Chen Lan suppressed her excitement and carefully examined the painting several times, basically confirming it was Mr. Zheng Banqiao's "Bamboo and Rocks."
Although Mr. Zheng Banqiao had painted many pictures of bamboo and rocks, Chen Lan didn't know which specific one this was. However, Chen Lan was very fond of Mr. Zheng Banqiao's poem "Bamboo and Rocks":
Rooted deep in the broken rock, it holds fast to the green hills.
Through a thousand trials and ten thousand blows, it remains strong and resilient,
Enduring winds from east, west, north, and south.
Mr. Zheng Banqiao used bamboo to represent people. The bamboo in his paintings symbolized integrity and was a portrait of character, expressing the author's humble and magnanimous spirit, unyielding perseverance, and grand demeanor cultivated through hardship.
Chen Lan opened the system scanner, which displayed: "Bamboo and Rocks," author Zheng Xie, also known as Zheng Banqiao, originally from Suzhou. He passed the imperial examination to become a Xiucai during the Kangxi reign, a Juren in the tenth year of Yongzheng, and a Jinshi in the first year of Qianlong.
Chen Lan opened the last scroll. The painting was simple: a horse lowering its head to graze. The ink was monochromatic but lacked no layers. A few strokes outlined the horse's spirit. The overall lines were bold and powerful, and its physique was handsome and agile.
Chen Lan suspected it was Mr. Xu Beihong's painting "Horse."
Chen Lan, uncertain, quickly opened the system scanner. The scan displayed that it was indeed Mr. Xu Beihong's masterpiece, "Horse."
The horses painted by Mr. Xu Beihong emerged with the times. His horses were more vigorous, unrestrained, and embodied the spirit of the era.
After Chen Lan settled the payment and commission with Shopkeeper Tong, she was about to escort him out.
Shopkeeper Tong said, "Miss, regarding what I mentioned to you last time about Lin Mao and his sister, I've spoken to them. They are willing to go to Jilin with you. Lin Mao has been out in the countryside with Uncle Fu these past few days. His sister, Lin Mai, is at home preparing thick cotton quilts, padded jackets, and cotton shoes for them to spend the winter in Jilin."
Chen Lan thanked Shopkeeper Tong for relaying the message and asked him to convey a message back to Lin Mai: Chen Lan would help prepare the thick cotton quilts, padded jackets, and trousers for the winter in Jilin. As for the cotton shoes, if she had time, she would make them herself, and Lin Mai should focus on handling any household matters that needed to be dealt with.
It was now late March, and Jilin had not yet thawed. They could expect it to be around April 20th. She asked them to be prepared for the siblings to set off for Jilin together!
Shopkeeper Tong readily agreed and happily took his leave.
After Chen Lan saw Shopkeeper Tong out, she stored everything in the system warehouse. She still had a considerable amount of money in her system wallet, so there was no immediate need to sell antiques. She could wait until she was short on funds.
When Chen Lan had just put the antiques into the system warehouse, she felt as if she had forgotten something.
She suddenly remembered that the generator unit that Teacher Zhou Jicheng had installed last time was still by the wall in the front yard! Everyone had been busy these past few days and had forgotten about it.
Chen Lan had forgotten too! It truly fit the saying, "Pregnancy makes one foolish for three years."
Chen Lan first went into the bedroom to check on the children. The two babies were still fast asleep, suckling their lips adorably. She guessed they were dreaming about bottles.
While the babies were still asleep, Chen Lan quickly ran to the front yard wall and stored the generator unit in the system warehouse.
At noon, after Chen Lan had tended to the two babies and put them to sleep, it was nearly one o'clock. She had just fallen asleep and was dreaming when she was suddenly awakened by a thumping sound.
She woke up and habitually checked the system time. It was only 1:25 AM. She had only slept for less than half an hour today. Chen Lan felt a bit dazed and didn't want to move from the bed.
At that moment, she heard voices and footsteps approaching from outside. The voices grew louder and clearer.
It was her mother-in-law and the others! Chen Lan quickly got up to open the door and prepare to greet them.
As expected, it was her mother-in-law and the rest of the family. Uncle Fu had brought the entire family, old and young.
Chen Lan happily greeted her mother-in-law, Mother Cui, Uncle De, and the others.
Hearing the voices, Wenrou Niang, Mother Liu, and Hu Yuzhen also got up. Everyone greeted each other! There was a lot of catching up and asking about each other's well-being!
Uncle Fu walked over and whispered to Mother Liu, "Hongxiu, quickly prepare some food. Everyone has been traveling since early this morning and hasn't had lunch yet."
Mother Liu quickly replied, "I'm going right away, right away!"
Mother Liu called Hu Yuzhen to join her in the kitchen to cook.
Mother Cui and Cui Qiao saw them and went over to help. Mother Liu couldn't refuse, so they joined her!
Wenrou Niang and her mother-in-law were chatting happily. Little Stone sat in her mother-in-law's lap, watching them with sleepy eyes as they spoke of their longing for each other and the significant and minor events that had occurred at home during their separation.
Ming Wei and Ming Zhe, finding themselves bored, came to find Chen Lan. They walked hand in hand to Chen Lan and called out, "Sister-in-law." The group instantly felt closer.
Ming Zhe, unable to sit still, asked Chen Lan, "Sister-in-law, where are Wen Qi and Wen Kai?"
Chen Lan replied,
"They're napping in their room! Do you want to go find them to play?"
Ming Zhe nodded enthusiastically, "Okay! Okay!"
Chen Lan looked at the others in the living room. Uncle De, Uncle Fu, and Er Hu, the four men, were discussing something.
Chen Lan looked towards her mother-in-law and saw her introducing a young bride, about seventeen or eighteen years old with her hair in a bun, to Wenrou Niang.
Her mother-in-law said, "My dear kinswoman, this is Er Hu's new wife, Xiao Yue, Zhao Xiaoyue.
Xiao Yue, quickly greet Auntie!"
Zhao Xiaoyue quickly said, "Auntie, hello!"
Wenrou Niang quickly felt in her pocket for a meeting gift, only to realize she had rushed out and hadn't prepared anything. She was embarrassed.
Chen Lan quickly walked over and handed Wenrou Niang a pair of silver bracelets she had just hurriedly purchased from the system.
Wenrou Niang, seeing the silver bracelets Chen Lan handed her, let out a gentle sigh of relief. She took the silver bracelets, took Zhao Xiaoyue's hand, and was about to put them on her.
Zhao Xiaoyue quickly declined, repeatedly saying, "Auntie, I can't, I can't! It's too precious! Too precious!"
Wenrou Niang said, "How can you not accept? Quickly put them on. You know, you shouldn't refuse a gift from an elder, right?"
Thus, one was offering, and the other was refusing. They were in a tug-of-war.
Her mother-in-law said generously, "Xiao Yue, don't be so hesitant, take them and put them on for us to see!"
"My, this is a new style, it looks quite good! My dear kinswoman has excellent taste! She knows how to pick things!"
Wenrou Niang also began to be modest, "No! No!"
"Alright!" The two women began their mutual praise session again.
Chen Lan took Ming Zhe's hand and led Ming Wei to find Wen Kai and Wen Qi. When they entered the brothers' room, the two brothers were still fast asleep!
The noise outside hadn't woken them up at all, and they were still sleeping like little pigs!
Seeing the brothers, Ming Zhe shouted excitedly, "Wen Kai, Wen Qi, wake up quickly, wake up quickly! I'm here, I'm here!"
The brothers groggily opened their eyes, still a bit disoriented. Hearing Ming Zhe's voice, they immediately perked up!
The three of them started shouting excitedly, "Ming Zhe, you're here! Ming Zhe, I missed you! Ming Zhe, why did you take so long to come! ..."
The voices of the three little rascals were so loud they seemed to shake the roof. Chen Lan quickly pulled Ming Wei away. They ran far out of the room, their ears still buzzing.