Chapter 518

The weather was overcast, and a light rain began to fall.

The gray-white stone slabs reflected spots, and the smell of damp earth oil spread out.

Yesterday and today, it had been clear for a day and a half, almost making people forget that the plum rain season of June had not yet passed.

The fat catfish swallowed the frozen milk in two or three gulps and dived to disappear.

The river otter stacked the wooden bowls and cleaned up the mess.

Liang Qu stood quietly watching the rain, and after a long time, he stepped toward the west wing, preparing to handle the matter of Helian Nianci visiting the Jiang Zongshi before dinner.

After Wen Wen Shi Yun left, Liang Qu had the intention of letting Fan Xinglai go call people.

Tomorrow the Prince of Yue would weigh anchor, and he himself would set off for the Dragon People's territory, so he had to handle family affairs first.

Passing through the veranda.

The tall old man with crane-like hair and a child's face stood with his hands behind his back under the eaves, silver water droplets washing the black tiles, falling like a curtain.

"Uncle?" Liang Qu stopped his steps, feeling quite surprised. Su Guishan hadn't returned for three or four days, and his sudden appearance felt quite uncomfortable. "When did Uncle return? Where have you been staying these past two days?"

The rain dripped, flowing into the gutter.

Wu Cangshou crawled out of the well, carrying a large watermelon.

"Where could I stay? Naturally, I'm working in the government office and resting in the government office. I faked my death for two months, and the Prince of Yue came in person; there are many things waiting for my decision.

I have to leave after eating dinner today, and by the way, I'll ask you, when are you taking the fleet to the deep water area to catch treasure fish?

In April, most of the fleet was built, and it only went out once. In May and June, watching the strange phenomena and receiving the Prince's carriage, several major events piled up together, and nothing moved."

Su Guishan dusted his sleeves, took the watermelon, and twisted it into two halves.

He slapped the bottom of the melon with his palm, and the black seeds jumped out together. A spoon scraped them, and they bounced onto the ground, leaving only the clean red melon flesh.

What a seedless watermelon.

Liang Qu pushed away Wu Cangshou's stretched-out neck, consciously took the other half, and sat down to eat with Uncle.

"The ship has to go out in two days; I have things to do these past two days, I reckon it will be next month, in July."

Leading the fleet to the deep water area to catch treasure fish, the leading martial artists all had bonuses and a large amount of small merits; it was a matter decided long ago.

That's how the Qingjiang Shipyard came to be. The old carpenter Liu Quanfu is still studying and training in the shipyard with his disciples, preparing to make a splash when he comes out.

Unfortunately, the Dragon People's matter had a higher priority.

Small merits and bonuses would have to wait a bit.

"I see you're busy every day, very busy."

Liang Qu chuckled: "With great ability comes great responsibility."

"Busy with nothing."

Liang Qu changed the subject: "When will Uncle come back to live? I'll have someone air the bedding so you can sleep comfortably."

"Your house is too shabby, it's not comfortable to live in." Su Guishan slapped his face ruthlessly. "I heard your three-entry courtyard was built by the villagers helping out?"

"The villagers had good intentions. The ancestral earth house I lived in before turned into a three-entry large courtyard; it's already quite good."

Liang Qu didn't deny it; it wasn't that he hadn't been to the Yang Prefecture or the Weng family and seen better ones.

Built by villagers, there wasn't that much money.

It was big enough, but the details weren't enough.

Many places were indeed rough compared to regular large households, not to mention carved beams and painted pillars.

Just talking about the entire east and west wings, there were no partitions in the middle.

A room of several dozen to nearly a hundred square meters was one whole room, with a canopy bed placed inside, partitioned by two screens, and that was it.

For ordinary families, life was quite exquisite, but for a Jiang Zongshi like Su Guishan to live in, it was really lacking.

"It just so happens I'm busy in June and won't be back for several days. You find time to find the craftsmen of the Tianbo Chamber of Commerce to renovate it. They all have matching work, and they are quick."

"I haven't eaten good pork, Uncle, how do you say to renovate it?"

"For a wing, at least partition two doors, right? Screens are for use in the room, not for partitioning into rooms. Partition out three rooms: a study to the south, a small tea room in the middle, and a meditation room to the north."

"What about the bedroom?"

"Put the bedroom on the second floor, make a slanted staircase, a small railing, and when you wake up and open the door, you can see the tea room. There should be plant stands and incense burner stands on both sides. Lay a layer of velvet carpet on the floor, it must be horse hair. The ice platform must be the latest model; in summer, one isn't enough."

"The wing doesn't have a second floor..." Liang Qu said halfway, seeing Su Guishan squinting over. "Renovate, renovate, renovate, add a balcony on the second floor, good lighting."

The old man's requirements, the younger generation should satisfy them as much as possible.

The whole set, a few hundred taels is more than enough, it's nothing more than spending more time and effort.

Counting on the Jiang Zongshi Master, the superior officer dropping two treasure plants.

Su Guishan stroked his beard: "A child who can be taught!"

"What else do you want, Uncle?"

"Just these for now, I'm not that picky, it's your wing that's too shabby. You get it ready, and I'll come back to live every few days."

"Done, Uncle, you are busy with ten thousand things, it's rare to rest, I'll go arrange it."

Liang Qu put the house renovation on the agenda and went to the study to simply record the requirements.

Su Guishan's needs to be built, and the old monk's also needs to be built; one cannot favor one over the other.

The second courtyard expands to the second floor, the back courtyard must expand, otherwise, the front is high and the back is low, which is unsightly.

In the future, during festivals, his little disciple might have to live for a day or two, so having a few more guest rooms is convenient; he can't go to the garden and squeeze with the Dragon People.

Might as well have a major renovation, turn the large courtyard into a luxury courtyard, and truly live the life of a master!

"Xinglai!"

"Yes, coming!"

Liang Qu handed over the booklet and a string of copper coins.

"Run an errand for me, first go to the prefecture city and call Jiang Zongshi Helian to my house, just say the Jiang Zongshi agrees to meet. Then go to the Tianbo Chamber of Commerce to find the manager, say I want to renovate the house, hand this booklet to him, and get a plan first."

After Long Yao and Chen Xiu came, Fan Xinglai didn't need to do things in the house, so he specifically raised horses and ran errands.

"Got it."

Fan Xinglai put on his coir raincoat and bamboo hat and went out in the rain.

Half an hour later.

Helian Nianci and Guan Congjian hurried over.

Guan Congjian's face still showed depression.

He didn't care about winning or losing.

Losing is losing, winning is winning.

Knowing the difference in skill, he wasn't unconvinced in his heart; as long as it was satisfying, that was enough.

Who would have thought that after one fight, his generation would have to become lower, and he would have to change his address to uncle, which was somewhat uncomfortable...

"Liang Shui."

Helian Nianci cupped his fists in greeting.

Not knowing the other party's generation, he had to address him by his official title first.

"Follow me."

The master and disciple followed his pace to the west wing.

Pushed open the door.

A group of river otters in the room turned their heads in unison.

The scarred face stood up and gave up the cushion.

"Jiang Zongshi, as agreed yesterday, a lay disciple of the Hanging Temple."

Seeing the old monk's appearance, Helian Nianci didn't think Liang Qu would lie to him, pressed Guan Congjian's head, and knelt on the cushion side by side to kowtow.

"Lay disciple of the Hanging Temple, Helian Nianci, with disciple Guan Congjian, pays respects to the Jiang Zongshi."

"Hmm."

The old monk nodded without another word.

Silence.

That counts.

Have they paid respects?

Seeing the Jiang Zongshi had no movement for a long time, Helian Nianci stood up slightly.

Speaking of which.

As soon as he entered the door, he didn't recognize which great virtue from the mountain gate it was.

He glanced a few more times with his peripheral vision.

After a while.

Liang Qu saw the extremely rich and varied expressions on Helian Nianci's face.

First hesitation, then shock, and finally long silence.

"My lord, the chamber of commerce manager is here." Fan Xinglai's voice sounded from outside the door.

Liang Qu scratched his head: "You guys talk first, I have things to do."

Evening.

Wooden wheels rolled over the stone slabs, squeezing out water foam.

Every household raised cooking smoke, disappearing into the lead-gray sky.

The manager took the improved plan and left by carriage.

Leaving the Liang family sitting around the table, clinking bowls and chopsticks.

"Master, your family's food is really fragrant!"

Guan Congjian shoveled rice into his mouth, not knowing what it meant to be polite at all.