Finding Spirit Stones

The next afternoon, Shen Jingchuan left alone with only his coachman Liu Hu in a four-wheeled carriage. He didn't bring the shameless Big Black with him and headed to Yan Chongli's residence in Chang'an, following the address Yan Chongli had left.

On the way Shen Jingchuan's consciousness sank into his spatial dimension, where he selected two gifts:

A classic men's pocket watch, with its understated design, would suit Yan Chongli's age, temperament, and scholarly status; a delicate women's wristwatch would be more suitable for Yan Shuyao, as pocket watches are inconvenient for women, and wristwatches are more appropriate.

The two watches came with their original gift boxes, which he kept separately in a corner of the room.

Yan Chongli was a renowned Confucian scholar of the time, with many acquaintances and extensive connections. Moreover, he genuinely appreciated Yan Chongli, which is why he accepted him as his disciple.

Since the other party is sincere towards him, he can't be ungrateful. On his first formal visit, he definitely wants to leave a good impression.

In less than half an hour, the four-wheeled carriage arrived at the gate of the Yan Household residence, following the address, under the watchful eyes of passersby.

The carriage stopped in front of a neat and elegant mansion, which was Yan Chongli's temporary residence in Chang'an. The gate was spacious, and the bricks, tiles and eaves exuded the grandeur of the Aristocratic Clan, far superior to ordinary post stations and inns.

The gatekeeper, who had been instructed to wait at the entrance, rushed forward to greet the carriage as it arrived. He led Liu Hu to drive the carriage to the side courtyard, while another servant bowed and led Shen Jingchuan to the main courtyard.

As soon as I stepped into the courtyard, I saw two people sitting around a stone table, with a woman standing next to them, and the three of them were chatting and laughing.

Yan Chongli sat in the main seat, with Yan Shuyao sitting beside him. This was the first time Shen Jingchuan had seen her without her veil. Her eyebrows and eyes were gentle, her skin was as white as snow, and her light green dress made her look like a flower reflected in water, dazzlingly beautiful. She was even more gentle and lively than when she was wearing a veil.

The woman standing beside her was also extremely beautiful, with an innate nobility in her eyes and brows, an upright posture, and an ethereal temperament, completely different from Yan Shuyao's gentleness.

When Yan Chongli saw him enter, he immediately stood up with a smile and waved, saying, "Jingchuan's here! I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Shen Jingchuan quickly stepped forward and bowed in greeting:

"This disciple greets Master." He then turned to Yan Shuyao, cupped his hands, and said, "Greetings Miss Yan."

After speaking, he looked at the woman beside him, who was hesitating about how to bow. Yan Chongli then spoke up:

"Jingchuan, let me introduce you, this is..."

He had barely begun speaking when the woman interrupted him with a smile, "Young Master Shen, there's no need for such formalities. My surname is Xiao."

Upon hearing this, Shen Jingchuan cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Greetings, Miss Xiao."

Yan Chongli glanced at the woman surnamed Xiao, understood, and didn't elaborate further. He simply smiled and invited Shen Jingchuan to sit down.

Shen Jingchuan did not sit down. Instead, he stepped forward and, using the concealment of his wide robe sleeves, retrieved two exquisite gift boxes from his jade pendant. He then presented them to Yan Chongli: "Master, this is my first visit. This is just a small token of my respect. I will formally formally become your disciple when I arrive in the Capital."

Yan Chongli waved his hand and laughed, "You silly child, you're here already, why did you bring anything?"

Shen Jingchuan glanced at Miss Xiao beside him, his heart skipping a beat. He had only prepared enough for the master and his apprentice; having an extra guest would be impolite. He didn't have time to choose carefully, and as usual, using his sleeve as cover, he pulled out a small women's watch box from his storage space—the exact style was unclear through the box, only that it was a women's design. He turned and handed the box to Miss Xiao, politely saying, "This is a small gift for our first meeting, Miss Xiao. Please don't find it presumptuous."

Miss Xiao was slightly taken aback and didn't reach out to take it directly. Seeing this, Shen Jingchuan gently placed the box on the stone table in front of her.

I apologize; it was my oversight. My deliberate emphasis made it seem unnecessarily obvious. I'll rewrite it according to the normal reading experience.

Yan Chongli chuckled as he took the box, but froze the moment he opened the lid. Inside lay a polished metal object, its round dial engraved with the twelve Earthly Branches (子, 丑, 寅, 卯), and two slender copper hands moving steadily and slowly. He held it in his hand, turning it over and over, examining it for a long time before finally speaking with a hint of astonishment, "This... is actually a timekeeping device? So exquisitely crafted! In all my years, I've never seen anything like it."

"Sir, you have a good eye. This is called a wristwatch, and it's used to tell time."

Shen Jingchuan pointed to the watch face and explained:

"You see, these twelve divisions correspond to the twelve two-hour periods of the day. The short hand points to whichever earthly branch it is, which is the current two-hour period; the long hand moves faster, and it takes exactly one two-hour period to complete a full circle. Each small division corresponds to one quarter of an hour."

By observing the position of the hour and minute hands, one can accurately calculate the current time, which is much more convenient than a sundial or water clock. As long as it is carried with you, it will keep moving on its own and keep very accurate time.

Hearing him describe it so miraculously, Yan Shuyao and Miss Xiao, who were initially hesitant to open their gifts due to formalities, each opened the boxes in front of them.

Yan Shuyao's watch was smaller and more delicate, a women's wristwatch; Miss Xiao, however, was an engraved pocket watch—which Shen Jingchuan had grabbed in a moment of panic. The dial also had twelve hour markers, and both watches were exquisitely crafted. The two of them held them in their hands and examined them repeatedly.

Yan Chongli fiddled with the watch, finding it increasingly unbelievable. He looked up at Shen Jingchuan:

"This item is exquisitely crafted, something no ordinary craftsman could have created. What is its origin? I've never even heard of it, let alone seen it."

Shen Jingchuan spoke calmly, having already prepared his explanation:

"To be honest, sir, my family has never been known for its scholarly traditions. Instead, we have been dedicated to the study of such exquisite objects for generations. This watch is made using a secret Lineage craft, and very few of them are ever made outside the family."

Yan Chongli stroked his beard and nodded after hearing this, sighing repeatedly, "So that's how it is. It truly reflects a family tradition of scholarship. I never imagined that not only are your poems and prose outstanding, but your family also possesses such a unique skill. It's truly rare."

After Shen Jingchuan sat down, servants quickly served fresh tea. After a few words of conversation, Yan Chongli, holding his teacup, looked at him and casually asked, "Jingchuan, do you currently hold any official rank or title?"

Shen Jingchuan shook his head:

"Sir, I have no official rank. My ancestors were mostly scholars of physics and craftsmanship, and I have not delved deeply into the classics and policy essays required for the imperial examinations. I have only learned some poetry and other such unorthodox subjects."

Yan Chongli was taken aback upon hearing this, then stroked his beard and sighed:

"Is that so? Your poetry is so good, your talent and foundation are both Higher Vehicle. It's a real pity you didn't pursue the imperial examination path. Once you've settled down and gone to the Capital..."

I'll take some time to brush up on your understanding of the classics. With your talent, achieving academic success won't be difficult for you."

Shen Jingchuan bowed slightly, but his tone was firm. "I appreciate your kind offer, sir, but I have absolutely no interest in taking the imperial examinations and pursuing fame."

Yan Chongli didn't press the matter, and instead asked with a smile:

"So, did you come to Chang'an specifically for the Jade Autumn Garden Poetry Gathering, or do you have other plans?"

Shen Jingchuan paused for a moment, not intending to hide the matter of finding Spirit Stones from him, and frankly said:

"To be honest, sir, I came to Chang'an for two reasons. First, I wanted to attend this poetry gathering and see the brilliance of the literati from all over the world. Second, I also wanted to take the opportunity to see if there were any suitable business opportunities. But the most important thing is actually that I want to find something."

Yan Chongli's interest was piqued. "Oh? What are you looking for? Tell me, I know many people in Chang'an, maybe I can help you."

Yan Shuyao and Miss Xiao, who were standing to the side, also looked up, their eyes filled with a curious interest.

"It's a type of stone," Shen Jingchuan said. "This stone is lustrous throughout, with a subtle halo. It feels cool and refreshing to the touch, as if there are energy flowing within it. It's not ordinary jade. I've searched for a long time without any clues. I wonder if you, sir, have any..."

Before the words were even finished, the three people at the table spoke in unison, uttering two words in unison. "Spirit Stones?"