Lin Wanrong was astonished in his heart. What is this old man Luo up to? I came to see you, not your daughter. Even if you want to recruit people, you shouldn't do it so blatantly. I am a gentleman.
"So, Miss Luo is also here." Lin Wanrong smiled and said, "Didn't Mr. Luo invite me? Why haven't I seen him?"
Luo Ning nodded, "Father just went to inspect the embankment below. Please wait a moment, Brother Lin."
Lin Wanrong nodded and looked around. It turned out that this place Luo Min invited him to was the Lower Guanjing Embankment. It was already winter, the dry season for the Yangtze River. The water had receded significantly, but the traces of the previous flood on both sides were still visible.
Thousands of common people, rolling up their sleeves and pant legs, waded through the mud, carrying mud and sand towards the shore. There were also thousands of people, wielding various digging tools, filling the embankment to reinforce and widen it.
This scene reminded Lin Wanrong of the water conservancy projects he often saw in his past life. Growing up near the Han River, he had a clear understanding of the importance of water conservation. Looking at the scene before him, he suddenly felt a warm and familiar feeling. These ordinary people, simple in attire and meager in food, were more intimate to Lin Wanrong than those so-called talented scholars and beauties.
However, although there were many people on the embankment, the tools were backward, and the efficiency was low. If they wanted to raise the embankment further, who knows how much time it would take. Lin Wanrong felt a bit anxious.
Why did this old man Luo call me here? Isn't it to ask for donations? Damn, this old man is quite cunning, seeing through my weak spot.
Seeing Luo Ning still standing beside him, Lin Wanrong said, "Miss Luo, do you know why Mr. Luo asked me to come?"
Luo Ning smiled mysteriously, "Father will talk to you about it later."
Seeing her mysterious smile, Lin Wanrong knew that she must be aware of it. But looking at her proud look, asking her would be in vain; this little girl wouldn't tell.
He sighed and didn't bother talking to Luo Ning anymore. He walked up the embankment alone. The solid feeling of the earth beneath his feet made him somewhat excited. I am a child of the Yangtze River, and his eyes became slightly moist.
Luo Ning saw his excited expression and quickly asked, "Brother Lin, are you okay?"
Lin Wanrong took a deep breath and smiled, "I'm fine, just the wind is strong, a bit uncomfortable. By the way, Miss Luo, what are you doing here?"
"I came with colleagues from the Book Society." Luo Ning pointed to a distant high slope, where a long row of tables was set up with a whole piece of long calligraphy paper on each. The scholars and ladies from the Jinling Book Society were wielding brushes and ink, seemingly painting a panoramic picture.
The strong men carrying mud and sand walked past the scholars' tables, but this group of sons and daughters paid no attention.
Among the crowd, there was a woman who looked quite eye-catching, dressed in a dark red official uniform, appearing delicate and charming. It was Miss Wanying. This girl sneaked out during office hours again, wasting the grains of the common people. However, she looked quite wild in the bright constable uniform. Lin Wanrong silently evaluated.
He also saw Hou Yuebai and Yu Wenpo. The two of them were rapidly wielding their brushes, with cheers from the surroundings. Wanying stood next to Hou Yuebai, applauding continuously, her eyes full of admiration.
Damn, the common people are sweating profusely to contribute to this embankment, guarding the interests of your rich and noble families, and you still have the leisure to come here and paint for fun. It's really eating up the common folks' grains. Lin Wanrong snorted heavily, his inherent commoner sentiment unable to bear such a scene. He walked away with light steps.
Luo Ning seemed to know what was on his mind and hurriedly called out, "Brother Lin, don't misunderstand. We're not here to play."
Lin Wanrong smiled and said, "Miss Luo, what does it have to do with me what you guys are doing?"
Luo Ning said, "Brother Lin, do you remember the charity auction you mentioned to me that day? The effect was very good, and everyone was enthusiastic. The funds for the river defense are running out these days. Father is worried, so I thought of the method you mentioned. If we gather our colleagues from the Book Society and create a panoramic painting of river defense together, we can sell it to contribute to the river defense. What do you think?"
Honestly, this Luo Ning is not delicate, she has ambitions, which is quite rare among the women of this era. However, her actions are too idealistic, probably because she has never experienced common life.
Seeing Lin Wanrong not speaking, thinking that he didn't believe her, Luo Ning sighed and said, "Brother Lin, Father will talk to you about it later."
Lin Wanrong, who had known her for some time, couldn't help but laugh at her stubbornness and said, "Miss Luo, whether I believe it or not doesn't matter."
However, Luo Ning seemed to know his thoughts, and she stubbornly pulled his sleeve, directly heading towards the Book Society. They had known each other for a while, but Lin Wanrong had never seen her lose her composure like this. It seemed that Lin Wanrong's attitude had indeed deeply stimulated her.
Seeing this girl's stubbornness, Lin Wanrong couldn't help but smile and said, "Miss Luo, by pulling me like this, you might give people the wrong idea."
Luo Ning stubbornly said, "I'm clear with you, with a clear conscience. What are you afraid of misunderstanding?" Since you're not afraid, I'm even less afraid. Lin Wanrong let her pull his sleeve, walking towards the Book Society.
Seeing Luo Ning pulling Lin Wanrong over, the expressions of the crowd were different. Hou Yuebai's face didn't look good, and the girl named Wanying was angry and asked, "What are you doing here?"
Lin Wanrong was very annoyed. Damn, do you think I want to come to your place? If it weren't for being pulled over, when would I have the time to bother with you? Seeing the girl's unfriendly tone, he sneered, "Where did this patrolman come from? Why are they patrolling on the embankment? It's truly admirable. Oh, by the way, Miss Wanying, where is your white horse?"
Wanying said, "What are you looking for my white horse for?"
Lin Wanrong said, "Nothing. Just that my black horse at home misses her a bit."
This statement seemed like a riddle, and only the two of them understood it. Miss Wanying blushed with shame and anger, knowing that talking to him would not give her any advantage. She snorted and ignored him.
Lin Wanrong took a deep breath. Standing among this "elegant" crowd, he felt extremely uncomfortable. Why would I,
a good servant, get involved with these people? It's truly inexplicable.
Since Hou Yuebai had been offended by Lin Wanrong yesterday, and now seeing Luo Ning's actions from a distance, he was even more upset. Of course, he wouldn't lose his grace in front of a beauty. He said to Luo Ning, "Miss Luo, how about looking at my landscape painting of a distant view of the river and mountains?"
The painting showed towering mountains from a distance, faint and ink-like, elusive. As you approached, a deep pool, rippling with blue waves, surrounded by green pine and cypress. Layered peaks surrounded it, and wisps of smoke rose slowly, indeed portraying a magnificent scene.
Luo Ning nodded and praised, "Master Hou's brushwork is sharp, and the use of ink is unique. This distant view painting is indeed extraordinary."
Hou Yuebai looked somewhat complacent and glanced at Lin Wanrong, saying modestly, "Miss Luo, you flatter me."
Luo Ning ignored him and turned to Lin Wanrong, asking, "Brother Lin, what do you think?"
Lin Wanrong had seen his unique pencil, which he had heard was specially prepared for painting. He naturally knew that Lin Wanrong was an expert in this field.
Lin Wanrong looked at the painting and smiled slightly. His opinion was simple yet direct, only saying two words, "Flawed work!"