The Moon Over Tang Dynasty

Chapter 28: Little devil is difficult to deal with and big talk is a famous poem

Four-color flower clips are lined up on the largest table in the store: gorgeous and plump plum blossoms with pearls, elegant and simple water lotuses, complex and delicate twining chrysanthemums, and unique and stretched curly orchids. The patterns are all It is rare and novel and beautiful, and the dyed colors, whether it is the strong contrast between vermilion and blue, the elegant blend of lotus root and goose yellow, or the fine gold and silver that flash like quicksand, are even more irresistible. Eye.

The maidservant who was still wearing a yellow shirt had an arrogant face, but when the four-color valerian was spread out one by one, her eyes could not help but stick to it, until the shopkeeper smiled and asked, "I wonder what I think, Madam?", she Only then did he wake up, snorted, and his proud look returned to his face: "It's just barely used!"

 There was a sudden roar all around. The maid in yellow robes glanced around and unexpectedly discovered that many people were already standing inside and outside the shop. They were pointing at the four-color valerian. Someone's voice was a little louder and they could be heard talking, "This is just..." It's barely usable, I don't know what this store usually uses..." She felt slightly annoyed and glared at Shopkeeper Shi, "When did so many people come here?"

Shopkeeper Shi said with a smile: "When you open a shop to welcome guests, all the guests will come." When he saw the maid, he moved the largest table to a bright place near the door of the shop, and spread all the four clamps. It's very open, just to attract more people to see it, but I didn't expect the effect to be really good.

The maid in yellow shirt originally wanted to criticize a few more words, but she couldn't say more when people were talking about her like this. She frowned and waved her hands. The two maids behind her hurriedly stepped forward, carefully put away their wallets, and hugged On top of the carriage. Immediately, someone asked: "Seller, do you still have the four-color valerian in stock? I also want to order a plum blossom one."

The maid in yellow gave the speaker a cold look, then turned to look at the shopkeeper and said: "My wife has an urgent use for this four-color valerian, and she is not allowed to sell it to anyone else!"

Shopkeeper Shi smiled and nodded, "I will obey my order, but in this case, the price of these four horses will not be calculated as high-quality, but top-quality ones, and they will cost two dollars each." As he said this, he pointed at the wall. Show this maid a new price list. He had already anticipated this, and happened to have the valerian screen from the last hunting trip, so he simply added a "special product" column to the store's price list, costing 2,000 yuan per horse, and reported it ten days ago. The mayor is there. Otherwise, according to city regulations, if you don't collect money according to the clearly marked price, you will be punished if you report it to the city mayor.

The maid in yellow shirt was startled, glanced at Shopkeeper Shi, and sneered: "Are you afraid that my wife can't afford it?"

Shopkeeper Shi shook his head and said: "I don't dare. Your mansion rewarded the shop with hardware. After paying for these four horses, there is still a full two thousand and four hundred yuan. I just said it so that the young lady knows what to do."

The maidservant in yellow frowned. She felt that if she continued to talk to Hu Shang, who was always talking about settling accounts, she would smell like copper. She said impatiently: "Where is your painter? My wife still has some instructions for her!"

Liuli had been standing behind the curtain listening to the noise. When she heard the maid mentioning herself, she couldn't help but feel nervous. She hurriedly opened the curtain and walked out, smiling in greeting. But the maid said without raising her eyes: "Why is the painter so noble today? If he refuses to show his face without asking?"

Liuli knew that she felt she was being treated lightly, so she could only smile and said: "Sister, I don't know something. Ever since Madam ordered me not to draw pictures for others, Liuli took it to heart, because some familiar guests asked me to draw pictures by name. It's hard to shirk it, Liuli hasn't even been to the store these days. She just came here because she thought she might be asked to do it when she came to get the valerian, and it wasn't easy for others to see her, so she just waited for her sister in the back. Please forgive me for any disrespect."

The anger on the face of the maidservant in yellow slowly faded away, but she still said coldly: "Why can't you say it? Is it possible that by painting my wife, I will lose your face?"

Liuli smiled and said: "No, it is Liuli's honor to serve Madam. However, Liuli is just a small painter. There are quite a few officials who asked for Liuli's paintings. Liuli has little knowledge and doesn't know. I have no choice but to use this stupid method to tell my wife’s instructions. If my sister thinks it’s okay, I’ll tell you later.”

The maid in yellow shirt said casually: "It's obvious that it's true, so what's the harm?" The look in Liuli's eyes was no longer picky and angry, but full of undisguised contempt. Is my wife afraid that people will know when she buys you a few tricks?

Liuli nodded and smiled, thinking: I finally know how your wife and her queen daughter died. They died of stupidity! The emperor's beloved concubine was wearing a fresh gauze dress, and you turned around to get something similar, but you didn't allow that shop to make it for others. Isn't this a very honorable thing? It's not enough to do the open fire battle, but you can openly let others say... Well, you are not afraid, what should I be afraid of?

The maidservant then said calmly: "You are pretty good at the four-color valerian work. My wife loves talents. She once said that if you are willing to come to the Wang family, you will be the housekeeper's wife. This is something you can't ask for in several lifetimes." Decent. The food and clothing expenses of our wife, the steward of the Wang family, are unmatched by the wives of ordinary officials! If you are willing, I can help you to ask for her help." After saying this, he looked at Liuli sideways. , as if you haven’t come begging me quickly.

Liuli sighed inwardly, stood up and solemnly blessed her, "Liuli, thank you madam for your love, and thank you sister for your kindness. But my father's reputation is the most important thing for me. It's unfilial for Liuli to do a lowly job just to make a living. I don't dare to join the family for wealth anymore." "Sister, if Madam gives you orders, Liuli will serve her wholeheartedly and will never slack off." The maid in yellow shirt looked at Liuli and nodded with a sneer after a while: "You are really ambitious, Madam has given you orders!" "I want to make another piece of red silk with colorful flowers and a piece of green silk from Chang'an bamboo to make eight skirts. I will come to pick it up next month." After saying that, he sneered a few times and walked away.

Liuli stood up straight, feeling a lump in her chest. After several years of training, she had already learned to lower her head and survive, but she was looked at with this "shameless" look every now and then. The clay figurine also has anger coming out. She returned to the studio dejectedly, unfolded the painting "Moonlight Night on the Spring River", and sighed. They said that life is endless from generation to generation, and the river and moon are only similar every year. However, who knows which generation looks at the river and moon. What a different life do people have? And the person who promised to help her write this poem doesn’t know why he hasn’t shown up yet...

Fortunately, within two days, as soon as she arrived at Ruyijia Vale, shopkeeper Shi smiled and pointed behind her, "Madam, she came a little late today, and Pei Jiulang has already been waiting for a cup of tea. "Liu Li felt happy and quickly walked into the backyard. As soon as the curtain was lifted, a familiar slender figure was seen standing with his back to the courtyard door. The breeze blew his light blue turban and robe corners, but made the figure look even more calm.

Probably hearing Liuli's footsteps, Pei Xingjian quickly turned around, smiled and cupped his hands, "I'm sorry, because Linyi State in the south is going to be a tribute in a few days, Pei has been unable to get away these days, so he came today. , I kept you waiting for a long time.”

 Is there a country that wants to sacrifice an elephant? This is a big event that requires careful preparation. Liuli smiled and returned the greeting, "No, Mr. Pei has important business matters. I should apologize for bothering you to come over despite your busy schedule."

Pei Xingjian’s smile deepened, “Madam is so polite.”

Liuli smiled and said nothing, thinking: Hypocrisy, I didn’t learn this from you! But Pei Xingjian seemed to have heard these words, looked at him with a smile, and immediately did not dare to criticize anymore.

 The two of them walked into the studio, and Liuli unfolded the painting "Spring River Flowers and Moonlight Night" on the desk. Pei Xingjian lowered his head and stared at the painting, and then asked in a low voice for a while, "What is the name of this painting?" Hearing Liuli say the words "Spring River Flower Moonlight Night", he looked up at her strangely: "The Palace of Empress Chen" How can the name of the style be worthy of this painting?”

Does "Spring River Flower Moonlight Night" have anything to do with the infamous Empress Chen? Liuli couldn't help but feel confused. Then she thought, Pei Xingjian was much more educated than she was, so he shouldn't be wrong. She could only sigh and handed Pei Xingjian the half-length poem that she had copied a long time ago, "This painting has nothing to do with Empress Chen. It is just called "Spring River with Flowers and Moonlight Night" because of the poem."

"The tide of the spring river reaches the level of the sea, and the bright moon rises together on the sea. It floats with the waves for thousands of miles, but there is no moon in the spring river. There is no dust in the river and sky, and there is only a moon wheel in the bright sky. Who by the river sees the moon for the first time? When does the moon in the river first appear? "Illuminating people?" Life has been endless from generation to generation, and the river and moon are only similar every year. I don't know who the river and the moon are waiting for, but I can only see the flowing water of the Yangtze River. "There are twelve lines in total, which are all the poems that Liuli is sure to write correctly. Fortunately, she can't write them wrong. Reading it myself, I didn’t feel confused at all.

Pei Xingjian didn't seem to think there was anything wrong. He read it in a low voice. After finishing it, he read it again from the beginning. Then he put down the paper and looked at Liuli blankly, "Did you write this poem?"

Liuli shook her head quickly. She still had some self-awareness. With the little money she had in her belly, it was better for her to pretend to be a talented woman than to pretend to be a magician. "Of course not. This is what I heard from people on the Qujiang River a few years ago." The name "Spring River Flowers and Moonlight Night" was also said by the singer, and he didn't know who wrote it. The song was very long, and Liuli only remembered these few lines, but every time he thought of these lines, he would have these words in his mind. The picture was simply drawn.”

Pei Xingjian looked at her without saying a word. His eyes suddenly became extremely clear and sharp. Liuli had nothing to feel guilty about. She looked up at him and said with a smile, "Does Mr. Pei doubt that I can write such a poem?"

Pei Xingjian withdrew his gaze, raised his eyebrows and smiled, "The poem is naturally good, but even if there is no such poem, the painting is also excellent. It is Pei's honor to be able to inscribe this painting."

 (End of this chapter)