Maoyoufang

In the guest room of the back garden of Kuang Yifang, Jiang Maoyou arranged a quiet residence for Liang painter to recuperate from his illness, and took him back from Xiu Yuan to take care of him himself.

Painter Liang's real name is Liang Yan. When there was a dispute in Xiuyuan, it was Jiang Maoyou who took care of him, and the two got acquainted.Jiang Maoyou only knew that Liang Yan had once taken in a disciple named Shen Qian, but he lost contact for some reason.Liang Yan wandered alone in the rivers and lakes, and he was still alive at the age of 57 due to his illness.

On this day, Jiang Maoyou sent Liang Yan the clear soup and meals specially made by Qin Siyuan, and chatted with Liang Yan by the way, Liang Yan sat in front of the painting table and meditated on the newly made draft.Jiang Maoyou didn't bother him, and waited quietly in the outdoor pavilion with the food. Liang Yan accidentally turned his head and caught a glimpse of his figure before shouting: "Master Jiang, why are you waiting there quietly?"

"Liang Weng, it's time to eat." Jiang Maoyou smiled at the people and brought the food in.He set the table and chopsticks, as if he planned to stay and have dinner with Liang Yan, Liang Yan was helped to the dining table by him and took a seat.

Liang Yan sighed, and said: "Actually, the Jiang family doesn't need to take so much trouble to take me in to take care of me. I will let me fend for myself, and I won't blame anyone."

Jiang Maoyou looked at him with a gentle expression, and quietly held vegetables for him.

"Jiang Dangjia, in fact, what I keep in my hands now are all random works from the past, and I am afraid that they are not worth much if they are sold. Most of my calligraphy and paintings are not deliberately kept by my side. Most of them are given to friends, and some are taught to paint at will. Draft. But if you meet my apprentice Shen Qian someday, maybe he can come to my painting.” Liang Yan took a bite of vegetables, chewed a few times, and said breathlessly: “I’m not afraid to tell you , Shen Qian is very talented in imitation paintings, even engraving, but his own paintings are more ingenious, but he hates business, Shen Qian left because I sold imitation paintings that he didn't want to sell."

Jiang Maoyou was a little curious, and repeated the end of his words: "An imitation painting that you don't want to sell?"

Liang Yan nodded: "Yes. Jiang Dangjia is also a person with extraordinary knowledge. You should know that there are several levels of counterfeit products. Although they are also imitations, the real experts among them have complicated rules and many taboos. They cannot be compared with those who are not popular. .Different genres have their own characteristics, so that other insiders can detect the differences. Of course, laymen don’t know. In short, even if it is a copy, it must not be exactly the same as the original.”

"Well, I've heard of this, but I haven't thought that Liang Weng, you are also involved in this business."

Liang Yan laughed hoarsely, and said again: "I was a teacher when I was young. Later, I quit that job, paid some price and left. I also taught Shen Qian what I learned at that time, not much, but he I can comprehend the trick myself, and find a way to study it. The reason why Shen Qian is angry with the old man is because the painting is exactly the same as the original painting."

Jiang Maoyou himself began to move his chopsticks, nodding while eating. Liang Yan didn't care whether he cared or not, so he said: "That painting is the picture of Yunshan Rui'ai Immortal Residence of Shi Kun in the previous dynasty. He said that before There is an original work in the house, but it was burned in a fire, but I still remember it, so I took a photo as a souvenir. I...sell it as a last resort, just to preserve Shen Qian's hands."

"It seems that Liang Weng's apprentice is also a lover. It's quite stubborn to sell him a painting for so long."

Liang Yan smiled bitterly, coughed a few times weakly on the table, and simply buried his face in the shadows, complaining like a helpless child: "Master Jiang, I know you won't help me for no reason, my You can sell everything and do whatever you want. Although my Yujiang school was once famous, it has been lost for a long time without succession. If you can see Shen Qian, tell him, as a teacher, he will still sell the painting. It's worth changing his hands."

"Well, I will try to find Shen Qian."

"Master Jiang, Shen Qian's family is also a well-known family in the Yujiang area, but he does not rely on his family to make a living. It is difficult to find him, but if there is no chance, that's fine. Please burn my bones to ashes and sprinkle them on the Jingjiang River. Among them, one day I will be able to follow the flow of the Jingjiang River and return to my hometown, the Yujiang River.”

Jiang Maoyou chewed the very bland vegetables and rice, and responded after swallowing.

"I will. But there is one thing that Liang Weng said wrong..." He continued to eat and drink on the table, and Liang Yan remained motionless in the leaning position, and was already breathless.

Jiang Maoyou summoned a few disciples who had just come to learn art from the garden, and asked them to move Liang Yan into the willow coffin that he had bought long ago, and choose a day for cremation. , and even more puzzled by Jiang's strange behavior.Jiang Maoyou didn't bother to explain, and simply lied to those people, saying: "He is a distant relative who has come to seek refuge with me, so I should call him uncle. He is dying today, and he told me some things before he left. Uncles don't like me." Zhang Yang, don’t spread the word too far. After all, it’s a funeral, let’s set up a mourning hall in my backyard.”

Several disciples were dumbfounded. Their Jiang family attached so much importance to a distant relative who had little contact with each other, so they set up a mourning hall in their residence. Most people probably invited all the bones to the temple, and it was more convenient to invite people to cross over.But Jiang Maoyou said that there is no need to invite Buddhists and Taoists to come, he can recite the scriptures himself, and he needs to recite by himself.

This Jiang Maoyou is very cautious in doing business. Even if he knows that he hides a knife in his smile and a needle in his cotton, it is difficult to guess how deep his thoughts are buried.Those disciples gradually became a little in awe of Jiang Dangjia from being unfamiliar to him.This is how Jiang Maoyou leads people. No matter who is under his control, he will order people to do things, and he will never be polite or sloppy, so that they will know who is the master.

The people below are used to being manipulated by Jiang Maoyou, so they can naturally figure out his temper slowly.It's just that the human relationship is sophistication, it's for outsiders to see, and you don't talk about it behind closed doors, and you can understand that human relationship is nothing more than an exchange of benefits.

On the day of Liang Yan's death, Jiang Maoyou summoned a few Dongfeng from Kuangyifang. Dongfeng refers to artists who specialize in socializing with guests in the Jiaofang. Artists, who are the best at observing appearance, generally do not have a permanent residence in a specific teaching workshop, but they can also choose to be adopted by an independent teaching workshop.

There were eight Dongfengs like this in Kuang Yifang. They lined up and stood up. Jiang Maoyou took out a list and asked them to make preparations, and ordered: "In a few days, I want all the respectable people from Quan Fengdi to come and see me." Liang Yan’s calligraphy and paintings. You are in charge, remember, you must also send a post to Cui Ya Tang.”

The Dongfeng people nodded in response and quickly exited the back garden. Immediately afterwards, someone hurriedly crossed the small bridge to find a kabuki named Fang Chuan under Zhu Jinrong.He is not tall, about the same age as Jiang Maoyou, round and cute, very lovable.

"Fang Chuan, if you run in such a hurry, be careful not to fall into the water." Jiang Maoyou reminded him coldly, with a hint of a smile in his voice.

"Master, Master, I found it!"

"Find what?"

"No, no shot...Mr. Yu kidnapped him and locked him up. He was afraid of disturbing others, so he locked him in the small warehouse where the sundries are kept during dance practice."

"let's go."

In less than a moment, Jiang Maoyou followed Fang Chuan to Guan Wushe's warehouse. In addition, there were Yu Younian and other musicians.Zhu Jinrong was also present, and Fang Chuan had already been sent away by him.

Wushe sat on the ground in embarrassment, like a defeated dog, lowered his head and choked, "Everyone is here, let's do whatever you want!"

Yu Younian frowned tightly, gritted his teeth and said, "At this time, you are still stubborn, not to mention your own addiction to drugs, and you plan to drag other brothers who are like brothers into trouble, and now you dare to speak loudly to the Jiang family. Alright, this is—"

"Fucking brotherhood! Fuck you shitty brother! The business we do here is not noble, don't talk about brotherhood!"

Jiang Maoyou sneered, and the others were silent, listening to him nodding his head and saying yes: "Yes, yes, you are right, people are inherently selfish, and I don't bother anyone to pretend to be noble. The people gathered in Kuang Yifang People, open to see things and people's hearts clearly, and don't worry about yourself. However, selfishness must be balanced, a guy like you who will drag us into trouble... Zhong Lu, tell me what the rules are here."

The young man named Zhong Lu was a man in a long linen gown with a long face. He replied blankly: "If you endanger the people in Kuang Yi Fang, and the hair, skin and body may be damaged, even if you try, you will have to cut off your hands and feet as a sign." discipline."

After Wushe listened, the cold sweat caused by drug addiction became even more fierce.It's not that he doesn't know the rules, but he really can't stand the temptation of tobacco and drugs. The grass bought from outside the domain has such a charming fragrance after a special process. Wushe thinks it's not harmful, so he wants to give it to others to try. Try it, who knew that Jiang's family would make a fuss out of a molehill, and it was nothing more than...

"Yu Hu." That's what Jiang Maoyou yelled when he was unhappy. "I don't care about the trivial matters in the teaching workshop. I don't care about the low-status ones. I just care about you who take the lead. Now that something happened to your people, what do you do?"

Yu Younian stood in front to block Wushe, already holding a broken knife in his hand. "Nian Wushe is the first offender, and he will have to rely on those hands to make a living in the future, why not cut off his toes..."

Jiang Maoyou laughed: "Do you think you can bargain when picking meat in the vegetable market, only toes? You protect your weaknesses too much."

"That's not the case." Zhu Jinrong couldn't help robbing her, and answered for Yu Younian: "We are all artists, but we not only rely on performing arts to make a living, but also rely on this appearance. Even if it is not beautiful, we must always have complete hands and feet, so as not to To spoil the interest of the guests. If Wushe’s toe is chopped off, it will not hinder the eyes of the guests, but if he breaks his tendons or even chops off his legs... Wushe can only leave Kuang Yifang to beg.”

After listening to what the two gentlemen said, Wushe realized that the situation was indeed serious. She wept in horror and crawled to Yu Younian's feet, begging: "Mr. Yu, I, I can't be short of hands and feet. Bad-hearted, I was just confused for a while, I made bad friends by mistake, I will quit, I will quit smoking! Please, Mr. Jiang, I--I beg you to let me go this time, I will never dare to do it again! I dare not!"

Wu Sagittarius' hands and feet were tied, and regardless of his previous image, he crawled to Jiang Maoyou's feet crying, and the others also showed expressions of unbearable, but Jiang Maoyou looked down with a cold face and asked, "You can guarantee with your life that there will never be another These crooked thoughts are dragging down Kuang Yifang."

"No, no, never ever!"

"Well. Since Yu Hu and Zhu Jinrong interceded for you, I believe you this time. Next time, I don't want your hands and feet, understand?"

"I understand, I understand, I understand."

Jiang Maoyou turned his head to look at Yu Younian as if nothing had happened, and winked at Yu Younian. Yu Younian's whole body tensed up, forcing Jiang Maoyou to say, "Chop off two of his toes. He will not be allowed to enter Zhongyuan for two months."

Yu Younian held the knife, his sharp eyes could see his hands trembling, Zhu Jinrong also remained silent with a sullen face, Jiang Maoyou suddenly took the knife, and sighed: "Okay, after all, you have been together for a long time, and you have a master-student relationship, I don't care I will force you, Yu Hu."

Yu Younian thought that Jiang Maoyou was soft-hearted, so he turned around and said, "Thank you for being in charge---" Before he finished speaking, he heard Wushe screaming. Some people closed their eyes and dared not look at it, because Wushe had two toes taken by Jiang Maoyou. Even Yu Younian was stunned stupefied.

"I don't need to explain the rest." Jiang Maoyou threw the knife on the ground casually, and walked out of the warehouse in a leisurely manner. No one saw the moment he lowered the knife clearly.From the corner of her eyes, Zhu Jinrong saw that Wushe was twitching and screaming in pain, so she raised her voice, "Call the doctor! Go and call the doctor!"

In the middle of the night, the middle garden was busy, and the back garden had already set up a mourning hall, and it was dead silent.

"Maoyou, Maoyou?" Jiang Ziwu worriedly woke up Jiang Maoyou who was moaning non-stop on the bed. She tore open the quilt forcefully, only to see Jiang Maoyou shivering with his eyes closed.Jiang Maoyou slept wrapped in a few quilts, sweating all over his body, even his bangs were sticking to his temples with sweat, and his complexion was very bad.

Jiang Ziwu touched his forehead and was startled, "Why is it so hot, why didn't you tell me you had a fever?"

"No, no...it's nothing, I'll just sweat a little."

"I'm so anxious. Fortunately, we still have some fever-dispelling medicine in the room. Wait for me, and I'll make the medicine."

"Sister, don't go." Jiang Maoyou quickly grabbed Jiang Ziwu's hand, and she almost fell off the bed by her. Jiang Ziwu was startled again, and hurriedly helped him back to the bed and covered him with a quilt.

"You still have to take the medicine, or I'll get a clean towel to wipe your sweat, and I'll fry the medicine later."

Jiang Maoyou was so sick that his mind was dizzy, he just grabbed hold of his sister's elbow and leaned on her slightly fragrant shoulder.

"Usually you are strong and strong, but when you say you are sick, you become so sick. Oh, and you say that you are an adult." She first took the veil from her body and wiped his sweat, and then read a few more words with distress.

Their siblings are not weak, but as soon as Jiang Maoyou had a fever since childhood, it would be unexpectedly serious, delirious or talking nonsense, which made people nervous and worried.But as he himself said, as long as he keeps sweating and sleeps well, the next day will probably be much better.

"Could it be that Weng Liang passed on some disease to you?"

Hearing this, Jiang Maoyou smiled back at her with an ugly smile: "No. It was because I didn't pay attention and caught the wind and cold."

"Maoyou, I heard what happened during the day today."

"Um."

She sniffed, patted her younger brother's head and said, "You are the head of the family, you have to set an example, there is nothing you can do."

"Sister... just now I had a nightmare. There was a dark road. I couldn't see anything. I didn't know where I was going. It was very scary. Does Liang Weng want me to visit his private house?"

"Bah, what nonsense."

"Actually." Jiang Maoyou rubbed Jiang Ziwu's neck coquettishly, and said in a muffled voice, "I'm quite afraid of death. However, I'm also afraid of living. No matter how you think about it, it's bitter, but dying is worse than living, isn't it? But people are mortal, and there may be times when a good death can beat life.”

The more Jiang Ziwu listened, the more anxious he became, and he said angrily, "Jiang Maoyou, don't talk nonsense. There is no lamp on the road and sister will give you some light. You are too lazy to carry the lamp and sister will help you. Are you afraid of the dark when you are such a big man?"

"No."

Jiang Ziwu patted his forehead lightly to vent his anger.

"I'm afraid I don't have a sister."

"You are so clingy, people outside who know what you look like will probably die laughing."

Jiang Maoyou didn't care how she made fun of herself, she kept playing with her childish temper, and hugged her to act like a baby: "My sister is with me, I'm afraid of nightmares. I'm the closest to you, and I will do everything for you. You just love me this time." Bar."

"You."

"When I grow up, I won't be able to act like a spoiled child to you anymore. Sister, can you love me, you are the only family member left for me."

Jiang Ziwu suddenly had a sore nose, hugged him and coaxed him: "Stupid brother, lie down, I'll hum a song for you."

"Let me tell you first, I don't listen to mother's music."

"Got it."

After listening to the songs that the mother hummed, they would miss their relatives. Normally, even if they think about it, it is bitter and sweet, but this time it is too uncomfortable, so it is better not to hum the songs of the mother.

Jiang Ziwu hummed the melody, and sang in a lazy and steady voice: "Peach blossoms bloom in front of the house, the couple is happy to conceive, Ziwu and Maoyou, come into the world together..."

Jiang Maoyou frowned slightly, and the troublesome sister was talking nonsense again.It's playful, though, and the gloomy, oppressive feeling does seem to be a bit relieved.

Getting tired of being with his sister like this made him feel at ease as he did when he was a child.When he was bullied when he was young, his older sister would help him out. If he wanted to sneak out to play or not learn art, his older sister would stand up for him. They shared everything together, regardless of each other.

It's just that at some point, there was more or less a secret between them.Li Yumu intervened and lived in Jiang Ziwu's heart. Jiang Maoyou didn't want to care about it. Even if his sister had changed, he himself hadn't changed, so he still respected and loved his sister.It doesn't matter, as long as my sister doesn't disappear.

***

The next day, the artists who received the round tickets were invited to perform in various restaurants, teahouses, or the mansions of various lords and wives. Sometimes they worked for three or five days, and those who were rich could invite a group of people to leave Kuang Yi Fang for a whole day. More than a month.

Kuang Yi Fang does not accept round tickets for guests with bad reputations. In autumn, when things are busy, everyone looks for some entertainment after busy work, and life in Kuang Yi Fang naturally starts to become lively.However, in broad daylight, Kuang Yi Fang seemed to be quieter than usual, not only because it hadn't opened to make a living, but also because of Wushe's messy affairs, and Jiang Maoyou fell ill.

Jiang Maoyou's illness came and went quickly. As he said, he would recover the next day after sweating, but his physical strength would take a day or two to recover.Jiang Ziwu walked through the kitchen and asked him to drink some decoction. Qin Siyuan came to ask him, only to find out that he was ill, so he made him some refreshing porridge.

He took the porridge and wanted to find a gazebo to enjoy it, so he walked into the Zhongyuan, the sound of the piano and the singing came to his ears at the same time, and he listened comfortably in a small pavilion connected to the waterside pavilion.

It's Yu Younian's piano and Zhu Jinrong's song.

"The faint autumn water, thin and cool, hard to reach. The sword light is lonely and quiet, but it is not a mirror. The sword flower is bitter, and it shines on the body."

Jiang Maoyou thought of what happened the day before, and felt a little uncomfortable. He walked towards the direction of their music after taking a few sips of porridge.Not far away, the two of them could be seen in the water pavilion, one playing the piano and the other singing. After the song ended, the two looked at each other in silence, as if there was something communicating in their eyes.Afraid of disturbing them, Jiang Maoyou sat leaning against the railing in the corridor. Although he had no intention of snooping, he just understood their lips naturally.

"You want to speak for him?" It was Yu Younian who spoke first, and [-]% of the "he" he said was Jiang Maoyou.

"You and I both understand that he has his standpoint, and in fact he's not wrong."

"I'm not just blaming him for chopping off Wushe's foot."

Zhu Jinrong lowered her eyes and sighed: "This kid Maoyou is always trying to put on a bad face." He understood that Yu Younian was not only suffering because of the lack of shooting, but also felt sorry for Jiang Maoyou. He was angry and annoyed at Jiang Maoyou, and his heart was full of contradictions.

"To tell you the truth, I'm relieved that he took the initiative to enforce the law." Yu Younian's expression had recovered his composure, and his narrowed eyes looked at Zhu Jinrong, and said, "At this point, I can only let Maoyou play a bad face. I don’t want to feel guilty for him anymore. This is his own choice, and my guilt and conflict are superfluous.”

Zhu Jinrong's index finger lightly tapped on the sides of the sheet music, but there was no response.

"It's inevitable to have feelings after getting along for a long time. It's inevitable to have feelings, and it's inevitable to be sad and troublesome. Sigh."

"Younian, let me ask you."

"you say."

Zhu Jinrong raised her eyes and looked straight at Yu Younian, with a look of hesitation, and finally said: "You don't treat me like Maoyou, do you?"

"What about?"

"Although I know that your temperament is like this, and I am also a selfish person, but for a moment just now I felt that you were really ruthless to Maoyou. But if you think about it from another position, I am similar, but if... I mean I Treating you is different from treating Maoyou."

Yu Younian smiled and replied to him: "It's different in the first place. Maoyou is Maoyou, you are you, different people have differences in getting along with people with different positions."

Zhu Jinrong frowned, and complained displeasedly: "I am your bosom friend, but you are not mine. Why do I understand you better than you understand me..."

After Zhu Jinrong finished speaking, she began to sing.

"The two cranes come out of the Yunxi River, and fly separately. The empty nest is in the pine tree, and the feathers fall into the mud of the river. When you look for water, you don't drink it, and when you meet a forest, you don't live there. Parting is easy to grow old, and the two are miserable."

"Why are you singing such a sad song, deliberately making me more upset?" Yu Younian asked.

"Speak out of feelings, can't you sing?" Zhu Jinrong raised an eyebrow, he sang softly and slowly just now, and Yu Younian didn't disturb him, so he sang more vigorously.

Yu Younian got up with a smile or not, walked towards Zhu Jinrong and stretched out his hand to invite him, the latter took his hand and walked to the window to enjoy the autumn wind.

"It's hard to find a bosom friend, I will definitely cherish it."

Zhu Jinrong revealed a face of disapproval, but kept her face away and snickered.

"If you don't get a wife in the future, why don't we just live like this for the rest of our lives."

"what?"

Yu Younian smiled at Zhu Jinrong's stunned expression, and said in a heavy voice, "I mean, if we both have no companionship, we might as well live together in the future, so that we can have someone to take care of when we get old. No matter who leaves first, the property will be left to the rest. In this way, the person who goes first needn’t worry, and the person who walks slowly will live well.”

Zhu Jinrong squinted her pretty star eyes, and asked suspiciously: "What if you murder me? Why should I leave property to the person who murdered me?"

Yu Younian shook his head and smiled wryly: "I won't do that kind of unrefined thing."

"But you, why did you suddenly say this? Didn't you just argue with Maoyou a few days ago that we have no ambiguity, and you will be misunderstood if you say so."

"...Mayou told you? It's a misunderstanding. If you don't say it, who will misunderstand it? Misunderstanding what?"

Zhu Jinrong's face turned red suddenly, she swallowed her saliva and said, "I misunderstood you!"

"Let them misunderstand."

"Then if I really like you, would you still want to spend the rest of my life with me?"

Yu Younian stared blankly at Zhu Jinrong's forehead slanted behind.

"I mean, if, if I really like you, would you still be willing to—"

"willing."

This time Zhu Jinrong was frightened, thinking it was just an auditory hallucination, but he listened carefully, and turned around to find Yu Younian showing a very gentle smile to him.

Not far away, Jiang Maoyou almost fell into the water. He was dumbfounded. Although he didn't hear it with his own ears, he almost saw it with his own eyes.Such a coquettish guy like Yu Younian actually took the initiative to grab Zhu Jinrong's hand, but the day before yesterday he sternly argued that they were just bosom friends!

As the saying goes, the cat that seems to be the most obedient is the one who jumps into the stove first, but Jiang Maoyou doesn't care whether they are ambiguous or not, but seeing the two promise to take care of each other for the rest of their lives, Jiang Maoyou suddenly felt a little strange, then This slightly warm and dizzy feeling should not be that he is about to have a fever again.

"I... am I envious?" Jiang Maoyou walked back alone, laughing silently.This is really a special feeling. Envy is because you want to have something that you don't have. Thinking about it this way, Jiang Maoyou can't figure out what he wants.

He didn't want a confidant, and friends were mutual benefits for him, so he didn't want to make a special friend.It seems that there is still an empty place in his heart, which has not been filled by the things he used to live.Something other than profit?

"Could it be ambiguous?" Jiang Maoyou frowned. He doesn't like ambiguity. He can manipulate others to have ambiguous feelings for him, but his own feelings about outsiders and things are clear. .If you don't like it, you don't like it, if you hate it, you hate it. If you understand your likes and dislikes, you won't get lost easily when you come to acting.

Jiang Maoyou Xiaoli beat his chest, trying to get rid of that strange feeling, either uncomfortable or comfortable, or too much to worry about.

"Painting, yes, there is still painting." He walked out talking to himself, passing a Dongfang in front of him, he raised his voice and shouted: "Come here and help me prepare some things, I'm going to visit some regular customers."

"OK."