some time to review and discuss matters, so they didn't want Tie Tou to go hungry.

Young Master Zhao hurried to his father's courtyard and found it very quiet outside.

It wasn't that there was no one there, but the guards seemed to have received some orders not to allow anyone else to approach, and they were unusually serious.

When Young Master Zhao arrived, his entourage was stopped from a great distance.

Young Master Zhao was puzzled.

He left here an hour ago, and it wasn't like this then.

At this moment, he felt a chill in his heart and ordered his attendants and guards to wait outside.

Upon entering the courtyard, they were told that the head of the family and Wen Gu were on the second floor of the library.

Young Master Zhao's doubts deepened.

They're still upstairs?

I hurried upstairs and when I entered the house, I saw that my father was not sitting in a wheelchair, but walking around the house with his hands behind his back, panting heavily.

Young Master Zhao's doubts intensified.

What's going on? Has something terrible happened?
But look at the other person sitting inside... Wen Gu is leisurely sipping tea.

That's not bad news!
Young Master Zhao looked at his father.

As the head of Xinzhou, the Zhao family patriarch had been receiving treatment for his injured legs, and the treatment was gradually improving. He usually used a small wheelchair for easy movement when outside, and also reduced the time he spent using his legs indoors outside of rehabilitation exercises.

Sit down whenever you can to protect your legs, and go upstairs less often.

Young Master Zhao had always thought his father's recovery was limited, but now, he seemed able to walk quickly and nimbly!

What a medical miracle!
(End of this chapter)