Since Liu Anlan passed away, Chunmei and Anhui were still young, so Liu Anjiang naturally became the eldest among the Liu family's children. Not to mention that he was a husband and a father, and his father was already old, so he knew very well that he was the eldest of the children.
This family has great responsibilities. He often supervises An Sheng's studies and often participates in his father's management.
It was the autumn of 1885. One day, Liu Anjiang came to discuss with his father: Dad, the land he bought early is still idle. It is a pity that it is better to build it into a garden. When you and your mother grow old, you can enjoy the garden there.
Relax, stay healthy, and enjoy your old age.
Liu Yong smiled and said: Your idea is very good. My father is just a businessman. Who knows about those garden buildings? If you don't do it, you must make it unique. If you don't do it well, you will be laughed at.
You are a scholar, you know what "poetry" and "artistic conception" are, but my father is a "rolling pin and blowing fire - he knows nothing". Use your brain more.
An Jiangdao: Dad is right. I have a good friend in Suzhou who specializes in creating gardens for others. You might as well invite him to take a look and come up with an overall plan first. After the general direction is determined, then implement it in stages.
Liu Yong said: That makes sense.
Liu Yong said again: Hey, there is also a problem with this place. When I bought this land, the land on the south border belonged to the banker. Three silver coins covered the entire land and his family would not sell it. Therefore, the main entrance on the south side was opened.
I can’t. I wonder if Feng Shui is good?
An Jiang smiled and said: Then please ask Feng Shui Master to come and take a look first, and then we can make some reasoning.
Liu Yong said: That makes sense.
...
Mr. Feng Shui took the compass and looked left and right. He smiled and said to Liu Yong, An Jiang said: This place is a treasure land of Feng Shui. It is adjacent to the Partridge River in the north. When this garden was built, it was surrounded by walls on the south and the door faced north. There was wind and water.
All the wealth is collected in it. If the north is surrounded by a wall, close to Partridge Creek, and the gate faces south, it will become a 'last-ditch battle'.
Liu Yong and Liu Anjiang were overjoyed after hearing this.
Liu Anjiang specially invited a construction engineer from Suzhou.
The construction engineer looked at the terrain on site, measured the actual dimensions, and put forward his own ideas:
The garden is centered on the lotus pond, with mountains and waters arranged according to the terrain, forming two gardens, the inner and outer gardens.
The inner garden is a garden within a garden, located in the southeast corner of the outer garden, with mountains as the main body. It imitates the meaning of "Mountain Journey" by Du Mu, a poet of the Tang Dynasty, with ponds planted and vines planted, and rocks stacked to form mountains. The mountain roads are winding, with green pines and red mountains in the middle.
There are maple trees, pine paths, and winding mountain roads, small and winding, just like a big bonsai. This garden is separated from the outer garden by a white wall and connected by a leaky window.
The outer garden is centered on the lotus pond, which is about ten acres wide. Pavilions and pavilions are dotted along the pond, and the scenery is different as you walk. Every May, the lotuses are in bud, and watching them in the rain is pleasing to the eye and refreshing.
The main building on the south bank of the lotus pond, the "Retreat Pavilion", is built near the pond. The host and guests face the lotus pond, admiring flowers and fish, sipping tea and reciting poems. Isn't it a kind of enjoyment? The creek corridor of this pavilion is connected to the "Yangxin Dezhai"
" is the owner's study. Because there are many plantains planted in the courtyard, it is also called "Panjiao Hall". On the outside of the north bank of the lotus pond is Partridge Creek. There are rockeries and dwarf bamboo berms along the creek. There is a hexagonal pavilion on the embankment.
There is a Western-style archway built at the east end. On the east bank of the lotus pond, there is the "Seventy-two Mandarin Duck Tower". On the south side, there is a century-old wisteria, which looks like a crouching dragon. The branches and leaves are dense and reach the top of the Wuqu Bridge. In the flower season, that is
Like purple ribbons hanging on the top of the bridge, it is so beautiful. It also means "purple air comes from the east".
A taller building is built on the west bank of the lotus pond. Every morning, you can see the rising sun in the east. It is called "Dongsheng Pavilion", which combines Chinese and Western styles. The interior is decorated with carved columns, a fireplace is used for heating, and the outer layer of the window is shaded by blinds, which is French style. The architectural style has a strong exotic flavor. There is also the "Jingxiang Poetry Cave" on the west bank, where the owner and the literati recited poems and sang for entertainment.
After hearing this, Liu Anjiang clapped his hands and exclaimed. He said: Imagine the abyss of artistic conception, as if I have walked in it. It is exactly what I wanted.
The builder added: Adjustments can be made during the construction process.
An Jiang added: Zhao Mengfu, a calligrapher and painter of the Yuan Dynasty, built Lotus Villa in Huzhou Prefecture, which was quite creative. My garden has ten acres of lotus ponds. I wonder how the original name of the garden is ‘Little Lotus Village’?
To build a teacher's way: it also makes. "Small" means modesty, so good.
The architect added: All the stones used are Taihu stones. Taihu stones are beautiful in shape and have the characteristics of being open, transparent, leaky and beautiful.
Liu Yong laughed and said: I am a yellow croaker. I don’t understand anything you are talking about. Haha.
The builder joked: Sir, you only care about paying for it and don’t worry about anything else. After it is built, just enjoy it.
Liu Yong smiled and said: Alas, I don’t know how long it will take to complete such a huge project. At my age, I still don’t know if I can survive until the completion.
An Jiang said with a smile: Hey, why did my father say such pessimistic words? Your kindness and virtue will definitely lead to a long life. Not only will you be able to see the garden completed, but you will also be able to enjoy your old age in it.
Liu Yong laughed and said: No one can live a hundred years. Long live Lord, people call him long live every day. Emperor Qianlong lived for more than 80 years, and the short-lived ones were only more than 30 years old. It is amazing that people can live to more than 70 years old. Yes. Haha.
The plan was agreed upon and a date was chosen to start construction.
The architect said: For such a huge project, there should be priorities. It is recommended to dig a pond and build a road first. Once the lotus pond takes shape, you can plant lotus roots first. In the spring, the pond will be full of lotus tips. In May, the lotus leaves will appear like big green jade plates. Pink lotuses sprouted from the pond, red and white. Isn’t that cute? There is construction next to the pond, so it’s no big deal.
An Jiangdao: What the construction master said makes sense.
...
The eighth day of the eleventh month of the lunar calendar that year was an auspicious day, and it was also the slack farming and dry season. Construction of the "Xiaolian Village" was officially started, which gradually diluted the Liu family's sorrow for losing their loved ones.
In the early morning, it was dawn. Liu Yong and Hong Ying brought Yanyan, An Jiang and Xiaoying to the construction site.
They lit red candles, placed pig heads and three lives, knelt down and thanked the land. Then they set off firecrackers, and hundreds of migrant workers started digging at the same time.
Liu Yong also distributed candies to the men, women, and children who were watching the fun, and also gave each migrant worker a reward. Everyone was extremely happy.
Xiao Chengqian took Yanyan's hand and asked: Mom, Mom, what are so many people doing?
Yanyan smiled and said: These uncles are helping my family build a house.
Cheng Qian said: Then when I grow up, I will build a big, big house so that my mother can live in a big, big house.
With tears in her eyes, Yanyan stroked little Chengqian's head and said, "My Chengqian is so good. As for you, you should study hard first and work as an official in the government office. Then, make a lot of money and give it to your mother." Build a big house, okay?
Chengqian said innocently: I don't want to be an official. If I am an official in the Yamen, I can't be with my mother every day. Unless my mother also accompanies me to the Yamen to be an official.
Yanyan really couldn't explain her feelings, the pain of losing her loved ones, and the fun that little guy Chengqian brought to her were intertwined... This chapter has been completed!