Chapter 66: Coal Stove

When the Huwei Escort Agency reached the city gate, they were stopped by the city gate guards.

The escorts were all robust in physique; whether they were riding horses or running alongside, none had a frail build.

They were naturally valiant by nature, and the journey north, spent hacking away at evil entities, had only intensified their fierce courage. With their diet having improved during this period, after some recuperation, they were no worse than the guards of a great household.

One or two would be fine, but gathered together in a group of forty or fifty, holding weapons, with the leader carrying a horse lance and others bearing a Tiger Head Flag, at first glance they looked like a force raised by some great household.

Yet, whose family crest was a tiger head?

They couldn't place it for the moment.

The guards looked at this group of unknown identity, who were preparing to leave the city with such fierce momentum, and felt they had to ask.

Were they going out to hunt? Or were they going out on other business? Or perhaps, did they want to leave the Zhao Clan to choose a better master?

The escorts were slightly flustered, but Head Escort Lin remained calm; he took out the certificate Wen Gu had given him and stated that they had a mission to carry out and were going out to pick someone up.

Every shift of city gate guards had specifically assigned literate members on duty; one came over, took a look, and saw it really was official business—it even had a seal!

When they looked at the seal again, Jingxing Fang, Qingyun Fang?

Huh?

Isn't that...

They were well-informed about all the goings-on in Xinzhou City and knew that the Zhao family's cousin had requested two newly opened districts, and the Young Master had personally named them "Jing" and "Qing."

They did not doubt the content written on the certificate presented at this time, but the guards gathered together and watched Head Escort Lin and his men for a good while as if looking at a rare curiosity before letting them pass.

"An escort agency?"

"A rare thing from the south?"

"It might have been brought by that cousin from the south."

During their free time, the guards discussed it incessantly.

At the same time, at the Zhao family residence.

Every time a new great household or noble clan moved north, there would always be people coming to the residence to pay their respects, followed by one gathering after another.

The female relatives were with Lady Shen; there were young ones, older ones, and those with children, all gathered together quite lively.

The journey north had been arduous; some had already recovered, but the ladies with slightly weaker constitutions still wore fatigue on their faces.

Those few who prided themselves on having a better background than the Zhao family felt unhappy inside. But now that the situation was stronger than the people, they dared not show any difference on their faces, only saying they hadn't recovered yet.

They claimed to be seeking refuge with the Zhao Clan, but deep down they kept up their airs. Compared to a family like the Zhao family that had once fallen on hard times, they still carried a sense of superiority.

Coming to Zhao Fu this time was also to see the Zhao family's food, clothing, and expenses.

Regardless of whether the world was stable or chaotic, as long as they had no major issues, wealthy families and nobles still insisted on their quality of life.

They only maintained basic etiquette toward the exquisite snacks made by the chefs, but their reactions were flat.

It wasn't until the kitchen served a few soup dishes.

Lady Shen, sitting at the head, smiled with dignity: "Everyone has different tastes and different preferences. I don't like things that are particularly sweet, so the kitchen has always made things relatively light. However, you may season them according to your own preferences."

The maidservants placed the trays according to the seating order; inside, besides the desserts, there were two exquisite small porcelain jars.

The ladies present had originally been complaining in their hearts, wondering if the Zhao family couldn't afford Sugar?

When the maidservants beside them opened the porcelain jars and saw the snow-white or translucent things inside, they couldn't help but gasp.

This is... Sugar?!

The situation on the side of the Head of the Family Zhao was much the same.

These great households and noble clans, regardless of whether they were picky about other items of the Zhao family, were truly shocked by this one thing: Sugar.

And this was just the beginning; in the days to come, every time there was a small banquet, one could always see some new tricks.

The Head of the Family Zhao had originally only insisted that military force was paramount and that one should just use force to intimidate, but being able to win back a round in terms of material goods and seeing the surprised, foolish faces of those wealthy families and nobles was indeed quite refreshing. Thinking about the supplies he could trade with these wealthy families made it even more refreshing.

Once the two hosts were in a good mood, they liked to give things away.

Thus, Wen Gu's storehouse was filled more than halfway again.

On Lady Shen's side, besides banquets and socializing, there were also relatives and juniors surrounding her from time to time.

These relatives and juniors all knew that by gaining Lady Shen's favor, they would have a foothold in the Zhao Clan.

Without other skills, and with no way to get benefits from Cousin Zhao, it was better to start with the elders.

Today, several Shen family juniors came over to make their presence felt again.

Lady Shen had many good things here, and besides that, she could often directly influence the Zhao family's father and son. Being diligent in making one's presence felt was beneficial and harmless!

As the Zhao Clan's power expanded and their strength increased, this aunt became increasingly graceful and noble.

Indeed, power nourishes people!

To fantasize even more boldly, if the Zhao Clan were to eventually reach the pinnacle, she would be either the Empress or the Empress Dowager.

As relatives by marriage, the one they could count on most, the one they could firmly cling to, was none other than her!

Facing juniors with blood relations, Lady Shen was usually quite tolerant. Having these juniors around to amuse her was indeed pleasant for both body and mind.

Every time, she would also bestow some things. Exquisite ornaments, delicious snacks, luxurious clothing...

These juniors said with their mouths that they dared not refuse a gift from an elder, but they received the items quite happily.

Only when these people left would Lady Shen turn around and instruct the maidservants beside her to send a batch of medicinal herbs and incense newly prepared by the physicians to Wen Gu.

The maidservants showed no sign of surprise on their faces and went to carry out the task respectfully.

In this world today, besides rice and grain, what was more valuable? Gold, silver, or jewelry?

No!

It was medicinal herbs and incense!

Wen Gu had already become accustomed to having his storehouse replenished from time to time.

His aunt and uncle were not the stingy type. It was precisely because of this that Wen Gu would continue his plan.

Send some more things.

The goods in his warehouse were being consumed quite quickly, so he had to continue replenishing them.

That day, he strolled over to Qingyun Fang; he did not go to bother Qingyi Daozhang, but instead came to the side of the blacksmiths.

The things he had asked the Yu family to make were finally finished, so he came over to inspect the goods.

"Ward Chief, according to what you said last time, we have made further improvements."

Yu Er walked over carrying the cylindrical object.

This was the Honeycomb Coal Stove that Wen Gu had asked them to produce. Beside it were a small pile of finished Honeycomb Coal that had been brought over.

The main body of the coal stove had an outer shell of cast Iron, and the furnace chamber used a fireproof lining.

The Yu family had the recipe for fireproof clay; after all, these things were related to forging Iron. Others might not know, but their family was very familiar with it.

The overall style of the coal stove was based on design drawings provided by Wen Gu. Because they were unfamiliar with this new type of object, they had inevitably made mistakes during the production process.

Wen Gu did not blame them; he simply noted down the places where errors easily occurred and then let them continue to improve.

What was brought out now was the stove after another round of modifications and adjustments.

The members of the Yu family looked at Wen Gu nervously.

The conditions Wen Gu provided them were already very good; from the workspace to the compensation, everything was very pleasing. The missing materials were also provided by Wen Gu, requiring no effort on their part.

But every time they made something, there were errors, which was very embarrassing. They were anxious and uneasy, fearing that Wen Gu would not let them do work in the future.

Wen Gu carefully examined the first Honeycomb Coal Stove of this era.

This thing was to be given to his uncle-in-law, so the workmanship was more exquisite. The details had been polished multiple times, and it was even engraved with flowers and added with some copper decorations; this shiny color appeared a bit more noble.

The appearance was barely passable, but it was already quite good for the Yu family to be able to make it like this.

He asked Yu Er to add Coal and boil water to test it.

Whether it was a success or not, besides the appearance, it also depended on actual use.

After testing it and finding no errors, Wen Gu nodded and said, "This will do!"

The blacksmith Yu family let out a long sigh of relief.

It was finally a success!

Wen Gu looked again at the Coal to the side.

These pieces of Coal looked the same at first glance, but there were differences inside.

Besides clay, a small portion contained a combustion improver, based on a recipe provided by the Daoist Priest.

Qingyi Daozhang would not easily give out a truly high-end, top-secret recipe, and Wen Gu did not demand that high-end level; he only let the Daoist Priest adjust it—it didn't need to be high-end, just sufficient for use.

He just wanted to make a few grades of Honeycomb Coal to satisfy the needs of people of different statuses.

Those wealthy folks just loved to pursue high quality.

Later, after the Daoist Priest experimented with it, he gave a recipe that, when added to the Honeycomb Coal, allowed it to burn faster and more thoroughly.

"Keep these things confidential for now," Wen Gu said to the Yu family.

The Yu family nodded repeatedly, wishing they could swear an oath immediately.

"Confidential, confidential! We definitely won't let it slip!"

Wen Gu pointed at that small pile of Honeycomb Coal and selected a few.

"Pack these up. Cover the coal stove; where are the Fire Tongs and the Fire Hook?"

"Right here!" Yu Er handed them over.

"Pack the mold for pressing the blocks as well."

Wen Gu walked to the side of the stove.

To facilitate carrying, the stove body was also equipped with a movable handle.

He held the handle and lifted the coal stove to test it. It was alright.

Yu Er, who was beside him: "!!!"

He looked at that coal stove, then looked at Wen Gu.

It was as if he had seen some extremely discordant scene.

Then he saw Wen Gu frown and put the stove down: "It's a bit heavy."

Yu Er let out a breath for some inexplicable reason.

Their Ward Chief was delicate and weak; he really wasn't suited for this kind of thing.

Wen Gu thought so too.

Although I can lift it, it damages my refined image.

Looking at the packed Coal and the stove, he called out to someone: "Tietou, take these, let's go."

Time to go to the Zhao Family for a free meal!

(End of this chapter)