Ji Yan and Ruan Xiaoyi braved the sun on the afternoon of June, walked half a pillar of incense, and finally came to the door of the Qinghai Hall.

This Qinghai Hall is very magnificent from a distance, the three-story green brick and green tile attic, the paint brush on the outside wall is crystal clear, and a huge plaque hangs on the main entrance, I don't know which one is looking for to inscribe the "Qinghai Hall" four big characters, vigorous and powerful.

It seems that the business of these maritime merchants has been good over the years, and it is no wonder that the maritime merchants in Shandong mainly run to North Korea, and the maritime ban during the Ming Taizu period also opened a few exceptions, including the Korean Li Dynasty of the sycophant thief, so it is estimated that the business of these people has been done for more than one or two generations.

As soon as the two of them walked in the door, several people surrounded them, and Ji Yan recognized one of them, Ruan Zhong. He walked in front of the crowd and introduced to the people behind him: "This is Ji Tongyi, who has made great contributions in the Ryukyus. ”

Ruan Zhong then turned his face and said enthusiastically to Ji Yan: "Ji Tongyi, why don't you say hello before you come, let's make more preparations." ”

Ji Yan was a little dissatisfied with Ruan Zhong's lack of clarity in the dazzling Ryukyus, so he only smiled slightly and said, "I came with tolerance this time, and I just arrived in Qingzhou Mansion. ”

Ruan Zhong was still enthusiastic, and said with a smile: "It's good to come, this is your own place, let me first introduce you to everyone who came to welcome you today." ”

After that, Ruan Zhong introduced the members of the welcome team to Ji Yan one by one, either surnamed Ruan or surnamed Song, it seems that the relationship between the two families is indeed very good.

Ji Yan gave up his hands one by one, and there was a middle-aged man in his forties, who saw Ruan Xiaoyi behind Ji Yan, and said angrily: "Xiaoyi, don't disturb Ji Tongyi, go back to the school quickly." ”

Immediately afterwards, the middle-aged man greeted him warmly, saying that he would let the hall quickly fish a few watermelons from the well, cut them up, and serve them to Ji Tongyi to relieve the heat.

Ji Yan guessed that this person should be Ruan Xiaoyi's father, so he took the initiative to pull him aside and whispered: "You are Ruan Xiaoyi's father, I have something to discuss with you, Xiaoyi, this little brother, I think he is loyal and honest, and he is skilled in martial arts and navigation, he is a rare talent, Zheng and Lord Zheng sent me to Qingzhou this time, there is an errand that is to see that there is something to be made, if you are willing, go back to Beijing with me, and go to Lord Zheng on an errand, I don't know what you think." ”

No matter what era, and no matter what the relationship between parents and children is, it is always not wrong to praise children to parents, the middle-aged man listened to Ji Yan's words, and his heart was naturally very beautiful, but Ji Yan mentioned that he wanted to take Xiaoyi to the capital on an errand, he would definitely not be so happy, so he smiled at Ji Yan and said: "In Xia Ruan Xin, Xiaoyi is indeed a son who is not a good person, thank you for your praise, but the things mentioned by Ji Tongyi still need to be considered in the long run." ”

Ji Yan naturally knew that this matter was not achieved overnight, so he smiled and didn't say anything more.

At this moment, a person who looked like a shopkeeper came over and said, "Ji Tongyi, why don't we talk in the private room?" ”

Ji Yan was held by this group of people like the moon, and entered the private room on the second floor.

The private room on the second floor, but it is also worthy of the name, the space is not small, cool and transparent, a round table with more than a dozen seats, there is a tea seat on the side, you can hold a wine banquet, you can also taste tea, the two large windows on the side can overlook a small garden in the backyard of the Qinghai Hall, there are a few huts in the garden, it is estimated that when the weather is right, engage in farmhouse and the like.

As soon as I entered the house and sat down, several large plates of watermelons were brought first. As soon as everyone let it, Ji Yan basically did not refuse to eat. A mouthful of refreshing cold watermelon entered his mouth, and Ji Yan finally found the feeling that summer should have, except that there were no big white legs to see, he felt that his quality of life in the Ming Dynasty was finally closer to that of modern society.

Eating the watermelon, Ji Yan saw that everyone else was looking at him, but he didn't want to ask questions, probably guessing what he was doing here. He touched his mouth, wiped his hands, stood up straight and said: "In this trip to Qingzhou, I received the order of Zheng and Lord Zheng, he is now repairing an ancient temple in the capital, called Tianxi Temple, there is a seven-story pagoda in the temple, and the Ministry of Industry gave a plan to build a glazed pagoda. Therefore, I specially came to visit all of you to discuss it. ”

Ruan Xiaoyi's father, Ruan Xin seemed to be the leader of this large group of people, he took a step forward and said, "What kind of drawings did Ji Tong Yi bring?" Can you take it out and let me take a look at it later? ”

Ji Yan took out a paper bag from his arms and spread it out on the dining table, which contained four or five plan drawings drawn by the Ministry of Engineering, and those merchants immediately surrounded him and began to discuss.

Ruan Xiaoyi stood timidly in the corner, Ji Yan saw it in his eyes, and beckoned Xiaoyi and said, "I heard that you often go in and out of the workshop on weekdays, why don't you go over and take a look with these elders and tell me your opinion." ”

Ruan Xiaoyi approached with a little trepidation, but when he saw the drawings, his eyes immediately changed, and the dull young man was gone. Now Ruan Xiaoyi has a focused expression, his eyes are bright, and he is refreshed, this is what he should be.

Ji Yan naturally noticed the change in Ruan Xiaoyi, and smiled in his heart: he really didn't see the wrong person.

This group of people talked about the drawings and talked about it word by word, Ji Yan actually didn't understand it very well, so he walked to the window by himself, and while continuing to eat his watermelon, he casually looked at the small courtyard outside the window, becoming a real onlooker eating melon.

After a while, they seemed to have come to some conclusion, Ruan Xin, stepped forward, and said to Ji Yan: "Ji Tongyi, don't hide it, we may not be able to take this job." ”

When he said this, it was a big surprise, only to hear Ruan Xin continue: "On this drawing, the glazed tiles required for the pagoda are about 5 points thick, which is half thinner than the thinnest one we can make in our workshop, and we can only fire 10 points that is one inch thick. ”

This is difficult to do, Ji Yan frowned, and looked at the group of merchants behind Ruan Xin, including Ruan Zhong, who also shook their heads and were speechless, obviously this was their unanimous conclusion.

Ji Yan looked at Ruan Xiaoyi again, he bit his lip tightly, as if he had something to say, he encouraged him and said, "Xiaoyi, what do you have to say?" ”

Ruan Xiaoyi looked at Ji Yan's eyes, made up his mind, and said firmly: "I can burn this kind of glazed tile." ”

Before Ruan Xiaoyi's words landed, Ruan Xin rudely interrupted him: "What nonsense, Ji Tong is here, we adults discuss things, how can you speak." ”

If you put this in modern times, it is not a big problem, but in ancient times, there were actually some problems, Ruan Xiaoyi was already fifteen or sixteen years old, and this age was actually considered an adult in ancient times. Ji Yan is only about twenty years old, Mei Yuning was born in the twentieth year of Hongwu, and should only be one or two years older than Ruan Xiaoyi.

After Ruan Xiaoyi listened to his father's reprimand, he immediately wilted, and immediately returned to his usual state, Ji Yan saw it in his eyes, and said to Ruan Xin: "I think Xiaoyi is not a mouthful, as the saying goes, blue is better than blue, one generation is better than the next, it is better to let Xiaoyi talk." ”