1836: I Became a Literary Giant in Great Britain

Michel followed behind the butler, with the Countess walking beside him.

A fragrance as rich as roses wafted from the tip of my nose.

The clamor behind them seemed to have been left far behind.

Although it was just an invitation for Michelle to have a private chat.

But everyone knows this is not just a casual chat.

The Countess's move was a declaration to the entire London social circle:

From then on, the young writer would be under her protection.

This was far more powerful for Michelle than any reward.

After passing through a corridor adorned with portraits of family members throughout history, they arrived at a more private reception room.

The decor here is elegant and cozy, with a burning fireplace bringing warmth to the room and a faint scent of roses filling the air.

"Please have a seat, Mr. Michel."

The Countess gracefully sat down on the sofa and gestured for Michel to sit in the armchair opposite her.

The butler quietly served them two cups of steaming black tea, then bowed and withdrew, considerately closing the door behind him.

At this moment, only the two of them remained in the room...

A man and a woman alone in a room, and to be honest, Michelle did have some rather romantic thoughts...

But the Countess's words abruptly pulled him back from his reverie...

"I must admit, your performance tonight exceeded all my expectations."

The Countess spoke first, her voice filled with sincere admiration.

"Your poem...it reminded me of an old friend..."

A complex emotion flickered across her expression, a mixture of nostalgia and wistfulness.

Michel did not ask who the old friend was; he simply picked up his teacup quietly and took a small sip.

"You flatter me, Madam. I just happened to have some thoughts on this."

The Countess gave him a deep look, as if trying to discern something deeper beneath his calm expression.

"Feelings...yes, the best works always stem from the most sincere feelings," she sighed softly.

"A young person as talented as you must come from a very remarkable family, right? I'm very curious about what kind of environment could nurture such a talent as you."

Her questions seemed casual, but they hit the nail on the head.

In this era, one's birth almost determines everything about a person.

Just as Michel wrote in "My Uncle John".

In Britain, a person's fate is often decided at birth...

Class differences are not so easily overcome...

Michelle put down her teacup and calmly met her inquiry.

"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, madam. My family is quite ordinary. My father is a merchant in a small town in Derbyshire, and we run a small handmade sock workshop."

"But they are all truly remarkable people, and I am proud of them."

He did not hide anything and told the truth about his family's situation, including the changes brought about by the family's bankruptcy.

As Michel recounted the story, the Countess's smile remained unchanged, and her tone remained gentle.

But the burning light in her eyes dimmed slightly.

She did have that idea at one point.

She has a niece who is in her prime, beautiful and talented, but too romantic and always dreams of marrying a poet.

The Michelle before her perfectly matched all her niece's fantasies in terms of talent, looks, and demeanor.

But now it seems the chasm between the two is as vast as the English Channel...

A count's niece and a merchant's son—this marriage was practically impossible in reality.

What's more, Michelle's family went bankrupt, which only made things worse.

Whether it goes bankrupt or not is the same.

The Countess sighed inwardly and quickly dismissed the unrealistic idea.

She changed the subject, and her tone became even gentler.

"Being buried deep beneath the rocks cannot conceal the brilliance of gold. Your talent in establishing yourself in London is more respectable than any other birth."

"Thank you for your understanding, madam."

"Is there anything I can do for you, Mr. Michel? Please don't misunderstand, this is not charity, but rather an elder's appreciation for a younger person."

The Countess's sincerity made it impossible to refuse her.

Michelle thought for a moment, then made a request.

"If it's alright, madam, I would like to have the opportunity to use your library."

The library at Gore House is one of the most prestigious private libraries in London, with a collection that surpasses that of many universities.

For Michelle, who was eager for knowledge, this was undoubtedly a more attractive reward than money.

It's important to understand that this is different from the information explosion of later generations.

In this era, knowledge is the most valuable thing.

In earlier times, a Bible was like a slaughterhouse...

Before the widespread use of printing in the 15th century, books were the most expensive luxury item in the world, bar none.

A standard Bible requires approximately 200 to 300 sheepskins.

This means that when you open a book, you are actually unfolding an entire flock of sheep.

To prevent books from being stolen, monasteries would lock them to the shelves with heavy iron chains.

This is the famous Library of Chains.

Readers cannot borrow the books; they can only lock themselves in front of the bookshelf, like going to the gym to lift weights, to complete a dual spiritual and physical exercise.

Reading is already so difficult, but copying books is an even more physically demanding task that can destroy your health.

Because of the long hours spent copying in one position, someone even drew a hanging figure in the corner of the book, with the caption: "This damn parchment is too slippery, the pen nib can't stay on at all, I want to kill the leatherworker."

Due to prolonged periods of bending over while copying texts, many monks developed severe blurred vision and scoliosis by the age of 30...

Knowledge never falls from the sky; it is salvaged bit by bit from the darkness by countless ordinary people with their own bodies and endurance...

It is these seemingly trivial hardships that have supported the backbone of human civilization!

While the difficulty of acquiring knowledge has decreased significantly with the development of the printing industry, it remains extremely valuable nonetheless...

Although Michel has the intellectual wealth of the next two centuries in his mind, his creations must also be based on reality.

If he could get the Countess's help, it would undoubtedly be a great boost to his abilities.

The Countess was somewhat surprised to hear Michel's request, but she also felt it was reasonable.

She immediately laughed: "Of course. The library at Gore's mansion is always open to you."

She stood up, took a beautifully packaged box from a nearby cabinet, and handed it to Michelle.

"This is just a small token of my appreciation; I hope you like it."

Michelle took the box, opened it, and found a brand new suitcase made of fine leather inside.

The suitcase is exquisitely crafted, with brass clasps gleaming under the light, and every detail exudes luxury and taste.

There seems to be something inside.

"This is too precious, madam."

"Take it, Michelle."

The countess pressed down on his hand, which he was trying to refuse.

"It's nothing valuable, but I believe it will be useful to you."

"Some people are born to be seen, and you are one of them."

"I believe your future extends far beyond London. This suitcase will accompany you to a wider stage."

"From now on, you can come here to find me if you encounter any problems."

The Countess's words undoubtedly expressed her high expectations and promises for Michel's future.

Since things had been said so far, Michelle had no choice but to accept the gift.

After the conversation ended, Michelle, carrying the exquisite briefcase, returned to the main hall under the guidance of the butler.

When he reappeared, the atmosphere in the entire hall changed instantly.

The guests who had previously been distant now surrounded him warmly, each with a fawning smile on their face.

Compliments, praise, and invitations to various banquets flooded in like a tide.

Dickens squeezed through the crowd, walked to his side, patted him hard on the shoulder, his face full of pride.

"Well done, Michelle! I knew you could do it!"

Michelle smiled in response to everyone's kindness, but her mind was clear.

All of this stemmed from the Countess's high regard for him and his own demonstrated talent.

He lifted the suitcase in his hand and felt an unprecedented weight.

Like his current status.