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墨書 Inktalez
"Quick, quick, please!" Elder Ying's voice immediately rose as he waved his hand at the Doorman, "Hurry and let them in."
Having served at Ying Mansion for so many years, the Doorman had never seen the Old Master show such enthusiasm for anyone. Even when many merchants from the Provincial Capital came to visit, it depended on the Old Master's mood.
Today was indeed strange; his mind was racing, but he did not hesitate and quickly went to invite Liu Qingxi inside.
At the door, Liu Qingxi stood upright, flanked by two maids who also straightened their backs, afraid of embarrassing their young lady.
This was the first outing since their mistress sent them to Liu Qingxi, and they absolutely could not perform poorly; otherwise, it would be too shameful.
A moment later, the Doorman returned, and the three were respectfully led inside.
As soon as Liu Qingxi stepped into Ying Mansion, she felt a wave of comfort wash over her—yes, an inexplicable sense of ease.
The vast Ying Mansion could easily feel chaotic or crowded if not well-planned; however, the buildings and greenery here did not give off that impression at all.
On either side of the path, rows of Ginkgo Trees had started to turn yellow, and the green fruits were gradually ripening.
Passing through the Main Road directly in front of the entrance was a Pavilion. The pavilions and corridors were adorned with Crimson Handrails where Carp swam playfully in the pond beside them.
Lotus Leaves floated gently on the water's surface, with a few Lotus Seed Pods playfully poking out from the pond, inviting people to pick them.
Further ahead, the distance between each tree was not cramped but perfectly formed a connected shade. Rays of sunlight filtered through the leaves, combining coolness with a gentle warmth—a testament to the designer's thoughtful ingenuity.
Turning right after walking through a long corridor led to a courtyard with only three houses. The house facing the courtyard gate was larger and more intricately designed, featuring hexagonal window frames that formed a large flower with layers of petals.
On either side of the path in the courtyard were rows of Roses in red, yellow, and white blooming silently. Behind them were two well-utilized vegetable plots.
In this elegant and refined place, the two vegetable gardens did not feel out of place; rather, they added a touch of liveliness amidst the elegance.
The doorman led her inside and knocked on the door, saying, "Sir, Miss Liu has arrived."
The door opened with a creak, and several men filed out. One of them wore a long black robe embroidered with golden patterns, his hair white and eyelids drooping, his skin marked with the wrinkles of age.
Yet his eyes were bright, as if he could see into your soul.
This must be the renowned Elder Ying. Liu Qingxi slightly bent her body and performed a respectful greeting, saying, "I pay my respects to Elder Ying. I apologize for my sudden visit."
The old man waved his hand dismissively. "You must be Liu Qingxi. We have communicated through letters."
"Yes, I am grateful for Elder Ying's attention. There were many matters at home, and I only managed to leave yesterday. However, it was already late when I arrived in Lingjiang Province. I hope my visit today does not take up too much of your time."
To her surprise, Elder Ying shook his head helplessly. "Young lady, please don't mention it. I've heard about your affairs; you are now quite famous as Miss Liu."
"Elder Ying flatters me. Qingxi has merely done what she ought to do."
The old man sighed deeply. "Indeed, what should be done is far less than what you have accomplished. I have not done what I should have; I feel ashamed, truly ashamed!" After the earthquake, his actions paled in comparison to Liu Qingxi's.
"Enough of that; let's not linger on it. Come into the study; we are just discussing tomorrow's arrangements." Elder Ying clapped the table decisively. "You, Girl, should also offer your opinions."
The term "Girl" instantly bridged the gap between them, infused with the affection of an elder towards a junior.
Liu Qingxi could not refuse and was pulled into Ying Mansion by several people.
There, Elder Ying gestured for her to sit beside him. "I've wanted to meet you for a long time. When I was your age, I was not as accomplished as you are now. Don't be shy; you should speak up."
"By the way, have your two maidservants put down your things? Since you've come all this way, what did you bring?"
Liu Qingxi finally found an excuse and reason: "Elder Ying, these are mountain goods we picked ourselves, and we didn't spend any money on them. I saved some for you to taste."
After that, the conversation shifted back to architectural knowledge.
Upon further discussion, it became clear that Liu Qingxi had solid expertise and rich practical experience.
However, there was still a slight deficiency: "Girl, it seems you are skilled at building houses, and I can't teach you much more. But I can see that you are quite lacking in feng shui knowledge."
"Girl, don't underestimate the importance of feng shui. When building a house, this aspect must be considered. Sometimes just a slight difference in distance or the placement of the main door can significantly affect fortune.
Let me give you a brief introduction to the basics."
Drawing on his expertise, Elder Ying spoke passionately, his voice booming. In an instant, he seemed ten years younger, and the wrinkles on his face relaxed.
Liu Qingxi listened intently; the elder resembled a kind teacher guiding her into another realm.
In her past life, people also valued feng shui. Before selecting a site, it was essential to invite a feng shui master for consultation before laying the foundation.
"Girl, a good designer not only designs houses but also possesses creativity and understands basic feng shui. The top designers must have exceptional feng shui skills. You are still young and somewhat lacking in this area, but don't worry; take your time."
Regarding tomorrow's arrangements, Elder Ying left it all to Ying Fushan and his brothers. Having lived most of his life, if they couldn't handle such matters well, they would be unworthy descendants of Ying Mansion.
In Elder Ying's eyes, Liu Qingxi was like a prized gem—at fourteen years old, with a mind sharp enough to learn and absorb new knowledge quickly.
As he became more excited, Elder Ying slammed his hand on the table.
At the same time, Yang Yichen slightly changed his attire, dressed in black that accentuated his stern features, exuding an air of coldness. After leaving the inn, he took a few winding turns and finally stopped in front of an ordinary courtyard gate.
He gently knocked on the door, and a series of loud clanging sounds echoed from inside.
The door was quickly opened, revealing a scene of chaos; pieces of iron and rectangular iron bars were scattered all over the ground.
A furnace blazed with a roaring fire, and several men were working shirtless, drenched in sweat.
Upon seeing Yang Yichen arrive, one of them wiped his brow and said, "Master, you're here! The items you need will be ready shortly, just give us two more moments."
"Good, everyone has worked hard. Once this order is finished, each of you can take three days off."
Yang Yichen walked past each blacksmith, casually touching the finished models and occasionally offering a few suggestions.
"You need to increase the burning time for this one; add another fifteen minutes."
"This one is cooling too quickly; it may develop micro-cracks."
"This one..."
Each piece of feedback was perfectly timed, and the men nodded in agreement. They had great faith in their master's skills, which was also the reason they felt secure staying here; they could learn much more.
It turned out that this was where Yang Yichen forged weapons. No one would have expected him to set up shop in such a place.
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