There is a god in the sky

Chapter 90 The Arson Case at the Yu Mansion (Part 11)

After finishing his meal, the old gentleman went to the kitchen to look at the Dongpo pork.

This dish is not easy for the average person to make well, but Shen Lan is particular about food and has done a lot of research on Dongpo pork.

After covering the pot with the lid, the old man went out satisfied and said to the two men, "Tell me, what brings you here?"

The paintings of Rongshan Jushi are world-renowned, making him the most famous painter in the Daxi Dynasty.

But he suddenly disappeared three years ago, and Xiao Ji learned of his whereabouts from Prefect Song.

"I've come to visit today to ask you something, sir."

The old man looked surprised. "You've come to ask about something, not to request calligraphy or paintings?"

Many people came looking for him, even though he had kept a low profile and lived like a farmer, some people were still well-informed.

His calligraphy and paintings are priceless, and he doesn't sell them; he gives them away entirely based on his mood.

He was in a good mood today, and he could have painted a picture for Xiao Ji if he had just asked.

Xiao Ji shook his head, "I am not such a refined person. Your calligraphy and painting are masterpieces, and I am not worthy to appreciate them."

Rongshan Jushi paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, laughing so hard he couldn't straighten up.

"Hahaha... Kid, you're the first person to say that! You actually think my calligraphy and painting are bad!"

What doesn't deserve appreciation is simply that one doesn't want to appreciate it.

He patted his bottom, sat down, and said with a smile, "Okay, whatever you ask today, I'll answer to the best of my knowledge."

"I remember you had a famous painting called 'Aoki Landscape,' but was it painted in Aoki Prefecture?"

"Yes, I traveled all over Aoki Prefecture for that painting."

Upon hearing the words "Qingmu County," Shen Lan slowly walked to their side.

She roughly understood Xiao Ji's purpose in coming, but would he have any information she wanted to know?

“I remember the painting was dated the eighth year of the Hongyuan era. You were in Aoki Prefecture that year, sir?”

"What? Could it be that the parents of the child I found in Aoki Prefecture have come looking for me?"

The old man looked at his grandson Yang Feng, the child he had taken in from Aoki Prefecture.

"No, I wanted to ask if the old gentleman still remembers this place, Guli Town."

"If a small town doesn't have any special scenery, why would I remember it?"

Shen Lan anxiously said from the side, "No, there is a small river outside Guli Town. That river flows down from the mountain and has a very beautiful waterfall."

The old gentleman paused, then suddenly got up and went back into the house, where he pulled out a painting from a pile of works.

He unfolded it for Shen Lan to see, "Is this the place you're talking about?"

Shen Lan was stunned at first glance.

It was her hometown, the place that appeared repeatedly in her dreams.

Her eyes welled up with tears as she reached out to touch the town in the painting.

What a realistic painting.

Those houses and fields, with farmers working in the fields, children playing by the fields, children fishing in the river, and people walking on the streets.

Shen Lan even found the Shen family's pharmacy and drew out its signboard.

Although there were no words on the sign, it was a design she made when she was a child. Her family unanimously approved it, and later the embroiderer embroidered it and hung it outside the shop.

"Guri Town, what a pity..." the old man sighed.

Shen Lan's gaze lingered on the painting. Hearing his words, she suddenly looked up and asked, "What do you mean by that, sir?"

Does he know something?

"That year, I was doing fieldwork in Aoki Prefecture. I fell in love with this town at first sight and painted this picture."

Later, I traveled all over Aoki Prefecture, hoping to go back to the town one last time, but alas... the place was destroyed.

He noticed Shen Lan's unusual behavior and asked curiously, "Girl, are you from Guli Town?"

"Yes, it is." Shen Lan nodded in acknowledgment.

"Then you are lucky. There are probably fewer people who survived in that small town than the fingers on one hand."

Do you know anything else?

Xiao Ji brought her here, so he must know something about it.

The old man recalled calmly, “I never get involved in official matters. That year in Qingmu County, Magistrate Liu visited me several times, wanting to ask for a word, the word ‘longevity,’ but I did not agree.”

Because of this incident, he detained me at the government office for several days, but later, because I refused to write anything, he had no choice but to release me.

Shen Lan asked expectantly, "Did he ever mention Guli Town when you were in office?"

She was very puzzled. At that time, Qingmu County was suffering from both floods and plagues. How could Liu Engui have the leisure to ask for calligraphy and paintings?

Who is the "longevity" character meant to be given to?

Judging from how much he values ​​this, he must be an extraordinary person.

The old man didn't take the matter too seriously; if he hadn't remembered the place, he would have forgotten about it from ten years ago.

But if I think about it carefully, I can still remember some things.

He said, "I remember that when Magistrate Liu received a special person, who said that he was sent by his mentor. He was very arrogant and had a lot of official airs. I refused to write anything because I didn't like them."

Xiao Ji didn't know who Liu Engui's mentor was, but it wasn't difficult to find out.

"At that time, Guli Town was ravaged by plague, so why would you still think of going there?"

The old man shook his head: "You don't understand. The best scenery to paint is the myriad aspects of life. The town after the plague and the town before the plague are worlds apart. I want to paint it."

He lamented, "Unfortunately, I burned that painting because I thought it was unlucky. It was from that time that I became indifferent to fame and fortune and decided to live a secluded life."

Xiao Ji only saw the wilderness ten years later. He could not imagine how miserable Guli Town was when it was first destroyed!

If Shen Lan was a child who escaped from such a hell, then it would not be surprising that she picked up and dissected corpses at the age of eight.

Because she had seen far more terrifying things.

"Mr. Yang, could you give me this painting? You can sell it to me too." Shen Lan was reluctant to return the painting.

The old man snorted coldly, "My paintings are not for sale."

Shen Lan's eyes showed disappointment.

Then he said, "The dishes you made today are very much to my liking. Here's what we'll do: you cook for me for three days, and I'll give you the painting for free."

Shen Lan nodded vigorously, "Okay! It's a deal!"

The old man took Xiao Ji away and continued playing the game of chess that he hadn't finished.

Shen Lan put the painting away and went to the kitchen to prepare the ingredients for dinner.

Since she was going to pay for the painting, she had to show some real skill.

Besides the braised pork that was still simmering, Shen Lan was also preparing to cook three other dishes, this time Fujian cuisine.

After simmering the duck soup, Shen Lan, seeing that there was still time, prepared to copy a painting.

She asked Yang Feng for paper and a pen, sat in the courtyard, spread the paper on the bluestone slab, and began to draw.

The other three people's attention was drawn to her, and they gathered around to watch Shen Lan paint.

“Girl, I’m lending you the table and chairs, but there’s no need to be so casual…”

Shen Lan said without looking up, "The sunlight is just right; the lighting is even better for painting in the courtyard."

She is good at sketching and usually uses charcoal as a pencil, but charcoal drawing is easy to smudge, so she also learned to draw with a brush.

Xiao Ji was surprised that although her calligraphy was poor, her painting was excellent.