The eldest grandson of the Red Chamber

Pengcheng.

At the beginning of a new day, the sun has risen, and the red is inlaid on the blue sky, which makes people feel happy and clear.

The people on the streets of the inner city are busy setting up stalls to sell goods, and those who are more diligent have already started to shout and sell.

Walking through the busy street, at the end of the relatively cold street, you can see a stall without a signboard or shouting, but it makes people understand what kind of business they are doing at a glance.

It was a simple desk with only a few pieces of wood spliced ​​together. On the surface were scattered a few white papers pressed by an inkstone. Standing in front of the desk were a few unfolded paintings. If someone looked closely, he would find The objects in the painting all have novel angles, the unique light and shadow are not like common techniques, and the objects in the painting are not common flowers, birds, fish and insects, but ordinary objects, facing the street scene.It's kind of funny.

It's just that most of the people on this street are ordinary people, working hard for their livelihoods, few stop to look carefully, occasionally literate, slow down to take a look and leave when passing by.

Under the eaves ten steps away from the painting and calligraphy booth, there was a young man in green clothes, squatting with his knees hugged under the eaves, as if he was resting. Looking closely, he was about fourteen or fifteen years old, with fair skin, clear eyebrows, and a handsome face. Pianpian boy.Morning dew sprinkled on his eyelashes, and the red light shone on Tsing Yi, like a static painting.

Accompanied by the sound of birdsong in the morning, the person in the painting moved his eyebrows slightly, slowly woke up, took a deep breath, stood up, and moved his backache a few times.

The young man walked around for a few steps and then came back. He stretched out his foot and kicked the person who was curled up next to him. When he came over from hysteria, he said crisply, "Chang'an, where is Ji Yang? It's been a whole night, and no one has been seen yet?"

The people on the ground rubbed their eyes, thought for a while and said, "Master, you forgot, Brother Ji didn't send a letter to Lord Hou yesterday. I don't know where Lord Hou's people are, so I have to be slow, but according to Looking at it again, we should be back before noon."

It was Ming Xu, the master and servant of Chang'an.

But it turned out that Mingxu walked with Qing Rong for a while according to the agreement and then they each left. After separation, Mingxu originally planned to visit several famous places in the south of the Yangtze River, but things didn't go as planned. There were many accidents and interesting things along the way. All kinds of miscellaneous things also slowed down the trip.

In desperation, Mingxu had no choice but to wander around, no matter where or how much, Qing Rong was right.Traveling without destination and time limit is really much easier, regardless of body and mind.

However, a comfortable study tour is based on sufficient financial resources. When Mingxu came out, his grandmother Sun was afraid that he would suffer unknown grievances outside, so she gave him a lot of money.Ming Xu had never been trapped in money since he came out for more than a year, until the accident half a month ago.

The big brother Ji in Chang'an's mouth is named Ji Yang, who was given by Mingxie when Mingxu came out. Ji Yang's main role is to take care of Mingxu's safety and to be able to receive letters from Mingxie to Mingxu whose whereabouts are uncertain at any time. Xie always has his own channel to know where his grandson is and whether it is safe or not.

Half a month ago, after Ji Yang saw a sign, he told Chang'an a few words and then went to connect with others. After being out for more than a year, Ming Xie sent a letter back, probably with some important orders.

At that time, the master and the servants were entering the suburban path of Pengcheng, where there were few people, and there was no danger in the tranquility, so Ji Yang told Changan to be smart, and he rode away on horseback with the uncle's safety in mind.

Then the dramatic thing is that Ji Yang left Mingxu's side for the first time in more than a year, and something happened to the master and servant here.

After Ji Yang left, the two hurried on their way as usual, and then encountered bandits without warning two quarters of an hour later, dozens of bandits quickly surrounded the car.

At that time, Mingxu saw someone robbing the road and stealing money, first he was curious, and after waking up, he looked at the situation, outnumbered, Mingxu had no choice but to get out of the car to negotiate.

It's just that he didn't have time to learn from Jia Xu of the Three Kingdoms and report who his grandfather is.The bandits already preemptively said, "As long as you have money, you don't kill yourself, you leave your belongings and let them go." When Mingxu heard this, he couldn't do without asking for money, isn't money worth life alone, so he insisted on finishing his sentence. Grandpa's official title is taboo.

Then our Ming Xiaoxu was scorned by the bandits on the opposite side. The leader pointed at Mingxu with a whip and laughed: "You are the bandit. I have been a bandit for the past few years. No. 20 said so, pay you back." Grandpa lives in the third grade, why don't you say that your grandfather is Minghou, I sound familiar with this."

Mingxu: ...

Are you kidding me?If I say now that my surname is actually Ming and that I have a grandfather named Mingxie, will Ni Meng not only think that I am joking but also that I am a fool.

The fledgling Mingxu was sent to the army, and then he was defeated one after another. No matter what he said, the bandits who were used to it didn't listen to him at all.As the old saying goes, in the face of absolute strength, any conspiracy is vulnerable.The bandit leader obviously understood deeply, and directly led a group of people to empty Mingxu's things, not even leaving the carriage behind.

But it's worth mentioning that he didn't take off his clothes for the sake of Mingxu's scholar, and even at Mingxu's insistence, he left the book paper and so on in a very humane manner .

When Ji Yang came back with Xin'er in the evening, he saw the two miserable masters and servants walking towards the city with books on their backs, not daring to sleep in the wilderness at night.Fortunately, it was not far from the inner city of Pengcheng, and it took only two days to walk there.

Mingxie's letter said that the eldest sister of the family, Minglai, is getting married soon, so she asked Mingxu to return to Yangzhou as soon as possible, and then return to Beijing with her grandparents to watch the ceremony.However, not long ago, Ming Xu lost his money and luggage, and even after selling his books, he couldn't make up enough for the travel expenses back to Yangzhou.

So after Ji Yang was rejected to perform chest crushing on the street, there was this stall where he wrote letters and bought calligraphy and paintings.It is said that a person who is useless is a scholar, and Mingxu's simple and simple stall is rarely patronized.

Mingxu was a little depressed, "You still said last time, you don't know you will stay here for a few more days." He sighed as he looked at the desolate booth, and silently cursed in his heart, setting up this kind of stall in this kind of place is simply not feasible. Well, Ji Yang is the same, what's there to be reserved about, breaking boulders in the bustling city to make a lot of money, sir, I am willing to beat gongs in the street to solicit customers, but he just doesn't agree with this way of getting money quickly.

The most casual person was talking about Ji Yang, when the ordinary-looking young man in black walked over from the street lightly.Ming Xu beckoned him to come closer, and whispered: "How is it? Did your little friend give you any money?"

Ji Yang said helplessly: "Master, we usually don't carry much money with us, and Master Hou didn't tell me this, did we?" The master's thoughts are always so strange.

"Then today is not the same as before. I also want to go back sooner. I can talk about other things, but I can't delay my sister's big event." Ming Xu curled his lips, feeling glad that it was still early, and his grandfather didn't say anything specific. time return.

Mingxu ordered Chang'an to buy breakfast, went to the desk and bent over to organize the papers on the desk, then sat on the stone Ji Yang found yesterday and thought about what to draw today.

The eldest sister's wedding is scheduled for February next year, so she must have rushed back to the capital before New Year's Eve, that is, there are still four months left.Speaking of the capital city, Mingxu worried about her sister for a while and then couldn't help thinking of Daiyu. I haven't seen her for nearly three years, and I don't know what the little girl looks like. I don't know if the things I sent to Beijing a while ago have been received. I don't know if she likes it or not.

Mingxu's thoughts flew to the capital thousands of miles away, but he didn't pay much attention to his surroundings until he was awakened by the sound of a few knuckles knocking on the wooden table.

Ming Xu straightened up and saw a handsome white-faced young man standing in front of him. Seeing that he had regained his composure, the young man withdrew his hand and said with a smile, "You look like a fool, and you don't get any answers when I ask you a few words. , I can’t complain that the business is so deserted.”

The young master lowered his eyes a little after he finished speaking, hey, he thought it was interesting to meet this man, but when he came up to talk to him, he made a careless slip of the tongue, most of the scholars are high-minded, I just said that he was in business, I might have offended him.

After waiting for a while, he didn't see the handsome scholar refute with sarcasm. Instead, he kept silent and looked at himself secretly.

The young master turned his brows to the side, he must be a mute, but there is no mute who can read and write, so he glanced suspiciously.

Mingxu was called back by this look, and said awkwardly: "Brother, I'm really sorry, I lost my mind just now, what did you ask? Can you repeat it? I can explain it later."

It's no wonder that Ming Xu's sudden reaction was slow, it was because the young man in front of him was too handsome, unknowingly making people doubt his gender, Ming Xu instantly thought of the routine of a woman disguised as a man.Well, from a closer look, the eyebrows and eyes are delicate, and the eyebrows have traces of trimming. Looking at the pierced ears, this is not clear, and the Adam's apple is also covered.

Mingxu couldn't determine the gender of the guest, so he put aside the gender, and now the main thing is to solicit business.

Seeing that he didn't pay attention to the word "business", the young man pointed to the painting at the front of the booth: "This vase is painted in great detail and the technique is unique, but you created it?"

Seeing him asking this, Ming Xu shook his head and said, "It's not my original creation, I also learned it from others, but it's really rare."

"I like it, how much is this painting?" The little boy was very straightforward.

"One tael of silver." Ming Xu looked at the young master's clothes and accessories, and made an offer against his conscience.

"It's so cheap?" The young master blurted out an exclamation. At this time, he kept silent behind him, and the boy who behaved rather awkwardly tugged at the young master's sleeve.

"Hey, then wrap it up for me." The young master didn't continue, and motioned for the servant behind him to pay.

"Um, I'm making a living on a small business, isn't it easy for a guest officer?" Mingxu said shyly, wrap it up, what should I pack it for, or should I pull a piece of white paper for you?

Seeing that he was a little embarrassed, the little boy laughed instead, and hugged the scroll directly in his arms.When you speak again, it becomes a little more casual: "From your accent, you are from a foreign country? Why are you living in Pengcheng to sell calligraphy and painting?"

"The young master also said that he was a wanderer. When he went out, he encountered some accidents. He stayed in Pengcheng for a while and left after a few days." Ming Xu told the truth.

"My name is Gu Xiu, you and I are not much different, just call me by my name." The young master liked his frankness and reminded.

"Brother Gu has a good name, a person lives up to his name." Ming Xu is kind and kind.

"Your painting is interesting, and the people are also interesting." Gu Xiu said with a smile, her cheeks flushed slightly.

"Brother Gu's praise." Mingxu was a little confused, so, how did you know that I was funny?

……

After that day, the somewhat scripted encounter between the two of them didn't end. Mr. Gu Xiu came to visit Mingxu's business for several days in a row. Oh, maybe he can't be called a son anymore. During these few days, Mingxu The gender of this big customer has been clarified, and he is indeed a virtual phoenix and a true phoenix.

We call her Miss Gu for the time being, and Miss Gu not only comes to buy paintings every day, but also brings things to Ming Xu a few times, all of which are exquisite and practical.And he always sits and chats with Ming Xu for half a day, and learns his painting techniques with Ming Xu, so he feels very comfortable.

Thanks to Miss Gu's blessing, Mingxu was able to return home earlier, and after barely saving enough money, the master and servant planned to leave.

This day Miss Gu came again on time, chatted with Ming Xu as usual and then suddenly mentioned: "Tomorrow there will be a poetry meeting in Fuyuan Building, Pengcheng is held once a year, the event can be considered grand, Master Zhizhou and Master Xuezheng will be there , I'm lucky enough to go in and take a look, I'll take you there tomorrow, how does Ming Xu feel?"

After Gu Xiu finished speaking, she looked at Ming Xu with a look of anticipation on her face.

Hmm~, what does Mingxu think, Mingxu thinks you are interested in him, but he has no proof.