On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

The echo of the thunder in the Purple Palace had not yet faded when new waves quietly surged in the streets of the imperial capital.

Lin Zhen took off his black dragon-patterned uniform and put on a plain indigo brocade uniform, covered with a thin cloak of the same color. He did not bring any ceremonial objects and was accompanied only by two restrained personal guards. He once again integrated into the bustling city of the imperial capital.

The new policies had been announced to the world, but it would take time for them to take root and benefit the people. He needed to hear for himself how the pulse of this thousand-year-old imperial capital beat under the new policies.

Suzaku Street, the most prosperous commercial road in the imperial capital.

Shops lined the streets, flags fluttered, people streamed in, and the atmosphere was bustling with activity. The air was filled with the mixed aromas of spices, food, and cosmetics, as well as a restless energy.

Lin Zhen stopped in front of a wealthy business called "Huitonghao".

The gilded plaque sparkled in the sun, and the temple was bustling with people and carriages.

Several merchants dressed in silk and with extraordinary demeanor were gathered in front of the sign, talking among themselves.

Posted on the notice board were the Ministry of Revenue's newly issued "Regulations on Merchants' Investment in the Study of Things and Prosperity of the Country" and the subscription details of the "Study of Things and Prosperity Bonds" issued by Huitonghao.

"Brother Zhang, look at these shares of the Jingji-Beijiang railway. Each share is worth 100 taels of silver, with an annual interest rate of 5%. After five years, they can be redeemed or resold at the market price. Is this a good deal?" asked a slightly plump grain merchant.

The wealthy businessman known as Brother Zhang twirled his beard and mused, "Brother Li, this depends on the long term. We've both witnessed the iron dragon transporting grain during the snowstorm in northern Xinjiang. Once this track is completed, north-south freight will be as fast as lightning, and the profits will be more than tenfold. The five percent interest is just a small part of the profit. The key is to seize the initiative; the dividends in the future are the big deal."

"That's true," another silk merchant said, "but this is a new thing after all. What if the court policy changes, or the iron dragon dies halfway and our hard-earned money is lost..."

"Shopkeeper Wang, you're worrying too much," a young and energetic porcelain merchant interrupted. "My father said that His Royal Highness the Prince of Zhenbei always keeps his word. The Burning Sky Thunder, the Telegraph—none of them is not earth-shattering. Following the court is a sure thing. I've already subscribed to five thousand taels of bonds and am also planning to invest in the Jinmen Port Steam Terminal!"

"Young people are still bold," said Old Brother Zhang with a smile. "I'm planning to invest as well. The interest rate on these Gewu bonds isn't high, but they're safe. They're guaranteed by the Huitong Bank and endorsed by the Ministry of Revenue. Think of it like a big bank deposit."

"I heard that the Zhou and Wang families, those old families, are also interested," the grain merchant whispered. "They control mines, forests, railways, docks, and workshops. They all need iron and wood. Investing here is a sure win."

"Hmph, those old stubborn people used to be arrogant, but now they can smell the stench of money." The porcelain merchant said disdainfully.

Lin Zhen listened to the merchants' chatter and understood what was going on.

The New Deal's appeal to merchants lies in its enormous business prospects and relatively stable official endorsement. Driven by profit, astute merchants have already begun taking action, while those on the sidelines are also weighing the pros and cons. The merchant class is becoming one of the New Deal's most enthusiastic supporters.

Leave Zhuque Street and turn into the workshop area in the south of the city.

It lacks the bustle of the main street, but has a more smell of fireworks and sweat.

The air was filled with the smell of rust, sawdust, coal, and paint, while the clanging of iron, the hum of sawing wood, and the roar of machinery intertwined into one.

Lin Zhen stopped in front of a blacksmith shop with a sign that read "Jinggongfang".

Inside the shop, a blazing fire emanated steam. Several shirtless craftsmen were sweating profusely as they hammered away at a piece of red-hot iron.

In a corner of the shop, there are several novel iron tools: an ingenious gear set, an improved steam valve, and a small spinning machine model.

"Boss, business is good." Lin Zhen walked into the shop.

The shopkeeper was a middle-aged man in his forties, with dark skin and muscular build. He was concentrating on polishing a piece of iron. He looked up at the sound and saw Lin Zhen's extraordinary demeanor. He quickly put down his tools and wiped his hands on his apron. "Thanks to you, it's not too bad. What would you like to order, sir?"

"Look at these new things." Lin Zhen pointed at the iron tools.

"Oh, these," the shopkeeper said with a proud smile. "They're all made according to the latest drawings from the Institute of Gewu. This is an improved gear, which makes the transmission smoother. This is a safety valve for steam engines, explosion-proof. And this spinning machine model, with the addition of a flying shuttle, doubles the efficiency."

"Are the drawings from the Academy of Gewu easy to use?" Lin Zhen asked.

"It works great! It works incredibly well!" the shopkeeper's eyes lit up. "Before, when I was blacksmithing, I relied entirely on experience and guesswork. Now, we have blueprints with clear dimensions, angles, and materials. Following them saves time and effort, and the finished product is precise. I heard the Institute of Science and Technology is going to open a school for craftsmen to teach us how to read blueprints, calculate dimensions, and use new tools. I'm planning to send my son there. If I want to make a living in this field, I need more than just strength; I need brains."

"Aren't you afraid that learning new things will take away your job?" Lin Zhen asked.

"What are you afraid of?" the shopkeeper laughed heartily. "With a skill in hand, you can travel the world. Once you learn something new, you can make more delicate objects and take on bigger jobs. Look at Old Liu from the Mechanical Pavilion next door. He took an order from the Fenlei Company to make telegraph parts, and his wages have increased several times over!"

As he was speaking, a young craftsman came running in with a blueprint: "Master, do you think there is something wrong with the size of this bearing?"

The shopkeeper took the drawing and examined it carefully. "Hmm, the inner diameter tolerance is too small. It won't fit if you make it this way. It needs to be corrected. Go to the Institute of Gewu's technician consultation office in the south of the city and ask if it's a misprint."

"Okay!" The young craftsman ran away with the drawings.

"It's more convenient now," the shopkeeper said to Lin Zhen. "If you don't understand something, just ask. It's not like before, when you just worked blindly."

Lin Zhen nodded slightly. Through blueprints, schools, and consulting offices, the study of things is quietly changing the mindsets and production methods of grassroots artisans. The popularization and advancement of technology is the foundation for the new policies to benefit the people.

Leaving the workshop area, Lin Zhen came to "Wenhuafang" in the east of the city.

There are many bookshops here, and the fragrance of ink is everywhere.

Many students in scholarly robes walked among them, some pausing to browse, others chatting in low voices. The atmosphere was more solemn and thoughtful than usual.

Lin Zhen walked into a bookstore called "Hanmo Zhai".

Inside the store, several students were gathered in front of a bookshelf, arguing about something.

On the bookshelf, there are new editions of books such as "Introduction to the Study of Things", "Essence of Mathematics", "Principles of Mechanics", etc., and next to them is the "Outline of the Imperial Examination on the Study of Things" newly compiled by the Ministry of Rites.

"Ridiculous! Ridiculous!" an older student, holding the "Examination Outline," blushed. "The Gewu subject is actually listed alongside the Jingyi subject! They're testing the principles of levers and the structure of steam engines! This is missing the point! Instead of reading the books of the sages, they're delving into these strange and frivolous techniques. How disgraceful!"

"Brother Wang, you're wrong," a young scholar retorted. "To study things and gain knowledge is the teaching of the sages. The Iron Dragon Telegraph's contribution to the northern border snowstorm is evident to all. Without the power of studying things, how could the 100,000 disaster victims have been saved? This is practical learning, not a strange technique. The court's establishment of the "Study of Things" subject is a pragmatic move to select talents for the country."

"Brother Li is right," another student echoed. "In today's world, if one only knows how to write poetry and prose but has no practical experience, how can one serve the court? I've read 'Introduction to the Study of Things'; it's profound and easy to understand, quite interesting. I've already signed up for the Imperial College's special program to learn some practical knowledge. Perhaps I can work for the Ministry of Works or the Post and Telecommunications Department in the future."

"Hmph! You're just trying to curry favor with the powerful!" The older student waved his sleeves. "You're abandoning the holy way and committing depravity!"

"Brother Wang, you are too kind," the young scholar said sternly. "Confucianism cultivates the body, while the study of things strengthens the nation. The two go hand in hand. How can you say they are to be abandoned? Brother Wang, you are so stubbornly conservative that you may not be in tune with the times."

"You!" The older student was furious.

"Shopkeeper, I want these 'Essence of Mathematics' and 'Principles of Mechanics,'" a clear voice rang out. Lin Zhen looked over and saw a calm and composed student in a blue shirt handing a few books to the shopkeeper.

"Okay, thank you for the one ounce and two cents." The shopkeeper settled the bill promptly.

"Brother, are you also buying books on the study of things?" the young student asked curiously.

The student in green robes smiled faintly. "It's always good to have many skills. Learning more never hurts. Besides," he lowered his voice, "I heard that although the Gewu exam is new, the court is eager for talents, so there may be more opportunities."

Lin Zhen listened to the students' argument and looked at the back of the student in blue shirt as he left, and he understood.

The shockwaves unleashed by the New Deal within the scholarly community were far from over. Conservatives viewed it as a scourge, radicals saw it as a path to advancement, and many, like the Qingshan students, waited and watched, seeking opportunities.

The change of thinking does not happen overnight, but the seeds of a new trend have already been sown.

As the sun sets, Lin Zhen turns into a relatively quiet residential alley.

The bluestone road was swept clean, and a few old locust trees had gnarled branches with scattered bits of snow hanging on them.

Several children were chasing and playing at the alley entrance, their laughter ringing.

An old woman was sitting on a low stool in front of the door, mending clothes in the daylight.

In the corner, a few hens were leisurely pecking at the grains on the ground.

"Grandma Wang, has your family received the food for the elderly and lonely?" A woman carrying a vegetable basket passed by and stopped to ask.

"I received it, I received it." The old woman raised her head, the wrinkles on her face smoothing out. "At the beginning of the month, the village head personally sent a bushel of rice, half a catty of oil, and two hundred coins. It's enough for me to eat and live for a while."

"That's good." The woman smiled. "The court really cares about us now."

"Yes, yes." The old woman nodded repeatedly, "I heard that it was the Empress herself who issued the imperial decree to treat the elderly and lonely kindly."

"And then there's the resettlement housing," the woman said. "My nephew from my mother's side got an apartment in Xinghuafang. It has one bedroom and a living room, a kitchen and a bathroom, and the rent is cheap. I heard you can keep it if you live there for ten years. He's really found a good home."

"That's a blessing," the old woman said. "I heard our old alley is about to be renovated. The government has sent people to measure the land. If I could live in a new house like that, I would die with peace of mind."

"It's almost done," the woman consoled him. "I heard the Ministry of Industry is speeding up its planning. It's going to be done according to the regulations of Xinghuafang."

"It's all thanks to the emperor and the prince." The old woman murmured.

Lin Zhen walked slowly, listening to the old woman and the other woman's gossip, and a warm feeling arose in his heart.

The benefits of the new policy are like a trickle of water, quietly seeping into the common people at the bottom of society.

The relief for the elderly and lonely and the housing projects, although not earth-shattering, have truly warmed people's hearts.

The will of the people is the most solid foundation for the new policy.

As dusk deepens, the lights in the imperial capital begin to come on.

Lin Zhen stood on the bustling street, looking back at the ancient capital bathed in lights.

The ambition of merchants, the desire for change of craftsmen, the thinking of scholars, and the expectations of the common people are like countless small streams, rushing and converging under the tide of "studying things and revitalizing the country".

The giant ship of the new policy has set sail from the Purple Palace, and its course is being written by the fate and choices of millions of people.

Although the road ahead is not smooth, the people are in favor of it and the trend is set.

The pulse of this imperial capital is beating strongly and powerfully with the thunder of the times.