One morning at the end of June, Li Hui accompanied Gu Qian to the East Lake Manor to check on the growth of the crops. After returning, a somewhat tired Gu Qian went back to his room to rest. Li Hui had nothing to do, so he went to the Erjin Side Hospital to see some of the nursing staff at the South House.
Carry out fighting training.
Two nurses from the South House were wrestling shirtless under a tree, and they were evenly matched and inseparable. Li Hui and several other nurses watched with great interest and cheered loudly.
At this time, a servant from the south house came and reported to Li Hui that Miss Qingning invited him to meet her in the flower hall.
Li Hui was a little confused. This Miss Qingning was Gu Qian's granddaughter Gu Qingning, Gu Xun's youngest daughter. More than a month ago, she followed her father Gu Xun back to Wu County to visit Gu Qian. On the day she diverted water, she also
I went with the Zhang family girl to join in the fun.
After that, Gu Xun returned to his post, but Gu Qingning stayed. In the past month or so, Li Hui had seen her a few times, but he had neither spoken a word to her directly nor had any interactions with her.
The impression given to Li Hui was that Gu Qingning was a squeamish girl, not very old, and she acted like a child around Gu Qian. Gu Qian was also very indulgent and doting on her, and he loved her very much. However,
I don't know why she asked me to see her.
Li Hui followed the servant to the second flower hall, and saw a girl standing in the hall from a distance, talking to a maid behind her back. The girl was wearing a goose-yellow skirt, her back was slim and petite, and her hair was hanging down and black and shiny.
.That is Gu Qingning.
When the maid saw Li Hui arriving, she whispered. After hearing this, Gu Qingning turned around and looked at Li Hui who was approaching.
Li Hui hurriedly stepped forward and cupped his hands and said, "Li Hui has met Miss. I wonder what I have to say to you?"
Gu Qingning's beautiful big eyes looked up and down Li Hui's body, and said crisply: "Li Hui, I have something to ask you for help."
Li Hui said in surprise: "Can you help me with something?"
Gu Qingning tilted her head and said, "Yes. After much thought, I can only ask you for help."
Li Hui raised his head and glanced at Gu Qingning. The girl's slightly childish face had a serious expression and her eyes were as clear as water.
"It's like this. I heard someone say that some people in Wuxing County can make a fountain on the rockery. The fountain sprays water from the top of the rock. Not only is it beautiful, it can also water the flower beds. I want to make a landscape like this
, but I don’t know how to spray water from the rockery. I asked others and they all said they couldn’t. So, I want you to think of a way for me." Gu Qingning said in a clear voice.
Li Hui was in a daze and didn't understand what Gu Qingning meant.
"Hey, I just want you to help me get a fountain. The kind that sprays out from the rockery in the back garden. Do you understand?" Gu Qingning asked again.
Li Hui understood. Miss Gu's mind was unknown, maybe it was a pastime after having a good meal, and she suddenly wanted a fountain rockery garden popular in Wuxing County to cultivate her sentiments. But she couldn't make it herself, so she thought
Looking for help yourself.
"Why are you looking for me? Shouldn't you ask someone else to do this? I'm not a craftsman. How did you know that I can come up with a solution?" Li Hui asked.
"If others knew it, would I still need to look for you?" Gu Qingning said angrily.
"That day when you diverted water from the lake to irrigate the fields, didn't you make the water flow to higher places? I thought that this must be very simple for you, so I came to you for help.
What? You don’t want to?”
Li Hui really didn't have the time to help her build a fountain. He didn't want to make himself sweaty. Besides, this was not his responsibility. However, looking at Gu Qingning's begging expression, he felt that since she had asked for it,
It's always hard to say no when it's on your own head.
"I see. That's easy. Making a fountain is actually very simple. I'll draw a picture for you, and you just ask people to follow it." Li Hui nodded.
Gu Qingning said softly: "Why don't you come with me and help me get it done? What do I need to do and I need to draw pictures and so on, and I have to ask people for help, and others may not be able to do it. And... besides, I don't want to make a big deal about it.
Let others know. Because it's a secret."
Li Hui was stunned for a moment and said in astonishment: "Secret?"
"Yes. I want to give Aweng a surprise. His birthday is coming soon, and I want to make a fountain to make him happy. Aweng likes to see the garden scenery the most. He has said many times that there is a fountain missing in the back garden.
I'm looking for someone to do it, but I haven't had time yet. If I secretly make a fountain rockery, he will be happy to see it. But I don't want him to know in advance." Gu Qingning blinked and whispered, as if she was afraid of being heard.
Li Hui suddenly realized that it turned out that Gu Qingning was not just full, but that Gu Qian's birthday was coming, and she wanted to build a fountain rockery to make Gu Qian happy and follow his wishes. This was a sign of filial piety.
"Help me. Okay? Only you can help me." Gu Qingning said softly.
Li Hui thought for a while, nodded and said: "Okay, since Miss Qingning gave the order, Li Hui should do his best."
Gu Qingning was overjoyed and said softly: "Let's go then. The rockery is in the back garden. You go and have a look. If you need any materials, I'll have someone prepare them."
Gu Qingning said and walked to the back hall, but Li Hui stood still.
"What's wrong? You won't regret it, right?" Gu Qingning frowned.
Li Hui shook his head and said: "No. It's just that I can't enter the back house at will. This is a rule. Why don't you, Miss, go report it and get permission to avoid violating the rules."
Gu Qingning frowned and said: "Who should I report to? Tell Aweng? Doesn't that mean he knows in advance? Who else should I report to except Aweng? If I tell my grandmother, she will definitely not allow me to do this.
She also said: A woman should behave like a woman and not run around and mess around. Then the matter will be ruined and we can't tell her."
Li Hui scratched his head a little. He had never entered the back house of the South House in more than a month. That was the rule of the South House. How could outsiders enter the inner house of a wealthy family at will? As Li Hui's identity, he could enter as he pleased except for the second time.
You can move around, but you cannot enter the inner house at will.
"I let you in. Isn't that enough? Don't my words count? I guarantee that you are fine. Some people say that I will explain myself." Gu Qingning was a little annoyed, pouting and staring.
After the last incident, Li Hui warned himself to act cautiously to avoid getting into trouble. But Gu Qingning brought the matter to this point, and if he refused, it seemed that he would annoy her.
Li Hui didn't want to offend her. Li Hui didn't want to offend anyone in the Gu family. Since Gu Qingning guaranteed it, there might not be any problem. So he had to say: "Li Hui just obeys the order."
Following Gu Qingning into the back house, the courtyard buildings in the back house are even more exquisite. The pavilions, corridors, pavilions, flowers and trees have obviously been carefully designed and laid out. The grandeur is like a tall house and a big house, and the momentum is extraordinary. The details are like a pavilion and a tree.
They are all carefully arranged and trimmed.
The aristocratic families of the Jin Dynasty paid special attention to the scenery of their homes. This was a place that reflected their taste and financial resources, and it was also a place that showed the status of a wealthy family. Walking in such a house, Li Hui felt as if he had dreamed of returning to the retro gardens of later generations.
Full of admiration.
The third entrance is where Gu Qian and his wife live, and Gu Qingning lives in the small building in the east wing of the fourth entrance. However, the rockery Li Hui wants to go to is in the back garden. Follow Gu Qingning through the corridor path, and from the green bamboo-covered
Entering the back garden through the vertical door, you will find a quiet and cool place in front of you, just like a place outside the world.
Tall trees towered into the sky, their thick shade blocked the sun, and the bluestone path meandered among the flowers and trees. Suddenly, the eyes opened up, and in front of them was a green grassland. In the middle of the grassland, a rockery several feet high and more than ten feet wide stood. Between the rockeries
Below is a small pond surrounded by fields of lotus leaves.
At this moment, the lotus leaves are in full bloom, and there are many lotus flowers in full bloom in a large green sea. The scenery is beautiful.
"This is the rockery!" Gu Qingning stood by the lotus pond and pointed at the rockery in the middle and smiled.
"You mean to put a fountain on top of this rockery?" Li Hui walked slowly around the lotus pond and asked in a deep voice.
"Yes. Spring water spurts out from the top of the rockery, covering the surrounding area. The sprayed water flows down from the stone wall on this side, like a small waterfall. The water drops spray onto the lotus leaves, and then roll down everywhere. Isn't it very beautiful?
Beautiful? Ah Weng likes to hear the sound of rain hitting lotus leaves the most, and he also likes the scenery of flowing water. On his birthday, we celebrated his birthday here in the back garden. I gave him this surprise, and Ah Weng must be very happy. Don’t you think so?
?" Gu Qingning smiled.
Li Hui imagined the scene Gu Qingning was talking about, and somewhat admired this girl's imagination and aesthetic taste.
The fountain gushes out, water mist falls on the lotus leaves, and big beads and small beads fall on the jade plate. The sprayed water flows down from the rockery rock wall, forming a small waterfall. Don't tell me, it's really interesting.
However, after figuring out all this, Li Hui had a headache.
He originally thought he would just make a simple small fountain. Who would have expected that this rockery is so big, at least three feet high, just like a miniature hill. There is no point in building a fountain on top of this rockery. The water is too small.
.
Moreover, the height of this rockery is more than ten meters high. To create a fountain, without a power device, one can only build a tall water tower and use the connector principle to create a fountain phenomenon.
This is not a small project. It will take ten days and a half to complete it. And it requires the help of many people. It is absolutely impossible to do it alone.
According to what Guo Qingning said, with waterfalls, running water, and rain hitting lotus leaves, a huge water tower would have to be built.
Seeing Li Hui frowning and staring at the rockery without saying a word, Gu Qingning hurriedly asked: "What? Is it difficult to do it? You can tell me what materials are needed. I will have someone prepare it."
Li Hui shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Miss Qingning, forgive me for my incompetence. I'm afraid I can't do this. My ability is limited. The idea proposed by Miss Qingning is very good, but it will be a big project. It will require at least ten people to work on it.
A month and a half."
Gu Qingning was stunned, frowned and said in disappointment: "Wouldn't it mean that there would be a lot of construction work, and the sudden surprise for Ah Weng would be lost. Besides, in half a month, Ah Weng's birthday is only ten days away, so it's too late."
Li Hui cupped his hands and said: "Then there is no other way. If I want to achieve the effect you said, I can only do this. I am incompetent and can't help you. I'll take my leave."
Gu Qingning's face was full of disappointment, he let out a cry and stood in a daze. Li Huigong turned around and left.