Chapter 7
Finally, Ning Qingxi paid the bill and waited for Huo Yanci to speak.
—Seeing his hesitant expression, Ning Qingxi knew that this person was definitely not just out for a meal.
really.
"Next time you have the chance, I'll take you to a horse race."
Ning Qingxi: "..."
Wasting those few minutes she waited.
She stopped listening to his nonsense and turned to leave.
However, after going out for a while to clear my head, the cold air of the capital during the first month of the lunar calendar made me feel much more awake.
Suddenly, even drawings that I didn't know how to represent are starting to take shape.
Back in the Zhang family courtyard, Ning Qingxi spent every day in the reception room, even moving her meals there, showing great diligence.
As the blueprints were refined day after day, their scale gradually became visible. However, Ning Qingxi's condition was truly frightening. She was drawing almost obsessively, and Zhang Fuhu couldn't help but worry that something might happen to her while she was with him.
Therefore, he watched Ning Qingxi working tirelessly day and night, and he was also terrified that something might go wrong if he was not careful. So he was always worried when he went out drinking, which spoiled Huo Yanci's mood.
After he had sighed several times, Huo Yanci put down his wine glass and teased, "Boss Zhang, when did you start having this habit of sighing?"
Zhang Fuhu looked worried: "Your Highness, please don't tease me. I organized a garden-building competition, and you don't know how crazy Miss Shen has been these past few days. She sits at the table day and night, and she needs someone to wake her up to eat and sleep. I'm really afraid that if I'm not careful... sigh."
Huo Yanci's eyes flickered when he heard Ning Qingxi's name, but he didn't reply.
Zhang Fu sighed for a long time, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He looked up at Huo Yanci and said, "Speaking of which, your relationship with her... seems to be quite good?"
"You're overthinking it," Huo Yanci said, downing the wine in her glass in one gulp. "We're just nodding acquaintances, we only know each other by name... You invited me out for drinks, and now you're trying to pour out your troubles to me. Mr. Zhang, shouldn't you punish yourself with three drinks as an apology?"
Zhang Fuhu realized he had misspoke and quickly followed up, saying, "Yes, yes, today we'll only talk about romance and not these troublesome matters!"
After saying that, he really started drinking one glass of wine after another. After three glasses, he felt a little dizzy and all his worries were forgotten.
The wine was sourced from the establishment; it was all top-quality wine acquired at high prices. The wine was clear and transparent, and it was said to be made from grapes. It had an amber-like luster, and its aroma was intoxicating. After drinking it, the effects were rapid, but the effects also dissipated quickly.
Huo Yanci had also drunk some wine, and he couldn't hear what others were saying very clearly. However, Zhang Fuhu's words woke him up, and the wine immediately turned into sweat and dissipated.
Zhang Fuhu said that he had a good relationship with Ning Qingxi.
To outsiders, that seems to be the case. So, if he were to actually vote for Ning Qingxi, how many people would actually believe him?
He has always been unrestrained and no one can control him, but what about Ning Qingxi?
It's a small matter that he himself is being criticized, but at this moment it concerns Ning Qingxi's reputation, so he really has to be careful.
Zhang Fuhu, quite drunk, pushed open his window and looked down at the brightly lit street below. Slurring his words, he said, "Your Highness, let me be frank with you. Everyone says I'm a poor man who suddenly became rich, ignorant and uneducated, and that my residence is so ostentatious that I practically plaster the word 'rich' on my forehead. This time, I'll show them! My residence is sure to be the most cultured!"
Huo Yanci's thoughts had already drifted far away. Hearing him rambling on like this, she simply clapped and said, "Of course I believe you."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Fuhu suddenly burst into tears.
Huo Yanci: "..."
—
From that day on, Huo Yanci was rarely seen, not only by Ning Qingxi, but also by Zhang Fuhu.
But that's normal. He's a big shot, after all. What's the point of him just loafing around here all day doing nothing?
Ning Qingxi took it all in stride; even if this person came to hang around in front of her, she wouldn't have time to pay him any attention.
However, Zhang Fuhu was different from her. Zhang Fuhu knew this playboy's behavior very well. What serious business could this person have? He was nothing more than playing around everywhere.
Thinking this way, Zhang Fuhu was a little skeptical, so he went to block the entrance of Huo Yanci's house. Sure enough, he caught up with him. As soon as he saw Huo Yanci coming out in a close-fitting outfit, he immediately went up to her and said, "Oh my, I've finally seen you! Where have you been these past few days? I was so worried about you."
Huo Yanci asked curiously, "Why are you in such a hurry?"
"Hey, it's because I invited you for drinks last time, but I got a little drunk and said some unpleasant things. I'm sorry for offending you, am I?" Zhang Fuhu said. "I've come here specifically to apologize. By the way, I heard that a new batch of 'skinny horses' has arrived in the capital. I'd like to invite you to take a look."
Huo Yanci looked him up and down with a strange look in her eyes: "Instead of giving me a skinny horse, you should give me a good horse. My Xinghua horse is old and can't run anymore."
Zhang Fu blurted out, "Didn't Xinghua give birth to several horses, all of them good horses?"
Huo Yanci glanced at him sideways, and Zhang Fuhu lightly slapped his own mouth: "Just take it all as me talking nonsense."
Xinghua was Huo Yanci's favorite horse. It was given to him when he was young. Because the horse was all black except for some white hair on its side and belly, which looked like an apricot blossom, it was named Xinghua. It had a difficult birth and almost died. Since then, Huo Yanci has treasured that little foal like the back of his hand.
Those who knew him well called the little pony his own son.
Huo Yanci ignored him and said, "You don't need to apologize to me, and I didn't take it to heart. I haven't been to your residence these past few days because I have some new horses here, and they are not as obedient as Xinghua. I've been busy training them. I'll treat you to a drink tomorrow as an apology."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Fuhu felt relieved. After exchanging a few more polite words, he saw that Huo Yanci was running out of patience and quickly said goodbye, not wanting to stop this gentleman from going off to ride his horse.
Watching Zhang Fuhu's somewhat comical figure as he walked away, Huo Yanci called out to him, "Speaking of which, when did the second round of your competition end again?"
Zhang Fuhu misunderstood, thinking that he was finding it troublesome and making excuses not to go. So he said happily, "No rush. If you really don't have time, I can find someone else. It's just a small matter, don't worry about it."
Huo Yanci: "...When did I say I wasn't going?"
Zhang Fuhu: "Hmm?"
He despised himself while inwardly cursing these people for their numerous faults! They never tell the whole story, always leaving half the story unsaid, making you guess, and even if you guess wrong, they won't tell you!
If he had a better relationship with Huo Yanci, he would have said that. However, they were just drinking buddies, not close confidants. Zhang Fuhu was very self-aware and knew that it was an honor for Huo Yanci to befriend businessmen like them. So he simply said, "Hmm? You're coming? That's wonderful! It'll be in three days! If you'd be so kind as to come, I'll have some good tea ready for you."
Huo Yanci waved her hand and told him to get lost.
Zhang Fu was so busy that he rushed home. He was all smiles. When he passed by the school, he saw that the two children that Ning Xiaoniangzi had brought were particularly cute. He specially asked the kitchen to make a plate of amber candy, which all children love, and sent it in.
Ning Qingxi came out for some fresh air and was surprised to see Zhang Fuhu: "Oh, what good news have you had?"
"Nothing to celebrate, I'm just in a good mood today... By the way, Miss Ning, how's your blueprint coming along? Only three days left."
Ning Qingxi said calmly, "Very good, I'm just waiting for everyone to come and see."
Zhang Fuhu never had any hope for her; he only hoped that nothing would happen to her in his house.
You see, although his personal conduct is somewhat despicable, he is still a reliable person. To prevent gossip, he deliberately placed this family in the innermost room of the maid's courtyard. If things don't go as planned, and the young lady collapses from worrying too much while staying with him, that would truly be a cruel twist of fate.
Therefore, it's good that Ning Qingxi is alive, regardless of the quality of the blueprints.
Ning Qingxi was unaware that she was viewed with such disapproval. She simply strolled into the school, nodded to the teacher, and inquired about the two children's studies as usual.
The teacher sighed and said, "They're actually past the age for early education. It's not that they can't learn, but it will definitely be much less effective. You see..."
The teacher picked up the poem he had asked them to copy—
One or two miles away, there are four or five houses in the village...[1]
It's the simplest line of poetry, yet in their hands, every word is full of ideas, as if it's about to crawl out at any moment.
Ning Qingxi: "..."
She said, "You've gone through all that trouble."
The gentleman shook his head: "There's no hardship involved, but if Miss Ning doesn't want them to become blind with their eyes open, she'll have to put in more effort in the future."
He didn't say anything more.
Ning Qingxi guessed that she must have been so poor that talking about it would only cause her more trouble.
Ning Qingxi nodded: "I understand."
Just as she was pondering the feasibility of personally teaching them to read, she suddenly felt her dress slip down. Looking down, she saw Ning Qingshan holding a piece of amber candy, looking up at her with bright eyes: "Sister, would you like some candy?"
Ning Qingxi: "..."
She crouched down and patted Ning Qingshan's head with great satisfaction.
Doing academic research and such is too demanding; it's more practical to enjoy some good food.
Ning Qingxi thought that as long as they know to eat when they are hungry and drink when they are thirsty, that is enough.
Having cleared her head, she turned and strolled back to the reception room. On her table was a thick stack of Xuan paper, all of which were already covered with drawings. Only one sheet was half-finished. Judging from what had been drawn, this was the biggest project.
This is the most eye-catching part of the entire courtyard, so after the drawing was completed, this scene was added next to it - the center is a lake, surrounded by corridors, with strange mountains and rocks and rare tree species as a backdrop, with details, luxury and elegance everywhere.
Aside from this one, the other paintings are also strange and bizarre, with stiff lines and circles that are incomprehensible. There are also a bunch of inexplicable annotations on the side. Looking around the capital, you can't find another person who can draw like this.
This makes it seem even more like she doesn't actually know how to design a garden, and is just trying to profit from the chaos.
As a result, no one paid any attention to her daily efforts.
Ning Qingxi didn't care much, because the three-day period would pass in the blink of an eye.
The second round of voting has begun.
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