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墨書 Inktalez
The girl peeking out from the carriage window looked around fourteen or fifteen years old, her face still retaining a youthful innocence, and her big, watery eyes made her seem even younger.
Sitting upright and waiting in line, the expressions on the faces of those around her were filled with confusion.
Unable to contain their curiosity, one person gestured to the coachman to inquire about Liu Qingxi's purpose for coming, especially since everyone at Ying Mansion today was there for the rare Architectural Symposium.
The Yang Family Coachman, who was driving for Liu Qingxi, straightened his back and replied with an equal tone, "Our young lady has been invited by Elder Ying to attend today's symposium."
What?! This girl is here to participate in the symposium?
Looking around, it was clear that everyone else was either an elderly man with gray hair or a middle-aged man with a beard. When did such a young girl get invited?
In the adjacent carriage, a middle-aged man waiting alongside Liu Qingxi turned his head and caught sight of her sitting there. He let out a heavy snort.
Just then, the inspection of invitations ahead was moving slowly. The middle-aged man lifted the curtain of his carriage and revealed himself dressed in a black brocade robe adorned with auspicious clouds. He had a medium build and sported two handlebar mustaches, exuding an air of arrogance with every gesture.
There was no denying that among all those present, few were younger than him. At over thirty years old, being invited by Elder Ying indicated his considerable status, which made him quite proud.
His name was Ren Qiangsheng, hailing from Jinru County, and he was one of the prominent figures in the area.
This was his first invitation from Elder Ying to come to Lingjiang Province. Faced with so many industry professionals, he struggled to suppress his inner arrogance. However, upon seeing that all the other invitees were older than him, his vanity began to swell.
He arrogantly regarded everyone around him as beneath him. He believed himself to be exceptionally knowledgeable and felt that few could match his capabilities.
At thirty-two years old and having achieved such status, it was clear he had a bright future ahead.
Thus, when greeting his peers nearby, there was an unmistakable tone of superiority in his voice.
Who among those present wasn't someone of significance? These elderly men were either close friends of Elder Ying or long-time colleagues; how could a young man like him compare?
People just didn't want to fuss about it; they simply marked him with a mental cross.
Ren Qiangsheng, thinking highly of himself, sat proudly in the carriage while others exchanged greetings and chatted, adopting a dismissive attitude.
Years later, he believed he would surpass them all. In fact, he thought that these big shots, accustomed to their lofty positions, sometimes lacked the skills he possessed in real construction.
He just forgot that they had nearly a lifetime of experience—how could a young man like him compare?
It was no exaggeration; they had eaten more salt than he had rice.
Just as he was feeling smug, a girl in her teens suddenly appeared.
This directly shattered his sense of superiority, sending it crashing down. How could he handle that?
In an instant, jealousy and resentment filled his heart, turning his eyes red. He scoffed and rolled his eyes at Liu Qingxi with disdain.
Of course, the other elders also had their opinions but chose not to express them.
The carriage moved slowly forward, one by one entering Ying Mansion.
Liu Qingxi gently lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked toward the entrance of Ying Mansion. Two attendants stood on either side, inspecting every vehicle that entered. After all, with so many people invited, if anyone could just walk in, even expanding Ying Mansion twice wouldn't be enough to accommodate everyone.
Ying Fushan, who had met Liu Qingxi yesterday, stood at the door welcoming guests with a smile: "Welcome, welcome! Please come inside!"
"Ah, Uncle Li! Long time no see! My father has been thinking about you!"
"Really? That old man remembers me? Isn't he too busy painting?" A jovial elderly man in his fifties with graying hair and a rosy complexion chuckled as he stroked his beard and joked with Ying Fushan.
"How dare I smile in your presence? Please, go ahead."
Time passed second by second, and finally, it was time for Liu Qingxi's carriage to move forward. At that moment, the carriage that had been running parallel suddenly cracked its whip, and with a loud snap, the horses quickened their pace, forcing Liu Qingxi to the side of the road.
Fortunately, the coachman was experienced and quickly pulled the reins to turn left, narrowly avoiding a disastrous collision between the two carriages.
"You!!!" The Yang Family Coachman glared fiercely at the other driver, watching as they were pushed back just as they were about to reach the entrance.
Couldn’t you have sped up a bit earlier? With less than two meters of space left, they squeezed through.
However, the other party responded with disdainful and provocative looks, as if to say, "If you have the ability, come and overtake me!"
But Liu Qingxi could not act so recklessly. After all, they were in front of Ying Mansion, where her newly appointed master was waiting; she had to consider his reputation.
The other party, however, did not think this way. Ren Qiangsheng was being deliberately obstructive, aiming to seize her position at the moment she advanced, as if doing so would push Liu Qingxi behind and prove his own status.
He could not stand seeing Liu Qingxi invited at such a young age. Back when he was in his teens, he was merely an apprentice following a mason.
Later on, due to his eagerness to learn and hard work, that mason passed on all his skills to him. With further exploration and practice, he gradually gained fame as a chef.
Yet this person lacked mental fortitude; during his impoverished days, he could strive hard for a living.
Once he achieved fame, he suddenly became lazy and could not resist the temptations of the outside world. Where would he find the motivation to study architectural structures anymore?
Actually, it was a sudden rise to fame that created the current situation; he could not handle his existing reputation and status.
Incessantly comparing himself to the people of Jinru County and Lingjiang Province, it seemed that the only way to prove his strength was to step on Liu Qingxi.
The attendant who welcomed guests had seen Liu Qingxi yesterday and knew that his master held this young lady in high regard. At this moment, seeing her being troubled by someone, he wanted to step forward but was stopped by Liu Qingxi.
He understood the girl's intention: to stay calm and not mess things up.
Thus, Ren Qiangsheng left with a smug and contemptuous smile, swaggering into Ying Mansion, while the coachman drove the carriage to the designated spot arranged early at Ying Mansion.
Next, it was Liu Qingxi's turn.
The news of a girl having an in-depth conversation with the master had spread to every corner of Ying Mansion. From elderly women in their sixties to young maids in their teens, everyone wanted to witness Liu Qingxi's elegance.
Therefore, when Elder Ying sent Liu Qingxi off yesterday as the sun set, all the maids who had nothing to do hid behind the rockery to watch.
Who didn't know about their master's stubborn temperament? If he disliked someone, he simply did not like them. Even several diligent gentlemen were still criticized by him for not understanding architecture.
Yet, he actually treated a girl with kindness—truly a sensational news story.
At this moment, others could not bear to watch. Ying Fushan felt uncomfortable as well and was not very warm towards Ren Qiangsheng when facing him.
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