236, Greedy Mouth (2 Updates)
Li Hengyi’s painting skills were superb; with just a few strokes, the pond’s edge sprang to life on the paper. He used bold and bright colors, making the lotus flowers on the painting dazzlingly vivid. Xie Zhinuan brought over the tea and, after one glance, was captivated by the artwork.
Admiration and envy rose in her heart.
“The painting is really good!”
There were also travelers who came to rest at the tea house and couldn’t help but come over to look, showering him with praises.
Some even asked Li Hengyi if he was willing to sell a piece and offered a tip for his work.
Li Hengyi glanced at Xie Zhinuan and thought for a moment before saying, “Alright!”
The tip varied with each person; some offered several hundred wen, while an old gentleman gave a basket of eggs.
Xie Zhinuan knew that even the eggs in that basket couldn’t buy a sheet of Xuan paper, but seeing Li Hengyi’s face wearing a gentle, shallow smile, and taking his painting seriously-never scrimping on his work due to the amount of money offered and even impressing his seal when finishing-gave her a sense of satisfaction.
Those who recognized the seal knew it belonged to Prince Han.
Yuanbao instructed people at the entrance to keep the painting safe and not to sell it, saying it should be preserved as a family heirloom.
“…”
Some people didn’t quite understand, especially the villagers nearby.
Yuanbao couldn’t go around saying that these were authentic works by Prince Han, each bearing his personal seal-it would be a pity to sell them.
After painting upwards of ten pieces and running out of paint, Li Hengyi finally declined further requests and asked Yuanbao to wash the paint dishes.
Xie Zhinuan brought water over to help him wash his hands before saying, “I made some time to cook some noodles. I used spices we made ourselves-please, make do with what I’ve prepared!”
“What kind of noodles?” Li Hengyi asked with a smile.
“Green vegetable and shredded pork noodles. I’ve made three bowls, just enough for the three of us!”
With more soup than noodles, she ladled up the leftover bowl, thinking that with Yuanbao’s big appetite, surely not a bit would remain.
And indeed, just as she had expected, Xie Zhinuan ate a small bowl, and the rest was polished off by Li Hengyi and Yuanbao. The three of them ate at the tea house, while the wolf, Routuan, enjoyed a meaty bone, and Dahuang ate fodder.
After the meal was finished and everything was tidied up, Yuanbao offered two taels of silver, leaving the tea house owner thrilled beyond measure, joyously seeing them off.
“Patrons, do come again!”
Xie Zhinuan laughed in the carriage and asked Yuanbao, “How much silver did you give to make the owner so delighted?”
“Not much!” Yuanbao replied and drove the carriage forward. Dahuang ran alongside, exuberantly happy.
After all, as a mule, Dahuang should run more often; being cooped up at home wasn’t good.
Since they had just eaten and weren’t far from the vendor selling wine, it was okay to travel slowly. This trip was planned to last several days, so toiletries and a change of clothes had all been well-prepared.
“In fact, I think it would be nice if we brought a stove and a big iron pot. We could cook by a creek in the countryside!” Xie Zhinuan murmured softly.
“…”
Li Hengyi raised his eyebrows.
Xie Zhinuan continued, “We could pick some wild vegetables, catch fish and crabs from the stream, and make a pot of stew!”
Yuanbao laughed heartily, “Miss Xie, the crab you stewed last time was delicious and paired perfectly with alcohol-so fragrant!”
He still craved it but didn’t dare mention it to Xie Zhinuan, fearing Li Hengyi’s scolding.
Now that Xie Zhinuan brought it up, he quickly chimed in.
“That’s a great idea, the hairy crabs are about to be in season soon. It would be excellent to enjoy the crabs and admire the chrysanthemums, and to drink a bit of bayberry wine!” Xie Zhinuan thought earnestly.
She should also bring those jars of bayberry wine to the county town.
The firewood and furniture would stay put for now; they would see later if they should pass them on to Xiaoyuan.
But the pickled chilies, dried beans, and sun-dried vegetables, those definitely needed to be taken to the county town.
Chapter 237