1836: I Became a Literary Giant in Great Britain

The adaptation of "My Uncle John" went smoothly; Michel had completed the work in just two days.

What really threw him into a bit of a panic was the housewarming party after the move.

Moving to a new house wasn't a big deal. After all, while Michelle wasn't exactly destitute, she was practically penniless before.

Frequently used items can be taken with an old leather suitcase.

The real hassle is dealing with all the customs and rituals that come with moving.

At that time, the British were still quite particular about these things.

Michelle herself didn't care about any of this, but when they learned that Michelle was moving, Michael and Dickens insisted on helping with the arrangements.

He had no choice but to let them do as they pleased.

That day, Michelle had just slept in when she was woken up by a noise downstairs.

Looking out the window, I saw two familiar figures standing at the door.

He slowly went downstairs and opened the door, still sleepy-eyed.

"Michelle! You've finally arrived!"

As soon as the door opened, Michael was seen waving his arms.

Standing next to him was Dickens, with his signature lively smile on his face.

To Michelle's surprise, both of them were carrying something in their hands.

The item isn't small.

Michael was holding a bulging cloth bag, while Dickens was holding a dark, indistinct object.

That thing looks like coal?

"Why are you here so early?" Michelle asked, her tone a mix of surprise and complaint.

Disturbing your sweet dreams is the most annoying thing!

"Of course, I'm here to celebrate your housewarming!"

Dickens' voice was loud and clear, as if he were reciting a celebratory poem.

"Moving is a major life event, how can you be so hasty!"

Michael nodded in agreement, adding with a serious expression, "That's right, Michelle, there are some rules that must be followed, as they relate to your future fortune."

Michelle looked at their serious expressions and was both amused and exasperated.

He, a soul from the 21st century, had absolutely no interest in these modern moving customs.

"Alright, alright, please come in." Michelle gestured for them to enter.

"Wait!" Dickens immediately reached out to stop him, his expression serious.

"Michelle, today is neither Thursday nor Monday. Choosing to move on Wednesday is not the best option."

Michelle: ? ? ?

He was stunned.

"Do you have to pick a day to move?"

Does moving in the UK also involve choosing an auspicious day?

"Of course!" Michael took over the conversation and began to explain things to him.

"Thursday symbolizes prosperity and good fortune, making it the best day to move. Monday is also good, signifying a new beginning. But you should never move on Friday, as that will bring misfortune, and you should definitely not move on Saturday, as that foretells a future filled with toil."

"As for moving on a rainy day, that's absolutely forbidden! It will leave your new home damp and full of bad luck!"

Listening to this seemingly plausible explanation, Michelle felt a slight shock to her modern worldview...

Fortunately, I moved on Wednesday, and it didn't rain. Not exactly lucky, but not bad either...

"Okay, I admit you have a point. But I've already moved in, I can't just move back..."

Michelle shrugged helplessly.

Dickens and Michael exchanged a glance and had no choice but to accept the fact.

"Since the date isn't auspicious, the subsequent ceremonies are even more essential."

"Take these for now."

As Michael spoke, he handed the cloth bag to Michelle.

Michelle opened it and found a large piece of dark bread and a small bag of salt inside.

"What are you doing?"

"Bread and salt symbolize abundance and can also ward off evil spirits and misfortunes," Michael explained.

"You, as the head of this household, must be the first to bring them into the new home and place them in the most prominent spot in the kitchen."

Michelle could only accept the bread and salt with a wry smile.

Just as he was about to open the door, Dickens stopped him again and solemnly handed him the dark object in his hand.

It was a huge lump of coal.

"You need to take this too."

"What does this symbolize?"

"Coal, a symbol of warmth and wealth!" Dickens' voice was full of passion.

"It must enter the room right after the bread and salt, symbolizing an ever-burning fire and abundant wealth!"

Michelle stood at the door of her new home, holding bread and salt in one hand and a heavy lump of coal in the other, feeling as if she were participating in some kind of mysterious ritual.

Behind him, Dickens and Michael looked solemn.

"Alright, the ceremony is over."

After placing the items in the designated spot, Michelle turned around, her tone slightly mocking.

"Two wizards, may we now come in and tour my new home, and perhaps prepare a sumptuous dinner for tonight?"

Dickens and Michael then relaxed and burst into laughter.

"Of course! Let's see the genius writer's new home!"

As the two entered the apartment, they were immediately drawn to its spacious and bright layout and exquisite decor.

"Oh my God, Michel! This place is wonderful!" Dickens exclaimed exaggeratedly as he walked around the house.

The kitchen's built-in water supply and boiler, as well as the bathroom's flush toilet, all appealed to him.

"It's so much better than my house on that street! I feel like inspiration just keeps flowing when I sit here!"

"I think you need to buy fire insurance."

Dickens was terrified of fire; the first thing he did after moving was to insure all his belongings with Sunfire Insurance Company.

"We'll talk about that later."

Michelle laughed it off and steered the conversation away from the topic.

Michael, being more pragmatic, patted the back of the sofa, sat down, felt its softness with his bottom, and finally nodded in satisfaction.

"It seems you spent your previous royalties in the most effective way."

However, after learning the price of the house, Dickens immediately fell silent.

After all, he still has a large family to support...

He has seven siblings, and his father is always unreliable, often trying to freeload off him...

The house on Dowdy Street was bought with money borrowed from Bentley.

In the evening, Catherine and Mary also arrived.

The arrival of the two ladies instantly filled the new apartment with a warm family atmosphere.

Catherine also thoughtfully brought her homemade apple pie as a housewarming gift.

Next up is today's main event.

Get ready for tonight's feast!

P.S.: That's all for today. I'll update three chapters tomorrow. If I finish writing them early, it'll be past midnight; if not, it'll be before tomorrow night.

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