Chapter 8: The Prefectural Office

He has encountered many young people, many of whom are outstanding, but he has never seen anyone as composed and cultured as Ji Liao. Subsequently, Ji Liao asked the shopkeeper to bring a basin of clean water and requested a pair of flower shears.

And the season remains as indifferent as ever, seemingly without any surprise

The old man said displeased, "Fine, just one thousand taels."

Moreover, trimming the roots and branches can indeed revive this bonsai, which is rather too simple

Upon seeing this, Ji Liao felt a sense of pity for it, so he bestowed upon it a bit more of the essence of grass and wood. If it were fortunate, perhaps in a thousand or even a hundred years, it might have the chance to attain spiritual form, and even be reborn as a human like him

The old man said, "You are truly clever, so tell me, who exactly are you?"

Finally, Ji Liao reached his hand into a basin filled with clear water, carefully washing away the dirt hidden under his nails and on his hands. The shopkeeper brought another basin of clean water, and after repeating this process several times, Ji Liao dried his hands with a towel. He then said, "It can survive now"

However, after observing the pruning techniques of Ji Liao, my understanding of bonsai has become as thorough as that of a butcher who has slaughtered cattle for over ten years, with a clear grasp of every detail. The shopkeeper could not help but believe that Ji Liao indeed had a great chance of reviving this bonsai.

Ji Liao pondered for a moment and ultimately agreed to the shopkeeper's request

Immediately following, Ji Liao applied the same method to revive another pot of bonsai brought by the shopkeeper, which was a pot of "Golden Wind and Jade Dew" bougainvillea. This is a different species, with golden leaves and flowers that are extremely delicate and moist, resembling jade dew. When Ji Liao pruned it, there was even a hint of shyness conveyed in the emotion.

The old man was quite enthusiastic, suggesting that Ji Liao take the bonsai to his residence and retrieve it when he returns home.

In the end, Ji Liao found it bothersome to carry the bonsai now, so he decided to wait until he returned to the Four Seasons Villa to retrieve it

The shopkeeper hesitated and said: "Although it seems that it can survive, if the old gentleman takes it home and it happens not to survive, you cannot hold me responsible."

Ji Liao could not help but feel slightly surprised; this bonsai seemed to possess a certain spirit. However, compared to the past, it was still worlds apart and could not be mentioned in the same breath.

Zhuo Qing exclaimed in surprise, "Is it really that simple?" To be honest, he was greatly shocked, because just a moment ago, Ji Liao had skillfully constructed the roots and branches, which did not resemble anything invisible. If he had not known this to be true, he would have found it impossible to believe.

The carriage's compartment is quite spacious; after placing two pots of bonsai inside, it can still accommodate the old man and Ji Liao. As for Zhuo Qing, he naturally sits outside with the coachman. The old man said with a smile, "Young man, do you now know who I am?"

He said: "Shopkeeper, I will purchase this pot of golden wind and jade dew."

He changed his words, referring to the younger brother as a kid, which is already much more intimate than before

In fact, there is one crucial point that he is still unaware of, which is that Ji Liao borrowed some vital energy from the surrounding flora and infused it into the bonsai. If the soil were to be turned over now, one would observe some newly sprouted roots and stems.

Jì Liáo smiled and said: "So it is Your Excellency the Prefect. If I have been disrespectful just now, I hope Your Excellency will not take offense."

The soil of the bonsai is slightly damp, yet not soft. Ji Liao's slender and elongated fingers, akin to a shovel, effortlessly turn the soil. His fingers are nimble, and the soil is turned with great care. In no time, the entire root system of the green pine is exposed, with most of it displaying a purplish-black color. Subsequently, Ji Liao picks up the scissors and decisively trims away the decayed roots. His technique is so precise that it nearly ensures that every root cut away is diseased and useless, leaving behind those roots that still retain their function. After completing this, Ji Liao begins to prune the branches and trunk of the green pine bonsai, directly cutting away more than half of the foliage that resembles a pile of clouds.

The shopkeeper expressed some understanding, stating: "I have heard some old gardeners mention similar methods, but unless one is extremely familiar with the habits of the plants, to the point of knowing them like the back of one's hand, and can identify all the diseased and decayed parts, it is still very difficult to achieve rejuvenation." He was aware of this method, but leaving even a small portion of diseased roots would pose a dangerous spark for the fragile bonsai, and it would not be long before the rot would regenerate. Moreover, he discerned the intention behind Ji Liao's pruning of the branches and leaves, which was merely to lighten the burden on the few remaining healthy roots, allowing them to absorb the nutrients from the soil to sustain the normal growth of the bonsai. However, leaving even a small portion of diseased roots would pose a dangerous spark for the fragile bonsai, and it would not be long before the rot would regenerate. Additionally, he recognized the purpose of Ji Liao's pruning of the branches and leaves, which was simply to reduce the burden on the few remaining healthy roots, enabling them to absorb the nutrients from the soil to maintain the normal growth of the bonsai.

The shopkeeper smiled; the two bonsai trees that were originally on the verge of dying could now be sold for 1,100 yuan, so he did not incur a loss. This is already a great fortune. Moreover, although it seems that the two bonsai trees have a good chance of surviving, if they were to die after all, he would truly be left with nothing.

The old man saw Ji Liao and smiled, waving his hand towards the distance. Soon, a servant drove a bright golden carriage over. Upon seeing this, the shopkeeper couldn't help but take a sharp breath, and when he looked back at the old man, he hesitated to speak, filled with fear.

Ji Liao did not refuse and agreed. He could tell that the old man probably wanted to invite him to his home as a guest. Ji Liao was certainly pleased, as this meant he would have a place to have dinner.

The shopkeeper smiled and said, "I will sell you that thousand taels, sir, you are an expert and should know that as long as this golden wind and jade dew survives, its price will not be lower than that of the Nine Heavens."

The shopkeeper was naturally quite eager to sell the bonsai, and soon the old man and Ji Liao settled the payment. Motivated by the banknotes, the shopkeeper prepared everything accordingly

The old man noticed his expression, merely let out a soft hum, and said: "I have no need to be angry with you"

The old man was also curious about how Ji Liao would treat the root rot of the bonsai, so he decided to stay. At the same time, Ji Liao's earlier behavior greatly impressed the old man, who praised his character.

Zhuo Qing couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement, not expecting that this old man was so wealthy, tossing out one thousand taels as if it were nothing.

After completing all of this and cleaning up the decayed roots scattered in the soil, Ji Liao will replant the green pines back into the ground and level the soil

The mastery of the nuances will be the most critical point; if there is any error, it will still not be possible to revive it

After completing all of this, the old man was very fond of this pot of golden wind and jade dew. Moreover, the techniques displayed by Ji Liao inspired trust in him, so the old man decided to purchase this bonsai to take home.

These factors combined allow Ji Liao to confidently determine that the bonsai has been revived

The old man snorted and said, "I won't live anymore; I'll just go find this young man, is that alright?" He stroked his somewhat graying beard and cast a rather imposing glance at Ji Liao. Given Ji Liao's earlier technique, he found it hard to believe that he had no interest in bonsai. This young man was clearly a fellow practitioner, and initially, he had even concealed it from him, which naturally made the old man a bit displeased.

Although he was not happy, Ji Liao could buy the Nine Heavens for only 100 taels, which is far less than the 1,000 taels he would spend on the Golden Wind and Jade Dew. However, without Ji Liao's involvement, these two potted plants would not sell for even 100 wen. Therefore, even if Ji Liao offered 10 taels of silver, the shopkeeper would likely agree, so the old man still understood this.

The shopkeeper recalled the old man's reputation from the past, and upon hearing his words, he finally felt at ease. He couldn't help but scold himself for his lack of insight, realizing he should have recognized it earlier. He nervously escorted the old man and Ji Liao out of the shop, even courteously loading the bonsai onto the carriage. Even the simple-minded Zhuo Qing could guess that the old man's identity was extraordinary.