Life in siheyuan era

Zhou Zhiyuan didn't know if Lou Xiao'e was on duty today, but he wanted to try his luck, hoping to meet her and make a deal.

A few days ago, he took two paintings to Tao Jin to have them mounted. "Spring Bamboo" was a gift for Shen Jue, while "Phoenix Facing the Sun" was intended to be sold to Lou Xiao'e.

To achieve this goal, he made detailed arrangements for today. He would go to Mo Youji's house in the morning to attend the class, meet Xie Yun with Shen Lanbo at nine o'clock, return to Mo Youji's house at half past eleven to pick up the paintings, and then go straight to the library.

This plan was based on time arrangement and did not involve the cooperation of all parties, so there was no need to worry about accidents. Moreover, his luck has always been very good, and he would be able to see Lou Xiao'e as soon as he walked into the library.

Lou Xiao'e was not surprised to see him either, thinking that Zhou Zhiyuan was here to read. She was just about to talk to him about investing in antiques when she heard him say in a low voice: "Sister Xiao'e..."

He called out affectionately, and then whispered, "I have something urgent to deal with, please keep this painting for me. If you go back to the quadrangle courtyard tonight, give this painting to my brother. If you don't go back, just leave it in the library for the time being. Be sure to keep it safe and never let anyone see it, please, please."

These were a series of nonsensical words, and Lou Xiao'e naturally had to ask: "Why don't you take it with you?"

"I dare not..." Zhou Zhiyuan's voice had a hint of fear, "My comrade and his girlfriend are waiting for me in front. His girlfriend's father will be celebrating his birthday soon. If his girlfriend sees this painting, she will definitely take it away. I spent five hundred yuan to get this painting, and I plan to give it to my father for his birthday."

Zhou Zhiyuan's words made Lou Xiao'e's heart flutter. Her father, Lou Cheng, would be celebrating his birthday next Friday, and she was thinking about a birthday gift when Zhou Zhiyuan offered one.

Thinking like this, Lou Xiao'e became interested and spread out the painting with both hands. She was immediately attracted by the phoenix.

He called out so affectionately, and then whispered: "You are well-read, have a strong memory, have broad knowledge, and are knowledgeable..."

He first gave a lot of compliments, making Lou Xiao'e look at him in surprise, and then whispered: "But you have overlooked one person. This person is Wu Daozi's master, named 'Hidden Phoenix Mountain Man', whose real name is Zhou Zhining."

Hearing him say this, Lou Xiao'e opened her mouth to refute, but suddenly realized that she had nothing to say.

You can't do this, forcibly saying that your brother is Wu Daozi's master. This is a serious act of fraud.

Thinking of fraudulent behavior, Lou Xiao'e suddenly realized that she had caught Zhou Zhiyuan's handle. With such a handle in hand, she had to consider how to use it.

"Let him appraise those antique calligraphy and paintings for my father for free." Having this idea, Lou Xiao'e felt it was too cheap for him.

Then she continued to think, "Let him go from house to house to collect antiques for me."

Having made up her mind, she looked up at Zhou Zhiyuan, and seeing him looking at her with a puzzled expression, she asked in a low voice when she saw her looking over: "Sister Xiao'e, what are you thinking about?"

"Cough..." Lou Xiao'e coughed lightly and said slowly: "Brother Zhou Zhiyuan, you have committed fraud. This painting was painted by your brother, but you said it was painted by Wu Daozi's master. As long as I call the police, the police will arrest you."

She said it with confidence, but saw Zhou Zhiyuan's face showing surprise. After listening to her, he immediately replied: "The premise of fraud is to deceive people of money. Did I deceive you of money?"

Hearing this, Lou Xiao'e suddenly remembered something. Zhou Zhiyuan spoke with the law at the three-court joint trial in the quadrangle courtyard.

"He knows the law."

As soon as this thought arose, she heard Zhou Zhiyuan say: "I said that Zhou Zhining is Wu Daozi's master, at most it's bragging. Is bragging illegal?"

Hearing Zhou Zhiyuan's two consecutive questions, Lou Xiao'e retorted angrily: "Bragging is not illegal, but you said that this painting was bought for five hundred yuan, which involves cheating money."

"Who did I cheat money from?" Zhou Zhiyuan asked, and then continued to ask: "If Wu Daozi's master is really Zhou Zhining, every painting of his is a national treasure. Can you buy it for five hundred yuan?"

This question left Lou Xiao'e speechless, and she could only listen to him continue: "The price of five hundred yuan was set by my master, I'm just telling the truth."

Saying this, he sighed again and said in a low voice: "I absolutely trust Sister Xiao'e's character. I entrusted you to keep this painting for me, but I didn't expect it to lead to such a scene. Sister Xiao'e, give me the painting, I won't bother you."

He wanted the painting, and stretched out his left hand, but Lou Xiao'e held the painting tightly and replied: "No, you have entrusted me to keep this painting, you can't take it back."

Hearing her say this, Zhou Zhiyuan asked in great surprise: "Can't I get my painting back?"

"No..." Lou Xiao'e's attitude was firm, "I promised to keep it for you, either I'll give it to your brother when I go home tonight, or you can come and get it tomorrow. You have to keep your word, otherwise you'll be untrustworthy."

Her attitude made Zhou Zhiyuan blink, and after a while, he said: "Sister Xiao'e, why do I feel like you want to embezzle my painting?"

"Nonsense..." Lou Xiao'e said angrily: "How could a dignified librarian embezzle your painting? You must apologize."

Seeing her look so righteous, Zhou Zhiyuan blinked again and said: "Okay, I apologize for what I said just now. Sister Xiao'e is definitely a trustworthy heroine, I believe you."

After saying this, he left. Looking at his back, Lou Xiao'e gently breathed a sigh of relief. She had saved the painting.

Looking down at the painting, this phoenix has a snake's head, turtle's back, nine tails and eighteen wings, crane's legs, eagle's beak, chicken claws, and a ruyi crown... It is the five-color full-color phoenix in Fengyang phoenix paintings.

Lou Xiao'e knew her stuff. This five-color full-color phoenix picture was very rare. She wanted to take it home to show her father and brother.

Having this idea, Lou Xiao'e hurriedly rolled up the painting and walked quickly to her office.

Just as Lou Xiao'e hid "Phoenix Facing the Sun", Zhou Zhiyuan walked into the "Old Brand Wonton Restaurant" and couldn't help but smile when he saw that figure. His luck was really good.

He walked over and sat beside him, looked at this long and thin face, and immediately said briskly when he saw him looking over in astonishment: "I'll treat you to a meal."

Seeing Yuan Shi again, Zhou Zhiyuan wanted to connect with him.

Yuan Shi looked at him, then looked down at the wonton bowl in front of him, and replied in a low voice: "I have already paid the bill."

He politely refused Zhou Zhiyuan, but Zhou Zhiyuan replied briskly: "I'll buy you another bowl of wontons plus two fried cakes and two side dishes."

He was about to get up to buy it, but Yuan Shi sighed softly and said: "No need, just ask what you want to ask."

Yuan Shi was a smart person and absolutely didn't believe that Zhou Zhiyuan was so kind, remembering the principle that there must be a request when someone is being polite.

He couldn't afford to offend Zhou Zhiyuan, so he could only actively cooperate, listening to Zhou Zhiyuan say in a low voice: "On my first day at work, I beat Hu Biao. That night, I beat Hu Feng, Hu Biao, and Xu Laoer's gang of more than twenty people. The next day, I forcibly demolished Xu Laoer's illegally built house."

"No one has bothered me these days, but last night when I was eating with my colleagues, a young man suddenly came. His name is Wu Shan, and he sincerely wants to make friends with me. I don't know anything about these people's situation. I happened to meet you, can you introduce me to these people?"

Hearing him ask about this, Yuan Shi turned his face to look around, then turned his head back and said: "I have always been alone and have no contact with them. I can only say some things on the surface..."

Yuan Shi said some things, and finally said: "You have to be careful when dealing with them. These people are waving the banner of loyalty, but most of them are not loyal. Keep a few eyes open when you come into contact with them."

After saying this, Yuan Shi got up and walked out, while Zhou Zhiyuan sat on the stool and carefully pondered for a while before getting up and walking out.

Seeing Wu Shan last night, he speculated that Xu Laoer met Li Huaiyi through Wu Shan, and Wu Shan had extensive contacts and knew many people in the officialdom and society. This speculation was confirmed by Yuan Shi.

Yuan Shi didn't know the situation on the official side, but he knew that these people in society were quite respectful to Wu Shan.

But that's all he knew. Although Yuan Shi was a thief, he didn't want to associate with those people in society. In his words, "These people are not reliable."

Zhou Zhiyuan agreed with his words, but he was determined to have a good contact with Wu Shan. He walked out of the "Old Brand Wonton Restaurant" but immediately put this question aside.

He still had some time, and he had to make full use of this time. First, he would go to Yongan Shopping Mall to buy a gold pen as a gift, then go to his master's house to attend the class, and arrive at the army compound before four o'clock.

He prepared a "Spring Bamboo" painting for Shen Jue, and he was going to buy a gold pen for Chen Shuying, which was recommended by Yu Li.