I was chased by my sickly junior brother who had two lives

The sun shone gently on the courtyard of the Duke's Mansion. Chen Jue and Chen Jia stood in the slightly deserted garden, their hearts full of longing for this small world to be renovated.

"Sister, look at this garden. It hasn't been taken care of for a long time. Although it is a bit dilapidated, it still has an ancient charm." Chen Jue said, looking around.

Chen Jia squatted down gently, picked up a fallen leaf, and responded with a smile: "Xiao Jue, you always see different places. However, if it is properly repaired, it will surely be able to restore the beautiful scenery of the past. In the future, we can enjoy the flowers of the four seasons and listen to the birds and cicadas here."

"Sister, you're absolutely right. I think we can start with the layout of the flowers and plant more flowers that bloom in different seasons. That way, whenever we walk into the garden, we can see a scene of blooming flowers." Chen Jue said excitedly, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Chen Jia stood up and nodded in agreement: "This is a good idea. In spring, there can be beautiful peach and apricot blossoms, in summer, there will be a pond full of lotus flowers, in autumn, chrysanthemums will bloom proudly in the frost, and in winter, plum blossoms will be fragrant. By the way, Xiaojue, do you know that there are many varieties of peach blossoms, including white peach, red peach, golden peach, etc. We can choose a few to make the spring in this garden more colorful."

"Haha, sister, you know so much about peach blossoms. Speaking of this flower, I remember an interesting story I once heard. It is said that there was a gardener in Jiangnan who cultivated an extremely rare two-color peony. A flower can show both red and purple at the same time, and the petals are layered like an exquisite skirt. When this two-color peony appeared, it caused a sensation in the entire Jiangnan flower world. Countless literati and scholars rushed to admire it, and left many poems in praise of it." Chen Jue narrated with a beaming eyebrow.

Chen Jia listened attentively, her eyes full of curiosity: "Oh? There are such magical peonies. The flowers in this world are really wonderful and contain endless surprises. Xiaojue, then if we want to plant peonies in this garden, where can we find excellent flower seeds?"

Chen Jue thought for a moment and then said, "I once met a flower merchant in Luoyang who has a wide variety of peonies. I will write to him and ask if he has any peony treasures suitable for our garden. However, sister, although these peonies are beautiful, they are extremely delicate and need careful care."

"It doesn't matter. As long as you put your heart into it, you can make the peony bloom in this garden. Speaking of caring for flowers, I once saw some wonderful ways of growing flowers in an ancient book. For example, watering flowers with rice water can make their branches and leaves lush; laying a layer of broken tiles at the bottom of the flowerpot can enhance drainage and prevent the roots of the flowers from rotting." Chen Jia shared her knowledge of growing flowers.

"Sister is so smart and knows so many tips on growing flowers. The path in our garden should be renovated. I think it would be most appropriate to pave it with bluestone, which is simple yet elegant. You can plant some low shrubs on both sides of the path, such as forsythia. When spring comes, the golden flowers will hang on both sides of the path, which will surely be a beautiful sight." Chen Jue said as he gestured.

Chen Jia followed Chen Jue's gestures and imagined the scene, with a smile on her face: "Then we have to plan the direction of this path carefully, so that it will be winding and secluded, giving people a feeling of a new world after a dark tunnel. Xiaojue, do you remember that the last time we went to visit that ancient temple, the garden path in the temple was designed like this, and every step you take is like being in a painting."

"Of course I remember. The garden of that ancient temple is indeed unique. Speaking of the scenery in the garden, I want to build a small pavilion in the corner so that we can have a rest and enjoy the cool air, and also enjoy the rain view on rainy days. The style of the pavilion can refer to the pavilions in the water towns of the south of the Yangtze River, with flying eaves and brackets, exquisite and elegant." Chen Jue's eyes were full of longing.

"Well, if we have a small pavilion, we can sit in the pavilion on a summer afternoon, sipping tea, listening to the cicadas, looking at the flowers and green grass in the garden, and enjoying that moment of tranquility and comfort. Xiaojue, have you thought about the name of this pavilion?" Chen Jia asked.

After a moment of contemplation, Chen Jue said, "Sister, how about calling it 'Yiyun Pavilion'? It implies that one can feel the charm and elegance that transcends the mundane world here."

"Yiyun Pavilion, this name is very nice and poetic. Xiaojue, we can also dig a small pond in our garden, introduce fresh water, and raise some koi. The koi swimming in the water are colorful and will definitely add a lot of vitality to the garden." Chen Jia suggested excitedly.

"Okay, let's plant some water lilies in the pond. The pink and white water lilies float quietly on the water, contrasting with the koi, just like a fairyland. Sister, I once read in a book that some koi can understand human nature. If we feed them every day, they may become close to us." Chen Jue said with a smile.

"That's really interesting. Xiaojue, speaking of this pond, we also have to consider setting up some protective measures around it to prevent people from accidentally falling in. We can surround it with some carved stone railings with patterns of flowers, birds, fish and insects carved on them, which will be both beautiful and practical." Chen Jia reminded carefully.

"Sister, you have thought it through carefully. The renovation of this garden is a huge project, and we need to find some reliable craftsmen to help. I heard that there is a time-honored craftsman workshop in the city, and their craftsmanship is superb, whether it is carpentry, stonework or bricklaying. I will send someone to contact them and ask them to take a look at this garden and work out a detailed renovation plan." Chen Jue said.

While waiting for the craftsmen to arrive, Chen Jue and Chen Jia were not idle. They worked together to weed the garden. Chen Jue was strong and was responsible for pulling out the thick weeds, while Chen Jia gathered the weeds aside.

"Xiao Jue, look at this weed. Although it is inconspicuous, it has extremely tenacious vitality. Just like the people in this world, no matter how many hardships they encounter, they can survive tenaciously." Chen Jia sighed as he looked at the weeds in his hand.

Chen Jue stopped what he was doing, nodded and said, "Sister is right. Everything we do, whether it is building water conservancy projects or repairing this garden, is to enable the people to live a better life. If this garden is repaired, not only can we enjoy the beautiful scenery, but it can also provide a place for the servants in the mansion to relax."

"Xiao Jue, you always care about the people of the world. I believe that with your efforts, this world will become a better place." Chen Jia's eyes were full of admiration and trust for Chen Jue.

The craftsmen finally arrived at the Duke's Mansion. They carefully surveyed the garden and discussed the repair plan with Chen Jue and Chen Jia.

"Sir, if the layout of this garden is according to your idea, we need to level the land first, and then we can plant flowers and carry out construction. For paving this bluestone path, we will select bluestone with hard texture and beautiful texture to ensure that every stone fits perfectly." said an experienced stonemason.

Chen Jue listened carefully, and from time to time raised his own questions and suggestions: "The construction of this pavilion must pay attention to the stability of the foundation, and the excavation of the pond must pay attention to the depth and slope to ensure that there will be no leakage."

The craftsmen nodded one after another, saying that they would carefully carry out the construction according to the requirements. During the construction process, Chen Jue and Chen Jia would go to the garden every day to check the progress.

One day, Chen Jue saw the craftsmen carving patterns on the stone railings. He said to Chen Jia, "Sister, look at the craftsman's craftsmanship. It's really amazing. The patterns of flowers, birds, fish and insects seem to come alive."

Chen Jia watched carefully and exclaimed: "Yes, every stroke and every cut contains the hard work and skills of the craftsmen. Xiaojue, when this garden is repaired, we must reward these craftsmen well."

"Of course. Sister, I also want to set up some swings in the garden for the children in the mansion to play. What do you think?" Chen Jue suddenly thought of it and said.

"This is a great idea. When children laugh and play in the garden, it will make the garden more lively and energetic," Chen Jia agreed.

As time went by, the garden was gradually being renovated. The flowers had been planted, the pavilion had been built, the pond was filled with water, and the koi fish were swimming happily in it.

Chen Jue and Chen Jia stood in the garden, looking at the brand new scene before them, their hearts filled with a sense of accomplishment.

"Sister, the garden has finally been renovated. Our efforts have not been in vain." Chen Jue said with relief.

Chen Jia looked at Chen Jue with a smile: "Xiao Jue, this is the result of our joint efforts. We can spend many wonderful times here in the future and leave more unforgettable memories."

At this time, the afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled in the garden, covering this beautiful scenery with a layer of golden gauze. Chen Jue and Chen Jia stood there quietly, enjoying this warm and beautiful moment. They knew that the garden in the Duke's Mansion would witness more of their stories and friendship.