The weak scholar in the end of ancient times

Chapter 72 Wanfu Garden

Mrs. Shen knew how much the Shen family still had. In today's world, most of them were flashy and useless, and it would be impossible to build a garden with just them.

But the Shen family had an advantage in status, and many wealthy families and nobles wanted to associate with them.

The Shen family couldn't afford to build it, but they could get more people involved. With more people, they would form a huge interest group, and even if some big families had opinions, they couldn't move them.

In today's chaotic world, goods are generally in short supply.

But it also depends on what your identity is.

The wealthy families may be short of medicinal herbs, but food...

Especially the wealthy families who were originally in the north, they actually hid the grain and were unwilling to take it out, and were still waiting and watching. Intimidation was useless.

Wood, bricks and tiles are not something that ordinary people can afford nowadays.

Even if the brothers Shen Qing and Shen Liu did not build a garden, the wood, bricks and tiles would be distributed by the wealthy nobles in each neighborhood to expand their own homes.

Some wealthy families live a life of mediocrity and have no confidence in the world. They enjoy themselves every day as they can, relying on the fact that the Zhao family does not dare to kill them due to the current situation. They are unwilling to use the leftover rice from every meal to help refugees, even if it means burying it in the ground and rotting. When they are bored, they torture their slaves at home.

The Zhao family is in a critical period of expanding its influence and spreading its reputation. The situation is sensitive and one move can affect the entire body.

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

Even if they could build a garden, if they could get the rich people to voluntarily give out their money and goods, then the two evildoers of the Shen family would have done a good deed!
Why did the Ren family build a Buddhist temple? I had never heard that the Ren family believed in Buddhism.

But building a Buddhist temple can make wealthy people happy, and they will donate their goods to support the temple and be willing to add incense oil and pay incense money every day. It can also provide jobs for the people and attract external forces that worship Buddhism.

Xinzhou will not build a Buddhist temple, but it can build a garden for the entertainment of wealthy families.

Just as Wen Gu said, let’s try building the first phase of the project first.

Moreover, this matter neither consumes the Zhao family's food and fodder for maintaining the army, nor does it mobilize soldiers inside and outside the city.

Madam Shen drank her tea, pondered for a moment, and said to the maid beside her, "Send those glass ornaments that recently came from the south to Shen Qing and Shen Liu."

Xianghuifang.

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

When the Qingliu brothers returned home, they immediately called their brothers and sisters, especially the wealthy ones, to come to the big study.

Accommodation was limited, and the entire Shen family had only two large study rooms. One was used by their father, and the other was for the entire clan to use. It was originally built to invite famous scholars to teach, but later it was used for playing mahjong.

At this moment, Shen Qing came over and pushed his usual playthings aside, cleared the table, and spread out the drawing paper.

Someone reached out to touch it out of curiosity, but was slapped away by Shen Liu!

"Be careful! The ink smudges easily. Look how dirty you've made it!"

Shen Liu pointed at the place where he had touched before and tried to shift the blame.

The people who gathered around out of curiosity really didn't notice it at first and thought that someone around them had soiled the painting.

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

But soon, their attention was attracted by the prospects described by the Qingliu brothers.

It's exciting to listen to it, and it's also very face-saving to make it.

but……

"Wen Gu is giving us this good thing so easily? Are you really not trying to trick us?"

"Who cares about him? As long as we can be sure that we benefit from this, that's all that matters."

"Right."

Even the supervisors are from their side, so you can understand the real progress and don't worry about being cheated.

"What is the name of this garden?" someone asked.

Shen Qing flipped through a small stack of papers beside him. These were the various precautions he had written down during the previous discussion at Jingxingfang, including the issue of naming.

"I asked Wen Gu, and he said that the names my cousin gave to his two blocks were auspicious."

Then he took out the complete version for everyone to see——

Auspicious stars and auspicious clouds, looking up to see joy. Good fortune is in the air, everything goes smoothly.

"I thought about it and decided to follow my cousin's wishes."

"What do you mean? Fuchou, Fushi, Wanshun, Wanfu?"

"Good luck."

“That’s too straightforward.”

"Indeed, 'May you be blessed with good health and happiness' has a clear meaning, more than..." said a young man who was reading recently.

Shen Qing slapped the table and said, "That's it! It's called Wanfu! Wanfu Jin'an's Wanfu!"

I want it to be this straightforward!
Their thoughts must be known to everyone!
At this time, an attendant came in and told Shen Qing a piece of news: Wen Gu sent Chang Shun to Zhao's house.

In order to prevent Wen Gu from complaining, they asked people to keep an eye on Jingxingfang.

Now that there's no quarrel and everyone's getting along well, why bother going there now? Are you going to file a complaint again?
After guessing for a while, I heard that Mrs. Shen had sent someone over.

Several people in the study covered their buttocks reflexively.

However, this time it was not a beating.

After waiting for a while, they finally received a batch of gems and treasures given by their aunt, Mrs. Shen. It turned out that Wen Gu had spoken well of them to their aunt.

"Wen Gu is a good person, very loyal!"

"My aunt should also know about this. Does this mean that she doesn't object?"

The person who was originally hesitant pounded his hands and said: "This can be done!"

Finally I can do something to prove myself!

Everyone is ready to go.

Shen Qing's followers came over at this time: "Sir, there is another matter. The people who were watching Zhaohuifang said that Zhao Mu went to Qingyunfang today. It is said that he might have gone to see the Taoist priest who is good at alchemy."

Shen Qing looked dissatisfied.

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

But it was clear from what the followers said at this time that it was the people from the Zhao family's side branch who wanted to poach people!
Shen Liu was so impatient that he kicked over the chair in front of him.

"You're trying to steal our people? Chaohuifang is going too far!"

That evening.

The news reached Jingxingfang through He Da——

The group of young masters from Xianghuifang (Shen) and Chaohuifang (Zhao) started fighting again.

Review: Good news for Jingxingfang.

……

The dispute between the two districts is common. As long as it doesn't get out of hand, it's just a minor episode.

The Shen family has more important things to do now, so they are not entangled with the Zhao family's side branches.

They acted quickly. Since they decided to build a garden to save face, they immediately started recruiting people!
Those who are on good terms with the Shen family and those who want to curry favor with them will contribute food and labor.

Those who are bored and have money and goods in their hands are unwilling to use them to help the disaster victims, but give them to the Zhao family? They have already paid tribute, so don’t even think about taking the rest for free.

But apart from these, I am indeed interested in participating in building a garden.

Especially when I saw the paintings that the Shen brothers brought out, with drawings and plans, it showed that they were really going to do it, which was really exciting.

Of course, there were also some arrogant wealthy nobles who looked down on the Shen family. Having once seen prosperity, they now had a negative attitude and did not believe that the Shen family could achieve anything, let alone give away their own skilled artisans.

They were reluctant to give up the good things they had, but they couldn't make things too awkward, so they just made a symbolic gesture. Instead of taking the food and supplies, they simply picked a few extra people from their staff to work as laborers, which also reduced their own food consumption.

Shen Qing remembered that Wen Gu mentioned crystal. He had a friend who liked water jade crystal, so he went to ask about it.

The Pei family, once a noble family, did not become depressed after arriving in Xinzhou.

The eldest son of the Pei family is now the chief officer of the Patrol Department and is highly trusted.

Pei Jing, the young master of the Pei family, is not yet twenty years old. He has suffered a serious illness and has a weak constitution. He is quite gentle to others and looks well-mannered.

Shen Qing met the other party when he arrived in Xinzhou City. When he was looking for someone to join his gang, he thought of him.

Pei Jing listened to Shen Qing's description of Wanfu Garden while playing with the crystal animal sculpture in his hand.

"Okay, count me in."

After thinking for a moment, Pei Jing said, "I have some wood and bricks stored at home. If you need them urgently, you can take them away first."

The servant next to him seemed to want to say something but hesitated, and just kept his head down in silence.

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

Pei Jing thought about it and realized that the craftsman he hired was only good at polishing crystal stones and didn't seem to have any other special skills or recipes, so he said, "It's a small matter. I'll have someone give you a list of names, but I didn't bring many craftsmen with me at the time, so they may not be able to help."

"That's enough. I'll find a few more people. If we accumulate a little bit, we'll definitely be able to get it done!"

After Shen Qing left, the servant next to him reminded Pei Jing: "The master seemed to have said yesterday that he wanted to use those wood, bricks and tiles to build..."

Pei Jing said firmly, "I've left it for him. Let Shen Qing take the rest away, immediately!"

His father wanted to build a yard for his new concubine.

His elder brother had a tough time being the chief of the patrol department, risking his life to carry on the family's glory. His elder sister-in-law was pregnant and lived in fear every day.

The old guy still has the mind to spend his time in wine and women!
Build a yard?
Let’s build a chicken coop!!

I thought of what Shen Qing said just now, an integrated park of "eating, drinking, playing and living", which is also equipped with various novel facilities. It is unique in the whole Xinzhou.

I don't know if it's true or not, but it sounds interesting.

I just happened to participate in the profit sharing, so I will go to Jingxingfang to have a look someday.

Well, on the day his father came back, he asked his sister-in-law to stay with relatives in the next block for a few days, while he went to Jingxing Block. No one was at home, so the old man could get angry as he pleased.

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

Pei Jing felt very sorry that his physique was not as strong as his elder brother's. He heard that Wen Gu was also a weak scholar, and perhaps they could get along well.

The Shen family members were recruiting people everywhere to join the gang. One person brought two, two brought eight, and the number of people joining in was like a snowball, increasing.

Shen Liu came to Jingxingfang again and told Wen Gu that the goods and craftsmen had been almost collected.

Reviewing the past and being surprised.

So fast, only three days?

These people are really rich!
So, the more times like this happen, the more we should take things out of the pockets of the rich!

Shen Liu also told Wen Gu about the fight with Zhao Mu and his gang:

"You put in a good word for us, and we appreciate it. We'll also teach your idiot who poached you a lesson."

"Did my uncle blame me?" Wen Gu asked.

"My uncle and cousin were busy with important things, so they didn't care about our little quarrel. My aunt just scolded us a few times."

Judging from his indifferent attitude, Mrs. Shen's scolding seemed to be just a formality.

"Is it really okay?"

"Really not."

The Zhao family has been secretly poaching people but hasn't succeeded. Is this a matter of face?

It's just like a military general's child who starts a fight but loses.

Shame!

(End of this chapter)