Wang Xiaoqiang had not visited for several days and found that there were two paintings hanging in the mayor's ho, likely gifts, but they could be forgeries. One was the "Hanx Xizai's Night Banquet Painting" by Guu Hongzhong from the Five Dynasties era.
The silk painting asured 27.9 cm by 69 cm and depicted a feast at the grand official Hanx Xizai's house in the Southern Tang Dynasty through a continuous scroll format. The brushwork was delicate, smooth, and robust, the colors were rich, and the figures were handso and delicate, lifelike and renowned dostically and internationally. "Hanx Xizai's Night Banquet Painting", totaling three ters in length, is divided into five segnts, each separated by screens. The first segnt depicted Hanx Xizai and his guests listening to a singing girl playing a pipa, vividly capturing the focused and attentive expressions of Hanx Xizai and his guests. The second segnt showed Hanx Xizai personally beating a drum for the dancing girl while all guests watched with admiration, as if intoxicated by the beautiful drum sounds. The third segnt showed a break during the banquet, with Hanx Xizai sitting on the edge of a bed, washing his hands and talking with several won. The fourth segnt depicted Hanx Xizai seated, listening to wind music; he was sitting cross-legged on a chair, seemingly talking to a woman while five other won prepared to play their instrunts, all seated in a row but each assuming a distinct pose. The fifth segnt depicted Hanx Xizai's many guests talking with the singing girls.
The beauty in the painting was even more beautiful...
Zhou Qiping was wearing a knee-length green skirt, barefoot in transparent crystal-like sandals, and except for her ten toenails painted red, which seed sowhat startlingly glamorous, the rest of her attire was understated and elegant. Overall, she looked fresh, proper, and very pure.
Seeing the woman before him, Wang Xiaoqiang was stunned, montarily losing his composure. The mont his eyes t Zhou Qiping's, she felt a current shoot from his eyes to her, giving her a sensation of ti flowing backward.
The two of them just stood there, looking into each other's eyes for a few seconds until Zhou Qiping blushed, lowered her head, and led Wang Xiaoqiang to the sofa.
In front of this woman, Wang Xiaoqiang also felt sowhat uneasy. After sitting on the sofa, he avoided looking directly at Zhou Qiping, yet his gaze inadvertently drifted towards her. At that mont, Zhou Qiping was making tea for Wang Xiaoqiang, her back turned to him, and she leaned over, revealing a waist without an ounce of extra flesh.
Once the tea was ready, Zhou Qiping poured a cup for Wang Xiaoqiang and handed it to him with an apologetic voice, "I'm so sorry to have you make the trip yourself; it must have held up your work, hasn't it?"
Wang Xiaoqiang felt very awkward at this ti. To avoid losing his composure further, he spoke very little and just smiled and shook his head, indicating it was no trouble.
However, Wang Xiaoqiang's smile didn't look natural at all, as if he was hiding a secret. "Little Qiang, are you feeling unwell?" Seeing that Wang Xiaoqiang only shook his head and that his smile was so unnatural, Zhou Qiping was very curious. She gathered her skirt, pulled up her shapely legs, and sat down next to Wang Xiaoqiang, leaning in and asking with concern. As she spoke, she naturally tilted her head towards Wang Xiaoqiang, like an adult speaking to a child, showing a touch of intimacy.
At that mont, she was very close to Wang Xiaoqiang. Moreover, the scent from Zhou Qiping enveloped him unreservedly, insistently invading his nostrils. He struggled to say, "Sister Ping, I... I'm fine."
"Oh, Little Qiang..." Zhou Qiping changed how she addressed Wang Xiaoqiang, this pure-hearted woman indeed felt Wang Xiaoqiang was endearing. "What happened to your hand?"
Wang Xiaoqiang had accidentally hurt his hand the previous night, but it was just a superficial injury.
While speaking, Zhou Qiping held Wang Xiaoqiang's right hand and examined it closely.
Zhou Qiping's hand was soft and smooth, and Wang Xiaoqiang felt a gentle warmth passing through.
"It's nothing, Sister Ping, just a minor injury." Wang Xiaoqiang said, changing the subject, he asked, "Where is Mayor Gao?"
"He left early this morning, said he had an important eting to attend."
"Uh... What about ii?"
ii was Zhou Qiping's daughter.
"ii has gone to school and won't co back for lunch."
These simple sentences carried a hint of a reminder within them.
"Ah! She, she won't co back at noon?"
At that mont, Zhou Qiping felt Wang Xiaoqiang's gaze burning into her like a hot iron. She beca sowhat flustered, unsure of Wang Xiaoqiang's intended aning. However, she had a premonition, feeling that sothing might happen between them. As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she ruthlessly suppressed it—after all, what could possibly happen between a married woman and a young bachelor?
This woman was too innocent; such thoughts had never crossed her mind before, and she found them utterly distasteful.
"Um..." Zhou Qiping, while fidgeting with her long hair, masked the intense heat and flush on her face, whispering, "Little Qiang, why don't you have lunch here? I'll go buy so groceries. What would you like to eat?"
"I'm easy. I'm not picky with food."
To describe Wang Xiaoqiang as utterly obsessed at that mont would be an understatent—he had made up his mind.
"Then, then alright..." Seeing Wang Xiaoqiang agree to stay for a al made Zhou Qiping more uncomfortable. She nodded and said, "Well, sit tight; I, I'm going out to buy so groceries, today the maid went to visit her relatives."
Wang Xiaoqiang noticed Zhou Qiping's unease, and her words seed like a reminder, making his heart claw like a cat's.
Just as Zhou Qiping was about to get up, Wang Xiaoqiang almost subconsciously reached out and pressed down on her leg, saying, "Sister Ping, don't rush; let give you the dicine first."
Wang Xiaoqiang took out a box containing the Youth Everlasting Pill with his left hand and handed it to Zhou Qiping. Seeing Zhou Qiping in a daze, he then realized that his right hand was still pressing on her leg. However, seeing Zhou Qiping not angered but embarrassed, Wang Xiaoqiang did not let go. He looked up into her frantic eyes and said, "Sister Ping, this is the Youth Everlasting Pill. It can treat your illness and also slow down aging, but what I need to tell you is, while the dicine is effective, it only targets symptoms, not the root cause. Moreover, every dicine has side effects, and prolonged use can harm your health..."
"Hmm..." Zhou Qiping, trying to speak, completely lost her voice, instead emitting a brief note,
She instinctively moved her leg, but the hand did not let go. She dared not look down at the hand, nor could she et Wang Xiaoqiang's gaze, dodging like a shy young girl, her cheeks flushed like the morning sky.
"Sister Ping, there's a treatnt that can completely cure your condition and quickly improve your skin, keeping you youthful forever..."
At this mont, Zhou Qiping was too embarrassed to utter a sound, but she was still eager to know what the treatnt was. She furiously suppressed her agitated emotions, squeezing out a garbled voice: "What, what is it?"
"A life, harmonious and regular living!" Wang Xiaoqiang said,
"Ah..." Zhou Qiping could no longer bear it; she grabbed Wang Xiaoqiang's hand and suddenly looked up at him intently. However, the passion-filled gaze in her eyes was not one of embarrassnt but a strong desire thirsting for answers, her voice strained and unnatural: "What, what do you want to do?"
Wang Xiaoqiang's eyes wandered away, fixed on the Mayor's house wall...
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