Jing Cheng's words were simple, like an old man's wish.
Xu Wen looked around and found himself standing at the highest point of the rockery house. From his angle, he could just see a veranda on his left. Half of what used to lead to the nave had been torn down, and the other half clung to the left side of the pond, leading to a pavilion built in the corner of the wall. The veranda was wooden, as unmaintained as the two front rooms, and as decayed as the house itself.
But his whole mind was drawn to the pond surrounded by the veranda.
The pond is full of flowers. Lotus leaves are extremely green, lotus flowers are extremely beautiful, eagerly spread out in all directions, only flowers, no water, strong as if to take away all the colors between heaven and earth.
"How beautiful." He sighed softly and felt regretful.
Before he resigned, he was the deputy project manager of the decoration company, and the last project he handled was a private heritage collection. He knew exactly how much manpower and material resources were needed to restore such an ancient Qing Dynasty mansion-this was simply not a job that ordinary people could complete.
" It's a pity that the house is like this, but I'm just a poor office worker. I'm afraid my grandfather's wish will never be fulfilled."
Jing Cheng didn't seem to hear him. He took a step back and bowed." I'll leave this matter to you, young sir."
"Huh?" Xu Wen was stunned.
" There is something that a disciple should do. The unfulfilled wishes of Sir should be fulfilled by his descendants. It is also a good story." Jing Cheng said softly.
"What I mean is that I really don't have any money. I'm just an ordinary employee. It's not easy to support myself. I can't build such a mansion."
"Money is not a problem."
"Great-grandfather left a maintenance fund?"
"No. You need to earn it yourself and repair it yourself."
Jing Cheng's expression was naturally calm, and he didn't think there was anything wrong with his words at all.
But the more this happened, the more problematic it was.
Xu Wen stared at him. Jing Cheng smiled, his eyes dark and devoid of any light. Xu Wen inexplicably felt a chill. He pursed his lips tightly and turned to leave without saying a word.
No one stopped him. Someone behind him laughed, as if it was a short taunt.
After only two steps, something fell to the ground.
"Young man, did I hit you?" There was a voice above him.
Xu Wen subconsciously looked up and saw two craftsmen dressed in ancient clothes. They were sitting on a wooden scaffold with tools in their hands, as if they were repairing a corridor.
"My old buddy is shaking again. Please forgive me." Another worker smiled at him.
Xu Wen noticed the linen clothes on their bodies and the green cloth shoes on their feet. There was a piece of fallen wood on the ground. None of them were dressed in this era.
He was about to answer when he realized that there were no scaffolds and craftsmen when he looked around the veranda. Although these two people smiled sincerely and simply, their figures were hazy, as if they were covered with a layer of film.
Haunted?
Xu Wen felt a chill run down his spine. He tried to calm himself down and leave this place quickly.
The wind grew stronger and stronger. The air distorted in front of Xu Wen's eyes. The scenery in front of him seemed to have been blown away by the wind and became blurred. Soon, it became clear again. He was still on the veranda, but it was not the dilapidated and gloomy veranda where one feared falling, but a vacant lot under construction.
There were many craftsmen around him out of nowhere. They walked back and forth, appearing and disappearing like a merry-go-round.
The craftsmen talked, laughing and discussing something seriously, as if he had fallen into time and space in an instant.
He kept walking, and the time around him accelerated. The progress of the veranda construction was very fast.
Craftsmen build frames, lay eaves, erect arches, erect columns... a process orderly, with a strict and standardized rational beauty.
On the other side, several craftsmen were working carefully, carving beams and windows with hammers and chisels. Wood chips fluttered under their hands, delicate patterns gradually emerged, bird feathers veins visible to the naked eye... the beauty of art flowed in reason, dazzling.
In the end, the veranda was built at an extremely fast speed and reappeared at Xu Wen's feet. It is beautiful and tortuous, one side of the handrail delicate and clean, touch it like skin; the other side of the window and white wall green trees reflect, each window pattern is different, step by step like enjoying a beautiful scroll.
Xu Wen couldn't help but be attracted by this scene. He paused, held the handrail of the veranda, and turned to his left. In an instant, the entire veranda faded and returned to the collapsed appearance he had seen.
Xu Wen was immediately frightened and instantly pulled back to reality. There was something strange about this house, and he definitely could not stay any longer.
Xu Wen quickened his pace and walked out. As he moved, the craftsmen dug ponds, stacked rockery, planted trees, decorated walls, and paved the ground. The strange rocks in the courtyard are jagged and well-arranged, which contrast with the lotus flowers in the pond and are vividly reflected in the painting.
These wonders were lit up when he passed by, and they immediately disintegrated into powder the moment he left, returning to the dilapidated appearance of weeds and scattered stones in reality.
The surrounding light became dimmer, and a cool breeze brushed past his skin. The air was so cold that it did not look like the July fire.
The general's hair is white, his beauty is dry. Xu Wen subconsciously walked forward. The surrounding scenery kept changing from once prosperous to now withered, shocking people's minds. He restrained himself from paying too much attention, as if he could feel someone watching his every move from above, keeping him quiet.
He quickly arrived at the front of the main hall. It was as if his actions had activated the construction here.
Digging, foundation laying, foundation building, masonry, brick laying, column beam erection, roof tile laying.
On a wasteland full of weeds, a two-story mansion rose from the ground. The white walls were clean, and the beautiful black roof was like a layer of clouds in the sky. It was light and majestic.
At last he saw the twelve windows of the four hour hall. Windows and scenery complement each other, four seasons complete, different seasons. Xu Wen had always thought that he had no feelings for ancient buildings, but at this moment, he still received a strong impact. He suddenly felt the extreme pursuit of beauty by humans.
At this moment, Xu Wen almost saw the limits of manpower.
Four o'clock scenery is still changing, has turned east from autumn, snow outside the window.
Xu Wen's footsteps slowed down, as if he could not help but wait for the plum blossoms outside the window in the snow.
However, at this moment, his arms sank. The black cat seemed to appear out of thin air and jumped into his arms. The real gentleness made his mind clear. Qiuqiu meowed, as if urging him to leave.
Xu Wen looked forward and saw two scarlet doors appearing out of thin air in the originally dark door frame. The carvings were exquisite and the color was bright. They were slowly closing.
Xu Wen knew that it was too late. His heart was beating very fast and he quickened his pace to rush out.
At this moment, it seemed that there was a handful of snow falling on the branches, and the fragrance came. The Chinese plum outside the window seemed to be about to bloom.
Xu Wen knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't help but turn around and look. Through the window edge, in the extremely dark space, a beam of bright light hit the branches, flowers bloom, extremely beautiful.
Attracted by the sight, he could not help but stop where he was.
At this moment, the scarlet carved door in front of him slammed shut, and everything returned to darkness.
Xu Wen turned his head violently. He knew that he could not get out.