Chapter 274： A grand and exquisite mansion

Looking at the surrounding scenery, Ning Xiuhe sighed with emotion, "The development of the imperial capital is faster than that of Jiang City."

The car owner asked with a smile on his face, "Have you ever stayed here?"

“The books I read here before.”

“Then you should take a good look around! The imperial capital has changed a lot in recent years.”

"Well! I really need to walk around when I have time." Ning Xiuhe followed the other person's words.

An hour later, the tricycle entered the Imperial Capital, North District, and Shanggu Street in the old city.

This street is as antique as its name, with alleys paved with bluestone slabs and high walls cut from blue bricks on both sides. Inside the high walls are wooden structures of blue brick and red tile houses.

As soon as the tricycle enters this place, it feels like traveling through ancient times. The only bad thing is that these old alleys are too narrow. A car can barely pass through, but if a tricycle comes from the opposite direction, even a small tricycle cannot pass through.

"Xiao Xi, that's Uncle Chen's house." Lu Nan pointed to a courtyard and said. There was not much difference between that house and the surrounding courtyards. The only difference was that there was a door where the wall should have been, and there was a door on it. There is a plaque hanging: Baohe Hall.

“Uncle Chen and the others are also here.” Ning Xi was a little surprised. She knew that Uncle Chen and his family had also come to the imperial capital, but she didn’t expect that they were also in Shanggu Street.

“Secret Chen Chen and his brothers opened a small clinic in the house they rented elsewhere. After disposing of the family house this year, the brothers used all their savings to buy this house.”

Ning Xi nodded to show that she understood, and then asked, "How about Baohe Tang's business here?"

"Uncle Chen had accumulated a lot of connections before and moved here, and the business was neither bad nor very good. Uncle Chen and Uncle Chen didn't buy a house here to open Baohetang to make money, they both did it because their children at home work here. , buy a house in a local place to spend your old age, and at the same time have time to spend with your children.”

Lu Nan smiled when he said this, "It's a pity that the two uncles' wishes were dashed!"

"how?"

“The acupuncture technique you taught Uncle Chen before made Baohe Tang popular, and many men with problems in that area came to see them for treatment.”

Ning Xi was confused, she really didn't expect Uncle Chen to be able to gain a foothold in the imperial capital with that set of acupuncture techniques.

While talking, the tricycle turned a corner and entered another alley, and soon stopped at the door of a house.

This house is quite conspicuous compared to the yards we saw before.

If the houses we saw earlier were considered to be the residences of relatively wealthy small families in ancient times, then the house in front of us was at least a house that only wealthy and powerful dignitaries could live in at that time.

Of course, this is just Ning Xi's guess. She doesn't know whether this is the case. She just feels that the house in front of her deserves to be more grand than the houses she saw in front just from the outside.

In front of the house stands a pair of stone lions. In the middle of the stone lions is a staircase paved with bluestones. Above the steps is a weathered red lacquer double door. A plaque is hung on the gate. On the plaque are several vigorous characters: Ling Mansion. .

“This can’t be the Ling family’s old house, right?” Ning Xi blinked and looked at the house in front of her. Mr. Ling gave away his old house to save his grandson?

"No, the one at the end of the alley is the old house of the Ling family. When I came here to clean it up, the servants of the Ling family also came to help. I heard they said that Mr. Ling sold this house from a friend." Lu Nan pointed out. Pointing not far away.

Because of the distance, Ning Xi couldn't clearly see the situation of the house. She could only judge that the house was larger and more imposing because the wall of that house was higher than theirs.

Open the gate and enter the compound.

Good guys, as soon as we walked into the yard, everyone except Lu Nan and the three little ones opened their eyes wide.

This yard is at least seventy or eighty square meters.

The layout of the entire courtyard is very exquisite, with rockeries, ponds, pavilions, and various plants and flowers.

pretty.

beautiful. What a nice view.

At this time, it seems that apart from these words, they can't find any better words to describe the beauty of this yard.

“These flowers, plants and bonsai are so beautiful.” Ning Xiuhe also loves flowers, but she can’t name most of the flowers and plants in the yard.

“It would be a pity if there is no one to take care of these flowers and plants.”

In her previous life, Ning Xi didn't have the opportunity to cultivate her sentiments, and naturally she didn't have the opportunity to understand flowers and plants. So when she saw these exquisite flowers and plants, she just felt that it was a pity that these flowers and plants fell into her hands.

"Mr. Ling came to see me before. He said that most of the trees in the yard were left over hundreds of years ago, and the flowers and plants were slowly accumulated over decades. If they were raised to death, it would be a waste of natural resources."

“He means that we should ask professional gardeners to take good care of these flowers and plants. I inquired with their gardeners. The price of a live-in gardener in the imperial capital is thirty yuan, including food and accommodation.”

“The price is still acceptable, but I don’t think I can do it.”

how to say! Thirty yuan a month is just a small amount of money to Ning Xi.

The problem is that the people she paid to come here are here to serve the flowers and plants instead of serving her, the person who spends the money, which she can't accept.

It felt like saying that she, a living person, was not as valuable as those flowers and plants.

Although, maybe these flowers and plants are indeed quite expensive.

In short, she just couldn't accept the fact that flowers and plants were more valuable than living people.

Lu Nan smiled and changed the subject, "Let's go inside and have a rest. We're all tired."

A group of people walked into the flower hall, which was very large.

In the center of the entrance, there are rows of pear-wood tables and chairs on both sides. There are two pear-wood seats in front of it, which should be regarded as the main seat.

The flower hall is no longer the traditional one and is equipped with electric lights and telephones.

There is a screen on the left hand side after entering the door. Behind the screen is another scene. Next to the screen is a row of European and American-style cushioned sofas. In front of the sofa is a coffee table of the same style. There is a black and white TV on the wall in the past.

After walking around the flower hall, Ning Xi commented, "Design combining Chinese and Western styles."

Lu Nan guessed, “It should be that the previous owner who lived here didn’t like this purely antique design and didn’t want to destroy the original flavor of the house, so he made a space like this.”

Lu Bei was not interested in combining Chinese and Western things. He put down his suitcase and lay down on a chair. “I’m so tired from taking the train. I feel like I can sleep for a few days and nights now.”

"If you want to rest, go to the backyard to find a room. Live in the one you like." Ning Xi saw the old lady holding Chen Lin standing awkwardly at the door of the flower hall, and hurriedly said, "Grandma Wang, please don't sit standing! Xiao Lin, hold your great-grandmother's hand." Find a place to sit."

Although Chen Lin can be considered a relatively mature child, he is just a child after all, and he does not have those twisted thoughts. After hearing what Ning Xi said, he immediately took Mrs. Wang and asked to sit there.

Old Mrs. Wang grabbed Chen Lin's hand and shook her head at him, "We are dirty, don't make these furniture dirty."

Ning Xiuhe hurriedly said, "Aunt Wang, sit down! Our family doesn't pay attention to that."

Lu Nan also smiled and said, "Grandma Wang, please sit down and rest for a while. I will call your grandson after dawn."

Ning Xi also smiled and said, "Yes, Granny Wang, Xiaolin's illness cannot be cured at one time. You will stay here temporarily until Xiaolin's illness is cured and then go to the army. As for your grandson, my husband will be here soon." After contacting him, he will come naturally. ”