Xiaoyao Nongjiazi

In winter, the sky gets dark quickly. Usually, it is already dark outside by dinner time, but today is different.The thick layer of snow reflects the sky very brightly, and you can see the road under your feet clearly without lighting.

The snow has been falling, it has never stopped since noon, and it is getting bigger and bigger.A gust of cold wind whizzed by, and the snowflakes were wrapped around them, swirling and drifting away, and the wind gradually died down, and then they swayed and melted into the arms of brothers and sisters.

Zhong Qingran pushed open the door and looked at the situation outside through the crack of the door. The snow in the yard had reached his calf, except for a cleared path in the middle, the snow was getting thicker and thicker in the rest of the place.

"I'll go outside and have a look. If it's easy to go, let's set off now." Zhong Qingran fully armed himself, said this to Mr. Zhong and the others, and immediately went to explore the way.

Qinghefang is located in the middle and rear part of the busy city. Zhong Qingran planned to take a shortcut and pass directly through the shop. Once the curtain was opened, it felt like two worlds.There was a lot of noise in Qinghefang, and customers gathered in twos and threes, picking out their favorite gadgets.

Seeing this scene, Zhong Qingran already knew that it must be more lively outside.Although he thought so in his heart, he still went out of Qinghefang to have a look.Sure enough, the street was crowded with people. In front of the shops, as long as the goods suitable for selling outside, the shops set up sheds and yelled to sell them, and there were many small stalls, and the things were not very valuable. The advantage is that there are many tricks. Rare gadgets that you don't usually see, you may be able to see at a certain stall.

Presumably, each store sent people to clean up regularly, and there was no trace of snow on the street at all. Once the snow fell to the ground, it turned into snow water and flowed into the street gutters.

Zhong Qingran sighed greatly, it still has the atmosphere of ancient festivals.He couldn't help admiring that the people were so enthusiastic when the temperature was minus [-] to [-] degrees and it was still snowing.

Feeling emotional for a while, Zhong Qingran turned back,

"Grandpa, grandma, you should wear more, the temperature outside is very low." Zhong Qingran added another piece of clothes for himself, "You don't need to bring an umbrella, there are many people on the street and there are many shops, so it is inconvenient to carry an umbrella. If you feel cold or The clothes are wet, just put them in the shop and bake them. Mingyu, look at Mingchen, it will be difficult to get lost."

"Yeah, I heard that in many cities every year on the day of the Lantern Festival, children go missing, and only a few of them can be found. Our side is not bad, so you have to be careful, and you have to follow closely tomorrow morning." Your brother, do you understand?" Mrs. Tong dressed herself, helped Mr. Zhong straighten his robe, and did not forget to give some instructions.

Jian Mingchen nodded hurriedly.

The town of Pingyang County is tens of miles away from Hewan Village. It was the first time he went to the city to celebrate the Lantern Festival when he grew up so old. His family was really poor before, and he had to spend every penny. How could he be willing to spend money on top-notch accommodation?

Forget it, one thing that cannot be ignored is that the supply of ferries and various vehicles is in short supply this day, and the fares for boats and vehicles have all increased. If you want to go to Pingyang County, you can just walk.At this low temperature, walking for more than two hours, is that a human thing?It is estimated that before reaching Pingyang County, people will suffer from the cold.

Not to mention Jian Mingyu brothers, even Mr. Zhong and Mrs. Zhong have lived for decades, and the number of times they have gone to the city is very few, and they are still in the prime of life. When they get older, they are no longer so keen on the Lantern Festival. .This point can be understood by walking around the street. Most of the people who have this kind of leisure and elegance are young people and children.

After tidying up, Zhong Qingran and his party of five filed out.

The street is now brightly lit, and there are lanterns with unique shapes or simple shapes hanging on various shops. Even if they don’t do this business, they will hang a few meanings. no?

Mr. Zhong walked squarely with his hands behind his back, and followed Zhong Qingran's three children, watching the lively scene in front of him with great interest. He hadn't been here for many years, and it was quite interesting to play with the juniors.

Zhong Qingran stared intently at the lanterns of different shapes on both sides of the street, admiring them, the whimsical ideas are not inferior to the modern ones at all, and even surpassed them.

There are seas of lanterns everywhere on the street, but there are only a few shops specializing in lantern business, and most of them use lanterns to attract business.Most of the former lanterns need to be bought with money, while the latter can be obtained through various means.Among them, guessing lantern riddles is the most used method, and the others are varied.Zhong Qingran also saw that there was a shop implementing the policy of giving away a lantern after spending a certain amount.

Regarding this, Zhong Qingran couldn't help but look at it with admiration. This is definitely a promotion method, and he felt in his heart that anyone who dared to underestimate the wisdom of the ancients would be able to drink a pot of them.

"Brother, what do you think of that lamp?" Jian Mingchen held Jian Mingyu's hand tightly, his eyes full of joy.

Jian Mingyu raised his head and took a look. The lantern was of a very common shape, and it was small and exquisite. Perhaps, that was what Ming Chen liked.Thinking that it should not be too difficult to obtain, Jian Mingyu pointed to the lamp and said to the shopkeeper, "How can I obtain this lamp?"

"This guest officer, if you want this light to be simple, you can just leave the calligraphy, inscriptions and paintings are all fine." The big fat man has a very kind attitude, and the corner of his mouth is full of smiles. Whether he is facing ordinary people in linen clothes or wealthy households in silk and satin, he is always smiling.

But the implication in the store's words made most people stop.Inscriptions and paintings, how can ordinary people have access to them?This store obviously has a high bar.

After hearing the shopkeeper's words, Zhong Qingran narrowed his eyes, looked around a few more times, and found something strange.The colorful lanterns hanging on the shelves may not be so novel and outstanding, but the workmanship and materials are all first-class. No wonder the store would make such a request.

"Mingchen, you have a good eye." Zhong Qingran patted his little head and praised.

"Huh?" Jian Mingchen was a little dazed, he just looked at it, and the lamp was of an ordinary shape, and it was still small, thinking that they should be able to take it off without too much effort, so could there be anything else to say here?

In fact, the store implements a policy of casting a wide net. As long as you know a few characters, you can write them. Even if you write a crooked "Fu", he will not refuse.Of course, the requirements of each lantern are different, the more delicate and beautiful the lantern, the higher the requirements.

Like the pumpkin-shaped lantern that Jian Mingchen took a fancy to, the requirements are the lowest, and you can take it away with whatever you write or draw.It's a pity that when most people hear the words of the shopkeeper, they feel timid and dare not make a fool of themselves, feeling a little ashamed.In fact, the store didn't mean that at all.

After Zhong Qingran thought about it for a while, he understood the key point. The store has a good idea. If the owner of the calligraphy becomes prosperous one day, wouldn't this store be able to improve a lot?It may also become a good story, but it's a pity that the store's exquisite thoughts.

"Mingchen, this is what you want, you do it yourself." Zhong Qingran encouraged.

"Can I do it?" Jian Mingchen's liver trembled a little. With so many people watching, it's okay to let him be a boy who has only been in school for half a year?

Jian Mingyu gave him a nudge: "Listen to Brother Qingran, just write some festive words, just let me see your achievements in the past six months."

There are quite a lot of people around the store, most of them are watching the excitement, and there are not many people who leave in person.The movement on Zhong Qingran's side also attracted the attention of a small number of people. Jian Mingchen was a little nervous. It was the first time he was stared at by so many strangers. He moved his body uncomfortably until he leaned against Jian Mingyu, and his mood calmed down. .

"Mingchen, go up bravely, brother will watch from the side." Jian Mingyu put his hands on Jian Mingchen's shoulders, conveying his confidence to his younger brother.

"Morning morning, go quickly, Grandpa Zhong is also optimistic about you." Grandpa Zhong was excited and urged.

"Come on, I like you too."

"Come on! Come on!"

……

As soon as Mr. Zhong agreed, the people watching the excitement also booed, which made Jian Mingchen, who was already a little nervous, even more embarrassed.

Zhong Qingran frowned, ignoring the people who joined in the fun, and directly dragged Jian Mingchen to the desk beside him: "What to do with so many thoughts, isn't it just to write a few words? Don't you think you can't even write? If you come up with a clever sentence, just write the article silently, and just copy a sentence casually, you will always do that, right?"

Sitting on the chair by brother Lang, Jian Mingchen is not as uncomfortable as before. If he has not achieved any results after studying for several months, he might as well go home and farm.

Jian Mingchen tried his best to raise his body, reaching for the brush on the table.Seeing this scene, Zhong Qingran was about to remind him loudly that the shopkeeper was one step ahead of him and sent someone to bring a high chair over.Now, Jian Mingchen can write comfortably.

Seeing a little doll sitting upright, many onlookers laughed lightly. Fortunately, at this time, Jian Mingchen had already focused all his attention on writing, otherwise, his heart would be pounding nervously. .

"Shopkeeper, my master wants this jack-o-lantern, just let me know if you have any requirements." A childish voice with a bit of arrogance came, disrupting the harmonious atmosphere in an instant.

"Young master, someone wants this jack-o-lantern, and there are better ones in the store. You might as well choose another one." The store owner rushed forward to welcome him.He didn't want two groups of people to have a conflict in his shop, and it was a conflict over such an ordinary lantern.The young master in front of him is not easy to offend, and the pedestrians before him are not easy to offend, although those people's clothes are not as good as the latter.

"I want this!" The little boy in a brocade robe, who was carved in pink and jade, frowned and said displeasedly, "If you have any requirements, just say, hurry up, my time is precious, don't waste it on here."

The child's voice is very penetrating. No matter how focused Jian Mingchen is, he will inevitably be disturbed. He raised his head from the table and turned to the source of the sound. Miss Fu, surrounded by a large group of servants.

Jian Mingchen frowned and thought for a while, jumped off the high chair, pulled Zhong Qingran's cuff, and said, "Brother Qingran, I don't want this lamp anymore, let's change it."

"Really not?"

Jian Mingchen glanced at it with nostalgia, and confirmed his thoughts: "No, change to a better one."

Unexpectedly, when the young master heard these words, he immediately became dissatisfied: "What did you say, does the young master look like someone who will ask for things that others don't want? Dare you compete with me?"

"..." Zhong Qingran had black lines on his face.This kid is endless, and he gave it to him with good intentions, but he didn't want it, and he had to win it with real ability.As a young master from a wealthy family, wouldn't he feel that this was a suspicion of bullying?

Jian Mingchen has only been in school for half a year, and he can't even read all the words. Can he compare with a person who has been exposed to these things since childhood?This little baby who is looking for trouble is half a head taller than Jian Mingchen, and he should be older than Jian Mingchen, which is even more incomparable.Zhong Qingran would only agree to this kind of game that was obviously going to lose.

"Young master, you have been studying for several years, and you are ashamed to compete with someone who has only studied for half a year." Zhong Qingran walked in front of several people and responded.

"Then what do you want? You don't want it. If I take it, wouldn't it be equivalent to being given by you? How can my young master have the face to go out to meet people?"

Zhong Qingran lowered his head and took a second look. It seems that this brocade-clothed young man really cares about face. Although he is a bit arrogant in his actions, his character is not bad.

Zhong Qingran rolled his eyes and thought of teasing this little guy: "How do I know this, isn't it all suggested by you? Anyway, it's impossible for Mingchen to compete with you. As for how to solve it, you can figure it out yourself. If we can't figure it out, then we have to go."

"You, stop!" The young man in brocade clothes was a little annoyed. He thought for a while, but he couldn't come up with a solution, so he turned to the young man in Chinese clothes for help, "Second brother, I want that pumpkin lantern!" , help me think of an idea."

The young man in brocade clothes shook his fan and looked at his baby brother with a look of interest. Seeing that his sleeves were about to be torn, he put away his flat smile and solved his brother's problems: "If not, my side Or let my younger brother end, you can do whatever you want?"

Zhong Qingran glanced at him, playing a fan in winter, what kind of trouble is this?After a little deliberation, Zhong Qingran rejected his proposal: "In that case, even if we win, it will be ineffective and boring. If we lose to a child who is several years younger than us, it will make us feel embarrassed where to put it?"

Zhong Qingran was also a bachelor, so he returned to them what the young master said just now.Isn't that the reason why the brocade-clothed young master stopped them all before?

Hearing the words, the young man in Chinese clothes glared at his younger brother who was causing trouble for him, and said seriously: "That's it, let me do it, who of you will go?"

"Let me do it." Zhong Qingran had no choice, "I'll paint, you?"

Zhong Qingran is also helpless, the other party is about the same age as him, the difference is at most a year, no matter what kind of skill, he should have learned it for more than ten years, except that he can compete with others in painting, he really can't do anything else.Zhong Qingran would not take calligraphy out of hand to compete with others, even though his calligraphy can still be seen, if he wants to win with this, his hope is too slim.If even he can't do it, it's even less likely for others to win.

"Since you chose painting, then I also choose to paint." Putting away the fan, the young man in brocade clothes walked to the desk and said, "Shopkeeper, you are here to preside over this competition, which will be judged by those present who know how to paint."

Zhong Qingran has the urge to stroke his forehead, he doesn't want to waste all his time here, so he puts forward an additional condition: "Limited to one stick of incense time, if you exceed it, you will lose."

"Yes." The youth in Chinese clothes readily agreed.

After discussing the topic, the two took each side and began to concentrate on painting.

"Brother Heng, why are you arguing with them? Since you want it, you can just take it. I didn't even see them retreating." It's not as good as a proud young man.

"Brother said, you can't do this. I used to do this, and every time I was slapped on the palm of my hand, I don't want to suffer this again." Qiu Heng's mouth twitched involuntarily when he thought of the punishment he suffered back then.

"Can't it? When I was in Beijing, everyone did this." Cheng Ran's eyes were full of puzzlement.

It's not surprising that she thought so, the Great Zhou Dynasty had distinct classes, how could officials be on an equal footing with ordinary people?When the common people saw the children of officials and eunuchs, most of them walked around, for fear of bumping into them, and the people who would suffer at that time would not be the common people?

"It's so boring! Besides, these people are not ordinary people. You may have kicked the iron plate with your actions." Qiu Heng stood on tiptoe and stretched his neck to look inside.

"What's so special about them?" Cheng Ran set his sights on Zhong Qingran and his group of five people, looked around, but couldn't see what was going on.On the contrary, I feel that if the clothes are removed, these people will not have any aura of wealth, especially the old man and old lady, if they put on coarse clothes, they will be an old farm couple.

"Did you see that badge? Yes, that's the one, only a corner was exposed. I remember it seemed to represent the baron. I can't remember clearly. Anyway, there is nothing wrong with being careful." Qiu Heng explained in a low voice.

"Baron, isn't it only second grade? Judging from their appearance, they are likely to be in the bottom of their fortunes. You don't need to be concerned about them?" Cheng Ran didn't take Zhong Qingran seriously. A baron with a title and no real power, this In Shangjing, there are a lot of them, not to mention that this person is still in Pingyang County, and at such a young age, he probably has lost the pillar of the family, which makes her look down even more.

"...Forget it, you don't know, so I won't talk to you." Qiu Heng returned his attention to the painting competition. Cousin Ran didn't need to know about the court affairs.

Zhong Qingran actually didn't want to compete. After spending such a long time, even if he wins the competition, it seems that he won't get any benefits. At most, he can harvest a pumpkin-shaped lantern. Even if the materials and workmanship are exquisite, it will not be more than what he paid.

But for such a trivial matter, it is even more unworthy to conflict with this group of people who are rich and wealthy at first sight.He half pushed and half agreed, and accepted the competition.

Due to the limited time, Zhong Qingran didn't want to bother with the design of the drawing, so he decided to take a trick and use realistic techniques to paint. Although the artistic conception may be worse, at least it is easier to win the favor of the onlookers, and it is easier to win.

When the incense was about to burn out, the two stopped writing one after another.

At this time, the shop was crowded with people, the road was blocked, and many students came to have a look.

The store owner is also a person who knows calligraphy and painting, but he is not qualified enough to judge whether the paintings are good or bad. When he didn't know who to ask to come forward, he happened to see a somewhat familiar figure, and hurriedly greeted him warmly: "Huang Jiaoyu , It’s such a coincidence that you come here all the time, come and help me see these two paintings, which one is better.”

Zhong Qingran didn't dare to underestimate others, but he would not underestimate himself either. Seeing the person called Huang Jiaoyu walking towards him, he took a step back to give up his position.

Huang Jiaoyu compared the two paintings together, and one of them was so lifelike that it could be mistaken for the real one, as if a branch of plum shyly protruded from the corner of the wall, and the tip of the nose seemed to be lingering with the faint fragrance of plum blossoms.

The other painting is also of plum blossoms, but the painting method is completely different. The painting style is a little immature, but it can already be seen that the painting skills are good, and the brushwork is arbitrary and casual. Looking at this painting, one can get a glimpse of the owner's temperament.One is realistic and the other is freehand. Thinking of the ages of the two painters, Huang Jiaoyuhao did not hesitate to praise: "Good! You are really awesome for young people."

"Old man, what's the use of just saying it's good? You always talk about which one is better, and I'm still waiting to get a reward!" Qiu Heng looked at the table.

"What's the rush? How can painting be like this." Huang Jiaoyu pondered carefully, and he already had a calculation in his mind. No matter how he looked at it, the first painting was better, and the victory was more than one step away. The problem also lies in this, the painting If it is too realistic, it will lose the meaning of painting. This is not the right way of painting. If you keep going like this, you will become a painter instead of a master of painting.

Huang Jiaoyu cherished his talents, pointed to the painting on the left and said: "This painting is very popular with me, but the road has gone astray. It is okay to do it once in a while. If things go on like this, it will definitely fall into the bottom line. I hope you will pay more attention to it in the future." .”

Huang Jiaoyu paused, and then commented on the painting on the right: "This one is a little childish in style, and not as good as the other one. It's better because the artistic conception is quiet and leisurely. They're all good, not bad!"

When Qiu Heng heard this, the corners of his mouth drooped. He tossed and tossed for a long time, but in the end he didn't change. This cognition was really shocking.

Qiu Yuan raised his eyebrows and leaned over to appreciate Zhong Qingran's painting.This painting gave him only one feeling, "true", too "real", like rubbing plum blossoms from a tree, no wonder Huang Jiaoyu was in a dilemma for a moment.

This is obviously not the path that a painter should take, it is more like the work of a craftsman.Painters and painters cannot be compared, they have different status and status.But to say that Zhong Qingran's paintings are not good, that's not true, the painting skills are proficient, the plum blossoms are painted by him almost jumping out of the paper, the solid painting skills cannot be mastered overnight.

"If you dare to ask your brother's name, I'm willing to bow down." Qiu Yuan is not someone who can't afford to lose, what's more, the bet is completely negligible. If he loses, it's just that the younger brother can't get a lantern, and he has nothing to do with him , Is it possible that the younger brother will lack this?It's just that losing to his peers made him a little ashamed, well, after returning home, he should practice his painting skills more.