Chapter 185: Wait for Me to Finish This Pot of Tea

Seeing Xue Yanzhi's performance, Ming Tiao could only grumble in his heart: As expected of you, able to bend and stretch!

As for how to address him, Wen Gu did not dwell on age or seniority, only saying, "Just address me by my official position."

Xue Yanzhi immediately agreed: "Hey, alright! Deputy Envoy Wen, the tea is just right, have some to moisten your throat."

Serving tea and grinding ink, helping out with errands, Xue Er Gongzi began to perform diligently to strengthen his presence.

Ming Tiao watched this man frequently run to the East Office, yet he never wanted to transfer there directly; every time, he would only run to the East Office to perform after finishing the matters at the Main Courtyard. It always felt like he wanted to forge ahead, but didn't want to forge ahead completely.

Ming Tiao did not offer a reminder, choosing the best observation spot to watch the movements over there.

Xue Yanzhi kept an eye on Wen Gu's office hours, wanting to find time to talk to Wen Gu about the situation in Beidi and chat about the Du Clan, but he rarely found the opportunity. Even when they did start chatting, Wen Gu didn't say much and had no intention of picking up the conversation, so the topic couldn't continue.

Xue Yanzhi was worried.

What to do?

Pei Jun had already left Xinzhou City, so he had to find someone else to help him come up with ideas.

Thus, on this day, Xue Yanzhi took a break at noon and ran to Yangchuan Bofu.

Ming Tiao followed, but did not disturb him, keeping a distance while watching the person. Watching Xue Yanzhi was also his mission.

The Yangchuan Bofu was as usual, leisurely listening to music and tasting tea in the mansion, without a trace of the tension of troubled times.

Seeing Xue Xiaoer come over, he waved his hand, letting the musicians and other idlers leave.

"What? Pei Jun has left, the boss of the Main Courtyard is not there, and no one is managing you?" Yangchuan Bofu said.

Xue Yanzhi sat down, gulped down half a cup of tea, and replied: "Boye, you have misunderstood me. I have been very diligent lately! It's just that I'm a bit free today, so I could slip over to your place at noon to beg for a cup of tea."

Yangchuan Bofu certainly wouldn't truly believe that the Patrol Guard Division had no tea; hearing this, he just smiled and pointed his finger at Xue Yanzhi twice. Toward the junior of this old friend, he would always be a bit more tolerant.

As for the rest, he would wait for Xue Xiaoer to say it himself.

Xue Yanzhi looked at Yangchuan Bofu's delightful life and was filled with envy; this was the life he dreamed of!

"Boye, you are truly leisurely!" Xue Yanzhi leaned over and whispered, "Make sure Deputy Envoy Wen doesn't see this, or you'll get the whip!" Although Yangchuan Bofu's personal attendants didn't make a sound, the expressions on their faces clearly showed their thoughts: Xue Er Gongzi is becoming more and more unreliable; who would dare whip Boye?

Yangchuan Bofu understood; the whip was just a metaphor. He said, "Not necessarily."

Xue Yanzhi was puzzled: "Ah?"

Yangchuan Bofu didn't get up, continuing to lie there enjoying the cool air, only lifting his chin toward a certain direction.

Xue Yanzhi looked over.

In the courtyard outside, there was a large concave object with a stand on it, holding a metal teapot.

"What is this thing?" Xue Yanzhi asked.

"A little gadget Wen Gu drew, which I had the craftsmen make. It's quite useful!" Yangchuan Bofu said.

Xue Yanzhi understood: "Were you persuaded by this thing back then?"

Xue Yanzhi now knew that when Wen Gu first brought people to the Bofu, Boye hadn't said anything, and only changed his mind the next day.

Xue Yanzhi observed the strange object in the courtyard.

"It looks a bit like a solar mirror," he said.

"It is based on a solar mirror, a type of Magic Furnace that can collect the Yang energy of heaven to cook and refine!"

Yangchuan Bofu was very satisfied with the "background" of this object—it possessed the wisdom of the sages and could satisfy his metaphysical needs! He just loved this high-end, sophisticated feeling!

After Xue Yanzhi figured out that this thing could boil water and cook, he lost interest. His focus was on the "not necessarily" that Yangchuan Bofu had just said. This thing was drawn by Wen Gu; it wasn't just an apology as stated on the surface—there must be other motives!

Xue Yanzhi observed the details of this Magic Furnace.

Nowadays, copper and Iron are used in large quantities for building defensive facilities and weapons, and prices have risen sharply. Customizing a Glass mirror is also not a small amount of money; only those with deep family assets can afford to consume it.

Beside him, Yangchuan Bofu became interested and said to Xue Yanzhi: "After I obtained the finished product and verified it was usable, I specifically invited a group of people to the mansion to admire it. Once those people saw it, they also coveted it and all went to buy materials to have craftsmen build one."

"This Magic Furnace is indeed full of Yang energy! No firewood is needed, and there is no open flame; all that is required is the Yang energy of heaven!"

Yangchuan Bofu kept boasting, showing he was very fond of this thing.

Of course, needing to let attendants adjust the angle every so often to match the sunlight went without saying.

Yangchuan Bofu only emphasized that this thing was high-end, atmospheric, and top-tier!

The appearance of this thing had only been seen by the upper-class nobility of Xinzhou.

Ordinary people couldn't see the social circles of the nobles. Right now, it was Yangchuan Bofu who started the trend in the noble circle; those who could afford it were all rushing to buy and customize one.

Xue Yanzhi calculated in his heart.

Such a big thing, material costs, craftsman fees, and there were maintenance and upkeep expenses every year.

Looking at the Glass mirror pasted on it, the current Glass mirror craftsmanship didn't have a long service life and had to be replaced after a period of time.

If some brat in the family smashed it, that would be another huge expense...

"Hiss."

This Wen Gu is someone who specifically slaughters the wealthy!

Is this what Boye meant by "the whip"?

It doesn't necessarily mean making the other party do labor, but it can make this group of people spend money!

Not everyone is as wealthy and imposing as Yangchuan Bofu!

This autumn and winter, there will definitely be many house servants and guards from various families going out to haul grain; the existing money and grain are not enough to spend!

Xue Yanzhi cast a look of awe.

"This thing... this magical Magic Furnace, can it be used in winter?" Xue Yanzhi asked.

"The winter in Beidi is too cold outside, so there must be great limitations. We can try to see if it can be used to warm wine then," Yangchuan Bofu said.

Just then, the Solar Stove... cough, the magical Magic Furnace had finished boiling another pot of tea, and Yangchuan Bofu invited Xue Yanzhi to taste it.

Xue Yanzhi tasted it, though he didn't really taste anything, but he said: "No firewood taste, it's all the taste of the source! Pure Yang!" Yangchuan Bofu was so happy he swayed back and forth: "Yes, yes! That's right, that's right, that was my feeling when I drank it for the first time! As of now, it's one of a kind!" What do nobles like them enjoy most?

Having what others don't!

Satisfiedly tasting the tea, Yangchuan Bofu said: "This Wen Gu, he really does have something!"

It also seemed to be pointing at something.

Seeing that Xue Yanzhi did not speak, the Earl of Yangchuan thought of his friendship with old Xue, fearing that this only seedling of the Xue family would act recklessly and run off to court death.

So he continued, "Look, Wen Gu is a relative of the Zhao Family, he is educated, learned, has a rich experience from his Study Tour, is more knowledgeable than others, and can handle practical matters with methods; how well the Jingqing Two Wards were built before!"

"It is not easy for an ordinary person to possess even one of these traits, yet he has all of them!"

"To be able to serve as a Deputy Envoy in the Patrol Guard Division, he must have the deep trust of the Zhao Family father and son! It can be said that the Patrol Guard Division is currently his one-man show!"

"Xiaoer, you should just work in the Patrol Guard Division first and learn more by his side!"

Xue Yanzhi nodded and said, "I understand!"

The Earl of Yangchuan felt that his persuasion had been effective.

Yet he did not know that Xue Xiaoer was planning a major event in his heart.

Being able to receive the affirmation of the Earl of Yangchuan showed that Wen Gu truly had ability!

Xue Yanzhi thought about Pei Jun's suggestion again and firmed his resolve.

He still had to start from Wen Gu!

Carrying the pot of heat-relieving tea gifted by the Earl of Yangchuan, he returned to the Patrol Guard Division from the Earl's mansion and ran to the East Office's clerical room.

Wait until I finish this pot of tea, and I will out-work you all to death!

Wen Gu keeps not taking the bait, so it must be that I am not diligent and motivated enough!

Fine, I will grind!

Xue Yanzhi began to increase his efficiency.

Han Lian took one look and thought, "Damn, a rival!"

Han Lian, who was single-mindedly focused on getting a permanent position, moved his abacus with lightning speed.

Seeing the momentum of those two, Cheng Zhi decided he could not lose either!

He flipped through case files and ledgers with a rustling sound, one after another.

Thus, the East Office's clerical room went from an already efficient state into a high-pressure state!

The two clerks, Fang and Lu, tried hard to keep up with the rhythm, but they were complaining bitterly in their hearts.

Damn it, three workaholics!

Xue Yanzhi stayed in the East Office and grinded for several days, grinding until the other clerical staff in the entire Patrol Guard Division looked at him with eyes that were subtle and filled with resentment: we thought you were a slacker like us, but we didn't expect you to be a workaholic striver!

Sensing that everyone in the Patrol Guard Division had changed their perception of him, Xue Yanzhi found another opportunity to go over and chat while Wen Gu was at leisure. He continued to talk about the current situation in Beidi.

This was not considered a sensitive topic; sometimes people would gather in small groups in the streets to talk about these things.

Wealthy families would also talk about these things during their usual banquets and small gatherings.

Even when some people took the initiative to recommend themselves, they would express their views to demonstrate their own talents.

It was just like how, in those large restaurants in the past, talented scholars from various places would gather to talk grandly and discuss the political situation of the imperial court. As long as one did not talk about topics that had a negative effect on Xinzhou, and did not involve certain sensitive information, it was fine.

Xue Yanzhi brought up the Six Great Powers of Beidi and mentioned the Du Clan, whom he had been keeping an eye on.

In any case, the Patrol Guard Division knew he was paying attention to the Du Family; Xue Yanzhi did not hide this, and there was even no need to conceal the purpose of discussing this topic, as he knew Wen Gu must understand in his heart.

"It is not appropriate to start a war now, but what if we only add a little bit of trouble to that side?"

Xue Yanzhi observed Wen Gu's reaction, and seeing that Wen Gu did not interrupt the topic or refuse to communicate, he felt a surge of joy in his heart.

He continued, "I know that such things require clever planning and adjusting strategies according to local conditions. It is like fishing: you have to choose the right bait, the right hook, the right fishing rod, pick a good fishing spot, and you must have patience!"

Xue Yanzhi poured tea, ground ink, and held a fan to help Wen Gu fan away the heat, asking sincerely:

"Brother... Deputy Envoy Wen, what do you think should be chosen as bait to hang on the hook?"

Wen Gu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "I usually start by baiting the spot."