The relationship between Tashiro Ichiro and Yoshino Emon is indeed very close, when Yoshino Emon wrote a book in Tianjin, it was Tashiro Ichiro who heard about the name of this fellow countryman, and took the initiative to visit, and the two hit it off at first sight, and since then they have become close friends.

After that, Tashiro Ichiro actively campaigned for Yoshinoemon, preaching everywhere that he had traveled alone for decades, surveying the deeds of the northern country, and recommended Yoshinoemon to the military department and cabinet, and gradually began to set foot in the political circles, and since then, Yoshinoemon's reputation has become better and better day by day, and finally reached the high position he is today.

Therefore, Yoshinoemon has today's achievements, Tashiro Ichiro has contributed a lot, and the two are not only friends in private, but also a firm alliance in politics, and the relationship is inseparable.

At this time, hearing Yoshinoemon's introduction, coupled with Xu Chengyan's fluent Kansai Japanese, Tashiro Ichiro did not mind that Xu Chengyan was Chinese, he laughed and encouraged Xu Chengyan: "I have long heard Yoshino-kun mention you, sure enough, you are a talent, I and your teacher are close friends, regardless of each other, you don't have to be polite." ”

Everyone exchanged a few more greetings, Tashiro Ichiro came to Beiping to deal with official business this time, time was tight, and after meeting Yoshinoemon, he would rush back to Tianjin immediately, so he got up and said goodbye and left.

Sent away Tashiro Ichiro, the three teachers and students sat down again, and talked to each other about parting, all of which were embarrassing.

After talking for a long time, Xu Chengyan looked at Yoshino Emon and said with emotion: "I haven't missed you all the time over the years, but it's a pity that the war is in chaos and the situation is turbulent, I can only see it today, teacher, your hair is a lot grayer!" ”

When Yoshino Emon heard this, his hand gently stroked his sideburns, and he also sighed lightly, and said, "Time is not forgiving! Now I can't help myself, and I am pushed into this position again, worrying every day, how can my hair not be gray, but you have really grown up, calm and serious, as I expected back then, I am very pleased! ”

"Teacher, you are highly respected, and you are in a high position, and it is also expected by everyone, besides, if it weren't for you going out of the mountain this time, I wouldn't know your news, and I don't know when teachers and students met!"

Speaking of this, Xu Chengyan remembered the gift he brought, so he took a package from the side, put it on the table, and after opening it, it was a black wooden box and a book, and said with a smile: "Entrusted by people, loyal to people, this is Mr. Eguchi of our newspaper, and your junior Mr. Takahashi entrusted me with a gift to bring you, and there is also a letter from Mr. Takahashi." ”

Seeing these two gifts, Yoshinoemon frowned slightly, he has always been thrifty, he has never liked other people's gifts, since he entered the office, I don't know how many times he has refused such gifts, unless it is a favor that cannot be rejected, otherwise they will be returned, which is also a well-known thing in the high-level, so few people come to give gifts, so as not to be bored.

But this time is different, after all, it was sent by a student who I haven't seen for many years, and I can't break the student's face, so I won't say more.

"This one is a gift from Mr. Eguchi, he knows that you don't like those copper-smelling things, so he specially prepared an ancient inkstone, please smile."

Xu Chengyan pushed the black wooden box in front of Yoshinoemon, only to see that it was no more than three inches high, about six inches long, with a smooth surface, black and translucent in pitch, and exquisite ornamentation carved around it.

Gently open the box, take out an ancient inkstone, and place it in front of Yoshinoemon.

Yoshino Emon raised his eyebrows, although he didn't like money, but after all, he still had a hobby, and he loved the study and books the most in his life, and this ancient inkstone really aroused his interest.

After thinking about it, I already understood that where outsiders know their preferences, I am afraid that they are still their own students.

Don't say it at the moment, take this ancient inkstone in your hand, look carefully, only to see this ancient inkstone is the size of an adult's finger, the stone is dark green like blue, the texture is delicate like silk, and the grinding place can also see the yellow fat water lines, like waves like clouds.

At one end of the inkstone, half of the cow's body is carved, like a buffalo immersed in water, only half of the body and the cow's head are exposed, the pattern carving is delicate, vivid, lifelike.

Following the direction of the bull's head, a round of crescent moon is carved at the other end of the inkstone, and the whole is the pattern of a rhinoceros looking at the moon, and the idea is also exquisite!

Yoshinoemon stared at each other, nodded slightly, and praised: "The rare Taohe ancient inkstone, seeing that this carving is at least a fine product of the Song Dynasty, it is indeed a good thing!" ”

He was very knowledgeable and sharp-eyed, and he recognized the origin of this ancient inkstone at a glance.

Taohe inkstone, is the most high-grade inkstone in northern China, the value is precious, because it is produced in the southwest of Gansu Taoyan Township Taohe River water and named, in the Tang Dynasty has been famous all over the world, with the advantages of beautiful complexion, fine ink, long-lasting water storage, thick color and moisturizing, etc., for the literati and ink writers of all dynasties.

As Zhao Xihu of the Song Dynasty said, "In addition to the end and the two stones, only the Taohe greenstone, the most precious in the north, green as blue, moist as jade, the ink does not reduce the end of the river under the rock, but the stone is at the bottom of the deep water of the river, not caused by manpower, and it is a priceless treasure." ”

Like such a piece of Taohe ancient inkstone in the Song Dynasty, it is definitely a rare treasure.

Hearing Yoshinoemon's praise, Xu Chengyan smiled and said: "It's still your eyesight, teacher, I couldn't see the way before, and then I found out that it was the Taohe Ancient Yan, as for which dynasty is even more confused." ”

After speaking, he handed over the book again: "This is a gift from Mr. Takahashi, please take a look!" ”

As soon as Yoshinoemon saw the ancient book, he motioned to Takeda Katsura on the side, who quickly took a clean sweat towel and a pair of glasses.

Yoshino wiped his hands with a sweat towel without leaving a trace of sweat, put his glasses on the bridge of his nose, and then took the book in his hand and looked at it carefully in front of his eyes.

This style made Xu Chengyan a little embarrassed, he had little study of antiques and cultural relics, he didn't have any experience, and he didn't care much about this book.

Wang Anshi was a famous politician, scholar and writer in the Northern Song Dynasty, and he was also one of the very few cultural giants in Chinese history who could be widely involved in four books and had a grand pattern, and his political reform, academic thoughts, and literary works have had a profound impact on the course of Chinese history and traditional culture.

"Okay, it's really rare, but it's a pity that it's only a single volume of Linchuan, but Takahashi-kun also has a heart!"

After watching for a while, Yoshino Emon nodded again and said that he liked books the most in his life, and Wang Anshi was also one of the ancients he admired the most, and he was quite satisfied with this gift from Tetsuo Takahashi.

For Tetsuo Takahashi, Yoshino Emon is not deeply impressed, and it is just a hurried side a few years ago, although he is a junior who graduated from the same school, he can't talk about any friendship, but according to his own student, fortunately, this person is taken care of in Shanxi, and he should also repay the favor.

Finally, it was the gift prepared by Xu Chengyan, he opened the two packages, and said with a smile: "I am shy in my pocket, and I can't afford to buy good things for you, so I only prepared these specialties, Uncle Wu, I remember that you like to eat this big walnut in Fenzhou the most, as well as this Taigu cake, I am afraid that the road will be delayed for a long time, and it is not easy to bring anything else, so I will prepare some more, you can taste it." ”

When the package was opened, there were several Shanxi specialties inside, which made Yoshino Emon and Takeda Katsura both light up their eyes.

"Okay, great, Shanxi's walnuts are big and thin-skinned, fragrant and crispy, really good."

"Bring me a piece too, this Taigu cake is my favorite, sweet but not greasy, crispy but not broken.

I think when we went out to bring dry food, every time we packed a big bag, after eating and releasing it, it was not bad for two or three months, alas, I haven't tasted authentic Taigu cake for a long time. ”

Between the words, the two of them were not polite, and they tasted it directly, there are too many food specialties in Shanxi to count, Yoshino Emon and Takeda Katsura have been in Shanxi for many years, and they have always remembered it vividly, and they tasted it quite a bit at this time.

Seeing that the two liked it so much, Xu Chengyan also smiled, knowing that he had chosen the right gift, he deliberately only brought some Shanxi specialties this time, and did not choose the same valuables, firstly, because he knew the preferences of Yoshino Emon and Takeda Guiming, and secondly, he also showed Yoshinoemon that his situation in Shanxi was not good and he needed the support of the teacher.

In the following time, the three teachers and students talked happily, Yoshino Emon ordered someone to prepare a banquet for Xu Chengyan to pick up the wind and wash the dust, and then simply asked Xu Chengyan to go back to the room, move the luggage, and live in his own residence, Xu Chengyan naturally couldn't ask for it, and agreed repeatedly.

This time the reunion of teachers and students, everything went very smoothly as Xu Chengyan envisioned.

Two days later, on a street in the Dongcheng District of Beiping, Xu Chengyan appeared on the street wearing a long shirt, a top hat, a folded newspaper under his arm, and a tarpaulin umbrella in his hand.

The light rain in early spring was thin and dense, rustling on the ground, the rain and fog were filled, and there were far fewer pedestrians on the streets.

Xu Chengyan followed the street, looked around while walking, and almost reached the end of the street, only to find an inconspicuous small façade among many stores, with the signboard reading "Xu Ji Oil Umbrella Shop".

Confirming that it was correct again, Xu Chengyan came to the door of the store, raised his hand to collect the skeleton of the umbrella, shook it, shook the rain off the umbrella surface, and walked into the store.

When I entered the store, I found that the outside of this umbrella shop was small, but the shop inside was spacious, and the walls around it were covered with delicate oilcloth umbrellas, and the space was filled with a strong smell of tung oil.

In the store, a middle-aged man dressed as a shopkeeper is accompanying customers to choose umbrellas, and his mouth keeps introducing the benefits of umbrellas.

"Our Xu Ji's umbrella, decades of time-honored brand, ancestral craftsmanship, famous far and near, you look at this umbrella surface, thick and dense, with Liangguang good oil, as well as this skeleton ........."

Seeing that the shopkeeper was busy soliciting business, Xu Chengyan was not in a hurry, put the umbrella in his hand at the door, and then walked around the store with great interest, picking up an oil umbrella from time to time to take a closer look.

However, the shopkeeper really didn't brag about it, the umbrellas in this oil umbrella shop are indeed of excellent quality.

I saw that the umbrella surface was smooth and wrinkle-free, thick and dense, the umbrella bone was tough, dense and even, the thickness and width were the same, and the umbrella handle was also beautiful, and it was very comfortable to hold in the hand.

While watching, the shopkeeper over there also made a deal and sent the customers away, and then turned to Xu Chengyan.

"Sir, it's really good eyesight, this umbrella in your hand is the best one in my store, and the umbrella bone is made of old bamboo......

"That's it! No introduction. ”

Xu Chengyan waved his hand and said directly: "I want to order an oil umbrella, no problem, right?" ”

"Made-to-order?" The shopkeeper's eyes immediately narrowed, and his tone became cautious, "Of course, I don't know what you want to order?" ”

"Black umbrella surface, to put on a good oilcloth, straight pole umbrella bones, to Nanshan old bamboo, the most important thing, must be twenty-eight, one can not be more, one can not be less!"

After listening to Xu Chengyan's words, the shopkeeper looked him up and down, nodded slightly, and replied: "The small shop can only make twenty-four, and it takes seven days, what do you think?" ”

"That's good, it's just twenty-four, but I can only give you three days, and I'll double the price!"

"I can't be the master of this, I need to discuss it with the master, please go inside and wait for a while!"

After the shopkeeper finished speaking, he turned around and made a gesture of please, and let Xu Chengyan into the back hall.