The Moon Over Tang Dynasty

Chapter 11 Old friends meet each other with great care

Liuli stood at the door in a daze, and saw the customer who walked in behind shopkeeper Shi. He was wearing a brand-new green round-neck robe. Under the green robe was a calm and handsome face, although it looked better than in memory. He seemed a bit paler and gloomier, but Liuli always remembered people's faces clearly. She recognized him at a glance as one of the people she met in Da Ci'en Temple that day. She remembered that he gave way to her at that time, as if he was called someone who kept a promise. ...She couldn't help but glance behind him nervously, fearing that the young master would suddenly appear in front of her.

 The visitor obviously recognized Liuli. When he saw her eyes scanning behind him warily, the corners of her mouth raised slightly.

The shopkeeper noticed something was wrong with Liuli's expression and asked quickly, "Do you know this guest?"

Liuli didn't see anyone else, but in a blink of an eye she saw that vague smile again. She felt a little embarrassed and mumbled, "I got the wrong person." But she saw that the man's smile became deeper.

The shopkeeper hurriedly invited the guest into the private room, and the three of them sat down respectively. The shopkeeper smiled and said, "This is Mrs. Kudi, the painter of our shop. What should I call this guest?"

The visitor smiled and nodded to Liuli, "Pei Xingjiu, sorry for disturbing you."

Pei Jiu? Liuli suddenly remembered that the young father-in-law that day also seemed to have a surname of Pei. Could it be that they were relatives? She didn't know if the **** became angry and resentful after he came to his senses later. If so... She couldn't help but glance at Pei Jiu again, only to see him sitting there leisurely. Although his words were gentle and his eyes were clear, his whole person was... It seems like it's far away - a person with this kind of magnanimity wouldn't want to please that kind of noble man, right? Liuli's mood calmed down inexplicably.

Just listen to Pei Jiu say, "Pei has seen a screen with valerian lining elsewhere, which is very unique. I happened to pass by your store today and wanted to order a valerian screen with a hunting pattern to make a screen, but I don't know if your shop can make a suitable one." What design do you want? The screen is a birthday gift for the family. The quality and design must be the best, and the price is good.”

The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Perhaps Mr. Pei doesn't know that our bank has always clearly marked the prices. But what Mr. Pei said is that he uses a valerian as a screen. Firstly, he doesn't know the size. Secondly, the shop has never done it before. So, can you give it a try?" , I need the painter to come up with an idea.”

Pei Jiu nodded and thought, "I can go back and measure the size, but your store has never done it before. If I'm not sure..." He originally wanted to say, "Pei can go elsewhere to check." Suddenly she saw Liuli looking over with bright eyes, and couldn't help but stop. She asked, "The screen Mr. Pei saw also has a hunting pattern? Are there several screens, and do each one have the same pattern?"

Pei Jiu thought about it carefully and shook his head, "It's a valerian screen made of Lushan stone. There are six screens in total, and each screen has a different pattern."

Liuli sighed, "This screen must have come from a dyeing and weaving workshop." Apart from government-owned businesses such as dyeing and weaving workshops, who among the people would be crazy enough to carve six sets of flower panels for one screen?

Pei Jiu couldn't help but was slightly startled, "Why, only the dyeing and weaving workshop can make it?"

Liuli shook his head, "It's not difficult to make, but it's too expensive."

Pei Jiu smiled and said, "Pei dares to ask for details."

Liuli glanced at him and vaguely remembered that the last time she saw him, he was the oldest dressed among them. How come he is rich now? Not only did she change into new clothes, she also had to spend money to make a valerian screen. She simply smiled and said, "Six screens cost ten thousand." Of course she was a lion's mouth. At this time, wood and labor were not expensive, and six sets of flower panels cost Including the silk base and dye, the cost is definitely less than 6,000 yuan, but if you don't say it is higher, how can you scare away this nouveau riche?

Pei Jiu nodded calmly, "Okay, can you come out in a month?"

Liuli opened his eyes wide. Did he really hear the price? A total of 10,000 yuan. Liuli had also carefully inquired about the dress code recently. Judging from his clothes, he was just a ninth-grade official with the lowest grade. Did his annual salary be 10,000 yuan? With this money, why doesn't he buy a sterling silver screen and give it away? He couldn't help but said, "One and a half months, our store's rules require half of the deposit to be paid first."

Pei Jiu thought for a while and said, "That's fine. I didn't bring that much today. Tomorrow afternoon, Pei will send five thousand dollars, just one thing. Can Pei take a look at the pattern on the screen first? If..."

Liuli nodded and said, "If we disappoint Mr. Pei, of course we won't take any money from our store." Shopkeeper Shi was already dumbfounded. He never expected that Liuli would raise the price in such a way, nor did he expect that this young man in inconspicuous clothes would actually raise the price. Just like that, he agreed... When he wanted to interrupt, he saw that Pei Jiu had already stood up and said, "Pei will come back tomorrow afternoon. Madam Laokudi is the one who has to worry about the screen design."

Liuli also stood up and smiled generously, "You must do your best!" Pei Jiu smiled and cupped his hands, turned and left. The shopkeeper hurriedly sent him out. Liuli looked at his back and couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. Tuotou: If the ancients looked down upon her drawing a picture, could it be that all the hard work she had done in her previous life for more than ten years was in vain? By the time shopkeeper Shi turned around, Liuli had already strode back to his studio, wishing he could pick up his brush immediately. When he saw Mu Sanlang sitting there, he suddenly realized that he had a guest.

Liuli's studio and the private room next door were originally separated by wooden boards. Mu Sanlang had already heard the conversation there clearly, and he couldn't tell what it was like. Ever since he met Liuli in the suburbs, he had been worried about her poor life. Now it seemed that he was overly worried. Not only did she look bright, but she could also negotiate such a big deal in just a few words... Ordinarily he should feel relieved Yes, but I don’t know why I feel a little empty in my heart. Seeing Liuli come in, he stood up slowly and forced a smile, "Madam, please be busy first, Saburo won't disturb you."

Liuli said hurriedly, "Cousin, why don't you sit down for a while? There is no rush to paint."

　　Mu Sanlang shook his head and said, "It's getting late. I should have gone home to avoid worrying my mother."

Liuli couldn't keep him any longer, so she had to send him out of the gate. When he saw him walking away, he turned back. He was slightly puzzled: Why did this Sanlang look unhappy? Could it be that he had neglected him? And the way he looked at her didn't seem right. Could it be that he had something to do with Liuli from before? But as soon as she returned to the studio and started composing the painting, this doubt was immediately thrown out of her mind.

She first drew a picture of a flower hunting pattern that was relatively common at this time. She took a look at it and threw it aside. She couldn't help but think of Pei Jiu's voice and smile: This person's demeanor actually didn't look like a poor official. Or a nouveau riche - maybe he just happened to wear old clothes once? If she remembered correctly, "Pei" was the surname with the most talents in the Tang Dynasty. There were countless prime ministers and generals named Pei, and the most outstanding ones were Pei Ji, Pei Ju, Pei Du, Pei Xingjian, etc. This Pei Jiu might also be a member of a high-ranking family. Otherwise, among the few people that day, why were he and the serious-faced guy the only ones who didn't like the prince of Hedong? Since this kind of person can throw away ten thousand dollars without blinking an eye, he will naturally not be attracted to those gorgeous and gaudy patterns. It is impossible to say that this hunting picture is going to be elegant and simple...

Until the closing of the Western Market, Liuli was still in the house tinkering with the design of four screens with valerian patterns. He drew and threw the drafts, threw them away and drew them again. When he returned to An's house for dinner, he was still in a trance. Xiaotan had already told Mr. Shi about what happened in the afternoon, and not long after everyone knew it. On the one hand, they were a little surprised, but on the other hand, they also found it funny to see Liuli wandering around and drawing. Anrokuro even went to the Liuli waved his hand in front of his face, but when he saw Liuli staring blankly at him, he had no choice but to sit back with a sigh.

Liuli emptied the bowl in front of her without knowing the taste, and immediately retreated to her room. Now the An family had prepared a private room for Liuli, which was also decorated with desks, pens, inks, papers, inkstones, etc. Liuli was busy until midnight, feeling in her heart After roughly having a few drafts, I went to bed and closed my eyes for a while. I got up early the next morning to sharpen my ink again, but this time I finished it in one go. It took more than two hours to complete all six large drawings.

Jing Jingzhi and Shi heard that the painting was finished, so they came over to take a look and saw that it was a set of four-season hunting pictures. The four pictures in the middle were white rabbit hunting in spring, tiger hunting in summer, fat deer hunting in autumn, and wolf hunting in winter. The picture is of mountains, rocks and trees. The pattern is not very complicated, and even a little clumsy. However, the figures of people, horses, vegetation, and wild animals are all very simple and expressive. The pattern is dense and dense, and the movement and stillness are appropriate. I can't help but sigh and feel a little confused. I just feel that it is peaceful. The patterns they saw were all different - naturally they didn't know that this pattern was actually not a dyeing pattern in the usual sense, but similar to a real painting. However, due to the limitations of the printing and dyeing technology at this time, it was not as fine as the painting.

When the Western Market opened, Liuli excitedly came to Ruyi Jiaval with the paintings in hand. After entering his studio, he pasted the paintings on the wall with paste. He looked around and felt quite a bit in his heart. Proud: Judging from these paintings, my level in this life seems to be slightly higher than in the previous life, at least more thoughtful and calm.

Just as he was looking at it, a soothing and gentle voice suddenly came from behind him, "Is this the six-part screen hunting picture you drew?" Liuli looked back and saw that it was Pei Jiu who was also looking intently at the pattern posted on the wall. . The shopkeeper smiled and nodded to Liuli behind him.

Liuli smiled and said, "What do you think Mr. Pei?"

Pei Jiu's eyes paused on Liuli's face, then looked at the paintings on the wall. He sighed and shook his head again. Liuli couldn't help but become a little nervous and asked quickly, "What's wrong?"

Pei Jiu then sighed and was silent for a moment before saying, "When Pei returned home, he realized that he didn't have much money left at home. He originally wanted to find an excuse to return the clamp, but the painting was so good that Pei had to find excuses. If not, what should I do?”

Liuli was stunned for a moment before realizing that he was joking. She couldn't help but feel a little annoyed. She raised her head to say something, but saw Pei Jiuzheng looking at him with a smile. The corners of his mouth that were obviously raised made a warm arc, but his slightly narrowed eyes flashed. With a bright light of banter. Liuli felt her heart skip a beat, subconsciously took a step back and lowered her eyes. Shopkeeper Shi was also startled. After hearing these words, he felt relieved. He caught up and said with a smile, "Pei Jun really knows how to laugh."

Pei Jiu glanced at Liuli and saw that her face, which was so lively just now, had put away all the emotions in an instant. He couldn't help but smile and shake his head. He turned back to the servant who had come with him today and said, "Ah Cheng, go get the car." "Move the money." He said to the shopkeeper, "Do I need to write a receipt?"

The shopkeeper nodded and said, "That's natural. I have five thousand dollars left, so I'll ask Mr. Pei to pay when the goods are delivered in one and a half months. If our store damages Mr. Pei's items or delays the time, we will also have to compensate." He said. Then he took out the two copies of the document that had been drawn up from his sleeve. He glanced at it a few times and nodded, "Your store is very thorough." He looked at the pen, ink, paper and inkstone on the table. Liuli had no choice but to silently walk to the desk to pour water and grind the ink.

Pei Jiu was about to pick up a pen and sign his name when he heard a slightly sharp female voice coming from outside the door, "Is Mrs. Kudi here?"

 (End of this chapter)