Chapter 439: Moving Trees (2/2)

From dawn till dusk, the sound of striking and grinding constantly echoed in the lakeside houses. Fortunately, the original residents had already moved away, otherwise, there might be conflicts considering the noise and hot weather.

With the pa.s.sage of time, the refurbishment entered the final stage. Ning Que took Seventh Sister's tactical array drawing with him, and started to do his job.

Thanks to the gold and the reputation of Mr. Qi from Fish-dragon Gang, workers were quite cooperative even if in their eyes, Ning Que's designs did not make sense at all.

The refurbishment of the lakeside homestead was about to complete, and Seventh Sister's tactical array seemed to take shape and then hidden among those buildings and flowers.

The construction was not over. Ning Que still lived with Sangsang in the Old Brush Pen Shop. Hearing the news of their leaving, the merchants in the Lin 47th Street had a mixed feeling of relaxation and attachment. They thought, after the bigwigs moved away, Fish-dragon Gang would not continue to keep the peace, and Chang'an Local Government runners would never patrol the place several times a day.

Ning Que did not know what people were thinking. He was occupied with the Academy study at the back of the mountain and the refurbishment, besides, he must go to the palace regularly.

He went to the palace for the purpose of entering that wooden building. Shouldering the great responsibility of securing Chang'an City and considering his plan, Ning Que found he must get familiar with the G.o.d-stunning Array as soon as possible.

People all praised him for his talents in Talisman Taoism. Since talismans and arrays were connected, he should soon be able to master the big tactical array his master Yan Se left to him. However, unfortunately, his talents seemed to have exhausted on Talisman Taoism and others. On tactical array, there were few.

Ning Que did not know how to give up. Since he must master the big tactical array, the frustrations would not defeat him. To amend stupidity by diligence, as long as he could squeeze some time, Ning Que would go to the palace and learn.

The emperor greatly appreciated Ning Que's att.i.tude and allowed him to enter the palace at any time. When he wearily walked out of the building, the emperor would not let him leave but take him into the Imperial Study.

After entering the place more than ten times, Ning Que got acquainted with the head of Yulin Royal Guards, the bodyguards, eunuchs and palace maids, even with the Empress who ground the inkstone every day in the Imperial Study. But he was not familiar with the big tactical array of Chang'an City.

However, he still got something from it.

In addition to certain unspeakable benefits, the greatest benefit he had gained was the countless old trees on the bank of Yanming Lake, and the things constantly being sent to him.

Although the lakeside house and the land were bought and registered under the name of Chao Xiaoshu, it was impossible to keep it secret from too many people.

Lee Yu was the first to know the secret, and then Ning Que received a gift from the Princess of Tang Dynasty.

Now countless old trees were transplanted from Lee Yu's own fief to the bank of Yanming Lake. This generosity was invaluable.

The emperor and the empress also knew that he was working on his new home. The empress rewarded him with a lot of antiques, while His Majesty gave him plenty of calligraphy treasures.

This was the only thing Ning Que was dissatisfied with.

As time past, Chang'an City entered the midsummer. The sound of cicadas was getting louder in the Academy, and the refurbishment had been completed, a dozen houses were included in an open s.p.a.ce, the old walls soften by lake air were painted, and the narrow alley that pa.s.sed through the courtyard was transformed into a stone path in the garden, where flowers bloomed quietly and beautifully.

The merchants of Lin 47th Street led by Mr. and Mrs. Wu, a fake antique shop owner, were encouraged to hold a farewell dinner for Ning Que and Sangsang, ending their years in the Lin 47th Street.

On the same night, Ning Que and Sangsang moved to their house on the bank of Yanming Lake.

All the furniture had been prepared by the brothers of Fish-dragon Gang, freeing Sangsang from worrying about how to fill the large s.p.a.ce of a dozen houses.

As Mr. Qi strongly suggested, Ning Que kept the Old Brush Pen Shop since Chao Xiaoshu had already remitted his rent for many years. But it would not sell calligraphy anymore.

When the next spring rain fell, there would never be a lad unfulfilled or frustrated in the Old Brush Pen Shop, and there would never be a middle-aged man standing outside with an umbrella.

Accompanied by the sound of cicadas and unknown insects, Ning Que walked with Sangsang on the stone path beside Yanming Lake. Behind them, the beautiful houses were their new home.

The numerous old trees made the stone path and the house ever quiet. The pa.s.sing lake wind lowered the temperature. Compared with the heat outside, it was a completely different world.

Sangsang recalled the first two summers when Ning Que lay on the bamboo chair outside the back door and talked with the neighbors. It was like a hundred years ago.

”I never dreamt that one day, we could live in such a big house.”

Many years ago, when they lived in a cave, a tree house, and a small courtyard in the City of Wei, they always imagined what would their future house look like when they got rich, now, walking in their own lakeside house, they realized how poor they were at that time.

”Isn't it nice?”

Ning Que asked.

Sangsang nodded, and said, ”It is much better.”

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