I'm a senior in high school, and the Emperor Development System has arrived!

Chapter 135 You look like that Ming Dynasty emperor, what was his name, Zhu Yuan...

The next day.

The morning sunlight streamed through the elegant window frames of "Qitaoju" and fell onto the large, off-white bed sheets.

Jiang Xia let out a soft moan, slowly opened her eyes as she lay on the broad chest, and met a pair of smiling eyes.

She lightly pounded her chest with her fist, still drowsy from just waking up, and complained:

"Fine, you woke up and didn't even wake me?"

He rubbed his head with his large hand, his fingertips running through his hair, making his already messy short hair even more unruly.

Chen Zhou chuckled and said:

"I just didn't want to wake you because you were sleeping so soundly."

Jiang Xia rolled her eyes at him, then quickly got out of bed, grabbed the bra next to her, and said:
"I told you not to be naughty last night, it's past midnight and you're still not asleep. Hurry up, we have a lot of things to do today."

Chen Zhou stretched, savoring the tenderness of last night, and then slowly got up to wash up.

After a simple meal of congee and side dishes prepared by the guesthouse, they packed their gear and set off.

The goal for the morning was very clear—

Sculpture Porcelain Factory.

Upon entering the factory grounds, one is immediately struck by the bustling atmosphere.

Shops lined the street, displaying a dazzling array of ceramic artifacts piled, hung, and arranged.

From masterpieces to novice creations, from traditional forms to modern abstractions, you'll find everything here.

"Taobao! This is the real Taobao!"

Jiang Xia's eyes sparkled. She gently tugged at Chen Zhou's arm and plunged into the crowd.

Moving between studios and shops of all sizes, touching the porcelain bodies that were either smooth or rough, the two exchanged a few words from time to time.

Suddenly, Chen Zhou stopped in his tracks inside a shop with a simple facade and a focus on traditional shapes.

His gaze was drawn to a string of hanging ceramic wind chimes.

Shaped like a ruyi (a traditional Chinese ornament symbolizing good fortune), the glaze is smooth and lustrous, with an elegant sky-blue base. The hand-painted lotus scroll pattern has smooth lines and neat brushstrokes, making a subtle tinkling sound in the breeze.

He reached out and lightly touched it with his fingertips.

It made a crisp, melodious sound.

"How about it?"

Chen Zhou turned his head and asked Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia leaned closer at the sound, his gaze carefully sweeping over every detail of the wind chimes:
"The shape is well-proportioned, auspicious, and the lotus scroll symbolizes continuous blessings and longevity. The glaze is rich, the hand-painting is neat and meticulous, and the sound is clear and not harsh..."

She nodded approvingly, her fingertip gently touching the ruyi-shaped head of the wind chime:
"Not bad!"

Chen Zhou smiled slightly and said to the boss:

How many of these wind chimes are left?

The owner was a gentle-looking woman, dressed in a light green cheongsam, who smiled faintly and said:
"There are still quite a few left. How many handsome guys would you like?"

Chen Zhou counted on his fingers:
One for Jiang Xia, one for Bai Qianqian, one for Lu Mi, and one for the class monitor...

Let's give He Lili another one; she took me to a concert the day before yesterday.

"I want five."

"Okay, that's 240 yuan in total."

The proprietress packed the wind chimes, put them all into a small shopping bag, and handed it to Chen Zhou.

"thank you boss."

Chen Zhou took the wind chime, gestured with his chin towards Jiang Xia, and said:
"Let's go and continue our conquest of the next pass."

Jiang Xia glanced at the wind chimes, reached out and poked the bag, asking curiously:

Why did you buy so much at once?

Chen Zhou casually said:

"It's a gift."

As he spoke, he took one out and weighed it in his hand:
Here, have one.

Jiang Xia pouted and said:
"I don't want things that everyone else has."

Chen Zhou said quietly:
"So when you look back and see that everyone else has it, you shouldn't cry, okay?"

Jiang Xia considered the scene and realized he would likely be unhappy, so he reached out and snatched the wind chime, snorting:

"Consider this compensation for the emotional distress caused by your indecent behavior last night."

Chen Zhou smiled slightly.

As lunchtime approached, the crowds at the sculpture porcelain factory grew even more lively.

The two found a bustling little restaurant near the factory area for lunch.

I ordered a plate of alkaline rice cakes with chewy, unique rice flavor and scrambled eggs, a dish of stir-fried green seasonal vegetables, and a three-cup chicken coated in a bright red sauce with an enticing aroma.

The small square table was almost entirely filled with food plates.

"belch--"

Jiang Xia rubbed his lower abdomen, let out a satisfied burp, and continued to share his observations with lingering enthusiasm:
"delicious."

Chen Zhou smiled and said meaningfully:
"It's not as delicious as my little girl's."

Jiang Xia's face instantly turned bright red. She gently pinched him under the table, glanced around, and then pouted, saying:

"Don't talk nonsense outside, or else... or I'll ignore you!"

Chen Zhou chuckled and said:

"You look like that Ming Dynasty emperor, what was his name, Zhu Yuan..."

Jiang Xia paused in his chopsticks, then replied:
"Zhu Yuanzhang?"

Chen Zhou shook his head, tapped his chopsticks on the rim of his bowl, and said:

"No, it seems like... Zhu Yuanlai is here?"

Jiang Xia clenched his fist:

"..."

Seeing the furious Hakisha, Chen Zhou quickly changed the subject, pausing for a moment in thought:
"We all call the sun 'Grandpa Sun,' but it should actually be 'Momo Sun,' since we've all rubbed our temples."

Jiang Xia was shocked by these words:

"What kind of thought process do you have to come up with something like that? You should pay me for hearing that."

Chen Zhou chuckled and said:

"This is the result of my daily hard work. There's nothing I can do about it, it's all about talent and hard work."

Jiang Xia sighed and rubbed his temples with his fingertips.

"I really can't be sarcastic towards you indirectly, you can't tell the difference between good and bad words..."

"..."

In the afternoon, the two took a taxi to Sanbao Village, which has a more rustic mountain atmosphere.

As the car gradually drove away from the city, the noise was filtered by layers of greenery, and the air became increasingly fresh.

The white-walled, gray-tiled, and staggered horse-head gabled houses of the Gan-style architecture are scattered among the lush mountains and streams.

"Shangri-La".

Chen Zhou was the first to push open the car door and get out, taking a deep breath of the cool, refreshing air, as if his lungs had been cleansed.

Jiang Xia followed closely behind, his eyes gleaming with longing:
"Renting a small courtyard here to create art would probably be a way to escape all my troubles. The village is quite big, how about renting a small electric scooter?"

The small shop at the entrance of the village offers electric vehicle rental services.

Jiang Xia, with her sharp eyes, quickly selected a brand-new, clean pink and white electric scooter.

She gracefully straddled one of the vehicles, her long legs firmly planted on the ground to stabilize the car, her movements fluid and elegant.

Then he patted the seat and called out to Chen Zhou:
"Little boatman, get in the car."

Chen Zhou walked over, picked up another helmet, and carefully adjusted the buckle strap at the chin.

Just as I was about to put it on, a cool, soft hand reached out.

"You didn't fasten it properly, it's wobbling."

Jiang Xia's voice rang naturally in my ears.

She leaned slightly forward, her fingers deftly tightening the strap and adjusting the buckle.

Chen Zhou looked at the fair face so close to his own and smiled gently, then kissed her on the cheek.

Jiang Xia's cheeks flushed instantly. She raised her hand and slapped his arm, glaring at him as she said:
"Don't move, or I won't do it for you."

She quickly put the helmet on Chen Zhou.

"Come up."

Jiang Xia touched the ground with her long legs and glanced back at him.

Chen Zhou calmly lifted his leg and straddled her, and out of habit, hooked his arms around Jiang Xia's waist.

A tingling sensation came over me.

Jiang Xia's face flushed again, and she pressed her hand against the back of his hand: "It tickles! Hug me somewhere else."

I almost forgot that the waist is a sensitive area in Jiangxia.

Chen Zhou gave an awkward smile and moved his hand up a little.

"Snapped!"

Jiang Xia looked displeased and slapped down the strange hand that was about to grope her chest.

Chen Zhou felt a little wronged:

"This won't work, that won't work, where am I supposed to hug?"

Jiang Xia sighed softly and said helplessly:

"Forget it, just put your arm around my waist, and move your hand a little further forward."

Chen Zhou did as instructed.

"set off!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the electric scooter smoothly and lightly rode into the depths of the village, traveling along the path beside the babbling brook.

The afternoon sun filtered through the layers of leaves, casting dappled shadows that swayed on the road.

The electric scooter rode along the forest road, the gentle breeze brushing against my cheek.

Green trees, wildflowers, crystal-clear streams, rustic stone bridges, and uniquely designed art studio exteriors...

A sense of freedom flows in the wind.

Chen Zhou wrapped his arms around Jiang Xia's slender waist, his body swaying gently with the slight bumps of the car, feeling relaxed and content.

They took turns checking in at the popular photo spots in Sanbao Village.

Places like 9494 Aesthetic Space, Sanbao International Cultural and Creative Center, and Sanbaopeng Art Museum were all included.

After a spiritual cleansing through art, they went to the popular teahouse "Bukongshan" for a short rest.

Nestled among lush greenery, the teahouse blends the beauty of wabi-sabi with the refined elegance of a traditional Chinese courtyard.

Stepping into the open-air courtyard, you find yourself on smooth bluestone slabs and before you a meticulously crafted dry landscape garden.

A few slender bamboos sway gently, low moss carpets the ground, and a clear pond reflects the sunlight and bamboo shadows, creating an ethereal atmosphere.

The waiter led them to the tatami seating area next to the waterside pavilion.

The two did as instructed, took off their shoes, and sat cross-legged on the ground.

Order a pot of the most authentic Fuliang tea. The warm earthenware pot has a rustic feel, and the elegant white porcelain teacup shines softly in the sunlight.

The aroma of tea rises gently, carrying the fresh scent of the mountains and fields.

The two sat down and discussed philosophy.

Chen Zhou stroked his chin and asked:
"Animal ears, a bow tie, an exposed belly, and white knee-high socks—who is this character?"

Jiang Xia was slightly taken aback, and after thinking for a long time, she still couldn't think of the corresponding character's name, so she could only ask:
Do I know this person?

Chen Zhou took a sip of tea, put down the teacup, and slowly said:

"I must know."

Jiang Xia frowned:

"How strange, do I have such weird ideas in my head?"

After thinking for a long time, she still couldn't figure it out, so she had to ask Chen Zhou to reveal the answer.

Chen Zhou didn't speak, but instead showed her a picture.

Jiang Xia was speechless for a moment, a look of helplessness and shock on his face, then he gave a thumbs up:

"You're amazing, you're really amazing."

Chen Zhou chuckled and raised his eyebrows smugly:

"Basic exercises, don't be stupid!"

After sitting for a while and finishing a pot of expensive tea, the two set off for their last stop—

Large lettering wall!
If other places are for pleasing the eye and cultivating one's mind, then going to the Big Character Wall is for taking photos.

If it weren't for Jiang Xia's strong insistence, Chen Zhou wouldn't have wanted to visit such a meaningless tourist attraction.

Although he himself doesn't have much substance.

Soon, the two rode their electric scooter to the vicinity of the large character wall.

On the wide red wall, three huge white Song typeface characters “Jingdezhen” stood out prominently in the afternoon sunlight.

"Chen Zhou! Take this picture for me!"

Standing in front of the red wall, Jiang Xia took a deep breath, mustered all her energy, and flashed a bright and infectious smile at the camera.

V-sign, chin resting on hand, head tilted, hands on hips, eyebrows raised...

A variety of energetic poses were shown in turn.

"it is good."

Chen Zhou held her phone, his expression serious, as if he were completing a major mission.

After Chen Zhou finished taking the photos, Jiang Xia skipped over to him, looked at the photos, and nodded repeatedly:
"Great job, very skillful. Now let me take the picture for you, shall I?"

Chen Zhou nodded and said with a smile:
"I'll just take some random photos; I won't post them on WeChat Moments."

After the individual photos, it was time for the group photos.

"Alright! Time for a group photo! Handsome guy, could you please take one for us?"

After Jiang Xia took a personal photo of Chen Zhou, she grabbed a random passerby, jogged back, and took Chen Zhou's arm.

"Young couple, look at the camera!"

Passerby A readily agreed and raised his phone, but the casual way he addressed Jiang Xia made her blush slightly.

Click!

The shutter clicked.

Photo freeze.

Jiang Xia ran back, retrieved her phone, and held her breath as she opened the photo album to preview the pictures.

Chen Zhou also came over and looked at the photo.

On the screen, the sunlight was just right.

Jiang Xia snuggled close to him, her cheek against his shoulder, a bright smile on her face.

"The photos... are pretty good."

She muttered something under her breath, but her fingertips couldn't help but zoom in on the photo, and she started to laugh as she looked at it.

They do look quite like a married couple.

……

Our trip to Jingdezhen has now come to an end.

The two embarked on their journey home.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the train windows in a warm golden hue. The high-speed train sped smoothly along, and the scenery outside the window rushed past like a flowing ink wash painting.

Inside the carriage, a slight humming sound became the background noise.

Chen Zhou leaned back in his chair, his eyes slightly closed, seemingly resting, but a faint smile played on his lips.

Jiang Xia leaned on his shoulder, swiping her fingers across her phone screen, occasionally tapping to enlarge the group photos taken in Jingdezhen, especially the one in front of the red wall.

The more she looked, the higher her lips curled up, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the shoulders of the two people leaning together on the screen.

"What are you giggling about?"

Chen Zhou closed his eyes, his voice carrying a lazy, magnetic quality, as if he knew what she was looking at.

"Looking at the scenery won't do."

Jiang Xia quickly locked the screen, casually put the phone back in her pocket, but her cheeks felt a little hot.

Chen Zhou chuckled softly, then put his arm around her shoulder to make her more comfortable.

"Okay. Are you tired? Want to take a nap? It'll be a while before we get home."

"Kind of."

Jiangxia honestly admitted it.

After a long day of running around, the excitement fades and a sense of fatigue creeps in.

She adjusted her position, resting her head on the crook of his neck. His breath carried a familiar, refreshing scent that made her feel safe and secure.

"You should take a nap too."

"Ah."

Chen Zhou responded, gently nuzzling the top of her head with his chin, and tightening his embrace around her.

There were no more words, only the warmth of skin against skin and the hypnotic feeling brought by the rhythmic swaying of the car body.

Jiang Xia smelled his scent and listened to his steady heartbeat; soon, her eyelids grew heavy.

As night completely enveloped the city, the train was about to enter its destination station:
"The train is about to arrive at Guangya Station. Please prepare your belongings..."

(End of this chapter)