Chapter 111: Between Literati

As it turns out, such a good thing really exists!

The study had barely been tidied up for two days before someone couldn't wait to move in.

It's just that they seemed... a little young.

Zhao Han took the lead, bringing a Book Boy to familiarize himself with the new workspace.

The subsequent work mainly involved printing, which certainly wouldn't be appropriate in Zhaohui Fang; Wen Gu had planned from the start to place it in the neighboring Qingyun Fang, where there were many craft kilns and a Danguan under construction, creating a strong atmosphere for artisans.

The original drafts for the picture books were already finished, the experienced artisans with printing expertise had arrived one after another, the tools were fully equipped, and the printing work was progressing rapidly.

If any issues involving the drafts or finished products arose during this process, being close by made them easy to resolve quickly, and they also began preparing the drafts for the next volume.

Therefore, Zhao Han followed Wen Gu's suggestion and moved to the Jingqing Public Office.

Zhao Han quite enjoyed this feeling, just like those adults with official posts, going to the office at a fixed time every day and returning home when the time was up. This gave him a sense of excitement and satisfaction in facing a new environment and new challenges.

He didn't just enjoy this feeling himself; he also brought his other little companions along to experience it.

Thus, Jingxing Fang gained a few more Zhao Family children.

He Xiaodi was sent over by Wen Gu to share some of the workload, and together with Zhao Han, he was responsible for the affairs of the bookstore.

The employees at the Jingqing Public Office were very friendly toward these little colleagues.

Since they didn't occupy an official quota, the Clerks from commoner backgrounds breathed a sigh of relief.

The number of spots for established Clerks was limited; if one was taken, their own relatives and friends would have one less opportunity.

With no conflict of interest and the fact that they were from the Zhao Family, the Clerks at the Jingqing Public Office were friendly, calling these new colleagues "Little Master," greeting them with a string of compliments, and occasionally helping them with odd jobs.

With people flattering them every day, plenty of emotional validation, few chores other than drawing, and little companions to keep them company, the little employees were very happy.

In contrast, Zhao Mu, Zhao Kun, and that group of young people were not feeling very pleased.

"Traitors! To think they've all gone to work for Wen Gu!" someone criticized.

But just as the words fell, another young man whose younger brother was working in Jingxing Fang defended them:

"They aren't working for Wen Gu, but for the Zhao Family! That was a task given by the Young Master!"

People with different opinions and different stances began to argue, and it took a good while before they stopped.

At this moment, someone suddenly said: "I've been thinking, we don't need to build a separate garden. Since everything is going smoothly for Zhao Han and the others at the Jingqing Public Office, can't we just build a few storefronts directly in Jingxing Fang?"

They had had the thought before, but they had reservations, worried that Wen Gu, the Ward Chief, would find fault.

Now that someone had taken the first step and found that everything was safe and they hadn't encountered any obstruction from the administrator, it seemed they could also enter Jingxing Fang directly!

Furthermore, they now knew that building a separate garden would require a huge amount of money and grain, which they might not be able to support.

Changing the strategy—might that work?

There was more than one person with the same idea.

"I went to confirm with my old man; it was indeed the Head of the Family who asked Wen Gu to give Zhao Han a hand."

"Now it's proven that Wen Gu really didn't go looking for trouble and has been helping out all along. If that group of kids like Zhao Han can get involved, we can get in too!"

"Right! And we don't need to go to that so-called Jingqing Public Office; we'll just open shops over there! Build a few storefronts, and even if we don't make money, we'll still disgust the Shen Family!"

"We don't have to go to the Shen Family's Wanfu Garden, but we must have a foothold of our own in Jingxing Fang; we cannot let Jingxing Fang become the Shen Family's territory!"

"He Wenyu is off for half a day today; let's call him over to discuss this."

Actually, they were quite envious of He Wenyu; He Wenyu's mother had run off to ask the Young Master for a position, and the Young Master had actually given it to him! And in such an important place as the academy!

It was a pity that their own elders weren't capable enough; what they wanted they couldn't get, and what they were offered they looked down upon.

They still had to rely on themselves!

Before long, He Wenyu, who had secured a half-day holiday to sleep at home, was dragged over while suppressing the irritation in his heart.

He Wenyu yawned as he listened to this group discuss "major affairs," only smiling without saying much.

Bringing up the fact that Wen Gu had spoken for him and his father regarding their positions was not something that should be spread around.

His mother had also told him to mention Wen Gu less.

What could he do? He could only smile in silence.

When they mentioned the Young Master's recognition and encouragement of Zhao Han and the others, the group in the room grew excited.

Zhao Kun pounded the table in excitement: "So, the Head of the Family and the Young Master still have expectations for us; it just depends on whether we can prove ourselves! We must take the initiative to do things!"

Others chimed in: "Yes! That must be it!"

He Wenyu twitched his mouth: "... Is... that so?"

Someone passionately suggested: "Send someone to Jingxing Fang first and have Wen Gu immediately mark out a plot of land for us!"

The room suddenly went quiet.

There was a collective silence for a good while.

Someone else tentatively asked: "Who's going?"

The people in the room looked at each other and turned toward the initiator of this internal meeting, Zhao Mu...

Zhao Mu's face turned green.

He had previously tried to poach talent from Wen Gu's territory and failed, and he couldn't even gain an advantage when meeting on the Zhao Family's own turf in Zhaohui Fang, let alone going to the other party's jurisdiction—how could he just offer his face to be slapped?

"Pick someone else!" he said decisively.

Zhao Mu looked at He Wenyu, not waiting for him to refuse: "Wenyu, you hold an important position now, you go!"

He Wenyu:...

To hell with you!

Don't throw out such an impossible, difficult task so casually!

He Wenyu shook his head vigorously: "I can't! I won't! I'm not going! What kind of important position do I hold? I'm just a worker, my words carry no weight!"

As he spoke, he sprang up.

"It seems my mother is calling me home, I'm leaving first!"

Quickly distance himself from the dangerous topic and go back to catch up on sleep.

He Wenyu was not there, so the others continued their discussion.

Since there was an idea for this kind of matter, the action had to be fast; there was not much empty land left in Jingxing Fang, and they might even have to pay extra to buy it from others—a step too slow would mean paying more money and grain.

"Then let's all go over together!"

Using power to pressure others!

Thus, one hour later.

Zhao Kun and a few young men stood outside the Jingqing Public Office with straight faces, not following into the courtyard.

Zhao Mu and the others felt they did not look friendly enough, so to get this matter done as quickly as possible, they let them wait outside first.

"Hmph! Isn't it just reading a few more books and knowing how to put on an act better!" Zhao Kun was stifled with anger.

At the same time, in a study room of the Public Office.

One side was the Zhao Family scholars led by Zhao Mu, all looking refined and cultured.

The other side was Wen Gu, along with Cheng Zhi, He Xiaodi, and the other clerks who handled the documents.

The atmosphere was harmonious.

It was clearly a negotiation for buying land, yet both sides acted as if they were discussing poetry, books, and paintings, occasionally citing classics and quoting the words of sages. Elegant, truly elegant!

After two cups of tea were finished, the matter was also elegantly concluded.

The young men of the Zhao Family left with a document, inwardly sighing: Wen Gu is actually quite easy to talk to!

Wen Gu not only gave them advice on choosing land but also discussed future planning, and he did not swindle them; the planning maps had all been shown to Zhao Shaozhu and had been annotated.

The ambitious young men of the Zhao Family were so excited that they bought several more plots of land.

Both sides were very satisfied with this transaction, and when they left, they even performed a set of farewell rituals with a very scholarly temperament.

This elegant atmosphere, rich in literary spirit, made the few Zhao Family scholars feel even more favorably toward Wen Gu.

They thought to themselves: We scholars are just different; leaving Zhao Kun and the others outside was indeed the right decision!

Wen Gu watched them leave with sincerity.

With the people of the Zhao Family getting involved, there would certainly be disputes in the future, but looking at it in the long term, it was actually safer for both Wen Gu and the Shen Family.

Those two brothers of the Shen Family had already begun to develop the mindset that "Jingxing Fang is the Shen Family's territory," and what Wen Gu had to do was to strike and scatter that notion before it grew stronger.

The figures at the doorway had already walked far away and disappeared; Wen Gu looked at the accumulated snow outside the window.

The snow outside had already begun to melt, but in the period to come, the temperature might fluctuate, and it would snow again.

When the snow completely melts and the temperature rises across the board, that will be the time for the entire prefecture to switch to a state of preparation for war.

However, it will take another month or two for the snow to melt completely; before that is the active period for merchant caravans, and presumably, some caravans have already begun to move.

"Have someone keep an eye on the movements in the Outer City District and see who the first merchant caravan to arrive after the New Year is."