Chapter 283: He really doesn't want it. [Thank you all for your support! Bowing again!]

"Hahaha, Jingge'er is absolutely right!"

Hai Chaojie nodded with a smile,

and as he turned his head, he saw Changbai, who was full of approval and recognition, say:

"We work hard in our studies, just like the chisel carving the ink-grinding area on this inkstone!"

Changbai's tireless study over the years had given him a very strong scholarly aura,

and Hai Chaojie and Shen Herui, who had also studied hard for many years, naturally recognized that Changbai was the same kind of person as them.

Hearing the words of the three, except for Rong Xian, who was just idling in the Imperial Guard,

the others who were studying all nodded slightly.

While they were talking,

that draft had already been passed among the noble young ladies,

and from time to time, girls would walk to the inkstone to observe, compare the draft with the inkstone, and let out exclamations.

"Wow! Zhengzheng, this inkstone is probably going to become the treasure of the shop!"

After Tingyi finished speaking, Chai Zhengzheng nodded and looked at Hai Chaoyun:

"Thanks to the wonderful brush of the Hai family brother."

Hai Chaoyun pursed her lips and smiled: "Chai Sister, you flatter me; just now the other few young masters also saw it."

Chai Zhengzheng looked at the shop steward who had slumped to the ground just now; he had already been helped up by the shop assistant and was too ashamed to look up at Chai Zhengzheng.

"Go, bring out those treasured inkstones, ceramic inkstones, tile inkstones, and pottery inkstones in the shop, and let the few young masters choose."

"Yes, yes."

The steward hurriedly turned and walked outside.

Sibaozhai naturally didn't just have inkstones, but also paper, brushes, and ink; the young ladies were carefully picking things that suited their hearts.

Soon the steward returned with the shop assistants and, after seeing the maid's signal, brought the inkstones to the young masters.

Shen Herui looked at these inkstones and said with some surprise:

"Hiss, could this be the Lu family pottery inkstone from Zezhou?"

"Is this the tile inkstone from the Bronze Bird Terrace in Yecheng?"

Xu Zaijing wasn't very interested in these inkstones and looked at Hai Chaojie with doubt.

Hai Chaojie said:

"Jingge'er, the craftsmanship of the Zezhou Lu family's pottery inkstone has already been lost, and the tiles from the Bronze Bird Terrace are also limited; these two types of inkstones are rare and valuable."

The steward smiled: "Young master truly has good discernment."

However, none of them bought these few inkstones.

"This steward, why not bring a few more inkstones, and let us choose for ourselves, how about that?"

Hearing Xu Zaijing's words, the steward hurriedly went to Chai Zhengzheng to ask for instructions.

Before long, the shop assistants carried quite a few inkstones in and placed them on the table.

Several noble young masters were discussing with each other what to carve based on the position of the stone eyes on the inkstone,

while Xu Zaijing randomly picked an inkstone without stone eyes, drew four large and small circles on it—the kind of cute cat paw print—

and when he handed it to Qingcao to look at, it was glanced at by Xiaotao and then fell into Minglan's hands.

The group played in the shop for a while,

and when they left, the maids and servants following behind had bought some things more or less.

The maids of the Hai family were even holding several rolls of top-grade Wu paper.

Rong Xian looked at Changfeng, who was demonstrating grinding ink by blowing on a Duan inkstone, with a look of surprise.

Chai Zhengzheng brought her maids to Tingyi's side, who was looking at an inkstone, and said in a low voice:

"See anything you like?"

Tingyi shook her head, then said:

"Zhengzheng, do you think it's okay to carve a cute civet cat pattern on this inkstone like the one on the ear protector?"

Chai Zhengzheng nodded clearly and said:

"You say the word, it's definitely okay!"

Tingyi looked at her happily and said: "Good! Then I'll order one from you! I'll give you the pattern in a few days."

"Hmm!"

Then Chai Zhengzheng said in a low voice:

"By the way, is there a relative relationship between the Hai family and the Xu family? Seeing their maids are quite familiar."

Tingyi didn't even turn her head and said:

"Hmm. It counts as a relationship, my eldest brother's mentor is the head of the Hai family, Chaoyun's father."

"Before, among the people Jingge'er saved outside Shenbao Temple, Chaoyun was one of them!"

"When the Hai family went to the Xu family to thank them, my eldest brother also went!"

Chai Zhengzheng nodded:

"Oh!"

The two were talking when the steward in the shop walked to the side,

and after Chai Zhengzheng took it from Miss Yun Mu's hand, she and Tingyi looked at it for a few times, but didn't see any pattern,

so she said:

"Better go ask those few young masters for advice!"

"Yes."

The steward walked to Hai Chaojie's side and said a few words with a smile.

Hai Chaojie didn't say anything either; after drawing for a while with paper and brush, he looked toward Shen Herui and Xu Zaijing:

"Come, look at this!"

Xu Zaijing took the drawing paper, looked at it, and said: "Great minds think alike."

Shen Herui beside him also nodded.

The conversation here attracted the others; after passing the drawing paper around to look at it, Qi Heng held the drawing paper and said:

"Hiss, if it's carved like this, I'm afraid it won't be bought even for a thousand strings."

Qi Heng said, handed the drawing paper to the steward.

The steward hadn't had a chance to look just now; after taking it, his eyes widened.

He saw on the drawing paper seven stars drawn at the same positions as the stone eyes on the inkstone,

and there was a person stepping on an Ao fish, with a brush pointing into the ink-grinding area of the inkstone, the finger pointing at the fourth of the seven stars,

while the stone eyes scattered irregularly outside the seven stars became the eyes of the person and the Ao fish.

The steward looked at the drawing, then at the inkstone, and tapped his forehead in annoyance.

This natural inkstone with the meaning of "Kui Star points to the Dipper, dominating the Ao fish" was probably worth a sky-high price!

He tremblingly handed the drawing to Miss Yun Mu, then slumped to the ground.

After Chai Zhengzheng finished looking at the drawing, she raised her head and looked toward Xu Zaijing.

But she heard Xu Zaijing say to Hai Chaojie: "The meaning is excellent, but one still needs to work hard in studies, otherwise it is useless!"

I'm in so much pain from writer's block!

First post, then edit.

Thank you all for your votes and support!

Bowing again!

Thanks to book friend "Bu Na Me Tan" for the 12 monthly tickets.

Thanks to book friend "20190825125628161" for the 4 monthly tickets.

Thanks to book friend "Shui Yuan Huan Mie Jian" for the 4 monthly tickets.

No more tonight.

Good night, everyone.

If there are any typos or places that don't flow well, I hope respected readers will point them out!

(Heart)

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 284 =====

Minglan, who was to the side, said:

"Grandmother, you don't know, my cousin and the servant beside him are both incredibly capable!"

"These few items are what he helped Xiaotao and me win."

The Old Madam looked at Minglan and smiled: "Oh~ is that so? Let me see what you have."

Fang Mama and Cui Mama, who were to the side, both laughed as they watched Minglan and Xiaotao take out the shuttlecocks, grass-woven grasshoppers, and other small trinkets as if they were presenting treasures.

"But my cousin always wants to snatch my candied fruits to eat!"

"How old is he already? Why is he still acting like a child!"

After Minglan finished speaking,

Xiaotao nodded: "Mm-hmm!"

Then Xiaotao said: "Miss, that bag of candied fruits was won for us by the young master of the Xu family."

Minglan said: "Wasn't that the one I bought?"

Xiaotao said: "The bag you bought, Miss, was eaten by the Fifth Da Niangzi."

Minglan frowned: "Ah?"

In the courtyard of Shou'an Hall,

another burst of laughter rang out.

Xingguo Lane,

the young masters of the Gu and Qi noble houses both entered their respective gates.

After Qi Heng spoke with his parents for a while, he went into the study.

Buwei, the servant at the study entrance, was questioned in detail by the mama beside Princess Pingning.

Afterwards, that mama went to Princess Pingning's room and repeated the account in front of the Duke and Duchess of Qi:

"According to what that lad Buwei said, that inkstone is a natural masterpiece."

Listening to the mama's words, Princess Pingning's eyes lit up.

And at the Gu family,

Gu Tingyi, having changed into his casual home clothes, was sitting on an embroidered stool in front of Bai Shi and Pingmei, speaking in a low voice about the woman they had encountered at Pan Lou today.

"We didn't ask whose family she belonged to; it was Zaijing and the young master of the Rong family who went to handle it afterwards."

Gu Tingye, who was to the side, interjected:

"Looking at the two of them, there shouldn't be any issues."

After Bai Shi and Pingmei exchanged a glance, they said:

"That is only if no one with ulterior motives inquires; otherwise, it will be known sooner or later."

Gu Tingye was startled, thinking of those yamen runners at the time, who clearly recognized those ruffians.

"Yi'er, come, calculate the profits for these few shops."

Upon hearing the words of Da Niangzi Bai, Gu Tingyi

frowned as she looked at the stack of account books that Qingzhi had brought over.

She squeezed out a smile with difficulty,

and could no longer spare the energy to worry on behalf of others.

At the Rong family,

Marquis Marquis Fu Chang was laughing heartily while smoothing his handlebar mustache with one hand.

In his other hand, he held the Duan inkstone that Rong Xian had gifted him.

Da Niangzi Rong said with great gratification: "Xian'er, you have finally become sensible and know to bring gifts for your father."

"Yan'er, you are a young lady, why are you winning such a large bow and arrow!"

Rong Xian nodded as he heard his mother reprimanding his sister, and said:

"That's right! What a waste of money!"

Rong Feiyan took the teacup handed over by Seeing Xi Bu, blew on the steam, and said:

"Mother, my first requirement for choosing a husband in the future is that he must be able to draw this bow."

After Rong Feiyan finished speaking,

Marquis Marquis Fu Chang looked at the maid Ningxiang.

The thick bow arms were currently inside the bow case in her arms, and Marquis Marquis Fu Chang stopped laughing:

"This, such a powerful bow, how many people could possibly draw it!"

"I don't care!"

As she spoke, Rong Feiyan put down the teacup and rose to leave the room. As Seeing Xi Bu was draping her cloak over her,

Rong Feiyan said: "Father, Mother, today there were three or four hundred strings of silver notes in my brother's purse!"

Rong Xian stood up in a start, pointing at Rong Feiyan in panic as he said:

"Sister, you!"

"Hey, hey, hey! Mother, let go of my ear, listen to my explanation! I really didn't embezzle the family's money, it was, it was given to me by my sister in the palace!"

"Father, I kneel before you, please think of my good points! Don't whip me!"

"Ah!"

Walking out the door and hearing her brother's screams, Rong Feiyan curled her lip: her father didn't have that much strength, her brother was just good at feigning misery.

Arriving at Huixue Courtyard,

in the bedroom,

assisted by the maid, Rong Feiyan let down her hair and lay on the bed.

Just as Ningxiang turned to blow out the candle on the table,

"Wait!"

"Miss???"

"Leave it lit! Blow it out after I fall asleep! Put the sewing basket on that chair."

"Yes, Miss!"

After Ningxiang finished tidying up, she walked out of the inner room and slowly closed the bedroom door.

Rong Feiyan quietly lifted the quilt and stepped into the cotton slippers by the bed.

Wearing her white pajamas, she found the pincushion in the sewing basket.

The pincushion was plum-blossom shaped, tightly stuffed with cotton, and had a few fine needles Rong Feiyan used for practicing needlework stuck into it.

After placing the pincushion on the table, she turned back to retrieve the colorful dart that had previously been fixed to the bow case from the bed.

Then, after sticking the dart into the pincushion, she pointed at the dart and said:

"Hmph! Stay there by yourself!"

After speaking, she ran back to the bed and burrowed into the quilt.

Then, after turning over, she faced away from the table.

The room was quiet for a while,

with only the candle wick crackling twice,

and then,

after a rustling sound in the room, it was quiet again.

A quarter of an hour later, Ningxiang at the door listened for a moment before gently walking into the bedroom.

Walking to the table, there was nothing else on it but the lit candle.

The maid blew gently:

"Hoo!"

The room plunged into darkness.

At the Chai family,

Da Niangzi Chai was sitting at the table looking at the inkstone in her hand,

and then looked at the sketch drawn by the young master of the Hai family spread out on the table.

"Tsk tsk! Truly a good item!"

"Zhengzheng, did you bring this back intending to have the family artisans carve it and then send it to the Xu family?"

To the side, Chai Zhengzheng, who was removing her hairpins assisted by Miss Yun Mu, said:

"No. The young master of the Xu family didn't want it!"

Da Niangzi Chai raised her eyebrows slightly and asked playfully in disbelief: "Oh?"

Chai Zhengzheng looked at her mother in the bronze mirror and said:

"Mother, what kind of expression is that?! It's as if I'm lying!"

"Oh! My daughter isn't lying!"

Once these words were out, Chai Zhengzheng moved her head, Miss Yun Mu stopped her movements, and Chai Zhengzheng turned to look at Da Niangzi Chai and said:

"Mother! He saw through the pattern on it from the very beginning!"

"He didn't want it at all! If he really wanted it, he certainly wouldn't have spoken up to stop the young master of the Hai family from gambling, he would have just snatched it first and bought it at the original price!"

"If I hadn't been curious about what was on it, this good item would have been bought by someone else long ago."

"Moreover, I instructed the shop manager that the stack of paper sent to the Hai family was ninety percent top-grade Wu paper!"

"But, before we parted, I asked him, and he said, 'I will strive on my own, I have no need for this item.'"

Da Niangzi Chai nodded in appreciation and said with a smile:

"Mm! He is an ambitious one."

"However, your curiosity has actually turned up a treasure for the shop!"

"And that top-grade Wu paper is eight hundred wen a sheet, that stack you gave away..."

Chai Zhengzheng showed no sign of regret on her face, but pursed her lips and said:

"Mother, daughter was thinking, why don't we send this inkstone to the Qi family!"

Da Niangzi Chai looked at her daughter and said: "Mm? Why send it to the Qi family?"

Chai Zhengzheng said:

"Mother, I saw that the young master of the Xu family wasn't being falsely polite; he truly didn't want it."

"Previously, the Qi family helped our family, but the Qi family doesn't lack gold or silver, and our family can't help with their official career either."

"But, favors must be repaid in the end."

"Princess Pingning has always held high hopes for Heng'er's studies and imperial examinations; if she could obtain this item, she would certainly be happy."

Da Niangzi Chai looked at the inkstone in her hand, then looked at her daughter and said: "Really send it out?"

Chai Zhengzheng thought to herself, 'He doesn't want it, and I don't want it either!'

Then, she nodded.

Da Niangzi Chai nodded: "Good, we'll listen to my Zheng'er!"

Quyuanjie

Night,

in the cold wind,

unknown birds called out a few times.

The stove fire in the small hut by the racecourse was very strong.

The small wine pouch only needed two scoops from the wine jar to be filled.

Now it was lying on the water tank warming up.

The good dishes brought back by the disciple and nephew were also heating on the stove.

Yin Bo, the master of Xu Zaijing, walked outside the hut and shouted to Alan and Xunshu, who were spreading feed in the stables:

"Alright, come inside and warm up!"

The two youths entered the hut carrying the cold air, rubbing their hands.

Yin Bo filled their wooden wine bowls with wine.

The three of them drank a cup together.

All three let out a comfortable breath.

Yin Bo felt his waist and legs warm up after drinking, while the two youths felt the comfort of the hot wine in their bellies.

Watching the youths eat, Yin Bo took a sip from the wine pouch himself.

"My disciple is still the most filial!"

(End of chapter)