Chapter 83

This is an old-style traditional Chinese house, not the unique cave dwellings of Baotou, but somewhat similar to the siheyuan in Beijing, with blue bricks and large tiles. The doors and windows still follow the old Chinese tradition, with wooden carved doors and windows covered with paper, simple and elegant, exuding a strong sense of history, though the lighting is not particularly good.

Yang Yuanzhao, accustomed to modern life, found it hard to adapt to the windows and doors of this era. Given the better options available, glass windows and doors, or even aluminum alloy windows and doors, became his inevitable choice.

Aluminum alloy was readily available, not the specialized aluminum alloy for windows in the future, but a higher-grade one specifically customized for modified cars, much lighter and stronger than traditional aluminum alloy. He made a simple design and produced it according to the size of the windows. As for the glass, it was also readily available, with a purity much higher than ordinary glass, specifically for modified cars.

Replacing the cumbersome wooden and paper-covered windows with neat and bright aluminum alloy windows, and changing the doors to the simple wooden doors common in the future, was easy for the craftsmen of this era, who were skilled in carving and hollowing. They even added folk-style carvings to the wooden doors without waiting for Yang Yuanzhao to mention it, making the doors much more beautiful with just a thin layer of carving.

The renovation of the windows and doors was ongoing, and major renovations to the house were also in progress. The renovation of the kitchen and toilet was much easier. Yang Yuanzhao did not choose the modern flush toilet, which was difficult to implement, but instead used a separate method, with squat toilets being easier to achieve than seated ones. Wooden materials were not sturdy and had a short lifespan, and ceramic materials were not something Yang Yuanzhao had the time to research. With ready-made tiles and cement, the renovation was not much more difficult than in the future. With a large workforce, the transformation was completed in a day or two.

The renovations to the kitchen and toilet were basically complete, and the water supply for the house was also easy. Stainless steel pipes from the future were sufficient to provide running water to every part of the house. Without a water tower, a water reservoir had to be built at a high point, and water was manually lifted using a pulley system into the reservoir daily. The water then flowed through the pipes to each room. As long as the reservoir had enough water, it could be considered a simple water supply system. Yang Yuanzhao chose a steel structure for the reservoir, designing a 15-meter-high tower. While steel structures posed some challenges in solving housing issues, building a purely steel tower was not a problem. Even the reservoir itself, made of lightweight aluminum alloy, was several times lighter than steel and was easily installed using a hoist.

Both hot and cold water were supplied by the running water system, and the renovation of the windows and doors was almost complete. All that was left was the electrical renovation, and the house was now habitable.

Living alone in a large courtyard with dozens of rooms was not something Yang Yuanzhao enjoyed. He called Liu Shu and had the attendants and maids return, and also asked him to find a steward.

Liu Shu was very capable. By the afternoon, a tall, thin middle-aged man wearing a melon-shaped hat followed Liu Shu to Yang Yuanzhao's house.

The house was still a bit messy, with only the windows and doors of the back courtyard, mainly Yang Yuanzhao's living room and bedroom, being replaced. However, the effect was already evident. The large, clean aluminum alloy windows and the simple wooden doors stood out from the traditional style, and the white interior gave a refreshing feel.

This was the first time Liu Shu had entered the courtyard since the renovation began. Overall, the courtyard gave him a very strange feeling, not entirely Chinese in style, but not fully Westernized either. It was distinctly different from the Western characteristics of this era. Only upon closer inspection could Liu Shu appreciate the details.

The details, indeed, were the key. The entire renovation focused on convenience, durability, and brightness. The aluminum alloy windows were not only aesthetically pleasing; the large windows allowed ample sunlight to enter, making the rooms very well-lit. Even as the sun began to set, most rooms were still dim, but the bright windows refracted the outside light into the rooms, making them exceptionally bright.

"This is Sun Fusheng, who used to be the steward of the Wu family, and the former magistrate of Datong."

A magistrate, in the old days, was a significant official with considerable influence in the region. Yang Yuanzhao frowned; a magistrate's steward was not what he wanted. However, after talking to Sun Fusheng, he found that Sun Fusheng had a broad knowledge base and was not a traditional scholar but someone with some understanding of Western affairs and foreign countries.

Sun Fusheng was originally from Baotou and had gone to Datong over 20 years ago, where he served as a long-term attendant to the magistrate. After the magistrate passed the imperial examination and entered the bureaucracy, Sun Fusheng managed some of his commercial affairs, traveling extensively and even going to Britain once for a business deal.

Yang Yuanzhao was slightly surprised. In this era, for a family of an old official to travel to Britain, even for a business deal, was quite remarkable. Regardless of other factors, he recognized Sun Fusheng's capabilities. Although he could not yet judge his character, he trusted Liu Shu and decided to keep Sun Fusheng.

With Yang Yuanzhao's approval, Sun Fusheng took up his position. His first task was to arrange the lives of the attendants and maids, including the gatekeeper, totaling about a dozen people, whose food, clothing, and expenses needed careful planning.

Yang Yuanzhao was not a harsh person. With the integrated machine, money was just a number to him. He roughly told Sun Fusheng the monthly expenses and then left him to manage.

"Wow, Yuanzhao, your house is much more comfortable than mine!" Liu Shu came out at some point, having toured the house. The glass windows and the metal-like exterior were very sturdy, and the overall appearance was exceptionally bright. Most importantly, the faucet, which he did not recognize at first, automatically provided running water when turned on, something he had never seen before.

Liu Shu came from a wealthy family. When he was young, his father traveled west to establish a business, while he stayed home to study, enduring a period of hardship. Later, when life improved, he enjoyed a life of luxury, but he was not as particular as Yang Yuanzhao, who paid attention to the finest details.

"Do you like it, brother? I can provide the materials to renovate your house too!"

"I wouldn't dare to be as bold as you!" Liu Shu smiled bitterly. He was a scholar and a juren, and even though he had entered the business world, he could not abandon his scholarly status. Occasional Western tastes were acceptable, as many officials had such hobbies, but being thoroughly Westernized would make him an outlier among scholars, making it difficult to advance.

Since Liu Shu was unwilling, Yang Yuanzhao did not insist. Many modern things, like water and electricity, had certain dangers. Without familiarity, someone might get electrocuted. Installing them without proper knowledge would not be wise.

"How is Sun Fusheng? He seems very honest and discreet," Liu Shu asked.

"He is good. By the way, what about the servants? Have them all come here. Living here is not easy, and they need on-site training!"

"Training too?" Liu Shu was speechless for a moment, then said, "Alright, I'll have them come over this afternoon!"

After saying this, Liu Shu took his leave. Yang Yuanzhao also gave Sun Fusheng some money to buy daily necessities. The renovation had been ongoing for a long time, and some rooms were nearing completion. It was time to move in.

Sun Fusheng was quick. After about an hour, he returned with a group of people carrying supplies. The supplies were abundant: several bags of rice and flour, half a pig, a few fish, and a sheep's leg. In addition to Sun Fusheng, all the servants provided by Liu Shu were there: four maids, eight attendants, a gatekeeper, and a stable boy, totaling 15 people.

They stood neatly in the courtyard, looking at Yang Yuanzhao with some trepidation. This was a new environment, and they had a new master. Regardless of their nature, they dared not say much at this moment.

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