Chapter 36: Old Rival, Unexpected Discovery

Speaking of flower arranging, Jing Wan had further insight, “Grandfather, I’ll make one for you to see.” Standing before a certain vendor’s stall, Jing Wan just used the pieces that were cut off and a small bamboo basket that looked somewhat worn-out. She casually added in some dried up branches and leaves. And those flower pieces, she also just nonchalantly pruned, and afterwards, inserted one by one into the basket. She then polished the edges a bit, and in a short time, something that was originally ignored by other, completely changed into something else, appearing somewhat messy, yet very pleasing to look at, or even……elegant. Probably even the most nitpicky person, at most would just nitpick that the materials used weren’t classy enough, but wouldn’t disdain the entirety.

Luo Pei Shan was fond of flowers. But that was the same as ‘unless a name breed, don’t want’. Only today did he learn how short-sighted he was.

Just like with people, those with extraordinary status were always in the minority. Majority of people were still just ordinary commoners. Don’t tell me you can just deny their happiness, anger, joy, and sorrow? Don’t they have their own beauty, own self worth? They do, and it was also very high.

“Looks like, grandfather still has a lot to learn from Wan Wan.” Not flower arranging, but in ‘system of values’, although Luo Pei Shan doesn’t know this phrase. While lost in thought, he seemingly recalled again the time in the past when he was working as an official at an outer post. He’d believed himself to be a good official, but perhaps he was far from enough.

Jing Wan didn’t know that, in that short instant, her grandfather had thought of that much. She took the handkerchief the servant girl handed over and wiped her hands.

From when Jing Wan started, there were already quite a few people in the surrounding. From the initial, puzzlement to the later admiration, they all looked to her, carrying curiosity in their eyes. However, although she appeared to be dressed plainly, that conduct wasn’t like that of an ordinary family’s. Thus, they didn’t dare to be rude.

Rather, the stall owner, didn’t because of Jing Wan’s action, stop her from using his things. Having gratuitously obtained a flower arrangement, even if it can’t be sold, just looking at it was also pleasing to the eye and warming to the heart.

Just as they walked out of the crowd, across from them, stood a brightly smiling old man. Just this old man’s skin was very fair, fairer than a great majority of women. Furthermore, his beard looked relatively sparse, and even his adam’s apple wasn’t that distinct either. Jing Wan thought, this person, in his youth, nine times out of ten, must have been mistaken as a women by others. However, her grandfather, who originally was still carrying a smile, immediately dropped his expression after seeing this person. It can be seen that these two certainly must be acquainted. Perhaps, they might even be ‘enemies’.

The fair-skinned old man cupped his hands, “Greetings Sir Luo.”

Luo Pei Shan looked to him, feeling his nose wasn’t a nose, his eyes weren’t eyes, and seemingly wanted to very much ignore him.

The old man however still continued to smile and look towards Jing Wan, “This is Sir Luo’s granddaughter? Really good at arranging flowers.”

Luo Pei Shan humphed, “My family number two’s di daughter, ranked third. This one is the Judicial Court’s Sir Diwu.”

“This one greets Sir Diwu.” Jing Wan greeted in a curtsy, neither servile nor overbearing, her manners furthermore flawless.

“Good good, it’s still young ladies that are good ah, not like us, these darn old men, getting hated by others.” Head Magistrate Diwu stroked his beard.

Jing Wan was silent. No wonder grandfather couldn’t handle him, look at how this hatred was drawn.

“Little girl ah, this Sir Diwu’s home has the most, and most complete, of camellias. However, grandfather seems to have seen him lacking an eighteenth scholar, and there didn’t seem to be a violent fragrant either. Also, that flowering crane feather’s grade didn’t seem that good either. Sigh, really such a shame.”

For every word Luo Pei Shan spoke, Head Magistrate Diwu’s beard snapped off a strand. With this, a good number of strands were successively snapped off. Originally it was already very little to begin with. Even Jing Wan felt sorry for him as she watched. However, grandfather, what are you doing? He said you were hateful, and you turn around and jab at his weak spot?

They were already old acquaintances. What kind of temper the other usually had, they both were very clear. In the imperial court, both belonged to the type that handled business strictly as business, but in private, especially when it came to loving flowers, there weren’t any less of angry glares. Luo Pei Shan usually restrained himself, but in front of the few that found out about his hobby, image, face and whatnot were long thrown to the side. Some words when said out loud, can still only be ‘just saying’?

“What, Sir Luo know where there’s an eighteenth scholar, violent fragrant, and an even better flowering crane feather?” Head Magistrate Diwu could still manage to stay calm.

“I certainly do know where, and that eighteenth scholar, I’ve even seen before, nearly about to bloom. And it looks who knows how many times better than a certain person’s dusty ‘inferior breeds’.”

A few more strands snapped off Head Magistrate Diwu’s beard again, “Luo old man, don’t play dumb with this old man. What do you want, just say it.”

Luo Pei Shan however didn’t want to pay him any attention. With Wan Wan here, what kind of name breeds can’t he get. In the days after, there will only ever be other people begging him, just wait and see. If he didn’t earn back all those grievances he’d suffered in the past, then he wouldn’t be Luo Pei Shan.

Don’t know if what Luo old man said was true, or just purposefully trying to mess with him, but if there was even the slightest possibility, then he wouldn’t want to give up. He’d been yearning day and night for too long. Thus, just like a little follower, he loitered around Luo Pei Shan’s side, and Luo Pei Shan subsequently put on the airs of an elderly lord. That scene, really made one want to cover their face, really unbearable to watch. Don’t you see Sir Diwu’s attendants all with a ‘wishing to find a crack to jump into’ look? Under the public eye in broad daylight ah, too embarrassing. Old master, can’t you at least wait until someplace where there’s no one around!

Jing Wan was to the side laughing to herself. So actually, as long as their interests were in agreement, even these stern and decisive elderly men can be this cute too.

Jing Wan suddenly saw something relatively unexpected. Walking forward, she reached out and carefully picked up the half a palm size little thing that had the shape a lotus, a tender green color, and plump leaves, and placed it atop her handkerchief, attentively studying it. That’s right, it was indeed a guanyin lotus. She recalled that this kind of succulent plant’s place of origin wasn’t within the borders of Hua Xia[1]. She’d always thought that Qi Yuan dynasty was just on a different timeline from Hua Xia, and should still be that same piece of land. After all, there was a lot of identical history. But then how did this little thing appear? Presently, there still doesn’t seem to be anyone that had the ability to cross over two continents. Moreover, next to it, there was even a small pile of other kinds of succulents. Small and exquisite, looking exceptionally cute. No matter what, it didn’t look like someone had just brought these over tens of thousands of miles either.

Luo Pei Shan followed after her, “Girl, is there something special about these little guys?”

“No, this granddaughter just suddenly thought of something. Grandfather, how about this granddaughter make another little pot landscape for you to see?”

The pot landscapes here had already reached a certain standard, just it was still quite conservative. Usually, it was all just a single bonsai, not very big and not very small either; the style relatively consistent. Jing Wan believed that as long as one can give them a bit of inspiration, they can definitely create all sorts of pot landscapes. Jing Wan has never doubted their creativity and imagination.

Luo Pei Shan became interested, and Head Magistrate Diwu also was rather interested.

Perhaps because Head Magistrate Diwu often visited, this stall’s owner recognized him and naturally didn’t dare to slight. “What does miss need?”

Jing Wan relayed her request one by one. And things they couldn’t find at the moment, she would all substitute with something else. That’s why, everything she wanted very quickly were all gathered. A relatively short flower pot with a large opening. Seeing Jing Wan about to personally go handle those sandstones and soil, Gong mama, who’d been quietly following behind the whole time, suddenly went forward to stop her, “Miss, you narrate, and this servant will fix it, so as to avoid injuring your hands.”

Jing Wan looked to her own hands. Alright. In the past, she indeed never touched dirty things. These noble family daughters are really raised too delicately everywhere.

How could that stall owner be one without discerning eyes, “How could this one let miss and mama do it. Miss, just worry about giving out orders, this little one will fix it.”

Jing Wan spoke, and the stall owner called over another worker over to help. As long as one becomes familiar with it, it was actually something very simple. However, because it was their first time, they appeared somewhat clumsy with their hands. Jing Wan was rather helpless, but she knew, not mentioning Gong mama, even her own grandfather wouldn’t allow her to do it herself.

In the end, when those little succulents were planted in, Jing Wan instead was unwilling to continue speaking. Even if she spoke till her mouth dried, it won’t necessarily be able to achieve her desired results. She waved her hand, “I can just wash my hands in a bit, not going to touch too many sandstones.”

Jing Wan quickly made her move, unevenly matched succulents of all sizes in a charming disorder. Lastly, she added two rocks, and even some little fern. She clapped the hands, done.

“Amazing, the so called ‘transforming something rotten into something magical’ was no more than this.” Head Magistrate Diwu exclaimed in admiration. This little pot landscape perhaps may not enter the hearts of people like them, but it was delicately exquisite and had another kind of aesthetic. If nothing else, his family’s granddaughter just happens to like the feeling of this kind of thing.

The people that were watching all couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration. And the stall owner was the most excited, because from within, he saw limitless business opportunities. These things he had gotten from the north. Because there weren’t any on this side, he pursued a novelty, but unfortunately no one took notice. Originally, he was thinking about throwing them away after another two days, but who would have thought that things have taken a new turn.

“This little thing looks pretty good too. You young ladies will certainly like them, let’s buy it.” Luo Pei Shan said.

[1] Hua Xia – old historical name for China