Chapter 973 Imagination
Seriously speaking, the courtyards that Director Huo helped get back are really good.
Before going shopping, Ning Weimin felt that it was a bit unfair to owe such a large debt of gratitude for this matter.
When he came here to negotiate with the Ancient and Modern Cultural Association, he had a quick look at this place.
At that time, I thought it was just three courtyards.
Moreover, it has been occupied by the Ancient and Modern Cultural Association for so many years and has been built privately and in a disgraceful manner.
In fact, except for the courtyard where the Jiang family lived, it was a decent house.
The remaining theater buildings and the flower cave are simple houses renovated from the original foundations, and the damage is relatively serious.
Even if it restores its old appearance, it doesn’t seem to be of much use.
So Ning Weimin had always thought that getting these houses back for the old man would at best give the old man a kind of psychological comfort, but it had little practical significance.
But this time when he walked with Kang Shude, he saw something different, and his mind completely changed.
You know, he is here today waiting for the porcelain to be put into storage. He has the leisure and time to look more carefully.
In addition, Kang Shude, who has a full understanding of the past of Majia Garden, is undoubtedly the best tour guide.
From the old man's mouth, he gained a more and deeper understanding of the old life in Ma's Garden and these buildings with supplementary and auxiliary functions.
The more I looked at them, the more I realized the beauty of these properties, and gradually I began to feel happy.
I think it was a good thing that I got it back in time, otherwise I would have regretted it in the future if I really missed it.
Let’s talk about the Jiang family’s small courtyard first, just the structure and specifications of the house.
It is a decent residential courtyard, not much different from the small courtyard where the Song family lived in all aspects.
The special thing is that Mr. Jiang, who originally studied Western architecture, liked to landscape the courtyard when he had free time.
I especially like to use white marble to make some Western stone sculptures, also called Hu figures.
Some of them still remain in the garden, such as the relatively rare reliefs around the flower beds in the garden.
Ning Weimin took a closer look and saw that they were all Hu people riding lions and Hu people riding statues. This was a special place in the courtyard where the Jiang family lived.
There is also a stone lampstand in the corner, which is even more amazing.
Because it is no longer a traditional European portrait of a foreigner, but a modern European portrait of a foreigner wearing a suit.
Ning Weimin has never seen anything like this. This can be said to reflect the new background of Sino-foreign exchanges during the Republic of China.
But this is nothing, because Ning Weimin also learned from the old man that during the fall of Peking, Mr. Jiang once created a life-size full-length statue of the Gorgon Medusa in order to ward off evil spirits.
But precisely because the statue is so lifelike, the curly hair of the banshee is covered with long worms with sharp teeth.
Some long worms even stretched out half of their bodies, baring their teeth and claws, which was really scary.
I don’t know if it can scare the Japanese. Anyway, Mrs. Jiang was frightened to the point of becoming restless first.
It looked really uncomfortable to those who came in, so the statue was taken away within a few days of leaving it in the courtyard.
Later I heard that it was taken to a German hotel.
Probably only foreigners don’t mind keeping such creepy things.
After hearing this allusion, Ning Weimin not only laughed, but also felt something in his heart.
I think it would be good if these two juxtaposed courtyards can maintain the cultural distinction between one Chinese and one Western in the future, which means that two kinds of life tastes will be available.
From now on, if I live here next to the old man, with one apartment for each person, it will be quite beautiful.
Secondly, let’s talk about Huadongzi. Originally, this was the most disappointing place for Ning Weimin.
Because all he can see now is a row of simple bungalows. The roofs are made of corrugated boards and linoleum, and the doors are so low that you have to lower your head to get in.
To put it bluntly, this place has long become the warehouse and utility room of the Ancient and Modern Culture Association.
So all the time, people from the Ancient and Modern Cultural Association put all kinds of junk here.
Broken cabinets, rotten tables, old books and newspapers...
Coupled with the age and disrepair, there are few complete floor tiles in the entire yard, both inside and outside the rooms.
The only special thing is that there is a long row of brick and stone platforms inside the house, just like an earthen kang.
But after the old man explained it casually, Ning Weimin didn't think so.
On the contrary, just like when he saw the ice cellar under the rockery just now, he felt happy again, and it was so rare.
According to the old man, even though this little house is so ugly, the foundation of Huadongzi is still there.
Both the three-layer-thick gables and the long "Panlong Kang" inside are still intact.
So it’s easy to restore it. All the broken things built against the wall have to be removed first.
Then we only need to connect the panlong kang and the chimney on the kang, build the flower shed with glass, and lay out a layer of roll mats. It won’t be in the way.
And since glass as the main material is now cheaper, it would be much cheaper to repair it again than it was back then.
I would like to hire an experienced florist from Huangtugang. Using the temperature of the heated kang in the shed, we can not only cultivate fresh vegetables out of season in the middle of winter, but also use fire to smoke them out of season. beautiful flowers.
The vegetables produced by this method are what was called "Dongzi goods" in the past, and mainly include cucumbers, lentils, eggplants, leeks and other varieties.
The flowers produced by this method are the famous "绻花" in Beijing, including more than 20 kinds of chrysanthemums, peonies, peach, narcissus, magnolia, etc.
In the past, Ma’s family had not only fresh fruits and vegetables to eat in winter, but also flowers in front of the hall all year round.
In particular, the "Dragon Beard Peony" cultivated in Huadongzi is the most famous, and can bloom two seasons a year.
Unlike Luoyang peonies, they bloom only once a year.
Nothing to say, after the old man personally visited the scene and described it vividly.
In Ning Weimin's mind, the grand scene of the Ma family in the past became increasingly clear and complete.
He had the impression that his grandson Monkey discovered "the water curtain cave, cave sky, and the blessed land of Huaguoshan".
When he thought that he would be so lucky in the future and enjoy the flowers and fresh vegetables produced by his family in winter, he was so beautiful that his nose was filled with snot. As for the end, what really made Ning Weimin's heart surge was the theater.
Although this theater has been transformed beyond recognition by magic, it has become the office building of the Ancient and Modern Cultural Association.
Moreover, after many years of exposure to wind and rain, the appearance of the theater building has been corroded by time, making it look dilapidated.
But then again, this theater building is eight or nine meters high, with a total of three floors.
Looking from the outside, the cornices protrude above the ridge of the roof, standing out abruptly among a group of bungalows, and still have a distinctive look.
And after Ning Weimin walked in with Kang Shude, he found that the changes inside were not too big, and he could basically tell the appearance of the old days.
Under the guidance of the old man, the original front desk, back desk, and the location of the entrance and exit gates can still be found.
Looking up, you can see the cornices, pillars and colorful paintings and seals. Although they are mottled, you can distinguish them based on the traces. They are all extremely exquisite.
But the most awesome thing is the original big stage.
The height of the table is as high as an adult's chest.
The gongs and drums can be placed under the stage, and gauze curtains can be hung to separate them. It is more elegant than the famous Guanghe Tower Theater in Beijing.
Although when Ning Weimin stepped onto the stage, he felt that the wooden board was no longer very flat, and there was a "bang bang" sound when he stepped on it. Either this piece is tilted up, or that piece is sunken, and there are still big gaps, so you can trip over if you are not careful.
But once he understood the original multi-dimensional design and the real functions of the stage, he had to give it a thumbs up and sincerely praised it as "cool".
You know, the wooden board at the back of the center of the stage can be moved, and there is a large man-made well underneath.
According to Kang Shude, this thing is quite magical.
The actors can sing while standing at the mouth of the well without saying anything. If the plot requires it, they can also spray water from the mouth of the well onto the stage to create special effects like springs of water or clouds and rain.
The second floor of the stage is also amazing.
It originally had special facilities and a winch was once installed.
It would be very convenient to play a goddess descending to earth or something.
The third floor is where the gods stay.
It would come in handy if you were to act in "An Tian Hui" and watch Sun Hou'er cause trouble in the Heavenly Palace and set it up in the Lingxiao Palace.
In addition, the wooden caisson on the top of the entire theater is also gorgeous and exquisite.
It is carved from pieces of pear wood, and the layers shrink inward, also for the purpose of harmonizing the sound.
In the middle there are five flying bats surrounding a huge top bead, which is novel and exquisite and unique in the capital.
Ning Weimin became fascinated when he saw this thing.
He raised his head, and all he could see was the dazzling beauty above his head.
In his mind, he imagined the most grand scene of the year, with actors performing on the upper, middle and lower floors at the same time, with flowers and flowers in full bloom.
How spectacular and wonderful that scene would be.
My eyes are definitely not enough!
It’s a pity that people nowadays are not lucky enough to see it!
However, Ning Weimin did not expect that Kang Shude, who had always been very happy, was obviously not as interested as before.
It can even be said to be a bit depressing and a bit disappointing.
Suddenly, the old man sighed, revealing his extremely negative thoughts.
"Wei Min, I'm just thinking, why don't we just stop repairing those places now. Let's just go and have a look, and leave those courtyards and houses there for now. Anyway, we can't If you don’t need it, don’t waste the money.”
This made Ning Weimin confused.
He said to himself, it was not easy to get your house back.
Why do you say that if you don’t cultivate, you won’t cultivate?
Don’t repair? Could it be that we just let that room sit unused?
Besides, it’s cost-effective to repair now. Things and labor are cheap.
What’s more, it doesn’t count the price. It really has to be repaired in a few years at night. Once those old masters retire, who can guarantee that the ancient construction team will still be as good as it is now?
So it is natural to oppose it.
"Don't bother me, old man, what are you talking about? Don't be afraid of spending money, we can afford it. Can you take care of all the money matters? I'll tell you the truth, I also make a lot of money in Japan. I'm not being frivolous in front of you, I'm being honest, I can afford even a million dollars..."
"What? You have only been here for a few days! ? You guys can do it! Hey, isn’t it that the restaurant hasn’t opened yet?” I spent thousands of yuan on this thing without blinking an eye. It was out of stock in the first two days. I rushed to order a batch of goods and estimated that I would earn another million.”
Afraid of the Master's teachings and the old man's worries, Ning Weimin deliberately downplayed speculation in stocks and real estate.
Only Kang Shude was surprised, surprised, and happy for him.
But after pondering for a moment, when he came back to the matter of repairing the house, he still looked sad.
"Let me tell you the truth. I don't want to repair it. In fact, it's not just about the money. Now look at this garden, it's really too big. You can repair the theater building. It shouldn't be bigger than the real one." The palace is gone. Such a big garden will be noticed sooner or later. How can we, one old and one young, protect this property?"
"Not to mention that we only come here occasionally. The house was repaired in vain, but without care after a long time, it was still a waste of money. But you said that if you hire someone to look after it, two or three caretakers and two or three gardeners will inevitably be needed. No matter how much the bill is, the inside story of this garden will be leaked, and trouble will come.” The theater in Shufangzhai and the Deheyuan Theater in the Summer Palace are much smaller in scale, but they are still extremely conspicuous buildings and are not something that ordinary people should have. As the saying goes, a gentleman is innocent and has a treasure. Guilty. Think about it, if you really make the theater as beautiful and brilliant as it was before, can we still hold it? "You guys are not afraid of attracting thunder and fire. , if you keep attacking us and burning yourself, it's better for you to go abroad and leave me alone to do this. I can't afford it. , I'm afraid of this..."
Master and apprentice are still master and apprentice, and Kang Shude's words really don't mean anything, they are all complaints from the bottom of his heart.
And paired with the environment of "the willows of the palace are brushing against the palace walls, and there is no one in the palace, the spring days are long", it is also particularly convincing.
I couldn’t believe it, when I thought that Ma’s yard was so big and deep, with many flowers and trees, many rockeries, and many ponds.
As soon as I came in today, I saw that the ground was covered with tree shadows, the road was covered with moss, and the winding paths led to a secluded place.
Ning Weimin can also fully understand what the master is worried about.
I can completely relate to Master's painstaking efforts and the pressure on my heart.
But he is not a master of calculation, he is a famous abacus.
Can he not think about such a big thing?
So he stopped showing off and hurriedly told his master all about his plan.
"Old man, everything you said is right. Your concerns are very reasonable. If we repair these houses, we will definitely attract powerful and jealous people over time. Just the two of us, Maybe it can be stalled for a while, but it will never guarantee peace, that is, it will be endless trouble. So this is what I think, we have to borrow the tiger skin. On the surface, this house becomes someone else's, but in fact, we are pinched. In your hand, it’s done?”
“What do you mean? Who do you want to give this room to?”
When Kang Shude suddenly heard this, he didn't react, but he was shocked.
"Don't be nervous. You have forgotten that the Ancient and Modern Cultural Association originally occupied this house. We hold the house deed and occupy the policy. Why can't we do anything? Isn't it because he has someone with a big background behind him. I am I want to find someone bigger to hold my head against. I won’t be afraid if I hide behind it..." Ning Weimin comforted him.
"Well, that makes sense."
Kang Shude's eyes lit up, but he still had concerns. "Then...whose tiger skin do you want to borrow? What if you want to seek skin from a tiger?"
"This is easy to handle. Why have you forgotten my identity?"
Ning Weimin smiled and saw that Kang Shude's expression was still confused, so he simply boasted.
"I said Master, I am a comprador class. Can't I just let our company be the big one? The first foreign company in China, our Mr. Song has entered Zhongnanhai. Now the big boss every year I can't believe it. Who would dare to extend this paw with the reputation of destroying the friendship between China and France..."
"Oh, you mean to rent Ma's Garden to your company. ?”
Kang Shude finally came around the corner, but he was still a little short.
Ning Weimin continued to add, "In my imagination, there may be three units. Pilkington, Temple of Heaven, and Chongwen District Service Bureau. With these three umbrellas protecting them, it should be No one has any ideas for us anymore, right? To tell you the truth, I think Ma’s Garden is most suitable for opening a restaurant or a hotel.”
"Although I haven't thought it through completely, I have to say that we don't have a garden-style restaurant in Beijing so far. It would be great if we could open a restaurant like the one in the past. There just happens to be a theater in Majia Garden. It's really cool. It is a veritable hall. It is suitable for hosting traditional festive gatherings, high-end business banquets, or any cultural activities."
"In addition, Mr. Song. I also thought about opening a Maxim Hotel in the capital, but unfortunately I wanted to buy a building in the capital hotel, but the negotiations in the first few days were rejected. If I wanted to get it to Majia Garden, that would be suitable as well. "
"Anyway, after your place is repaired, I will put it to use for you. I will pay you the rent every month, and you can just take the flowers and go. If you rent it for ten or eight years , you can become a millionaire without any trouble. This does not include the courtyard you want to live in. I will reserve your small courtyard exclusively for you, and I will also arrange for staff to clean it for you for free. In addition, I will have my antiques in the future. There is room, and I plan to house part of it in the three-volume hall, which can be regarded as half a small museum for us. It can also improve the style of the place and add some viewing pleasure for guests. It can also make money, save money, be safe, and save worry. How great is that? When the time comes, I guarantee that you will live a life that even veteran cadres will envy."
Well, the master and the apprentice have completely lost their balance.
Kang Shude had to admit that Ning Weimin was really talented and thought about things from angles that ordinary people would never think of.
Listening to Ning Weimin's colorful vernacular, this time it was Kang Shude's turn to be immersed in it, thinking endlessly about the good days in the future.
(End of this chapter)