When the shop opened, the first customer was the owner who was qualified to collect the rent. It did not seem to be a good sign. Ning Que's mood did not become too bad after hearing such a troublesome insider news.
He believed that a man who could own an entire street in Chang 'an was either rich or had a powerful backer. Since the owner had made a promise to him, it was unnecessary for him to worry about other things. Since the Old Brush Pen Shop was the only tenant on this street, the middle-aged man generously said that he would waive the rent for three months before he left. That alone was enough to make the master and the servant happy.
What really troubled him was the business, the business that was as miserable as a cold spring breeze.
The spring rain in Chang 'an lasted for four or five days in a row, pitter-patter, as if there was no end to it. The air was cold and the road was wet and slippery, so people were naturally reluctant to go out. Now, only his shop was open on this long street. The doors of the shops in the front and back of the street were tightly closed, so there was no way for people to gather. Therefore, it seemed more and more deserted. Apart from two or three groups of people, there were only a few sparrows jumping on their little feet. How could there be any business?
On the first day of opening, Ning Que had always said that the spring rain was as precious as oil, but now it had become as cheap as urine. He sat on a round chair with a long ledge and looked at the rain outside the shop, sighing again and again. If a person's gaze could really have power, and if he was a Grand Cultivator or Psyche Master who had entered the Knowing Destiny State, his resentful gaze was enough to directly tear down the grey wall.
The middle-aged man said that both sides of Lin 47th Street were his shops, but not the grey wall opposite the Old Brush Pen Shop. Behind that grey wall was the warehouse of the Ministry of Personnel, which needed to be expanded. That was one of the reasons why Ning Que was unhappy.
At noon, someone finally stepped into the deserted shop. It was a fat man with a big belly who looked like a rich businessman and two attendants. Ning Que had thought that they had ill intentions and might be black-faced lobbyists hired by the Imperial Demolition Department, so he inevitably became vigilant. After listening to a few words, he realized that they were just two idlers who were taking a stroll to hide from the rain.
Since they were idlers, Ning Que naturally did not bother to get up to greet them. He held the teapot of poor quality red clay in both hands and looked at the curtain of rain outside the shop. His eyes were slightly open as if he was about to fall asleep, but in fact, his heart was already swollen from wanting to make money.
The fat tycoon put his hands behind his back and put his face close to the wall to look carefully. For some unknown reason, the few people who entered the Old Brush Pen Shop these days habitually put their hands behind their backs, as if they wanted to show that they had good eyesight. The rich man had lived in Chang 'an for a long time. He had been an artsy person for many years, so he had developed some discerning eyes. After looking for a while, he said to the attendant beside him, "You don't say. I can't believe there are some good words in such a shabby place."
This sentence should be regarded as a compliment, but it seemed a little frivolous and condescending. Of course, such a tone could not arouse the feelings of Ning Que's bosom friend. He still sat in the round chair, seemingly unconcerned, but in fact, his ears were pricked up, carefully listening to what this rich man would say next, hoping to sell the first piece of calligraphy.
"Young man, who wrote these words in the shop?" the fat millionaire turned around and asked.
"I wrote it." Ning Que leaned forward slightly and responded politely.
The fat millionaire did not say anything more. After looking for a while, he shook his head and sighed regretfully, "Tsk tsk … What a pity, what a pity. There are a few pieces of calligraphy that can be called beautiful, but it's a pity that the writer is still young and forced himself to pretend to be a great calligrapher. Well, since you can see it today, you're lucky. San Er, take down this piece of calligraphy, I want it. "
Ning Que turned to the three people and asked, "Sir, how much do you want to pay for it?"
"This piece of calligraphy can be sold for at most 500 copper coins in a stall outside the Fragrance Workshop. Since you have the shop's fees, and since you're young, I'll give you two taels of silver." The rich man said with a smile.
Ning Que picked up the teapot and drank some tea, then put it down and scolded, "Get lost."
The rich man's expression suddenly changed, and he scolded angrily, "Young man, how can you not know how to appreciate favors!"
"I'm young, but I can't be bullied." Ning Que shook his head and replied, "When you said that I was young and forced myself to pretend to be a great calligrapher, I was ready to ask you to get lost. I just wanted to see what your price was. If your price was high enough, I don't mind letting you humiliate me. But it's a pity that your price is not enough to humiliate me."
The livid rich man flicked his sleeves and left with his entourage. Sangsang, who had rolled up her sleeves and was washing vegetables, rushed out of the backyard. Looking at the three figures that had long disappeared in the rain, her face was full of regret and unwillingness. She twisted her body and stared at Ning Que, who was sitting in the chair, and said angrily, "Young master, that's two taels of silver!"
The sale of two ingots of ink and three pieces of writing paper was all the income of the Old Brush Pen Shop since its opening. Although the middle-aged man had waived their rent for three months, Sangsang could not sleep well every night when she thought of the terrible expenses of the Academy in the future. No wonder she was so angry about the previous scene.
Since there was no more business, Ning Que simply closed the shop after lunch, in the name of comforting the little handmaiden's seriously hurt heart. In fact, he probably just wanted to relax himself. He took Sangsang through the streets and alleys to the legendary Chenjinji Cosmetics Store, and then bought some leisure books from a bookstore called Danbo Bookstore.
The effect of relaxing was very good. Sangsang carried the tied books in one hand and the powder box of Chenjinji Cosmetics Store in the other. Her tanned face could not hide her joy. Ning Que was also in a very good mood. He held the big black umbrella with his right hand and stretched out his left hand to catch the rainwater. The rainwater hit the umbrella and his palm, and his boots stepped on the rainwater that had accumulated into small puddles. The master and the handmaiden hopped back to Lin 47th Street like two little sparrows.
Suddenly, the black umbrella shook slightly. Ning Que stood in the rain a dozen meters away from the shop and looked at the gray wall that had been washed black by the rainwater. He looked at the man sitting under the wall, and at the man's tanned face that had turned blue due to excessive blood loss. His right hand holding the handle of the umbrella suddenly tightened.
The sound was like the beating of a war drum! His left foot suddenly stepped into the puddle on the bluestone, splashing water. He gathered all the strength in his body to his waist and was ready to rush down the gray wall.
However, at this moment, the black-faced man covered in blood under the wall looked at him and forced a smile. Then he shook his head with unusual firmness. There was an extremely terrible wound on his chest and abdomen. His black clothes were torn, blood was flowing, and his bones were broken. Even those Grand Cultivators who had entered the State of No Rules could not save him.
Ning Que saw this scene and understood his determination. Then he heard the dense footsteps and shouts from the entrance of the alley. So he slowly and clumsily withdrew his left foot, and his right hand holding the handle of the umbrella trembled violently for no reason.
"The Military Ministry is chasing the spy! Idlers, get out of the way! "
Dozens of Tang Yulin Royal Guards in full armor rushed into the alley in the rain and surrounded Zhuo Er under the corner of the wall. They looked solemn and vigilant. The leading general was obviously relieved when he saw Zhuo Er's injury.
The spring rain was getting heavier and heavier, washing the gray wall even darker. The rainwater flowed down the wall like a stream and quickly washed away the blood stained by Zhuo Er.
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