Chapter 72: Wanfu Garden

Lady Shen knew exactly how much the Shen family still had in their hands. In the current state of the world, most of it was flashy but impractical, and it was impossible to build a garden relying solely on them.

But the Shen family had the advantage of status, with many wealthy households clinging to them and nobles forming alliances.

The Shen family could not build it alone, but they could pull more people to participate. Once there were many people, it would become a massive interest group, and even if individual wealthy households had objections, they would not be able to move against it.

In these chaotic times, generally speaking, goods and materials were in short supply.

But it also depended on one's status.

The wealthy households might be short on medicinal herbs, but as for grain...

Especially the powerful clans originally from Beidi; they were actually hoarding grain and unwilling to bring it out, still waiting and watching, and coercion was useless.

Timber, bricks, and tiles—those were not things commoners could afford to consume nowadays.

Even if the brothers Shen Qing and Shen Liu did not build the garden, the timber, bricks, and tiles would still be divided up by the wealthy and noble households in each ward to expand their own homes.

Some wealthy households lived day to day, holding no faith in this world, enjoying each day as it came; relying on the fact that the Zhao Family dared not kill them due to the current situation, they would rather bury leftover rice and grain in the dirt to rot than bring it out to provide relief to refugees, and when bored, they would torture their servants at home.

The Zhao Family was in a critical period of expanding their influence and promoting their reputation; the situation was sensitive, and one wrong move could affect the whole.

Otherwise, Lao Zhao would have killed a batch of people long ago.

Building a garden was fine too; if it could make the wealthy households voluntarily bring out the money and goods in their hands, those two disasters of the Shen family could be considered to have done a good deed!

Why did the Ren Clan build a Buddhist temple? It had never been heard before that the Ren family was particularly devout.

But building a Buddhist temple could put the wealthy households in a good mood, make them bring out their goods to support it, and make them willing to add incense oil and pay incense money daily. It could also provide work for the common people and attract pro-Buddhist forces from outside.

Xinzhou would not build a Buddhist temple, but building a garden exclusively for the wealthy to amuse themselves was also acceptable.

Just as Wen Gu said, build the first phase of the project first to test it.

Moreover, this matter neither consumed the grain and grass the Zhao Family used to raise their army, nor did it mobilize the soldiers inside or outside the city.

Lady Shen sipped her tea, pondered for a moment, and said to the maid beside her, "Send those Glazed Ware ornaments that came from the south recently to Shen Qing and Shen Liu."

Xianghui Fang.

The Shen family's relatives and some close friends all lived here.

As soon as the brothers Shen Qing and Shen Liu returned home, they immediately summoned their clansmen and siblings, especially those with money, to the large study.

Nowadays, accommodation conditions were limited, and the entire Shen family had only two large studies. One was used by their father, and the other was for the clan's public use, originally built to invite scholars to teach, but later used for playing Pai Gow.

At this moment, Shen Qing came over and casually pushed the things usually used for play to the side, cleared the tabletop, and spread out the drawing paper.

Someone curiously reached out to touch it, only to be slapped away by Shen Liu!

"Pay attention! This drawing smudges easily; look, you've dirtied it here!"

Shen Liu pointed to a spot he had touched earlier and shifted the blame.

The people who had curiously gathered around hadn't really been paying attention just now and thought someone else nearby had actually dirtied the drawing.

"What kind of brush was used to draw this?" a calligraphy and painting enthusiast asked.

However, their attention was soon drawn by the prospects described by the brothers Shen Qing and Shen Liu.

Listening to it made one's heart surge, and if it were actually done, it would be very prestigious.

But...

"Did Wen Gu really let us have such a good deal so easily? Is he really not tricking us?"

"Never mind him, as long as we can be sure we benefit from this."

"That's true."

Even the supervisors would be from their side, so they could understand the real progress and not fear being deceived.

"What is this garden called?" someone asked.

Shen Qing flipped through a small stack of papers beside him; these were the various notes Wen Gu had written while discussing things in Jingxing Fang earlier, including the issue of naming.

"I asked Wen Gu; the names the cousin gave to those two wards earlier were auspicious."

As he spoke, he brought out the complete version for everyone to see—

Jing stars and Qing clouds, look up and see joy. Blessings fill the fields, all things go smoothly.

"I was thinking, let's just follow the cousin's intent to name it."

"Name it what? Revenge, Deputy Envoy, Ten Thousand Prosperous, Ten Thousand Fortunes?"

"Wanfu is not bad."

"It's too straightforward."

"Indeed, 'Respectfully wishing you ten thousand blessings and golden peace,' the intention is clear, it's too..." said a youth who had been studying recently.

Shen Qing slapped the table: "That's it! Just call it Wanfu! The Wanfu from 'ten thousand blessings and golden peace'!"

They wanted this kind of straightforwardness!

They had to let everyone know their intentions!

At this time, a follower came in to inform Shen Qing of a piece of news: Wen Gu had sent Chang Shun to Zhao Zhai.

To prevent Wen Gu from complaining, they had people watching Jingxing Fang.

Now that no fight had broken out and everyone was getting along well, why go there now? Could it be that he still wanted to complain?

While they were guessing back and forth, they heard that Lady Shen had sent someone over.

Several people in the large study reflexively covered their backsides.

However, this time it was not for a caning.

After waiting, they received a batch of gems and treasures bestowed by their aunt, Lady Shen; it turned out that Wen Gu had spoken well of them to their aunt.

"This Wen Gu is someone you can get along with, he's loyal!"

"Aunt must know about this matter too; does this mean Aunt doesn't oppose it?"

Those who had been hesitant slammed their hands down: "This can be done!"

Finally, they could do something to prove themselves!

Everyone was rubbing their fists and wiping their palms.

Shen Qing's attendant came over at this moment:

"Young Master, there is another matter. The people watching Zhaohui Fang say that Zhao Mu went to Qingyun Fang today; it is said it might be for that Daoist who is skilled in Alchemy."

Shen Qing's face revealed dissatisfaction.

Wen Gu had told them before that he needed that Daoist to refine some things so that Wanfu Garden could be built as quickly as possible and become the only one of its kind in Xinzhou!

But hearing what the attendant said now, how could one not tell that it was that group of people from the Zhao Family branch trying to poach their talent!

Shen Liu, having a hot temper, kicked over the chair and stool in front of him.

"Competing for people with us? Zhaohui Fang is going too far!"

That evening.

The news was passed to Jingxing Fang through He Da—

The group of young masters from Xianghui Fang (Shen) and Zhaohui Fang (Zhao) had started fighting again.

Wen Gu: Beneficial to Jingxing Fang.

……

The dispute between those two Fangs was a common occurrence; as long as it didn't blow up, it was just a minor interlude.

The Shen Family had more important matters to attend to now and didn't get tangled up too much with the Zhao Family branch.

Their actions were still very fast; since they had decided to build the garden to compete for face, they immediately set about rallying people!

Those who were on good terms with the Shen Family, or those who clung to them, contributed grain if they had grain, and contributed labor if they had strength.

As for those who were bored and had money and goods in their hands, they weren't willing to take them out to relieve the disaster victims, and give them to the Zhao Family? They had already offered tribute, so don't even think about getting the rest for free.

But apart from these, they were indeed a bit interested in investing shares to build the garden.

Especially after seeing the drawings brought out by the Shen brothers, with blueprints and plans, it showed they were truly going to do it, which was indeed heart-stirring.

Of course, there were also arrogant wealthy households and nobles who looked down on it. Having seen prosperity before, their current attitude was passive; they didn't believe the Shen Family could accomplish anything, and were even less willing to give up the craftsmen they raised themselves.

They weren't willing to take out the good things they clutched in their hands, but they couldn't make things too awkward, so they made a symbolic gesture. They didn't give grain or supplies, only picking a few surplus people from under their command to give away as labor, which could also reduce their own grain consumption.

Shen Qing remembered Wen Gu mentioning Crystal; he had a friend who liked Water Jade Crystal, so he went to inquire.

The Pei Family, who were once nobles, did not become depressed after coming to Xinzhou.

The eldest young master of the Pei Family was now the chief official of the Patrol Guard Division and was deeply trusted.

The younger young master of the Pei Family, Pei Jing, was not yet twenty, had suffered a serious illness, had a slightly weak constitution, treated people quite gently, and looked refined.

Shen Qing only met him after arriving in Xinzhou City; when looking for people to join the venture, he thought of him.

Pei Jing listened to Shen Qing's description of Wanfu Garden while playing with a Crystal beast carving in his hand.

"Fine, count me in."

After thinking for a moment, Pei Jing added: "My family has also hoarded some timber, bricks, and tiles. If you need them urgently, you can haul them away first."

The attendant beside him wanted to speak but stopped, eventually lowering his head in silence.

Shen Qing didn't notice and exclaimed happily: "Good brother! By the way, do you have any skilled craftsmen here? Some fine work needs experienced hands to do it, so as not to ruin the materials."

Pei Jing thought for a moment; the craftsmen his family raised were skilled in polishing Crystal and didn't seem to have any other unique techniques or formulas, so he said: "Small matter, I will have someone give you a roster, but we didn't bring many craftsmen initially, so it might not be of much help."

"Having them is enough. I will go find a few more people. Many a little makes a mickle; we will definitely be able to get things done!"

After Shen Qing left, the attendant beside him reminded Pei Jing: "Master seemed to have said yesterday that he wanted to use those timber, bricks, and tiles to build..."

Pei Jing's tone was firm: "I have already set some aside for him; let Shen Qing haul the rest away, haul them away immediately!"

His father wanted to build a courtyard for his newly taken concubine.

His eldest brother had it hard as the chief official of the Patrol Guard Division, risking his life outside just for the family's glory to be passed down. His sister-in-law was pregnant and lived in fear every day.

And the old thing still had the heart to indulge in debauchery!

Build a courtyard?

Go build a chicken coop!!

He then thought of what Shen Qing said just now, an integrated park for "eating, drinking, playing, and staying," also equipped with various novel facilities, the only one in all of Xinzhou.

He didn't know if it was true or not, but it sounded interesting.

Since he had invested shares, he would go to Jingxing Fang to take a look another day.

Hmm, on the day his father returned, he would let his sister-in-law stay at a relative's house in the neighboring Fang for a few days, and he would go to Jingxing Fang. With neither of them at home, the old thing could throw a tantrum however he liked when he returned.

When his eldest brother was at home, the old thing wouldn't dare to show any attitude. His eldest brother had a bad temper, and in this world, even if a son killed his father, no one would care.

Pei Jing regretted that his constitution was not as strong as his eldest brother's; he heard that Wen Gu was also a frail scholar, so perhaps they could get along.

The people of the Shen Family went everywhere to pull people into the venture; one brought two, two brought eight, and the people participating rolled in like a snowball, becoming more and more numerous.

Shen Liu came to Jingxing Fang again to tell Wen Gu that the goods and craftsmen had been collected almost entirely.

Wen Gu was surprised.

So fast, had it even been three days?

This group of people was truly wealthy!

Therefore, the more it was a time like this, the more one should dig things out of the pockets of the wealthy!

Shen Liu also told Wen Gu about the fight with Zhao Mu's group:

"You spoke well of us, and we appreciate it, so we helped you teach those idiots who poach talent a lesson along the way."

"Did your uncle scold you?" Wen Gu asked.

"Uncle and cousin are busy with big matters and don't care about our small squabbles; it was just Aunt who lectured us a couple of times."

Looking at his indifferent attitude, Lady Shen's reprimand seemed to be just going through the motions.

"Are you really okay?"

"Really okay."

Is it something very prestigious for the Zhao Family to secretly try to poach talent and fail to move them?

It is just like a child from a military family taking the initiative to pick a fight, only to lose.

Shameful!

(End of chapter)