Ink Burns

Chapter 26 Clean Room

Zhou Liniang was so frightened that she shuddered unconsciously, her mouth opened, and she burst into tears: How terrible! In this life, my brains are mixed together! In the next life, they will be mixed together again! She has been doing good deeds for half her life, why is her life so miserable!

Wow wow wow——

In the quiet morning, like an old sheep whose nest was poked.

Shan Yue frowned, "Don't cry. Your lover can't take care of things, so it's better to be gone. When the matter of the Cheng family is settled, I will compensate you with a more beautiful one."

To find a handsome man, I still have to rely on Master Sun Wu. I need to draw at least five more master plates for trading.

Shanyue was thinking in his mind.

Zhou Liniang paused and cried even louder.

Even though she cried, she still got the job done with great caution. After noon, Zhou Liniang made the excuse of going home, and Chuihuamen did not ask too many questions - why bother to guard against a discarded pawn with such a strong defense?

After just an hour, Zhou Liniang came back on tiptoe and said to Shanyue tremblingly, "I've given you the things. The waiter at the silk shop asked you to wait a little. He will reply in four or five days at most."

Before Shanyue could say anything, Zhou Liniang ran away like the wind, fearing that if she stayed any longer, their brains would become entangled with each other.

After evening, as Shanyue expected, Cheng Xinghe arrived earlier than the old woman who came to drive people away. He had a gentle face like a spring breeze blowing on the river bank, but considering the difference between men and women, he very gentlemanly made an appointment with Shanyue in the pavilion in the back room. He behaved modestly, but was only concerned about the progress of the painting.

Shan Yue lowered her eyes and pursed her lips, her breath weak and hesitant: "I haven't decided what to paint yet. I've always been the best at painting the paintings that Mi An wants from the four great families. I'll use a fine brush to paint green and blue landscapes on small scenes. There are many steps involved, such as cutting paper, moistening the brush, grinding the color, mixing the colors, and drying in the shade. If I were the only one, five days would not be enough. If I can't paint well, it's better not to paint. It would only bring shame to the Cheng family."

Cheng Xinghe frowned slightly: "Where is that Sichuan woman? She won't help?"

Shan Yue shook her head like a rattle and answered honestly: "She can't do it. She has always only taken care of my food and clothing. Yu Danqing knows nothing and can't help."

Cheng Xinghe thought about it and it seemed to make sense: famous people usually have four or five painting boys around them, who do paperweights, ink lickers, fan paintings, and frame paintings. How about hiring another one? It's a small matter. The value of the refugees from the north has dropped to eight coins of silver for a good-looking maid, which is only the price of half a bowl of crab noodles.

It's just buying a person, training him takes time, let alone something like painting which requires expertise?

Wait, isn’t there a ready-made candidate still in the inner house?

Cheng Xinghe made the final decision: "Madam Zhou, please don't go out for the time being. I will help you."

After a pause, she said, "Just help you when you paint. Don't tell her anything more. The marriage hanging in front of your head is beyond the reach of many people. If she develops inappropriate emotions out of jealousy, you, Yu Yueniang, and the Yu Cheng family will be like explosives." Shan Yue nodded repeatedly, raised her head, and faced the moonlight that was like silk. Her eyes were as heavy as water, and there was a little bit of dependence and gratitude in her voice: "Thank you for your mercy, young master."

Cheng Xinghe pursed his lips and smiled: "You should call me cousin."

Shan Yue's cheeks immediately flushed.

Cheng Xinghe found it amusing: little girls are the easiest to coax, especially those of a humble origin and those who have never seen the world. A few sweet words can coax even the toughest girl into a state of confusion. It is much more cost-effective to make a little girl happy than to use real money to control her family, and it is more long-lasting and effective.

There were at least 16 girls sent out from the Cheng family. He used tricks to take advantage of the young girls when they were just beginning to fall in love. He sent them flowers in spring, ice in summer, and warmth in the coldest days of winter. He was considerate and thorough.
When these women left the Cheng family and sent letters back, in addition to the necessary information, they would often write a separate page to say "How is the young master?" "How is the young master?" "Three parts of water are warm and three parts of love, the boat sails away and the song is sung."
Those women always answered all his questions and granted all his requests.

This move of his has always been carried forward and opened up new prospects for the future, like clouds sailing across the vast ocean.

These girls of humble origins are simply stupid to the extreme.

Cheng Xingyu still had a decent and modest smile on his face. Seeing He Shanyue's eyes were lively and soft like water waves, he knew that this woman had taken the bait, so he lowered his voice even more: "Dad's original intention was to ask you to finish your painting and get a clear pass from the old man before moving into Qunfang Garden. I think it's inappropriate. The back room is full of people of all kinds and it's noisy, which is not good for your painting. So I decided to ask someone to clean up Cui Niang's room for you, and you can move in tomorrow-"

Cheng Xinghe smiled happily, "It's not a very good place to live, but it's definitely much better than the back room. It's a connected suite with a flower gallery, a dressing table, an eight-immortal bed, and an enameled brass mirror. It's also much quieter. Only a noble place can raise a noble girl. After she leaves the Cheng family, she won't be embarrassed in her son-in-law's house."

Shan Yue looked extremely excited, but after a moment he suppressed his excitement and said hesitantly in a weak voice, "You kept Miss Zhou without permission and asked me to move to a better place in advance. Will the master scold you?"

Cheng Xinghe smiled dignifiedly under the moonlight: "Why scold? It's all for the good of the Cheng family. As a son, I always have to fill in the gaps that my father didn't think of. My father is old, and his legs and feet are not convenient these years. As he gets heavier, his temper is getting worse. Not only to you, but also to many people. He has a bad temper - don't be afraid, Yue Niang."

Shan Yue shyly glanced aside, lowered her head and nodded slightly.

What Cheng Xinghe said was true, and he acted very quickly. He left Zhou Liniang's instructions and passed on the news that Shanyue had moved to the inner courtyard. Shanyue entered the Qunfang Garden and found that the room had been tidied up. There were several glazed porcelain vases of good quality on the shelves.

Miss Wang Er reached out to take it, but couldn't.

Shan Yue said indifferently, "The bottom is sealed with glue. This camp is permanent, but the girls are always changing. The things on the museum shelf are all old actors supporting the scene. If they are stolen or broken, wouldn't it be a loss?"

Miss Wang Er was unconvinced and tried to pry open the bottom of the bottle. After she finished, she cursed: "Damn it! They can't even protect against thieves like this!" After cursing, she went to the inner room and saw that the bedding on the Eight Immortals Bed was soft and the quilt cover was clean. Only then did she feel relieved: "It's okay. At least it's clean."

Shan Yue sniffed the air, which was filled with a faint smell of incense and alcohol. He smiled and said, "It must be clean. Who knows where Cui Niang's blood splashed before? - Before letting us move in, shouldn't we clean it up inside and out?"

(End of this chapter)