After the case of Santou Jintuo was settled, the busiest period was ushered in.

The New Year is coming to an end, and Lord Bao and Zhao Pu have a lot of official duties to deal with.

The Taixue School is about to have a winter vacation, and there is another big test before the festival, where Bao Yan and Pang Yu and his group of students are busy refreshing classes.

Before the fifth master had finished counting the money before, the new one arrived again, and he was so busy that he couldn't even care about feeding the cat.

The people in the Demon Palace were busy preparing wedding items for Wu Yifu and Jiuniang, while Tianzun and Yin Hou were busy buying "New Year's goods".

Gongsun and Xiao Sizi were busy treating people.

Two days ago, Lin Yehuo was cold and dry, and an acne appeared on his forehead... So Huofeng was busy taking care of her skin.

Zhao Zhen, the emperor, was busy looking at the documents sent from all over the country. It was cold this winter and we should prepare for the winter before the New Year.

Ouyang Shaozheng was busy practicing the soldiers of the Imperial City, Long Qiaoguang was busy practicing arrows and serving his master's wife as a twenty-four filial disciples, and Zou Liang was busy raising dogs. It was the Chinese New Year, and it was time for dogs to give birth to their cubs again.

Xiao Liangzi was busy practicing martial arts, and the four guards and yamen runners were busy checking whether the ceilings of major shops along Kaifeng were solid to avoid being crushed by snow.

The maids were busy preparing ingredients for the New Year, while the servants were busy cleaning the dust... In short, everyone was busy with their own affairs, and the atmosphere of the New Year became stronger and stronger.

The streets of Kaifeng are decorated with lights and shops are starting to sell New Year's goods. People from surrounding counties have also come to Beijing. The streets are crowded with traffic... Kaifeng City is more lively than before.

And in this time when almost everyone is very busy, there is someone who is very idle... There is no need to guess that it is the house-guarding cat demon, Zhan Zhao, and Zhan Guard in Kaifeng City.

Once the case was completed in Kaifeng Prefecture, it was so peaceful that Zhan Zhao could not find anything to do after a walk. Lord Bao was busy approving official documents and driving Zhan Zhao out of his study room to let him have a good rest. Zhan Guard ran to Shantang, and felt that he was inappropriate to treating Gongsun and Xiaosizi. He wanted to accompany Yin Hou out for a walk... Yin Hou, Tianzun, Master Wusha and Master Weichen either gathered in Nan'an Temple to play horses or go to drink, and did not take him to play. His mother and Lu Xueer were busy buying clothes for him to play by themselves... Going on the streets to patrol the streets to see if there were any thieves and pickpockets and traffickers... There were no gangsters on the streets, or the gangsters were busy doing bad things during the Chinese New Year, so Zhan Guard did nothing all day.

However, the key reason why Zhan Zhao is so idle is... I was too busy with the cat these days and didn't accompany him. Zhan Guard was alone and always felt empty and lonely and cold.

On that day, at the door of the stables in Kaifeng Prefecture, Zhan Zhao sat on an upside down wooden barrel, behind him was Zaoduo, Baiyunfan and a large group of horses were eating apples.

In front of him was a foal who was receiving Zhan Zhao's hair combing, and on both sides were Yaoyao and Xiaowu who also ate apples.

Zhan Zhao tilted his head to Xiaowu while combing Xiaoma's hair, "I'm saying, why are you joining in the fun? Do you eat apples too?"

Xiao Wu gnawed an apple full of tooth marks and glanced at Zhan Zhao, that's what he meant - because I was as idle as you!

Zhan Zhao sighed and rubbed Xiaoma and said to himself, "I will take you to the Demon Palace during the Chinese New Year!"

Speaking of this pony, it finally got a name.

Before, Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang were really struggling to name the foal for a while, and the two were undecided. However, a series of things happened later, especially after Wu Yifu and Jiu Niang got engaged, Zhan Zhao felt that this pony was actually quite good! In addition, the foal's fur gradually grew, and the fur color was pure white and there was a circle of red outlines on the outside. When combing the hair, it felt like a lotus with white background and red edges. So Zhan Zhao simply named it Honglian. It happened that he was a girl again, and everyone thought the name was quite suitable.

Zhan Zhao was bored, and when he saw outside, the little fourth son ran in with a small wooden barrel.

Zhan Zhao's eyes lit up, "Little Four, aren't you busy?"

"Well." Xiao Sizi's small wooden barrel had some medicine powder. He took it to the stable and sprinkled it. He said to Zhan Zhao, "There are not many patients this morning. After his father Shantang finished his work, he went to Longtu Pavilion to help Xiao Baozi take the file."

"Oh..." Zhan Zhao leaned over and saw the little Sizi sprinkled medicinal powder into the stable, wondering, "What kind of powder is this?"

"It's deworming!" said Xiao Sizi, "It's cold and warm in the stable. It's easy for insects to hide in for the winter. It's not good to bite the lotus."

Zhan Zhao nodded and touched Xiao Sizi's head, "Are you free in a while? Let's have a meal?"

The little fourth son looked up at Zhan Zhao and narrowed his eyes, "Baibai hasn't counted the money yet?"

Zhan Zhao sighed. He went to the Bai Mansion to see this morning as before. Not only did he count the money, but there were also a lot of cloth. It seemed that he was shipping goods or shipping. The Bai Yutang people were not in the Bai Mansion and ran to the dock. These things should have been done long ago. The only thing was that Bai Yutang had been helping to investigate the case before, so they piled up until the end of the New Year to work together. Zhan Zhao couldn't even find a rat's hair, and couldn't help, because he was afraid of causing trouble for him. Speaking of which, why did the mouse "not do his job"? Isn't it just to raise a cat?

After sprinkling the powder, Xiao Sizi ran to wash his hands and discussed with Zhan Zhao where to eat and how to pass the afternoon.

The two were chatting, when Yueya ran in outside, holding a large stack of orders and large bags of things in their hands.

"Sir Zhan." Yueyaer came in and put down her things and gasped first. It seemed that she was running over.

The little Sizi poured her a cup of tea. Zhan Zhao looked at the Crescent Yaer who was drinking tea with big mouthfuls and was a little puzzled. Crescent Yaer and Chen Xing'er were going to help Bai Yutang collect the accounts today. Those orders should be bills. This girl should be very busy, why did she come here?

"Sister go for dinner together?" Xiao Sizi asked with his face raised.

Yueyaer put down the cup and waved his hand, "I can't eat it, I'm still busy, so I'll tell you something for the young master."

Zhan Zhao blinked, "Transfer the message?"

"A young man went to find Bai Fu just now. He seemed to be the little apprentice of Master Chen's family in Jinpu. He made an appointment to have dinner with you." Yueyaer said, "The young master said he would meet him in Taibaiju at noon and ask if you want to go?"

"Go!" Zhan Zhao remembered that this little apprentice was the one who helped the sick scholar with the pair of gold bracelets before. He did say that there was a case to ask them, and they agreed to meet him at that time. Bai Yutang promised the most. Since he agreed, he would take time to go no matter how busy he was. Zhan Zhao was naturally happy to go. On the one hand, he was very curious about what the case was, and on the other hand, he finally caught a mouse and had a meal together, and he had not encountered it for several days.

Chen Xing'er ran away after taking the words. Zhan Zhao happily picked up the little Sizi and rushed to Taibaiju.

It was still early when Zhan Zhao arrived at Taibaiju.

Xiao Liuzi said that the fifth master had not come yet, but the people from the Bai family did come to book a seat just now.

As soon as Zhan Zhao went upstairs and sat down at the private room, Xiao Liuzi brought a boy in.

The boy looked at him at the age of seventeen or eighteen, about the same age as Bao Yan and others, with a pretty face and good kung fu feeling, and was wearing a gray-white robe.

The young man came in and greeted Zhan Zhao, "Mr. Zhan."

Zhan Zhao nodded.

The little Sizi opened her eyes wide and was curious - who?

The boy behaved very well. After ceremoniously, he introduced himself to Zhan Zhao... He is Master Chen's apprentice, named Tan Shaoyan.

The two of them sat down and started chatting, but they were still in touch with each other.

Tan Shaoyan has excellent skills in casting goldware. On the one hand, he has good masters and on the other hand, he has high talent. His ancestors were all goldware casting masters. His grandfather was called Liang Zhudao, known as Golden Hand Liang. He is the best gold caster in the world. He is also Master Chen’s master and a member of the Demon Palace. However, Liang Zhudao passed away when Zhan Zhao was five years old. Tan Shaoyan had never seen his grandfather. Because his grandfather taught his skills to his master, Old Chen tried every means to find Tan Shaoyan and accept him as his apprentice.

The two of them chatted, one was behind the Demon Palace, and the other was the young master of the Demon Palace, who was his own!

Zhan Zhao still has some memories of Liang Zhudao. Tan Shaoyan looks very much like his grandfather, and his personality and appearance are similar. Zhan Zhao specially talked about his grandfather for him, and the two chatted very aggressively.

As they were chatting, Bai Yutang finally arrived, and two people followed him, one Gongsun and the other Zhao Pu.

Gongsun came out of Longtu Pavilion and met Zhao Pu who was returning from the palace. The two went to Kaifeng Prefecture to take Xiao Sizi to have dinner, but they didn't find anyone. The yamen runner said that they were taken to Taibaiju by Zhan Zhao.

The two met Bai Yutang on the way to Taibaiju, so the fifth master told the matter and the two of them joined in the fun.

Zhan Zhao first looked at Bai Yutang carefully and thought that his mouse had lost weight? He looked at it as if he had at least one or two taels of weight!

Bai Yutang always feels restless even though he hasn't seen Zhan Zhao these days. Today, he seems to have not lost weight when he sees his own cats for two days. He breathes a sigh of relief.

After everyone arrived, Zhao Pu asked Xiao Liuzi to serve the dishes and chat while eating.

Zhan Zhao asked Tan Shaoyan, "What case is it about?"

Tan Shaoyan took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to everyone to see.

Zhan Zhao took it and saw a piece of drawing paper. Ten circles were drawn on the drawing paper. It looked like it was a ring with complex patterns on it. Each one had a small hook, and the next one was a detailed size. According to the size, it seemed that these circles were rings...

"What's this?" Zhao Pu was curious, "Is the ring?"

The little Sizi sat on Zhao Pu's lap, looked at the picture curiously and asked, "Is there a hook on the ring?"

"This is about half a year ago, someone came to ask my master to create it. It is ten rings." Tan Shaoyan said.

Everyone looked at Tan Shaoyan in confusion - Is there anything wrong with these ten rings?

"My master has not taken over business for a long time, and I am basically in charge of the shop." Tan Shaoyan said, "The day that man came was in the evening. It was raining heavily. He was wearing a blue suit and a veiled hat. Without saying his name, he asked my master to create something and offer it as much as possible."

Everyone listened carefully.

"I think he looks a little sneaky and doesn't want people to see his face, so he said that his master is not here, and he has been in poor health and eyes for many years. Some work may not be able to take, so I ask for it for him." Tan Shaoyan continued, "He left me a drawing and said he wanted to build ten rings, not pure gold, but add gold."

"Don't have pure gold?" Zhao Pu was curious, "There are people who use gold-making tools like this?"

"Some!" Tan Shaoyan nodded, "People who make jewelry basically need pure gold, but it is not necessarily the case that makes utensils, because gold is soft. For example, if a pure gold bowl is deformed when touched, it may be broken. If the gold bowl is damaged, it is not a good sign, so things will be mixed in. This technique is called gold mixing, in order to make the good gold utensils hard and firm. However, the smaller the thing, the less difficult it is to mix it. Moreover, the hook under his thing is too small. Who knows what he wants to hook? If it is a heavy object, it will break or straighten it. In addition, it will be difficult to hollow and carve after adding gold. It is also difficult to polish it. The patterns on his rings are quite complicated. Even if it is made of pure gold, I dare say that no more than ten people can do it well in the world, let alone gold mixing. It is probably only my grandfather has the ability to do it well."

Zhan Zhao looked at the drawings, and Bai Yutang nodded, and it was indeed quite strange to ask for it.

Gongsun tilted his head to look at the rings and wondered, "What is this set of rings used for? I don't look like jewelry..."

"No one wears ten gold rings to point out the door at once, right?" Zhao Pu also felt confused.

Xiao Sizi tilted her head, stared at the ten rings, held her chin and said, "Has I seen it somewhere?"

Zhan Zhao and others looked at him.

Zhao Pu poked his head, "So amazing? Have you seen this?"

Tan Shaoyan smiled slightly, "Only he can guess what this is for. To be honest, I couldn't think of what this is for at that time. Later, thanks to the reminder of the child from the neighbor's house, I remembered it!"

Everyone looked at each other.

Zhan Zhao asked, "What is this for..."

Before Zhan Zhao could finish speaking, the little four-son clapped his hands, "I know!"

Everyone looked at him.

Xiao Sizi said, "This is a ring worn by the person who sang the puppet show!"

Tan Shaoyan nodded, "That's right."

As soon as Xiao Sizi reminded him, everyone really met the number.

Puppet show is a kind of juggling choreography that can be performed by the world. Usually one person can perform it. The artist wears ten finger rings on both hands, and a hook is connected to the ring. A rope is tied to the hook. On the other end of the rope is a line-controlled doll... As the finger movements, the doll makes various movements.

The jugglers of puppet show often set up stalls with artists who are sugar or dough showmen, and many children can often gather around them. Almost every child in Kaifeng City has watched the puppet show. Adults don’t pay attention, but they recognize these rings.

"But..." Zhan Zhao was puzzled, "Aren't these rings mostly leather hoods or iron? Someone actually made them with gold?"

"It's still so sophisticated!" Zhao Pu also felt strange, "Can't that the doll with the line control be golden, right?"
To be continued...