PS: It's updated, I hope to be able to see the monthly pass update too, ask for support, thank you.

Looking at this staircase, which they didn't know where it led, Wang Guan and the others breathed naturally, and couldn't help but look at Hou Lao.

"Now that I've found the door, I'm still stunned about what to do."

At this time, Hou Lao smiled and led the way in front: "Come along." ”

While speaking, Hou Lao took the lead in going down the steps, and before he took the first step, the lights in the underground passage were turned on. It's a relatively simple voice-activated device, and it's not that unusual.

Despite this, several people still had a bit of a pilgrimage mentality and cautiously followed behind. When they all entered the passage, the plank behind them closed again, and everything returned to its original state.

Of course, at this moment, everyone didn't think about the situation of the plank, but was a little nervous, excited, and excited to follow Hou Lao step by step, and after walking through this passage, the eyes suddenly opened up. It's another spacious space, not as wide as the hall above, but it's not small.

Of course, the most important thing is that there are a lot of things in this space, and there are quite a few people.

Wang Guan looked at it and found that there were at least a dozen people here, everyone was busy, or fiddling with some objects, or holding a pen and working hard, of course, there were also people sitting together chatting, and bursts of laughter came from time to time.

"Old Hou, you're back."

At this moment, seeing Wang Guan and others coming in, some people hurriedly got up to greet them.

"Hmm."

Old Hou nodded, then turned around and beckoned, "You come with me." ”

At this time, Wang Guan and them were a little confused, but their eyes were greedily looking at the things around them.

When you look at it up close, they can see it very clearly. It's like a spacious office, and a dozen people are employees. Each has its own job. But unlike other company employees who deal with documents, these people are working on institutional artifacts.

When he walked by a person, Wang Guan could see it clearly, and a wooden doll was placed on his table. However, the doll has been dismantled in half, revealing an elaborate mechanism.

At a glance, the subtlety of the internal structure of the puppet made Wang Guan a little amazed. Of course, it's not just small dolls, but also some large machines.

"Look at the ......"

Under Yu Feibai's whispered reminder, Wang Guan took advantage of the situation and looked over. In the corner, there were two or three people with knives and scissors in their hands, repairing a floor-to-ceiling antique clock nearly one meter high.

"That's a mechanical clock from the Ming Dynasty."

Hou Lao also heard Yu Feibai's words, and after taking a look, he casually explained: "During the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty, Western missionaries took a mechanical bell to present to the emperor. Zhengde liked it very much, so he asked the royal craftsmen to imitate some. Some stayed in the palace for their own use. and some of them were rewarded to the nobles and nobles......"

"Oh."

Wang Guan was stunned, and saw that two or three people seemed to dare to repair the antique clock and screw all the parts on, but it was a delicately shaped copper-plated elephant flower clock. With the three keys to activate the mechanism, the sailboat and the lion on the base move freely to the accompaniment of music, and the elephant's eyes, nose and tail begin to turn. It's kind of amazing.

"To be honest, the craftsmen of the Ming Dynasty are still very capable, but unfortunately they are limited by Confucianism and dare not innovate at all. Therefore, in terms of mechanism, there has been a situation of weakness and regression, which has been caught up by the Western world. ”

Hou Lao shook his head, and also sighed a little.

This is the case in China, or the situation in the world. Behind the prosperity and decline of each industry, there is always a certain background of the times, and it is closely related to the country's policies. At a time when the emperors of the Ming Dynasty did not want to forge ahead, and even reversed, the Western world was booming and advancing rapidly, so it was normal to leave China behind.

However, the so-called prosperity must decline, thirty years in the east of the river, thirty years in the west of the river, feng shui in turns. Now that the Western world economy is showing signs of decline, it seems that it is also an opportunity for China......

"Come in."

In this spacious space, there are also several separate rooms. In addition to sighing, Hou Lao opened a room, which should be where he usually works, and then invited Wang Guan and them in.

The room is not small, it is separated by a beaded curtain and divided into two areas. One is an office area with various miscellaneous items, and the other is a lounge area with chairs around a coffee table.

In addition, on the middle wall of the two areas, there is a row of bookshelves full of books. Overall, the room is very simple and has a bit of a bookish atmosphere.

"Don't be inhibited, just sit down."

At this time, Hou Lao smiled and said, "I can understand your feelings, but this place is not as mysterious as you imagined." It is a unit that studies the knowledge of ancient institutions, and its scientific and technological content is much worse than that of a scientific research institution that really studies high technology. ”

"You can't say that."

Yu Feibai retorted: "To look at things, we must first determine the background of the times, and we can't look at ancient things from a modern perspective, which is the most basic criterion. Otherwise, modern things are definitely better than ancient objects, but why do people just like antiques? The main reason is probably more to appreciate the beauty that has been precipitated over countless years. ”

Wang Guan and Fang Mingsheng thought so, and nodded in agreement.

At the end, Wang Guan smiled and said, "Let me add, this is what Qian Lao said, and it has nothing to do with him?" ”

"You know about demolition." Yu Feibai was angry.

"Honestly, I can't do it!"

In the laughter, everyone also sat down next to the coffee table under the invitation of Hou Lao. It is worth mentioning that the coffee table is not a four-legged table as everyone imagines, but a huge tree root is placed on its side, and then the top is flattened, and then the bark is peeled off and painted with a layer of pale yellow paint, which forms a quaint and natural coffee table.

This style of coffee table is not new, and many shops that sell tea and tea sets are happy to put this type of coffee table in the storefront. When the guests came, they were invited to drink tea next to the coffee table, which was quite ancient.

However, the coffee table in front of me is a little different. After Wang Guan sat down, he looked a little and found that the wooden coffee table was not simple. Unlike other introverted objects, the mechanism of this coffee table is very obvious.

Wang Guan took a closer look and saw that not only the top of the wooden coffee table had been flattened, but even the inside had been hollowed out. It's just that it's covered by a layer of densely hollowed out eyelet wood, and he can't see the inside clearly. But from the hollow holes, I can vaguely see a lot of things inside, but I don't know what the specific situation is.

"Old Hou, this thing doesn't seem to be simple."

At this time, Yu Feibai also saw it, and he didn't mean to hold it in his heart, so he asked directly: "Is there also an ingenious mechanism installed?" ”

"That's right."

Hou Lao generously admitted that in the position where he was sitting, there were just a few buttons that could be manipulated. At this moment, he casually pressed one of the buttons, only to see the hollow plank suddenly crack, and then a tray slowly rose. In the tray, there are neat and orderly tea-making utensils.

When the pallet rises to a certain height, the hollowed-out planks are closed again, pushing the pallet outside.

"It's kind of interesting."

Seeing this situation, Yu Feibai said with interest: "In addition to this function, are there any other tricks?" ”

"Yes."

Hou Lao smiled and pressed another button. In an instant, on the side of the wood, four or five round holes the size of sea bowls suddenly appeared, and then something popped out of the round holes, and then bent upward.

It's fast, and when everything is done, everyone can see what these things look like. It was a wooden painted doll, made into the shape of a lady. The figure is very graceful, and the shape of the cross-collared narrow-sleeved top, narrow shawl, and long skirt belt is even more gorgeous and lifelike.

Even if they knew that these were lifeless puppets, at first glance, Wang Guan and the others felt a little amazing.

In addition, in the hands of these beautiful ladies and delicate jade, there is a small pallet on the side, which is just right for the teacup from the perspective of size and shape.

"Awesome ......"

If it was just a feeling just now, then when you see these ladies, everyone will inevitably be a little amazed. You must know that these mechanisms are purely wooden structures, even if they are just two simple functions, but ordinary people can think of them, but they may not be able to realize such ideas.

That's why some people say that scientists are lazy, and only they will go to great lengths to figure out something that ordinary people can accomplish with a raise of their hands. In fact, when Wang Guan was amazed, Hou Lao touched the last button again, only to see a Tsing Yi puppet emerge from under the hollow wooden plank.

Wang Guan hurriedly looked, only to see the Tsing Yi puppet with both hands around a pot-bellied round pot, and did not need Hou Lao's manipulation, after the Tsing Yi puppet came out, it tilted up slightly, and everyone could immediately see a clear white practice falling, accurately injected into the pot of boiling water......

It felt almost over, Hou Lao touched the mechanism again, and the Tsing Yi puppet put the pot upright, and then slowly retracted it. Next, as long as the electricity is turned on, Hou Lao can sit and wait for the water to boil, and then slowly make tea.

It is conceivable that in normal times, when Hou Lao is tired from work, he only needs to press it twice, and then he can sit comfortably on the chair, or read a book leisurely, or close his eyes to recuperate. It must have felt very relaxed and cozy.

"Old Hou, you can enjoy it too much." Yu Feibai was amazed, and the way his eyes were rolling, he knew that he was already moved and wanted the same coffee table.

"You only see the chic side, but you don't know the hard work behind it."

At this time, Hou Lao sighed: "This thing looks very good, and it is convenient to use, but there is also an obvious shortcoming. It is easy to get dirty, and it must be cleaned every two or three days, otherwise a lot of tea dirt and dust will accumulate. In other words, the time saved now is actually used for cleaning, which is directly leveled, which is very in line with the law of energy conservation......" (to be continued......