The number of servants in the villa was no less than in the ancestral mansion, though with the masters seldom visiting, the atmosphere lacked the usual wariness. While they didn't recklessly dash between the inner and outer gates, absenteeism had become commonplace.
Cheng Jinzhou entered through the side gate as usual, leaving Shiyan outside to wait for the grain delivery from the Huo family. The third branch maintained two small courtyards in the villa, staffed with their own servants who would promptly inform the main residence while ensuring his comfort.
The rooms beyond the main hall were poorly lit. Stretching his weary limbs, Cheng couldn't help but inwardly lament his frail constitution - even a carriage ride left him exhausted. Soon, he drifted into sleep.
Upon waking, Shimu stood nearby, first instructing maids to prepare washing supplies before whispering, "Young Master, the mistress sent someone to ask why you purchased all that grain."
"Who blabbed?" Cheng had anticipated this - at twelve years old, whatever he did would be reported to his parents by the servants. But he couldn't let them think they could tattle freely.
Shimu's eyes darted nervously. "Shiyan and I know our place. We wouldn't gossip."
As Cheng's study attendants receiving second-tier allowances from him, their loyalty naturally leaned toward their young master, though they dared not offend other servants either.
Cheng snorted. "The carriage driver?"
A slight headshake.
"The Huo family's shopkeeper?"
Another denial.
Irritation flared. Despite years of schooling, Cheng remained every inch the spoiled young master. Slapping the bedframe sharply, he barked, "Out with it!"
Unaccustomed to serving the formerly sickly Cheng, Shimu dropped to his knees at the sharp sound. "It was the villa's gate steward who informed the mistress."
Watching the fifteen-year-old kneel before him, Cheng privately praised the "good old days" of feudal society before demanding, "Which gatekeeper?"
The boys hesitated - the term "gate steward" being unfamiliar to Cheng. Shiyan quickly knelt too. "Gatekeeper Gao Sixteen. He reported our arrival immediately."
"Hmm." Cheng nodded. "Rise. Next time, inform me first about such matters."
"Yes." The two attendants, unfamiliar with their master's newly assertive personality, found themselves easily cowed by this darker version of Cheng.
Changing subjects, Cheng snapped his fingers. "Was the grain delivered?"
"All accounted for - 40 dan of rice, 40 dan of wheat, and 10 dan of sorghum. We have 1.3 taels of silver remaining." Shimu reported dutifully.
A maid arrived bearing a brass basin, plush towels, delicate silk handkerchiefs, and palm-sized soap. "Young Master, the steward has prepared a storage room in the rear courtyard for the grain."
A faint smile appeared. "Good. Thank him for me. Have it moved there now. You may rise too," he added to the kneeling attendants.
After perfunctory washing, Cheng avoided the fragrant soap. The complex recipe including angelica root, aconite, soap pods, camphor, almonds and bean flour didn't bother him as much as the finely ground lead powder that determined quality - a revelation from his maid that ended his soap use.
"Dismissed." Drying his face, Cheng waited until they left before pressing his ring, mentally calling: "Customer Service 010..."
"Funds secured?" The robotic voice sounded abrupt.
Cheng glanced at Shimu. "Hear anything?"
"Pardon?"
"See anything unusual?"
Shimu cautiously shook his head. "Nothing special..."
Reassured, Cheng muttered while walking out, "Ready. One minute."
"Press the virtual button when ready. The ring will automatically receive goods. You may specify quantities. Current status: 1 Star Alliance point, Level 1. Autonomous trading unlocks at Level 3." A large virtual button and numeric input field appeared, resembling a search engine.
Ignoring the dismissive tone, Cheng input 7.2 before proceeding to the storehouse where 90 dan (≈4.5m³) of grain sat neatly stacked.
After dismissing everyone, he pressed the virtual button. A familiar confirmation prompt appeared, followed by a selection menu including not just grains but nearby wood, tiles, and silk within 10 meters.
"Just like old times," Cheng mused, having thought such conveniences lost after his transmigration.
Selecting wheat, he watched the pile gradually diminish until CS010 announced: "Transaction complete. You may now read."
At chest height, a fog-enshrouded octavo volume materialized - the display resembling a holographic presentation.
"Elements of Geometry..." Cheng read the title and publishing details slowly, his expression darkening.
Eight years of theoretical physics (despite poor grades) meant even plagiarizing required research. While suitable for the Daxia Dynasty's medieval-level knowledge, the content was useless for his current needs.
Historically, Euclid's work established foundational mathematical logic - deductive reasoning and proof by contradiction - concepts revolutionary in ancient Greece but elementary to a 21st-century physics graduate.
The Chinese translation by Xu Guangqi had standardized geometric terminology - point, line, straight line, parallel lines, angle - elegantly rendered terms shining with intellectual brilliance.
A mathematical bible indeed!
But Cheng needed practical knowledge - glassmaking, mirror production, even gunpowder. Beyond its proofs, the content barely reached middle-school level, offering nothing for practical applications:
A straight line can be drawn between any two points.A finite line can be extended indefinitely.A circle can be drawn with any center and radius.All right angles are equal.Parallel postulate regarding intersecting lines.
Groundbreaking millennia ago, but worthless to Cheng now - similar concepts already existed in Daxia.
"Wasted silver," he sighed, flipping through the pages. The proofs based on these postulates might have value - tasks even a poor student like him couldn't easily replicate. As a self-styled academic, he couldn't claim the book worthless either.
"010, another book please," Cheng muttered.
"Delete current book?" came the prompt reply.
"Of course not!"
Astral array research (essentially astronomy) required mathematical and physical foundations. With Daxia lagging in this field, even basic texts could fetch decent prices.
"Your Star Alliance level permits only one book at a time."
"So that's why Playboy disappeared so fast," Cheng grumbled.
The ring impassively asked, "Confirm new purchase?"
After hesitation: "At least I can copy it down."
"Affirmative."
Exiting the storehouse with a pained expression, Cheng realized the ring's privacy feature had become inconvenient.