Chapter 694: Zhigu
The Chen family merchant ship stayed in Cangzhou for three days and continued to head north, passing Xingji, Qingxian, and then entering Jinghai County, and then stopped in Zhigu.
It’s not that the Chen family’s merchant ships don’t want to go directly to the capital, but the river is crowded with ships and they can’t get in even if they want to.
Of course, it is understandable if the boats are forced to stop and wait because there are too many of them, but what makes people angry is that many boats cut in line.
Sun Shan and his companions could only feel angry and curse in their hearts.
Now that the Chinese New Year is approaching, the ones who can cut in line are either royal relatives or high-ranking officials, and the Chen family's merchant ships can only be squeezed aside silently.
I still have to smile and say: It’s okay, you can fuck me, you can fuck me.
Sun Shan stood on the deck and looked at the densely packed queues of ships in the canal. This scene was not exactly the same as a traffic jam on the highway, but it was almost the same.
As he watched, he suddenly sneezed several times in succession.
The wind in Zhigu was really cold, and Sun Shan shivered several times.
Gui Ge'er quickly took out a large cotton-padded jacket from the cabin and put it on Sun Shan, saying with concern, "Brother Shan, put on your clothes quickly and don't get cold. It's very cold in winter."
Sun Shan has been walking northward since August, the hottest month in Guangnan, for three full months, and it is now early November.
From summer to winter, from hot to cold.
This endless walking, I don’t know how to describe my mood at this moment.
The worst thing was not that it took so long, but that the capital was so close yet we couldn’t get in smoothly.
I'm just one step away from achieving my goal. No matter how hard I try, I can't reach my destination. It would be a lie to say I'm not depressed.
The reason for the ship congestion is not only because there are many students coming to Beijing for the imperial examinations this year, but also because the Chinese New Year is approaching, and there are many merchant ships and official ships heading into the capital.
Everyone was forced to squeeze on the road and wait slowly for passage.
Chen Dongling said comfortingly, "We have already reached Zhigu, and will soon reach the capital. This happens every year, but it is a little more serious this year because of the imperial examination next year. Be patient and wait."
There is nothing they can do even if they are impatient to wait. They cannot get VIP passes like royal relatives or high-ranking officials to force their way into the city by cutting in line.
These small people can only wait until this group of people go in and then move forward slowly.
Fortunately, it is early November and it has not snowed in Beijing yet. If it had snowed, it would have been even more difficult to travel.
Sun Shan looked at the endless stream of boats moving slowly forward, then turned around and saw a scholar next door actually doing a makeshift sketch.
Oh, he has so much leisure time and elegance that he even paints.
In fact, Sun Shan also wanted to depict everything in front of him and leave it as a valuable reference for future generations.
It’s just that my painting skills are even worse than my writing skills. I really don’t have the artistic talent.
When Brother Chen San saw someone painting, he also jumped out and said, "That brother really knows how to find joy in adversity. Haha, I'll paint too."
After saying that, he happily ran to the cabin to look for painting tools. The servant offered to get them for him, but he was reluctant.
Sun Shan looked at Chen Mibo, Brother Chen and He Shujun.
The three of them also looked at Sun Shan.
He Shujun asked awkwardly, "Ashan, I heard from Brother Qiang that your calligraphy is average and your paintings are even more average, is that true?"
Sun Shan was an honest child. He nodded without thinking: "It's true. My calligraphy and painting are not that good."
He Shujun touched his nose and said cheerfully, "Ashan, mine isn't that great actually. Hahaha~~~"
I started laughing, and then others started laughing too.
Those who did not pick up brushes and ink said that their paintings were not very good, so they did not want to show off.
Chen Mibo smiled and said: "My third brother's paintings are very good, and he also likes painting very much."
Speaking of painting, the fat man He Shuqiang is actually not bad either. Whenever Sun Shan sees the fat man's calligraphy and paintings, he always praises them generously.
Da Pang Pang also drew a self-portrait for Sun Shan, but Sun Shan thought it was ugly and resolutely sealed the self-portrait in a sealed box, not wanting it to be seen by the public. He planned to use it as a burial object when he died, and would never hang it up.
Da Pangpang was so angry that he wanted to break up with him.
Brother Chen San walked out of the cabin and started painting. His serious attitude made him look like a master painter.
In fact, he is a master.
It is the painting style of the Lingnan School: it advocates innovation, realism, and draws on the strengths of various schools. In terms of painting techniques, it goes against the sketching method and uses the "boneless method" and the "water and powder collision" method in order to seek truth.
In fact, I have said so much just to seek truth and be pragmatic, and to advocate restoring the truth.
Dapangpang also has this style of painting, which is also the most important reason why Sun Shan hid his self-portrait.
Those who can paint come out to paint, and those who can't paint but know how to play musical instruments come out to play.
At first, music came from one boat, and slowly it came from another boat, and it corresponded to the music from the first boat. Later, the scholar from the third boat joined in, and gradually, the sound of music filled the canal.
This is a concert, and it's a spontaneous one. Lingnan School of Painting: Paying attention to contrasting colors, just like embroidery Lingnan School of Painting: Seeking truth Sun Dingnan stared at this boat, then that boat, and finally looked at Sun Shan and asked, "Ashan, do you want to sing a song?"
The master of their family who has passed the imperial examination is best at playing the erhu, and his erhu playing is unprecedented and unmatched.
Once the firecracker is fired, it is guaranteed to knock everyone down. Sun Dingnan can't wait to show off his prowess to the scholar from Sunjia Village.
Sun Shan: ...
In such a harmonious and joyful atmosphere, it’s better for him not to join in with his erhu.
Although the erhu can play cheerful songs, at this moment only "Erquan Yingyue" can express my feelings.
Sun Shan really didn't want to drag him out to spoil the fun.
He shook his head and said, "It's cold, and my hands are shaking, so I can't pull it. It's really too cold in the north, it's unbearable."
When Gui Ge'er heard this, he immediately ran into the cabin, took out the charcoal fire, and gave the hand warmer to Sun Shan, saying with concern: "Brother Shan, take it quickly, don't let it get cold, it will be very difficult to treat if you get sick. It's not easy to get to Zigu, and it's only a few steps away from the capital. We can't give up all our efforts."
Sun Dingnan thought so too, and said quickly: "Ashan, you'd better not stand on the deck, go to bed and cover yourself with a blanket. We southerners can't stand the cold in the north, so we have to be careful."
So Sun Shan was driven back to the cabin by Gui Ge'er and Sun Dingnan.
Sun Shan: ......
You reap what you sow. There are so many things you can say, but you actually said it was cold.
Once the weather gets cold, he, the hope of the whole village, will be put under surveillance.
Spending the night on the boat, the cold evening breeze made it even colder.
Sun Shan put on a thick cotton jacket, which was custom-made in Jinling and brought back to Sunjia Village. He then brought it to the capital from Sunjia Village. It was very warm. Putting it on felt like walking around with a quilt on. It was very warm.
In the evening, Brother Gui made a clear soup hotpot, which made everyone feel warmer after eating it.
Gui Ge'er complained, "Brother Shan, vegetables are so expensive, almost as expensive as meat."
It is not easy to eat green vegetables in the north in the winter, and these vegetables were bought through Chen Dongling's connections.
It's understandable that the price is high.
Sun Dali gulped down a big mouthful of hot pot soup and said with emotion: "Our Sunjia Village is still good. We don't have to worry about having no vegetables to eat in winter."
Sun Shan also thought so.
In Sunjia Village, they raise their own chickens and grow their own vegetables. As long as the officials are good, they will at least not starve to death.
It’s different outside. Without money, you can’t move an inch and you have to buy everything.