Chen Wu called the shop assistant over to carry his gift.
As someone who considered himself one of Duke Chen's own men, how could he visit his patron empty-handed?
Choosing this gift had actually cost Chen Wu a great deal of thought. After all, Duke Chen came from generations of nobility. What had he not seen?
With Chen Wu's meager resources, finding something unexpected to give him was harder than climbing to heaven. Even the exquisite water-powered mechanical clock he had previously presented to Duke Chen had earned no more than a couple of glances.
Left with no other choice, Chen Wu had opted for the simplicity of true craftsmanship—the large box the assistant was carrying.
The box was rather heavy. Since the assistant, who had gone from haughty to fawning, was willing to curry favor, Chen Wu was happy to let him carry it all the way to Duke Chen's Residence.
After he had waited outside Duke Chen's Residence for nearly an hour, the steward finally came out and invited Chen Wu inside.
Carrying the box, Chen Wu followed the covered corridors through Duke Chen's Residence into the inner quarters, where he found Duke Chen seated in a grand armchair.
Compared with how he had been in Yan'an Prefecture, Duke Chen seemed much more dispirited. He merely read a small booklet without even raising his head.
Only when Chen Wu stepped forward to bow and offer his greetings did Duke Chen look up.
"Oh, Chen Wu, you're here. Sit!"
"Thank you, Your Grace!"
Chen Wu set the box on the table and opened it in front of Duke Chen. "I heard that your sixtieth birthday is approaching, Your Grace. Allow me to offer my congratulations in advance."
Inside the opened box was an exquisitely crafted glass longevity peach, quite