A piece of paper

From the inner hall to the outer courtyard, Chen Jianfang walked in front holding a lantern, and Xian Jin walked in the back. The two of them were one behind the other, separated by a distance just enough for the scent of a plum blossom to dissipate.

The elder of the Chen family, who died young, loved plum blossoms and planted them all over the inner courtyard.

It was the twelfth lunar month, and Xian Jin moved the tip of his nose. The plum blossoms were as clear and fragrant as cold jade. After two doors, he no longer smelled this fragrance.

Showing Jin's human nature, he is really not used to being so quiet when walking with others, so he casually chatted, "Why don't you plant plum blossoms in the outer courtyard?"

Chen Jianfang held a lantern in his right hand, and the dim yellow light swayed around, casting a vague and concrete light ball on the blue brick floor. He smiled, and Fang said softly, "The magnolia tree planted in the outer courtyard is a favorite of my second uncle. My father is not at home all year round." Even at home, he also studies and rests in the inner courtyard. My second uncle is at home all year round and often meets with the stewards and farmers in the outer courtyard."

After a pause, Chen Jianfang continued, "If you like plum blossoms, there is a plum forest in the upper reaches of Longchuan River. There are green calyxes to the east and five-petal plums to the west. After the first, second and third day of the lunar month, we can go and have a look."

These words seemed to have exhausted all Chen Jianfang's energy.

Chen Jianfang lowered his head and hid his face in the light, fearing that Xian Jin would see the blush gradually spreading on his face.

Xian Jin's attention is not here.

In some strange place.

Xianjin frowned, "Third Master likes chrysanthemums. I don't see a single chrysanthemum in the whole house."

"It means that the eldest uncle likes plum blossoms, so he grows plum blossoms in the inner courtyard where he lives. The second uncle likes magnolia, so he grows magnolia in the outer courtyard where he lives. But our third uncle didn't even get a single leaf?!"

After saying that, Xian Jin felt a little unhappy and turned around to tell Suo'er, "After the Chinese New Year, I'll ask Boss Shang to help me look for it! Buy him thousands of chrysanthemum seedlings and plant them for me in the open space at the entrance of Jixi Workshop!"

Give her dad a chrysanthemum field!

Xianjin was immersed in Chen Fu's joy of being surrounded by golden chrysanthemums, and did not notice Chen Jianfang's sudden anxiety due to waiting.

"Show gold——" Chen Jianfang spoke again.

Xian Jin opened his eyes blankly, "Huh?"

Chen Jianfang didn't have the courage to say it a second time. He pursed his lips with difficulty and looked at the warm light of the lantern. The girl looked confused and her eyes were confused.

Next time.

Although there was no one around, he was still in the house after all, and it would be very bad if someone heard him.

Chen Jianfang lifted the lantern and said, "The warehouse is here. You didn't bring a lantern. You go first and I'll wait for you outside."

Xian Jin took the lantern, counted about twenty pieces of rice paper engraved with blessing patterns from the warehouse, rolled it into a long scroll and put it in a bamboo basket - Sometimes the leader casually says that he doesn't know how high the sky is and how thick the earth is, so just ignore him. , move a knife of rice paper?One hundred?Let the star of hope write tomorrow morning?This is obviously unrealistic!

The Star of Hope has not yet become famous, and his calligraphy treasures cannot be given away everywhere. If he gives them away, he will be shameless and boastful.

There are three people in the family, plus the clerks in the shop, so there are only about twenty households in total.

Just get about twenty pieces of paper.

If you take too much, you won’t be able to finish writing the Star of Hope in one night, and you will be left with some blank paper, which actually looks unlucky during this reunion festival.

Xian Jin did not return the lantern to Chen Jianfang, but carried it himself, "Let's go, I'll take you to the study to get some pen and ink."

Chen Jianfang wanted to take it, but Xian Jin turned aside and glanced at Chen Jianfang's fingers, which were red from the cold, and the rough callus on the knuckles of his middle finger. He thought about how he was reluctant to use charcoal for the orb before, and charcoal is precious. Things, some state capitals that cannot afford real money still use charcoal and cotton to pay the salaries of officials in winter.

No matter how rich the Chen family is, they can't use it as they want like the official family. Xianjin said, "Cover your hands. These days, if you stay up late at night and write, your hands will get cold." Chen Jianfang frowned. He said nothing, and after a while, he lowered his voice very softly and said, "When I pass the exam next year, the situation at home will naturally be much better."

Xian Jin glanced at him, pursed his lips and smiled, but said nothing.

The Chen family is a businessman, and merchants have rules for building houses. Although there are wealthy businessmen who ignore these rules because they have money, the Chen family wants to move forward, and naturally they will not let others handle these trivial matters. Therefore, the Chen family's house It's not big, just several yards and houses connected together, including the burned cupcakes.

The study cupcakes are just to the left of the warehouse cupcakes, just seven or eight steps away.

Xianjin didn't go in, but stood under the flying eaves, holding a lantern and waiting. Through the window lattice, he saw that Chen Jianfang's study was neat and clean. The books and ancient books were stacked in a half-high pile on the right hand side for easy access. The articles he had written and Books are placed at flush height on the left hand side.

There was only one charcoal basin in the house, and there was even dust accumulated on the edge of the basin.

There was a leftover steamed bun and half-drunk tea on the table.

Perhaps it was because of the New Year. Chen Jianfang was wearing an indigo gown and her hair was tied high in a high bun. She was immersed in collecting inkstones, ink blocks and long hair in the middle of the window lattice. Her side face was quiet and peaceful, but the veins on the back of her hands exposed her perseverance and erectness. , like a lone bamboo desperately breaking through the hard mud.

Xianjin pursed his lips and looked away, only to see a slightly unfolded scroll placed on the chest of drawers.

Through the window lattice, Xian Jin couldn't see clearly. He could only squint and get a general picture - a very gorgeous color scheme, with large areas of emerald green and goose yellow, and a few jumping crimson and turmeric.

It doesn't look like Chen Jianfang's handwriting.

Xianjin stood closer, almost touching the window lattice.

Chen Jianfang looked up and was startled, "What's wrong?" He followed Xian Jin's gaze and looked back, landing on the scroll on the chest of drawers, "Are you looking at that painting?"

Xian Jin nodded with a smile, "The colors are so vivid and beautiful, it's quite beautiful - but I thought you liked ink."

Chen Jianfang wiped the inkstone a little and put it into the bamboo basket, while shaking his head with a smile, "This is a meticulous painting, not by me. It is my mother's painting, a picture of a hundred birds."

Xianjin seemed to have heard of "Hundred Birds". He thought about it for a moment and said with a smile, "I heard from the eldest lady that I painted a "Hundred Birds" for Zhangji Silk Shop. Could the one you have here be your mother's study?" Jin smiled and said, "Madam, why are you like this! I'll give the good ones to Mr. Zhang, and I'll throw the bad ones to you."

Chen Jianfang paused in the movement of his hands, and avoided looking for a moment before saying, "This painting is the one my mother painted for Zhang Ji."

Xianjin frowned in confusion.

Chen Jianfang didn't know why, but he didn't dare to look up at Xian Jin. He subconsciously knew that Xian Jin might be angry after hearing the reason, but he couldn't figure out why he was angry?The upbringing he received prevented him from lying. He sighed before speaking softly, "My mother is still in mourning, and it is not suitable to sell the paintings in the boudoir, so I found the head of Zhang Ji to sell my mother's paintings. I bought it with more money.”

Chen Jianfang wanted to explain, "It's actually nothing, but if someone knows about it, I'm afraid it will cause trouble. If a gentleman doesn't stand under a dangerous wall, why take risks at this time?"

Xian Jin holds a lantern in his hand.

Inside the window lattice, there is light in the study.

Outside the window lattice, there is also light from the lantern.

Showing gold but feeling dark inside.

She could even recall the pride and joy on Mrs. Duan's face when she told her about this matter.

Xianjin opened his mouth, but no sound came out of his throat. He opened his mouth wider, and finally spoke in a hoarse and dark tone, "Who in our Chen Erlangjun High School is qualified to go on an 'adventure'?"