Chapter 175 Preparation (Additional update, thanks to Brother Luohua for the reward)
The donkey carried Zhou Xiaoshi, who was still talking nonsense, all the way back to Mahuang Lane. Jiang Yan didn't know where he lived and couldn't ignore it, so he could only take him back to Mahuang Lane.
Men were very popular in the Qing capital, and there were many scribes fighting in broad daylight under the flowers and trees. Such things would not be surprising.
The people of the Qing capital were very tolerant of absurd scribes. As long as you are in love with me, love should transcend gender.
But Zhou Xiaoshi was an exception. Seven out of ten scribes had a one-night stand with him, which had exceeded the limit of their acceptance.
After seeing Jiang Yan taking Zhou Xiaoshi with him, some old men squinted and took a sip.
"Damn it, I can't clean myself up even if I jump into the Yellow River now." Jiang Yan sighed helplessly.
Even Su Kou was very surprised when he saw Zhou Xiaoshi, and it took him most of the day to finally explain it clearly.
After all, although he had never met his parents, the couple got pregnant and gave birth to him, which proved that there was nothing wrong with him.
After Zhou Xiaoshi woke up, he was still in a low mood. After simply thanking him, he left Ephedra Alley.
As soon as he left, the ghostly Dao Ya poked his head out of the pig roasting yard and waved his little hand towards him.
Jiang Yan pushed open the door and walked into the pig-roasting yard. Even if Daoya didn't call him, he would still come to eat.
"Brother Jiang, I originally wanted to come yesterday, but grandpa said I was too young to go. He never said that before," Yaya said with her lips curled up.
Jiang Yan bowed and held Yaya in his arms. Jiang Yan had done this kind of thing before, but this time Master Dao snatched Yaya back from his arms and patted her with disgust.
clothes.
"Master Dao, have you misunderstood something?" Jiang Yan was speechless.
"No misunderstanding, all literati in the world are virtuous."
"He was drunk yesterday, and I didn't know where he lived, so I brought him back."
After explaining the cause and effect again and reassuring him again and again, Mr. Dao's expression softened a little.
"I heard that you are going to the Ehu Party"
Jiang Yan easily took out some meat from the stove and brought Master Dao's wine. After getting acquainted with each other, Jiang Yan regarded this place as his own canteen.
"Well, this time I want to come back with the number one in the Eight Prefectures."
"Promise me one thing." Mr. Dao looked at Jiang Yan seriously.
"You said, I will never refuse if I can do it."
"If you can become the master of the Wen Palace in the future, you will accept Yaya as your apprentice."
"I am the master of the palace from a foreigner? Are you kidding me?" Jiang Yan didn't take it seriously.
"Just tell me whether you agree or not."
Seeing that Jiang Yan's playful smile was not straight, Mr. Dao patted the butcher knife in his hand on the case.
"Promise, of course I have to agree after eating so much of your meat and drinking so much wine."
The old butcher sighed and sat on the steps a little decadently.
"I can tell that Yaya doesn't have the talent to be a scribe, but she is a talented butcher. If she wants to find a good family in the future, she must have a good background. Although your boy is poor, he is still reliable. He will be a good butcher in the future.
If you support her, you won't be afraid of being looked down upon."
Everyone else is undergoing special training in the Wen Mansion, and Jiang Yan himself is also waiting. There are many strong people at the Ehu Conference. If you want to make a splash and achieve success, you must be fully prepared.
Suddenly, a wooden bird in the sky hovered over Ephedra Alley, and finally slowly landed in the courtyard.
Jiang Yan clicked his tongue when he woke up in the morning. This wooden bird was made of fine workmanship and its body was streamlined. There was no clumsiness at all, especially since there was a hidden compartment on the back.
Opening the secret compartment, there was a letter and several bags. Jiang Yan took out the bag and took a look. He grabbed a handful of bright golden paint with his hand. The paint was so delicate that it could even flow through his fingertips.
This is exactly the pigment that Jiang Lu commissioned Lu Yufu to make using top-grade colored stones. Top-grade colored stones are rare spiritual objects in the world. They are extremely hard, and it is very time-consuming and labor-intensive to forge and grind them.
But besides the colored stones he handed to Lu Yufu, there was also an inkstone filled with black ink.
This inkstone is carved in the shape of two turtles sitting on the waves, and its texture is as delicate as a baby's skin. It can store water without drying up, survive cold weather, and is moisturizing. The ink inside can also smell of ambergris.
"What's this"
Jiang Yan was a little surprised. Could it be that Lu Yufu put it in by mistake?
After opening the letter, it was Lu Yufu's handwriting on it.
"My grandfather and I have left Lin'an City and returned to the Mo Mansion. Before leaving, we lived up to my brother's trust and spent two years developing the entrusted materials into pigments. Yu benefited a lot from it, so there is no need to mention the fee again.
The inkstone, called Chengni, comes from the hands of the skilled craftsmen of Mo Mansion.
The ink is also of extraordinary quality. It contains pine smoke, pearls, jade chips, dragon scales, and musk. It is made with the secret method of the Mo Mansion. It is breathed into grinding. I say it was given as a reward for my brother's praise."
Jiang Yan remembered the inscription he had made for the Dragon and Snake Seal before, and Zhou Mengde said that the craftsman wanted to see him. Could it be that he wanted to give him the inkstone and ink? Both of these are rare treasures in the world.
After putting everything in the bookcase, the wooden bird flapped its wings and left.
"Say thank you for me!" Jiang Yan shouted.
With these things, he has the confidence to fight. Now what he has to do is to prepare a painting for the Ehu Club that can shock the Eight Prefectures!
But before that, there was one thing he had not finished yet, which was the top-quality Five Clouds Quicksand Note obtained from the bandits' den in Mount Li.
In the past two years, he entrusted Fu Yueming to inquire more than once in Qingdu who had lost the Wuyun Quicksand Notes. However, after such a long time, he asked almost everyone he could ask, and no one admitted it.
Jiang Yan thought of Lu Daoxuan and found him directly after arriving at Wen Mansion.
Since Mr. Lu returned to Wenfu, his biggest hobby has been sunbathing, and sometimes he would sleep all day long.
"Mr. Lu, I brought back a top-quality Five Clouds Quicksand note from Lishan. I originally wanted to find the owner, but after two years of inquiry there was no news. Do you know his origin?"
Jiang Yan also lay down on the chair next to Lu Daoxuan very casually.
"No one came to claim it?" Lu Daoxuan also felt puzzled. This was a treasure in the eyes of the painter.
"Of course there are people who have claimed it falsely, but these people have never even seen this piece of paper, and they can't tell their characteristics at all. I have already dismissed them."
"That's strange." Lu Daoxuan pinched his beard.
"There are a lot of Five Clouds and Two Clouds and Three Clouds Papers on Quicksand Paper, but the top quality Five Clouds Papers are extremely rare. Only one piece appears every ten years, which is enough to deserve the title of the No. 1 drawing paper in Yuling Continent.
Moreover, almost all of these papers are stored in the Wen Mansion, and every piece of paper that is scattered outside can be traced back to its source. Logically speaking, it should not be difficult to find the owner, unless he himself does not want to admit it."
"Faced with such a treasure, why don't you want to admit it?"
An idea flashed in Jiang Yan's mind, and he suddenly thought of a possibility.
"Mr. Lu, the Lishan Treasure Room has collected a lot of calligraphy and paintings that are popular in the Qing Dynasty, and they are all in very good condition.
At that time, I guessed that the bandits in Lishan should be colluding with some big family forces in Qingdu, or Lishan was directly supported by them secretly. If you think in this direction, you should be able to understand.
These Five Clouds and Quicksand Notes were stored in the Lishan Treasure House for future use. They dare not claim them because they are afraid of exposing their identities!"
This was the only reason Jiang Yan could think of, and Lu Daoxuan also expressed his approval.
"If that's the case, then you can use it with confidence. If there is any problem in the future, I will take care of it for you."
"good"
"What are you going to draw?" Lu Daoxuan asked curiously.
"Since I'm going to attend the Ehu Festival, of course I have to paint a good painting." Jiang Yan smiled mysteriously.
"I'm assured of your painting skills, but before that, you come with me to appreciate a painting."