Healed (repaired)
In my memory, it was when I was seven years old that my mother often took me to a secluded painting studio hidden away from the world.
She still remembers that to find the painting studio, she had to walk through several streets and alleys before finally finding the depths of an unnamed alley. But if she went deeper into the alley, she would find a hidden paradise.
The academy's courtyard is serene and quiet, with lush bamboo planted in front of the gate and the air filled with the fragrance of ink. It is completely unlike the hustle and bustle of the streets, and instead gives one the feeling of accidentally entering a fairyland in the mortal world.
Gu Baosheng became famous at a young age, but he lived alone here. In his spare time, he planted some flowers and plants. When he was in a good mood, he would pack his bags and go out to travel. When he ran out of money for food, he would paint a couple of works and hang them in the courtyard to sell.
The huge courtyard was unguarded, and the calligraphy and paintings hanging everywhere depended entirely on the guests' willingness to give some money.
At that time, Liang Shuangyu was obsessed with calligraphy and painting, and after much searching, she finally got to know Gu Baosheng. Whenever she came here, she would stroll around the courtyard, carefully hold the young Lin Xu's hand, and lead her to sit quietly in the hall to watch Gu Baosheng splash ink and create another masterpiece in an instant.
Although Lin Xu was young at the time, he remembered the gentle yet complex look in his mother's eyes when she looked at those paintings and calligraphy. Although his mother was always very gentle in her dealings with people and things, it seemed that her eyes always shone brightly when she saw those paintings and calligraphy.
Although she didn't understand much at the time, she saw everything very clearly.
So even though her mother had passed away many years ago, when she saw that painting again, she still couldn't help but want to find any trace of what happened back then.
Unfortunately, the painting her mother had copied years ago, which she had sent Zhuling and Qingmo to search carefully in the storeroom before her marriage, had been lost after so many years. Wen Qinian was getting old, and although he had not officially retired to his hometown, he had been bedridden for a long time due to illness and was staying in the mansion to recuperate, avoiding receiving guests.
The only place where we can find even the slightest clue right now is probably the Ink Ink Hall right in front of us...
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The night was deep, and the moonlight, like water, spilled onto the bluestone path, making the backyard even more quiet and deserted.
Lin Xu walked slowly into the courtyard, surrounded by swaying bamboo shadows and the occasional whisper of the wind.
Zhu Ling followed closely beside her, holding a small lantern. The faint light flickered on her face, and she looked nervous and uneasy.
“Madam, it is already late at night. Although we have learned that Mr. Gu has recently returned from his travels and is staying here, he is quite old and has probably already retired for the night... Will our sudden arrival at this hour disturb him?”
Lin Xu gently reassured him, "It's alright. I remember that Mr. Gu used to sit quietly and paint at night, so perhaps he hasn't rested tonight either. If he has already gone to bed and is not available to receive guests, then we will quietly leave without disturbing him."
As you walk further in, you can indeed see a faint candlelight shining deep in the courtyard.
Walking slowly to the front of the study, I saw an old man with white hair and beard sitting at the table through the half-open door, holding a paintbrush in his hand, with a solemn expression.
The image of the carefree old man sitting in the courtyard in my memory gradually overlapped with the image of him.
Decades have passed, and Gu Baosheng is now stooped and weathered, probably in his eighties, but his carefree demeanor remains unchanged.
She quietly held her breath and looked around.
The place remained elegant and quiet, the surroundings serene, with a few wisps of night breeze carrying the faint scents of wine and ink. The candlelight inside the study flickered weakly, and the walls were covered with calligraphy and paintings created by Mr. Gu himself. The ink was varied in shades and the style was elegant and profound, but for some reason, she always felt that those calligraphy and paintings seemed to exude a sense of decay.
Lin Xu snapped out of his reverie, gently knocked on the door, and respectfully said:
“Mr. Gu, I am Lin Xu. I apologize for disturbing you by visiting so late at night.”
Gu Baosheng, who was bent over his desk, paused slightly. He looked up, his eyes a little cloudy, as if he were looking at the figure behind the half-open door with some doubt. After a moment, he slowly spoke:
"Lin Xu... Lin Xu... Forgive my poor eyesight, I can't remember clearly. Young lady, have you been here before?"
Lin Xu felt a slight pang of sadness, but his face remained gentle and he said respectfully:
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t remember, sir. When I was young, I came here with my mother, Liang Shuangyu, to view paintings. Today I have come again to ask you for your opinion on the meaning of a painting.”
Upon hearing this, Mr. Gu stared at her blankly, seemingly lost in thought, or perhaps simply daydreaming. After a moment, he nodded slightly and stroked his gray beard.
"Liang Shuangyu... This name does seem somewhat familiar. It sounds like the name of an old friend. Perhaps it is. I'm getting senile and can't remember anything anymore."
He sighed slowly, a hint of desolation appearing in his eyes, and then asked:
"Young lady, what brings you here today to paint?"
Lin Xu paused slightly, then placed the scroll he had brought with him on the table and gently unfurled it, revealing the fresh loquats wet with dew and the startled magpies in the painting "Magpies and Loquats".
She carefully observed Gu Baosheng's dark expression and whispered:
"Sir, this painting was created by the renowned artist Mr. Zhang from the previous dynasty. This authentic work has changed hands several times and finally ended up in the hands of a younger generation. Coincidentally, this painting was also repeatedly copied by my mother during her lifetime. My mother loved calligraphy and painting all her life, so perhaps you still remember something about it, sir."
Gu Baosheng was highly respected, and countless people came to him to learn from him. Over the years, he had long forgotten about them.
He stared intently at the painting, his eyes wide, and after a moment, Fang Youyou sighed softly:
"This was painted by that old man. He depicted two timid yet greedy birds. It was praised by the world as soon as it was released, and some people even said it symbolized fearlessness and composure in the face of wind and rain... Haha... I remember that old man Zhang loved to drink when he was alive. I even made an appointment with him to play chess and drink together..."
As Mr. Gu spoke, he chuckled a few times in his hoarse voice, and then a hint of regret and reminiscence slowly surfaced in his eyes.
He sighed again, looking at the painting with a sense of melancholy, and said slowly:
"Although this painting of magpies and loquats is not his most outstanding work, it has a unique charm. Various literati and scholars have copied it many times, each with its own deep feelings and style. I think your painting, although it is old, is an authentic work. Look, there is my seal on it."
He stretched out his finger and tried to point to the seal in the corner.
Lin Xu said softly:
"So... are you and Mr. Zhang Zuo old acquaintances? Did you also collect this painting, sir?"
Gu Baosheng burst into laughter, then immediately began coughing violently. He picked up the wine bowl on the table, downed the remaining wine in one gulp, but slowly shook his head, a hint of melancholy flashing in his eyes:
"Old Zhang is so famous, and I was only fortunate enough to have a drink or two with him. He was a gambler when he was alive, and he could never beat me at chess, so he gave me this painting as collateral. Now I am also a man with one foot in the grave, and all my old acquaintances are long gone."
After drinking the strong liquor, his already advanced age made him increasingly incoherent.
Lin Xu stood quietly in front of him for a long time, her eyes filled with unanswered questions, but that was all she could do.
Perhaps it was all just a coincidence.
Despite the lingering doubts in my mind and the painstaking efforts to find even a trace of the painting, I never expected that the search would end so easily.
There are no other clues about the past events concerning the mother...
She gave a slight curtsy. "Thank you for your guidance, sir. I understand now."
Gu Baosheng's eyes were cloudy, and he kept muttering something, but he slowly turned around, as if he had sunk into his past memories.
Lin Xu and Zhu Ling selected a few paintings and then quietly left. Before leaving, Lin Xu placed a purse full of silver on the desk in Mr. Gu's room, which was covered with paintings and writing materials, hoping that his old friend would take good care of himself.
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Several days have passed in the blink of an eye, and winter is coming to an end. The morning light, carrying a chilly air, shines into the courtyard, filtering through the sparse branches and scattering onto the ground, dotting the bluestone path within the courtyard.
The air was chilly, with occasional gusts of cold wind carrying the rustling of withered leaves. Apart from that, all was quiet except for the intermittent cawing of crows in the distance.
Dou Yanxun was much better and in high spirits. He put on a thick, moon-white fur coat and slowly stepped out of the room.
Since falling ill, he had not left the courtyard for nearly half a month. Now, as he stepped out of the door, a chill hit him, but it was refreshing and invigorating.
He exhaled softly, letting the white mist he exhaled dissipate into the air.
Looking around, my gaze swept over the plum branches, now white with frost. Those few red plum blossoms bloomed proudly in the bleak winter, adding a touch of desolation. Although the courtyard was not large, it was decorated with great elegance. The surrounding bamboo grove remained green in winter, with a thin layer of frost on the bamboo leaves. Occasionally, a gentle breeze would blow through, making it rustle and creating a particularly tranquil atmosphere.
When he lived here alone before, he never realized that this small courtyard could have such a serene and tranquil atmosphere.
Colorful paper lanterns and strings of glass lights were already hanging at the four corners of the pavilion in the courtyard. Tomorrow was New Year's Eve, and the mansion was filled with a warm atmosphere. A pot of hot tea sat peacefully on the stone table, wisps of white smoke drifting away in the wind, the faint aroma of tea almost gone.
Nongyu, who was originally guarding the pavilion, saw Dou Yanxun approaching slowly, so she quickly stepped forward, curtsied, and said softly:
"Second Master looks very well today, much more energetic than a few days ago. Just now, Madam had someone carefully simmer this medicinal soup over a low flame. Second Master has been taking it, and it's showing results, greatly benefiting his health. With the end of the year approaching, Madam has also prepared some tonic soup for Second Master, which the kitchen will send over shortly after it's ready."
Dou Yanxun nodded slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips, and casually tightened his outer robe. He walked slowly into the pavilion, picked up a teacup, and took a small sip.
The tea was still warm, with a bitter taste followed by a faint sweetness, and a gentle warmth spread from the tip of the tongue to the whole body.
Gazing at the sparse shadows and plum branches defying frost and snow in the courtyard, his eyes were deep, as if he were in a daze.
My thoughts drifted to the distant, misty fields, and the memories of those long-ago fireside chats and laughter suddenly resurfaced in my mind, as if they were right there beside me.
...Even that face gradually eroded by memories, that smile he had almost forgotten, suddenly appeared before his eyes without any reason.
He clearly didn't want to recall these memories from his childhood.
For years, he forced himself not to think about it, and gradually, he stopped remembering it altogether. The past had become fragmented and tattered in his mind, riddled with holes as if gnawed by insects. But now, for the first time in many years, he was slowly starting to recall some things…
After a long while, he closed his eyes again, put down his teacup, and let out a soft sigh.
He heard light footsteps approaching from afar. He opened his eyes and saw Lin Xu walking gracefully towards him, wearing a light-colored fox fur coat and a faint smile on her face.
"My husband looks very well today; it seems he has recovered considerably."
Dou Yanxun looked up at her and smiled faintly:
"I have been bedridden these days, and thanks to my wife's meticulous care by my side, I have been able to recover so quickly. I haven't been able to get out of bed to get some fresh air in the yard for a long time, and I find that the winter scenery of this villa has a unique charm."
Lin Xu followed his gaze and smiled gently:
"Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, and it will naturally be a time of great decorations and celebration. My husband's health will be just right so that we can have a family reunion on New Year's Eve."
She pulled her cloak tighter around herself, her cheeks flushing slightly from the cold wind.
"However, it is still freezing cold. My husband has only just recovered and needs to take good care of himself. He should not sit in the wind for too long, lest he aggravate his old illness."
Dou Yanxun followed her into the room. A brazier was burning brightly in the study, and the bookshelves on all four walls were filled with all kinds of classics and historical books, faintly exuding the unique fragrance of books.
These days he rests in his room, and Lin Xu often stays in the study so as not to disturb him when he has nothing to do, as if he has acquired many new items.
He casually walked to the bookshelf on the side, his fingertips lightly brushing the spines of the books, his gaze sweeping over the scrolls arranged on the shelf. He then picked up a scroll at random, flipped through a few pages, and was surprised to find that the books she usually read were quite profound.
He smiled and was about to put the book back on the shelf when his eyes narrowed slightly as they glanced at the display shelf next to him.
The antique shelf, which was filled with rare and precious treasures, was now adorned with many unique yet simple jade and scholar's objects.
In one corner, a small celadon pot sat quietly. Its glaze was warm and its shape was simple and unadorned. It was not particularly eye-catching among the many rare treasures, but somehow, he noticed it at a glance.
Dou Yanxun's gaze lingered on the small pot for a moment, then he slowly narrowed his eyes.
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