Chapter 133 Closeness
The days that followed were both peaceful and busy.
Patriarch Qin and others knew that Qin Mingsong had taken part in the provincial examination, and they would come to talk to Old Man Qin every now and then, so the most talked about topic at home was this year's provincial examination.
Old Liu is the quietest at this time.
No matter how noisy an old woman is, she dare not act unruly in front of the clan leader.
Qin Chi stayed at home during this period.
As soon as Erlang and Sanlang had their holiday, they asked Qin Chi to take them to the backyard to learn how to make Hui ink.
It’s been a year since the last time the ash was left standing.
A year of smoking has helped me get rid of my anger.
Add an equal amount of glue to the basin containing ash.
Use a stick to stir the glue, then add gold powder, cinnabar, borneol, pearl powder and musk, and continue stirring.
The last and crucial step is to apply ink.
Repeatedly knocking the ink ball can prevent the glue from solidifying and allow it to further blend with the smoke. Knock until the surface of the ink block is glossy and free of obvious particles.
This is simple to describe, but the process is hard work.
Especially when applying ink, it needs to be hammered at least ten thousand times.
The two brothers took turns swinging the hammer to beat the ink.
All day long, there was a constant banging sound in the backyard.
The two brothers were sweating profusely from hammering, and even their clothes were soaked. Qin Chi didn't say yes, so they had to keep hammering and couldn't stop.
I can't do it even if my hands are sore from fighting.
Qin Chi reminded: "The hammer must fall flat, make sure it hits flat!"
This time he mainly taught his two cousins, so that even if they failed in their studies, they would at least have a skill to rely on.
Therefore, during the process of making Hui ink, Qin Chi relied on his mouth to give instructions throughout the whole process, and the one who got started was either Erlang or Sanlang.
The two brothers worked on the ink from early morning till dark.
It's late at night again.
Qin Chi thought it was too noisy, so he went to check the beaten ink balls and saw that the surface was shiny. "It's OK, go weigh it again, one ounce each."
This is Erlang's business.
Saburo was yawning.
The children get sleepy early, but they can't go to bed until they finish their work.
The two brothers worked together.
One is for weighing and the other is for rolling into long strips.
Then put it into a wooden rectangular mold to shape it.
The ink is solidified by squeezing and then taken out of the mold, and the prototype of the ink stick is formed.
Next take out a wooden box.
Sprinkle a layer of wood ash on the bottom of the box, then put a piece of rice paper on it, spread the ink sticks that have just been formed flat in the box, then cover it with another piece of rice paper and sprinkle more wood ash on it.
This is done to absorb moisture from the half moon.
"After half a month, you two will take them out and tie them up with fine hemp ropes. Then hang them up to dry for another half a year. When the ink strips are completely dry, you can then paint with gold and wax."
Qin Chi described every step of making Hui ink in detail.
The night was bright and silent, and outside the house there was the sound of insects chirping.
Several tung oil lamps were lit in the thatched hut.
The man stood under the dim tung oil lamp, and the faint light made his outline gentle and mysterious.
The eyebrows are like distant mountains, and the eyes are like autumn water containing stars.
His handsome face seemed to bear traces of a peaceful life.
A blue shirt stretches with the body, the lapels are lightly gathered, and the cuffs reveal a hint of ink fragrance, showing an otherworldly aura in this mysterious and quiet night.
Song Jin was holding a lantern.
The soft light flickers and illuminates the ground.
She came to look for Qin Chi on purpose, and was a little hesitant when she walked forward, but she accidentally saw him standing in the swaying lights, like a moon in the water in a fairy painting. The simple thatched house could not cover his brilliance at all.
Before I knew it, my steps had stopped.
I am hesitating whether to move forward...
Qin Chi suddenly turned his head and looked at Song Jin.
The woman appeared here with a lantern in her hand. It was late at night and it was obvious that she was worried about him. He suddenly felt a warm current flowing in his heart. His shallow and affectionate eyes fell on the woman's beautiful face, which was amazing and touching.
Song Jin walked up to Qin Chi with light lotus steps.
"My husband didn't come back to the room all night, and I was worried about him, so I came out to check on him." Her gentle tone revealed her concern for Qin Chi.
The moment Song Jin opened her red lips, Qin Chi slowly reached out his hand and touched her cheek, as if bewitched by something, gently feeling the smooth skin, and a trace of unspeakable joy quietly surged in his heart.
An ambiguous atmosphere flowed between the two.
Even though there were two brothers in the thatched house, they did not disturb the world that belonged to the couple alone.
There is no wrong version in the 1619 book forum!
"Brother is so bad. He touched sister-in-law's face with his dirty hands and painted her face like a little cat."
The boy's crisp, smiling words ruined the ambiguity between the two.
Qin Chi slowly turned around and glanced at San Lang with a fake smile, "Come here!"
Sanlang quickly came over, raised his little head and asked excitedly: "What do you want me to do, big brother?"
"You'll know the consequences of laughing at us."
Qin Chi rubbed the black ash in his hand onto Sanlang's little face, making Sanlang wail.
Now he has also become a little cat.
Then Qin Chi went to the wooden barrel next to him and washed his hands. "Sanlang, Erlang, you should rest early after you finish your work. Your sister-in-law is here, so I can't accompany you any longer."
Why does the tone sound a bit boastful?
The two brothers didn't hear it, but Qin Yi in the dark heard it.
Song Jin was in a trance for a moment.
She couldn't deny that she was bewitched and her mind was a little distracted, but Sanlang's voice brought her back to reality.
Qin Chi walked a few steps towards Song Jin.
He took out a handkerchief from his arms and carefully wiped Song Jin's face. His hands were indeed stained with black soot, but only a little bit of it landed on her cheek.
Wipe it carefully and it will be clean quickly.
Then he put the handkerchief away.
The two walked back to the house side by side.
Time flew by and it was the third day after the announcement of the results of the August provincial examination. The Qin family had sold the harvest from their medicinal fields for more than twenty taels of silver, and had already replanted the medicinal seedlings, waiting for another harvest next year.
At the same time, Qin Chi and Song Jin's relationship became closer unknowingly. The parties involved were used to it, but the bystanders were jealous.
"Short-lived ghost...why haven't you died yet..."
Song Xiu peeked through the crack in the door and saw Qin Chi and Song Jin talking in the yard. "My husband will soon be a juren scholar. You, Song Jin, can't afford to marry him. Humph..."
When Song Xiu thought about the news that Qin Mingsong had passed the imperial examination, she became excited again.
Today she changed into a new dress and put on her favorite headdress, just to welcome her upcoming glorious moment.
The day to be proud is coming!
Suddenly, Qin Chi glanced sideways towards the fourth room, and his cold gaze frightened Song Xiu so much that she instinctively shrank back.
There were quite a few people sitting in the Qin family yard today.
In addition to the Qin family, there were more than a dozen elders including Village Chief Chen and the clan leader, as well as aunts and sisters-in-law who were sitting in the yard, eating melon seeds and chatting about gossip.
The story of Qin Mingsong passing the imperial examination.
Qin Chi received the news yesterday that he actually got fifth place, which is a very high ranking.
But good news will come from the government office today, so everyone gathered in the yard waiting.