Chapter 10: I haven't written anything for many years.
Yan Sui was completely oblivious to Qu Jiang's gaze and followed Tian Xiangjuan away.
Passing by the gate of a bungalow, there was a large greenhouse built in the yard.
Are vegetables growing in here?
It's rare to see people build greenhouses in their homes.
Tian Xiangjuan shook her head. "There's an old lady living here who loves to grow flowers and plants. Don't bother her unless you have to. I heard that the flowers and plants she grows are very valuable, and many people come to her to buy them. They're priceless."
The villagers didn't understand what was so special about those flowers and plants, but when they heard they were very expensive, they didn't dare to go to her house easily.
In addition, the old lady was reclusive, didn't like to go out, and didn't interact much with the villagers.
“This house is inhabited by an old man, you can just call him Grandpa Xu. Your two younger brothers even went to his house to learn calligraphy for a while during their summer vacation.”
Grandpa Xu Mocun was very meticulous and taught very seriously, but it seemed that neither Yan Junqing nor his brother had much talent, which made him shake his head.
Tian Xiangjuan was quite familiar with him, and even brought Yan Sui to his door to greet him.
There's a grape trellis in the yard, but now all the leaves have fallen, leaving it bare.
There was a tea table under the shelf, and he was sitting there making tea.
Yan Sui greeted him politely, and Xu Mocun invited her over for tea.
Tian Xiangjuan wanted her to get to know the villagers, so she waved her hand and said, "Then you keep Grandpa Xu company. I'll go home and tidy up your room first."
Yan Sui had no intention of returning to the city, so she asked Jiang Yeling to pack some of her luggage and have it delivered over.
"Okay, then I'll stay here and talk with Grandpa Xu."
Xu Mocun was very focused on brewing tea, his movements were fluid and graceful, and looked very artistic.
He sat ramrod straight, and his expression was indeed as Tian Xiangjuan described—rigid and meticulous.
Judging by his height, this old man is quite tall, but very thin, and looks like he doesn't eat properly.
Before long, a cup of clear, bright tea came into view.
"Want to try some?"
Yan Sui picked up the glass and took a sip. "Not bad."
She doesn't know anything about tea; she drinks water like a cow chewing on a peony.
"It would be even better with a small snack."
Xu Mocun gave her a disgruntled look and said, "You certainly know how to enjoy yourself."
Yan Sui smiled and said, "When my cherry tomatoes bloom and bear fruit, I'll make you some pickled cherry tomatoes as a return gift for this cup of tea."
That doesn't sound plausible.
They've already made grand promises before the flowers have even bloomed.
"Is now the time to plant cherry tomatoes? I may be old, but I'm not senile. If you're going to make empty promises, at least make something concrete."
Yan Sui wrinkled her nose. "I don't care about the season when I grow things."
"Then what are we looking at?"
Yan Sui blinked, her pupils bright and clear.
She smiled, her dimples as sweet as honey, and reached out her hand.
"Look at my hands."
Xu Mocun scoffed, "You're good at fooling people."
He pointed to the few pots of strawberries under the eaves, and Yan Sui looked in the direction he was pointing.
That's strange; his strawberry plants, though they looked rather unattractive, were still alive.
"I've been growing these strawberries for two years, and they've never flowered or fruited. Take them home and nurture them; if they ever bear fruit—"
Yan Sui: "If it yields results, is there a reward?"
Xu Mocun glanced at her; she really was someone who wouldn't suffer a single loss.
"In that case, if I get to eat the strawberries you grow, I'll give you a piece of calligraphy."
Yan Sui smacked her lips; she felt like she had lost out.
Xu Mocun saw through her thoughts and glared at her.
"My calligraphy is very expensive; it's priceless!"
Yan Sui: "My strawberries are more expensive."
Xu Mocun huffed, "Fine, don't do it then."
"Alright, alright, no backing out, I decide what to write." Yan Sui thought that once the courtyard house was renovated, it would need some decorations.
"Come on, I'm not even sure if these strawberries will grow! Let me make this clear first, you're not allowed to buy me strawberries from the supermarket. I have a discerning palate, I can tell the difference in one bite."
Yan Sui pouted, "I'm not that kind of person."
Having agreed to this, Yan Sui finished the rest of her tea in one gulp and then got up to say goodbye.
Xu Mocun shook his head repeatedly at the sight, thinking, "Like a cow chewing on a peony!"
Do you know how expensive my tea is?!
Yan Sui had just left Xu Mocun's house when she bumped into Qu Jiang.
Qu Xi was dressed in a leather suit and carrying a gift box that looked quite valuable; he was clearly from another village.
Yan Sui glanced at him briefly, then nodded and looked away.
She keenly noticed that after she left, Qu Jiang was still standing at the door watching her.
This puzzled Yan Sui. Did she know Qu Jiang?
Could it be one of her haters?
It's really frustrating to run into Hei Zi even after running all the way to the village.
After a long while, Qujiang finally looked away.
Yan Sui acted so convincingly that she didn't reveal a single clue, and even he was almost fooled.
Qu Jiang composed himself and knocked on the door.
He only dared to enter after hearing Xu Mocun's voice.
Xu Mocun glanced back, thinking it was the little girl who had come back to move the strawberries.
"It's Xiao Qu."
Qu Jiang nodded slightly. "Old Master Xu, Second Master asked me to bring you some tea."
Xu Mocun tapped the table. "Just leave it there."
Seeing that Qujiang was still there, he understood.
"Is there anything else?"
Qu Jiang forced a smile. "It's the old master's birthday, and the second master would like to request a piece of your calligraphy."
Xu Mocun said "Oh," and that most of the people who came to him did so for this reason.
He casually stroked his white beard. "You know, I haven't written anything for many years."
Qu Jiang's face stiffened. All this talk about retiring from writing is just empty rhetoric.
Doesn't he practice calligraphy in his spare time?
I had previously heard that he had given calligraphy to the villagers, but the children set it on fire, which angered him so much that he didn't leave the house for half a month.
Why didn't they say he had stopped writing back then?
"The old man especially loves your calligraphy. You have always been generous, so please consider this as fulfilling the second master's filial piety."
When Fu Yansheng was mentioned, Xu Mocun's attitude softened.
He clicked his tongue. "How much longer does that old fellow Fu Cisheng have until his birthday?"
Qujiang: "April."
With just over a month to go, Xu Mocun shook his head.
"No rush, I'll write it for you all after I've eaten some strawberries."
Remembering that Yan Sui said she wanted to decide what to write, he kindly asked, "Do you have any words you want to write?"
Qu Jiang was taken aback. What could he possibly write that he could suggest himself?
When did this old man become so easy to talk to!
"I need to ask Second Master first."
Xu Mocun waved his hand, "Let's make this clear first, I'm not sure I can write it."
He hadn't even eaten the strawberries yet; unlike Yan Sui, he wasn't one to casually make empty promises.
Qu Jiang chuckled, "If you want to eat strawberries, I can..."
"No need, I only eat what I grow myself."
Qujiang's gaze slowly shifted to the few pots of strawberries under the eaves.
When he came last year, they looked like they were about to die.
He's still alive this year.
"How about I get a professional to take a look at these strawberries for you?"
Xu Mocun still refused: "No need, I've already found someone."
Qu Jiang said no more; this old man had always been eccentric and difficult to deal with.
After leaving Xu Mocun's side, Qu Jiang slowly returned to the courtyard house that stood silently at the end of the village.
Pushing open the door, a tall and upright figure stood in the courtyard.
The man's eyebrows were sharp as blades, and his dark eyes were deep as ink, exuding a hint of indifference.
He was dressed in a clean and crisp white shirt and black trousers, with a calm and serene expression.
"Second Master, Old Master Xu accepted the tea, but he did not grant our request."
Fu Yansheng's voice was clear and cold: "It's alright."
Qu Jiang nodded, "I'll prepare another birthday gift for the old man."
The man did not respond, but suddenly frowned and pressed his fingertips heavily against his brow.
Qu Jiang took a step forward, a look of anxiety on his face.
"Or perhaps we should let Dr. Zhan..."
Fu Yansheng glanced sideways, her voice indifferent: "No need."
Qu Jiang's face fell. Indeed, he had been watching for so many years.
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