I have known Ji Yuan for many years, and I have long known that he is extraordinary, but this is the first time Zhu Yanxu has come to visit him.
The older a person gets, the more clearly he sees things. Compared to back then, Zhu Yanxu’s feelings about Ji Yuan were even more special at this time. Just watching Ji Yuan slowly polish his ink, the previous nervousness and anxiety actually disappeared. He slowly calmed down and his breathing became more gentle.
“Master Zhu, Ji just boiled the water. How about we borrow flowers to offer to the Buddha and make tea with the tea you brought to drink together?”
Ji Yuan happened to be good at ink at this moment, so he looked up at Zhu Yanxu and asked.
“Of course it’s ok. Mr. Ji, would you like to drink Youzhou Fengjian tea or our Jizhou Yuqian tea? I, Zhu, have brought some, all of which are good teas given by relatives and friends.”
“Tea before the rain, I haven’t had it in a while.”
“Hey!”
Zhu Yanxu lowered his head and bent over, rummaging through the sack he brought with him, and found a yellow bamboo can. He shook it and opened it, and a faint scent of tea came out.
With Ji Yuan’s sense of smell, he naturally knew that this was the best tea, no worse than the ones sent by the Wei family. Looking at Zhu Yanxu’s appearance, the hand holding the bamboo pot was already wrinkled, and his complexion was still ruddy. , but his temples are gray and dotted with spots, and he only has a 70% resemblance to the powerful Zhu County Lieutenant in his memory.
Ji Yuan took the bamboo can from Zhu Yanxu’s hand, said “Wait a moment”, and walked to the kitchen.
Zhu Yanxu watched Ji Yuan leave, and then looked around Ju’an Pavilion. The well not far away was covered with a large stone slab. The surrounding buildings also looked old, and the paint was dim or peeling off, but they looked very interesting. clean.
The jujube tree above the head is much larger than what you see from the outside through the front of the courtyard. It is like a big canopy, covering most of the courtyard of Ju’an Xiaoge, but the magic is that the winter sunshine can always shine through. The branches cast down, making even the shade appear bright and warm.
Looking back at the desktop, the plaque on Ju’an Pavilion is not a fine decoration, it is just a piece of wood with polished edges. Fortunately, the wood is probably okay, with no cracks or signs of insect infestation. As for The words on it are indeed mottled and incomplete and cannot be read clearly at all.
Because he brought a treasure inkstone, Zhu Yanxu’s eyes naturally fell on the four treasures of the study placed outside by Ji Yuan. Of course, there is no paper now, so there are only three treasures.
The ink must be the best ink, and the pen on the ceramic pen holder seems to be very special. Zhu Yanxu looked at it from several angles, and felt that the sunlight falling on the pen had different luster. It was very pleasing to the eye, and it was the first time for him to do so. It feels like this on a pen.
But the inkstone looked like an ordinary old black inkstone. Zhu Yanxu felt that the inkstone he brought was better, and he thought that he would still have to push it after a while. Maybe Mr. Ji was just being polite.
The accountant Yuan also came out from the kitchen carrying a tray with a tea cup and a pot of brewed tea.
“Master Zhu has been waiting for a long time. He has not been home for a long time and has not entertained guests for a long time. He is a little neglectful. You should have prepared tea since you came.”
Zhu Yanxu quickly stood up to help.
“Hey, Mr. Ji, it was Zhu who paid a hasty visit and disturbed him.”
The two poured the tea, Zhu Yanxu blew it while Ji Yuan put it aside to cool.
Zhu Yanxu actually had nothing to ask for, but when he saw that Ji Yuan wanted to have a close relationship, thinking back on the fact that Mr. Yin went to Ju’an Pavilion so frequently, he must have already recognized that Mr. Ji was extraordinary.
Although Zhu Yanxu also understood that Yin Gong’s current status must be mainly due to his own talent, knowledge and hard work, he couldn’t help but wonder if Mr. Ji also helped.
Originally, Zhu Yanxu was a martial artist. Although he was not a dull person, he was not very talkative. Before he came, he had struggled with how to talk to Ji Yuan, but now he had many words coming to his lips.
He blew the hot tea and smelled the fragrance but did not drink it immediately. He watched Ji Yuan clean up the remaining vermilion paint on the wooden board bit by bit and said with a little emotion.
“Sir, you haven’t been back for more than ten years, right?”
Ji Yuan carefully scratched the wooden board with a small shell and nodded.
“So be it.”
Zhu Yanxu took a shallow sip of tea, looked at the leaves of the jujube branches swaying slightly above his head, and then looked at Ji Yuan.
“In the blink of an eye, I have grown old, but Mr. Ji is still the same as before!”
Ji Yuan smiled.
“Master Zhu is so complimentary. You are getting stronger with age, and your style is still the same as before. I think the same is true for Master Chen Sheng.”
If we put it into perspective in Ji Yuan’s previous life, Chen Sheng and Zhu Yanxu were the “Ning’an County duo” who had the greatest influence on Ning’an County in the past few decades, followed by the blockbuster Yin Zhaoxian.
Without his two parents, civil and military officials, Ning’an County, which was once in poverty, would not be what it is today. Therefore, Ji Yuan also admires these two people. At least he thinks that he may not be able to do better than them when it comes to being an official. .
Zhu Yanxu tried another question while drinking tea.
“I heard that the jujube trees in Ju’an Xiaoge have never bloomed since my husband left. Now that my husband is back, should the jujube trees bloom?”
Although not many people in Ning’an County today may remember it, Zhu Yanxu still remembers the special fragrance of jujube flowers that once filled almost half of the county.
“Whether it blooms or not depends on its own will, but Master Zhu is right. If Ji is still here during the next flower season, it should be able to bloom.”
“Oh, that’s it, that’s it!”
Ji Yuan did not flirt with him during these few words. They were asking questions and answering questions. Zhu Yanxu had already understood in his heart and did not speak again for the time being. He kept taking a sip of tea from time to time and watching the movements of Ji Yuan’s hands, but he caught The hand holding the tea cup was tense and relaxed for a while, obviously there was something hesitating in his heart.
About a quarter of an hour later, Zhu Yanxu drank two cups of tea, and Ji Yuan finally cleaned up the original red paint on the wooden board, held it under the table and shook it gently, and the paint chips fell into the ground one after another. A trace of it floated up and touched the two people at the table.
When Ji Yuan put the board back on the table, reached out and stroked it gently before picking up the pen, Zhu Yanxu couldn’t help but be attracted to it.
Holding his sleeves and holding his pen, he dabbed some ink, as if there was a special rhythm hidden in it. Zhu Yanxu looked at it carefully, and he didn’t even notice that the already quiet Ju’an Pavilion was already quiet. At this moment, the surrounding sounds were disappearing. .
“Master Zhu, writing can make people calm, and watching people write is the same. Master Zhu, please take a closer look, and I will ask adults to judge Ji’s handwriting later.”
With a calm and powerful voice, Ji Yuan moved the ink-stained wolf hair to the wooden sign, and then slowly dropped it.
The ink stained in just one stroke, which was far larger than the area covered by the stroke of the pen, but Ji Yuan didn’t care. He turned his wrist and moved his arm to write slowly, and the iron painting and silver hook were vigorous and powerful.
The strange thing about Zhu Yanxu watching Ji Yuan write is that the tip of the langhao pen in his hand is obviously as thick as his thumb, but the handwriting he leaves is at least as wide as two and a half fingers, and it happens to be closed where it should be and where it should be changed. Changes will not affect calligraphy at all.
After a long time, Ji Yuan finished writing the last line, put away the pen and placed it on the pen holder beside him. After looking at the plaque carefully for a while, he smiled and said to Zhu Yanxu.
“Master Zhu, please taste and appreciate it!”
Zhu Yanxu was still immersed in the feeling just now. Even Ji Yuan’s words did not break the rhythm. He just said “Okay”, stood up and walked to Ji Yuan’s side, looking down at Ji Yuan who never left his eyes. plaque.
Looking from the front, the words “Ju’an Xiaoge” are neither rigid nor soft, and a sense of freshness and joy almost shines through the surface. It is a feeling of peace of mind, peace of mind, and peace of mind, which makes him feel comfortable physically and mentally.
Especially the word “Ji’an” made Zhu Yanxu soothed and calm. Even the lack of energy caused by poor rest during this period was greatly alleviated and he looked full of energy.
“Good words, good words, really good words!”
Zhu Yanxu can read and write, but that’s about it. He can’t say any elegant compliments, but these words of praise are sincere. He has never seen such beautiful and charming words.
“Master Zhu, just watch it for a while.”
After Ji Yuan said this, he started to pick up the tea cup and drink tea. It was obviously winter, but the tea in his cup that had been left for so long was the right temperature for his mouth.
The afternoon sun in winter is very warm, and the smell under the jujube tree in Ju’an Pavilion is also very comfortable. Especially in this state, Zhu Yanxu feels that every breath he takes is very pleasant and fresh.
Unknowingly, a long time had passed. Ji Yuan stood up and approached Zhu Yanxu, who was still standing blankly.
“Master Zhu, Master Zhu! It’s time to wake up!”
Zhu Yanxu regained his energy and woke up like waking up from a dream.
“Ah? I, oh, what a good word!”
“Well, thank you for the compliment, sir, but it’s getting late and it’s time for you to go home. Your wife and children will be worried about you later.”
Ji Yuan said, pointing to the sky.
Zhu Yanxu was stunned for a moment, and looked at the sky. It was actually a lot darker, and although it was blocked by houses and courtyard walls, he could still see a ray of sunset light in the west, indicating that it was not because the clouds were blocking the sun at this moment. , but the sun really sets.
“This, how come so quickly…”
Halfway through his words, Zhu Yanxu suddenly realized something.
“Mr. Ji, is that the word?”
“Haha, Mr. Zhu, don’t think too much. Go home. Ji’s house doesn’t have any dishes, so I won’t let you eat.”
Zhu Yanxu said nothing more and cupped his hands.
“Well, Mr. Ji will sit down and Zhu will take his leave. This inkstone…”
“Take it back.”
“Uh, okay!”
Zhu Yanxu did not dare to insist any more, fearing that he would be offended by being too polite. He picked up the box of the inkstone alone, left the cakes and drinks, and then followed Ji Yuan to the door.
“No need to send it off, Mr. Ji, Zhu will go home now!”
“Okay, Mr. Zhu, walk slowly.”
“Hey!”
Zhu Yanxu repeatedly raised his hand and glanced subconsciously at the top of the small pavilion door, then turned around and walked towards the outside. He couldn’t describe how he felt today, but he vaguely understood that this experience was beyond imagination.
No matter what, I came to the right place today!