Chapter 54: Stunning Birthday Picture, Staying at the Hong Family

The girl named Baozhu led the three of them into a room, and then walked behind the screen. After a while, the melodious and soothing sound of the piano slowly flowed out.

In the middle of the room was an antique and exquisite wooden table, on which a pot of wine had been placed. After the few people entered the room, gray-clothed waiters brought in a few dishes of food.

Zhang Shun opened the window, and the sunlight poured into the room, shining warmly on people.

After Liu Ming'an sat down, he took off the wooden box of the scroll on his back and handed it to Zhou Yi, saying, "Brother Zhou, this is the birthday painting you asked for."

Zhou Yi had sat down, but he stood up again after hearing this, took the wooden box with both hands, and couldn't wait to open the scroll to see it.

"Brother Liu, I forgot to tell you that I brought the calligraphy and painting you gave me last time back to my uncle's house. He saw it and liked it very much. He asked for it to be hung in my brother's study, saying that he wanted him to observe and learn well..."

Zhou Yi suddenly thought of this and explained it to Liu Ming'an.

Liu Ming'an smiled and said, "Since it was given to Brother Zhou, it's up to you to deal with it."

Zhou Yi also smiled, unfolded the scroll completely, and saw the content of the painting clearly.

"Oh my God!" Zhou Yi couldn't help but exclaimed.

Zhang Shun also came over to see what was happening. He looked at it carefully for a moment, then turned to Liu Ming'an and said, "Brother Liu, your talent should not be buried."

On the snow-white rice paper, a mountain stood tall on the left. This mountain was majestic and towering, reaching directly into the blue sky. It was majestic and majestic, making people feel the heroic feeling of "standing on the top of the mountain and looking down on all the small mountains". On the right side of the mountain was a cliff, with a waterfall falling straight down, like the Milky Way falling from the sky, magnificent and incomparable.

Zhou Yi thought the light in the room was not bright enough, so he took the scroll and walked to the window, praising it as he read it.

On the top of the mountain, near the waterfall, Liu Ming'an used a very fine wolf hair brush to paint a few pine trees, which were lifelike and detailed. The pine tree was in a free and unrestrained posture, as if it had grown out of the smooth stone wall, stretching up to the sky, showing vigorous vitality.

Looking more closely, there was a fairy crane perched on the pine tree, with its wings spread and a graceful posture. Its demeanor was outlined in just a few strokes.

"Wonderful! Wonderful!" Zhou Yi exclaimed, and continued to paint in detail.

Under the steep mountain, Liu Mingan painted an old man. The old man had white hair and beard, a high forehead, kind eyes, and a friendly and amiable manner. It was the Old Longevity Star, also known as the South Pole Immortal. The Old Longevity Star held a fairy wood peach branch cane in his hand, with a wine gourd tied to the cane, and the Longevity Star himself held a large fairy peach in his hand. Behind the birthday star, several divine deer were drinking water, which was formed by the waterfall.

At the bottom of the whole painting, there was a line of eye-catching words, which read: When the time is right, follow the right time.

Zhou Yi stared at the painting with his eyes fixed, and he was reluctant to move away from it. He looked at it inch by inch, admired it stroke by stroke, and muttered to himself, and the whole person fell into a state of frenzy.

It was not until half an hour later that Zhou Yi put away the scroll with a lingering feeling, and his movements were cautious, as if he was treating some rare treasure.

"Brother Liu!" Zhou Yi suddenly shouted with a serious face, and Liu Ming'an and Zhang Shun looked over.

Then Liu Ming'an saw Zhou Yi walked up to him, bowed his hands and bowed to him in a proper manner.

"Brother Zhou?" Liu Ming'an was startled and quickly stood up and helped Zhou Yi up: "What are you doing? You and I are brothers, how can I let you perform this kind of courtesy to me?"

Zhou Yi held Liu Ming'an's hand and said solemnly: "We met for the first time that day, and we only had a few words. You first gave me calligraphy and paintings, and then you took the trouble to draw such a birthday picture for me. I am ashamed to receive so many favors from you for nothing. Only by performing this courtesy can I feel a little relieved."

Liu Ming'an was moved when he heard these heartfelt words. At this time, Zhang Shun pressed his shoulder and said: "Brother Liu, don't panic. Zhou Yi is a man of temperament. You deserve this courtesy."

When the three of them sat down again, the distance between them was shortened a lot.

Zhou Yi's family does business in the capital, and they often travel around. They are well-informed, warm, sincere, and good at talking.

Zhang Shun's family is wealthy, and some of his family members are in business and politics. He has a calm personality and broad horizons since he was a child. This time he went out to buy a batch of medicinal materials and celebrate Hong Fusheng's birthday.

Liu Ming'an is the youngest of the three. He is far less knowledgeable than Zhou Yi and Zhang Shun. He has never stepped out of Lingshan Town in his 19 years of life. However, he is well-read, well-informed, humble and polite. It is always a pleasure to be with him.

The three young people with different personalities chatted very well, drank and talked happily, and had endless things to say to each other. It was not

until Miss Baozhu came out from behind the screen with a zither and asked them if they wanted to have dinner that the three realized it was already night.

"It turns out that a thousand cups of wine are not enough when you are drinking with a bosom friend, it is not a joke!" Zhang Shun sighed as he looked at the empty bottles of wine on the table.

They were not wine lovers, wine was just an introduction, drinking to help with the mood, so they served lighter sake, and none of the three were drunk until now, only Liu Mingan, who had never drunk much, was a little tipsy.

"Brother Zhou, Brother Zhang," Liu Ming'an stood up and bowed to the two of them, saying, "I have benefited a lot from talking with you two brothers today. It's getting late, I should go back, let's talk another day."

Zhou Yi walked to the window and looked at the sky, then turned to Liu Ming'an and said, "Brother Liu, is your home in Lotus Village?"

"Yes."

"How far is it from here?"

"Forty miles."

"How long does it take to walk?"

"About two hours."

Liu Ming'an thought Zhou Yi was just showing concern, so he answered all his questions. Unexpectedly, he heard him say, "Brother Liu, don't go back today. Stay at my house for one night."

Liu Ming'an was stunned. Jiang Ning's cold eyes flashed before his eyes. He refused without thinking, "Thank you for your kindness, Brother Zhou, but I have a sister at home. She might be worried if I don't go back." Liu

Ming'an said this with a guilty conscience. With Jiang Ning's personality, he didn't think she would be worried. It was just that he felt uneasy when he thought about not going back tonight.

"How old is your sister?" Zhang Shun asked.

"Ten...sixteen? Maybe seventeen?" Not only Liu Ming'an, but even Jiang Ning herself didn't know the answer.

"Why are you not even sure about your sister's age?" Zhou Yi was very surprised.

Liu Mingan smiled and explained Jiang Ning's situation in a few words.

Zhang Shun nodded and said, "I asked about your sister's age because I thought that if she was a two-three-year-old or seven-eight-year-old child who couldn't leave her family, I would hire a carriage to take you back overnight. Since she is a teenage girl, why do you have to rush back?"

"That's right, brother Liu," Zhou Yi continued, "It's already past midnight, and your home is so far away. It's not easy to walk at night. There's no need to rush back. Just go to my uncle's house and sleep for a night."

Liu Ming'an hesitated. He knew that what Zhou Yi and Zhang Shun said made sense, but he kept thinking of those eyes. He wanted to go back.

In the end, it was Zhang Shun's words that dispelled Liu Ming'an's idea of ​​going home. He said, "If you go home now, it will be at least 3:15 pm by the time you get home, and it may even be after midnight. Aren't you afraid of disturbing your sister's sweet sleep?"

Just like that, Liu Ming'an decided to follow Zhou Yi to stay at Hong's house for one night.