Traveling through ancient times: daily life on the run

When Fang Qingdao was pulled over, he still had a piece of cake in his mouth.

However, he didn't expect that Luo Yu had already prepared paper, ink, brush and inkstone and placed them on the stone table, asking him to quickly draw a landscape painting.

"Cousin, this landscape painting should have a theme, right? I can't even imagine it!"

"Then quickly draw the courtyard scene. I'll give you half a quarter of an hour."

"There's no need to be so anxious, right?" Although Fang Qingdao liked to draw various landscapes and figures when he had nothing to do, he wasn't sure if he could finish them within a set time.

"This kind of drawing that is completed within a limited time is called a sketch. Xiaoyi, you should try it too. After you finish, go to the academy."

"Me?" Xiao Yi didn't dare to resist. He just did whatever his sister asked him to do. It seemed that his sister was going to do something big this time.

After half a quarter of an hour, Luo Yu picked up their paintings and looked at them.

First is Xiao Yi's work. The composition is very good, and the brushstrokes are light and heavy. Especially the trees in the yard are outlined by him in a simple and clear manner. Although the characters are small, it can be seen that this guy has some skills.

It turns out that the "ordinary" he mentioned was not ordinary at all. The ancients were really too modest.

Looking at Fang Qingdao's paintings again, Luo Yu's eyes suddenly lit up. This kid must be talented. The background and character composition are all excellent. It is like a large scene sketch. The picture is vivid and interesting. He even makes the still life come alive. This is the material for a cartoonist!

"Good, very good!" Luo Yu's face was full of smiles, and he wanted to pat his cousin Fang on the head. It seemed that this kid was not useless!

The Fang family is saved, hehe.

Seeing her smile so happily, Fang Qingdao couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth: "Thank you for the compliment, cousin."

"From today on, you two must practice drawing every day. Draw the scenery, people, oxcarts, horsecarts, houses, and everything else you see every day."

After Luo Yu finished speaking, Qin Bingrui had already carried out half a box of rice paper he had bought and placed it in front of them.

Bai Lingyi and Fang Qingdao looked at each other. This action was too fast.

"Okay, okay!" It was her fault that Bai Fengchu suddenly became the head of the Fang family.

Mr. Fang, Mrs. Fang, and Uncle Fang, no one dislikes Chu'er. Is this the power brought by money?

In order to allow them to draw the scenery they see anytime and anywhere, Luo Yu decided to ask a carpenter to make a few sketch boards in the afternoon. These are drawing boards specially used for sketching, so that they can replace the paper at any time to draw the next picture.

However, the brush is too soft and the ink is not easy to dry. She also has to find a way to get some charcoal pencils specifically for drawing, which will make it more convenient to carry and create.

After seeing off the two young painters, Luo Yu and Qin Bingrui had breakfast before going out with Fang to the county government to register their household registration.

The person who handled the household registration was an old man. He took a look at the pass and the original household registration, and without saying much, he just asked Fang to pay three cents to prepare for registration.

When asked about her registered address, Fang hesitated for a moment. She couldn't just report it as the Fang family's property, as it belonged to her parents and brother. As a widow, she couldn't just occupy it.

"Building 13, Fenghuang Street, Xicheng District."

Luo Yu blurted out and showed the house deed to the registration official.

The old man's expressionless face suddenly showed a hint of surprise, and he raised his head and glanced at the three people.

"Wait a moment, I'll report to the magistrate first."

Luo Yu and Qin Bingrui exchanged a glance. Was there something wrong with this address? They were not allowed to register? And they had to report it to the magistrate?

After waiting for a while, no one showed up. Qin Bingrui was bored, so he stuffed ten coins into the yamen runner next to him and asked him about the situation.

The yamen runner saw that there was no one else around and he was the only gatekeeper, so he took ten cents.

"Just the day before yesterday, there was a leading yamen runner at the city gate. What was his name? Did something happen to him? He hasn't been seen in the past two days."

"Oh, you mean Captain Qiu? He was corrupt and abused his power, so the prefect threw him into jail."

"Oh, I thought he dared to accept bribes so blatantly because of his background?"

“He doesn’t have any background at all. He does have a sister who is a concubine of our prefect. That’s why he is usually quite arrogant and domineering. People don’t bother with him for fear of causing trouble.

But this time he was in big trouble. He was caught red-handed accepting bribes. I heard the bribes were several hundred taels of silver. With a group of merchants testifying, the prefect sentenced him that same day. I heard the prefect's wife beat the concubine half to death. This is obviously going to implicate our prefect."

"It seems you think highly of the prefect!"

"Fortunately, our prefect is also a half-honored official. Otherwise, you can see that our Liangzhou City is very prosperous."

That makes sense. It seems that the prefect is not an accomplice to the evil. Then why doesn't he dare to rectify the Bai family, allowing a mere businessman to monopolize an entire street and even forcing the Fang family into such a situation?

The person backing the Bai family must be very powerful!

Luo Yu thought of this and looked at his naive mother. She probably didn't know which powerful family the Bai family had clung to.

Half a minute later, the magistrate really went there.

Luo Yu had a smile in his eyes. It seemed that the building they had on Fenghuang Street was very prestigious!

"Ms. Fang greets the magistrate."

"You're welcome, Madam Bai, there's no need to be polite."

Qin Bingrui and Luo Yu bowed politely. The ancient etiquette was too complicated and they were still a little uncomfortable with it. If they really had to kneel down or something, it would be better to chop off their legs.

Fortunately, Qin Bingrui had a token from His Royal Highness Prince Ning, so he could avoid many rules.

"Does the magistrate know me?"

"My surname is Chen, and I was a schoolmate and good friend of Master Bai Chehai (Mr. Bai). Later, he became a merchant and I became an official. It has been many years since we last met. I never imagined that after so many years, everything has changed."

It turned out to be an old acquaintance. It seemed that Fang was not isolated and helpless in Liangzhou City.

"Master Chen, thank you for your concern for my Master Bai. I brought my children to Liangzhou City to settle down. Originally, I wanted to stay with my mother's family, but this requires a registered address. Our family of three is temporarily living in the Fang Mansion. However, my daughter's good friend, Master Qin, bought a building on Fenghuang Street yesterday, so we decided to settle here."

Lord Chen looked up and down at the two young men beside Fang and smiled.

"I see. This building has been listed in the real estate agency for several months. Plus, its location is awkward, surrounded by the Bai family's businesses, so it's not easy to sell. I didn't expect it to be purchased by the Bai family's eldest wife. No wonder."

Luo Yu frowned. Why are you so nervous about whether this building has been sold or not?

Qin Bingrui raised his eyebrows, held his head high, and said proudly, "I, Qin, bought this for Miss Bai alone. It has nothing to do with the Bai family. Could it be that you were sent by the Bai family to gather information, and that's why you're concerned about who bought this building?"

After all, the name on the title deed was indeed only Bai Fengchu's name.

Only then did Chen Tongpan realize that this person was the girl who entered the city with the token of Prince Ning. Judging from her appearance, she was not someone to be trifled with.

"Miss, you misunderstood. This address is indeed difficult to handle. After all, Phoenix Street is a commercial area and it's not easy to settle down. Plus, I'm worried that you don't know the ins and outs here, and I'm afraid it will be troublesome for you to buy this building. I just wanted to come and give you a kind reminder."

"It's not easy to register here, but it's still possible. Don't worry, I won't sell this building easily even if it gathers dust. I'll register here."

Seeing that he looked unhappy, Qin Bingrui sneered again, "Could it be that the magistrate wanted to buy it at a low price, but we got there first?"

"Alas, I can't say that." Judge Chen, having been fully apprised of the situation by the girl, didn't hide it. "The Bai family informed me yesterday when they saw the building was sold. They wanted me to know who bought it and to try to persuade them to give it up. They have many tricks up their sleeves, so it wouldn't be worth it to buy it."

"Indeed, it seems that Lord Chen has good intentions. I would like to thank you here." Luo Yu bowed, her voice soft and pleasant.

Now it's clear that the Bai family's influence is indeed quite extensive.

Fortunately, when we went to register the house deed yesterday, the broker used some tricks and didn't let Chen Tongpan know in advance. He was just a small broker and wanted to earn more brokerage fees.

Now, they have to hurry to Prince Rui's palace. Could it be that Prince Rui has also been bribed by the Bai family?

Master Chen touched his nose and smiled awkwardly. They held the deed in their hands, so it was useless for him to say anything. Who could have imagined that the Bai family would come to him and ask for his help in persuading them to give up the sale just yesterday? It seemed too late, and it had nothing to do with him.

A normal person would definitely give up if scared, but he didn't expect to meet Miss Qin who has a backer, and the house deed is finally in the hands of the Bai family. Doesn't this seem like a big problem?

It seems that the business war in Liangzhou City is going to be exciting.

Lord Chen couldn't figure out the complicated relationships within the Bai family, but that didn't stop him from enjoying the show.