Ancient Imperial Examination Daily

Chapter 595 Neighbors
The Du family's new house was some distance away from Taixue. Du Jinning took a horse-drawn carriage and walked around the city for a full meal before returning home.

"Master, are you back?" Old man Zhu also followed the Du family from Fucheng to the capital, still working as a porter.Seeing that the carriage stopped, he rushed over to pull up the curtain for Du Jinning.

Hearing the sound of silk and bamboo coming from the next door, Du Jinning entered the gate and asked old man Zhu, "Did you find out what kind of wedding the Ji family is holding next door?"

Coincidentally, the neighbor of Du Jinning's new house is not a stranger, but Ji Shu, who was a fellow examiner with Pan Yiting and Wang Shibin when Du Jinning took the provincial examination.This Ji Shu is also the cousin of the Fifth Prince Zhao Chang.

Ever since Du Jinning moved here, he could hear the sound of silk and bamboo and opera singing from the next door every day.If Shi Yun hadn't mentioned it when she bought the house, saying that Ji Shu lived next door to her, she would have thought she and the troupe were neighbors.

That's why she asked old man Zhu to inquire.

After all, Ji Shu can be regarded as her teacher, and she has also met Zhao Chang a few times, and has a certain friendship.If the Ji family had any happy event, even if she didn't receive an invitation, she would still send a gift to congratulate her.

Old man Zhu used to guard the gate door to door with old man Zhu of the Qi family, and he learned a few tricks about his intelligence gathering skills.Seeing this meeting, he smiled and said: "Young master, this old servant has heard that the 27th of this month is the [-]th birthday of the old lady of the Ji family. Mr. Ji intends to celebrate his mother's birthday on that day, so I ordered The theater troupe at home should practice well, and on that day they will sing a few plays for the guests, and it is not in vain to spend a lot of money to raise a theater troupe."

You know, it costs money to raise an opera troupe, and the Ji family is not a big family.Helplessly, Mrs. Ji likes to listen to operas very much. Master Ji was worried that she would go to the theater full of fish and dragons all day long, so he had to raise a theater troupe at home.

Du Jinning stopped in his tracks, raised his eyebrows and said, "It's the 27th of this month, isn't that the day after tomorrow?"

"Yes, it will be the day after tomorrow." Old man Zhu said.

Du Jinning nodded, thinking about what gift to send, and told old man Zhu: "Okay, I understand, you don't have to follow, just guard the door." Then he walked into the inner house.

At this moment, Yao Shuqi heard that Du Jinning was coming back, so he rushed out to welcome him.

Du Jinning said casually: "The old lady next door Ji's [-]th birthday, I will draw a picture in these two days, and you can send it over by yourself when the time comes."

It's not that Du Jinning is stingy and reluctant to give away good things.But they just moved here, and she has no official position, so in the eyes of others, she is just a poor student from the countryside.If the gift is too heavy, there will be suspicion of flattery. Not only will you not be able to please, but it will be easy to be looked down upon.The gift given was too light, and it made people feel that the Du family didn't make friends sincerely.Neither right nor left.

So she simply painted a painting by herself.In this way, sincerity is full, and the value is not high or low.After all, Du Jinning's paintings are worthless now, but it doesn't mean they will be worthless in the future.Moreover, her level of painting is quite high, and she is still very good at it.

Yao Shuqi also heard old man Zhu talk about the next door, and he was worried about giving gifts.At this moment, when I heard the young master said that I would give away a painting I painted by myself, I immediately thought that this idea was great.

He said: "Master Ji is also a person who likes calligraphy and painting, the paintings of the young master will definitely be loved by Mr. Ji as precious."

Speaking of this, he waved to a servant: "Go to my room and bring the gift from Young Master Qi."

The boy went in response.

Du Jinning was curious: "Master Qi? Who?"

"Young Master Qi Mulin." Yao Shuqi laughed, "He sent someone to send a gift, saying thank you for the painting you gave him. When you are free someday, he will come to visit and thank you in person."

It was only then that Du Jinning remembered the little boy he met in the Qi Mansion, and was very surprised: "Why did he send a gift? I didn't hear Qi Muyuan mention it."

"I guess I didn't tell Young Master Qi." Yao Shuqi laughed.

He always called Qi Muyuan "Master Qi", but now, in order to distinguish him from Qi Mulin, he simply called him "Master Qi" and "Master Qi".

After a while, the servant came over, holding a box in his hand, and handed it to Du Jinning.

Du Jinning took it, opened the box, and saw two brocade boxes inside.Open the brocade box again, and put a piece of ink in it.

She picked it up to look at it, put it under her nose and sniffed it, and praised: "Good ink."

This ink is a well-known Duan ink in Huizhou Prefecture. Because the output is small and expensive, even the rich cannot buy it.

Du Jinning stared at the two pieces of ink for a while, and finally said with a smile: "Forget it, let's accept it."

It was so expensive, she didn't want to accept it.But think about it, this was the first time Qi Mulin gave her something, and it was obviously a return gift from her for the painting.If she sends it back, it will definitely hurt the little boy's heart.

After accepting this ink, I will teach him to paint more in the future and give him two more paintings.

After making up his mind to collect the ink, Du Jinning's hands were itchy, and he didn't care about eating lunch. When he returned to the study, he grinded the ink and started writing.

Good ink is good ink, she found that writing feels smoother, and the writing is a bit more beautiful than usual.

Seeing Yao Shuqi, he smiled and said, "Master's writing is getting better and better."

Du Jinning was ashamed.

She learned calligraphy from two well-known calligraphers, Guan Lehe and Yuan Xiuzhu. After four years of unremitting efforts, the characters she wrote finally looked a bit decent, and she would not lose the face of these two teachers.

Now that diplomatic relations with Qi Muyuan were restored, Du Jinning couldn't stop talking to him. She went to Taixue the next day and told Qi Muyuan about Qi Mulin sending her Haomo.

Qi Muyuan still loves his younger brother very much, and he couldn't help laughing when he heard that: "He has always said that he is going to visit you and ask you for advice on painting. You can also give him some advice when you have time. I am not boasting about his child. He is good at painting. Still has some talent."

Du Jinning naturally agreed.

At this time, they were taking a break between classes, and Master Tan had already attended a class.Guan Jiaze came over and asked Du Jinning: "What's the matter with you? Why didn't I hear your article mentioned by the master just now?"

Just now Mr. Tan commented on yesterday's article, and praised the students who wrote it well.But Guan Jiaze didn't hear Du Jinning's name after listening to it.That's why he asked this question.

Du Jinning was about to speak when he heard a student next to him chuckle, looked at Du Jinning and said, "Which famous talent is this brother? It's very strange that the master didn't mention your article." ?"

Originally, when Guan Jiaze asked that question, he deliberately lowered his voice, except for the three of Du Jinning and this student who happened to pass by, no one heard him.But after this person asked such a loud question, everyone looked this way.

(End of this chapter)