Chapter 105: Something Is Very Wrong

For various reasons, Wen Gu was kept at the Zhao Family for a few extra days.

Spending the New Year here, he received a pile of red envelopes—several Money Vouchers.

He also received a few sets of exquisite little trinkets, which Wen Gu packed up and had someone send to Jingxing Fang.

Once the matters here were finished, Wen Gu also had to return to the ward to manage affairs; however, before leaving Zhao Zhai, Lady Shen asked him to talk again.

There was no one else; it was still a private chat between aunt and nephew, and they did not discuss official business.

Lady Shen looked at Wen Gu, her eyes filled with deep gratification, yet also revealing a hint of distress.

"In the past few days, many people have inquired about your marriage, and both your uncle and I have had people come to sound us out."

This was not the first time the aunt and nephew had discussed this topic; in this era, people married early, and upper-class families set marriage contracts for their children early on, forming alliances between two surnames, which was also a union of interests.

Lady Shen said, "Although I have already informed them that you have a marriage contract, you understand that in these current times, one simply cannot block their intentions."

In these chaotic times, there are many victims, and survivors are fleeing in all directions; many marriage contracts exist in name only.

When the aunt and nephew had discussed this matter previously, Wen Gu had said, "I have a contract, and when the times are better, I will return." Lady Shen only assumed that because he had a marriage contract, Wen Gu intended to go find the person once the times were better.

Since Wen Gu's attitude was firm and he had already made his decision, Lady Shen did not say more on the matter.

But after the grand banquet at Zhao Zhai and the small gathering on the third day of the New Year, Wen Gu's status in the eyes of the wealthy and powerful families of Xinzhou was already different!

Perhaps they coveted the greater political protection Wen Gu could bring, or they believed Wen Gu could elevate their prestige in Xinzhou, granting them access to important information channels and social connections.

Everyone wanted to bind Wen Gu to their own family!

Therefore, Lady Shen could only remind Wen Gu once more: if he had no such intentions, he must absolutely not fall into their trap; in this entire Xinzhou, he was a highly sought-after prize!

Lady Shen spoke earnestly, and Wen Gu's face was also full of gravity.

He was only eighteen!

Past eighteen but not yet nineteen!

But people of this era counted by nominal age, starting from the womb; in the eyes of many, Wen Gu was already nearly twenty.

Rounding up, he was at the age of capping, the very time when one could start taking on major responsibilities!

The New Year banquet and the high-level small gathering also proved Wen Gu's status in the Zhao Clan; being targeted was a certainty.

Even in normal times, there was the madness of "snatching a son-in-law from under the ranking list," and now, in these chaotic times fraught with crises, the pressure to survive was even greater, so it would only be crazier.

Lady Shen was simply worried that Wen Gu was young and lacked experience, and that a moment of carelessness could easily lead him into the schemes of those noble families.

Seeing that Wen Gu had taken it to heart and increased his level of caution, Lady Shen felt slightly more at ease.

However, she did not know that while Wen Gu looked serious on the surface, he was thinking to himself—

Being targeted?

That was truly wonderful!

On ordinary days, he couldn't easily approach them without a reason; may all the wealthy nobles hurry up and use whatever methods they have!

He was still very willing to maintain sincere friendships with those families.

"Those" families! Emphasize that!

The bait was cast; he didn't know who would bite the hook first.

By the time Wen Gu returned to Jingxing Fang, every part of Xinzhou was already busy.

Although the weather had not turned warm and the ice and snow had not melted, many affairs already had to be handled, and personnel from all sides were being frequently mobilized.

Zhaohui Fang.

The place where the Zhao clansmen and their relatives and friends lived.

Compared to those wards busy with affairs, Zhaohui Fang appeared much more peaceful.

It was cold, and no one was wandering outside, but there were many people visiting each other.

Aunt Zhao had also been called next door for a small gathering, where several clansmen chatted, digging into who in whose family had been transferred where, and what interesting things happened on their first day on the job.

She was in high spirits listening to the gossip and enjoyed the drama to the fullest.

Unlike those who craved power, Aunt Zhao was quite satisfied with her current state.

In the new year, she still only hoped for quiet and peaceful days.

What was wrong with being a wealthy idler? Why look for trouble?

In the afternoon, a transfer order arrived: her husband and son were transferred to administrative positions at Centai Academy to assist in running the school.

The smile on Aunt Zhao's face vanished instantly.

"How could this be?!"

Unexpected!

Outside of the plan!

Such a variable left their whole family feeling uneasy and anxious.

Uncle He was completely bewildered. To tell the truth, upon receiving this new appointment, he was actually quite happy:

"An academy; it doesn't involve fighting for power, nor do I have to go fight evil objects."

Aunt Zhao, however, was more perplexed.

"Something is wrong! Something is very wrong!"

Relying on her intuition from having spent so many years with that father and son of the Zhao family, there must be something happening here that she didn't know about!

It was precisely because she understood her brother and nephew that she was clear: Head of the Family Zhao valued the academy and would certainly prioritize capable confidants; he wouldn't leave a single empty seat for anyone else.

Her own family could only be considered relatives, certainly not confidants!

Some positions were specifically reserved as "sincerity" for families moving north, while those left for relatives like them, who were "mediocre in ability and couldn't bring much benefit," were all dispensable positions, or merely positions to make up the numbers.

These administrative positions at the academy were not dispensable!

Could it be that they were short-handed?

"There is something strange!"

Unable to care about anything else, Aunt Zhao hurried off to make inquiries and finally returned before the ward gates closed.

"I've found out clearly, it was recommended by Wen Gu!"

Aunt Zhao's face was full of complicated emotions.

Uncle He was also stunned: "This... are you sure?"

Aunt Zhao said: "Sure, I asked Qingjin to her face!"

And she even had to pretend to be grateful!

The reply given by Zhao Shaozhu certainly couldn't be false.

Hearing his mother say this, He Wenyu immediately thought of the scene where he encountered Wen Gu and his cousin at the entrance of Zhao Zhai before the new year.

"Mother, could it be that at that time..."

"I was only acting that day, who knew someone would take it seriously!!"

Aunt Zhao felt struck.

Recalling the attitude his mother had shown Wen Gu at the time, He Wenyu said: "Wen Gu is actually quite broad-minded."

Uncle He also agreed: "After all, he has read the books of sages."

Although the father and son of the He Daye were satisfied with their peaceful life, they were still happy in their hearts to be valued by the Head of the Family and the Young Master, to have their learning recognized, and to be going to an academy, a place that carried literary spirit.

The father and son tidied up and went to take up their posts the next day.

Not many days later, both of them had dark circles under their eyes.

There were too many affairs, and apart from Old Master Hong, the other famous teachers and great scholars in the academy's founding team were all getting on in years; they couldn't just throw everything at the elderly, so as the younger generation, they naturally had to share more of the workload.

They left home as soon as the ward gates opened every day, and only hurried back before the ward gates closed at night.

When they returned home, they went to sleep early, as they were too tired.

Aunt Zhao: "..."

She always felt that things were not as simple as they had thought!

She wanted to slap herself.

Why did you have to run your mouth!

And Wen Gu too!

She decided that from now on, she would not speak whenever Wen Gu was present!

That kid Wen Gu, was he truly kind-hearted, or black-hearted?

Regardless of how many people were talking about him, Wen Gu went about everything as usual.

Returning to his own territory, he gave the Clerks and laborers in the ward a little encouragement.

Once the bitter cold passed, there would be many things to do in the ward, and the construction sites would also become busy.

During the bitter cold of winter, although the various construction sites had stopped work, the logging and transportation in Xinzhou had not stopped for long; after the snow fell, they used slopes and snow paths to drag back large quantities of timber.

Xinzhou's timber had accumulated quite a bit this winter.

The craftsmen made prefabricated parts at home, which could be used directly once work started.

After arranging the affairs of Jingxing Fang, Wen Gu went to Qingyun Fang to assign some work to the Daoist Priest and the craftsmen.

Qingyun Fang was short a batch of craftsmen who fired Glass, the kilns also needed to be modified, and they still needed to recruit a batch of potters, as the kilns here would be firing ceramics next.

Of course, he didn't do everything himself; Wen Gu listed the task plan and handed it to the newly promoted managers to be responsible for.

The old batch of managers had already been promoted to work in the Zhao Family's workshops.

The new managers were full of energy; after all, a life of promotion, salary increases, and greater security was right before their eyes!

It wasn't hearsay, it wasn't a rumor, but their own eyes seeing the "ascension" of their predecessors!

Craftsmen without status, or commoners born from the grassroots, had no other privileges, and they didn't want to be dragged out to fight monsters.

It was said that the Zhao Family's workshops were protected by the City Defense Army! Who wouldn't covet the chance to enter the Zhao Family's workshops to work, where they and their families could receive more protection, not have to go hungry, and not have to suffer the bullying of other powerful officials?

The other craftsmen also put in all their effort, especially the old craftsmen, who even received extra rewards for bringing up apprentices! Calculated by the person, they could get so much money and grain for every apprentice they trained!

Unless they were master craftsmen possessing unique skills, most craftsmen were very willing to take on apprentices.

Xinzhou City after the new year became busy, and Jingxing Fang and Qingyun Fang were exceptionally busy.

The spontaneous kind of busy.

Tao San, a local who had newly joined the Jingqing Public Office, deeply felt the fast pace and pressure beneath the vigorous vitality here.

For someone who prided himself on being knowledgeable and experienced, he was indeed very unaccustomed to it.

But it didn't matter, he would adapt to the pace here. Not only would he keep up, but he would also do better!

To him, mental pressure was not worth mentioning; only material blows would cost him his life!

As long as Ward Chief Wen gave enough, the He Da, Yu Er, and Zhou Shan ahead of him were all worth nothing!

As long as I, Tao San, work hard, I can out-compete them all to death!

Do you understand what home-field advantage is?