Under the gentle, warm sunshine of late spring, Jiang Yan, unnoticed, slipped away from the tranquil and peaceful Retirement Villa. It was the third day of the third lunar month, and the air was filled with the unique fragrance of spring. The streets were bustling with activity, bustling with people. Jiang Yan wore a half-worn blue cloth shirt, the fabric a bit worn, but he had kept it immaculately clean. He carried two ingots of silver and slowly made his way along Zhuque Street. This bustling street was bustling with traffic, shops lined with vendors, and the sounds of hawking and laughter intertwined like a vibrant symphony of life.
Jiang Yan turned three corners on Zhuque Street, his eyes etched with eager anticipation. Finally, he found the small stall on the corner that advertised "Li's Sugar Painting." The stall owner was a blind old man, his face deeply scarred by time, making him look particularly weathered. He was holding a copper spoon, intently pouring a sugar painting onto the bluestone slab. A crooked dragon gradually took shape under his hands. The sugar slurry swirled and danced in the spoon, as if it had come to life. With the gentle shake of the old man's wrist, it flowed slowly across the bluestone, outlining unique lines.
"Old man," Jiang Yan squatted down gently, deliberately lowering his voice as if he was telling a precious secret, "Can you draw a phoenix? It should be the same as it was fifty years ago." His eyes were full of earnestness, and he looked as if he had returned to the green and beautiful time fifty years ago.
Old man Li's cloudy eyes moved slightly, as if recalling something from the depths of his memory. The corners of his mouth slowly opened, revealing a smile line, and he said with a somewhat nostalgic look: "Sir, are you an old customer? The one who used to snatch sugar paintings from the little girl in green?" His voice was a little hoarse, but it revealed a calmness that came with the passage of time.
Jiang Yan was slightly startled, and his thoughts were instantly pulled back to the year when Su Jinli came of age. At that time, they were in front of this small sugar painting stall, fighting for a phoenix sugar painting, and the breath of youth filled the air. He reached out from his sleeve and carefully took out a piece of yellowed paper. The paper was a little damaged at the corners due to the rubbing of time. On the paper was a sketch of a phoenix that he had carefully copied. Looking closely, the tail feathers still had faint traces of the sugar thread being broken. The trace seemed to be a unique mark left by time. "Just follow this drawing, it should be hollow, and the tail should be divided into five forks." Jiang Yan said as he handed the paper to the old man, his eyes full of anticipation.
Old Man Li reached out his rough hand and took the paper, his fingers gently brushing over the ink stains, as if touching a distant memory. "It's rare that someone still remembers my craft. It's just that my eyesight isn't good these days..." The old man sighed softly, a hint of helplessness in his words.
"That's fine," Jiang Yan quickly stuffed the silver into the old man's palm, his tone full of understanding and tolerance, "As long as it's similar in spirit, that's fine."
The copper pot in front of the sugar painting stall gurgled under the scorching charcoal fire, and the amber sugar juice surged happily in the pot, emitting an alluring sweet aroma. Jiang Yan watched quietly as the old man's wrist turned flexibly, and the sugar threads flowed out of the copper spoon, drawing crystal arcs on the bluestone slabs, as if weaving a beautiful dream in the air. At this moment, Jiang Yan's thoughts drifted away again. He suddenly remembered the touch of Su Jinli's hairpin brushing against the back of his hand when she stood on tiptoe to compete for the sugar painting fifty years ago. The tenderness of that moment was like a spring breeze, and it is still deeply imprinted in his heart. At that time, he was just a poor scholar who had just won the top spot in the imperial examination, and she was the noble daughter of the prime minister's family. But their fate was like this slender sugar thread, unexpectedly and wonderfully entangled together, starting their sweet journey of fifty years.
"Sir, your Phoenix." Old man Li's voice awakened Jiang Yan from his memories.
Jiang Yan slowly took the sugar painting. The transparent phoenix glowed an enchanting red in the sunlight, as if it had been given life. A closer look revealed the five-pronged tail feathers, a striking resemblance to the phoenix from the previous sugar painting. It felt as if it had traveled through fifty years, bringing back those beautiful memories. Jiang Yan carefully threaded the sugar painting onto a thin bamboo skewer, handling it like a rare treasure. He gently tucked it into his arms, protecting it tightly with his hands, fearing he would accidentally break the painting that carried fifty years of sweet memories.
Prelude to the Golden Wedding Banquet: Children's Abacus and the Chivalrous Woman's Rouge
Meanwhile, the rest of the villa was bustling with activity. The main hall had already been adorned with bright lights, with bright red lanterns hanging high. Festive red silk fluttered gently in the breeze, creating a joyful atmosphere. Si Yan wore a brand new brocade robe, its vibrant color and exquisite craftsmanship highlighting his status and position. He clutched his ever-present abacus in his arms, carefully calculating the wedding banquet expenses with his housekeeper in the hallway.
"This table of glass cups cost thirty taels, and that table of snacks will require the imperial chef..." Si Yan's abacus was ticking away rapidly, and the crisp sound of the abacus beads colliding was like a unique rhythm, echoing in the air. This sound quickly attracted Nian Li.
Nian Li wore a modified, traditional Chinese dress today, looking dashing and dashing. The suit's tailoring was impeccable, retaining the allure of traditional attire while adding a touch of sharpness and sophistication. She wore a dagger at her waist, its tassel swaying gently as she walked, inadvertently glancing over Si Yan's abacus. "What's that?" Nian Li raised her eyebrows, looking at Si Yan and saying, "Mother said, no mention of money today!" Her voice was clear and resonant, carrying an undeniable aura.
Si Yan raised his head, gave Nian Li a blank look, and said, "Sister, what do you know? Dad specifically told me to include the money I owed Mom for the sugar paintings..." His eyes were serious, as if he was completing a crucial task.
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