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The twilight enveloped everything.
Marquis Gu finally finished his work.
The mansion ordered by Empress Dowager Zhuang to be built was entering the final stages of completion and would be finished soon. In fact, most of the necessary instructions had already been given, so he didn’t need to oversee the construction daily. However, in recent days, there had been an increased demand for bellows, and several agricultural tools from the common people had also arrived——waterwheels, threshing machines, and winnowing machines.
The Ministry of Works was busy sending people to learn again.
After the previous lesson with the bellows, the Ministry of Works had learned not to be arrogant and was now humbly seeking advice from the common people.
Speaking of which, it was strange. Were all farmers nowadays this skilled?
The waterwheels made by these common people were much more powerful and advanced than the ones used by the imperial court. The State of Zhao's waterwheel technology was imported from the State of Liang, which had the most advanced cylinder carriages, wheels and axles. When combined with water reservoirs, they could achieve a certain level of low-water, high-flow irrigation.
However, these common folks’ waterwheels maximized the advantages of both vertical and horizontal wheels, significantly increasing the water lifting height. They could even transport water from low levels to high places, even in steep terrain.
Marquis Gu had spent the entire day studying this.
He hadn't had a chance to look at the threshing and winnowing machines yet.
He didn't know who among the common people had created such impressive inventions, but the Ministry of Works had already sent people to investigate.
Marquis Gu entered the courtyard, and it seemed that no one was at home. There were only seven chickens working in the vegetable garden, catching bugs.
"There’s not even a gatekeeper? I told them to have a couple of servants here, but they just won’t listen..."
Marquis Gu began to complain.
After complaining, he noticed that one of the chickens was strutting smugly toward him.
He stopped and stared at the chicken.
The chicken stared back at him.
This was Little Seven.
However, Marquis Gu didn't recognize it. In his eyes, it was just a chicken, like the others.
Thinking about it, it was quite ridiculous. Who would bring their chickens along to the capital? Couldn’t they just buy chickens in the capital or something?
Thinking about this miserly behavior, Marquis Gu felt especially embarrassed.
This daughter, having lived in the countryside, was far from being able to keep up with proper etiquette, and this son-in-law wasn’t any better either. He was really worried that his Yan’er and the little one in Yao shi’s belly might be influenced by them.
Thinking about the upcoming arrival of the little one, Marquis Gu rarely found a glimmer of joy in his heart.
He lowered his head to look at the chicken by his feet.
He thought the chicken was coming to peck him, but it didn't move for a while.
After a while, it strutted away again.
Then, to Marquis Gu's chagrin, he discovered that the chicken had left a pile of chicken poop on his shoe!
Marquis Gu: "…!!"
In the west room, Xiao Heng was busy tidying up the large-scale mess created by Little Jing Kong. Ever since he heard about the bigger surprise he had in store for Gu Jiao, the little guy had been convinced that the surprise was hidden somewhere in the room.
The little guy rummaged through the drawers and cabinets but didn't know how to put things back on their own.
This habit had been repeatedly pointed out to him by the family, and each time he would respond well but then forget about it or choose not to follow through. Either he truly forgot, or he simply didn't care.
Every time, either Xiao Heng or Gu Jiao had to tidy up after him.
Xiao Heng was focused on cleaning up and was unaware that Marquis Gu had arrived at the house, let alone that he had been mistreated by their family’s chicken.
"Brother-in-law."
Suddenly, a gentle call came from the doorway, tinged with a bit of cautiousness and a touch of joy.
Xiao Heng had just picked up Little Jing Kong's abacus and turned around at the sound. He looked at Gu Yan and asked, "Ah Yan, what's wrong?"
Today, there were no classes at the Qinghe Academy, and Gu Xiaoshun had gone to visit Master Lu and Lady Nan Xiang. Gu Yan claimed to be unwell and stayed behind.
Gu Yan stood at the doorway, his hands clasped behind his back, looking somewhat reserved.
Since Gu Yan had come to their home, this was the first time he had shown such a demeanor that seemed... well, Xiao Heng wanted to say shy, but then he thought that Gu Yan's personality wasn't usually so thin-skinned.
Moreover, what did he have to be shy about?
It wasn't like they had just met yesterday.
"Um... Can I come in?" Gu Yan asked.
Even his voice when asking questions became gentle and cautious.
Wasn't this change in attitude a bit too much?
Xiao Heng gave Gu Yan a strange look and said, "Of course, come in. Do you have some homework you can't figure out?"
Among the three young men in the house, Xiao Heng interacted with Little Jing Kong the most. First, they shared a room. Second, Little Jing Kong talked more. And third, Little Jing Kong had the most homework and required more tutoring.
He had relatively fewer interactions with Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun, and most of the time when they came over during this hour, it was to ask about their homework.
However, Gu Yan's response was unexpected to Xiao Heng. He shook his head and said, "I have something I want to show brother-in-law."
"What is it?" Xiao Heng asked.
Gu Yan came closer to Xiao Heng. After hesitating for a moment, he brought out his clenched fist from behind his back, and when he opened it, a jade thumb ring with a smooth texture was revealed.
If Gu Jiao were here, she would definitely recognize this as the jade thumb ring she accidentally brought into her sleeve the first time she saved Gu Yan.
Gu Yan had treasured this jade thumb ring for a long time. No one else was allowed to touch it. Gu Jinyu had accidentally touched it once and Gu Yan became very upset.
The only exception was Gu Jiao, who was special—— when she touched it, it was like touching it himself, so Gu Yan didn't mind.
Xiao Heng looked at the jade thumb ring in Gu Yan's palm and wasn't sure what he meant by showing it.
Gu Yan noticed Xiao Heng's expression and a trace of disappointment crossed his eyes. He lowered his gaze, his tone filled with bitterness as he said, "You really don't remember."
"I remember it's your jade thumb ring." Xiao Heng said, uncertain if he was right.
Gu Yan sighed and said in a gloomy voice, "No, it's yours."
"Mine?" Xiao Heng was surprised.
This statement could have two meanings. One was that it originally belonged to him, and the other was that Gu Yan intended to give the jade thumb ring to him.
Considering Gu Yan's various expressions since entering the room, Xiao Heng felt that the second meaning was less likely.
Otherwise, Gu Yan wouldn't have said, ‘You really don't remember.’
"Did I give it to you?" Xiao Heng asked. Pausing for a moment, he added, "From when we were kids?"
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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