Records of the Lost Cases of Helaitang in the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 5 The dilapidated old house
The two of them galloped for an hour, and they estimated that they were almost done when they saw a farmer holding a hoe standing by the road, smoking a hookah under a willow tree.Shopkeeper Xiao Jin asked loudly: "Brother, are you heading here to Changle Village?"

The farmer pointed to the west with his pipe and said: "Three or four miles ahead, there is Inkstone Mountain. At the foot of Inkstone Mountain, there is a large bamboo forest. Walk along the bamboo towards the mountain. You will not reach it for five or six miles. When you see the archway, you will arrive. .”

Shopkeeper Xiao Jin thanked him and felt relieved, and said to He Xiucai: "It's almost time. I forgot to bring dry food when I went out this morning. I was afraid that I would have to walk through the village and the store."

He Xiucai sneered and said: "I can't say that I can only walk thirty or twenty miles out of the city. It was just a blink of an eye. How can I be so careful? I even walked on two legs."

He reined in the horse and slowed down, and sure enough, a large bamboo forest appeared in front of him, lush and green, covering the mountains and plains.If you look carefully, you can see that there are several orange trees in the middle. At this time, the oranges have turned yellow and are particularly fragrant and attractive.

Shopkeeper Xiao Jin got off his horse and picked one. He kept shouting that it was delicious. He picked a few more and threw them to He Xiucai.

He Xiucai took the orange, peeled it and tasted it. He nodded and said to shopkeeper Xiao Jin, "I will live in the mountains tomorrow. I will eat wild fruits and paint every day. This is not the life of a god."

Shopkeeper Xiao Jin teased: "A rich and idle person like you always enjoys happiness. We ordinary people have business done every day and money comes in, so we feel that the gods are no longer there."

He Xiucai picked some fruits from another orange tree and shouted, "This one is sweeter."

The two of them had been riding for more than an hour, and they were actually quite thirsty. Since they came across a good fruit, they simply sat on the ground to eat it and take a short rest.While observing the terrain, I saw that there was indeed a path in the middle of the bamboo forest leading into the distance.

The two chatted and laughed for a while, then each led the horse forward along the bamboo path.

After walking for two or three miles, the road became wider, with desert mulberry forests on both sides and golden ears of rice. He Xiucai praised: "This Changle Village is actually like a peach blossom garden."

After a while, a memorial arch appeared in front of us.

Shopkeeper Xiao Jin said: I heard from a waiter before that Mr. Ye’s house is the third one to the west of the village entrance archway.

It is said to be the third house, but in fact it is far away from the entrance of the village. The bluestone pavement is covered with moss, giving it a deserted feel.

He Xiucai and shopkeeper Xiao Jin came closer and looked at Ye's mansion, somewhat stunned.

Although the courtyard was large, the door was covered with dust and the walls were covered with vines. They looked like they were about to collapse and were in a state of decay.

After knocking on the door for a long time, an old servant came to answer the door, wearing an old skirt.

Shopkeeper Xiao Jin asked suspiciously: "Is your master at home?"

The old servant shook his head, made a gesture, and pointed outside.

Shopkeeper Xiao Jin said: "We are the guys from the Jin Family Painting and Calligraphy Workshop who have done business with your house. We come to see your house's collection."

The old servant seemed to want to stop them, making gestures and gestures, but shopkeeper Xiao Jin and He Xiucai went in on their own, and the old servant did not follow.

The huge courtyard of Ye Mansion was actually covered with weeds. Chickens and ducks in twos and threes flew up in shock when they saw the stranger.

Shopkeeper Xiao Jin said to He Xiucai: "I had heard that the Ye family was in great embarrassment due to its decline, but I didn't expect it to be like this."

However, He Xiucai said smugly: "It seems that Mr. Ye is more likely to transfer the painting."

The second time you enter the courtyard, it is generally the hall that welcomes guests. Now it is empty, with only the blue brick floor left. According to the layout of the hall, there should be a set of red sandalwood or huanghuali furniture here. On both sides of the door The lantern was nowhere to be seen, and it was gloomy. Fortunately, it was noon.

He Xiucai stood outside the house with his hands behind his hands and couldn't help but sigh: "Before I came here, I thought that there might be a silver foil ingot enshrined here, which opened my eyes." Shopkeeper Xiao Jin couldn't help but sigh: "The Ye family is in such a dilapidated situation. , even if there was a silver foil ingot in the past, it is definitely gone now. According to folklore, if this silver foil ingot is paid, the debt will still be there, and it will not be our turn to buy his paintings."

He Xiucai suddenly thought of something and said, "Why don't you repay Mr. Ye's debt?"

Shopkeeper Xiaojin was stunned for a moment and said: "These are all strange rumors in the public, how can they be taken seriously?"

The two of them stepped in and looked around.

"Look." Shopkeeper Xiaojin pointed to the front wall.

On the hollow wall, there is a painting of the nave. Below the painting is a winding valley stream, leisurely white clouds covering the valley, green mountains in the distance, and yellow spring trees nearby.The layout is large, can be opened and closed freely, and the colors are soft and unparalleled.

This is a picture of spring trees.

He Xiucai looked at the painting intently, and the more he looked at it, the more ecstatic he felt. Compared with several volumes of Huang Zijiu's paintings he had seen, this painting was particularly sublime with thick brushwork and gorgeous colors.

He Xiucai sighed for a long time: "It is really a masterpiece. No one can do it except the idiot Taoist."

Shopkeeper Xiaojin was also very knowledgeable, and nodded in agreement: "It's really brilliant. When I look at this painting, it seems to be the work of a middle-aged idiot Taoist. At that time, he was selling divination in the world and often failed to pay. I didn't expect that the Ye family would still have spring. A collection like the tree map, otherwise I would have bought it long ago.”

The two of them watched in the empty living room for a long time, but no one appeared.

As the sun sets, shopkeeper Xiaojin said: "Maybe the owner of the Ye family is out and only an old man is left at home. Let's go back to the county first, and then send a guy to talk to Ye Shijiu about the price the next day."

He Xiucai was still reluctant to leave, so shopkeeper Xiao Jin said: "Now that I have seen the painting, it has always been here. Don't show your intention for ten minutes. The Ye family is very poor, so I don't want him to open his mouth. Everything will be dealt with by the calligraphy and painting workshop, guaranteed." Pinch a snail with three fingers - it's a sure thing."

The two returned to the gate of the front yard and saw the old servant feeding the chickens. Shopkeeper Xiao Jin said to him: "The master of your mansion once asked our Jin family calligraphy and painting shop to sell goods. Now someone wants to take over. It will take three to five days." , the clerk from our store will come to discuss the business with your master. When your master comes back, it will naturally be more convenient for him to come to the county. "

The old servant gesticulated again and pointed outside, babbling. It turned out he was mute. I didn't know what he meant.

Just when He Xiucai was about to say something, he was dragged out by shopkeeper Xiao Jin.

Following the original path and returning to the archway at the entrance of the village, shopkeeper Xiaojin said casually: "This Changle Village seems to be underpopulated. I've been going back and forth, but I haven't met anyone."

He Xiucai took a closer look and said: "The countryside is very desolate. Fortunately, I saw the painting. It was a worthwhile trip."

On the way back, they were hungry. They were not familiar with the road, so they did not dare to leave the official road to find Xiaoshidian. They arrived at the old Zhangjia store under the Sandong Bridge in the western suburbs of Lanxi County, where they each enjoyed a delicious meal. Bowl of soil noodles.

After coming out of Zhangjia's old shop, the two of them led their horses and stood on the stone bank under the Sandong Bridge and had a conversation. Shopkeeper Xiao Jin also wanted to go to the shop. Jinjia's calligraphy and painting workshop is next to Tianhou Palace. Enter the west gate and walk south. He The scholar's family lived in Zhuangyuanfang, and it was convenient to enter the city from the north gate, so they walked in separate ways.

Shopkeeper Xiao Jin repeatedly warned He Xiucai: "Let's wait a few days. Mr. Ye will go to the city. If he doesn't come in a few days, I will ask my assistant Ah Liu to look for him."

He Xiucai understood clearly and said: "Brother Jin, don't worry, you will definitely be indispensable for the commission in your store, and everything will be done according to the old rules."

Shopkeeper Xiao Jin felt relieved, mounted his horse and said, "I'm going to go ahead and take my leave."

(End of this chapter)